I forlængelse af ovennævnte kommentarer til konkrete punkter i forslaget understreger Regionsudvalget følgende: a) de foreslåede initiativer bør gennemføres så decentralt som muligt under hensyntagen til de lokale strategier for SMV i de enkelte medlemsstater, det vil sige så tæt på virksomhederne som muligt og med inddragelse af de lokale strukturer, b) de organisationer, der repræsenterer SMV, herunder velrenommerede virksomhedskonsulenter (penge- og finansieringsinstitutter, handelskamre og andre private eller offentlige organer) med et bredt spektrum af interventionsmuligheder skal inddrages mest muligt i EIC-netværket, BC-NET og BRE; c) der er behov for en indsats for at øge gennemslagskraften af EIC-netværket, BC-NET og BRE samt forbedre deres kvalitet blandt andet gennem en ændret organisationsstruktur; d) alle de strategiske muligheder, som informationssamfundet byder på, skal udnyttes gennem betydelige investeringer i den nye teknologi; e) det bør alvorligt overvejes, om der ikke er behov for yderligere ressourcer - såvel finansielle som menneskelige - og flere specifikke beføjelser for at give de foreslåede politikker et virkeligt indhold, eller om det vil være muligt at overdrage beføjelser til de regionale og lokale myndigheder, der allerede spiller en vigtig rolle med hensyn til teknisk og økonomisk støtte til SMV's udvikling; f) enhver foranstaltning til bedst mulig udnyttelse af SMV's store potentiale kan betragtes som et vigtigt beskæftigelsesfremmende tiltag, der bør støttes gennem de af Kommissionen foreslåede lokale beskæftigelsespagter.
- 9 - hopes that aims will be translated into action in the simplest and most accessible form possible so as to avoid adding Community redtape to the constraints with which SMEs already have to contend; in addition to its comments on specific points in the report - all of which are relevant to these conclusions - the COR would reiterate that: a) practical implementation of the proposed initiatives should be underpinned by an approach aiming at the greatest possible decentralization, taking account of specific local strategies to promote SMEs in the Member States, i.e. in close liaison with business circles and involving local structures; b) organizations representing SMEs, including trustworthy business consultancy bodies (banks, private and public sector consultancy agencies, chambers of commerce, etc.) which can draw on a wide range of means of action, should be closely incorporated into the EIC, BC-NET and BRE networks; c) every effort should be made to boost the impact and improve the quality of the EIC, BC-NET and BRE networks, including reorganization of the system; d) the information society's potential as a channel for helping SMEs frame strategies should be exploited to the full and substantial investments made in technology; e) serious consideration should be given to the possible need for additional resources (financial, human, specific back-up skills) if the proposed policies are to be truly effective. The feasibility of transferring tasks to the Member States and to regional and local authorities who already play an important role in providing financial and technical back-up for the development of SMEs should also be explored; f) all activities aiming to optimize the great potential of European SMEs at the same time make a major contribution in promoting employment policies; these also need to be backed by the "territorial employment pacts" proposed by the European Commission