Debate: State of the SME Union
Date: THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2022
Speaker: Věra Jourová
Language: EN

Our SMEs need a lifeline in these unprecedented times. Yesterday, President von der Leyen announced that the Commission will put forward an SME relief package, including a proposal for a single set of tax rules for doing business in Europe. We will also combat late payments by revising the Late Payment Directive.  Let me also say a few words on our ongoing action on three issues that are key for SMEs: access to finance, regulatory burden and capacity for green and digital transition.  Given the exceptional challenges, we are ensuring that the funding we will provide can deliver most impact for SMEs. Among such funding, the single market programme will provide EUR 1 billion for SMEs’ support. It pools key activities such as the Enterprise Europe Network, the joint cluster initiative and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. The programme also proved flexible to meet evolving needs, such as the support to Ukrainian SMEs to help them integrate into the single market.  We helped, setting up the supply chain resilience platform for companies in the EU or Ukraine to retrain, restructure or replace existing supply chains to keep production going, because our single market is a formidable level for expansion and a safety net for EU business, but also for our partners.  Our flagship investment programme, InvestEU, will help SMEs access loans and equity, including tackling solvency risks. InvestEU will also support SMEs that are going public or intend to do so. This will attract additional private investments to help SMEs scale up and grow.  Now coming to SMEs business environment. Entrepreneurs will tell you and tell us that they need legislation to be clear, easy to implement and avoid disproportionate costs. We have committed ourselves to removing red tape and lowering costs without compromising policy objectives. Better regulation remains a key priority for the Commission. Under the direction of my colleague, Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, we are assessing impacts on SMEs and we are reviewing legislation as the Fit for Future platform and we are filtering initiatives regarding their relevance for SMEs. And we need your help as the co-legislator to keep burdens as low as possible.  Finally, the transition to a more sustainable way of doing business, the implementation of the Green Deal and digitalisation of SMEs. This requires a joint effort. To advise and support the SMEs in green transition we introduced the sustainability advisers provided through the new Enterprise Europe Network. The transition pathways we just discussed in the previous debate will for each industrial ecosystem identify specific constraints faced by small businesses via a set of semi-specific questions. On the digital transition, the digital Europe programme supports SMEs with access to technical expertise and testing, including the possibility to ‘test before invest’ via European digital innovation hubs. It also helps SMEs’ employees to become proficient in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity or blockchain.  Together, that is with you and the Council, we can make sure that the twin transitions move forward with the minimum burden and costs on SMEs. It is our collective responsibility.  With that, Madam President, honourable Members, I come to the end of my statement. Let us all go back to work for Europe’s SMEs, which diligently deliver so that Europe can become more resilient.