Competitiveness Council: Political agreement on the SBA, establishment of an action plan for European SMEs
Hervé Novelli
© Le Conseil de l'Union européenne
- from: 01.12.2008
- to: 02.12.2008
- In: Bruxelles
Hervé Novelli obtains a political agreement on the SBA (Small Business Act) and on the establishment of an action plan for the European SMEs.
The competitiveness ministers met today in Brussels for a Council chaired by Hervé Novelli, the French Minister for State for Business, Trades, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Tourism and Services. The main points on the agenda of the working session were the adoption of the 'Small Business Act for Europe' and the European response to the economic crisis.
The ministers adopted the 'Small Business Act for Europe' in favour of European SMEs. The Commission's proposals were supplemented by an action plan committing the Commission and the Member States to a certain number of priority actions. In the context of the economic slowdown in Europe, this action plan, initiated by Hervé Novelli, will take immediate action targeted at the SMEs. It will make it easier for SMEs to get financing, reduce their administrative burden, and enable them to fully benefit from the opportunities offered by European and international markets. The Small Business Act represents a strong political commitment in favour of the 23 million European SMEs, which have been responsible for 80% of job creation in Europe in recent years.
The Commission Vice President, Günther Verheugen, and Commissioner Charlie McCreevy presented the 'European plan to boost growth and employment' adopted by the European Commission on 26 November. In the presence of Jean Pierre Jouyet, the French Minister of State for European Affairs, the ministers had an exchange of views on the European response to the economic crisis. The proposed actions stimulate employment, support enterprise, and invest in research and technologies of the future, thus giving a budgetary stimulus to the European economy over two years. The discussion will continue tomorrow in the ECOFIN Council. With regard to State aid, several delegations suggested temporarily raising the 'de minimis' threshold. These discussions will contribute to the decisions of the European Council on 11 and 12 December.
In terms of innovation and the competitiveness of the European economy, the minsters adopted conclusions on world class clusters in the European Union. These conclusions favour the emergence of clusters ('poles of competitiveness') in Europe, based on a research-companies-training triptych, which would be able to compete internationally, particularly in leading-edge technology sectors.
Next, the ministers exchanged views on the evolution of the legal framework and policies on gambling and betting, in connection with the growth of online games. The Council has invited the next Presidencies to continue these talks to ensure the smooth operating of the internal market while safeguarding consumer protecton and fighting crime.
To conclude his term as president of the Competitiveness Council, Hervé Novelli presented the advances made on several strategic dossiers, such as the adoption of the defence package, the revision of the cosmetics and toys directives, the proposed European private company, the establishment of the Community patent and the judicial system, along with the extension of the term of copyright protection for performers and phonogram producers.
As of 1 January 2009, the Competitiveness Council will be chaired by the Czech Republic, followed by Sweden as of 1 July. Hervé Novelli assured his counterparts with whom he is working closely in the context of the Trio Presidency, of France's support for the continuation of this work. He thanked the Commission and the Member States for their contributions and the constructive work of the second half of 2008.
Announcement : The Competitiveness Council will meet in Brussels on 1 and 2 December
Competitiveness Council (research configuration): main results
- Updated: 31.12.2008
