European Commission policy and instruments for SME internationalisation

Luis CUERVO SPOTTORNO

DG enterprise and Industry

"Access to Markets" unit

UNIDO, Vienna - 6 May 2014

Why are SMEs important?

Access to markets (intra-EU and extra-EU)

Entrepreneurship

SBA principles and priority areas

Access to financeReduction of administrative burden

1. Entrepreneurship

9. Environment

8. Skills and innovation

7. Single market

6. Access to finance

10. Internationalisation

2. Second chance

3. Think Small First

4. Responsive administration

5. State aid and publ. proc.

Internationalisation Internationalisation beyond the single marketbeyond the single market

Of all EU internationally active SMEs just half operate outside the single market

13%

14%

2%

87%

86%

98%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Subcontracting

Export

Import

Active beyond single market Not active

SME internationalisation policy in the EU

• Principles: - Hold regulatory dialogues with third countries to ease conditions for

doing business (SME dialogues)

- Earmark opportunities for European SMEs in third countries (Missions for Growth)

- SMEs to profit from opportunities from SME Letters of Intent and EU Free Trade Agreements

- SMEs to use EU support networks, instruments and finance

• Instruments: Enterprise Europe Network - EU Business Centres - IPR Helpdesks – cluster internationalisation – mapping exercises - SME international business portal - Market Access Database

• EU financing: COSME / Horizon 2020 / "SME Instrument"

DG ENTR / UNIDO SME Policy dialogueWay forward

Objective:Foster SME internationalisation / cooperation

(EU and developing countries)

- Promote entrepreneurial education & training- Upgrade business environment

-Target markets & sectors- Encourage use of EU instruments (e.g. EEN,clusters)

Efficient use of EU financial assistance (e.g. COSME, Horizon 2020) + EIB funding

3 pillars for cooperation

Thank you for your attention!

Contact:Luis.cuervo-spottorno@ec.europa.eu

More information:http://een.ec.europa.eu/https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/smeip/