JEUNE welcomes the European Commission’s mid-term review on SME policy published last 8th October. JEUNE is pleased with the progress made in some areas such as the reduction of administrative burdens.
However, legislation should be conceived for smaller companies since the very beginning. It is important to underline that the European Commission should be more active in promoting entrepreneurship, in developing entrepreneurial skills through education and in improving the image of entrepreneurs. These factors are currently quite poor across the EU.
In spite of some good results such as the reduction of the average cost of setting up a new company in the EU, which has fallen from 813 Euros in 2002 to 554 Euros in 2007 as well as the reduction in the time needed to register a company from 24 days to about 12 days today, much more needs to be done.
Europeans remain reluctant to start their own business. Three quarters of EU citizens are doubtful of the feasibility of establishing their own company, but attitudes towards entrepreneurship are more positive among the younger generation.
In response to this situation, the European Commission is proposing action to help entrepreneurs avoid bankruptcy, reduce the stigma of business failure and provide a second chance.
JEUNE calls the European Commission to act in this direction and to apply the “think small first” principle in all Community actions.
