21 Amendments of Kent JOHANSSON related to 2011/0394(COD)
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The competitiveness policy of the Union is intended to put into place the institutional and policy arrangements that create conditions under which enterprises can grow in a sustainable way. Sustainable competitiveness reflects the ability to achieve and maintain the economic competitiveness of enterprises in accordance with sustainable development objectives. Improved productivity is the dominant source of sustainable income growth, which in turn contributes to improvements in living standards. Competitiveness also depends on companies' ability to take full advantage of opportunities such as the European Single Market. This is especially important for SMEs, which account for 99% of the enterprises in the Union, provide two out of three existing jobs in the private sector, and 80 % of newly-created jobs, and contribute with more than half of the total value-added created by enterprises in the Union. SMEs are a key driver for economic growth, employment and social integration.
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) The Programme should particularly address SMEs, as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC of 6 May 2003 concerning the definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. When implementing the Programme, the Commission should closely involve relevant stakeholders, in particular SME representative organisations, using existing structures to the greatest extent possible. Particular attention should be paid to micro enterprises, enterprises engaged in craft activities, the self- employed, liberal professions and social enterprises. Attention should also be paid to the specific characteristics and requirements of young entrepreneurs, new and potential entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs, as well as specific target groups, such as migrants and entrepreneurs belonging to socially disadvantaged or vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities. The Programme should also encourage senior citizens to become and remain entrepreneurs and promote second chances for entrepreneurs.
Amendment 110 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) The Enterprise Europe Network ("the Network") has proven its added value for European SMEs as a one-stop-shop for business support by helping enterprises to improve their competitiveness and explore business opportunities in the Single Market and beyond. The streamlining of methodologies and working methods and provisions of a European dimension to business support services can only be achieved at Union level. In particular, the Network has helped SMEs to find cooperation or technology transfer partners, get advice on sources of financing, and on intellectual property and on eco-innovation and sustainable production. It has also obtained feedback on Union legislation and standards. Its unique expertise is particularly important in overcoming information asymmetries and alleviating transaction costs associated with cross-border transactions. Nevertheless, the performance of the Network should be further optimised, notably by achieving closer cooperation between the Network and the National Contact Points (NCPs) of Horizon 2020, further integrating internationalisation and innovation services, enhancing cooperation of the Network with other stakeholders and already existing support structures, increasing consultations of host organisations, reducing bureaucracy, improving IT support and enhancing the profile of the Network. With a view to further improving the performance of the Network, the Commission should take stock of the different governance structures across the EU in collaboration with SME organisations and innovation agencies. The tasks of the Network should be laid down in the Programme, including information, feedback, business cooperation and internationalisation services in the Single Market and in third countries, innovation services and services encouraging participation of SMEs in Horizon 2020. Or. en (see Article 9a, Annex I a (new))
Amendment 119 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The limited internationalisation of SMEs both within and outside Europe affects competitiveness. According to some estimates currently 25% of the SMEs in the Union export or have exported at some point over the last three years, of which only 13% export outside the Union on a regular basis and only 2 % have invested beyond their home country. In line with the Small Business Act, which called on the Union and the Member States to support and encourage SMEs to benefit from the growth of markets outside the Union, the EU supports a network of European Business Organisations in more than 20 markets abroad. It provides financial assistance to the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, business bodies in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore as well as the European Business and Technology Centre in India, EU SME Centres in China and in Thailand and the China Intellectual Property Rights SME helpdesk. European added value is created by bundling national efforts in this domain, avoiding duplication, promoting cooperation and by offering services that would lack critical mass if provided at national level. Such services could, among others, include information on intellectual property rights, standards and public procurement opportunities.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15 a (new)
Recital 15 a (new)
(15a) The Programme should also support SME policy development and cooperation between policy makers and SME representative organisations, for instance by funding meetings, reports and databases. Such activities should focus on facilitating SMEs' access to programmes and reducing overall regulatory burdens, in particular their administrative burden. In particular, the Union should set a new, ambitious, target to reduce the net administrative burden in all relevant Union legislation by 25% by 2020. The quantitative target should be complemented by qualitative targets, based on the needs of businesses and SMEs in particular.
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21 a (new)
Recital 21 a (new)
(21a) The decisions to grant an SME financial support should be preceded by a transparent process. The grant of such support and its payment should be transparent, unbureaucractic and in accordance with common rules.
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) To promote innovation within enterprises for the adaptation and transition into a low-carbon, climate- resilient, energy and resource-efficient economy.
Amendment 258 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Amendment 259 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 2
2. The need of enterprises to adapt to a low-carbon, climate-resilient, energy and resource-efficient economy shall be promoted in the planning and implementation of the Programme.
Amendment 297 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) support for SME policy development and cooperation between policy makers, civil society and the business sector particularly with a view to improving the ease-of-access to programmes and measures for SMEs.
Amendment 326 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
Article 7 – paragraph 2
2. Particular attention shall be paid to young entrepreneurs, new and potential entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs in the civil sector and female entrepreneurs, as well as specific target groups.
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall support actions which aim to improve access to finance for SMEs in their start-up and, growth and transfer phases, being complementary to the Member States' use of financial instruments for SMEs at national and, regional and local level. In order to ensure complementarity, these actions will be closely coordinated with those undertaken in the framework of cohesion policy and at nation, Horizon 2020 and at national, regional or local level. Such actions shall aim to stimulate the supply of both equity and debt finance.
Amendment 367 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 2
Article 9 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission may support actions to improve SMEs access to the Single Market including information provision, creating platforms and awareness-raising.
Amendment 380 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9 a (new)
Article 9a Enterprise Europe Network 1. The Commission shall maintain its support to the Enterprise Europe Network ("the Network") in order to provide integrated business support services, in particular for SMEs. Taking into account the established experience and skills of existing European business support networks, financial support may be granted to network partners to provide, in particular: (a) information and advice, feedback, business cooperation and internationalisation services in the Single Market and in third countries; (b) services for innovation and for the transfer of both technology and knowledge; (c) services encouraging the participation of SMEs in European programmes, including Horizon 2020 and the Structural Funds. 2. Details of such services are set out in Annex IIa. 3. Services delivered by the Network on behalf of other Union programmes shall be funded by those programmes. 4. With a view to adopting further measures to improve the performance of the Network, the Commission shall take stock of the different governance structures and use patterns across Member States in collaboration with SME organisations and innovation agencies.
Amendment 384 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission should promote the establishment of integrated and user- friendly online systems in the Member States that supports making all information and programmes relevant for SME available, such as application procedures, time frame, rules and regulations, overview of active and completed projects and reports.
Amendment 388 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 11 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) the identification and dissemination of good practices and policy approaches, and their further development;
Amendment 403 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
3. By 2018 at the latest, the Commission shall establish an evaluation report on the achievement of the objectives of all the actions supported under the Programme at the level of results and impacts, the efficiency of the use of resources, accessibility rate among target groups and its European added value, in view of a decision on the renewal, modification or suspension of the measures. The evaluation report shall also address the scope for simplification, its internal and external coherence, the continued relevance of all objectives, as well as the contribution of the measures to the Union priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. It shall take into account evaluation results on the long-term impact of the predecessor measures;
Amendment 420 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The financial instruments under the Programme shall be operated in close coordination with the debt and equity facilities under Horizon 2020 with a view to creating a single instrument for intermediaries and enabling SMEs to identify the Programme that corresponds best to their needs through one common source of information.
Amendment 422 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Article 14 – paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. The financial instruments for SMEs shall be implemented in compliance with the relevant Union law on state aids. The conditions for any exclusion of the financial instruments from state aid rules shall be clearly stated in the Programme guidelines and manuals.
Amendment 432 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 1
Article 16 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011.Gender balance shall be promoted in the composition of the committee.
Amendment 451 #
Proposal for a regulation
Annex I a (new)
Annex I a (new)
ANNEX Ia Details of the services provided by the Enterprise Europe Network referred to in Article 9a 1. Information, feedback, business cooperation and internationalisation services in the Single Market and in third countries: (a) disseminating information relating to the functioning and opportunities of the internal market for goods and services, including relevant Union law, standards and public procurement opportunities, on access to finance and increasing SMEs' sustainability, (b) pro-actively promoting Union initiatives, policies and programmes that are relevant for SMEs in the respective regions and providing information to SMEs on the application procedures for such programmes, (c) operating tools to measure the impact of existing legislation on SMEs, (d) contributing to the carrying-out of impact assessment studies by the Commission, (e) using other appropriate means to engage SMEs in the Union policy-making process, (f) assisting SMEs to develop cross-border activities and international networks, (g) supporting SMEs to find relevant partners from the private or public sectors through appropriate tools. 2. Services for innovation and for the transfer of both technology and know- how: (a) disseminating information and raising awareness regarding innovation-related policies, legislation, and support programmes, (b) engaging in the dissemination and exploitation of research results, (c) providing brokerage services for technology and know-how transfer, and for partnership building between all kinds of innovation actors, (d) stimulating the capacity of firms, especially SMEs, to innovate, (e) facilitating linkage to other innovation services including intellectual property- related services. 3. Services encouraging the participation of SMEs in Horizon 2020: (a) raising awareness among SMEs regarding Horizon 2020, (b) helping SMEs to identify their research and technological development needs and to find relevant partners, (c) assisting SMEs in the preparation and coordination of project proposals for participation in Horizon 2020.