Awaiting Parliament 1st reading / single reading / budget 1st stage
2018/2545(RSP) Definition of SMEs
Lead committee dossier: ITRE/8/12127
Legal Basis RoP 128-p5
| Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | ITRE | PIEPER Markus (EPP) | TOIA Patrizia (S&D), BASHIR Amjad (ECR), NAGTEGAAL Caroline (ALDE), LÓPEZ BERMEJO Paloma (GUE/NGL), TURMES Claude (Verts/ALE), TAMBURRANO Dario (EFD), KAPPEL Barbara (ENF) |
Legal Basis RoP 128-p5
Activites
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2018/07/04
Vote in plenary scheduled
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2018/07/03
Debate in plenary scheduled
Documents
| Amendments | Dossier |
| 158 |
2018/2545(RSP)
2018/04/13
ITRE
158 amendments...
Amendment 1 #
Recital A A. whereas the 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which make up around 99 % of all businesses and provide more than 90 million jobs while generating some EUR 3.9 trillion in added value, make a vital contribution to economic growth, social cohesion and job creation and are key drivers in the context of the energy transition, the fight against climate change and EU competitiveness on green tech as well as a major source of innovation in the EU;
Amendment 10 #
Recital B B. whereas SMEs are disproportionately affected by administrative burdens and financial obstacles by comparison with larger firms and whereas these burdens and obstacles promote the shadow economy; whereas at EU and Member State level further efforts could be made to create a
Amendment 100 #
Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 101 #
Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned that, despite the considerable contribution they make to employment and growth by virtue of their productivity, MidCaps (enterprises that have outgrown the SME definition but still have typically medium-sized structures) are being neglected by policy-makers; calls, therefore, for a
Amendment 102 #
Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 103 #
Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned that, despite the considerable contribution they make to employment and growth by virtue of their productivity, MidCaps (enterprises that have outgrown the SME definition but still have typically medium-sized structures) are being neglected by policy-makers; calls, therefore, for a definition to be established for these companies based on the criteria that they are family-run, have high equity ratio and employ up to
Amendment 104 #
Paragraph 9 a (new) 9a. Notes that, beyond SMEs, freelancers and large enterprises, also Mid-Caps contribute to employment and growth, especially by virtue of their productivity and therefore should deserve a fair level of attention in the EU policies;
Amendment 105 #
Paragraph 10 Amendment 106 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to the priority EU measures for SMEs, to launch a MidCaps-oriented initiative using
Amendment 107 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to the priority EU measures for SMEs, to launch a MidCaps-oriented initiative using
Amendment 108 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission
Amendment 109 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to the priority EU measures for SMEs, to launch a MidCaps-oriented initiative
Amendment 11 #
Recital C C. whereas the SME definition is referred to in approximately 100 EU legal acts, primarily in the areas of competition policy and structural, research and innovation funds, but also labour, environmental,
Amendment 110 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to the priority EU measures for SMEs, to launch a MidCaps-oriented initiative using new funding, which would cover collaborative research access, access to EU funds, digitalisation strategies, export market development and an easing of the Basel specifications and data protection rules;
Amendment 111 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to
Amendment 112 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission,
Amendment 113 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to the priority EU measures for SMEs, to
Amendment 114 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to the priority EU measures for SMEs, to launch a
Amendment 115 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to the priority EU measures for SMEs, to
Amendment 116 #
Paragraph 10 10. Calls on the Commission, in addition to the priority EU measures for SMEs, to launch a MidCaps-oriented initiative using new funding, which would cover collaborative research access, digitalisation strategies, export market development and an easing of the Basel specifications
Amendment 117 #
Paragraph 10 10.
Amendment 118 #
Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Believes that the future COSME, FP9 as well as Structural Funds Programmes under the next MFF should continue to earmark sufficient amounts to support SMEs to innovate and generate employment;
Amendment 119 #
Paragraph 10 a (new) 10a. Underlines the importance of maintaining a clear and common definition of SMEs in light of the ongoing negotiations on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union as SMEs are defined in EU law and are often attributed a special status in the Union’s trading agreements;
Amendment 12 #
Recital C C. whereas the SME definition is referred to in approximately 100 EU legal acts, primarily in the areas of competition policy, financial market legislation and structural, research and innovation funds, but also environmental, energy, consumer protection and social security legislation, for example in the REACH secondary legislation and the Energy Efficiency Directive;
Amendment 120 #
Paragraph 11 Amendment 121 #
Paragraph 11 Amendment 122 #
Paragraph 11 Amendment 123 #
Paragraph 11 Amendment 124 #
Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that SME categorisation should not be exclusively based on the criteria of employee headcount, annual turnover
Amendment 125 #
Paragraph 11 11.
Amendment 126 #
Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that SME categorisation
Amendment 127 #
Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that SME categorisation should
Amendment 128 #
Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that
Amendment 129 #
Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that SME categorisation should not be exclusively based on the criteria of employee headcount, annual turnover and balance sheet totals; calls, therefore, for the criteria of
Amendment 13 #
Recital D D. whereas
Amendment 130 #
Paragraph 11 11. Takes the view that future SME categorisation should not necessarily be exclusively
Amendment 131 #
Paragraph 11 11.
Amendment 132 #
Paragraph 11 11.
Amendment 133 #
Paragraph 11 11.
Amendment 134 #
Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a study into the impact of the SME definition on business development and on lock-in-effects
Amendment 135 #
Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a study into the impact of the SME definition on business development
Amendment 136 #
Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a comprehensive study into the impact of the SME definition on business development and on possible lock-in- effects, i.e. when enterprises deliberately opt not to expand in order to avoid bureaucratic burdens and other obligations that arise from the loss of their SME status;
Amendment 137 #
Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a study
Amendment 138 #
Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a study into the possible impact of the SME definition on business development and on lock-in-effects, i.e. when enterprises deliberately opt not to expand in order to avoid bureaucratic burdens and other obligations that arise from the loss of their SME status;
Amendment 139 #
Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a study into the possible impact of the SME definition on business development and on lock-in-effects, i.e. when enterprises deliberately opt not to expand in order to avoid bureaucratic burdens and other obligations that arise from the loss of their SME status;
Amendment 14 #
Recital D D. whereas a coherent legal environment is favourable to all businesses and whereas
Amendment 140 #
Paragraph 12 12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a study into the possible impact of the SME
Amendment 141 #
Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Underlines that small local public service enterprises that meet the SME criteria fulfil important tasks for local communities; notes that having public ownership does not necessarily imply financial or regulatory support by the public entity due to national legislation, state aid laws and financially weak public entities; stresses that they thus face the same challenges as SMESs, which may lead to unfair competitive disadvantages for these enterprises when they are financially independent, organized under private law or are operating under competitive conditions with private companies; therefore, urges the Commission to re-examine and consider a deletion of the exclusion of enterprises with a public ownership of more than 25% from the SME definition;
Amendment 142 #
Paragraph 12 a (new) 12a. Calls on the Commission in addition to carry out a study to assess the cross-border impact of large family firms on SMEs as regards employment, added value and tax receipts;
Amendment 143 #
Paragraph 13 Amendment 144 #
Paragraph 13 Amendment 145 #
Paragraph 13 Amendment 146 #
Paragraph 13 Amendment 147 #
Paragraph 13 Amendment 148 #
Paragraph 13 13. Calls on the Commission to conduct a feasibility study of sector- specific SME definitions not resulting in additional administrative burdens for Member States or SMEs in order to scrutinise the impact of such an approach on these sectors of the economy and the added value generated when set against the additional costs incurred, and to adapt the SME definition accordingly, should the study prove its feasibility;
Amendment 149 #
Paragraph 13 13. Calls on the Commission to conduct a feasibility study of sector- specific SME definitions in order to scrutinise the impact of such an approach on these sectors of the economy and the added
Amendment 15 #
Recital D D. whereas a coherent legal environment with clear rules is favourable to all businesses and whereas the SME definition is a tool to overcome market failures and problems stemming from size, volume of assets and business models;
Amendment 150 #
Paragraph 13 13. Calls on the Commission to conduct a feasibility study of sector- specific SME definitions in order to scrutinise the impact of such an approach on these sectors of the economy and the added
Amendment 151 #
Paragraph 13 13. Calls on the Commission to conduct a feasibility study of sector- specific SME definitions in order to scrutinise the impact of such an approach on these sectors of the economy and the added value generated when set against the additional costs incurred,
Amendment 152 #
Paragraph 14 Amendment 153 #
Paragraph 14 14. Calls for an SME category test to
Amendment 154 #
Paragraph 14 14. Calls for an SME category test to be made mandatory for all EU legislative proposals, beyond the Commission’s own undertakings; stresses that the result should be clearly indicated in the impact assessment; calls on the Commission and Member States to give such an undertaking in the next Interinstitutional Agreement on better law-
Amendment 155 #
Paragraph 14 14. Calls for
Amendment 156 #
Paragraph 14 14. Calls for an SME
Amendment 157 #
Paragraph 15 15. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to provide guidance to enterprises on the procedures used to
Amendment 158 #
Paragraph 15 15. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to provide guidance to enterprises on the procedures used to determine SME status in an
Amendment 16 #
Recital D a (new) Da. whereas the Commission regularly monitors the implementation of the EUSME Definition; whereas repeatedly in 2006, 2009 and latest 2012 evaluations were carried out and concluded that there is no need for a major revision of the EU SME definition.
Amendment 17 #
Recital D a (new) Da. whereas the cross-sectoral value chain for SMEs makes it possible to reduce institutional, technical and bureaucratic obstacles and whereas effective support policies are needed for the creation of networks between businesses;
Amendment 18 #
Recital D a (new) Da. whereas an SME definition has to contribute to facilitating quality job creation, improving working conditions and security, limiting to the absolute minimum any abuses.
Amendment 19 #
Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the Commission’s initial impact assessment, and approves the focus on enterprises
Amendment 2 #
Recital A A. whereas the 23 million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which make up around 99 % of all businesses and provide more than 90 million jobs while generating some EUR 3.9 trillion in added value, make a vital contribution to economic growth, social cohesion and job creation and are a major source of innovation in the EU, and depend highly on domestic demand and consumption;
Amendment 20 #
Paragraph 1 1.
Amendment 21 #
Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the Commission’s initial impact assessment, and approves the focus on enterprises that are in need
Amendment 22 #
Paragraph 1 1. Welcomes the Commission’s initial impact assessment, and approves the focus on enterprises that are need in of support and simple rules and the objective to increase planning and legal certainty for businesses
Amendment 23 #
Paragraph 2 2. Takes the view that given the nature of this strategic instrument and the many differences between SMEs and Member States, the flexibility offered by the 2003 recommendation should be maintained; is convinced that strictly applying the SME definition runs counter to the intentions of the recommendation and ultimately hinders the growth of
Amendment 24 #
Paragraph 2 2. Takes the view that given the nature of this strategic instrument and the many differences between SMEs and Member States, the flexibility offered by the 2003 recommendation should be maintained; is convinced that the overall str
Amendment 25 #
Paragraph 2 2. Takes the view that given the nature of this
Amendment 28 #
Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to prevent larger players from attempting to create specific corporate structures to take advantage of the SME definition, which would lead to a system in which the available support is wrongly distributed more widely and hence not available to SMEs in need; emphasises that an adjustment of the SME definition sh
Amendment 29 #
Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission and Member States to prevent larger players from attempting to create specific corporate structures to take advantage of the SME definition, which
Amendment 3 #
Recital A A. whereas the 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which make up around 99% of all businesses, employ almost two thirds of the European working population, and provide more than 90 million jobs while generating some EUR 3.9 trillion in added value, make a vital contribution to economic growth, social cohesion and job creation and are a major source of innovation in the EU;
Amendment 30 #
Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to prevent larger players from attempting to create or divide specific corporate structures to take advantage of the SME definition, which would lead to a system in which the available support is wrongly distributed more widely and hence not available to SMEs in need; emphasises that an adjustment of the SME definition should not work to the detriment of SMEs, denying them access to public support;
Amendment 31 #
Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to prevent larger players from attempting to create specific corporate structures to take advantage of the SME definition, which would lead to a system in which the available support is wrongly distributed more widely and hence not available to SMEs in need; emphasises that an
Amendment 32 #
Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to prevent larger players from attempting to create
Amendment 33 #
Paragraph 3 3. Calls on the Commission to prevent larger players from attempting to create specific corporate structures to take advantage of the SME definition, which would lead to a system in which the available support is wrongly distributed more widely and hence not available to SMEs in need; emphasises that
Amendment 34 #
Paragraph 3 a (new) 3a. Calls on the Commission to terminate the general exclusion of SMEs with public participation because of their ownership structure, as they face the same regulatory and financial challenges as other businesses of the same size, are deeply rooted in their local business environment and, inter alia, create the right preconditions for the growth of all other SMEs; emphasises that, as regards partners and related undertakings, the Commission communication on the definition of SMEs is appropriate and sufficient to prevent harmful corporate structures and that, in accordance with the principles of EU competition law, the criteria for SMEs should only be of a quantitative nature.
Amendment 35 #
Paragraph 4 Amendment 36 #
Paragraph 4 Amendment 37 #
Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 38 #
Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 39 #
Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission to
Amendment 4 #
Recital A A. whereas the 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which make up around 99 % of all businesses and provide more than 90 million jobs while generating some EUR 3.9 trillion in added value, make a vital contribution to
Amendment 40 #
Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 41 #
Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 42 #
Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission to
Amendment 43 #
Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 44 #
Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission to
Amendment 45 #
Paragraph 4 4.
Amendment 46 #
Paragraph 4 4. Urges the Commission to at least update the SME definition to take account
Amendment 47 #
Paragraph 5 Amendment 48 #
Paragraph 5 Amendment 49 #
Paragraph 5 Amendment 5 #
Recital A A. whereas the 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which make up around 99 % of all businesses and provide more than 90 million jobs while generating some EUR 3.9 trillion in added value, make a vital contribution to economic growth, social cohesion and
Amendment 50 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the
Amendment 51 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the employee numbers is not a criterion which can be used to draw up for accurate EU-wide comparisons, as labour productivity varies from one Member State to another; underlines that SMEs may refrain from employing more people to prevent losing the SME status; stresses that this is contradictory to the EU focus on jobs and growth; welcomes, therefore, a shift towards the criteria of turnover and balance sheet totals;
Amendment 52 #
Paragraph 5 5.
Amendment 53 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the employee numbers is
Amendment 54 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the employee numbers is
Amendment 55 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that
Amendment 56 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that
Amendment 57 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the employee numbers is not a criterion which can
Amendment 58 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that
Amendment 59 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that
Amendment 6 #
Recital A a (new) Aa. whereas 90% of European SMEs and 93% of all EU companies in the non- financial business sector are micro firms, which contribute the largest share of value added and employment among SMEs as they employ approximately 30% of the European workforce and which thus need special attention;
Amendment 60 #
Paragraph 5 5. Points out that the employee numbers
Amendment 61 #
Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that there is a need to
Amendment 62 #
Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that there is a need to
Amendment 63 #
Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that there is a need to
Amendment 64 #
Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that there is a need to clarify
Amendment 65 #
Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that there is a need to clarify not only the terms ‘linked enterprise’ and ‘partner enterprise’ but also SMEs’ status in mergers and consortiums, and regards the simplification of procedures and the
Amendment 66 #
Paragraph 6 6. Stresses that there is a need to clarify not only the terms ‘linked enterprise’ and ‘partner enterprise’ but also SMEs’ status in mergers and consortiums,
Amendment 67 #
Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Calls on the Commission to support the aggregation of undertakings, particularly clusters and business networks, with the aim of promoting the rationalisation of costs and improvements to the exchange of knowledge and expertise, with particular reference to innovation relating to both products/services and processes.
Amendment 68 #
Paragraph 6 a (new) 6a. Believes that any future adjustments to the SME definition should be done in a manner that ensures the long term stability of the definition;
Amendment 69 #
Paragraph 7 Amendment 7 #
Recital B B. whereas SMEs are disproportionately affected by administrative burdens and financial obstacles by comparison with larger firms, and this impedes their competitiveness, exports, and job creation; whereas at EU and Member State level further efforts could be made to create an SME-friendly environment which go beyond the political pledges already given;
Amendment 70 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative; views the promotion of entrepreneurship as important for economic growth in the EU;
Amendment 71 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative;
Amendment 72 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative; views the promotion of entrepreneurship as important for economic growth in the EU;
Amendment 73 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative; views the promotion of entrepreneurship as important for economic growth in the EU;
Amendment 74 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative; views the promotion of entrepreneurship as important for economic growth in the EU;
Amendment 75 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative; views the promotion of entrepreneurship as important for economic growth in the EU;
Amendment 76 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative; views the promotion of entrepreneurship as important for economic growth in the EU; believes that special treatment should be applied to sole proprietorships, which lie almost wholly outside the scope of support measures; calls on the Commission to introduce a two-year transitional period during which enterprises which no longer qualify for SME status would retain that status;
Amendment 77 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative; views the promotion of entrepreneurship as important for economic growth in the EU; calls on the Commission to
Amendment 78 #
Paragraph 7 7. Welcomes the Commission’s start- up and scale-up initiative; views the promotion of entrepreneurship as important for economic growth in the EU; calls on the Commission to introduce a two-year transitional period during which
Amendment 79 #
Paragraph 7 a (new) 7a. Calls on the Commission to support SMEs operating specifically in the area of the social economy through its policies whose main driver is not economic viability but social benefit;
Amendment 8 #
Recital B B. whereas SMEs are disproportionately affected by administrative burdens and financial obstacles by comparison with larger firms and regardless of their organizational structure; whereas at EU
Amendment 80 #
Paragraph 8 Amendment 81 #
Paragraph 8 Amendment 82 #
Paragraph 8 8.
Amendment 83 #
Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic challenges and exploit economic opportunities at global level more effectively;
Amendment 84 #
Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic challenges and exploit economic opportunities at global level more effectively; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts in that area, without creating duplicate structures;
Amendment 85 #
Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic challenges and exploit economic opportunities at global level more effectively; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts in that area, without creating duplicate structures; calls, in that connection, for an assessment of the possibility of introducing an ‘Export growth in relation to enterprise size’ indicator
Amendment 86 #
Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic challenges and exploit economic opportunities at global level more effectively; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts in that area, without creating duplicate structures; calls
Amendment 87 #
Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be
Amendment 88 #
Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic
Amendment 89 #
Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic challenges and exploit economic opportunities at global level more effectively; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts in that area, without creating duplicate structures; calls, in that connection, for an ‘Export
Amendment 9 #
Recital B B. whereas SMEs are
Amendment 90 #
Paragraph 8 8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic challenges and exploit economic opportunities at global level more effectively; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts in that area, without creating duplicate structures; calls, in that connection, for an ‘Export
Amendment 91 #
Paragraph 9 Amendment 92 #
Paragraph 9 Amendment 93 #
Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 94 #
Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned of the fact that, despite the considerable contribution they make to employment and growth
Amendment 95 #
Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 96 #
Paragraph 9 9.
Amendment 97 #
Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned that, despite the
Amendment 98 #
Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned that, despite the considerable contribution they make to employment and growth by virtue of their productivity, small MidCaps (enterprises that have outgrown the SME definition but still have typically medium-sized structures) are being neglected by policy- makers; calls, therefore, for a definition to be established for these companies based on the criteria that they are family-run, have high equity ratio and employ up to
Amendment 99 #
Paragraph 9 9. Is concerned that, despite the considerable contribution they make to employment and growth by virtue of their productivity, MidCaps (enterprises that have outgrown the SME definition but still have typically medium-sized structures)
source: 619.091
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History
(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)
2018-09-12Show (6) Changes | Timetravel
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2018-06-15Show (5) Changes
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