Description (short summary):
The 'Small Business Act' for Europe (SBA) reflects the Commission's political will to recognise the central role of SMEs in the EU economy and for the first time puts into place a comprehensive SME policy framework for the EU and its Member States.

It aims to improve the overall approach to entrepreneurship, to irreversibly anchor the "Think
Small first" principle in policy making from regulation to public service, and to promote SMEs' growth by helping them tackle the remaining problems which hamper their development.

The Small Business Act for Europe applies to all companies which are independent and have fewer than 250 employees: 99% of all European businesses.

The document is a set of 10 principles which should guide the conception and implementation of
policies both at EU and national level. This is essential to create a level playing field for SMEs throughout the EU and improve the administrative and legal environment to allow these enterprises to release their full potential to create jobs and growth.

The main aims of the SBA are:

• to create an environment within which entrepreneurs can thrive and
  entrepreneurship is rewarded;
• to design rules according to the "Think Small First Principle";
• to adapt public policy tools to SME needs;
• to facilitate SMEs' access to finance;
• to help SMEs to benefit more from the opportunities offered by the Single Market and third-country markets.

Number of pages: 22