Wolfgang PAPE DG ENTR A2 International Affairs SME Support Abroad Which role for the EU?

Opportunities for SMEs on international market Improved 1.Competitiveness 2. Capacity for Innovation 3. Productivity 4. Increase of turnover

Challenges for SMEs on international market Lack of financial means and personal skills Need for help Evaluation of opportunities abroad Collection of necessary information Market-specific performance

Support for SMEs abroad Market Access Strategy (Market Access Teams) EU‚ ‚Gateway‘ Programmes (Japan, S.Korea) Enterprise Europe Network Eurochambres European Business Organisations (EBOs) EU Business Support Centres (India, China) Assistance by Member States and private actors

Numerous initiatives at various levels Differences in assistance provided by individual Member States Lack of coordination in promoting SMEs: overlapping of private actors, Member States and EU level –too complicated and hard to follow up Dilemma for SMEs

Better overview and coherent strategy Coordination with already existing actors and offers on various markets –Involving existing structures –Close cooperation with local partners In the meantime: Introduction of criteria for initiatives at EU level –Avoiding duplication –Focus on expertise/“ added value“ of EU Objectives of the Commission

EU criteria for SME support abroad 1.Complementarity –Avoiding overlaps and duplication of already existing measures by Member States private actors –Filling gaps on the market or strengthening existing measures –Cooperation and continuity of existing assistance and interest groups

2.Sustainability –EU support in case of sufficient general demand and ongoing need on the market –Support by experts on specific themes (“added value” of EU), i.e. on standards, regulations, intellectual property rights (IPR) –New initiatives should aim to be as far as possible self- financed EU criteria for SME support abroad

3.Efficiency of use of public funds –EU financed measures should be conducted as efficiently as possible Financial support rather for existing measures than for introduction of new SME Centres Analysis of existing local assistance/organisations – exchange with local actors Learning from economic actors EU criteria for SME support abroad

Current initiatives at EU level should follow the criteria Caution with new initiatives until Communication/Strategy Better internal coordination among the services Conduction of studies on internationalisation of SMEs (challenges, needed assistance from the EU etc.) Current situation

Evaluation of studies Consultation of stakeholders –Expectations of EU contribution in third countries Mid-2011: Communication on an EU Strategy for the support of SMEs in third countries Next steps

1.Market access assistance: –Information on individual markets: data-banks, seminars, training –Advise for registration, financing, IPR etc. –Provision of experts on specific themes 2.Contacts: –Networking/matchmaking among local enterprises and stakeholders 3.Cooperation: –Overview of measures, i.e. Internetportal coordination/networking of Member States, EU Delegations etc. Tasks and possible division of labour according to local demand/supply