SMEs and Entrepreneurship Policy: European Actions for Women Entrepreneurs AER Conference on Women Entrepreneurship – Istanbul, March 25, March 2010 ANNA DANTI DG Enterprise and Industry, Unit E1, Entrepreneurship

What is Entrepreneurship? (Council Recommendation on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning COM(2005)548 Entrepreneurship refers to an individual’s ability to turn ideas into action (Commission)  creativity,  innovation  risk acceptance,  the ability to plan and manage projects in order to achieve objectives.

Promotion of Entrepreneurship Administrative procedures  Start-up procedures  License procedures  Bankruptcy & 2nd chance  Transfer of business Lisbon AgendaSmall Business Act (SBA) Charter/SBA conference Ease of access to finance  JEREMIE, EIB loans, CIP  GBER  FP7 Entrepreneurial spirit  ERASMUS  Female entrepreneurship  SME week  Entrepreneurship education Management capacitation  Mg. Capacity building

Desirability Source: Flash Eurobarometer 192, December January 2007 How desireable is it to become self-employed in the next 5 years?

Source: Flash Eurobarometer 192, December January 2007 Still a “classical” profile Desirability by social group

PROMOTING WOMEN ENTERPRENEURS IS WISE AND NECESSARY At the heart of the Lisbon strategy: ensure that the proportion of women in active employment exceeds 60% by 2010 The entrepreneurial potential of women constitutes an underdeveloped source of economic growth and of new jobs Women constitute, on average, 30% of entrepreneurs in the EU. (36% start-ups 20% industry) They often face greater difficulties than men in starting up businesses and in accessing finance and training. It is essential to provide women the support they need in order to start-up and manage their own enterprise.

1.THE EUROPEAN NETWORK TO PROMOTE WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP (WES) launched in June 2000 It is composed of government representatives responsible for the promotion of women entrepreneurship. It has 30 members from the European Union, EEA and candidate countries. Meetings twice a year Annual activity report Advice on future policy orientation

WES OBJECTIVES Raising the visibility of existing women entrepreneurs Create a climate that is favourable to woman entrepreneurs Increase the number of new women entrepreneurs Increase the size of existing women-led businesses

2. NETWORKING: CO-OPERATION WITH BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS Contacts and exchange of information, with many national business organisations of women entrepreneurs from all the EU 27 countries and also from abroad. For example:  FEM-UEAPME - Female Europeans of Small and Medium Enterprises  FCEM - The Worldwide Network of Women Business Owners  EWN - Eurochambres Women's Network etc.

3. WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP PORTAL Provides links to the websites of women entrepreneurs’ representative organisations, networks, projects and events that relate to the promotion of female entrepreneurship. The information on 5 areas:  National organisations of women entrepreneurs  International organisations of women entrepreneurs  Networks  Projects  Events related to women entrepreneurship

4. Small Business Act 1.Create an environment in which entrepreneurs and family businesses can thrive and entrepreneurship is rewarded This includes (politically binding principles) -the creation of the European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors -mentoring schemes for women to set-up their own business -encourage entrepreneurship amongst women graduates part of the entr. education call. 2.General Block Exemption Regulation on State Aids (GBER) (Legislative measures- already adopted) Enable state aid for small enterprises newly created by female entrepreneurs without DG COMP procedure up to €1M

THE EUROPEAN NETWORK OF FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMBASSADORS Launched on 5 October 2009 in Stockholm Currently has 10 European Countries as members:Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden Second call for proposals open to include remaining CIP countries (deadline 12 March 2010)

THE AMBASSADORS Serve as role models and highlight the role that women can play in creating jobs and promoting competitiveness. Promote entrepreneurship in schools, universities, community groups and the media, aiming to inspire women and young girls to set up their own businesses. Telling their own stories will help to raise confidence in setting up and creating successful businesses in all areas.

1/ ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION FOR WOMEN GRADUATES Project: EL, ES, IT, CY, UK The project main objectives are: to create the correct conditions for young female graduates and young women from ethnic minorities or immigrant backgrounds, to be encouraged to pursue entrepreneurship to produce an innovative and sustainable model of a full consultancy package to promote entrepreneurship 2/ MENTORING SCHEMES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS call Autumn 2010

STUDY ON WOMEN INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Data shows: No more than 8.3% of patents awarded by the European Patent Office are awarded to women. 20.3% of businesses started with venture capital belong to female entrepreneurs. In Europe 5%-15% of high-tech business is owned by women. Women score less than men when assessing the level of innovation of their own business (expl. process innovation: 4.1% women - 7.8% men; marketing innovation: 9.1% women % men).

Further results Women are lagging behind on innovative entrepreneurship and encounter specific challenges. Women’s ideas for innovation are as marketable as men’s, but… Innovative ideas are not recognised by predominantly male stakeholders. Stereotypes about women in innovative sectors and difficulties in balancing work and family still persist. Stakeholders not aware of women’s different needs and there are no measures attempting to attract women.

Dates: 25 May until 1 June 2010, but all events taking place in May & June and responding to its objectives can join 37 countries participating: EU27 + Albania, Croatia, FYROM, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Turkey & Serbia Main tool is a website Female entrepreneurship is a topic identified on the website  Please feel free to get in contact with your NCs and plan events in your country!

CONTACTS WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE EUROPEAN NETWOR OF FEMALE ENTREPRE NEURSHIP AMBASSADORS NETWORK FEMALE ENTR AMBASSADORS NETWORK entrepreneurship/women/ambassadors/index_en.htm ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK ON LINE TOOL FOR SME FUNDING