1. EU REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR SMEs ACCESS to PUBLIC PROCUREMENT Doing business with the UN Århus, den 2.december 2009.

2. INTERREG IVC Programme. www.interreg4c.net www.interreg4c.net INTERREG IVC Programme is part of the European Territorial Cooperation Objective of the Structural Fund Policies for the Period 2007-2013. It aims, by means of interregional cooperation, to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies and contribute to economic modernisation and increased competitiveness of Europe. Priority 1 (Lisbon strategy): -Innovation and Knowledge Economy Innovation, Research and Technology Transfer. -Entrepreneurship and SMEs. -Information Society. -Employment, Human Resources and Education

3. EuroProc General Framework Spain Catalan Innovation & Internationalisation Agency Romania Regional Development Agency of Bucharest Hungary Hungarian Investment and Trade Development Agency Bulgaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vratsa Vratsa Regional Administration Czech Rep. Regional Council Moravia Silesia Poland The Upper Silesian Regional Development Agency Portugal Institute fir Enterprise Development of Madeira Denmark Business Link Central Denmark France Enterprise Rhône-Alpes International Italy Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Craft Trade and Agriculture of Milan

4. Partnership

5. EuroProc Background Public Procurement represents a market estimated at over 16% of the GDP of EU-27. Yet SMEs are not taking full advantage of the opportunities. Performance of SMEs is low and different among European regions (studies by DG Enterprise, DG Internal Market). Procurement market is competitive, specialized and time consuming for SMEs.

6. EuroProc objectives. GENERAL OBJECTIVE. To increase the competitiveness of EU regions and SMEs through the participation in EU tendering systems. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES. Improve the competitiveness and internationalisation of EU SMEs trough public procurement. Create a new business line for SMEs. Recognize and take advantage of the increasing business opportunities existing in public procurement. Change and adapt policy tools to facilitate SMEs participation in public procurement. Provide effective instruments of support in order to overcome the obstacles SMEs face when participating in public procurement markets.

7. EuroProc Tool Kit. Joint Conferences. Regional Dissemination Events. Newsletters. Brochures. Training Sessions. Thematic Seminars. Staff exchange. Site Visits Study Visits. Interregional Benchmarking research. Best Practice Guides. Thematic surveys. Pilot actions. Website: www.europroc.eu

8. Benchmarking Study. Objective: Identify and share best practices in Public Procurement amongst partners in order to provide the best instruments to SMEs. INFORMATION:Where SMEs can find funding opportunities? TRAINING:How SME should apply for EU funding? COACHING: How SME should work on the real application forms to get EU co-financing? LOBBYING:How regional institutions should represent SMEs to financing authorities?

9. Facts Kæmpesummer – 16% af BNP fra de 27 EU-lande 1.800 mia. € eller 1.800.000.000.000 € Svært at gennemskue, hvor meget er reelt 42% af værdien af kontrakter går til SMV`er 64% af antallet af kontrakter går til SMV`er 99% af virksomhederne i EU er SMV`er Bevågenhed fra udbydernes side – hvordan kan udbudene gøres lettere tilgængelige for SMV`er Fokus i fremtiden på sustainable public procurement – mål for fx. GPP

10. www.europroc.eu Contact details of EuroPROC partners. Information on funding opportunities. Newsletter. Deliverables: Benchmarking studies & surveys; Agenda of activities.