SMEs & Simplification: How the simplification agenda can deliver for SMEs

Key points

The EESC:

• stresses that simplification should be based on a comprehensive SME competitiveness approach that systematically assesses the cumulative impact of EU legislation, ensuring that new obligations remain proportionate, coherent and manageable, particularly for microenterprises and SMEs;
• calls for a stronger application of the ‘think small first’ principle throughout the entire EU legislative cycle, supported by mandatory SME and competitiveness checks before, during and after the adoption of new legislation;
• supports a significant acceleration of regulatory digitalisation, including the wider use of interoperable digital reporting systems, the once-only principle and AI-based compliance tools, while ensuring human oversight, cybersecurity and full respect for fundamental rights;
• urges for better SME access to venture capital, growth capital and alternative financing instruments, and efforts to address persistent challenges such as late payments, which continue to undermine business liquidity and resilience;
• calls for trade agreements and European economic diplomacy to place greater emphasis on SME internationalisation by facilitating market access, strengthening regulatory guidance and export support services, and promoting SME participation in international value chains through EU delegations, chambers of commerce and business support organisations;
• underlines that simplified access to vocational education, apprenticeships, lifelong learning and digital, AI (including AI literacy) and cybersecurity training should become an integral part of the SME strategy, with the full involvement of the social partners;
• considers continuous monitoring essential for ensuring that simplification delivers tangible benefits for SMEs and welcomes the establishment of the Simplification Platform to support simplification and burden reduction.