Competitiveness Programme

EESC opinion: Competitiveness Programme

Key points:

  • The EESC endorses the COSME programme's general objectives yet notes that it does not take account of the demands put forward in the SBA opinion.
  • The EESC calls for the programme to address all businesses and to focus its resources on essential priorities.
  • The EESC also proposes an action to improve legislation, particularly through the creation of an "office of advocacy", which will aim to ensure that the legislation takes greater account of the realities facing small enterprises.
  • Lastly, the EESC stresses that there is an insufficient level of governance partnership in the proposal. It draws the attention of the European Parliament and the Council to the need to strengthen the partnership with SME representative organisations in line with other EU programmes.
  • The EESC feels that the proposed budget will not be sufficient to implement the measures that are required to support the long-term activities and development of SMEs. The EESC calls on the European Commission to clarify the budgetary distribution of the programme (other than financial instruments) and to include a detailed breakdown of the financial resources allocated to each activity within the programme.

Earlier EESC opinions:

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