To understand the needs of entrepreneurs and help them in the best way possible, Renew Europe has created a SMEs Taskforce. This Taskforce makes sure that the Group is constantly in touch with entrepreneurs to transmit their ideas and needs into concrete legislative action.

The main goals of the Taskforce are:

• Fighting for a well-functioning internal market with strong SMEs
• Placing a strong focus on national recovery plans supporting SMEs, while urging Member States to facilitate private investments in connection to the projects funded by the European recovery plan, by lifting all unnecessary obstacles that would prevent SMEs and entrepreneurs from accessing the relevant funding
• Accelerating the digitalisation of public services, to relieve SMEs from unnecessary long and complicated procedures, in particular by implementing the ‘once only principle’
• Ensuring a genuinely SME-friendly legislative environment, in which they can harness the opportunities of innovation, digitalisation and internationalisation
• Promoting the SME window in the InvestEU programme that should serve as the main tool in the EU’s arsenal to directly finance SMEs
• Deepening the Capital Markets Union as a unique opportunity to increase investments in SMEs
• Ensuring a reduction of red tape for EU level measures via the implementation of the “one-in one-out” principle for bureaucratic burdens
• Facilitating access to public and private finance and encouraging a diversification of funding sources
• Supporting the digitalisation of SMEs including in terms of digital finance and financial literacy
• Easing the green transition of SMEs, whose role is fundamental to reach the EU target of climate neutrality in 2050, via the Sustainability Advisors provided by the European Commission’s European Enterprises Network

Together, Renew Europe aims to be the main ally of SMEs in the European Parliament. Because SMEs might be small in size, but they are big in impact!

Martina Dlabajová MEP (ANO 2011, CZ) Renew Europe SME Taskforce Chair said:

“I am proud to be the Chair of the permanent SME Taskforce established by the Renew Europe Group. Our political family has the promotion and support of a business-friendly policy at its heart. Our Taskforce brings together members from various countries with experience in all policy sectors that are relevant for SMEs.

We combine talent, skills and expertise to optimise European legislation for SMEs. Therefore, they can develop their business in fair competition with larger players in the field. Our goal is to enable Europe’s SMEs to unleash their full potential.

Our motto is simple: “Always think small first”- because no company was born big.”

🛍️@Mdlabajova: "Our European economy is strongly based on the success of #SMEs. If we want them to flourish & further unleash talent, entrepreneurship & growth, we policymakers cannot ever forget that no company was born big." #StateoftheSMEsUnion #Renew4SMEs #ThinkSmallFirst pic.twitter.com/kH9ZJGuX8K

— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) June 7, 2021

Photo credit: Mathieu Cugnot, European Parliament 2022