Best Procedures EUproject2006

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ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 2001-2006
WORK PROGRAMME 2006
As approved by the EPMC on 24 November 2005 and 9 March 2006
June 2006
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Table of contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 1: Enhancing the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based international economy .............................................................................................. 6 ENT/MAP/06/1.1 - e-Business Policy Network (eBPN)......................................................... 7 ENT/MAP/06/1.3 Reinforcing synergies between public policies in support of e-business for SMEs................................................................................................................ 11 ENT/MAP/06/1.4 Sectoral e-Business W@tch .................................................................. 15 ENT/MAP/06/1.5 Supporting internationalisation of SMEs (Best) .................................... 19 ENT/MAP/06/1.6 - European Best Tourism Practices ........................................................ 22 ENT/MAP/06/1.7 - European Productivity Conference 2006 ............................................... 25 ENT/MAP/06/1.8 - Conference Going Global: the Challenges for Knowledge-Based Economies.............................................................................................................. 29 ENT/MAP/06/1.9 - Benchmarking sectoral policy initiatives in support of e-Business for SMEs ..................................................................................................................... 33 ENT/MAP/06/1.10 - Benchmarking commercially available e-Business solutions and services for SMEs................................................................................................................ 37 CHAPTER 2: Promoting Entrepreneurship .......................................................................... 40 ENT/MAP/06/2.1 Package of improved communication links with SME stakeholders...... 41 ENT/MAP/06/2.2 European Enterprise awards ................................................................. 45 ENT/MAP/06/2.3 Conference on entrepreneurship education ........................................... 49 ENT/MAP/06/2.4 - Promoting entrepreneurship in the audio-visual media .......................... 52 ENT/MAP/06/2.5 Study on start-up procedures in europe................................................. 55 ENT/MAP/06/2.6 Eurobarometer on entrepreneurial attitudes........................................... 58 CHAPTER 3: Simplifying and improving the administrative and regulatory framework for business, in particular to promote research, innovation and business creation ......... 61 ENT/MAP/06/3.1 - Models to reduce the disproportionate regulatory burden on SMEs (Best)62 ENT/MAP/06/3.2 - Requirements for accounting systems from the point of view of Small enterprises .............................................................................................................. 65 ENT/MAP/06/3.3 - Benchmarking Policies on e-Skills Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships....... 68 ENT/MAP/06/3.4 - European ICT Skills and Career Portal.................................................. 71 CHAPTER 4: Improving the financial environment for business, especially SMEs ............. 74
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ENT/MAP/06/4.1 - Financial Instruments for SMEs ............................................................ 75 ENT/MAP/06/4.2 Towards a more efficient market in SME finance ................................. 78 CHAPTER 5: Giving business easier access to Community support services, programmes and networks and improving the co-ordination of these facilities .................................. 82 ENT/MAP/06/5.1 - The Euro Info Centre Network and the Rationalisation of Business Support Networks................................................................................................... 83 ENT/MAP/06/5.2 Conference on Crafts and Small Enterprise............................................ 88 CHAPTER 6: Other Actions ................................................................................................ 91 ENT/MAP/06/6.1 Dissemination of information on the European Charter for Small Enterprises ............................................................................................................. 92 ENT/MAP/06/6.2 Enterprise Europe Newsletter and Web publishing programme............. 95 Budget Overview WP 2006.................................................................................................. 97
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INTRODUCTION
This work programme contains the actions and measures that the Enterprise and Industry Directorate General will undertake during the prolongation of the Multiannual Programme (MAP) for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 2006.1 The actions are presented under 6 chapter headings, which correspond to the 6 Areas of Action defined in the Decision adopting the MAP prolongation. Annexed to the work programme is a budget overview of the projects and their budget envelopes. As in previous years, the MAP budget will be implemented through three instruments: The MAP Financial instruments aim to help bridge some of the gaps or failures in capital markets for start-up companies and SMEs, for example in the provision of loan guarantees and risk capital. Poor access to appropriate forms of finance is frequently quoted as a main barrier to entrepreneurship and enterprise innovation.2 The financial instruments will ease the supply of debt capital and equity to innovative companies. These initiatives are managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF). Independent evaluations have identified the marked-based approach and the implementation of the financial instruments via the EIF as a best practice.3 The Euro Info Centres (EICs) form the principal business support network under MAP, providing information, advice and assistance on a wide range of Community issues. To help SMEs find their way through the different services from the different service providers at their disposal the Commission launched the b2europe initiative which essentially consists of signposting and mutual referral and information between service providers. In 2006 efforts will be undertaken to inform potential network partners about the new arrangements for business support services under the future Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007-13). The Policy Development Projects cover all MAP objectives. The projects cover issues that are regularly addressed in the MAP annual work programmes such as ebusiness policy, statistics on SME uptake of ICT, enhance competitiveness in the tourism sector, reduce regulatory burden and SME access to finance. In 2006 a particular focus will be put on the follow-up of the Entrepreneurship Action Plan and the new SME Communication. Projects will support work in the entrepreneurship and enterprise policy fields through the identification and exchange of best practices, surveys and analysis, dissemination actions and conferences. In 2006 there will also be a special emphasis on visibility and dissemination, with several actions consisting principally of conferences or prizes.
Decision of the European Parliament and the Council of 18th July 2005 (COM(2004)781) amending Council Decision of 20 December 2000 (2000/819/EC). 2 Flash Eurobarometer No 160 on Attitudes to Entrepreneurship 3 Strategic evaluation of financial assistance schemes to SMEs, Deloitte & Touche, Final report December 2003
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The actions have been prepared in the context of the continued efforts to achieve the goals of the Lisbon agenda and keeping in mind the policy approach to small enterprises established in the European Charter. The actions will both complement and continue the activities of previous years. Where appropriate they will be implemented in co-operation with national administrations and other stakeholders (e.g. by using the open method of co-ordination or the Best methodology). All actions described in this work programme are open to the all countries participating in the prolongation of the programme in 2006.
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CHAPTER 1: ENHANCING THE GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS OF BUSINESS IN A KNOWLEDGE-BASED INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY
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ENT/MAP/06/1.1 - E-BUSINESS POLICY NETWORK (EBPN)

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION The purpose of the eBPN is to continue and to develop the operation of the European ebusiness support network4 (eBSN), established in 2003, in order to reinforce the networking, exchange of information and knowledge on public policies and public-private partnerships in support of e-business for SMEs. This action aims at enabling these goals and at providing technical assistance to the functioning of the eBPN. JUSTIFICATION This is the latest of a series of activities, carried out under MAP from 2001 onwards under the names of Go Digital5 and eBSN (cf. MAP 5.2./2002). The Council welcomed the intention of the Commission to set up the eBSN in its conclusions of 13 May 2003, as a means to bring together e-business policy makers at European, national and regional levels to foster the exchange of experience and information. The eBSN has experienced constant growth. At present, it has more than 170 members, covering all Member States and Candidate Countries. Although it is too early to evaluate the current action, feedback from national and regional e-business policy-makers has been strongly favourable. Continuation of Community support for such action, focused on integration of ICT in business processes6, is clearly expected. The Lisbon objectives require continued monitoring and analyses of sectoral developments in ICT uptake. Central Policy Area No 6 deals with facilitating ICT uptake across the European economy: to contribute to this objective, policy-makers benefit from cooperation and exchange of good policy practices, which is the objective of the eBPN (ex. eBSN). Similarly, in Central Policy Area No 7 Contributing to a strong European industrial base, such analysis is needed when distinguishing the key sectors to fully exploit the technological advantages. The same demands arise in Guideline No 9, addressed to Member States, encouraging the widespread use of ICT. The horizontal DG priority, strengthening of the European industrial and economic base, requires coordination, promotion and best practice dissemination, as proposed within the remit of the eBPN. Failure in the uptake and exploitation of ICT has repeatedly been identified as the key weakness. The proposed eBPN is directly targeted on this problem. Enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy Successful e-business models and top-class small
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http://www.e-bsn.org/portal/home.do Commission Communication, Helping SMEs Go Digital, COM(2001)136 Final 13 March 2001. 6 Commission Communication Adapting e-business policies in a changing environment: the lessons of go digital and the challenges ahead, COM (2003)148 Final 27 March 2003.
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CONTEXT Several MAP projects have been approved (cf. most recently MAP 1.2./2005 and MAP 6.3./2005) since the establishment of eBSN and there has also been support from the Competitiveness budget line. Expenses for workshops in question have been covered also by the general budget line for administrative costs. Steady support for these activities from a single source would be administratively efficient. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The current European e-Business Support Network (eBSN) consists of national and regional policy-makers in the field of e-business. Its main actions include the meetings of the Steering Group (2 3 per annum), supervising this initiative and contributing to the development of policy recommendations, as well as the workshops (3 4 per annum), also open for the public. In addition, the eBSN portal functions as a collaboration platform for the members of the network. Moreover, grants have been directed to support the relevant activities of the eBSN members. The proposed eBPN should continue and enhance Community level support to networking currently carried out in eBSN. This project would cover up to 3 Steering Group meetings and up to 4 workshops per annum, plus continue with grants, whose scope should be defined annually: for the year 2006, the projects Enhancing the cooperation between ICT suppliers and SMEs at regional level (0.0./2006) and Reinforcing synergies between public policies in support of e-business for SMEs (0.0./2006) have now been proposed simultaneously (cf. their respective fiches). The proposed eBPN will focus on sectoral and regional challenges to ICT uptake, better cooperation between ICT suppliers and SMEs, exchange of good e-business policies, and on establishing and developing international contacts with a view to exploiting international experience. Since the main focus of the action will be directed to policy-making, it is proposed to change the name to European e-Business Policy Network (eBPN). OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: To reinforce the networking, exchange of information and knowledge on public policies and public-private partnerships in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public policies promoting the use of e-business by SMEs. Operational objectives: To organise up to 3 meetings per annum with representatives from the MAP participating countries and national and regional e-business initiatives, forming the Steering Group of eBPN; To organise up to 4 thematic workshops per annum; To collect and present information material about existing policy initiatives helping SMEs to efficiently integrate ICT in their business processes. (e.g. background information about regional and national e-business policy initiatives, statistical data about the take-up of e-
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business among European SMEs, examples of best practice, news, announcements, articles, etc.). PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES The eBPN is expected to function multi-annually from 2006 onwards. The annual administrative activities, to be funded for 2006 on the basis of this project fiche, would entail up to 3 meetings of the eBPN Steering Group, up to 4 thematic workshops and continued technical assistance notably for timely collection and dissemination of relevant information by the Commission services, eventually by a call for tenders. PROJECT COSTS 260.000 (for the meetings per annum), based on the following indicative estimations:
Action Number Unit costs BA Meetings of the eBPN Steering Group eBPN thematic workshops Technical assistance Total Up to 3 Up to 4 1,5 20.000 20.000 80.000 60.000 60.000 80.000 120.000 200.000 Total Budget B
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES The members of the eBSN Steering Group, which are representatives of the EU Member States, Candidate countries and EFTA/EEA countries, will be asked to steer and actively support the work of the eBPN, by providing policy directions, information, and knowledge in this field.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
CATEGORY INDICATOR(S) Number of e-business support policy initiatives participating in the eBPN (be it from business organisations, SME support networks, public sector, public-private partnerships, etc.); Number of hits on the web site; Up to 3 Steering Group meetings and up to 4 workshops. Documentation and dissemination of policy practices; Number of downloads per country of the best practice compilation
1. Participation
2. Deliverables quantity 3. Deliverables quality
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from the eBSN portal.
4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness
Timely delivery of the expected deliverables; Level of budget deviation against the initial plan. Number of new policy ideas and/or cross-border synergies between different initiatives inspired by the participation in the eBPN; Number of eBPN members manifesting concrete benefits from their participation to the eBPN (be it transfer of knowledge, new perceptions for e-business policies, new ideas for cross-border policies, etc.) through a questionnaire designed for this purpose.
Unit in charge: ENTR/D.4 Ms Dana Eleftheriadou
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ENT/MAP/06/1.3 REINFORCING SYNERGIES BETWEEN PUBLIC POLICIES IN SUPPORT OF E-BUSINESS FOR SMES
Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: Enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based international economy Successful e-business models and top-class small business support
TYPE OF ACTION Call for proposals aiming at supporting the exchange of information and building synergies among public policies in support of e-business for SMEs, all over the world. JUSTIFICATION The Go Digital initiative7 has clearly demonstrated on the one hand the increased interest of the SMEs for the opportunities offered by e-business and possibilities and on the other hand the lack of awareness amongst them on these same opportunities. The European Charter for SMEs stresses the importance of Making use of successful ebusiness models and developing top-class small business support. With the objective of better assisting SMEs in grasping the full benefits from e-business many efficient e-business policies have been developed at national/regional/local level. In order to foster and support the exchange of practical experience and identify future policy challenges, the Commission services have already established the European e-business support network (eBSN8), a network of public policy initiatives in Europe, promoting the uptake of e-business by SMEs. The eBSN comprises currently more than 170 regional and national e-business policy initiatives from 29 countries. Recently, the eBSN members stressed their interest in policy exchange and building synergies also with third countries, which they believe would be very enriching experience; they asked DG Enterprise to facilitate such policy exchanges. CONTEXT The establishment of the eBSN, in 2003, was the first step in networking public policy makers in the filed of e-business policies for SMEs at European level. The eBSN represents policy initiatives from all EU, EFTA and EEA countries. A call for proposals was launched recently on Supporting Best Practice exchange of ebusiness policies for SMEs, with a view to reinforcing the exchange of information and cross-border policy synergies in the e-business field (cf. MAP 1.2./2005). In this context,
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Commission Communication, Helping SMEs Go Digital, COM(2001)138, 13 March 2001. http://www.e-bsn.org/portal/home.do
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several eBSN members informed the Commission about the needs to increase the geographical scope of such actions to encompass also their efforts to build synergies with third countries, like Canada, the US, India, China, etc. This continuous interest demonstrates that, in a global economy and especially in areas like e-business, policy exchanges and synergies should thus clearly be eligible for Community support more widely than before. This project is proposed to be launched within the framework of eBPN (European e-Business Policy Network), about which a project (ENT/MAP/06/1.1) has now been proposed simultaneously (cf. its respective fiche). DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT In order to share practical policy experience, encourage the exchange of best practice in ebusiness policies, bring together policy makers who design national and regional initiatives in support of e-business and SME support networks, all around the globe, a new call for proposals is planned under MAP 2006. The call for proposals will be launched on the basis of cooperation and partnership arrangements between e-business policy makers and/or SME support networks. The joint actions will be formed by at least two partners, with at least one being an EU Member State, Candidate country, or EFTA/EEA country, with a view to transferring knowledge from a successful e-business policy practice exercised by one of the partners to the other one. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives The general objective of this grant theme is to further promote the exchange of information and experience between public funded policies in support of e-business for SMEs, with a special focus on reinforcing policy exchanges between the EU and third countries. The specific objectives are therefore to: increase cooperation among public authorities, SME support networks and publicprivate partnerships in the filed of e-business promotion; improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public policies in support of promoting ebusiness for SMEs; reinforce cross border networking raise awareness about available e-business policies
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Operational objectives To enter into grant agreements with beneficiaries who enter into joint actions with partners, at least one being an EU Member State, Candidate country, or EFTA/EEA country, designed to transferring knowledge from a successful e-business policy practice exercised by one of the partners to the other one. disseminate the results through the eBSN portal
PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES The expected duration of the project will be 12 months. March 20069 Publication of the call for proposals for reinforcing synergies between public policies in support of e-business for SMEs Evaluation and selection of proposals Signature of grant agreements Implementation of the joint actions Final reports by the beneficiairies presenting the overall results
May 2006 August 2006 September 2006 February 2007 March 2007
PROJECT COSTS The overall project cost is expected to be 900.000 .

ACTION NUMBER Approx. 6 grant agreements UNIT COSTS Max. 150.000 per grant agreement TOTAL BUDGET 900.000
Reinforcing synergies between public policies in support of ebusiness for SMEs

Total
900.000
NB: The Community contribution cannot exceed 50% of the eligible costs of each grant agreement, and in any case cannot exceed 150.000 EUR. SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES It is expected that Member States, EEAEFTA States and Acceding and Candidate Countries strengthen their efforts to encourage broader participation in this initiative. In
To be published immediately after the adoption of the Grants Work Programme 2006.
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particularly, they might be requested to participate in the e-business joint actions planned further, promoting the adoption of best practice. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
CATEGORY INDICATOR(S)
1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity
Number of organisations participating. Final report summarising and assessing the activities.
3. Deliverables quality
Documentation and dissemination of good policy practices; Number of downloads per country of the final reports from the eBSN portal.
4. Implementation
Timely delivery of the expected deliverables; Respect of budget with regard to the initial plan.
5. Effectiveness
Number of national or regional initiatives further disseminating and/or participating in the joint policy schemes;
Unit in charge: ENTR/ D.4 Ms Dana Eleftheriadou
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ENT/MAP/06/1.4 SECTORAL E-BUSINESS W@TCH

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: support TYPE OF ACTION Information gathering and analysis on e-business developments in companies form different sectors and size-classes in the EU. The action will also involve the identification of policy challenges and recommendations, as well as relevant dissemination activities. JUSTIFICATION The Lisbon objectives require continued monitoring and analyses of sectoral developments in ICT uptake. Central Policy Area No 6 deals with facilitating ICT uptake across the European economy: to contribute to this objective, policy-makers require up-date, thoroughly elaborated information on the most recent developments in this field. Similarly, in Central Policy Area No 7 Contributing to a strong European industrial base, such analysis is needed when distinguishing the key sectors to fully exploit the technological advantages. The same demands arise in Guideline No 9, addressed to Member States, encouraging the widespread use of ICT. The results of such action will also provide valuable insights into both demand and supply sides of the ICT sectors. The horizontal DG priority, strengthening of the European industrial and economic base, requires such monitoring and analysis. Failure in the uptake and exploitation of ICT has repeatedly been identified as the key weakness. The proposed Sectoral e-Business Watch is directly targeted on this problem. CONTEXT The e-Business W@tch (eBW) was launched in late 2001 (MAP 4.11./2001) and its 1st phase was implemented under a service contract until mid-summer 2003. Following a renewed mandate by the Competitiveness Council of 13.5.2003 to further analyse and benchmark progress in ICT and e-business, the 2nd phase of the eBW (MAP 1.3./2002 and 1.2./2004) began in July 2003 under a new service contract which could be extended until end 2006. The evaluation of the current phase of the eBW contract (cf. also MAP 1.2./2004) has just been finalised and the evaluators strongly support continuation of a similar initiative, with a scope taking into account new developments and focusing on areas where policy challenges are most acute notably on micro and small businesses and lagging sectors. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The proposed action will focus on monitoring and analysing the ICT uptake and its impact on the competitiveness of European companies in selected sectors and specific size-classes. It will build on the current eBW, taking account of recommendations from its recent evaluation. Enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy Successful e-business models and top-class small business
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It will concentrate on issues of special interest for e-business, building on the annual Community statistics on enterprises and the information society based on Regulation (EC) No 808/2004 and other existing data sources or ad hoc surveys. It will also develop international comparisons. Topics for analysis will be identified with the help of appointed experts for the (5-10) sectors selected who will also review the results. It will work closely with the Sectoral Innovation Scoreboard project (which has a broader remit and less frequency). The action will be repeated on a periodic basis (of 14-16 months), following a bottom-up approach: Firstly, the specific sub-sectors, size classes and topics to be studied will be identified with the help of the appointed experts, based on existing eBW material. Then, data will be identified and collected using a variety of methods (surveys, secondary sources and face-to-face interviews). Subsequently, this data will be enriched with non-statistical information (market evolution, new developments, etc). Eventually, the collected information will be analysed and presented in respective sectoral or thematic reports, which would in turn be discussed with the respective experts and in relevant workshops. This dynamic approach will be used to achieve an in-depth view of e-business uptake in various sectors of the European Union, the EEA and the Candidate Countries. As a result, the Commission will be fed with periodic updates both at macro- and microeconomic level, including policy analysis and recommendations based on sound and upto-date data, market and economic analysis. These periodic reports will be disseminated to Member States, industry and sectoral associations and will also be publicly available through the projects and the Commissions Europa web-server. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) The overall mission of the eBW would be to monitor and analyse the diffusion and usage of ICT for conducting business in enterprises from different sectors of the European economy, and to evaluate / assess the economic and policy implications of this development. This mission is broken down into the following primary objectives: To present a concise and analytical picture of the developments and impacts of e-business in the sectors covered, based on sound economic analysis and leading to relevant policy recommendations; To intensify the dialogue with stakeholders from industry and policy institutions, as well as from the research community, on e-business developments and to provide a forum for debating on relevant issues; To compile and make publicly available up-to-date information on the state of ICT adoption and e-business application in European enterprises from different sectors. Primary objectives are, in turn, supported by the following secondary objectives: To ensure that the SME dimension is given high priority; To integrate quantitative and qualitative research methods in the analysis of sectoral ebusiness developments; To move from descriptive statistics to a more in-depth analysis of relations and impacts at the sectoral level To act as a "think-tank" which explores special aspects of electronic business (in the form of Special Reports and Briefings);
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To liaise with relevant stakeholders and to organise events and/or workshops to disseminate, discuss and valorise the results of the analysis. The operational objectives are therefore: To enter into a service contract with a supplier who will organise the surveys, analyse the data collected, and manage the relevant web-page To organise expert groups whose members will analyse the accuracy of the data. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES The foreseen duration for each phase of the proposed action is 14-16 months (preceded by at least 6 months of preparatory / administrative activities, starting in December 2005). Commitment is foreseen for the last quarter of 2006 and actual implementation will start in late 2006 / early 2007: Preparation of the Call for Tenders Launching the Call for Tenders Signature of the contract Preparatory activities Implementation Packaging the final report Completion of the 1st phase of the project PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 2.000.000 per annum, based on the following indicative estimations:
ACTION Planning and co-ordination Data and information collection NUMBER 1 Up to 10 UNIT COSTS 100.000 Aver. 80.000 Aver. 90.000 Aver. 20.000 TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) 100.000 800.000
December 2005 - March 2006 April - May 2006 November 2006 December 2006 February 2007 February - December 2007 January - February 2008 March 2008
Reporting and analysis
Up to 10
900.000
Dissemination activities
Up to 10
200.000
Total
2.000.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES The up-to-date results of the currently implemented eBW have been used in the preparation of various policy initiatives and Commission documents, and have generated the interest of the policy-making and research communities across Europe.
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The implementation of the next eBW foresees that feedback will continue to be collected via the regular organisation of roundtables and workshops, as well as through a network of experts. This feedback will be reflected into the sectoral, thematic and other reports, as well as in the policy documents prepared on their basis. Participating Countries are, therefore, asked to encourage the participation of national, regional and sectoral representatives in the aforementioned network and events, as well as in other relevant initiatives launched by DG Enterprise & Industry like the eBSN. Participating Countries are also asked to support the dissemination of the results of the eBW at the national level through relevant national, local or sectoral initiatives. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
CATEGORY INDICATOR(S) DURING EACH IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD
1. Participation
At least 2 external representatives in each experts panel; Successful organisation of an annual event with at least 50 participants, as well as of at least 4 specific workshops with at least 20 participants in each of them; At least 10 presentations in conferences and events organised by third parties. At least one report per sector / topic studied (minimum 5, maximum 10 sectors / topics to be covered); Number of case studies presented (min 5 per sector / topic) ; A Synthesis Report (summarising the results of each sectoral / thematic report) to be printed in at least 1.500 copies; The eBW website. Completeness and coverage of primary (direct interviews / case studies) and secondary information sources; Functionality and user-friendliness of the web-site; Degree of integration of different sources for the various sectors and countries to extract meaningful data and conclusions for policy; Clarity and detail of impact analysis; Identification of policy implications, in particular with regard to SME- and/or sector-specific issues; Proposal of new indicators and indices for measuring e-business impact. Timeliness, completeness and quality of all deliverables; Deviation from initial time and cost plans. At least 2 references in relevant major policy documents; - At least 5 references in research and / or other publications; - Distribution of at least 750 copies of the Synthesis Report within 3 months after its publication.
2. Deliverables quantity
Unit in charge: ENTR/ D.4 Mr. Georgios Karageorgos
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ENT/MAP/06/1.5 SUPPORTING INTERNATIONALISATION OF SMES (BEST)

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Meetings with experts from participating countries, identification and exchange of good practices. JUSTIFICATION SMEs still depend largely on their domestic markets despite the opportunities offered by the enlarged single market and the decreasing trade barriers worldwide. Only 1/5 of SMEs have exports and only 3% of SMEs have subsidiaries, branches or joint ventures abroad. Obstacles to internationalisation include language and cultural differences, differences in the regulatory and legislative environment and lack of knowledge of business opportunities. Extending their activities abroad is also a big additional investment for SMEs. Therefore, they need support in taking this step. Internationalisation reinforces growth of enterprises as it leads to a better competitive position. On the other hand, growth-oriented firms tend to be present internationally earlier. The EPG has identified internationalisation of SMEs as a priority area for action in its meeting of September. The project is also linked to the Lisbon Action Plan priority area Extend and deepen the internal market and the Charter Action line nine More out of the single market. CONTEXT/BACKGROUND The SME Observatory has carried out a project in 2003 on the internationalisation of SMEs and another project is foreseen for 2006 analysing the problems SMEs face in internationalisation. The proposed project will build upon the analysis performed in these previous projects and focus on policy alternatives to support internationalisation of SMEs. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT This project will examine the policies of the Member States to support internationalisation of SMEs in particular as regards other EU countries but also expansion to third countries. The enlarged single market has created new opportunities for companies both in the old and the new Member States. Also, the decreasing trade barriers worldwide have created new opportunities for companies to expand to third country markets. However, small businesses have more difficulties in overcoming the remaining obstacles to start operating abroad. Supporting this process does not represent distortion of competition but merely helps SMEs to reach a level playing field. To enhance growth and competitiveness of business More out of the single market
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With the help of an expert group, the aim of the project is to identify existing policies that encourage and support SMEs to draw the full benefit from increased opportunities in the European Internal Market and from decreasing trade barriers worldwide. Good practice cases will be highlighted. Finally, the project will provide recommendations on how public policies can support SMEs efforts to achieve international growth and to have a more European and international orientation. The Euro Info Centre network as well as research done by the SME Observatory will be used as sources of information on problems faced by SMEs in internationalisation. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: - to identify and exchange good practices in the participating countries - to promote internationalisation of SMEs and understanding of how this process can be promoted Operational Objectives: To produce a report of the expert group and a brochure identifying best practices in promoting internationalisation of SMEs
PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Autumn 2006; December 2006: 2007: First expert group meeting Second expert group meeting (provided draft report of SME Observatory project is available) Two expert group meetings Final report and brochure PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 151.000, based on the following indicative estimations: Action Number Unit costs (EUR) BA
Expert meetings Translation of brochure 4 1 20.000 36.000 80.000 36.000
Total Budget (EUR) B
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Action
Printing of brochure
Number
1
Unit costs (EUR)

35.000 80.000
Total Budget (EUR)

35.000 71.000 151.000
Total SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES
Participation in four expert group meetings in Brussels. Participants will be asked to provide information on existing policies promoting internationalisation of SMEs, the factors behind success and recommendations for future action in this area.
INDICATOR 1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity TYPE OF MEASURABLE Number of countries participating in the exercise Publication of final report from the expert group, including the main
conclusions and recommendations for policy and of a brochure indicating best practices Has the expert group provided sufficient information on the policy options available for supporting the internationalisation of SMEs? Has it provided a comprehensive picture of factors of success and failure of the policies? Has the final report provided a comprehensive picture of the successful policy options and examples of good practice? Has the brochure provided a comprehensive picture of good practice? In general, does the amount of information provided give raise to substantial policy conclusions, supported by evidence?
4. Implementation
Is the work contributing substantially to improve the knowledge of this topic and to disseminate the relevant information? Is the action having an impact in supporting the exchange of goo practice and influencing policy-making?
5. Effectiveness
Short term; uptake of measures by participating countries Long term; contribution to increasing internationalisation of European SMEs
Unit in charge: ENTR/E.1 Ms Heidi Hiltunen
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ENT/MAP/06/1.6 - EUROPEAN BEST TOURISM PRACTICES

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION This action consists of a study, an information seminar, eventually followed at a later stage by a project ensuring a continuous exchange of updated information and data. The latter will depend on the outcome of the study and seminar and is not covered by this action. JUSTIFICATION There is a need for more frequent exchanges of good practices between policy makers and stakeholders (especially SMEs) in the tourism sector. This project will encourage national, regional and local authorities to identify and disseminate good practices in areas which are relevant to SMEs in the tourism sector. Considering the role and economic share of the tourism sector in the ten new EU Member States and Candidate Countries, the inventory and especially the dissemination of good practices is extremely important for the vitality and sustainability of the respective sector in these states. CONTEXT Previous work conducted in this area: in the UK a national initiative in the tourism sector was established in September 2001 as response to the national governments White Paper on Competitiveness. It was one of the 15 industry forums set up with support of the Department of Trade and Industry in the UK ; at the European Tourism Forum in October 2004 this initiative was presented and much interest was expressed in its works, and the benefits which could follow from a wider sharing across Europe. To enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy. Education and training for entrepreneurship
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT Open call for tenders will concern: i) study on existing good practices for promoting the growth and competitiveness of SMEs in the tourism sector in the MAP participating countries ; ii) seminar to disseminate knowledge of selected good practices, of the methodology of their assessment and to promote exchange of opinions among stakeholders at all levels (national, regional and local tourism governments, tourism companies, civil society and NGOs).
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OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) (a) Specific Objectives: The study and the seminar will examine what is happening in the Member States concerning Best Tourism Practices or similar actions, which principal objective is to serve as a tool to encourage businesses in the tourism sector to innovate and to introduce new ideas by adopting or adapting good practice, so raising their efficiency, productivity and competitiveness to the highest level. All activities, which are de facto considered to be a Best Tourism Practice according to the respective stakeholders will have be taken into account. (b) Operational Objectives: - to carry out a study to create an inventory of good practices in the Member States, including an assessment of the performance indicators which have led to the success of a given good practice and an identification of key elements that should improve standards of service and raise levels of productivity and profit ; - to organise a seminar in order to facilitate the widest and most effective distribution possible of the outcome of the study and to create a platform for the exchange of good practices, the final results will also be published by using the more traditional means of communication and the newer ones, such as the internet in order to reach and inform interested stakeholders; establishment of a questionnaire for participants in the seminar and analysis of the replies given concerning the outcome of the seminar and the lessons learned.
PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES **February 2006 : Finalised Call for tender for the study and seminar **April 2006 : Publication of Call for tender **November 2006 : Signature of Study contract **April 2007 : Seminar and presentation of the first results of the study **July 2007: Publication of final results and outcome of the seminar
PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 260.000 in 2006 for Credit Appropriations indicative estimations:
ACTION NUMBER UNIT COSTS (EUR) 210.000
based on the following
TOTAL BUDGET (EUR)
Study
210.000
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ACTION
NUMBER
UNIT COSTS (EUR) 50.000
TOTAL BUDGET (EUR)
Seminar
50.000
Total
260.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Contributions and practical support that is expected from the participating countries will mainly be focussed through the Tourism Advisory Committee and its members. This will ensure experts participation in meetings, contribution to reports, provision of information and data. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Number of participants (all stakeholders) in an event. One seminar The total number of Good Practices identified, Number of participating countries,
Value added of the information and data distributed and ready for implementation by SMEs. To be measured by using standardised evaluation sheets. Implementation of the project in conformity within the planned duration. Respect of project milestone, and budget (to be facilitated by a road map). Outcome of replies to a Questionnaire inquiring participants in the seminar on the output of the seminar and their intentions on how to use lessons learned if any.
4. Implementation
5. Effectiveness
Unit in charge: ENTR/ I.1 - Mr. Mathieu Hoeberigs
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ENT/MAP/06/1.7 - EUROPEAN PRODUCTIVITY CONFERENCE 2006

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION A conference on European Productivity Competitiveness through Productivity JUSTIFICATION An important factor to induce sustainable increases of GDP per-capita is productivity growth. That is why competitiveness is often equated to productivityThat is also why productivity growth plays a key role in the Lisbon strategy of creating more growth and jobs, and is at the core of many of the reforms proposed. A competitive country needs competitive firms able to increase the efficiency with which the firm converts resources into value; i.e. able to increase productivity. The challenge is big given the increasingly knowledge-based international economy, the insufficient ICT adoption and innovation performance by EU firms, and EUs comparative advantage on medium-tech products rather than high-tech ones. The productivity challenge has widely been discussed in European Councils, Competitiveness Council and European Parliament, and it is a key element of the enterprise policy. By debating the issue, the Conference would contribute to a stimulating exchange of views and best practices, both by governments and enterprises, providing actions that would improve the productivity of industry and private and public services. CONTEXT The conference builds on the recent research and best practices in the enterprises and public sector also using the studies and reports financed by the Commission. It includes both scientific type of approach and practical enterprise approach. The conference is part of the social partners (tripartite co-operation) programme linked to the Finnish Presidency. A strong tripartite cooperation between trade unions, employer organizations and the government (Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Labour) is an essential part of the Finnish model and an important element of its success. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has the governmental responsibilities of this Finnish Presidency-linked conference. Since there is only one presidency for semester, the conference falls into the category of a factual monopoly and will not be part of a call for proposal. A website will be created with the conference material, containing practical examples and means to develop productivity as well as the main points of the presentations. A separate publication will be produced based on the scientific part of the conference. To enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy Strengthening the technological capacity of small enterprises
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DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The conference will be organised in Espoo, Finland 30 August -1 September 2006. The conference will be organised under the responsibility of the Finish Ministry for Trade and Industry. Conference organisation: Advisory Board: 30 decision makers of business and research communities Conference Board: A Managing Board of 15 members in charge of the implementation of the conference Programme Committee: Responsible for the conference programme. The project will include two components: 1. Organisation of the conference on productivity inviting the management and personnel of companies and public services, productivity researches, consultants and decision-makers working in national productivity programmes. The conference includes four main streams: National productivity programmes, what research can offer, examples, practices and international comparisons of industry and examples, practises and international comparisons of private and public services. Key themes to be discussed: new technologies and organisational development; education, innovation and intellectual capital; production methods and networking; comprehensive work place development and consulting; new ways of management and rewarding, occupational health and safety and social responsibility; productivity obstacles and drivers. 2. A website will be created with the conference material, containing practical examples and means to develop productivity as well as the main points of the presentations. Apart from the proceedings of the conference, a separate publication will be produced based on the scientific part of the conference. Both publications will be provided by the organizers. The conference Webpage is already available: www.epc2006.fi OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific objectives - To raise awareness about importance of productivity development - To increase knowledge on productivity development - Interchange of know-how and best practices between enterprises, social partners, research and productivity programme experts - To raise awareness of productivity obstacles and drivers Operational objectives - Organisation of conference
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- Scientific deliverables as a publication
PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES February 2006: August-September 2006: December 2006: Conference programme ready The conference The publication of the proceedings. Scientific publication based on material prepared for and presented at the conference.
PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 170.000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations:
ACTION NUMBER UNIT COSTS TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) B Organisation of the conference Publication Total 140.000 30.000 170.000
NOTA BENE: AN AD HOC GRANT WILL BE AWARDED TO THE FINNISH MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY ON THE BASIS OF ARTICLE 168 C OF THE IMPLEMENTING RULES TO THE FINANCIAL REGULATION 2342/2002 OF 23 DECEMBER 2002 DUE TO A DE FACTO MONOPOLY FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 170.000 CORRESPONDING TO 28% OF THE TOTAL ELIGIBLE COST OF THE PROJECT. SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participation in the Productivity conference, contributions as speakers and to the reports. The host country to take the main responsibilities of the preparations of the conference. Dissemination of the conference outcomes. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. Participation
- Number of people attending the European Productivity Conference as a percentage of the number of invitations sent out. - Total number of participants as a percentage of expected number 500
- Number of best practices published on the Web - Number of articles in the publication
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3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness
- Conference well organised feedback via an exit questionnaire - Feedback via Web on the quality on the deliverables Were the deliverables delivered as planned and according to the budget foreseen? Short term: - has the conference and the proceedings increased knowledge about productivity development - Has the proceedings been useful in productivity development Long term: - Has the conference and the proceedings contributed to the productivity improvements in Europe
Unit in charge: ENTR/B.2 - Ms Josefa Monteagudo
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ENT/MAP/06/1.8 - CONFERENCE GOING GLOBAL: THE CHALLENGES FOR KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMIES

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Financial contribution to the Finnish Presidency to organise a conference as part of the Presidency programme. Going Global: the Challenges for Knowledge-Based Economies JUSTIFICATION In the knowledge-based globalised world, Science and Technology plays a fundamental role and can improve competitiveness and welfare, at all levels. Envisaging these potentials, Europe is increasingly relying on the creation and exploitation of knowledge, which is held as the key competitiveness asset. This has been discussed in European councils, Competitiveness Council and European Parliament, and it is a key element of enterprise policy. The conference will focus on the challenges that globalisation poses to the knowledge-based economies. It encompasses various theoretical, empirical and pragmatic interrelated aspects of globalisation and their effects on science and technology and the innovation systems, economy, society and competitiveness. Attention will be devoted to the various competitiveness-oriented policies, best practices and needs of small open economies that go global. This conference will directly support the Lisbon strategy for EU to become the first knowledge-based economy by 2010. It will be part of the Finnish presidency activities and will be organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. There is only one presidency per semester and in Finland the organisation of this conference is a competence of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Therefore, as part of the Finnish presidency programme, this conference falls into the category of a factual monopoly and will not be part of a call for proposal. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has delegated task related to the conference to the Technical Research Centre of Finland, a public entity and subordinate body of the Ministry of Trade and Industry for competence. CONTEXT The conference will analyse the European context with respect to its Lisbon targets. It will also complement first results of the Finnish project on this subject as well as on the new projects financed by MAP programmes on globalisation and projects on the impact of offshoring R&D on the innovation capacity of firms of Europe funded under FP6. To enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy Availability of skills
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DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The conference will be held in Helsinki, Finland 21 22 September 2006. The key organisers of the conference are the Technical Research Centre of Finland under the auspices of The Ministry of Trade and Industry of Finland within the Six Countries Programme (An international network of experts, policy makers and practitioners, engaged in research and policy making on technological change and innovation (www.6CP.net). The Technical Research Centre of Finland is a public body and as subordinate to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, its tasks are to: 1) carry out technical and techno-economic research and development work that is important from the standpoints of society and business, especially industry, on its own initiative, as publicly funded projects and in the form of contract commissions; 2) perform tasks associated with technical inspections; 3) promote technology transfer and render information services The Ministry of Trade and Industry has invited an expert group to provide advisory guidance for the conference content and organisation and the project team. Participants will be key experts belonging to the policy making, entrepreneurial, academic and practitioners sphere. National, European and international representatives from developed and developing countries. 30 speakers and 250 participants. Key themes of the conference - Why and where do companies inside and outside Europe go global - Going global: its technological and socio-economic impact at local, regional, national and supranational level - How going global changes technology and innovation policy-making: are new types of governance needed - Looking forward: making going global sustainable, sharing benefits and responsibilities. The conference is closely linked to the Finnish project on globalisation and knowledge based economies. Background paper will be produced in the project previous to the conference. The proceedings of the conference will be produced by the end of 2006 by the Technical Research Centre of Finland. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific objectives - To raise awareness about the challenges related to globalisation and knowledge-based economies - To increase knowledge on the links between globalisation and knowledge-based economies - Interchange of know-how and best practices
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- To raise awareness about the technological and socio-economic impacts of globalisation - To identify new policies capable to both address the globalisation of the economy and support the knowledge-based economy in Europe Operational objectives - Conference proceedings as a publication and on the web - Publication of a more in-depth analysis of the impact of globalisation on the knowledge based economy and required policies (Finnish project). - Ideas for further studies - Ideas for possible further policy measures PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Project total duration including the Finnish project 28 months, the conference part 19 months. (June 2005 October 2005 September 2006 December 2006 Start of the preparation of the project and the conference The Finnish project starts, drafting of the background paper) The conference The proceedings of the conference available
PROJECT COSTS Total budget: Total budget of the conference EUR 195.000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations:
ACTION NUMBER UNIT COSTS TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) B Organisation of the conference Conference proceedings Total . ... 135.000 60.000 195.000
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NOTA BENE: AN AD HOC GRANT WILL BE AWARDED TO THE FINNISH MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, WITHIN THE FINNISH PRESIDENCY ACTIVITIES, ON THE BASIS OF ARTICLE 168 C OF THE IMPLEMENTING RULES TO THE FINANCIAL REGULATION 2342/2002 OF 23 DECEMBER 2002 DUE TO A DE FACTO MONOPOLY FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF 195.000 CORRESPONDING TO 49% OF THE TOTAL ELIGIBLE COST OF THE PROJECT. SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participation in the Going Global conference, contributions as speakers and to the reports. The host country to take the main responsibilities of the preparations of the conference. Dissemination of the conference outcomes. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. Participation
- Number of people attending the Going Global conference as a percentage of the number of invitations sent - Total number of participants as a percentage of expected number 250.
- all the deadlines met - number of new invents in the proceedings - delivery of Conference proceedings
- Conference well organised feedback via an exit questionnaire - Feedback via web on the quality of the deliverables Were the deliverables delivered as planned and according to the budget foreseen? Short term - Has the conference and the proceedings increased knowledge about globalisation and knowledge based economies? - Have the outcomes been useful for various stakeholder groups? Longer term - Has the conference and the proceedings contributed to the policy discussions and further studies and research.
Unit in charge: ENTR/D.1 - Mr Franck Dupont
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ENT/MAP/06/1.9 - BENCHMARKING SECTORAL POLICY INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF E-BUSINESS FOR SMES

Global MAP objective: Enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy Successful e-business models and top-class small business support
Charter line of action:
TYPE OF ACTION Call for tenders aiming to collect information and assess key existing sectoral policy initiatives and public-private partnerships promoting e-business for SMEs at national and regional level, notably in the EU-25 countries, EEA countries, the US and Canada. JUSTIFICATION The importance of the sectoral approach on public policies related to the promotion of ebusiness among SMEs has been largely recognised. Sectoral initiatives can potentially be more efficient than broader generic strategies to promote SME uptake of e-business. Member States have realised this and have developed national and regional sectoral e-business policy initiatives to promote business opportunities and creation of partnership networks within individual sectors at regional level. These policy initiatives have the potential to produce more sector-specific solutions, training and instructions to increase skills within individual sectors. They usually support sectors that national governments recognise as having potential to add value to the economies of their countries. They allow sharing of experiences and information at sectoral and cross-sectoral level. However, no sufficient knowledge, analysis and assessment exist of those policies and other private-public partnerships in this field. CONTEXT This action will be launched in support of the eBSN (e-business Support Network for SMEs), (http://www.e-bsn.org/portal/home.do), about which a project (ENT/MAP/06/1.1) has been accepted in November 2005. As confirmed in the Cambridge conference 2005 E-Business: The Way Forward, in December 2005, the eBSN has decided to focus policy exchanges and actions on four ebusiness related policy priorities, i.a. the sector specific policy approaches.
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DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT This benchmarking project will collect information and documentation on key existing sectoral policy initiatives and public-private partnerships promoting e-business for SMEs at national and regional level, notably in the EU-25 countries, EEA countries, the US and Canada. The project will proceed with analysis and assessment of those policy initiatives against a clear and analytical benchmarking framework to be proposed by the tender. In particular, the project will: - collect information and documentation on key existing sectoral policy initiatives and public-private partnerships promoting e-business for SMEs (including best practices for promoting cross-border e-retailing) at national and regional level, in the EU-25 countries, EEA countries, the US and Canada; - propose a clear, analytical benchmarking framework against which those policies will be assessed. This framework will be discussed and validated by the eBSN Steering Group; - analyse and assess those policy initiatives against the pre-defined benchmarking framework, with a view to identify good policy elements with the potential to derive good results; - validate the results with the eBSN Steering Group; - organise an eBSN workshop to present the good policy elements in sectoral policy approaches promoting e-business for SMEs; - prepare and publish a report with good examples and policy elements in sectoral policy approaches in promoting a digital value chain. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: - Improve SMEs competitiveness through the identification of good examples of sectororiented public policies to support the uptake of e-business by SMEs with a view to creating digital value chains; - Spread the knowledge on good policy elements in promoting the establishment of digital value chains; - Encourage policy makers in this area to exchange experiences and learn from good examples. Operational objectives: - Collect information and documentation on key existing sectoral policy initiatives and public-private partnerships promoting e-business for SMEs at national and regional level, notably in the EU-25 countries, EEA countries, the US and Canada; - Analyse and assess those policy initiatives against the pre-defined benchmarking framework, with a view to identify good policy elements with the potential to derive good results; - Organise an eBSN workshop to present the good policy elements in sectoral policy approaches promoting e-business for SMEs; - Prepare and publish a report with good examples and policy elements in sectoral policy approaches in promoting a digital value chain.
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PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES The expected duration of the project is 12 months. May 2006 October 2006 October 2006 October 2007 PROJECT COSTS The overall project cost is expected to be 250.000 EUR in 2006. ACTION Data collection Benchmarking of available solutions Organisation of the workshop Publication of the final report (layout and printing of 2000 copies) Total 1 1 1 1 NUMBER 1 1 1 1 UNIT COSTS TOTAL BUDGET B line 90 000 100 000 50 000 10 000 Publication of a call for tenders Signature of the contract Implementation of the action
250 000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES The Participating Countries are requested to support this initiative, in particular the data collection phase, by providing detailed information on their relevant policy measures, at national and regional level, making available the key policy developers for interviews and analytic discussions, etc. They are also expected to participate actively in the eBSN Steering Group meetings validating the methodology and the results, as well as in the final workshop. Moreover, the Participating Countries will be asked to review and comment upon the interim and final benchmarking report; they will also be asked to support the dissemination of the results of this benchmarking study at the national level through relevant national, local or sectoral initiatives.
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Number of participating countries; Number of identified policy initiatives; Analytic benchmarking framework Workshop to present the final results Final report summarising and assessing the activities, and highlighting the good policy elements. - Thoughtful analysis and identification of good policy elements - Timely delivery of the expected deliverables; - Respect of budget planning - Number of good sectoral policy initiatives and elements identified and promoted through this benchmarking study.
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ENT/MAP/06/1.10 - BENCHMARKING COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE E-BUSINESS SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES FOR SMES
Global MAP objective: Enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy Successful e-business models and top-class small business support
TYPE OF ACTION Call for tenders aiming to collect information and assess the various commercially available products and services that address the e-business needs of SMEs. Moreover, it will develop an intelligent tool that will be able to assess and map the current needs of an SME wishing to transform to e-business to appropriate, market available e-Business solutions and services. JUSTIFICATION SMEs have different needs with respect to ICT and e-business applications as compared to large companies. They may have difficulties in recruiting ICT professionals. In addition, the budgets they can dedicate to ICT related purchases are sometimes limited. These factors reinforce the importance of finding integrated and interoperable e-business applications. When the Go Digital initiative was launched,10 the aim was to help SMEs better use the internet as a business tool. Since then, the uptake of e-business has been continuously growing. While the creation, promotion and support of a favourable e-business environment still remains a priority, the policy focus has shifted towards a more productive integration of ICT within business processes.11 This can be facilitated by better awareness about the commercially available solutions, as well as about their characteristics and mapping them to specific SME business processes and needs. CONTEXT This project is proposed to be launched within the framework of eBSN (European e-business Support Network for SMEs), about which a project (ENT/MAP/06/1.1) has been accepted in November 2005. As confirmed in the Cambridge Conference The Way Forward in December 2005, the eBSN has decided to focus policy exchanges and actions on four e-business related policy priorities, two of which have been the Improving the availability of e-business solutions for SMEs and e-business for microenterprises. In this context, the proposed action aims at creating a tool with information and assessment of the various commercially available
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Commission Communication, Helping SMEs Go Digital, COM(2001)136 Final 13 March 2001. Commission Communication Adapting e-business policies in a changing environment: the lessons of go digital and the challenges ahead, COM (2003)148 Final 27 March 2003.
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products and services that address the e-business needs of SMEs. This should be of help to the SMEs intermediaries and e-business advisors in properly coaching SMEs towards their ebusiness transformation. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT This action aims at collecting information and assessing the various commercially available products and services that address the e-business needs of SMEs. Moreover, it will develop an intelligent tool that will be able to assess and map the current needs of an SME wishing to transform to e-business to appropriate, market available e-business solutions and services. The tool will serve to guide the e-business transformation process of SMEs by providing a set of options and their merits, as well as their technical and interoperability characteristics. Its level of sophistication and the complexity of information are to be addressed to e-business advisors and coaches rather than directly to SMEs. More specifically this action will: - collect information on the various market available e-business solutions (including solutions designed to help SME's retail to consumers across borders in the EU and comply with relevant legislation) and services addressing in particular the needs of SMEs. - propose a clear, analytical benchmarking framework against which those solutions will be assessed. This framework will be discussed and validated by the eBSN Steering Group and representatives of the ICT industry, including the OSS market, on invitation of the Commission services. - analyse and assess those e-business solutions against the pre-defined benchmarking framework, with a view to identify and map their characteristics to specific SMEs needs. - validate the results with the eBSN Steering Group and representatives of the ICT industry, including the OSS market, on invitation of the Commission services. - develop and pilot test an intelligent on-line tool, user-friendly to SMEs advisors, that will be able to assess and map the current needs of an SME wishing to transform to e-business to appropriate, market available e-business solutions and services. - make available this on-line tool on the eBSN portal for use by any interested party OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: Improve SMEs competitiveness through the support to a better integration of ICT in their business processes, by promoting awareness on available ebusiness solutions and services for SMEs. Operational objectives: - Collect information and assess the various market available e-business solutions and services addressing in particular the needs of SMEs. - Develop an intelligent tool that will be able to assess and map the current needs of an SME wishing to transform to e-business to appropriate, market available e-business solutions and services. - Make available this tool on the eBSN portal for use by any interested party.
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PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES The expected duration of the project is 12 months. May 2006 October 2006 October 2006 October 2007 PROJECT COSTS The overall project cost is expected to be 400 000 EUR in 2006. Action Data collection 1 Assessment of 1 available solutions Development of 1 software tool Total Number 1 1 1 Unit Costs Total Budget B line 100 000 100 000 200 000 400 000 Publication of a call for tenders Signature of the contract Implementation of the action
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES The Participating Countries are requested to support this initiative, in particular the data collection phase, by creating publicity among the ICT market and OSS community, through their national and regional business support networks and relevant associations. The Participating Countries are invited to support the dissemination of the results and the use of the tool resulting from this benchmarking study at the national level through the relevant national, local or sectoral networks of SME business organisations, Chambers of Commerce, Business Councils, etc. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
- Number of e-business solutions and services suppliers participating - On-line tool summarising and assessing the various e-business solutions. - Number of visits of the on-line tool , per Member State, once it is operational on the eBSN portal - Thoughtful analysis and identification of good policy elements - Timely delivery of the expected deliverables; - Respect of budget planning - Number of SMEs advisors using the tool.
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CHAPTER 2: PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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ENT/MAP/06/2.1 PACKAGE OF IMPROVED COMMUNICATION LINKS WITH SME STAKEHOLDERS

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION The project will cover a series of studies, services and production of communication tools to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of the information and policy messages for SME stakeholders. JUSTIFICATION The External Evaluation of the MAP pointed to the need to enhance visibility and improve dissemination of policy actions and recommendations produced by projects. The evaluation recommended that dissemination activities are developed early on in a project, and include support for dissemination at national and regional level. With respect to the means of communication, the report recommended less publication-type actions especially for products and actions with tangible benefits for SMEs. For these reasons, it is important to assess existing communications channels and develop improved tools that will ensure the greatest impact for policy dissemination by situating it within the overall function of the SME Envoy. Such initiatives are also strongly supported by the new Commission Action Plan on communication. CONTEXT - External Evaluation of MAP (2001-2005), July 2004 - New SME Policy for Growth and Jobs, Communication from the Commission: refers to the Commissions intention to improve communication efforts toward SME stakeholders through more targeted messages and more diversified tools. - Action Plan to Improve Communicating Europe by the Commission (2005) DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The project will include three main action areas: 1. Promotion and communication support to projects in the area of entrepreneurship and SMEs: - creation of a professional information and communication toolkit for promotion at events (stand, presentation, one-page leaflets on each project). To promote entrepreneurship All lines of action of the Charter
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- development of targeted promotional material (provision foreseen for two audiovisual presentations and three web publishing activities) for projects with high communication potential. 2. Evaluation: survey, assessment of the effectiveness of existing means of communication with stakeholders and consulting services to help improve the accessibility and effectiveness of our communication messages, channels and tools. 3. Development of specialised tools to present an integrated message about European Commission activities on SMEs (SME Envoy function): - creation and promotion of a user-friendly, single electronic access point for SME related information originating from all relevant DGs and directing users to the relevant networks (EIC, IRC). - compilation of a comprehensive list of specialised communication channels (press, audiovisual, internet) in each Member State and associated countries for the purposes of targeted promotion and dissemination. The project will be implemented through a combination of existing and future framework contracts and restricted calls for tender. If any of the deliverables can not be executed under the proposed contracts, a separate call for tender will be launched to cover it. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: Enhance the visibility and accessibility of SME-related information by developing improved means for communicating towards SME stakeholders. Operational Objectives: Development of the following tools, services and studies: 1. - information and communication toolkit - two audiovisual presentations of SME related projects - three web publishing activities 2. - evaluation (survey and assessment of the effectiveness) of existing communication channels - consulting services for improving effectiveness of communication messages 3. - user-friendly single electronic access point for SME related information - compilation of list of specialised communication channels PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES 24 months
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Signature of contracts - February 2006 First deliverables Dec. 2006 Final deliverables Dec. 2007 (majority of deliverables in the first semester 2007) PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 850.000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations:
ACTION NUMBER UNIT COSTS TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) B Inform. Comm. toolkit Audiovisual presentations Web publishing activities 2 3 100.000 125.000 15.00040.000 90.000 30.000 240.000 60.000 100.000 250.000 80.000
Evaluation study Consulting services Web single access point Specialist media list Total
1 1 1 1
90.000 30.000 240.000 60.000 850.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES No direct support is requested. A sample of countries may be asked to provide feedback and answer short telephone surveys during the impact assessment exercise or act on a voluntary basis as test audience for the new tools to be developed. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Use of the communications tools by relevant services and by stakeholders. Information and communication toolkit to be produced in all EC languages on a print-on-demand basis. Evaluation study, including a survey of around 600 SME stakeholders. Comprehensive database of relevant specialised communication channels in all Member States and participating countries.
Feedback mechanisms (including the SME test panels) will ensure that
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all publications (electronic and printed) will be in easily digested attractive and user-friendly format 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness Outputs to be delivered within project timeline and projected budget. Feedback from test-panels and stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of new communication strategy and tools.
Unit in charge: ENTR/ E.4 Ms Tina Zournatzi in collaboration with ENTR/R.4 Mr. Hugh Barton-Smith
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ENT/MAP/06/2.2 EUROPEAN ENTERPRISE AWARDS
Global MAP objective: Charter line of action:
To promote entrepreneurship Education and training for entrepreneurship (indirectly all the lines)
TYPE OF ACTION The project will provide organisational and logistical support for the European Enterprise Awards, an award scheme that recognises excellence in promoting entrepreneurship in the regions. JUSTIFICATION The European Enterprise Awards are the first award scheme for policy making and implementation of initiatives that promote enterprise in Europe. They form part of the awareness campaigns envisaged in the SME Communication Strategy, and help create visibility and take-up of the policy areas identified in the European Charter for Small Enterprises. The Awards contribute to two of the DG ENTR horizontal policy priorities: first, facilitating the environment for businesses and raising the profile of business, especially of SMEs, and, second, boosting entrepreneurship in Europe. CONTEXT - Communication on new SME policy for growth and jobs - VP Verheugens announcement on 11 October 2005 at Competitiveness Council preceded by presentations and discussions at Competitiveness Councils in 2004. - Project ENTR/05/012 for the Design and launch of an award scheme for European centres/regions promoting entrepreneurship. (Invitation to tender N ENTR/05/012, Service Contract SI2.409978). - The project is the second part of this contract. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The project will involve running the competition at national and European level and organising two awards ceremonies in 2006 and 2007. The European Enterprise Awards comprise two phases: a national selection process and a European competition. The role of the secretariat will be to organise the European competition and help participating countries in the selection and nomination of national candidates. An open call for tender will be launched for a secretariat to undertake the following tasks:
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- Assistance to the national authorities to carry out the national selection, promote the awards and disseminate the compendium of winning practices. - Organisation of the award ceremonies in 2006 and 2007 (annually after the launch of the awards in November 2005) at a high-level media event involving the Commissioner, a prestigious jury of personalities from government, business, European institutions and academia, as well as representatives of short-listed regions and a select audience of business and public authorities. Award ceremonies may be combined with the annual European Charter for Small Businesses conference. - Creation of a compendium of all finalist submissions with the best case examples of creative initiatives from across Europe. The secretariat will ensure the dissemination of this compendium in relevant events and will develop further opportunities for nominees and the winning entrant to share best practice. The Secretariat will provide logistical and administrative support as well as expertise in communications and media relations. The national contact points will be entrusted with the selection of the candidates and the expert jury, with the support of the Commission, will select the winners of the competition. In addition, the project will cover the organisation of four meetings of the national coordinators of the Awards (Single Points of Contact - SPOCs) that have been nominated by their country to manage the national selection process. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific objectives: - Identify and recognise successful initiatives taken by Europes policy and decision makers to promote entrepreneurship; - To showcase and share examples of best entrepreneurship policies and practices; - Raise awareness of entrepreneurship and SME policies. Operational objectives: - To organise a successful and high-visibility competition and awards ceremony; - To ensure a good level of participation from Member States and other eligible countries (nominations from at least 20 countries); - To maximise opportunities for publicity and dissemination of the compendium of winning best practices and to exploit synergies with Charter Conference and other relevant events. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Expected Duration 24 months:
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The awards are expected to run at least two years (2006 and 2007) to allow participating countries to familiarise themselves with the process and to allow an evaluation of the benefits of the competition. - January 2006: Call for tender pre-information notice - March 2006: Call for tender publication - July 2006: Signature of contract with contractor - September/October 2006: Evaluation of national nominations and jury meeting - November 2006: First Awards Ceremony - January 2007: Launch of next European Enterprise Awards - June 2007: End of national selection period - September/October 2007: Evaluation of national nomination and jury meeting - November 2007: Second Awards Ceremony - December 2007: Evaluation of the Enterprise Awards by the EC and the SPOCs Four meetings of national coordinators of the competition (Single Points of Contact) - Feb. 2006: First meeting of SPOCs - Nov. 2006: Evaluation of national competition by the Commission and the SPOCs and participation in European Enterprise Awards Ceremony - Feb. 2007: Preparation of next Awards - Nov. 2007: Evaluation of competition; participation in second Awards ceremony. PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 360.000 in 2006, will also cover the organisation of the Awards in 2007 and is based on the following indicative estimations: Service contract for Awards Secretariat: 280.000 (of which approximately 100.000 would cover the two awards ceremonies in 2006 and 2007).
ACTION NUMBER UNIT COSTS BA Service contract (2006-2007) National coordinator meetings (2006-2007) 1 4 20.000 80.000 TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) B 280.000
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ACTION Total
NUMBER
UNIT COSTS
TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) 80.000 280.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participating countries have been requested (September 2006) to nominate a Single Point of Contact (SPOCs) for the 2006 Awards. The SPOCs will organise the selection of two national candidates to be put forward to the European Competition. They will be supported by the Awards secretariat and have access to information material available in all EC languages. Four meetings will be organised for the SPOCs in 2006-2007: two to prepare the national competitions and two to evaluate the national competition and to participate in the European Awards ceremony. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity 3. Deliverables quality
At least 20 countries participate by nominating national candidates in 2006 and 20% more participate in the 2007 awards. Level of publicity for the awards and visibility of the winning practices at European and national level. The extent to which the winning practices and short-listed candidates reveal a wealth and diversity of initiatives that help raise the profile of entrepreneurship and the policies to support it as judged by the expert panel. National selection process and European competition follow planned time-line and budget. Requests for participation of winners and dissemination of compendium of winning practices at relevant European and national events would indicate that the main objectives of the Awards have been met.
Unit in charge: ENTR/ E. 4 Ms Tina Zournatzi
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ENT/MAP/06/2.3 CONFERENCE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Organisation of a European Conference on education for entrepreneurship, in particular from primary school to university. JUSTIFICATION This Conference is proposed in the framework of Key Action 1 of the Entrepreneurship Action Plan. Also, a Communication on education for entrepreneurship will be soon adopted. This is prepared jointly by the DGs ENTR and EAC, thus aiming to have the highest potential for dissemination and impact. Specific Council conclusions are expected both from the Competitiveness and from the Education Councils. Cooperation at European level in this area is an important asset, and even at the national level one main success factor is a well structured cooperation between different departments of the public administrations (notably, Ministries of Economy and Education). The Conference will be a concrete follow-up of the Commissions Communication. Therefore among the main objectives of this event will be to promote cooperation between different actors that need to be involved in entrepreneurship education, and to disseminate the key messages and recommendations included in the Commissions Communication. CONTEXT Previous work in this area includes: Best Procedure projects in the area of education for entrepreneurship from primary school to university, with a special focus on school education; The 2005 Report on the Implementation of the European Charter for SMEs, priority area education for entrepreneurship; The forthcoming Communication on education for entrepreneurship (foreseen for adoption end of 2005). To promote entrepreneurship Education and training for entrepreneurship.
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT It is proposed to organise, in cooperation with the Directorate-General Education and Culture a 1,5 days Conference on entrepreneurship education, bringing together national experts participating in previous working groups coordinated by the Commission, representatives from the Ministries of Education, Industry and other departments or agencies,
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representatives from the business world, NGOs, etc. While highlighting entrepreneurship as a key competence for lifelong learning, the Conference will focus in particular on school and university education. The location of the Conference will be decided on the basis ofrequests from national authorities. Member states with strong policies in the field of entrepreneurship and education will be given priority. The outcome of the Conference will include concrete proposals on how to implement the recommendations included in the Commissions Communication, and more generally on how to ensure progress in this area. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) (a) Specific Objectives, - to bring together representatives of different ministries and departments at national level (notably, Industry and Education) - more generally, to promote cooperation between different actors that need to be involved in entrepreneurship education (both in the public and private sectors); - to promote the exchange of best practice; - to disseminate key policy messages issued from activities led or coordinated by the Commission, especially the Communication; - to contribute to advancing the policy agenda in the Member States. (b) Operational Objectives: - Organisation of a European Conference with some 250 participants in one of the capitals. - Publication of proceedings of the Conference, and of a Conference CD.
PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES The Conference will take place in the 4 Quarter of 2006 (date to be decided) PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 200.000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations:
ACTION NUMBER UNIT COSTS TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) B Organisation of a conference Total 1 200.000 200.000 200.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES - Possible co-organisation of the Conference (Member States are asked to express interest).
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- Participation to the event of those who are responsible for policy development in this area, and high level representatives from various ministries and departments. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. Participation
Adequate participation of experts in this field, representatives from national Ministries (Education, Industry and other departments) and agencies, business associations, NGOs, etc. (between 200 and 250 participants). A European Conference with some 250 participants from different countries and organisations. Publication of proceedings from the Conference, and of a Conference CD. Presentation of examples of good practice for inspiration and dissemination. Discussion of key issues. Commitment from policy makers attending the conference, and relevant conclusions and recommendations on how to make further progress in the promotion of entrepreneurship education Is the event having an impact in promoting the exchange of good practice, in raising the profile of entrepreneurship education within MS agendas and in encouraging policy development ?
4. Implementation
5. Effectiveness
Unit in charge: ENTR/ E.1 Mr. Simone Baldassarri
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ENT/MAP/06/2.4 - PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE AUDIO-VISUAL

MEDIA
Global MAP objective: Entrepreneurship Action Plan: TYPE OF ACTION
To promote entrepreneurship Encouraging more people to become entrepreneurs
Fact finding, identification and exchange of good practices. JUSTIFICATION Audio-visual media, esp. television, have the advantage of reaching a very broad audience. They also can present information in a very concrete and tangible way. TV programmes for example allow conveying in a direct and vivid way what being an entrepreneur could be like. Apart from presenting entrepreneurial life concretely, these media can also provide factual information in an interesting and even entertaining way. European countries need to do more to promote entrepreneurship since there is a large entrepreneurial gap between the EU and other countries, esp. the USA: According to the Flash Eurobarometer (June 2004) only 45% of Europeans (compared to 61% in the USA) state a preference for self-employment, the majority would prefer being an employee. Audio-visual media could help us to better promote entrepreneurship, interest people for an entrepreneurial career and provide factual information on entrepreneurship in an entertaining way. CONTEXT/BACKGROUND Research indicates a correlation between television programmes and professional preferences of young people. TV programmes in several countries (esp. UK) deal with aspects of entrepreneurships in numerous ways (entrepreneurial storylines in soaps, game-shows and contests with a business context, practical how to do features etc.) Public entrepreneurship campaigns also make use of the TV (e.g. Luxembourg) DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT In a first step a study by an external consultant will collect information on existing TV programmes that promote entrepreneurship in the countries participating in the project. In a second step a group of national experts who have a background in media work and are nominated by the participating Member States will analyse how participating countries use the media, esp. the TV, to promote entrepreneurship and will formulate recommendations how the media could be used to generate a more entrepreneurial culture in Europe.
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OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) (a) Specific objectives The projects should provide insight regarding the following issues: Which European TV programmes feature entrepreneurship and in what way? Are they motivated to increase entrepreneurship? Is there a systematic approach of the administration behind it and do TV and public administration co-operate? How can the idea of becoming an entrepreneur be conveyed by TV programmes? Which TV formats are most effective (series, documentary features, docu-soaps)? How can the TV be used in an integrated approach (e.g. together with projects at schools, internet portals etc.) to promote entrepreneurship? Do participating countries actively use audio-visual media to promote entrepreneurship and how? Should TV programmes be used to promote entrepreneurship? Which ethical and legal constraints have to be considered? (b) Operational objectives Study Report by expert group (printed in house by the European Commission) PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Duration: two years Spring 2006: Publication of call for tender Autumn 2006: Signature of contract, interim report (2 months upon signature of contract), first meetings of expert group. 2007: Further meetings of expert group and final report
PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 190.000, based on the following indicative estimations: Participation of around 20 countries, translation of final report into French and German (by the Commission services using SDT framework contracts)
Action Number Unit Costs Total budget (EUR) BA Study Meetings expert group Translation 1 5 2 80.000 20.000 5.000 100.000 100.000 10.000 90.000 B 80.000
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Total
190.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Delegation of experts for five one-day-meetings in Brussels. Between meetings experts will collect information, reply to questionnaires, suggest drafting elements for the report etc. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
INDICATOR TYPE OF MEASURABLE
1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity 3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness
Number of countries participating and providing information Study by external contractor and Final report by the expert group Improved information on possibilities to promote entrepreneurship via audiovisual media Respect of project milestones Greater use (by participating countries) of audiovisual media to promote entrepreneurship. Increased awareness of the entrepreneurial career option.
Unit in charge: ENTR.E.1 - Mr Thomas Jaegers
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ENT/MAP/06/2.5 STUDY ON START-UP PROCEDURES IN EUROPE

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Study on the time and cost of starting a company in the participating countries JUSTIFICATION Europe needs more entrepreneurs to increase its competitiveness. Still, according to surveys many people in Europe are not interested in setting up their own business. This is partly due to the cumbersome and complicated procedures and due to the high cost of starting a business. CONTEXT/BACKGROUND - The Commission recommendation from 1997 on the administration of start-up of a business - a study financed by the Commission in 1997 on start-up procedures carried out by Locotech - MAP project Benchmarking the administration of business start-ups in 2000-2002 - The Commissions 2006 annual Progress Report on the Lisbon Strategy, priority action line 2 (Freeing up SMEs and unlocking business potential) DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The time and cost of setting up a company differs from country to country. Some data is available on the length and cost of start up procedures but there is a lot of variation depending on the source. Also, the data of the study published by the Commission in 2002 is already out of date and does not cover all Member States. Moreover, some Member States have succeeded in reducing the time and costs of setting up a business since this study was published. Hence there is a need for a comparable study covering all EU Member States, and the other MAP participating countries, providing reliable up to date information on the time and cost needed to set up a company in the participating countries. This data can then be used for benchmarking the countries. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: - to compare the time and cost of starting a company in the participating countries; - indirectly to promote shorter start up times for new companies and reduced costs for the process. Operational Objectives: - To produce a report on the time and cost of starting a company in the participating To promote entrepreneurship Cheaper and faster start-up
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countries. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES May 2006 November 2006 December 2006 April 2007 May 2007 PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 400 000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations: Action Number Unit costs (EUR) Total Budget (EUR) BA Study Total SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Provision of information to the selected consultant PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
INDICATOR 1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity TYPE OF MEASURABLE Number of countries participating in the exercise Publication of the study
Call for tender Signature of contract Research Final report with results
B 400 000 400 000
Does the study provide sufficient and comprehensive information on the time and cost to start a company in the participating countries? Are the results comparable? In general, can the amount of information provided serve as basis for policy conclusions?
Is the work contributing substantially to improve the knowledge of this topic and to disseminate the relevant information? Short term; uptake of measures by participating countries to shorten the time required to set up a company and to reduce the cost Long term; contribution to facilitating entrepreneurship in Europe
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Unit in charge: ENTR/E.1 NN
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ENT/MAP/06/2.6 EUROBAROMETER ON ENTREPRENEURIAL ATTITUDES

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Launching and monitoring of a Eurobarometer survey. JUSTIFICATION This project is a part of the ongoing and foreseen data collection and statistical work in the MAP 2001-2005. Providing relatively speedy results, the Eurobarometer surveys provide input for ongoing and foreseen projects. It helps to target Commission actions by providing evidence as to the causes of Europes entrepreneurial gap. As the Eurobarometer is a public opinion survey, it does not entail additional burdens on SMEs or further work for the statistical system. CONTEXT/BACKGROUND Since the first Eurobarometer Entrepreneurship #83 in 2000, this annually conducted survey has delivered information and insight on the attitudes of Europeans towards risk taking and entrepreneurship. It indicated that, although most Europeans will prefer self-employment rather than dependent employment, they are much more reserved than Americans about starting their own business. The Entrepreneurship Eurobarometer has now been in production for several years, and its results therefore now permit some analysis of dynamic trends. The 2004 Eurobarometer was extended to cover 29 countries (25 Member States/acceding countries plus in the US, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland). Over 21,000 people were interviewed by telephone. These included 18,500 EU citizens, 1,000 Americans and 1500 EEA/EFTA citizens. The results of the survey are broken down by country, but also by sociodemographic characteristics. No Eurobarometer survey was conducted in 2005. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The Eurobarometer will again be conducted in all 25 Member States plus in the US and EFTA/EEA. Consistent with the established methodology, the questionnaire will address the general public. It will cover issues such as the attitudes towards risk taking, entrepreneurship and business failure. It will be drafted by the Enterprise DG with support from the Commissions specialists for surveys and the researcher from the framework contractor (EOS Gallup Europe). Promotion of entrepreneurship Better legislation and regulation (inter alia)
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OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: - To provide survey data and an analytical report on public attitudes in areas such as start-ups, obstacles to enterprise and entrepreneurial education, risktaking and bankruptcy. Data to be broken down and analysed both geographically and by socio-demographic characteristics. Operational objectives: - A survey based on structured interviews in 29 countries (EU25, US, EFTA/EEA). - A Eurobarometer report on Entrepreneurship in English, including analysis and statistical annex PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Results will be available early 2007. PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 400.000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations: Action Number Unit costs (EUR) Total Budget (EUR)
BA
Survey Total 1
B
400.000 400.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES None PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Indicator 1. Participation Type of measurable - Number of countries where surveys were conducted. - Number of responses gathered per survey and per country. 2. Deliverables - Comprehensive data collection from 29 states quantity - One final report, with statistical annex in EN 3. Deliverables - Relevance of the data collected to enterprise policy and actions. quality - Quality of the analysis and recommendations for action. - Quality and balance of the statistical base and data. 4. Implementation - Respect for the project deadlines and milestones. - Respect for the budget. 5. Effectiveness - Use of survey findings to target and induce positive changes in
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national - enterprise and related policies. - Stimulation of debate through dissemination. - Number of related press articles and citations. Unit in charge: ENTR/E.1 NN
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CHAPTER 3: SIMPLIFYING AND IMPROVING THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR BUSINESS, IN PARTICULAR TO PROMOTE RESEARCH,
INNOVATION AND BUSINESS CREATION
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ENT/MAP/06/3.1 - MODELS TO REDUCE THE DISPROPORTIONATE REGULATORY BURDEN ON SMES (BEST)

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Fact finding, identification and exchange of good practices. JUSTIFICATION The reduction of the administrative and regulatory burden is a top-priority for the European Commission. SMEs are disproportionate affected by regulation: The administrative costs per employee for a small company (less than 10 or 20 employees) constitute a higher significantly percentage of turnover for SMEs than for large firms (the concrete relation depending on the definition of regulatory burden, sector of regulation, measurement method, country etc. there is a big range of results, ranging from a burden that is two or three times higher to a factor of 10 or more). Several methods to reduce this disproportionality exist, e.g. exemptions, reduced/simplified obligations, special support and information, preferential treatment, financial aid etc. CONTEXT/BACKGROUND Numerous studies (e.g. by the OECD) that indicate a disproportional regulatory burden on SME Increased efforts to measure administrative burdens and undertake ex ante impact assessments (esp. at European level) Only relatively few countries use special methods to reduce the regulatory burden on SMEs. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT A group of national experts with a background in SME policy nominated by participating countries will collect information on the various methods that have been used successfully by Member States to reduce the burden of public regulation, in particular the burden on SMEs. (All relevant services of the Commission will also be involved.) The group will discuss the effectiveness of the various methods, and, to the extent possible, the quantitative and qualitative reductions of regulatory burden that they caused. (Note that the group will not work on the measurement of administrative burdens as such.) To facilitate the exchange of good practices the group will present the results of its work in a final report. To simplify the administrative framework for business. Better legislation and regulation and regulatory
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OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) (a) Specific objectives Identify possible means/instruments/models to reduce the burden stemming from various administrative and regulatory obligations - esp. for smaller companies (Where possible) quantify the reduction of the administrative burden achieved by various models and instruments Identify and exchange good practices in the participating countries aimed at reducing the disproportional burden on small companies Draft policy objectives and recommendations (b) Operational objectives Report by expert group (printed in house by the European Commission) List with good practices from participating countries PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Duration: one year and a half 2006: Desk research, first meetings of expert group 2007: Further meetings of expert group and final report PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 195.000, based on the following indicative estimations: Participation of around 20 countries, publication of the final report in the languages of participating countries (by the Commission services using SDT framework contracts for translation). Action Number Unit Costs Total budget (EUR) BA Meetings expert group Translation 5 19 20.000 5.000 100.000 Total SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participation in five expert group meetings, contribution to fact finding and collection of data, contribution to draft of final report. 195.000 100.000 95.000 95.000 B
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INDICATOR TYPE OF MEASURABLE
Number of countries participating and providing information Report of expert group, covering all participating countries and providing around 5 -10 good practice cases Improved information on possibilities to reduce the disproportional administrative burden on SMEs Degree to which best practices can be adapted to other countries
Respect of project milestones Uptake of project recommendations/best practices into national policies
Unit in charge: ENTR/E.1- Mr Thomas Jaegers
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ENT/MAP/06/3.2 - REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF SMALL ENTERPRISES
Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Fact finding, identification and exchange of good practice JUSTIFICATION The importance of internal and external accounting as a source of information for owners and managers of small enterprises and their different stakeholders is steadily growing. As regards external accounting, International Accounting Standards/ International Financial Reporting Standards are designed for large entities providing information requested by international capital markets. On the other hand, accounting systems for small enterprises (in the legal form of sole proprietorships and partnerships [with unlimited liability]) should mainly fulfil other functions, such as providing information for owners and managers of these small enterprises for their business decisions. It is of crucial importance that the accounting systems applied by small enterprises meet their actual needs, providing necessary information yet avoiding unjustified administrative burden. Internal and external accounting of these small enterprises shall also improve transparency of the costs structure which is a vital element of their competitiveness. CONTEXT Studies indicate that timely and appropriate financial information is an element to prevent businesses from failure. important To simplify and improve the administrative and regulatory framework Better legislation and regulation
Numerous studies indicate a disproportionate administrative burden on small enterprises
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT A group of national experts nominated by participating countries will analyse various accounting systems applied by sole proprietors and partnerships to identify how these accounting systems meet the actual needs of these small enterprises. The group will define main requirements of accounting systems from the point of view of small enterprises and analyse how the existing accounting concepts in the participating countries fulfil these requirements. In that context the expert group shall also focus on the link between internal and external accounting of small enterprises taking into consideration the administrative burden imposed on enterprises by external accounting. Finally, the project will provide recommendations on how accounting systems can be improved to meet the information
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needs of owners/managers of small enterprises. Due to the scope of enterprises (sole proprietorships, certain partnerships) to be analysed within this project, there is no overlap with the 4th Accounting Directive (78/660/EEC) and 7th Accounting Directive (83/349/EEC) or any reform of those Directives. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) (a) Specific Objectives, Identify relevant requirements for accounting systems of small enterprises Identify and exchange good practice in the participating countries aimed to improve accounting systems for small enterprises.
(b) Operational Objectives: Report by expert group List of important requirements for accounting systems for small enterprises
PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Duration: one year and a half 2006: Desk research, first meetings of the expert group 2007: Further meetings of the expert group and final report PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 110.000 based on the following indicative estimations: Participation of around 20 countries, publication of the final report in the languages of participating countries (by the Commission services using SDT framework contracts for translation).
ACTION NUMBER UNIT COSTS BA Meeting expert group Translation 5 19 20000 5000 100.000 Total 110.000 100.000 10.000 10.000 TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) B
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SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participation in five expert group meetings, contribution to fact finding and collection of information, contribution to the drafting of the final report. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity 3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness
Number of countries participating and providing information. Report of the expert group covering all participating countries. Improved information on the requirements for accounting systems and possibilities to limit administrative burden. Respect of project milestones Uptake of project recommendations/best practices into national policies
Unit in charge: ENTR/ E.1 Mr Gernot Dinse
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ENT/MAP/06/3.3 - BENCHMARKING POLICIES ON E-SKILLS MULTISTAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Benchmarking national and regional policies and initiatives related to e-skills multistakeholders partnerships including a workshop and the dissemination of the final report. JUSTIFICATION The European e-Skills Forum was established by the Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry) in March 2003 following the Council Conclusions on ICT and e-business skills adopted on 5 December 2002. In its final synthesis report e-Skills in Europe: Towards 2010 and Beyond released in September 200412, the European e-Skills Forum stated that although many important initiatives had been launched by leading stakeholders, notably ICT companies, they were often disconnected and lacked the necessary critical mass. The Forum recommended to better structure and pool resources for joint activities (multi-stakeholder partnerships), the sharing of knowledge and the exchange of best practices. CONTEXT Multi-stakeholder partnerships, a more general concept than public-private partnerships, offer a potential to bridge these parallel universes and to stimulate cooperation on training and certification between educational or training establishments and enterprises. The European eSkills Forum recommended to promote public private partnerships and the development of a comprehensive EU-level framework for the promotion of multi-stakeholders partnerships concerning e-skills. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The goal of this benchmarking action is to research appropriate legal, financial and institutional frameworks for scalable and sustainable multi-stakeholder partnership development in the field of e-skills. Existing regulations and model contracts will be reviewed with a view to recommend amending these regulations which inhibit multi-stakeholder partnerships in e-skills acquisition and maintenance. Good practices will be disseminated (workshop and final report). The establishment of a group of stakeholders to undertake this activity is foreseen. It will be composed of representatives of relevant Ministries in the participating countries as well as of experts from industry, associations, social partners, academia and training organisations13. The work will be supported and facilitated by a service contract. An open call for tender will be published in March 2006 to this end. A first phase starting in June 2006 will be dedicated to the collection of information and the identification Enhancing the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy Strengthen the technological capacity of small enterprises
12 13
www.eskills2004.org Participating countries will be invited to propose a list of relevant experts to the Commission.
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of focus areas and the preparation of an interim report in December 2006. The second phase will concentrate on benchmarking and the preparation of the final report to be released in May 2007 for endorsement by stakeholders at a workshop in June 2007. The organisation of this workshop by the contractor in partnership with all relevant Commission services (DG Enterprise and Industry, DG Education, Culture and Multilingualism, DG Information and Society and Media and DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities) together with CEDEFOP (The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training), will offer an excellent platform to promote the results. The final report will provide a good basis for future actions at EU as well as national and regional level. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: To benchmark existing policies for the promotion of e-skills multi-stakeholders and public private partnerships; To identify the most successful strategies in view of promoting good practices; To contribute to the reduction of e-skills shortages and mismatches; To bring added value and foster synergy between existing initiatives in Europe; Long-term elaboration on a voluntary basis of common standards and criteria. Operational Objectives: To research appropriate legal, financial and institutional frameworks for multi-stakeholder partnership development in the field of e-skills. To review existing regulations and model contracts with a view to recommend amending those regulations inhibiting multi-stakeholder partnerships in e-skills education and training. To release a benchmarking report documenting ten good practices; To disseminate the results and good practice; To seek the endorsement of the stakeholders and disseminate the results. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Duration of the study: 12 months Publication of a call for tenders: Signature of the contract: Workshop Completion of the work and final report by contractor PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 200.000 in 2006 based on the following indicative estimations:
ACTION Contract Service including a workshop NUMBER 1 UNIT COSTS 200.000 TOTAL BUDGET 200.000
March 2006 July 2006 July 2007 July 2007
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ACTION Total
NUMBER
UNIT COSTS
TOTAL BUDGET 200.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participating countries will be invited to designate experts who will be contacted and interviewed during the project to provide relevant data and information. The experts will also be invited to provide their written comments and assessment of the results of the benchmarking report. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Consultation and participation of relevant stakeholders including government, industry, academia and training organisations. An interim report; A workshop; A benchmarking report; Relevance of the conclusions; Accuracy of the recommendations; Endorsement by the stakeholders. Timeliness of the deliverable; Presentation of a detailed roadmap; Endorsement of the roadmap by the stakeholders. Consensus of the stakeholders on the quality and accuracy of the benchmarking report;
4. Implementation
5. Effectiveness
Unit in charge: ENTR/D.4 Mr Andr Richier
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ENT/MAP/06/3.4 - EUROPEAN ICT SKILLS AND CAREER PORTAL

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Study for preparing the development of a European ICT (information and communication technologies) skills and career portal. JUSTIFICATION The European e-Skills Forum has been established by the Commission (DG Enterprise and Industry) in March 2003 following the Council Conclusions on ICT and e-business skills adopted on 5 December 2002. In its final synthesis report e-Skills in Europe: Towards 2010 and Beyond released in September 200414, the European e-Skills Forum which was composed of all relevant stakeholders recommended to launch comprehensive and integrative initiatives and notably the development of a European ICT skills and career portal. CONTEXT Several actions have been launched to address ICT skills shortages and mismatches in Europe15. A strong consensus has emerged from the work of the European e-Skills Forum on the need to develop concrete solutions and services at the EU level. The need for the development of a European ICT skills and career portal is based on the fact that ICT are present in all industries and are constantly changing. The dynamic nature of the ICT industry requires continuous updating of ICT skills at a time when Internet is changing the learning model. While the Commission would support the initial phase of the development of the portal, it is clear that a key success factor is the development of a viable economic model allowing the long term financial support by the stakeholders including the ICT industry. All other relevant services of the Commission (DG Education, Culture and Multilingualism, DG Information Society and Media and DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal opportunities and DG Research) and CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training), which are represented in the European e-Skills Forum, will be regularly informed of the progress of this study and closely involved in the follow-up of its results and conclusions. Enhancing the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy Strengthen the technological capacity of small enterprises
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www.eskills2004.org For example: e-Skills UK and the development of SFIA in the UK, the development of the APO skills framework in Germany, the setting up of the e-Skills Italian Forum in Italy etc.
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DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The goal is to develop a European ICT skills and career portal providing access: to MAP participating countries occupational system and career information, education and training offers, job banks, information on how to get job permits; to an occupational matrix offering a map of formal educational and vocational training credits, ICT industry certifications and informal learning measures to facilitate credit transfer and labour mobility; to a management system facilitating credential recording and maintenance; to models facilitating secondary/post-education/industry pathways; to a guide for e-skills career development throughout the EU; to a European ICT skills meta-framework currently under development in the scope of the European Standardisation Committee (CEN/ISSS).
The study will contribute to further clarify all the characteristics, including technical specifications, maintenance, economic and sustainability plan and the demonstration of the main functionalities with a small pilot. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: To prepare for the development of a European ICT skills and career portal; To strengthen the process of co-operation for ICT skills standards to be adopted by industry, academia and government in the EU; To foster ICT skills and attractive career path with a view to reduce skills shortages and mismatches in the EU; To bring added value and foster synergy between existing initiatives in Europe. Operational Objectives: To study the detailed characteristics and feasibility of a European ICT skills and career portal; To present detailed information concerning the technical specifications, the maintenance and the economic sustainability of the portal; To release a feasibility report; To develop a small pilot to demonstrate the main functionalities; To seek approval and endorsement by all relevant stakeholders. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Duration of the study: Publication of a call for tenders: Signature of the contract: 6 months March 2006 July 2006
Completion of the work and final report by contractor January 2007
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PROJECT COSTS
ACTION Study Total NUMBER 1 UNIT COSTS 150.000 TOTAL BUDGET 150.000 150.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participating countries will be invited to designate experts who will be contacted and interviewed during the study to provide relevant data and information. The experts will also be invited to provide their written comments and assessment of the results of the study and of the final report. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Consultation and participation of relevant stakeholders including government, industry, academia and training organisations. A detailed feasibility report. Timeliness of the deliverable; Relevance of the conclusions; Accuracy of the recommendations; Endorsement by the stakeholders. Presentation of a detailed roadmap ; Endorsement of the roadmap by the stakeholders. Consensus of the stakeholders on the quality and accuracy of the feasibility report.
4. Implementation
5. Effectiveness
Unit in charge: ENTR/D.4 Mr Andr Richier
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CHAPTER 4: IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY SMES
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ENT/MAP/06/4.1 - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR SMES

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION16 (1) Provision of co-, counter- and direct guarantees to European guarantee schemes and banks providing loans; (2) support for the long-term recruitment of additional specialised investment managers by seed capital funds; (3) provision of risk capital to specialised venture capital funds for investment in SMEs in their early years. JUSTIFICATION Many SMEs have particular difficulties in obtaining loans due to insufficient collateral. Guarantees are an efficient method of using public funds because their very high leverage effect in increasing the supply of loans to SMEs. The market failure in seed and early stage equity investment in new and innovative SMEs necessitates risk sharing between public and private sectors. CONTEXT Council Decision 2000/819/EC; Commission decision C(2001) 3973 of 10 December 2001; Conclusions of the Lisbon Council; conclusions of the Amsterdam Summit; Conclusions of the Feira Council; eEurope action plan; conclusion of ECOFIN Council of 7 November 2000; Council decision on Growth and Employment (1998-2000); conclusions of the Spring Council 2005. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT 1. SME Guarantee Facility: provision of co-, counter- and direct guarantees for guarantee schemes and banks in Member States and Candidate Countries. 2. Seed Capital Action: co-financing through grants of management costs related to long-term recruitment of additional specialised investment managers for new seed capital funds in their early years. 3. ETF Start-up: investments in commercially-orientated venture capital funds with sufficient professional experience to demonstrate their capability and credibility. The funds Improving the financial environment for business, especially SMEs Taxation and financial matters
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The financial instruments to improve the financial environment for business, especially SMEs, included in Chapter 4 (a) of Annex I to Council Decision 2000/819/EC (amended by Decision No 1776/2005/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005) are financed by budget line 010405. See Commission decision C(2001) 3973 of 10 December 2001 as amended in 2005 for the implementation of these financial instruments in 2006. The instruments are managed by the European Investment Fund on behalf of the European Commission.
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supported undertake to invest in SMEs in their early years with growth potential. 50% of a funds capital has to come from private sources. Incubators are eligible if they are managed and operated as funds. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) (a) Specific Objective: To improve SMEs competitiveness by improving their access to finance. (b) Operational Objectives: SME Guarantee Facility: facilitating access to loans for investment - improving the availability of loans for SMEs by public-private sector risk-sharing through the provision of co-, counter- and direct guarantees from the EIF to existing guarantee schemes and banks. This will focus on loans to SMEs with growth potential, micro-loans, equity guarantees and loans for ICT investments (hardware, software and training). Seed Capital Action: this aims to increase the supply of seed capital in Europe for startups in all sectors; ETF Start-up: this aims to increase the supply of seed and early stage capital available to new SMEs. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Commitments and payments to the EIF in 2006 Quarterly reporting from the EIF about investments. PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 91.500.000 in 2006, based on the following estimations:
ACTION TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) B
SME Guarantee Facility Seed Capital Action ETF Start-up Sub-total Additional proposal European Parliament
(Provisional) Total** *
36.000.000 2.000.000 53.500.000 91.500.000
by
the
TBA
91.500.000*
To the total amount should be added the contribution of the EFTA countries and candidate countries (provisionally estimated to be 2m EUR).
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Number of Number of Jobs SMEs SMEs created created receiving new financing Equity finance (ETF Start-up): - Participation in VC funds - Business incubators Seed Capital Action (Grant): - Support for VC funds - Business incubators SME Guarantee Facility: - Loans for SMEs growth potential - Microloans - Guarantee for equity - ICT loans enterprises for small X with X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Amount of Total additional amount investment or financed additional financing
Unit in charge: ENTR/D3 Mr Jeremy Heath
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ENT/MAP/06/4.2 TOWARDS A MORE EFFICIENT MARKET IN SME FINANCE

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Gathering information about changes in the SME finance market; identifying and disseminating best practices; and influencing policies at Member State level. JUSTIFICATION The Lisbon action plan aims at identifying obstacles inhibiting growth and innovation. In this context we need to alleviate access to finance problems on the supply and demand sides, and improve the statistical basis of our work. Our work on Basel II has indicated that banks are oriented more towards managing their risks, which might imply policy changes towards both SME lending and equity investments. To quantify these changes, more data is needed at European level. In addition, we will build on the momentum achieved by the International Year of Microcredit identifying best practices on regulatory aspects. The European risk capital market is fragmented and our work has identified many obstacles to the efficient operation of the single market. To build on the earlier projects and to leverage the Risk Capital Summit of October 2005, Member State policies and best practices will be identified and policy learning encouraged. CONTEXT Previous work: Round Tables of bankers and SMEs, guide and seminars on Basel II in 20042005; Microcredit European Conference, Commission staff working document and publication in 2004; four projects and c Risk Capital Summit in 2005. Outcomes: More integrated European policy approach to SME finance, drawing full benefits from the single market and exchange of best practices at regional, national and European levels. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The purpose is to increase policymakers understanding of the changes in the SME finance marketplace, and to further develop policy coordination and exchange of best practices among the Member States. 1. On bank lending, market changes include the effects of Basel II, which necessitate improved knowledge of the bank lending market, in particular enhancing cooperation with the ECB. To complement this, the 2005 SME survey will be expanded to the EU-10 countries. Policy coordination is also required on microcredit, in particular through an expert group Improving the financial environment for business, especially SMEs Taxation and financial matters
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focusing on regulatory aspects in cooperation with DG REGIO. The survey will be conducted under the framework contract of DG PRESS. The national experts will be invited from the Member States and the industry experts will be selected from microcredit programme specialists. 2. On equity finance, the detailed identification and removal of obstacles to cross-border investments will continue, with a particular focus on the global dimension of risk capital markets, including the OECD and the US. An expert group will explore ways to overcome the obstacles to cross-border investment in cooperation with DG MARKT. Furthermore, a workshop will explore best practices in pre-seed and seed investments, and an expert group will be convened to exchange best practices in mezzanine financing. The national experts will be invited from the Member States and the industry experts will be selected based on their demonstrated knowledge about the subject. 3. On the demand side of finance, the links of finance to innovation, in particular the assessment of intellectual property rights (IPR) and technology transfer issues as well as how financing institutions evaluate environmental risks and benefits will be explored in a workshop in cooperation with DG RTD and other stakeholders. On investment readiness, the fragmented nature of initiatives has led to the conclusion that an exchange of best practices at European level through a workshop would be an efficient way of increasing the scope of existing programmes. The national experts will be invited from the Member States and the industry experts will be selected based on existing investment readiness programmes. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) (a) Specific objectives: - To collect information about the changing financing conditions of SMEs through cooperation with the ECB and the planned survey and to draw policy conclusions from these changes. - To collect and disseminate best practices in access to finance. - To raise the profile of EU actions in risk capital on global forums and to learn from the best practices across the globe. - To identify practical ways to expand the benefits of the single market to risk capital investments. (b) Operational objectives - Survey on SME finance in the EU-10 Countries. - Improved SME bank lending data collection by the ECB. - Report identifying practical ways of removing obstacles for cross-border investing. - Participation in global forums dealing with SME finance policies. - Report identifying best practices in microcredit. - Report on best practices in pre-seed and seed financing. - Report on best practices in investment readiness.
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- Report on best practices in financing technology transfer. - Report on best practices in assessing IPR for collateral purposes. - Report on best practices in mezzanine financing. The reports will be translated to the Commission working languages and published in the web. Short summaries will be printed for specific purposes (conferences) by OPOCE. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Total duration of the project is from January 2006 to December 2007. Important milestones are the organisation of the workshops and the completion of the survey. PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 500.000 committed in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations:
ACTION NUMBER UNIT COSTS TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) BA Workshops Expert groups SME finance survey Dissemination costs 3 3 1 4 28.000 30.000 300.000 6.500 60.000 60.000 0 0 120.000 Total B 24.000 30.000 300.000 26.000 380.000 500.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participation of the Member State experts in expert group meetings and workshops. Country by country contribution to the final reports of the expert groups and one workshop will be expected. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Participation of Member States and outside experts in three workshops and two expert groups. Organisation of three workshops and at least one expert group; publication of final reports from each of these; satisfactory execution of the survey; participation in global forums on SME finance.
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Has the work given rise to clear recommendations for action for the Member States; have the best practices been identified and disseminated; has the survey produced the information sought. Has the project been delivered in the planned timetable; the operational deliverables produced; and the budget kept. To what extent have the recommendations and good practices been adopted as valid policy goals; to what extent have policies been changed; to what extent have SMEs benefited from these policy changes.
Unit in charge: ENTR/D. 3 Mr Jean-Nol Durvy, Mr Jean-Franois Aguinaga, Mr Patrick Klein, Ms Ulla Hudina, Mr Vesa Vanhanen, Mr Vilmos Budavari, Mr Conrad Ganslandt, Ms Nathalie Oghlian (dissemination)
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CHAPTER 5: GIVING BUSINESS EASIER ACCESS TO COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES, PROGRAMMES AND NETWORKS AND IMPROVING THE CO-ORDINATION OF THESE
FACILITIES
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ENT/MAP/06/5.1 - THE EURO INFO CENTRE NETWORK AND THE RATIONALISATION OF BUSINESS SUPPORT NETWORKS
Global MAP objective: Giving business easier access to Community support services, programmes and networks and improving the co-ordination of these services. More out of the Single Market, Successful e-business models and top-class business support.
TYPE OF ACTION Co-ordination and management of the Euro Info Centre Network through 3 main actions: - financial contributions to all EICs in the MAP Participating Countries in particular in support of Lisbon strategy at regional level; - management of technical, administrative and IT supports from Central support structure for animation and evaluation of the EIC network; - organisation of networking activities: promotion campaigns, listening to SMEs including SMEs panels, training sessions, rationalisation of networks activities (b2europe initiative), cooperation events. JUSTIFICATION The Euro Info Centre network has acquired solid experience in helping European SMEs better understand and benefit from European regulations, programmes and projects. The EIC network has also become a very significant instrument of the feedback mechanism to the Commission on the problems posed by the implementation of regulations and programmes for the effective operation of the Internal Market. The Commission is putting a stronger political priority on the implementation of the Lisbon strategy for Growth and Jobs and of the Sustainable Development Strategy, also at regional level. It is therefore necessary to involve the network more strongly and more directly in this direction. The EICs will therefore play their role of developing, according to local needs, the priority actions identified within the different European Commission Services. Access to international markets needs also to be promoted for SMEs: the role of the EICCS present in third countries, including neighbours countries, will be further strengthened towards this objective. CONTEXT The EIC network, created in 1987, is a European-wide business support network acting as an interface between the European Commission and local SMEs all over the EU, the EEA and the candidate countries.
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The network with its some 270 members covers all the MAP Participating Countries. In some third countries 13 Correspondence Centres (EICCs) have been set up in order to help the network to enlarge its contact in these countries To help SMEs to find their way through different services from different service providers at their disposal, the Commission launched the b2europe initiative (one stop shop approach) which essentially consists of signposting, mutual referral and information between service providers. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The project is an ongoing one, which aims at ensuring the networking activities and improving quality of services of the network for the benefit of the SME clients. In 2006, the network will be used notably as a tool to support European competitiveness as promoted by the renewed Lisbon strategy and the new SME policy for Growth and Jobs, the new industrial policy Communication and the Action Plan on Communicating Europe, providing added- value services to European SMEs. The EICs will concentrate on activities were they can provide the best added-value and take advantage of their European positioning. The network will also be better exploited as a communication relay to and from European SMEs at local level by undertaking Interactive Policy Making (IPM) activities, by other actions related to the listening to enterprise initiative, (e.g. SME panels) and increased participation in Commission consultations. The networks overall activity will be divided as follows in 2006: a) Core activities (for all EICs): - informing and assisting SMEs on Community matters, promoting EU initiatives, collaborating in listening to enterprises (in particular IPM and on-line consultations), and facilitating trans-national business-cooperation; - These core activities will be oriented towards actions in support of the Lisbon strategy at horizontal and/or sectorial levels; to that end, the EICs will be invited to propose such actions in their work programme 2006. b) implementation of specific activities in support of the new SME communication and the Entrepreneurship action plan as defined in 2005 (awareness raising events, specific products and services to assist SMEs, SMEs panels). All these actions will be carried out in cooperation with other business support networks in order to create synergies at local level and provide a better and more visible service to SMEs (one stop shop approach supported by the b2europe initiative). The management of the network will include: - three steering group meeting with representatives of the network; - an event (conference / information day) for the members of the network and / or their Host
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Structures; - training sessions for the EIC staff to reinforce quality and efficiency in the network; - think tanks on specific themes, where necessary. An additional action will be developed: - setting up a new strategy vis--vis third countries (EICCs) in the field notably of the new neighbourhood policy. A regional conference (organised and financed by EICCs) is planned in the Mediterranean area. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objective: Better contribute to the Lisbon objectives by providing a network of locally delivered quality support services to European SMEs that are designed to inform enterprises on Community matters; to advise SMEs on the application of Community matters; to assist in positioning themselves on the European market and at international level; and to inform the Commission about Community matters affecting SMEs; Operational Objective: - Improve the impact and the quality of services and performance of the network; - Bring the EICs into a more efficient delivery mode for Enterprise policy, building on synergies with other policies, programmes and projects which relate to the European context and activities of SMEs, the European Consumer Centre Network being one of the specific areas of possible cooperation; - Position the EIC as a delivery tool for the implementation of the Communication on the new SME policy for Growth and Jobs; - Implement a new strategy for business co-operation; - Better promote the network internally in the Commission services and externally; - Improve the organisation and management of the network. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES The project is ongoing until the end of the present MAP. The further development and strengthening of the EIC network is a continual process without specific milestones. The same is true for the rationalisation of the different business support networks. However, as 2006 is a critical year of transition into the future Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007-2013) efforts will be undertaken to inform potential network partners about the planned new arrangements in a transparent and non-discriminatory way. A call for proposals, on cooperation under the new CIP business and innovation support services arrangements, is planned to be launched in 2006 to avoid any disruptions in the rendering of
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the respective services for SMEs in 2007. PROJECT COSTS

Total budget: EUR 15.285.500 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations: Operational OPOCE grant (EIC Documentation working (EUR) subsidy) (EUR) Action grants (project subsidy) (EUR) Meetings of network members (steerings, think tank, steering b2europe, etc) + catering BA Budget line 340.000 Promotion, networking, training, rationalization of networks (EUR) ** Technical Assistance Office, Audit, informatics support (EUR)
Multiannual programme
B Budget line 7.968.000 (249 x 32.000 EUR) 450.000 * 1.000.000 (25 x 40.000 EUR) 9.418.000
B Budget line 350.000
B Budget line
B Budget line 580.000
BA Budget line 4.207.500
Candidate Countries
60.000
330.000
350.000
340.000 15.285.500
640.000 ****
4.537.500 ***
* Travel fees. ** Purchase of promotion material (framework contracts), training session , rental of meeting rooms and equipment, service contracts and reimbursement of travel fees for speakers, development of elearning and actions of tutorship. *** This amount relates to the new technical assistance offices (animation, audit and informatics). **** Costs related to an eventual event/conference for the EIC and/or Host structures are included in this budget (+/- 100.000 ).
Nota bene: The Commission will finance up to a max of 80 % each operational grant SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Participating countries are requested to strongly support any public or private initiative which gives visibility to the network and which can contribute to its strengthening, not only in relation to visibility but also to effectiveness. National/regional and local public authorities are also requested to contribute wherever possible to the rationalisation, one stop shop approach with other networks, and local cooperation initiatives, with other business intermediaries, which can help to bring transparency, complementarity and synergy to the activities of the major business support networks, be they
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national or European. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Category 1.Participation 2.Deliverables quantity Indicator(s) a) Number of companies in the EICs client database a) Number of awareness-raising activities organised by the EIC network b) Number of specialised advise services provided by the EIC network c) Total number of questions handled by the EIC network (and distribution according to their complexity) d) IPM cases encoded a) % of EIC which are carrying out client satisfaction studies b) % of EIC which have implemented a response time policy c) Number of staff training sessions Network management - Deadline for the contracts - Deadlines for the EIC extension - Organisation of network campaigns - Organisation of Steering and Working Group meetings - Organisation of the annual conference (deadline, # of participants) Training - Number of training sessions - Promotion - Number of promotional material distributed - EIC Web site hits The indicator of effectiveness of the project is based on a non-exhaustive list of deliverables obtained with an expenditure of 100.000 * of the Commission budget: - Number of questions replied - Number of Internet sites related to European matters - Number of Info Watch services - Number of copies of information documents delivered - Number of Tender Alert services provided - Number of mailings sent out - Number of events organised - Number of articles or interviews in the mass media - Number of companies which have received assistance in: - European programmes and projects - Public procurement - Legal and fiscal matters - Business co-operation projects - Number of cases submitted in the IPM initiative * calculated as if 100.000 EUR were exclusively dedicated to one action
3.Deliverables quality 4.Implementation
5.Effectiveness
Unit in charge: ENTR/E.2 Mr Jean-Luc Abrivard
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ENT/MAP/06/5.2 CONFERENCE ON CRAFTS AND SMALL ENTERPRISE

Global MAP objective: To give business easier access to support services, Community programmes and networks and to improve the coordination of these facilities Developing stronger, more effective representation of small enterprises interests at union and national level
TYPE OF ACTION Organisation of the 4th Conference on Craft Enterprises in early 2007, prepared by 2 workshops organised in the new member States, one in June 2006 and the other in autumn 2006. JUSTIFICATION Crafts as a trade have special characteristics and also special needs and requirements. Previous crafts conferences have served as a fruitful platform for exchange of ideas and formulation of targeted policy recommendations and were highly valued by European and national crafts and small business organisations and policy makers. Based on their positive contribution to crafts competitiveness, another European level dialog has been called for by a number of craft representatives. VP Verheugen announced his support for a European Crafts Conference in his speech at the Day of the Crafts in Paderborn (Germany) on 28 July 2005. The Polish and Hungarian governments and craft organisations have proposed to host the preconferences in Warsaw (June 2006) and Budapest (October/November 2006). The 4th conference on craft and small businesses will now take place in Germany in March/April 2007, during the German presidency of the European Union. The German craft organisations want to organize a very ambitious event which should concern 1500 participants. CONTEXT The conference takes place after three previous conferences held in 1990 (Avignon), 1994 (Berlin) and 1997 (Milan) and is important to re-launch the reflection process concerning the integration and the development of the craft and small business sector in a competitive economy. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The organisation of the 4th Conference on Craft Enterprises on the second half of 2006 in Brussels will facilitate a broad discussion to gather new ideas and prepare an adapted strategy to promote growth and job creation in the craft and small business sector. This Conference would be prepared by 2 workshops organised in the new member States, one in April/May
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2006 and the other around July 2006. The conference takes place after three previous conferences held in 1990 (Avignon), 1994 (Berlin) and 1997 (Milan) and is important to relaunch the reflection process concerning the integration and the development of the craft and small business sector in a competitive economy. The conference pursues different objectives from the annual conference on the Charter of small enterprises. Indeed, the main speakers will be the entrepreneurs themselves, in their capacities as presidents of craft organisations and small business, expressing their views and demonstrating the economic capacities of the sector, as well as the way to face the future socio-economic and structural challenges affecting crafts and small business. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) (a) Specific Objectives - To create a favourable environment for discussions on important contemporary challenges for crafts and small enterprises (globalization, innovation, education, competitiveness, ageing of population) - To reach targeted policy recommendations to support the integration and the development of the craft and small business sector in a competitive economy - To support a stronger representation of small craft enterprises interests (b) Operational Objectives - To refresh and enhance the dialogue between small enterprises representatives and the Commission given that several years have passed since the last craft conference - To summarize the policy recommendations arising out of the conference into an operational document - To promote the results of the conferences and integrate them into a political document (for instance a communication) PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Autumn 2005 Planning of the first workshop in one of the new member States Planning the dates and location of the second workshop and the Conference Organisation of the first workshop Organisation of the second workshop Organisation of the Conference
June 2006 Autumn 2006 Spring 2007 PROJECT COSTS
Total budget: EUR 380.000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations:
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Action
Number
Unit costs BA
Total Budget (EUR) B
1st workshop 2nd workshop Conference Total
1 1 1 3
40.000 40.000 300.000
40.000 40.000 300.000 80.000 300.000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES To provide the facilities (place, room, translation) for the organisation of the conference and workshop. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Category 1. Participation
Number of participants Number of Member States participating to the MAP represented by the participants
Indicator(s)
Documentation and speeches provided by the participants. The participants will come from highly representative crafts organisations on a European and National basis, or academic, with an insight in the problems concerning the economy of crafts and small enterprises in a competitive environment. Integration of the documentation and speeches into an operational document aimed to be disseminated widely Choice of three cities for the conferences, with the assistance of the participating organisations (selections of a venue, of speakers, accommodations). Choice of dates and schedules for the conference and pre-conferences; selection of topics in coordination with the participating organisations; drafting of an agenda. Exploitation of the results and discussions as policy recommendations, formulated in a political document designed to shape further actions in favour of crafts and small enterprises in the years 2007-2015
3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation
5. Effectiveness
Unit in charge: ENTR/E3 Ms I. Augustin and Mr F. Becquart
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CHAPTER 6: OTHER ACTIONS
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ENT/MAP/06/6.1 DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON THE EUROPEAN CHARTER FOR SMALL ENTERPRISES

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION Dissemination of good practices in the context of the European Charter for Small Enterprises: Annual Charter conference and a publication. JUSTIFICATION The March 2003 Competitiveness Council invited the Member States and the Commission to intensify discussions on small business policies developed in the Member States by organising annual exchanges of experiences. While the reporting on the Charter is integrated into the overall Lisbon reporting as of 2005, the exchange of good practices within the Charter framework will continue separately. Following the conferences of previous years, a Charter conference, will be organised in June 2007 to exchange good practices and to enable networking between the participating countries. To facilitate disseminating information on these good practices to a wider public, they will be made available in the form of an easy-toread brochure. CONTEXT European Charter for Small Enterprises endorsed at the Santa Maria da Feira European Council in June 2000. Five Charter Implementation Reports: COM (2001) 122 of 07.03.2001, (COM (2002) 68 of 06.02.2002, COM (2003) 21 of 21.01.2003, COM (2004) 64 of 11.02.2004, and COM (2005) 30 of 08.02.2005; reports published in Enterprise Directorate-Generals house style or by Opoce; dissemination measures: press releases, seminars and conferences, mailings, meetings with business organisations. Brochure with text of the Charter + introduction by the Commissioner published in September 2002; in the languages of the new Member States in June 2004. Charter conference in Maribor, Slovenia, 23 April 2002. Charter conference in Tallinn, Estonia, 30 September 1 October 200317. Joint seminar with the Green Paper on Entrepreneurship, 22 January 2003. Entrepreneurship Day jointly with the Entrepreneurship Action Plan, 2 March 200418. Charter conference in Dublin with the Irish Presidency, 29-30 June 200419. Other actions All lines of action of the Charter
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http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/enlargement/tallinn_2003.htm http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/events/entrepreneurship/index.htm
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Charter conference in Luxemburg with the Luxemburg Presidency, 15-16 June 200520. Charter conference in Vienna with the Austrian Presidency, 13-14 June 2006. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The project will include two components: 1. Organisation of a conference to exchange good practice in the context of the Charter in June 2007 inviting representatives of national, regional and local governments, European and national business organisations and business support providers from all participating countries. The Commission will organise the two-day conference jointly with the German Presidency. The costs of the conference will be divided on the basis of a split of tasks and the use of existing framework contracts. The conference will include presentations and discussions on good practices in the Charter areas. 2. Publishing the good practice cases in an easy to read and to use brochure in 20 languages. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objective: Raise awareness of the Charter, disseminate its results and facilitate exchange of good practice. Operational Objectives: Two deliverables: A Charter conference and a printed good practice brochure. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES September 2006: June 2007: September 2006: June 2007: PROJECT COSTS EUR 285.000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations: Start preparations for the 2007 Charter conference Charter conference Start preparations with Opoce on the publication of the brochure Publication of the good practice brochure by the Commission services
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ACTION
NUMBER
UNIT COSTS (EUR)
TOTAL BUDGET (EUR)
B Organisation of the conference (max. 350 participants) Good practice brochure: Total Translation Printing 19 8000 5 000 5 95 000 40 000 285 000 Charter 1 150 000 150 000
SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Proposals for good practice cases. Participation at the Charter conference. The co-organising Member State, Germany, to host and to participate in the preparation of the Charter conference. Dissemination of brochure to interested parties by each participating country Charter contact. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Number of people attending the Charter conference as a percentage of the number of invitations sent out. Ca. 8 000 copies of the brochure printed by June 2007. Number of copies disseminated by December 2007 as a percentage of copies printed. Brochure easy to read and to use feedback from national administrations. Conference well organised feedback via an exit survey. Were the deliverables delivered as planned and according to the budget foreseen? Number of cases where Member States indicate that good practices identified in the Charter process / Best Procedure project / other relevant Enterprise and Industry DG activities have been used a source of inspiration for designing their own policies compared to cases reported in the previous exercise.
Unit in charge: ENTR/E.1 - Ms Kirsi Ekroth-Manssila
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ENT/MAP/06/6.2 ENTERPRISE EUROPE NEWSLETTER AND WEB

PUBLISHING PROGRAMME
Global MAP objective: Charter line of action: TYPE OF ACTION
Other actions All lines of Charter
Enterprise Europe publishes articles in 6 languages on the web site of the Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry, and a selection appear in a free-of-charge 24-page paper quarterly newsletter with a print run of over 33,000 copies. Regular e-mail news updates are sent to currently 6,800 subscribers. JUSTIFICATION Enterprise Europe publicises and disseminates enterprise policy ideas to a wide audience of public and private practitioners, as well as potential beneficiaries. It also publicises Community services and encourages businesses (particularly SMEs) to access and use them. Examines the thinking behind initiatives, situates actions in context and seeks to demonstrate how greater competitiveness can be achieved in respect of social and environmental considerations. CONTEXT The paper edition was launched in 2000 and the news alerts in June 2001. Subscriptions to both services continue to rise. Based on the results of a readership survey a call for tender was conducted in 2005 to establish a new contract (running from January 2006) offering a more web-based service. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The contract under which Enterprise Europe is currently produced will end in March 2007. This request concerns the funding of an extension of the contract for a further 6 months (a possibility foreseen in the call for tender) to enable communication to be maintained until new arrangements under the CIP come into force. OBJECTIVES (SPECIFIC AND OPERATIONAL) Specific Objectives: - Show how fostering enterprise, innovation and entrepreneurship can help create a Europe of sustained economic growth, with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. - Promote policy aims of the extension of the Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 2001-2006, and report progress in achieving them. Help promote and disseminate best practice. Operational Objectives:
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- Preparation and publication of articles on the DG's Europa web site, of which two thirds will appear in two quarterly paper editions. - Provide E-mail news updates as and when necessary (including alerting the subscriber base to the publication of new articles). Publish alerts as archive on DGs Europa web site. PROJECT DURATION AND MILESTONES Articles will continue to be published on the web for 6 months from April 2007. Corresponding paper editions will be published in June and September. PROJECT COSTS Total budget: EUR 200,000 in 2006, based on the following indicative estimations: Editorial services: EUR 150 000; printing (via OPOCE): EUR 50 000 Action Number Unit costs Total Budget (EUR) BA Editorial services Printing (via OPOCE) Total SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES Advice or contributions of material from the participating countries, and their help in publicising the newsletter and news alerts. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1 2
149 320 25 000
150 000 50 000 200 000
1. Participation
2. Deliverables - quantity
3. Deliverables - quality
N of subscribers to the paper edition N of subscribers to e-mail alerts N of page views on DGs Europa web site Articles published on the web Two quarterly paper editions in the 6-month period Enough e-mail news alerts to provide representative coverage of significant developments in Enterprise & Industry DG fields - Representative coverage of developments in DG fields - Thought-provoking treatment of material to encourage better understanding of policy objectives - Consistent web and paper publishing - Take-up of and referral to news articles and news alerts by information multipliers, including external web sites - Reader reactions/feedback
Unit in charge: ENTR/R.4 - Mr Hugh Barton-Smith
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BUDGET OVERVIEW WP 2006
Budget allocations 1. Enhance the growth and competitiveness of business in a knowledge-based internationalised economy ENT/MAP/06/1.1 260.000 e-Business Policy Network Reinforcing synergies between public policies in support of e-business ENT/MAP/06/1.3 900.000 for SMEs ENT/MAP/06/1.4 2.000.000 Sectoral e-Business W@tch ENT/MAP/06/1.5 151.000 Supporting internationalisation of SMEs (Best) ENT/MAP/06/1.6 260.000 European Best Tourism Practices ENT/MAP/06/1.7 170.000 European Productivity Conference 2006 Conference Going Global: the Challenges for Knowledge-Based ENT/MAP/06/1.8 195.000 Economies Benchmarking sectoral policy initiatives in support of e-Business for ENT/MAP/06/1.9 250.000 SMEs Benchmarking commercially available e-Business solutions and services ENT/MAP/06/1.10 for SMEs 400.000 Total for Objective 1 4.586.000 2. Promote entrepreneurship ENT/MAP/06/2.1 850.000 Package of improved communication links with SME stakeholders ENT/MAP/06/2.2 360.000 European Enterprise awards ENT/MAP/06/2.3 200.000 Conference on entrepreneurship education ENT/MAP/06/2.4 190.000 Promoting entrepreneurship in the audio-visual media ENT/MAP/06/2.5 400.000 Study on start-up procedures in Europe ENT/MAP/06/2.6 400.000 Eurobarometer on entrepreneurial attitudes Total for Objective 2 2.400.000 3. Simplify and improve the administrative and regulatory framework for business, so that research, innovation and business creation in particular can flourish ENT/MAP/06/3.1 ENT/MAP/06/3.2 ENT/MAP/06/3.3 ENT/MAP/06/3.4 Total for Objective 3 Models to reduce the disproportionate regulatory burden on SMEs (Best) Requirements for accounting systems from the point of view of small enterprises Benchmarking Policies on e-Skills Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships European ICT Skills and Career Portal 195.000 110.000 200.000 150.000 655.000
4. Improve the financial environment for business, especially SMEs ENT/MAP/06/4.1 Financial Instruments for SMEs* 91.500.000 ENT/MAP/06/4.2 500.000 Towards a more efficient market in SME finance Total for Objective 4 92.000.000 5. Give business easier access to Community support services, programmes and networks and to improve the coordination of these facilities The Euro Info Centre Network and the Rationalisation of Business ENT/MAP/06/5.1 15.285.500 Support Networks ENT/MAP/06/5.2 380.000 Conference on crafts and small enterprise Total for Objective 5 15.665.500 6. Other actions Dissemination of Information on the European Charter for Small ENT/MAP/06/6.1 Enterprises 285.000 ENT/MAP/06/6.2 200.000 Enterprise Europe newsletter and web publishing programme Total for other actions 485.000 TOTAL 115.791.500
* The financial instruments to improve the financial environment for business, especially SMEs, included in Chapter 4 (a) of Annex I to Council Decision 2000/819/EC (amended by Decision No 1776/2005/EC of the
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European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005) are financed by budget line 010405. See Commission decision C(2001) 3973 of 10 December 2001 as amended in 2005 for the implementation of these financial instruments in 2006. The budgetary amounts and breakdowns remain subject to modification of the 2006 Community budget by the budget authority in the context of the annual budgetary negotiations.
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Best Procedures EUproject2006

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ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship 2001-2006

WORK PROGRAMME 2006

As approved by the EPMC on 24 November 2005 and 9 March 2006

ENT/MAP/06/1.1 - E-BUSINESS POLICY NETWORK (EBPN)

2. Deliverables quantity 3. Deliverables quality

from the eBSN portal.

Unit in charge: ENTR/D.4 Ms Dana Eleftheriadou

Commission Communication, Helping SMEs Go Digital, COM(2001)138, 13 March 2001. http://www.e-bsn.org/portal/home.do

PROJECT COSTS The overall project cost is expected to be 900.000 .

Reinforcing synergies between public policies in support of ebusiness for SMEs

1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity

Unit in charge: ENTR/ D.4 Ms Dana Eleftheriadou

ENT/MAP/06/1.4 SECTORAL E-BUSINESS W@TCH

Reporting and analysis

Unit in charge: ENTR/ D.4 Mr. Georgios Karageorgos

ENT/MAP/06/1.5 SUPPORTING INTERNATIONALISATION OF SMES (BEST)

Total Budget (EUR) B

Unit costs (EUR)

Total Budget (EUR)

Total SUPPORT REQUIRED FROM THE PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

Unit in charge: ENTR/E.1 Ms Heidi Hiltunen

ENT/MAP/06/1.6 - EUROPEAN BEST TOURISM PRACTICES

based on the following

TOTAL BUDGET (EUR)

UNIT COSTS (EUR) 50.000

TOTAL BUDGET (EUR)

1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity

Unit in charge: ENTR/ I.1 - Mr. Mathieu Hoeberigs

ENT/MAP/06/1.7 - EUROPEAN PRODUCTIVITY CONFERENCE 2006

- Scientific deliverables as a publication

3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness

Unit in charge: ENTR/B.2 - Ms Josefa Monteagudo

ENT/MAP/06/1.8 - CONFERENCE GOING GLOBAL: THE CHALLENGES FOR KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMIES

3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness

Unit in charge: ENTR/D.1 - Mr Franck Dupont

ENT/MAP/06/1.9 - BENCHMARKING SECTORAL POLICY INITIATIVES IN SUPPORT OF E-BUSINESS FOR SMES

Charter line of action:

1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity

3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness

Unit in charge: ENTR/D.4 Ms Dana Eleftheriadou

Charter line of action:

1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity

3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness

Unit in charge: ENTR/D.4 Ms Dana Eleftheriadou

CHAPTER 2: PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ENT/MAP/06/2.1 PACKAGE OF IMPROVED COMMUNICATION LINKS WITH SME STAKEHOLDERS

90.000 30.000 240.000 60.000 850.000

1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity

ENT/MAP/06/2.2 EUROPEAN ENTERPRISE AWARDS

Global MAP objective: Charter line of action:

TOTAL BUDGET (EUR) 80.000 280.000

1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity 3. Deliverables quality

Unit in charge: ENTR/ E. 4 Ms Tina Zournatzi

ENT/MAP/06/2.3 CONFERENCE ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION

Unit in charge: ENTR/ E.1 Mr. Simone Baldassarri

ENT/MAP/06/2.4 - PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE AUDIO-VISUAL

Global MAP objective: Entrepreneurship Action Plan: TYPE OF ACTION

To promote entrepreneurship Encouraging more people to become entrepreneurs

1. Participation 2. Deliverables quantity 3. Deliverables quality 4. Implementation 5. Effectiveness

Unit in charge: ENTR.E.1 - Mr Thomas Jaegers

ENT/MAP/06/2.5 STUDY ON START-UP PROCEDURES IN EUROPE

B 400 000 400 000