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Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Entrepreneurship and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

What the European Commission does for SMEs 

99% of European businesses are SMEs. They provide jobs to more than 85 million European citizens. SMEs are at the heart of innovation and entrepreneurship. The ideas and solutions of 24,3 million entrepreneurs, women and men, contribute to a sustainable and digital economy, central to Europe’s competitiveness.   
The European Commission is committed to supporting enterprises from the moment they start - throughout their lifetime. Find out more below.

Supporting SMEs throughout their lifecycle

  1. LEARN

    entrepreneurial skills and plan your career path

  2. START

    setting up your SME

  3. KEEP GOING

    under SME-friendly business conditions

  4. GROW & SCALE

    your business, explore funding and support options 

  5. OVERCOME

    challenges with early crisis support  

  6. EXIT

    smoothly and plan for succession  

EU SME policy

Communication12 September 2023
COM(2023) 535 - Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - SME Relief Package

An SME Strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe 

A ‘small business act’ for European SMEs