Programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and SMEs, COSME 2014-2020

The Council noted the presentation, by the Commission, of its proposals for a Business Competitiveness and SMEs programme for the years 2014-2020 (COSME and Horizon 2020).

The "Competitiveness and SMEs programme" will be the successor to the non-innovation part of the current "Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme" (CIP). All research and innovation support to SMEs (including the innovation part of the CIP) will be included in the framework programme for research and innovation "Horizon 2020".

The new multi-annual programme, with a proposed total budget of EUR 2.5 billion for the whole period, will focus mainly on measures to promote more dynamic and internationally competitive SMEs.

These measures will include:

• actions to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of EU industry;
• innovative financial instruments for growth to facilitate SMEs' access to funding;
• measures to support EU companies trying to gain better access to markets;
• activities to promote entrepreneurship.