Coordination of activities in favour of SMEs and the craft sector

OBJECTIVE: to present, in accordance with Article 5 of Council Decision 93/379/EEC, the coordination between action taken under enterprise policy and action taken under other Union policies. CONTENT: the Commission concludes its report by stating that it will continue efforts to achieve internal coordination so that its policies help to support the development of SMEs. It states that SMEs are now properly targeted in almost all Community programmes. The report shows that significant progress has been made in the area of the Structural Funds, especially through the SME Community initiative, RDT and vocational training (Objective 4 of the Structural Funds, ADAPT initiative, LEONARDO programme). The Commission must ensure that it monitors the implementation of programmes so that the objectives set out are translated into concrete results for SMEs. The enterprise policy services are cooperating with all the other services in both the design and implementation of programmes and policies. The efforts made so far need to be continued in order to make these programmes more visible and efficient. The Commission will step up efforts to coordinate with all its partners, the Member States, the European institutions and professional associations so that action to help SMEs translates into growth, competitiveness and jobs.�