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The Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Policy Index is a benchmarking tool in countries in South East Europe (SEE) and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 that monitors which evaluates progress in implementing the main policy framework for SME development elaborated by the European Union: The European Charter for Small Enterprises.
The 2009 edition of the SME Policy Index was launched in Brussels on 17 June 2009. It updates the 2007 assessment, taking into account the effects of the global economic and financial crisis and includes a special section on promoting innovative, high-growth SMEs.
The Index was developed by the OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe in co-operation with the European Commission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Training Foundation. It is based on the broader Investment Reform Index in methodology and construction, and adapted to the European Charter for Small Enterprises and SME development. The Index assesses the following policy dimensions:
- education and training for entrepreneurship
- cheaper and faster start-up
- better legislation and regulation
- availability of skills
- improving online access for tax filing and company registration
- getting more out of the Single Market
- taxation and financial matters
- strengthening the technological capacity of small enterprises
- successful e-business models and top class business support
- developing stronger, more effective representation of small enterprises
Methodology
- The OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe and its partner organisations (the European Commission, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Training Foundation) first design the SME Policy Index self-evaluation toolkit
- South East Europe countries and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 conduct self-evaluations structured in a national report following the policy dimensions
- a team of independent consultants conducts independent counter-assessments
- premiminary scorings are determined by the partner organisations
- governments comment on preliminary scorings
- final decisions on scores are made by the partner organisations
- final results of the SME Policy Index are published in a comprehensive report
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