|
|
|
Report on the Implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the Western Balkans: The SME Policy Index 2007
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Western Balkan economies but until recently received relatively little attention from policy makers.
Governments focused on consolidating macroeconomic stabilisation and the restructuring and privatisation of large companies. The adoption in 2003 of the European Charter for Small Enterprises contributed to a change in policy perspective.
The 2007 SME Policy Index presents the first comprehensive and comparative assessment of progress made in implementing the Charter. The assessment is based on the SME Policy Index, an analytical tool designed by the OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe and the European Commission.
|
The SME Policy Index uses collaborative benchmarking to measure progress in the ten dimensions of the Charter:
-
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
Governments of the region have taken action based on the results of the report through the creation in April 2007 of a South East European Investment Committee which aims to develop detailed guidelines on how to implement reforms in priority areas including the SME environment. A follow-up report, the 2009 SME Policy Index, assesses the progress made in the Western Balkans since this last 2007 assessment.
The report assesses the performance of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99.
How to obtain this publication
Readers can access the full version of this publication by choosing from the following options:
|
