SBA

Small Business Act for Europe 

The Small Business Act for Europe (SBA) is a European document providing a wide range of entrepreneurial measures as a guide to the creation and implementation of policies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based on good practices supported by the EU and the OECD. SME Policy simultaneously encourages the changes in the economic structure and improvements in business climate in general and the potential growth of enterprises individually.

SME Policy Index: Western Balkans and Turkey 2016 – Assessing the Implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe is the outcome of work conducted by the seven EU enlargement economies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey) and the OECD, the European Commission (DG GROW), the ETF (European Training Foundation) and the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development).

 The thematic chapters are written with the responsibility of various partner organizations.

 The OECD is responsible for:

D.2 Bankruptcy

D.3 Institutional framework

D.4 Operational environment

D.5a Support services to business

D.8b Innovation

D.9 SMEs in a green economy

D.10 Internationalisation

The European Commission issues chapters related to:

D.5b Public procurement

D.7 Technical standards

EBRD is responsible for D.6 Access to finance

ETF issues:

 D.1 Entrepreneurial learning and women’s entrepreneurship and

 D.8a SME skills

The SBA assessment is now being conducted for the fifth time, after the estimates in 2006, 2009, 2012 and 2015. This fifth assessment should ensure not only the current state of SME development policy in all seven economies, but to gain deeper insight into policy implementation.

The SME Policy Index assesses progress in implementing the 10 Principles of the SBA (12 dimensions) and compares policy development and remaining challenges in the region while providing a policy guide for each economy.

The SME Policy Index estimates both quantitative and qualitative indicators. Qualitative indicators evaluate the way of policy development in a particular dimension, using scores between of 1-5, with 1 being the weakest and 5 being the strongest.

The main objective of the SME Policy Index is to provide governments with a policy framework for SME development. The index distinguishes strength and weaknesses in policy making, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The SME Policy Index aims to support governments in setting and defining the goals for SME policy development and strategic priorities in order to further improve their business environment.

The current SBA assessment cycle began on 12 and 13 September 2017 with the introduction of a new SBA Questionnaire to SBA Coordinators from the Western Balkan Countries. The continuation of the process is planned for the November 08 of the current year by the OECD (and partner organizations) meeting in Sarajevo.

The SBA reporting process will continue at a meeting organized by the National SBA Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, to be held in the second half of November 2017, or by submitting a completed OECD Questionnaire on February 1, 2018.