How to participate

Initiatives from all EU countries and associate countries of the SME pillar of the Single Market Programme can participate in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards (EEPA).

See the Single Market SME pillar countries.

Who can participate

Eligible entities include national organisations, towns, cities, regions, and communities, as well as public-private partnerships between public authorities and entrepreneurs, educational programmes, and business organisations.

Cross-border initiatives will be accepted as long as they have been nominated jointly by all countries involved.

Selection process

The competition has two stages. Applicants must first compete at national level to be eligible to compete at European level. For the national competition, each country will select 2 entries to be nominated for the European competition.

A shortlist of nominees will be chosen by a European jury. All nominees from the national and European competitions will be invited to attend the awards ceremony. The ceremony recognises the winners for their efforts and gives them the opportunity to present themselves in a pan-European environment.

The closing dates for entries to the national selection are set by each country. For further information on how to get involved in the future, consult the table below to contact your national representative.

Selection criteria

• Originality and feasibility
• The impact they have on the local economy
• The improvement of local stakeholder relations
• Transferability of the project to other regions in Europe.