The network of SME envoys

The mission of the SME envoy

The SME Envoy acts as a key link between the EU and the SME business community, representing their specific interests and needs in EU programmes and policies. The main aim of this role is to establish a close, direct connection between the European Commission, SMEs, and their representatives. Thanks to the SME Envoy, SME interests can be identified earlier and highlighted to the relevant departments, helping ensure their concerns are taken into account. This supports the development of appropriate and effective measures, making both EU and national policies more SME-friendly. The SME Envoy pays particular attention to the craft sector, small businesses, and sole traders, recognising their unique needs.

The role of the SME envoy

Within public administration

The SME Envoy works to strengthen the position of SMEs at both EU and national levels, with a focus on

• acting as a watchdog to monitor policies and actions affecting SMEs across the administration, ensuring their potential impact is properly assessed
• further developing and applying the ‘SME Test’, and helping to monitor its use
• creating methods to reduce the heavy administrative and regulatory burdens that often fall on SMEs, particularly on small businesses, and sharing these methods for use in legislative proposals
• building an internal ‘SME network’ within the public administration by bringing together SME contact points from all relevant ministries, directorates-general, and departments to raise awareness of SME-related issues
• facilitating regular discussions on current SME initiatives
• promoting and guiding the use of the ‘Think Small First’ principle in all EU and national initiatives
• sharing and supporting the use of good practices in entrepreneurship and SME policy across funding programmes in different areas, with a focus on cohesion and education policies
• strengthening links between SME organisations and other public services whose work may affect or support SMEs
• when relevant, guiding SMEs to the correct department to contact

Toward the outside world

The SME Envoy serves as a visible point of contact for small and medium-sized businesses and SME organisations in a broad sense, including business groups, sectoral federations, chambers of commerce, and chambers of crafts. This involves

• holding direct discussions with SME organisations through meetings and visits at EU, national, and regional levels
• keeping SMEs and their representatives informed about new legislative proposals and programmes that may affect or interest them
• acting as a contact point for complaints from SMEs and helping to respond with the support of other public services
• gathering feedback from SMEs on issues important to them, especially regarding legislation and access to support programmes
• helping SMEs find and access relevant information on programmes and initiatives