The network of SME envoys was set up in 2011 as part of the review of the small business act. Each EU country has nominated a national SME envoy to complement the role of the EU SME envoy who chairs the network. The group of SME envoys makes up an SME policy advisory group that promotes SME friendly regulation and policymaking in all EU countries.
Why a network of SME envoys?
Even though EU countries can do a lot to improve the regulatory and policy environment for SMEs, it is often hard for small businesses to voice their opinion and reach policymakers. The network of SME envoys improves the consultation process with national SMEs and cooperation between EU countries.
The EU SME envoy
The role involves
- opening up channels of communication between the European Commission, SMEs, and their representative organisations
- promoting SMEs‘ interests throughout the whole Commission and ensuring that the 'think small principle' is applied effectively in the Europe 2020 strategy
Therefore, the network of SME envoys filters EU initiatives (SME filter) and signals those that merit attention from an SME perspective to the Commission. Initiatives that are listed in the SME filter will have to be accompanied by a proportionate SME test. The SME filter will be updated every 2 weeks.
EU countries’ SME envoys
SME envoys in EU countries are appointed by the national government. Their role is to
- promote SMEs' interests throughout all government bodies and ensure that the 'think small first' principle is integrated into their policy-making and regulatory proposals
- act as the main interface between the Commission and national policy-makers
- report on the implementation of SME policy actions, inform on SME policy actions, and promote the exchange of good practices
More information on the role of SME envoys in EU countries (13 kB).
See the most recent SME performance review. Click on the flags for the national factsheets.
Country | Name | Institution, telephone | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Mr Florian Frauscher, Director-General | Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs +43 (0)1 71100 - 803522 website | florian.frauscher@oesterreich.gv.at |
| Belgium | Mr Didier Kinet, Director-General | Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs, Self-employed and Energy +32 (0)2 277 51 11 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Bulgaria | Ms Milena Angelova, Secretary General | Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association website | |
| Croatia | Mr Zvonimir Novak, Director General | Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development + 385 1 610 61 11 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Cyprus | Mr Christos Photiades, Director | Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism +357 2 286 7100 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Czech Republic | Mr Marian Piecha, Deputy Minister | Ministry of Industry and Trade +420 224 851 111 website | posta@mpo.cz |
| Denmark | Mr Torsten Andersen, Deputy Director-General | Danish Business Authority website | erst@erst.dk |
| Estonia | Ms Sille Kraam, Deputy Secretary General | Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication +372 625 6342 website | info@mkm.ee |
| Finland | Mr Petri Peltonen, Undersecretary of State | Ministry of Employment and the Economy +358 29 516001 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| France | Ms Caroline Mischler, Director | Ministère de l’economie et des finances +33 1 40 04 04 04 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Germany | Ms Sabine Hepperle, Director-General | Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy +49 (0) 3018 6159 website | kmu-botschafter@bmwi.bund.de |
| Greece | Ms Panagoula Pasxali, Director-General | Ministry of Development and Competitiveness +30 210 3332000 website | info@ggb.gr |
| Hungary | Mr László Hunyadi, Head of Department | Ministry for National Economy +36 1 795 1400 website | ugyfelszolgalat@ngm.gov.hu |
| Ireland | Ms Karen Hynes, Principal Officer | Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation +353 59 917 8990 website | info@djei.ie |
| Italy | Ms Benedetta Francesconi, Director-General | Ministero dello sviluppo economico +39 0647051 website | dipartimento.impresa@sviluppoeconomico.gov.it |
| Latvia | Ms Ilze Lore, Director | Ministry of Economy +371 67013100 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Lithuania | Mr Tomas Urban, Director | Ministry of Economy +37070664617 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Luxembourg | Mr Gilles Scholtus, Conseiller de Gouvernement 1ère classe | Ministère de l'Economie +352 2478 2478 website | info@eco.public.lu |
| Malta | Mr Ronald Mizzi, Permanent Secretary | Ministry for the Economy, European Funds and Lands +356 2220 9500 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| The Netherlands | Mr Pieter Waasdorp, Director | Ministry of Economic Affairs website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Poland | Mr Wojciech Paluch, Undersecretary of State | Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Innovation +48 22 693 5000 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Portugal | Mr Franciso Sa, Chairman | IAPMEI (Ministry of Economy) +351 213 245 400 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Romania | Mr Darius Vodă, Secretary General | Ministry for Business Environment, Trade and Entrepreneurship website | office@investromania.gov.ro |
| Slovakia | Mr Jan Oravec, State Secretary | Ministry of Economy +421-2-4854 7204 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Slovenia | Mr Jernej Salecl, Director-General | Ministry of Economic Development and Technology +386 1 400 33 11 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Spain | Ms Maria Muñoz Martinez, Director | Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism +34 913 49 23 45 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
| Sweden | Ms Gunila Nordlöf, Director-General Deputy: Ms Jeanette Edblad, Director | The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth +46 8 681 91 00 website | grow-sme-envoy@ec.europa.eu |
Area | Envoy(s) |
---|---|
Access to finance | Pieter Waasdorp, The Netherlands |
Training and skills | Sabine Hepperle, Germany |
Sustainability | Caroline Mischler, France |
Entrepreneurship, including entrepreneurship education | Zvonimir Novak, Croatia |
Energy related issues for SMEs | Caroline Mischler, France Maria Muñoz Martinez, Spain |
Family business-related issues and transfer of businesses | Nancy Caruana, Malta |
Better regulation and reduction of administration burden | Wojciech Paluch, Poland |
SME test | Didier Kinet, Belgium |
Public procurement | Didier Kinet, Belgium |
Digitalisation | Gunilla Nordlöf, Sweden Caroline Mischler, France |
Impact of sanctions on SMEs | Torsten Andersen, Denmark |
SMEs in the defence sector | Zvonimir Novak, Croatia |
Single market issues specific to start and scale-ups as well as 'traditional' SMEs Single market enforcement task force | Torsten A. Andersen, Denmark |
Meetings of the SME envoys network
The network meets 4 times a year with observers from European business organisations.
Supporting documents
- 2021 annual report
- SME Strategy
- Call of the SME envoy network for a vigorous and forward-looking EU policy for small businesses
- European SME-action programme (prepared by the national SME Envoys in cooperation with business organisations participating as observers of the SME Envoy meetings)
- Small business act for Europe