SMEs boost EU employment figures

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) provided more than two-thirds of total private sector employment in the European Union, an international conference heard today.

The jobs figure is much higher proportionally than those created by SMEs in the US or Japan.

However, negative views of entrepreneurship must be addressed if the European Union is to have any chance of reaching the 10-year targets for employment and competitiveness, the European Charter for Small Enterprises heard today.

The attendance includes senior officials and business representatives from 34 countries, including all the EU Member States.

Ireland's Minister for Trade and Commerce, Michael Ahern said the current balance of risks and rewards appear to make many Europeans less inclined to become entrepreneurs.

Ahern said today: "Like most countries we, in Ireland, have a number of programmes in place to assist enterprises and improve the business environment.

"These include sponsorship of entrepreneurship programmes in schools, support for research and development linkages between enterprises and the universities, and support for availability of finance for enterprises, including critical seed capital and early stage financing," he added.

The EU Commissioner for Enterprise, Mr Jan Figel said today: "Europe's competitiveness depends strongly on our small businesses. They are a key source of jobs, a breeding ground for business ideas and a main driver of entrepreneurship."

The remarks were made at the opening of a two-day conference in Dublin Castle today.