BETA


2023/2750(RSP) Resolution on the state of the SME Union

Progress: Procedure completed

Legal Basis:
RoP 132-p2

Events

2023/07/13
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted the resolution on the state of the SME Union.

The text adopted in plenary was adopted by the EPP, S&D, Renew and ECR groups.

European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have faced significant challenges and hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, both of which have led to disruptions of global value chains and persistent inflation. European competitiveness is lagging behind other developed economies, threatening Europe’s potential to generate wealth and prosperity. Therefore, EU legislation must be properly balanced between fostering growth, entrepreneurship, climate adaptation and business productivity. Regulatory burdens should be markedly reduced, including the costs of compliance created by over-regulation and overly complex administrative procedures and reporting obligations.

Parliament called on the Commission to carry out an overall assessment of the cumulative effect of EU legislation on SMEs in the EU, with a view to proposing simplifications where needed, as well as an enabling framework to ensure that the EU is the best place to establish SMEs in terms of competitiveness and growth.

SME relief package

Noting that late payments remain a major threat to the survival of SMEs, particularly in the current climate of high inflation and increased energy costs, Parliament called for the urgent adoption of a revised Late Payments Directive, providing SMEs with a robust and predictable legal framework to address payment delays in both business-to-business and business-to-government relations, while ensuring a balanced approach that preserves the freedom of contracts. The Commission is urged to support the widespread use of digital tools such as e-invoicing and automated payment processes, in order to increase transparency, security and efficiency. Moreover, it is also asked to assess a possible revision of the State aid rules in order to evaluate how the interests of SMEs are safeguarded.

Improved access of SMEs to finance

Noting that current economic challenges and increasing interest rates have led to tighter conditions for SMEs trying to access financing, the Commission is called on to increase its efforts on the capital markets union (CMU) and to unlock funding for Europe’s growth.

Parliament highlighted the need to support SMEs experiencing financial difficulties by offering adequate financial and non-financial support to avoid bankruptcy and in this regard called on the Member States to implement the Preventive Restructuring Directive.

The resolution recalled that the European Innovation Council (EIC) is a new and unique European funding programme designed to provide deep-tech start-ups with a one-stop shop for finance to enable them to develop their innovation from an early idea to a marketable product, as well as to scale up the company. In addition, Parliament called for a single contact point to be designated within the Commission to provide clear guidance and support for SMEs and for a single digital gateway serving as a one-stop shop, consolidating all relevant financial and non-financial support, forms and information for all undertakings, including SMEs.

Moreover, there is an urgent need to remove barriers to cross-border business operations and intra-EU investments in order to establish a fully fledged single market for all economic activities.

Documents
2023/07/12
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2023/07/10
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2023/07/10
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2023/07/10
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents
2023/07/10
   EP - Motion for a resolution
Documents

Documents

Votes

État de l’Union des PME - RC-B9-0346/2023 - § 8 - Am 1 #

2023/07/13 Outcome: -: 288, +: 241, 0: 19
IT FR ES PT FI CZ EL HR SI MT NL LV DK LU SK SE LT BE AT EE BG IE HU DE RO PL
Total
55
62
40
20
12
21
7
11
8
4
20
8
12
4
9
19
7
18
16
6
9
13
11
87
24
45
icon: S&D S&D
104

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Greece S&D

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Malta S&D

3

Netherlands S&D

4

Latvia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

For (1)

1

Belgium S&D

2

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Bulgaria S&D

2
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
55

Italy Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
27

Finland The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1

Denmark The Left

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Ireland The Left

4
icon: ID ID
53

Czechia ID

2

Denmark ID

Against (1)

1

Austria ID

3

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1
icon: NI NI
28

Spain NI

1

Croatia NI

1

Netherlands NI

1

Latvia NI

1

Slovakia NI

For (1)

1

Belgium NI

For (1)

1

Germany NI

Against (1)

3
icon: ECR ECR
52

Finland ECR

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

Against (1)

1

Sweden ECR

2

Belgium ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

Against (1)

1

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1

Romania ECR

1
icon: Renew Renew
84

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1

Finland Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

1

Sweden Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Bulgaria Renew

3

Ireland Renew

2

Hungary Renew

Against (1)

1

Poland Renew

1
icon: PPE PPE
145

Finland PPE

3

Greece PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Malta PPE

Against (1)

1

Netherlands PPE

For (1)

3

Latvia PPE

3

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Belgium PPE

2

Estonia PPE

Against (1)

1

Hungary PPE

Against (1)

1

RC-B9-0346/2023 - § 9 - Am 2 #

2023/07/13 Outcome: -: 300, +: 203, 0: 58
IT ES PT EL AT BE SI FI MT NL HR LU FR SK LV LT IE EE DK BG DE SE CZ HU RO PL
Total
57
39
20
6
17
18
8
12
4
23
12
4
66
9
8
8
13
6
12
9
87
20
21
11
24
47
icon: S&D S&D
110

Greece S&D

1

Belgium S&D

2

Slovenia S&D

2

Finland S&D

Abstain (1)

2

Malta S&D

3

Latvia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

For (1)

1

Estonia S&D

For (1)

1

Bulgaria S&D

2

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
57

Italy Verts/ALE

3

Spain Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

1

Austria Verts/ALE

2

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

For (1)

1

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

For (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
29

Greece The Left

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1

Belgium The Left

For (1)

1

Finland The Left

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1

Ireland The Left

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4

Denmark The Left

1

Sweden The Left

For (1)

1

Czechia The Left

1
icon: NI NI
29

Spain NI

1

Belgium NI

For (1)

1

Netherlands NI

1

Croatia NI

Against (1)

2

Slovakia NI

For (1)

1

Latvia NI

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania NI

Abstain (1)

1

Germany NI

Against (1)

3
icon: ID ID
53

Austria ID

3

Estonia ID

Against (1)

1

Denmark ID

Abstain (1)

1

Czechia ID

For (1)

Against (1)

2
icon: ECR ECR
52

Belgium ECR

2

Finland ECR

1

Croatia ECR

Against (1)

1

Slovakia ECR

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1

Latvia ECR

Against (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

Against (1)

1

Germany ECR

Against (1)

1

Sweden ECR

2

Romania ECR

Against (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
86

Italy Renew

Against (1)

1

Austria Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovenia Renew

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Finland Renew

2

Croatia Renew

Against (1)

1

Luxembourg Renew

Against (1)

1

Slovakia Renew

1

Latvia Renew

Against (1)

1

Lithuania Renew

Against (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Bulgaria Renew

3

Sweden Renew

3

Hungary Renew

Against (1)

1

Poland Renew

1
icon: PPE PPE
145

Greece PPE

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1

Belgium PPE

2

Slovenia PPE

4

Malta PPE

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1

Netherlands PPE

For (1)

3

Luxembourg PPE

2

Latvia PPE

3

Estonia PPE

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1

Denmark PPE

Against (1)

1

Hungary PPE

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1

RC-B9-0346/2023 - § 36/2 #

2023/07/13 Outcome: +: 357, -: 192, 0: 12
IT PL RO CZ HU DE SK BG NL BE AT EE SI LT HR SE LV IE LU DK FI EL MT PT ES FR
Total
56
47
25
21
11
86
9
9
23
18
16
6
8
7
12
20
8
13
4
12
12
8
4
19
41
66
icon: PPE PPE
145

Hungary PPE

1

Netherlands PPE

3

Belgium PPE

2

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1
2

Malta PPE

For (1)

1
icon: Renew Renew
86

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

1

Slovakia Renew

1

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Slovenia Renew

2

Lithuania Renew

1

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1
3

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Ireland Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

2
icon: ECR ECR
52

Romania ECR

1

Germany ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Bulgaria ECR

1

Belgium ECR

2

Croatia ECR

1

Sweden ECR

2

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Finland ECR

1
icon: ID ID
53

Czechia ID

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2
3

Estonia ID

For (1)

1

Denmark ID

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
30

Germany NI

For (1)

3

Slovakia NI

For (1)

1

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Belgium NI

Against (1)

1

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

2

Latvia NI

Against (1)

1

Spain NI

Against (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
28

Czechia The Left

1

Belgium The Left

Against (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Against (1)

1

Ireland The Left

Abstain (1)

4

Denmark The Left

Against (1)

1

Finland The Left

Against (1)

1

Greece The Left

Against (1)

1

Portugal The Left

3
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
57

Italy Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

Against (2)

2

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
110

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

For (1)

2

Bulgaria S&D

2

Belgium S&D

2

Estonia S&D

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1

Slovenia S&D

2

Lithuania S&D

Against (1)

1

Latvia S&D

2

Finland S&D

2

Greece S&D

Against (1)

1

Malta S&D

For (1)

3

RC-B9-0346/2023 - § 43/1 #

2023/07/13 Outcome: +: 381, -: 139, 0: 42
IT PL FR RO CZ DE HU SE SK BE BG NL IE HR EE LT SI MT LV AT DK FI LU ES PT EL
Total
57
48
66
24
21
85
11
20
9
18
9
23
13
12
6
8
8
4
8
17
12
12
4
40
19
8
icon: PPE PPE
144

Hungary PPE

1

Belgium PPE

2

Netherlands PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2
2
icon: Renew Renew
86

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

1
3

Slovakia Renew

1

Ireland Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Estonia Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Austria Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

2

Luxembourg Renew

For (1)

1
icon: ECR ECR
53

Romania ECR

1

Germany ECR

1

Sweden ECR

2

Slovakia ECR

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium ECR

2

Bulgaria ECR

1

Croatia ECR

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Finland ECR

1
icon: ID ID
53

Czechia ID

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Estonia ID

For (1)

1
3

Denmark ID

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
30

Germany NI

For (1)

3

Slovakia NI

For (1)

1

Belgium NI

Against (1)

1

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Lithuania NI

1

Latvia NI

Abstain (1)

1

Spain NI

Abstain (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
29

Czechia The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Ireland The Left

4

Denmark The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Finland The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Greece The Left

Abstain (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
57

Italy Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

Against (1)

3

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Austria Verts/ALE

Against (2)

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Spain Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
110

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

For (1)

2

Belgium S&D

2

Bulgaria S&D

2

Estonia S&D

Against (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

Against (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Finland S&D

Abstain (1)

2

Greece S&D

Against (1)

1

RC-B9-0346/2023 - § 43/3 #

2023/07/13 Outcome: +: 364, -: 151, 0: 47
IT PL FR RO CZ HU SK DE BG NL IE ES EE LT SI MT HR LV BE AT DK SE LU FI PT EL
Total
57
47
66
23
21
11
9
86
9
23
13
41
6
8
8
4
12
8
18
17
12
20
4
11
20
8
icon: PPE PPE
143

Hungary PPE

1

Netherlands PPE

3

Estonia PPE

For (1)

1

Malta PPE

For (1)

1

Belgium PPE

2

Denmark PPE

For (1)

1

Luxembourg PPE

2

Finland PPE

2
2
icon: Renew Renew
85

Italy Renew

For (1)

1

Poland Renew

1

Hungary Renew

1

Slovakia Renew

1

Ireland Renew

2

Estonia Renew

3

Lithuania Renew

1

Slovenia Renew

2

Croatia Renew

For (1)

1

Latvia Renew

For (1)

1

Austria Renew

For (1)

1
3

Luxembourg Renew

For (1)

1

Finland Renew

2
icon: ECR ECR
52

Romania ECR

1

Slovakia ECR

For (1)

1

Germany ECR

1

Bulgaria ECR

1

Croatia ECR

1

Latvia ECR

For (1)

1

Belgium ECR

2

Sweden ECR

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Finland ECR

1
icon: ID ID
53

Czechia ID

For (1)

Abstain (1)

2

Estonia ID

For (1)

1
3

Denmark ID

For (1)

1
icon: NI NI
30

Slovakia NI

For (1)

1

Germany NI

For (1)

Against (1)

Abstain (1)

3

Netherlands NI

Against (1)

1

Spain NI

Abstain (1)

1

Lithuania NI

1

Croatia NI

Abstain (1)

2

Latvia NI

Abstain (1)

1

Belgium NI

Against (1)

1
icon: The Left The Left
29

France The Left

For (1)

Against (1)

6

Czechia The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Ireland The Left

4

Belgium The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Denmark The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Sweden The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Finland The Left

Abstain (1)

1

Greece The Left

Abstain (1)

1
icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE
58

Italy Verts/ALE

3

Poland Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Czechia Verts/ALE

3

Netherlands Verts/ALE

3

Ireland Verts/ALE

2

Spain Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Lithuania Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Belgium Verts/ALE

3

Austria Verts/ALE

Against (2)

2

Denmark Verts/ALE

1

Sweden Verts/ALE

3

Luxembourg Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1

Finland Verts/ALE

3

Portugal Verts/ALE

Against (1)

1
icon: S&D S&D
112

Czechia S&D

For (1)

1

Slovakia S&D

Abstain (1)

2

Bulgaria S&D

2

Estonia S&D

Against (1)

1

Lithuania S&D

Against (1)

1

Slovenia S&D

2

Latvia S&D

2

Belgium S&D

2

Finland S&D

2

Greece S&D

Against (1)

1

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

docs/4
date
2023-07-13T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0294_EN.html title: T9-0294/2023
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/1/summary
  • The European Parliament adopted the resolution on the state of the SME Union.
  • The text adopted in plenary was adopted by the EPP, S&D, Renew and ECR groups.
  • European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have faced significant challenges and hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, both of which have led to disruptions of global value chains and persistent inflation. European competitiveness is lagging behind other developed economies, threatening Europe’s potential to generate wealth and prosperity. Therefore, EU legislation must be properly balanced between fostering growth, entrepreneurship, climate adaptation and business productivity. Regulatory burdens should be markedly reduced, including the costs of compliance created by over-regulation and overly complex administrative procedures and reporting obligations.
  • Parliament called on the Commission to carry out an overall assessment of the cumulative effect of EU legislation on SMEs in the EU, with a view to proposing simplifications where needed, as well as an enabling framework to ensure that the EU is the best place to establish SMEs in terms of competitiveness and growth.
  • SME relief package
  • Noting that late payments remain a major threat to the survival of SMEs, particularly in the current climate of high inflation and increased energy costs, Parliament called for the urgent adoption of a revised Late Payments Directive, providing SMEs with a robust and predictable legal framework to address payment delays in both business-to-business and business-to-government relations, while ensuring a balanced approach that preserves the freedom of contracts. The Commission is urged to support the widespread use of digital tools such as e-invoicing and automated payment processes, in order to increase transparency, security and efficiency. Moreover, it is also asked to assess a possible revision of the State aid rules in order to evaluate how the interests of SMEs are safeguarded.
  • Improved access of SMEs to finance
  • Noting that current economic challenges and increasing interest rates have led to tighter conditions for SMEs trying to access financing, the Commission is called on to increase its efforts on the capital markets union (CMU) and to unlock funding for Europe’s growth.
  • Parliament highlighted the need to support SMEs experiencing financial difficulties by offering adequate financial and non-financial support to avoid bankruptcy and in this regard called on the Member States to implement the Preventive Restructuring Directive.
  • The resolution recalled that the European Innovation Council (EIC) is a new and unique European funding programme designed to provide deep-tech start-ups with a one-stop shop for finance to enable them to develop their innovation from an early idea to a marketable product, as well as to scale up the company. In addition, Parliament called for a single contact point to be designated within the Commission to provide clear guidance and support for SMEs and for a single digital gateway serving as a one-stop shop, consolidating all relevant financial and non-financial support, forms and information for all undertakings, including SMEs.
  • Moreover, there is an urgent need to remove barriers to cross-border business operations and intra-EU investments in order to establish a fully fledged single market for all economic activities.
docs/4
date
2023-07-13T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0294_EN.html title: T9-0294/2023
type
Text adopted by Parliament, single reading
body
EP
events/0/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2023-07-12-TOC_EN.html title: Debate in Parliament
events/1
date
2023-07-13T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0294_EN.html title: T9-0294/2023
forecasts
  • date: 2023-07-13T00:00:00 title: Vote in plenary scheduled
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting plenary debate/vote
New
Procedure completed
procedure/title
Old
State of the SME Union
New
Resolution on the state of the SME Union
docs/0/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2023-0346_EN.html
docs/1/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2023-0347_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2023-0348_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-9-2023-0349_EN.html
events
  • date: 2023-07-12T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP
forecasts/0
date
2023-07-12T00:00:00
title
Debate in plenary scheduled
docs
  • date: 2023-07-10T00:00:00 docs: title: B9-0346/2023 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2023-07-10T00:00:00 docs: title: B9-0347/2023 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2023-07-10T00:00:00 docs: title: B9-0348/2023 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
  • date: 2023-07-10T00:00:00 docs: title: B9-0349/2023 type: Motion for a resolution body: EP
forecasts/0
date
2023-07-12T00:00:00
title
Debate in plenary scheduled
forecasts/0
date
2023-07-10T00:00:00
title
Indicative plenary sitting date
forecasts/1
date
2023-07-13T00:00:00
title
Vote in plenary scheduled