Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship [ CCSBE | International Council for Small Business ]

8. Welcomes the increased focus on the support of SMEs; notes, however, that transparency and accountability as regards the real impact of these EIB operations should be improved, for example through better use of performance indicators; calls on the Council also, in this connection, to agree swiftly on the joint Commission-EIB initiatives and to blend EU budget resources intended for SMEs, as well as to take more resolute action in implementing cooperation with the ECB so as to reduce the financing constraints placed upon SMEs; points out that the main problem in several Member States is that the fragmentation of financial markets re ...[+++]sults in a lack of funding and in higher funding costs, especially for SMEs; calls for the EIB’s efforts to be redirected towards defragmentation in order to promote funding for SMEs, entrepreneurship, exports and innovation, which are vital for economic recovery; welcomes further investment in skills and new jobs, in particular the ‘Jobs for Youth – Investing in Skills’ programme that will link EIB financing to the employment of young people in SMEs, as well as provide investment to education and research facilities, vocational training, student loans and mobility programmes;

44. Calls on the Council also, in this connection, to agree swiftly on the joint Commission-EIB initiatives and to blend EU budget resources intended for SMEs, as well as to take more resolute action in implementing cooperation with the ECB so as to reduce the financing constraints placed upon SMEs; points out that the main problem in several Member States is that the fragmentation of financial markets results in a lack of funding and in higher funding costs, especially for SMEs; calls for the EIB’s efforts to be redirected towards defragmentation in order to promote funding for SMEs, entrepreneurship ...[+++], exports and innovation, which are vital for economic recovery;

16. Emphasises that entrepreneurs, SMEs, business associations and support organisations should be more literate on financing possibilities for more performant technologies, or for contracting services such as consultancy, coaching and training on eco-design, resource management and green entrepreneurship and availability of green technologies, products and services that could be beneficial for their business; calls on Member States to enhance provision of services for SMEs in those areas and also emphasises the need for simple and a ...[+++]ccessible sources of information and databases for these products and services; reminds the Commission and the Member States that this information should be communicated in a way that corresponds best with the logic and working methods of SMEs;

Industry Canada, for instance, has undertaken a research project on SME management skills needs, and the Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship devoted its annual conference this year to the topic “Entrepreneurship—Education, Training and Development in Canada”.