M. whereas the newly adopted US ‘Conflict Minerals’ Law is an attempt to prevent American consumers from purchasing cell phones, computers and other high tech technologies that are manufactured by US companies using minerals bought from rebel-controlled mines; whereas the law also calls on US firms, including brand name consumer manufacturers of electronic and mineral processors and jewellers, to report annually to the Securities Exchange Commission if their products use any gold, tantalum, coltan or cassiterite that was either directly imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo or smuggled via the nine neighbouring countries,

M. whereas the newly adopted US ‘Conflict Minerals’ Law is an attempt to prevent American consumers from purchasing cell phones, computers and other high tech technologies that are manufactured by US companies using minerals bought from rebel-controlled mines; whereas the law also calls on US firms, including brand name consumer manufacturers of electronic and mineral processors and jewellers, to report annually to the Securities Exchange Commission if their products use any gold, tantalum, coltan or cassiterite that was either directly imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo or smuggled via the nine neighbouring countries,

U. whereas the newly adopted US ‘Conflict Minerals’ Law is an attempt to prevent American consumers from purchasing cell phones, computers and other high tech technologies that are manufactured by US companies using minerals bought from rebel-controlled mines; the law also calls on US firms, including brand name consumer manufacturers of electronic, mineral processor and jewellers to report annually to the Securities Exchange Commission if their products use any gold, tantalum or cassiterite that was either directly imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo or smuggled via the nine neighbouring countries,

2. Welcomes the overdue support for SMEs, building on the forthcoming European Small Business Act; considers the Small Business Act a very important strategy to support small and medium-sized undertakings; notes, further, that a financial framework and legislation are required to support SMEs in the most appropriate way; warns, however, against misuse of these instruments to close off national markets, so reducing European competitiveness and consumers’ choice; again urges the Commission to submit a legislative proposal on the European Private Company Statute;

2. Welcomes the overdue support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), building on the forthcoming European Small Business Act; considers that Act to be a very important strategy for supporting SMEs; notes, further, that legislation and a financial framework are required to support SMEs in the most appropriate way; warns, however, against the misuse of those instruments for the purpose of closing off national markets and so reducing European competitiveness and consumer choice; urges the Commission, once again, to put forw ...[+++]ard a legislative proposal on the European Private Company Statute;

The initiative of the Small Business Act, based on the principle of "think small first", and improvement of the tax environment should provide an appropriate response to this problem.