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RIA.BG / Projects / E-SME

E-SME

Institute for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Policies

An independent non-governmental public-benefit organisation founded in 2016. It supports small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria with expertise, analysis and practical help.

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Basic information

Specialised expert, analytical and practical support for the long-term development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria.

Activities

Policies and strategies

Participation in national, regional and local SME strategies; development and evaluation of policies, analyses and programmes.

Advocacy

Public advocacy of SME interests and a lower administrative and regulatory burden.

Expertise

Business and economic information, a database on the state of SMEs, good European practices (Small Business Act, 2008).

Partnerships and events

Cooperation with institutions, sector chambers and research organisations; training, round tables, conferences.

What are SMEs?

SME stands for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The definition is set out in Commission Recommendation 2003/361.

Micro-enterprises

< 10
employees — the smallest SME category
≤ €2 million
turnover or balance sheet total

Small and medium-sized enterprises

< 250
staff
≤ €50 million
annual turnover, and / or
≤ €43 million
annual balance sheet total
Why do SMEs matter?
99 %
of all enterprises in Europe are SMEs
92 %
of them are micro-enterprises
2/3
More than two thirds of private-sector employment
Craftsman in a workshop

“Think small first in times of crisis!“

2023 · Operational Programme “Good Governance”, co-financed by the EU through the European Social Fund

The project created a lasting, institutionalised “path” for taking into account the views of business — and of SMEs in particular — whenever decisions affecting their interests are to be taken.

01

Diagnosis

To what extent SMEs take part in crisis policies, what deficits their insufficient participation creates, and why.

02

Mechanism

A quick tool with which the administration involves SMEs in crisis decisions, when speed is key.

03

Better policies

More active participation of SMEs and better interaction with the administration — for higher-quality policies and a better regulatory environment.

Resources

Mechanism “Think small first in times of crisis!”

A collection of the results of the project’s analyses and studies and of the final mechanism and recommendations.

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Project activities
Activity 1
Sociological survey — the role of SMEs in the COVID-19 measures
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Activity 2
Ex-post impact assessment of the measures on SMEs
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Activity 3
Comparative study in the EU
View PDF
Activity 4
Mechanism for SME participation
View PDF
Activity 5
Expert testing in a real environment
View PDF
Activity 6
Public presentation of the Mechanism
View PDF

Useful links