EU Commission: Competitive and efficient European enterprises

[Carsten Svaneborg <svanebor@mpip-mainz.mpg.de>]

2490th Council meeting - COMPETITIVENESS -
(Internal Market, Industry and Research) Brussels, 3 March 2003

http://ue.eu.int/pressData/en/intm/74752.pdf

III. PRIORITY AREAS FOR ACTION
a) Competitive and efficient European enterprises

* Systematic and comprehensive impact assessment of proposed
Community legislation, as well as consultation of business and all
other interested parties, must be carried out by the Commission and,
subsequently, taken into account at the decision-making level, to
ensure that a balanced approach is maintained in the EU framework
and that European enterprises remain competitive and operate on a
level playing field in the global economy. [..]

* A coordinated approach to entrepreneurship policy, providing a
comprehensive response to the needs of entrepreneurs, such as
eliminating barriers to business creation, development and growth
and balancing the risks and rewards, is required. The Council urges
Member States to participate actively in the consultation process
following the recent presentation of the Commission's Green Paper
on "Entrepreneurship in Europe" and invites the Commission to
propose as a follow-up an appropriate Action Plan on entrepreneurship
by the end of 2003.

* Effective involvement and consultation of small businesses in
the policy-making process must be ensured. The implementation of
the European Charter for Small Enterprises in an innovative way must
be speeded up, its activities better focussed, and efforts made to
close the performance gaps between the different Member States.
Particular emphasis should also be given to promotion of education
and training in entrepreneurial skills, stimulation of innovation and
technology transfer, and measures to encourage investment and
risk-taking, including improved access to venture capital.

* EU needs to improve the environment for innovation in order to
close the gap with major trading partners. In order to encourage
enterprises to innovate, Member States and the Commission need
to intensify cooperation and create a framework of common
objectives for the strengthening of innovation in the EU, including
an assessment mechanism for taking stock of the progress achieved.
Emphasis should be placed on converting knowledge into innovative
products and services, management and organisational techniques.


So that is the reason why the commission wants to software to
be patentable? E.g. to help make software development like
tapdancing in a minefield especially for SME.

-- 
  Mvh. Carsten