Ewolucja europejskiej polityki wspierania przedsiębiorczości w latach 1973-2013

The aim of the article is the presentation as well as the analysis of the most important directions of the European Union activities in favour of entrepreneurship, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The historical outline of SMEs’ community policy shaping was introduced. Analysing the importance and the role of SME sector in each economy as well as the community policy in favour of entrepreneurship, the craft as well as microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises over the period of several decades, the evolution of the policy was noticed and the approach to problems of economic development was changed. Policy makers stopped focusing on large-sized enterprises (LSEs) and great projects, economic decision-makers uncovered the importance of SMEs for assurance of long-term economic dynamics. At present special attention are paid to innovativeness of enterprises, while the beginnings of SMEs’ community policy was dedicated mainly for the craft sector