Executive summary This study by Civic Consulting provides an overview of the extent of the problem of directory companies reported to apply misleading practices. It describes judicial and nonjudicial measures taken by affected enterprises and discusses initiatives by Member States aimed at...

The overall objective of this ex post evaluation is to provide accountability with respect to the use of European Commission funds, and lessons learned for decision making on improvements to the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Finance Facility (the Facility) for remaining and future candidate...

Phare support to SME development has mainly consisted of technical assistance and advisory services to national institutions, support to SME policy and legislative development and financial support for SME development. Progress has been made in tackling problems inherited from the past, as well...

This is a guide for European small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) managers wishing to improve the competitiveness and the social and economic performance of their business by building on the diversity of their workforce. The publication contains basic information for all SMEs to use,...

The Small Business Act for Europe was adopted by the European Commission in June 2008. It is an initiative by the European Commission to address the needs of Europe's small and medium-sized businesses, consisting of a set of 10 principles to guide the conception and implementation of policies at...

This evaluation assesses the Commission of the European Union’s (EC) cooperation with Ecuador over the period 2003-2010. It aims at providing an overall independent assessment of the entire EC cooperation strategy and support in the country and to draw out key lessons to help improve current...

The evaluation covered EU regional-level support to Central Asia (CA) in the period 2007-2014. Based on the Terms of Reference, the following were assessed: Relevance and coherence of EU’s co-operation strategy and programmes; Impact, sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency of EU...

This information note is part of the European Commission's Agenda for Change, in which sustainable agriculture is a priority. It begins with an executive summary (Chapter 2), followed by a discussion of the importance of smallholder access to agricultural markets in Chapter 3. Chapters 4 to 7...

The value chain (VC) analysis and development can improve the living conditions of the rural population and contribute to food security. The key elements are: the knowledge of a sub-sector which will gradually be building up among the stakeholders, the confidence created among them and the...