The EU and the United States authorities presented Joint Report on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) best practices exchange after holding the conference with the same name in 28-29 June 2011. Participants at the conference discussed topics such as the reduction of trade barriers impacting SMEs, standardisation and regulation or reduction of administrative burdens.

Hosted by the European Commission, a SME “Best Practices” conference was held on 28 and 29 June in Brussels. The conference brought together government officials and SME executives from the EU and the United States. In addition, the conference counted with active participation by major SME business organisations.

At the conference, participants discussed a number of specific topics, including the reduction of trade barriers impacting SMEs, standardisation and regulation, reduction of administrative burdens, environmental challenges and green technologies, access to markets and market access cooperation in third countries, and the new transatlantic online portal on intellectual property. The authorities agreed in a joint report with the main conclusions drawn from the conference.

Certain issues raised at the Brussels event,will be reviewed at a follow-up seminar in Washington D.C. in the autumn. The participants also consider additional topics, such as regulatory cooperation, access to finance, entrepreneurship, second chance or serial entrepreneurship for entrepreneurs, export promotion and support for SME access to export markets.