SME Policy Index: Western Balkans and Turkey 2022
Assessing the Implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential drivers of sustainable economic growth in the Western Balkans and Turkey, where they make up 99% of all firms, generate 65% value added and account for 75% of employment. Nevertheless, SMEs across the region continue to face obstacles such as difficulties accessing financing, low levels of digital uptake, regulatory barriers and relatively low participation in international trade. The situation has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic: SMEs found themselves fighting for survival amidst reduced demand, lockdowns and travel restrictions, and supply chain disruptions.
This report provides an overview of the implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe during the period 2019-22. It is designed to help policy makers design, implement and monitor policies to support the recovery of SMEs from the pandemic, boost their competitiveness based on OECD and EU good practices, and further enhance the region’s economic growth and resilience.
Operational environment for SMEs (Dimension 4) in the Western Balkans and Turkey
This chapter assesses the availability, quality and responsiveness of the public services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Western Balkans and Turkey. It begins with an overview of the assessment framework, then focuses on the four sub-dimensions of Dimension 4: 1) digital government services for enterprises, which measures the extent to which SMEs can interact with public institutions through the use of digital technologies; 2) company registration, which focuses on the procedures necessary to register a company; 3) business licensing, which considers the complexities of the process of obtaining a licence; and 4) tax compliance procedures for SMEs, which examines whether tax systems are adapted to SMEs’ unique needs. Each sub-dimension concludes with key recommendations for increasing the capacity and efficiency of the operational environment for SMEs in the region.
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