Following the survey we ran among small and medium-sized companies in Europe, we have completed a report on cutting bureaucratic burdens for SMEs and Mid-Caps.
The survey allowed us to identify the top five priorities for entrepreneurs and their teams in this field:
Time matters – SMEs and Mid-Caps want to save 25% of their time from complying with the rules. This would translate into financial savings, but also in less cumbersome procedures. That means it wouldn’t be just more convenient. It would also feel so!
For companies, this is more important than cutting the number of legislative acts or their related reporting obligations.
Clear interpretation – Some regulations are perceived as problematic as their impact and application are often unclear. They need to be better explained.
For example, GDPR is still perceived as causing more problems than previous legislative frameworks for data protection. But that mainly depends on wrong interpretation by lawyers, national public authorities and companies themselves. Video tutorials to explain each point would save time and frustration for companies.
A “Once Only” Approach – European SMEs believe that all that can be produced only once, e.g. ESG, Due Diligence and Taxonomy reporting obligations, should be standardised and done only once. It should be recognized as valid for different needs and in all 27 member states.
Many SMEs flagged that the first document to be adapted in this spirit should be the A1 Form for posting workers abroad.
Digitalise as much as possible – In 2023, producing paper, hand-sign and sending by fax or post is completely anachronistic. Bureaucratic procedures should happen in digital format, significantly reducing the burden on companies.
Act Fast – SMEs and Mid-Caps can’t wait another 7 years, as with the Stoiber Commission between 2007 and 2014. We need results in the next couple of years maximum, or our companies will be less competitive on the global stage.
We invite policymakers to act with the utmost urgency and make the simplification of bureaucratic procedures for small and medium-sized companies a priority.
