SMEs helping to pull Europe out of recession

Small and medium-sized enterprises can provide the driving force behind Europe’s recovery from the current economic slump, according to a report by the European Commission.

The publication, released to mark the Commission’s SME week from 3 to 9 October emphasises how important smaller companies are to the European economy. There are around 21 million SMEs in the EU and these provide more than two-thirds of all employment opportunities in the private sector.