New Directives on public procurement and concession contracts will enter into force on 18 April 2016. This new EU-wide legal framework provides an opportunity to turn public procurement into a strategic policy instrument. They allow environmental and social considerations, as well as innovation aspects to be taken into account when awarding public contracts. Under the new rules, it will also be easier for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in public tenders.  

MICROSTARS project's website has been put into full operation. The project is implemented n the framework of the "Greece – The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia IPA Cross-Border Programme 2007-2013". The website of the project is www.microstarsproject.eu. 

In the framework of the implementaion of the "MICROSTARS" project, funded by the “Greece - The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia IPA Cross-Border Programme 2007-2013”, co-financed under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), the Business and Cultural Development Centre (KEPA) along with the Microcredit Foundation Horizonti published out the project's 1st Newsletter.

2014 was the first year of positive employment growth in European SMEs since the financial crisis. The annual report on European SMEs for 2014 shows that the financial situation for small and medium enterprises is on the mend, and that they have started hiring again.

European Institute for Innovation & Technology (EIT), has published the Framework of Guidance for the EIT’s 2016 Call for KIC proposals. To further enhance its impact and to incentivise the innovations needed to meet societal challenges, EIT continues expanding its' activities in 2016 by launching a call for two new Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was launched in 2004, to help the EU support and foster stability, security and prosperity in the countries closest to its borders. The EU remains committed to these goals, but events of recent years have demonstrated the need for a new approach, a re-prioritisation and an introduction of new ways of working.

On 30 November, the EESC, in cooperation with the Maltese Chamber of Commerce, is organising a conference on "EU industrial policy – does a one-size-fits-all approach work?" The implementation of the EU industrial policy will be discussed, with reference to topics such as innovation, internationalisation and governance.

Micro-enterprises, as well as small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), are considered as a driver of the economy of the European Union (EU), creating jobs and contributing to economic growth. In 2012, of the 22.3 million enterprises in the EU’s non-financial business economy, an overwhelming majority (92.7%) were microenterprises (with 0 to 9 persons employed) accounting for 29.2% of employment, 7.1% were small and medium enterprises (with 10 to 249 persons employed) accounting for 38.0% of employment, and 0.2% were large enterprises (with 250 or more persons employed) accounting for 33.0% of persons employed.

Today at the Enterprise 2020 Summit, the European Commission and business leaders launched the 'European Pact for Youth' to improve partnerships between business and education to boost the chances of young people getting jobs.