European regulations and policies on small and medium size enterprises

46 ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACTION PLAN 2020 The entrepreneurship action plan was adopted by the European Union on the 23 rd of May 2013 and it’s the second biggest economic growth’s action after Lisbon Agenda. It aims to overcome the actual economic recession from a socio - economic point of view unleashing the EU’s entrepreneurial potential and facing framework challenges through three areas (or pillars) of intervention: a. Entrepreneurial education and training to support growth and business creation b. A flourish entrepreneurial environment c. Disruption of the so called “glass ceiling” (support young people, women, disabled, migrants and unemployed) 45 a. Entrepreneurial mind-set represents one of the main goal. Entrepreneurial skills are defined as ‘a sense of initiative’ in the European framework or a necessary characteristic for European citizens for their personal fulfil, and for the socio – economic framework defined by good citizenship and an active participation in the European labour market 46 . It includes creativity, innovation, risk taking and the ability to plan strategies and reach objectives. It’s defined as a knowledge intensive skills because it drives to innovation (active component) or entrepreneurs their selves have the capacity to recognize and introduce innovation. Entrepreneurship appears to be a spontaneous skill and some entrepreneurs haven’t attended special courses or traineeship but education makes the difference. In fact, entrepreneurs that lack of knowledge are facing problems as presenting their idea to investors or enforcing a contract and this is quite usual for SMEs entrepreneurs and particular employees 47 . 45 The European Commission (2013): “COM(2012) 795 final (2013) - Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan, Reigniting the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe”, Brussels 46 The European Commission (2012): ‘Building Entrepreneurial Mindsets and skills in the EU’, Guidebook series from How to support SME Policy from Structural Funds, Luxembourg 47 OECD (2010): “SMEs, Entrepreneurship and Innovation”, OECD studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship, Pg.164