Building on the 2007 SME Policy Index - released as the first comprehensive comparative assessment of progress made in the Western Balkans in implementing the European Charter for Small Enterprises - the 2009 SME Policy Index provides further comparative analysis, as well as a detailed assessment of country performances over the last two years.

The report also includes a special section on supporting high-growth and innovative SMEs.The SME Policy Index  is an analytical tool designed by the OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe and the European Commission, and uses collaborative benchmarking to measure progress in the ten dimensions of the Charter:

• Education and training for entrepreneurship
• Cheaper and faster start-up
• Better legislation and regulation
• Availability of skills
• Improving online access for tax filing and company registration
• Getting more out of the single market
• Taxation and financial matters
• Strengthening the technological capacity of small enterprises
• Successful e-business models and top class business support
• Developing stronger, more effective representation of small enterprises

Launched in Brussels on 17 June 2009, this report covers Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99.

Availablity

The report consists of six parts which are available online at http://www.oecd.org/document/49/0,3343,en_2649_40340912_43220337_1_1_1_1,00.html. To order your personal hard copy, please contact

isabel.huber@oecd.org.

The full text of the SME charter is available here.