Translation of "micro-business " (English → French) :

The EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) agreement with Cooperative Bank of Karditsa will cover a loan portfolio of €5 million for over 300 micro-borrowers targeting mainly farmers, young unemployed borrowers, cooperatives and social enterprises, as well as micro businesses active in the green economy.

51. Strongly supports the focus on micro-enterprises in a strengthened SME test, and notes the concept of excluding micro-enterprises by default from any proposed legislation; believes, however, that an exemption could only be applied, where the specific needs of micro-enterprises cannot be addressed by adapted solutions or lighter regimes, as demonstrated by the SME test; insists, therefore, on the establishment of a micro-dimension as an inherent part of the SME test in order to assess systematically all available options; recalls that any exemption or adapted solution should not interfere with fundamental EU health and safety at work requirements, fundamental EU workers’ rights or fundamental principles of EU environmental legislation ...[+++]; stresses that when micro businesses are included in the scope of a provision to the full extent, the reasons for including them thus should be clearly demonstrated by the SME test results;

U. whereas the potential beneficiaries of micro-credits should have the benefit of proper legal advice with regard to the conclusion of the credit agreement, setting up a business, debt collection, the acquisition and exploitation of intellectual and industrial property rights and so on, particularly when the micro-business concerned intends or has the potential to do business in other Member States of the European Union;

U. whereas the potential beneficiaries of micro-credits should have the benefit of proper legal advice with regard, inter alia, to the conclusion of the credit agreement, setting up a business, debt collection, the acquisition and exploitation of intellectual and industrial property rights, particularly when the micro-business concerned intends or has the potential to do business in other Member States of the European Union;

1. Observes that the potential beneficiaries of micro-credits should have the benefit of proper legal advice with regard to the conclusion of the credit agreement, setting up a business, debt collection, the acquisition and exploitation of intellectual and industrial property rights and so on, particularly when the micro-business concerned intends or has the potential to do business in other Member States of the European Union;

In the light of the Commission's 2001 review of the definition of SMEs to include a separate and identifiable category of micro-businesses with their own special problems and needs, could the Commission please advise what specific plans it has to use this revised definition to give help and encouragement to such micro-businesses, and to ensure that quantifiable action is taken by itself as well as Member States to minimise the regulatory burden on this sector?