The European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme

1. The European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme Performance, credibility, transparency European Compliance Assistance Programme for SMEs and Structural Funds

2. SMEs & THE ENVIRONMENT There are some 23 million SMEs in the EU-25, which represents 99% of all enterprises SMEs are responsible for 60-70% of all industrial pollution in the EU but most of them think that they are not responsible of it Reducing pollution usually coincides with more efficient industrial processes and a better use of resources The need to improve environmental performance will trigger innovation that can offset the costs of compliance (M. Porter) Companies that improved their environmental performance experienced a greater net probability of earning positive profits of between 3 and 34% (OECD)

3. European Compliance Assistance Programme (ECAP) for SMEs Problems to address Lack of awareness and knowledge of environmental problems and risks Lack of awareness of potential benefits of environmental management Lack of financial and human resources Lack of access to information, tools and training General lack of long-term planning at the company level

4. ECAP FOR SMEs Objectives Increase compliance with environmental legislation Reduce environmental impact/improve environmental performance Increase eco-efficiency (energy, resources) Increase cost-effectiveness of environmental policy, focus on implementation Increase eco-innovation and competitiveness in SMEs

5. ECAP FOR SMEs Main Initiatives Communication/Information for awareness raising A single portal for DG ENV website on SME&environment, in at least 7 languages The Network of Euro Info Centres together with other SME organisations will be the partner in the inmplemetation of the programme in 2007 and will ensure in every region environmental expertise Local environmental experts for SMEs Capacity building seminars in all MS to start building a network of environmental experts in business support organisations

6. ECAP FOR SMEs Main Initiatives Disemination of best practices Selection & assessment of transferability of best practices for MS Yearly MS expert forum meeting Improve use of existing EU policies and voluntary instruments Support through LIFE+ the development of specific tools to assist SMEs in implementing environmental policies Promotion and support of innovative public-private partnerships to promote EMAS in SMEs (e.g. clusters or supply chains approaches)

7. FUNDING 2007-2013 Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) €430 million for eco-innovation LIFE+ Multiannual fund of €5 million Structural funds 7th Framework Programme for Research

8. NEW STRUCTURAL FUNDS Integration of environmental protection requirements into the definition and implementation of Community policies and activities One of the priority categories of expenditure of the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund refers to "assistance to SMEs for the promotion of environmentally-friendly products and production processes (introduction of effective environment managing system, adoption and use of pollution prevention technologies, integration of clean technologies into firm production)". The new European Social Fund has among its objective training and information in SMEs on "eco-friendly technologies and management skills".

9. FOR MORE INFORMATION Structural Funds Regulations 2007-2013 :http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/regulation/newregl0713_en.htm SMEs & environmental policy:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/sme EMAS:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/emas The EU Eco-label: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel Green Public Procurement:http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/ CSR in SMEs:http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/csr/ms_sme_index.htm Environmental Technologies Action Plan (ETAP):http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap Competitiveness and Innovation framework Programme (2007-2013):http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/cip/index_en.htm