Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2013-02-04-Speech-1-139-000"
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"en.20130204.18.1-139-000"2
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"Mr President, I would also like to join in thanking the rapporteur for his work on this issue. We are all aware that SMEs are the backbone of the EU’s economy, and nowhere is that more evident than in my own region of Northern Ireland, where they account for more than 99% of all businesses.
Along with the absolute necessity to reduce red tape and bureaucracy, the single biggest challenge facing SMEs is the current difficult economic climate and access to finance. The reluctance of banks to lend to small businesses is crippling growth and expansion at a time when it is crucially needed in order to get our economy performing well again and to create jobs.
Although many banks have promised to increase their lending to small businesses, the effects of this investment will take time to demonstrate results. As the report points out, the special characteristics of SMEs are now recognised for the purposes of funding programmes such as Horizon 2020, and this is a very positive move that will hopefully increase levels of uptake of funding and financing for small businesses from different sources."@en1
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