Cumulative cost of compliance for SMEs

Client                           European Commission DG Enterprises and Industry,
Implemented by        Panteia/ENSR
Year                              2013 – 2014

The purpose of this study is to:

  • find an appropriate methodology to assess the cost of the cumulative effects of compliance with EU law for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
  • identify and analyse the current situation of SMEs in Europe regarding cost generated by the compliance with existing EU legislation and its national implementation and application in five sectors. The intention is to apply this methodological approach to commercial activity inside a given Member State, cross-border to other Member States as well as cross-border outside the EU.
  • assess cumulative effects on SMEs of complying with regulatory requirements of different natures and scopes incumbent on individual companies in specific economic sectors, and comparing the cost thereof in different countries.