CECOP is an observer in the SME Envoy Network, which consists of national SME Envoys nominated by each Member State (usually Directors General of administrations in charge of SME policy) and trade and business organisations. The objective of the network is to improve the consultation process between SMEs and the EU and promote SME-friendly policymaking. As an observer, CECOP can join the dialogue and promote cooperatives' perspectives in the Network. 

 

As foreseen in the SME Relief Package in 2023, the SME Envoy Network recently developed a report on the assessment of the framework conditions for business transfers (including intra-family succession, selling to a third party and business transfers to employees, i.e., workers buyouts) in the EU Member States. The report provides an overview of the implementation of measures facilitating the transfer of businesses across the EU, including the different solutions and best practices in the Member States. 

  

The data for the report was collected via a questionnaire disseminated to the public authorities in charge of SMEs in all Member States. However, responses were not provided by all countries, therefore, gaps remain. Even countries that have developed framework conditions for business transfers to employees, such as Italy, France, Spain, did not report on these. As a result of CECOP’s contribution to the final report, it explicitly mentions business transfers to employees (i.e., workers buyouts), and some of our suggestions were used for the recommendations to the Member States, such as to enhance partnerships with business associations to coordinate data collection on business transfers, and to build partnerships with the aim to implement soft measures facilitating business transfers, such as advisory services or awareness raising tools. It also mentions the report from CECOP’s conference on workers buyouts that took place last year. 

  

The report can be accessed on the SME Envoy Network website here (under "Additional information"). 

 

Our report from the conference on workers buyouts can be found here.