KOSOVO BECOMES PART OF ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK
Small and medium – sized enterprises play a crucial role in reaching the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Whereas they are considered as engines for growth and job creation, their competitiveness is affected by a limited exploitation of international opportunities and innovation prospects in the Single Market and beyond.
In this context, the Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium – sized enterprises – COSME aims to promote growth and to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of enterprises in the European Union.
On 18th of June 2020, the EEN Kosovo consortium members, Prishtina REA and STIKK organized the online Kick-Off Meeting by bringing together representatives from the European Commission- DG Growth,, The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (EASME), EEN Coordinator, EU Office in Kosovo and representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Kosovo Government.
COSME in general and the Enterprise Europe Network in particular, are part of the wider policy framework designed to foster growth, employment and competitiveness in the Single Market. They fully support the aims of the Europe 2020 strategy, which recognizes the crucial role of SMEs in delivering high employment, social cohesion and the transition to low carbon, resource, energy efficient economy and social cohesion.
The European Union and Government of Kosovo in 2018, has signed an agreement confirming participation in the COSME Programme.
Form May 2020, Prishtina REA and STIKK signed grant agreement with Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises – EASME under the COSME Programme.
The EEN Kosovo Coordinator opened the meeting by welcoming all participants, continuing with short introduction and welcome speech of Mrs. Natalia Martinez Paramo – Head of Unit EASME and Mr. Giacomo Mattino – Head of unit from DG Grow, presenting both the perspective and vision, challenges, achievement as well as a warm welcome for EEN Kosovo to the large family of EEN.
The representative from COSME – EEN Coordinator Mrs. Rebeca De Sancho Moyaral introduced the partnership and opportunities within the network, and putting in front the indicators, statistics as well as the way ahead to ensuring and increasing the impact of EEN to SME’s as recognition of its contribution.
Mrs. Rebeca De Sancho Mayoral – COSME – EEN Coordinator for EEN Kosovo, Introduction to the partnership and opportunities.
The EU Office representative Mr. Vadim Deleu – Policy Officer within the Economic Sector presented the EU Office in Kosovo relations and vision to COSME – EEN.
During the open talks, participants offered their dedication to a joint growth and networking, having now EEN Kosovo as part of the Enterprise Europe Network, emphasizing the opportunities for SMEs towards further development, as per the access to international markets, innovation, internationalisation and transfer of technology and know-how.