An innovative European certification initiative for regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could represent leverage for growth and improved cross-border economic relations.

Added value for SMEs

On March 6th, Jean-Luc Vanraes the President of the AER Committee for Economy and Regional development met with a delegation from CAC en mouvement. CAC en mouvement is a think tank representing around 70% of the French statutory auditors. It has initiated a deep reflexion on how to modernise the profession to make it more useful to local businesses in France and around Europe.

Olivier Salustro, President of CAC en mouvement and of the Paris Regional Company of Statutory Auditors, and Laurence Versaille, Vice-President of CAC en mouvement and of the Bordeaux Regional Company of Statutory Auditors, explained how the creation of a European platform of certified regional SMEs would be beneficial to SMEs across Europe.

Stimulating exchanges & investments in Europe

With the objective to stimulate cross-border economic and commercial exchanges, CAC en mouvement is developing a platform that aims at centralising information on SMEs from different European regions. The goal is a presentation of the entities, of their economic intentions and the state of their financial accounts. The project initiated after a series of consultations with different actors such as entrepreneurs, decision-makers and researchers.

This initiative would give SMEs the possibility to subscribe on the platform and to undergo statutory audits of their accounts as well as of some specific policies, such as environment and corporate social responsibility. The results would be published to reassure potential investors and partners.

Partnership perspectives

Committee 1 President Jean-Luc Vanraes is convinced by the benefits of this bottom-up initiative for the economic development of the regions. One way possibility which was mentioned during the meeting was to potentially invite CAC en mouvement to present its European platform of certified regional SMEs to the Committee for Economy and Regional development during its autumn working session. The ultimate goal is to develop synergies with the regional authorities interested in the project. This will be further discussed with the new Committee 1 Presidium after the AER General Assembly in Larnaka.

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