As Europe confronts the Covid-19 pandemic and economic upheaval
looms large, business continuity plans are essential like never
before. So is making the best out of a slow-down by assessing a
given modus operandi not only in the light of what needs to be
adapted and adopted, but also to improve structures and performance
once the economy begins to recuperate. This hiatus can be
particularly beneficial to hard-hit small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs).
SMEs comprise the majority of all businesses in the EU providing
about two-thirds of the total private sector employment in the EU
and spurring the main source of job creation. Nevertheless, SMEs
face a number of market access concerns and barriers on a daily
basis, including tariff barriers; non-tariff barriers; problems
arising from incorrect implementation of existing rules or
inadequate enforcement; a dearth of entrepreneurial, managerial and
marketing skills; insufficient accessibility to information
