EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Entrepreneurial diversity in a unified Europe

Entrepreneurial diversity in a unified Europe

Introduction

The number of immigrants among small and medium entrepreneurs in Europe has grown considerably over the last decades. However, despite the growth of immigrant entrepreneurship, there may still be extra impediments for immigrants to set up a business or to expand existing businesses. In several European countries, authorities have aimed at promoting the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), by supportive measures facilitating immigrants to start and develop businesses. This study, 'The Examination and Evaluation of Good Practices in the Promotion of Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurs' was commissioned by the Directorate General Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission. It aims at a comprehensive mapping of policies in the promotion of ethnic minority entrepreneurs in Europe.

Description

This study has been conducted in 32 European countries, including the 27 member states of the European Union, the EFTA member countries, candidate country Turkey and Switzerland. It gives an extensive overview of 146 policy measures and identifies twelve best practices from across the continent. The aim of the study was to identify and examine specific measures and support schemes promoting entrepreneurship amongst ethnic minorities, and to select a number of good practices from amongst these measures. A second aim was to identify professional organisations representing the economic interests of ethnic minority entrepreneurs.

EU involvement

This study was commissioned by the Directorate General Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission.

Conclusions

The most important lessons learned from the good practices identified in the research report are:

Raise awareness among immigrants about entrepreneurial opportunities, support schemes and activities;
Improve skills and competencies of individual entrepreneurs;
Strengthen the social, cultural and financial resources of entrepreneurs;
Improve market conditions for immigrants/ethnic minorities;
Implement favourable regulation at local, national and supranational level;
Strengthen intermediary organisations, such as training bureaus, consultancies and business associations.

The researchers stress that it is important to strike a balance between uniform general measures and more tailor-made, target-group specific measures. This is because the first may be less responsive to the specific needs of ethnic entrepreneurs, while the latter may result in patronising approaches that emphasize ethnic entrepreneurs’ deficiencies rather than their skills and competencies.

Contact info

Triodos Facet
Zeist
Phone: +31 (0)30 6933766
Fax: +31 (0)30 6923936
info@triodosfacet.nl
Joep Vonk (Consultant)

Publication date

05/03/2008

Researcher

Triodos Facet + Institute for Migration & Ethnic Studies at the University of Amsterdam

Links

Visit the Triodos Facet website Visit the website of the Institute for Migration & Ethnic Studies (IMES)

Click here to download the full report (PDF, Eng, 5.7 MB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Employment