The overall objective of the Action is to support business representative organization in the four target countries to advocate the interest of their members and promote the thorough and timely implementation of the Community acquis.  

Expected results:  

  • Established mechanism for regular discussions and information exchange and improved access of SMEs to information resources and specialized expertise;
  • Improved access to training and other qualification initiatives through regular information on latest opportunities, available on national and European level established mechanism for online (distance learning);
  • Improved capability of target countries’ BROs to develop targeted training activities and other services to their members;
  • Improved awareness of target countries’ BROs about their role in social and economic change and sufficient implementation of the Community acquis;
  • Target countries’ BROs equipped with new tools to represent the interests of their members and Improved ability of BROs to influence local, regional and national decision making;
  • Initiated public discussions on the role of BROs and business in the society;

Outputs: The project will produce the following concrete outputs: 1 internet site developed and operational; 1 best practices database collected; 8 best practices booklets published - 500 Copies each (1500 in Croatia in order to be disseminated also to BiH and Serbia); 1 need analysis report produced; 4 study visits conducted; 4 trainings of trainers conducted; Around 50-70 future trainers trained; 4 trainings of BROs members conducted; Around 60-80 representatives of business companies in the target companies trained; 8 training materials sets developed; 8 round tables conducted (dissemination events) – 1 in each participating country; Publications in media; 1 press-conference held; Midterm and final evaluation report; 120 days of on-line consulting; 8000 copies project leaflet.

Replication and extension of action outcomes

The action was designed with view to incorporate from the very beginning ways to ensure its sustainability and create models that can be replicated or extended: Project internet site – the design of the will allow for continuous improvement, up-date and supplementing with additional services or options depending on the situation or needs of users. In addition it will provide opportunities for cooperation between the site users, thus will facilitate subsequent joint projects. The training of trainers will be so constructed as to equip participants with the tools to transfer the acquired knowledge to other interested parties even after the end of the project. Established partnership between partners can lead to subsequent joint activities. The constructive relationship of cooperation and trust build among partners during the project will make it much easier for them to work together subsequently. This will also support the cooperation between their members. Best practices database can be continually supplemented and disseminated to interested business representative organizations. Best practices booklet in Croatian will be published in slightly greater numbers in order to use the proximity of the languages in neighboring countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia) to disseminate best practices in the implementation of the acquis also to those countries; a description of the proposed activities and their effectiveness;

Target groups:
  • Partner business representative organizations from the 4 target countries and their staff – total of 6 organizations – all of them have membership from among small and medium enterprises from different economic sectors and industries. The target BROs have clear European orientation and have implemented projects, including international ones but lack the expertise to support their members in implementing the acquis;
  • Member organizations of participating BROs and small and medium enterprises in general;
  • Other BROs in the target countries, which face similar difficulties despite the fact that their membership consists of sector based larger companies;
  • BROs and their members from Germany, Greece, Slovenia and Hungary as well as other European Member states who will gain insight on process in the target countries and identify new opportunities for cooperation.  

Final beneficiaries of the project are:
A much larger group of economic and social actors (experts, research institutions, authorities) will be attracted throughout the project. They will be consulted to provide feedback and input on good practices and ways to implement the acquis. The general public and public authorities will ultimately also benefit from improved quality of goods and services provided by the companies applying the acquis.  

  • Work Package 1: Project set-up and management:
  • Work Package 2: Best practices gathering and dissemination / Information exchange:
     Collection of best practices - - The action will attempt to draw on these strengths and will gather best practices from all partners and their countries
     Publication of booklet (book) of best practices in all languages - : The collected case studies will be published in a book let in all languages of the participating countries
     Design, development and popularization of project website
  • Work Package 3: Technical assistance and training: 
     Needs analysis – situation analysis of SMEs in project countries
     Study visits – exchange trips in EU 25 countries with focus on technical themes and implementation of the acquis, but will also address issues related to the role of business in the sustainable development of the municipality, region, nation and the EU.  
     Trainings - The participants in the study visits will receive the opportunity to multiply the knowledge with training of their members in the target coutries.  
     Establishment of a pool of expert Throughout the project and via the launched internet site the project will aim to establish a pool of experts on issues relevant to the needs of the partners’ members and the users of the internet site. 
     Consultation - Throughout the project two consultants will be available in Sofia to provide regular and ad hoc consultation and assistance to business companies – members and non-members of partner organizations.  
  • Work package 4: Project popularization and multiplication: 
     Project promotion – round tables – presentation of project during partners’ meetings
     Project end press-conference – final presentation of project results and dissemination of collected information as well as once again promote the developed site.