The Euro Info Centre (EIC) Thessaloniki, of the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece (FING), in collaboration with the EIC Rennes, France, was responsible for the implementation of the business research project entitled “Doing Business Without Barriers.” This research was conducted during 2006 as part of the EU Programme ERE (Entrepreneurial Regions in Europe), which was co-financed by the Enterprise & Industry Directorate General of the European Commission.

The main aim of this programme was to compile and study the problems encountered by enterprises in Northern Greece during the running and development of their business activity and how these companies are affected by the general policy of entrepreneurial support provided for SMEs.

Three studies were conducted based on the results gathered from 3 sets of questionnaires sent out, focussing on the following issues:

• «Women Entrepreneurship in Northern Greece»
• «Operational problems for small / micro enterprises & start-ups»
• «Internationalisation of medium-sized enterprises in an Enlarged Europe»

The final conference of the ERE (Entrepreneurial Regions in Europe) programme took place on 7th December 2006 in Brussels, where all the results compiled by EIC Thessaloniki during the course of the project were presented, along with proposals in order to help women entrepreneurs overcome the obstacles they face.

Contact person: Monika Nagy
E-mail: euroinfo@sbbe.gr