The evolution of the Romanian SMEs after Romania's integration in the European Union structures

Abstract

The analysis of the evolution of SMEs has become a distinct field of research and even of utmost topicality in the light of the latest scientific approaches developed on this matter, which is based on the fact that the Europe 2020 strategy and the European economy focus on harnessing the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They are the backbone of the economy in all countries, and the European Union's experience shows that the SME sector can make an essential contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) and reduce unemployment (60% of the GDP and about 70% of the total labor force). In the last period, entrepreneurship has created a unique context that offers to all those interested a favorable environment for the development of entrepreneurial activities that go beyond institutional barriers. This paper presents a specific situation based on the evolution of the Romanian SMEs in the context of the integration into the European Union sphere of influence, and implicitly a systematic centralization of the main indicators and the activity sectors of SMEs, in a comparative manner, according to the European model described in the literature. With the integration of Romania into the European Union, new opportunities have been created, focusing on increasing the competitiveness of SMEs through research and innovation, and implicitly the access to nonreimbursable financing.