Christos PAPOUTSIS, the Commissioner responsible for enterprise, trade and tourism policy and social economy, called a meeting with the personnel of DG XXIII on 12 December 1996 at which he highlighted the objectives of the new multiannual programme: to improve the financial environment; assist SMEs Européanise and internationalise their strategies, especially through better information services; strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs and improve their access to research, innovation and training; promote the enterprise spirit and support target groups (craft and small enterprises, trade enterprises, women and young entrepreneurs).
Ο Επίτροπος, κ. ΠΑΠΟΥΤΣΗΣ, αρμόδιος για την πολιτική των επιχειρήσεων, το εμπόριο, τον τουρισμό και την κοινωνική οικονομία, μίλησε στις 12 Δεκεμβρίου 1996 στο προσωπικό της ΓΔ XXIII.