EU Regulation regarding rural enterprises in Ireland

7.5.2009

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3630/09
by Kathy Sinnott (IND/DEM)
to the Commission

A development company in Ireland operating the Rural Development Programme 2007‑13 is extremely concerned about the limited extent to which the programme can support rural enterprises. According to the Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC[1], RDP enterprise support is restricted to supporting micro-enterprises, which are enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and a turnover of fewer than EUR 2m or a balance sheet total of less then EUR 2 million.

Many rural enterprises employ more than 10 employees, which denies them the opportunity to reach their potential because they are not supported by the RDP.

Can the Commission clarify which EU Regulation governs enterprise support as defined in the Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC? Is it possible that the definition of an enterprise may be extended to include small enterprises that employ 10-49 employees?

• [1] OJ L 124, 20.5.2003, p. 36.

OJ C 189, 13/07/2010