Assesment of application in Turkey in the framework of European Union small and medium enterprises policy

ABSTRACTMaster ThesisAssesment of Aplication in Turkey in the Frame Work of European Union Small and MediumEnterprises PolicyLatife YARDIMDokuz Eylul UniversityInstitute Of Social SciencesDepartment of European UnionToday Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SME) are the leading engines ofeconomies and most important building stones of the economical improvement andemployment. So that governments design policies and supporting mechanisms for SME's.SME policies are one of the most important policies of European Union also. Turkey?s SME?spolicy is also changing and SME?s in Turkey became able to participate many of EuropeanUnion Programs as a candidate country.In this study, the change of SME policy in Turkey in the framework of EU SME?spolicy and the knowledge level of the SME?s about EU programs and their participations andachievements of these SME in EU programs is searched in the light of recent information anddata gathered by a survey. In the first part concept and definition of SME?s in EU and Turkeyhave been discussed. In the second part, besides EU SME policy and importance of SME inEU, European Charter for Small Enterprises with The Multi-Annual Programme forEnterprise and Entrepreneurship and all direct and indirect funding opportunities for SME?s inEU have been analyzed. In the third part, SME?s policy in Turkey, importance andinstitutional structure of SME?s policy in Turkey and SME?s Strategy and Action Plan andparticipations and achievements of SME?s in EU programs which is open for SME?s inTurkey have been researched. In fourt part, a survey has been conducted to SME?s workingin automotive industry in order to measure the knowledge level of the SME?s about EUPrograms and their participations to this program.The reasons behind the selection ofautomotive industry for this survey are automotive industry reflects fabrication industry inSME?s, being a developing sector and easy access in survey. In our survey we aimed to defineSME?s knowledge deficiencies about EU?s SME politics and fundings and programs whichavailable for SME?s. We also try to measure recognition level of consulting corporationsabout EU fundings.Key World: 1) SME, 2)EU SME Policy, 3)Turkish SME Policy 4) Fundingopportunities, 5) SME?s Strategy and Action Plan