In Brussels, SMEs keep the economic fabric alive. They still need room to move forward. With its SME Plan, Beci proposes a clearer framework designed for those who build their businesses day in, day out.
Entrepreneurial spirit is not lacking in Brussels. Ideas and drive are plentiful. What is often missing, however, is a stable and readable framework. Too changeable, too fragmented, sometimes difficult to interpret. As a result, companies can end up spending as much time deciphering regulations as developing their activities. They may not complain, but this is the daily reality for thousands of SMEs that sustain Brussels’ economy, neighbourhood after neighbourhood.
This observation has echoed throughout the pages of this magazine for months. Entrepreneurs are not asking for fewer rules, but for better ones. Rules that make sense. Beci’s SME Plan follows that same line: acknowledging what does not work and proposing a different approach — clearer, more coherent and more workable.
Returning to the spirit of regulation
Regulation in itself is not the enemy of economic activity. Excessive complexity is. The SME Plan starts from a simple premise: a rule must be useful, understandable, proportionate and aligned with its objective. Regulate, yes. Layer endlessly, no. Beci advocates a more balanced relationship between public authorities and businesses, an administration that enforces the rules, certainly, but also supports.
This translates into practical measures: recognising a right to make mistakes for entrepreneurs acting in good faith, drafting clear and accessible rules, and guaranteeing transparent and enforceable deadlines. The “only once” principle, often invoked but rarely fully implemented, should become the standard. Information provided once should not have to be submitted again. The aim is to free up time and energy for economic activity, without undermining the public interest.
Moving beyond unpredictability
Running an SME means constantly making trade-offs: invest or wait, hire or hold back, expand or consolidate. Yet decision-making requires the ability to anticipate. In Brussels, predictability is not always guaranteed. Diverging municipal tax regimes, uncertain permit timelines, rules interpreted differently depending on the counter: the environment can sometimes feel improvised.
The SME Plan does not promise a perfectly simple world, but it does aim to restore coherence. Harmonising where possible, consulting before introducing changes, prioritising stability over continuous adjustments. In urban planning and environmental permits, the approach is clear: a single file, synchronised deadlines, fewer additional information requests and greater continuity between municipalities and the Region. In employment policy, simplifying incentive schemes is mainly about removing unnecessary layers. Hiring is already a serious commitment; it should not become a discouraging process.
Seeing SMEs as they truly are
A business never follows a straight line. It is created, grows, adapts and sometimes goes through more difficult periods. The SME Plan embraces that reality. It supports entrepreneurs at start-up stage, but also when challenges arise.
It also reaffirms the role of urban industry, logistics and productive activities within the Region. Diversifying the economy, shortening supply chains and preserving locally anchored jobs all strengthen Brussels’ resilience. The environmental and digital transitions are part of this same pragmatic approach. SMEs are ready to adapt, provided they can rely on a stable framework, clear communication and adequate support.
Economic framework and political leadership
The SME Plan sets out a framework. Yet even the most coherent framework is meaningless without political leadership to bring it to life. For more than 600 days, Beci has been repeating the same message: without a fully operational government, decisions remain pending and businesses are forced to move forward without clear direction.
This gap is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. SMEs keep neighbourhoods vibrant, create jobs and underpin the everyday economy. They need an executive able to take decisions, ensure policy continuity and provide clarity to those investing here. Giving SMEs breathing space also means having the courage to decide. It is time to choose Brussels.
Simplify to enable entrepreneurship? Discover Beci’s principles for regulating without suffocating !