French exports have been dropping steadily, primarily because the country has few competitive medium-size enterprises, a great strength of Germany.

But the biggest impact on the economy may well show up in small and medium-size enterprises.

The internationalization of small and medium-size enterprises has got to be a big plus for the American economy.

But the impact of information technology on small and medium-size enterprises may yet turn out to have the most impact on the economy.

Commerce and services, mostly through small and medium-size enterprises, constitute about half of the economy.

These companies are primarily small- to medium-size enterprises with less than 20 employees.

These many discrepancies prevent particularly small and medium-size enterprises from breaking through on the various European markets.

Secondly, it is a cliché to say that small- and medium-size enterprises are the backbone of the European economy.

I would like to point out two problems: I think the success of small and medium-size enterprises depends on their solution.

Recently 300 Commission employees made a commitment that by 2009 they would work for at least one week in small and medium-size enterprises.