The Role of Women

Entrepreneurs
by
Etelka BARSI-PATAKY
MEP
SME Women & Start-up President
Women’s entrepreneurial potential is
not fully exploited.
• Fewer women than men create enterprises.
• Not enough women-owned businesses are
growing beyond modest limits.
 The typical female entrepreneur
• is educated (with tertiary education)
• runs a micro enterprise
• has a husband and children
• creates her enterprise before the age of 35
• has working experience working for others
• wants to take own decisions, but also to make
money
• works around 60 hours
 What role female entrepreneurs
should be really playing in the
European economy ?
• Europe is facing today an unprecedented demographic
change.
• The Lisbon Strategy set ambitious objectives for the
whole of European society, including women.
• There is a link between women’s empowerment and a
nation’s long-term growth potential.
• Women possess many qualities needed for
entrepreneurs.
 Women in general face more
problems than men do in business.
• This fact has finally been recognised by everybody in Europe.
• All the Member States of the European Union are adopting
specific measures.
• The EU has to encourage Member States to learn from each
other.
• A varied approach is needed in a Union of 25 or more Member
States.
• The EU intending to support women entrepreneurship, the
European Commission should involve female enterprises in its
'Enterprise Experience' training operation.
We need to create a positive business
environment for female
entrepreneurship
• General actions in favor of entrepreneurship
have an impact on female entrepreneurs as well.
• We have to work also on the issues, which are
specific for female entrepreneurs:
• Financial aspects
• Childcare
• Household
• Working time
• EU funds
• It is important to encourage women
entrepreneurs to use and benefit from such
measures by training, mentoring and
networking.
• We have to make sure that the interests of
women entrepreneurs are taken into account in
all Community policies.
• The EU and the Member States need women’s
continuous co-operation.
• The growth of female entrepreneurship in
Europe can only be achieved with the active
contribution of actors at all levels.
 In conclusion

• We need more progress in reaching women

equality in entrepreneurship.
• Let’s put forward women in entrepreneurship
just like in politics.