The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment has commissioned a study to review how EU environmental legislation affects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small mid-cap companies (SMCs).
The study aims to:
- identify which areas of environmental legislation are most relevant to SMEs and SMCs;
- examine existing provisions intended to take account of company size;
- identify requirements that may create disproportionate costs or practical difficulties for smaller businesses; and
- explore proportionate ways of reducing unnecessary burdens while preserving environmental and public-policy objectives.
The study will ultimately be published online.
Purpose of this survey
This survey seeks practical evidence about how environmental legislation works for SMEs and SMCs in practice. In particular, we would like to understand:
- which environmental requirements affect smaller businesses;
- how businesses find out which obligations apply to them;
- the administrative and operational work involved in complying;
- which requirements, procedures or interactions with authorities create the greatest difficulties or costs;
- whether existing exemptions, thresholds, simplified procedures, guidance or other forms of support work effectively; and
- how requirements could be made clearer, simpler or more proportionate without weakening environmental protection.
Your responses will help validate the study’s preliminary findings and inform the identification of practical measures that could reduce disproportionate impacts. These might include simpler administrative requirements, less frequent obligations, longer compliance periods, better SME-focused guidance, more effective digital tools or other forms of tailored support.
We are interested in your practical experience. You do not need legal expertise or exact cost data to take part. Estimates, examples and explanations are valuable, even if you cannot provide precise figures.
Please answer for your own business or, if you represent a business association, chamber or similar organisation, for the businesses or members you represent. Questions that are not relevant to you will be skipped automatically.
Confidentiality and use of your responses
our responses will be treated confidentially. Survey findings will be analysed and reported in aggregate, without identifying you or your organisation. If you choose to provide contact details and agree to a follow-up discussion, those details will be used separately for that purpose.
Further information about how your data will be handled is available in the
Privacy Statement.
Survey dates and completion time
The survey will be open from 14 September to 12 October 2026.
It should take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, depending on the detail you choose to provide. Most questions are multiple choice, but opportunities are provided to share examples and comments.
Saving your progress and language versions
You do not need to answer all the questions at the same time, as you can save your progress and complete the survey later. To return to the survey, you must provide a valid email address via the toolbar. A continuation link is sent to the provided email. When you use the Save and Continue feature, all survey progress up to that point is saved (including on the active page). Please note it is very important you click the Save and Continue button at the end of the survey to ensure your answers have been recorded!
Thank you for contributing your time and experience. Your input is important in ensuring that the study’s findings and recommendations reflect the realities faced by SMEs and small mid-cap companies across the EU.