Evolving market expectations and regulations are increasingly asking SMEs for sustainability reporting and compliance. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU Taxonomy are reshaping how businesses, including SMEs, must disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. For example, the CSRD introduces the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), a harmonised framework covering the different ESG aspects from climate change, pollution and circular economy to working conditions or business conduct. Large companies are already required to comply, listed SMEs must adopt simplified ESRS by 2026, and non-listed SMEs are under growing pressure to provide ESG data to financial and value chain partners. 

Clusters, in their function as support providers, can help SMEs in reporting and compliance by providing guidance, capacity-building, and tools to navigate these evolving frameworks. Through knowledge-sharing, tailored advisory services, and collective initiatives, clusters support SMEs in integrating sustainability into their business strategies and enhancing their market positioning.

REGISTRATION

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform, on behalf of the European Commission, organises the EU Clusters Talk "Sustainability requirements and reporting: Cluster support for SMEs" on 19 February, 8:30 – 9:45 CET, to explore how clusters and other business support organisations can assist SMEs in meeting sustainability requirements, sharing best practices, and showcasing collaborative initiatives that foster a more sustainable and resilient business ecosystem.

Speakers will include: 

• Georg Raab, Policy Officer, DG GROW, European Commission
• Anaïs Le Corvec, CEO, Cliclab Transformative Agency
• Cécile Fontaine, Coordinator B-Resilient Eurocluster, Wagralim 
• Roman Kravchenko, CEO, 482.solutions - ESG Cluster HUB

This event is part of regular online meetings brought to the cluster community by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform. They offer up-to-date insights into the latest industrial policies and clusters’ involvement, projects and best practices, the latest ECCP news, and funding opportunities. The EU Clusters Talks are a space to exchange knowledge and discuss cluster-relevant topics, which will change with every meeting.