Aims and Objectives

The aim of EURICA is to enhance the competitiveness and communication for Intra-European trade of international SMEs within Poland, Hungary and Spain by adapting and implementing a successful European model of an export communication review scheme.

The aim of EURICA is to assist SMEs in these countries to overcome barriers to cross-border trade whilst also building strong links between the new EURICA consultants and those trained in a new European model based in the UK, Iceland, Ireland (Protocol 2)

The Export Communications Review is rapidly developing into a European standard through an iterative process but has yet to be adapted to Eastern, Central and Southern European countries.

The Objectives are:

• In Poland, Hungary and Spain, to review the feasibility of a chamber-based Export Communications review scheme, and to implement, trial and adapt new Protocol training materials, an audit framework and a model training scheme for the training of Export Communication Consultants.

• In the UK and Iceland to develop, expand and 'Europeanise' current resources available for consultants- primarily to develop an online toolkit for accredited consultants and an online source of resources for companies seeking to expand their trade. Also to internationalise the UK network of ECR consultants, linking them to other countries, particularly accession countries; this will improve links between the UK and these important markets with a view to expanding knowledge and increasing exports to these regions.