At a Glance
There is clear evidence that open technology-enabled commerce, providing SMEs with dramatically improved access to European and global markets, is truly transformative. It leads to more inclusive growth and spreads economic opportunities more evenly between and within EU member states. The online marketplace enables independent SMEs throughout Europe to overcome the negative economic impacts of being small and remote.
Across the EU, nearly every independent small business using the eBay marketplace engages in international operations. Specifically, 96% of European small businesses on eBay export, serving customers in an average of 22 different countries annually. Comparatively, only 15% of EU companies sell online and no more than 7% of them sell across borders.