Two out of three SMEs identify regulatory complexity as an obstacle to their growth.

Omissions

• The underlying figure is 64% ('nearly two-thirds'), not exactly two out of three (66.7%); the MEP rounds up slightly.
• The survey question measures the 'areas that pose problems' / top concern for the company, not explicitly an 'obstacle to growth'; the framing shifts the metric.
• The data comes from the 2025 Flash Eurobarometer on SMEs (published 2 July 2025), the most recent edition identifiable before the session date; no 2026 edition of the survey could be confirmed with the available searches, so the MEP may be citing figures roughly 15 months old.
• The same Commission survey also reports broadly positive SME growth prospects and other concerns (late payments, access to finance, skills shortages), context the speaker does not mention.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — DG GROW news release on the 2025 Flash Eurobarometer on SMEs"Regulatory complexity remains the top concern, cited by nearly two-thirds of respondents, followed by late payments and limited access to..."
• PrimaryEurobarometer survey page (European Union) — Startups, scaleups and entrepreneurship / SME survey"Regulatory obstacles or administrative burden is the top-tanking problem for SMEs, with 64% of respondents identifying this as an area that poses problems for ..."
• SecondaryWUSME — 'SMEs' challenges and business environment: news from Eurobarometer 559'"Regulatory obstacles or administrative burdens remains the top concern. Despite this, SME growth prospects are broadly positive, with nearly ..."