Late payment has been affecting the liquidity, investment capacity and even the very survival of SMEs in Europe for decades. In this context, two years ago the Commission put forward a legislative proposal to strengthen and update the EU’s Late Payment framework. While the European Parliament adopted its position in April 2024, discussions in the Council have stalled, leaving the future of the proposal uncertain.
To determine whether further action on late payments is needed in 2026, the European Commission has launched an SME panel survey to gather feedback from small businesses. The initiative includes a 12-question survey designed to collect views on potential policy measures to combat late payments, as well as insights into how such delays impact businesses.
The survey is available in all EU languages and will remain open for responses until 25 September 2025.
EBC encourages SMEs and their representatives to respond to the survey and indicate the challenges they continue to face due to late payment. EBC will continue to advocate for a robust EU framework to combat late payment and foster a prompt payment culture.
To access the Commission’s Late Payment SME panel survey, click here
To consult the EBC position paper on the Revision of the Late Payment Directive, click here
