The European Enterprise Network has been established in the framework of the transnational co-operation element within the European Union's Community Initiative EQUAL and consists of five partners:

The main focus of all partners is to offer support for those who wish to start up business ventures where there is disadvantage. Unemployment is a central problem in all member states and the job situation of disadvantaged people is even more problematic.

The European Enterprise Network has been established to share experience, lessons learned and materials and training programmes to support people of the mentioned target group in their wish to create a business. The aim of this Network is to develop complimentary links between the different entrepreneurial support mechanisms existing in local areas, exchanging best practices and developing tools to apply in the individual context.

Since 2002, the European Enterprise Network has supported a variety of activities involving members of more than 55 national organisations in the various partner countries. These included local authorities, chambers of commerce, local development agencies, training institutions, universities, local government agencies, foundations, non-profit organisations and private business support initiatives. In skills workshops, transnational conferences, bilateral exchanges and through the website, practitioners and project leaders developed ways and means of business support and strategies to improve existing support structures.

EQUAL is part of the European Union's strategy for creating more and better jobs and for ensuring that no-one is denied access to them. Funded by the European Social Fund, EQUAL is designed to test new ways of tackling discrimination and inequality experienced by those in work and those looking for a job. The transnational co-operation is a crucial element of the program, because it helps partnerships to look beyond national boundaries for inspiration and learn from experience in other European countries.