The VSME Strengthens Its Role as a Tool to Improve Transparency and Access to Financing for SMEs
The Event Addressed Its Practical Application and Presented the Treasury’s Eco-Track Tool
Yesterday, 27 March 2026, Spainsif, the Spanish Sustainable Investment and Finance Forum, and BME (Bolsas y Mercados Españoles) held the event "The European VSME Standard: usefulness for SMEs and relevance for access to financing" at the Madrid Stock Exchange Palace. The event brought together institutional representatives, financial entities, business organisations and sustainability experts to analyse the scope of the VSME standard and its role in improving transparency and access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The session opened with institutional remarks by Juan Flames, CEO of BME; Pablo Esteban, Deputy Managing Director of Spainsif; and Carla Díaz, Director General of the Treasury and Financial Policy. They placed the VSME within the context of the European sustainable finance agenda and highlighted its relevance for the business fabric, as well as its potential to facilitate the adoption of harmonised reporting practices.
Juan Flames highlighted that the implementation of this tool "can transform the way small and medium-sized enterprises engage with sustainability and, above all, with capital", as it "opens the doors to financing".
The first panel, "Transparency and tools: the VSME standard in context", addressed the main implementation challenges and benefits, the fit of the standard within the European regulatory framework, and the tools available for its effective application by SMEs.
This was followed by the discussion "SMEs and the VSME: from paper to reality", which provided a practical perspective on its adoption, focusing on operational challenges and the opportunities arising from its implementation in the business environment.
After the break, the second panel, "VSME and financing: why it matters to capital", analysed the relationship between ESG reporting and access to financing, highlighting how the standardisation of information can influence risk assessment and investment and financing decisions.
The event concluded with a keynote on "Eco-Track Treasury", during which the tool was presented and the Eco-Track platform was briefly demonstrated by navigating the form and showcasing some of its functionalities, such as drop-down menus and guidance comments to support completion. The presentation illustrated its practical approach and its potential as a tool to support sustainability transparency.