|
|
|
|
| A Small Business Act for European SMEs |
The main objective of the SME UNION is to shape EU policy and legislation in a more SME friendly way and to support our member organizations all over Europe. We implement this SME agenda in close cooperation with the SME Circle of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, our good contacts to the European Commission and to the EPP member parties all over Europe.Binding guidelines and provisions tailored especially for SMEs should draw together different existing provisions and introducing new ones for small businesses in various policies and laws with the aim of reducing administrative burdens for SMEs, increasing their participation in EU programmes, insuring their share in public procurement, easier access to standardization and reducing obstacles to cross-border trade. In this context we consider that a European Small Business Act should also be a top priority for the Slovenian and French Presidency in 2008. That is why the SME UNION of the EPP voted for the European Small Business Act as topic of the year 2008."The European Commission has set up a "High Level Expert Group on Administrative Burdens". There are no real entrepreneurs in this expert group and no representatives from our new member countries from Eastern Europe. In response we decided to set up a "low" level group to fight administrative burdens comprised of small and medium entrepreneurs who have suffered from bureaucratic obstacles first-hand. Our group will present the results after 6 months and will not spend millions of Euros for consultants. They will be able to speak from their own experience. |
| SME UNION President Leitl and EU Commissioner Verheugen agree on concrete proposals to address concerns of SMEs in three months, not in three years |
The SME UNION, the business organization of the EPP, urges the European Commission to propose a Small Business Act (SBA) in order to provide binding guidelines and provisions tailored especially for SMEs and the "Think Small First" principle should be a guiding principle in all relevant legislation and law-making. Leitl and Verheugen also discussed the progress made in the fight against red tape: To support and stimulate the Commission’s „High Level Expert Group" for Better Regulation, the SME UNION together with EUROCHAMBRES and Jade - has set up a „Low" Level Group of real entrepreneurs.
More information |
| SME Union Slovenia conference with Commissioner Reding |
The International Conference on "Information Technology and Intergenerational Dialogue" was organized by the SME Union Slovenia in cooperation with the SME UNION of the European People’s Party. Eminent speakers, representatives of the SME UNION´s sister organizations from other European countries, diplomatic representatives in Slovenia and several local and foreign guests from economic and entrepreneurial sectors took part at this event. A special guest of honor was EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding. |
| Bucharest, Romania, SME UNPR Conference on Transport and Infrastructure with PM Tariceanu |
On the eve of the conference, Thursday 27 September 2007 the guest speakers were invited to a dinner at the newly renovated PNTCD headquarters. Marian Petre MILUT, President of PNTCD, announced at the event the candidates of PNTCD for the European Parliament elections in the presence of Calin POPESCU-TARICEANU, Prime Minister of Romania and Emil Constantinescu, President Popular Alliance and former President of Romania with great media attention. On Friday 28 September 2007 the SME UNION of the EPP in cooperation with the National Union of Romanian Employers (UNPR) organized a Conference on the topic: Transport and Infrastructure in Romania: Enhancing infrastructure: Highway to prosperity.
Presentation Calin Popescu Tariceanu
Presentation Patrick Moulin
Presentation Roland Waeyaert
Presentation Liviu Ciobanu
Presentation Angelika Kostandinu
Presentation Mihnea Radu |
| Malta, 10th Anniversary SME Union Malta SIZM PN |
The 10th anniversary celebration of the SME Union Malta was organized by the team of Alexander Vassallo, President of SME Union Malta SIZM PN. On Friday 6 July the Cocktail Reception under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Malta Lawrence Gonzi was a great success.
Censu Galea, the Competitiveness and Communication Minister of Malta, Edwin Vassallo, State Secretary for Small Business and the Self Employed of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and Joe Saliba, the Secretary General of the National Party of Malta, attended the festivity. Simon Busuttil, Karl von Wogau and Jean-Pierre Audy, from the side of SME Circle, were among the congratulators. SME Global President Paul Rübig, the two SME UNION Vice-Presidents Valdis Dombrovskis MEP and Jean-Michel Ferrand MP congratulated SME Union Malta SIZM PN to their 10th Anniversary.
The evening began with greeting words of SME Union Malta SIZM PN President Alexander Vassallo and the Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. SME UNION Vice-President Jean-Michel Ferrand and SME UNION Secretary General Patrick Voller congratulated, in the name of SME UNION, the "birthday child" SIZM PN Malta with personal speeches. For those participants who already arrived a day before, the SME Union Malta SIZM PN organized a boat trip. The international guests were also taking part in some of the events of the EPP-ED Group study days in Malta taking part at the same time.
|
|
|
|
![[Decoration]](/images/blue/arrow12x12.gif){kind=small}