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| Newsletter January 2005 |
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Dear Members of the SME UNION, dear Friends of SMEs!
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The year 2004 finished traditionally for the SME UNION family with our Annual SME Balkan Conference last December in Belgrade where we had the pleasure to discuss with the Serbian Deputy Prime-Minister Miroljub LABUS national SME policies. Our friend, Finance Minister and Vice Prime-Minister of the Slovak Republic Ivan MIKLOS gave advice on how to introduce a competitive tax system for Serbia in favor of SMEs.
The working year 2005 started successfully with our Annual Hungarian SME Conference in Budapest discussing “9 Months in the EU: The Future of Hungarian SMEs!” National Members of Parliament and Members of the European Parliament discussed with SME experts on how to improve the situation for Hungarian SMEs especially through Women Entrepreneurship and liberalization of markets.
The year 2005 will be a very important one for SMEs and the SME UNION of the EPP. Our topic of the year is “Education to Entrepreneurship”. Elections will be held this spring to vote for a new board of the SME UNION. Issues like the EU’s Chemical Directive REACH and the Services Directive are as well on top of our agenda.
We wish all of our Member Organizations, Partners and Friends a good start into the new SME Working Year 2005! |
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2005-03-03, Brussels, SME Working Group on Services Directive
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The SME Working Group on the Services Directive is chaired by representatives from the SME UNION, the SME Circle and UEAPME and includes representatives from ESBA, EuroCommerce and Eurochambres. The idea of this working group was born at the last SME UNION Political Bureau Meeting in December 2004 and aims at the gathering of specific small business concerns on the Services Directives in order to allow for common SME position to be drafted and circulated among all relevant MEPs and legislative circles. The SME UNION regards less red tape, the help of the Services Directive to create a facilitated procedure for small businesses establishment in another EU country and the country of origin principle as the three major aspects.
The last meeting, where the final document will be drafted, will take place on the 3rd of March from 13:00 to 15:00 in the house of the SME UNION, Rue de Pascale 22.
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2005-02-17, Brussels, SME UNION & eBay Business Lunch: “SMEs & Internet Economy: Boosting Entrepreneurship for a Competitive Europe”
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12.30 – 14.00h, European Parliament, Salon des Députés, Brussels.
Meg WHITMAN, President and CEO of eBay, elected as “The Most Powerful Woman in Business” (Fortune Magazine 2004) will be the keynote speaker and discuss with MEPs, Commission representatives and ICT experts on the topic.
Information: +32 2 233 38 38 or sme@sme-union.org |
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2005-02-22, Women in Business and in Decision-Making
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Eurochambres Women Network (EWN) Conference, 10.00-17.00h, European Economic and Social Committee, Rue Belliard 99, 1000 Brussels, Information & Registration: Christiane Maegerman: Fax. +32 2 230 00 38; maegerman@eurochambres.be |
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2005-03-03 The EU Commission is hosting a conference on “Cohesion and the Lisbon Agenda: The Role of the Regions”
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Charlemagne Building, Rue de la Loi 170, 1040 Brussels
For further information |
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2005-03-09, Strasbourg, SME Intergroup Meeting
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Under the Chairmanship of MEP Othmar KARAS, President of the newly created SME Intergroup of the European Parliament, the Intergroup will hold its constitutional first meeting in Strasbourg late afternoon.
For MEPs only: If you are still interested to join this cross-party SME Intergroup, please register at okaras@europarl.eu.int, +32 2 284 7627 |
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2005-03-10/11 Munich, Internationale Handwerksmesse
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The I.H.M. International Trade Fair for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises is the engine of the most important economic branch of industry in Europe. Held every year in March, the I.H.M. is not only the equipment and information platform for the trades and small and medium-sized enteprises, but also its` political mouthpiece. Virtually all handicrafts activities are represented at this multi-sector trade fair, as are equippers and suppliers. I.H.M. - a top event for SMEs!
Information IHM Homepage |
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2005-03-15, Brussels, "Die Lissabon Agenda - Erfolge nur mit dem Mittelstand"
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High level SME Conference organized by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in cooperation with Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks (ZDH), UEAPME, SME UNION and Hanns Seidel Stiftung (HSS). The conference will take place in the afternoon. Details follow. |
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Service & Information |
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Best practice news from Denmark: Investment in unlisted stocks!
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Investment in unlisted stocks is to provide four billion EUR to small and medium sized businesses by 2010, according to a plan, put forward by the Danish government. "We want to put Denmark out front. This depends on an effective market in unlisted stocks to attract more risk capital and bring growth and more jobs to small and medium sized businesses," said Economics and Business Minister Bendt Bendtson. |
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EU Parliament installs Coordination Group for Lisbon Reform
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The European Parliament has recently established a coordination group for the Lisbon Agenda Reform consisting of representatives from all the parliamentary groups. This group consists of 33 MEPs including MEP Paul RUEBIG, President of SME Global. The SME UNION congratulates Paul RUEBIG for his nomination to this important body of professionals charged with the task of implementing the Lisbon goals! |
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Improvement of Security Standards in SMEs
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According to a report published by the Agency for Job Security and Health Protection (OSHA), the “SME Funding Scheme” instituted by the EU has vastly improved job safety and health protection for SMEs in recent years.
For further information |
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Reorganisation of the Policy on Subsidies
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The European Commission is planning to reorganize the policy on subsidies concerning SMEs after 2007. Interested or affected parties can submit a proposal to the Commission no later than 7th of February 2005.
For further information |
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European Union supports SMEs
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The European Union has decided a relief program that conduces the funding of SMEs in the new EU-Member States. 36 Million Euros per year should be spent on technical support especially for countries where not enough bank credits are offered so far. Thereby it should become possible for the banks the increase the value of their asset portfolios.
For further information |
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2005 - The Year of Microcredit
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The United Nations has declared the Year 2005 the International Year of Microcredit. Their aim is to make financial services more accessible to poor and low-income people, to raise public awareness about microcredit and microfinance, to promote innovative partnerships among governments, academia, donors, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector.
For further information |
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New EU definitions for SMEs
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The EU has redefined what characterizes a micro, small and medium sized enterprise. As of 1 January 2005, the category of SMEs will be enterprises that employ fewer than 250 persons, have an annual turnover below 50 million EUR, and/or a balance sheet total not exceeding 43 million EUR. These new definitions aim to ensure that the benefits of access to national SME support mechanisms and European Programmes supporting SMEs is reserved exclusively for true SMEs.
For further information |
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EU citizens less keen to start up their own business than US
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Although 45% of Europeans would like to be their own boss, they are less keen in comparison to Americans to attempt entrepreneurship. Why do 59% of Europeans never considered setting up their own business? Most of them prefer a regular income and job stability. In addition, the fear of failure preoccupies them. Half of the Europeans asked agreed that they would not set up a business that was likely to fail, compared with only one-third of Americans. This is rather striking, since Eurobarometer has illustrated that setting up a business is similar in both Europe and the USA.
For further information |
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Positive reaction on Home State Taxation to SMEs
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The pilot scheme of the European Commission provides “home state taxation” for small and medium enterprises. The profits of a group of companies active in more than one Member State should be computed according to the rules of one company’s tax system, the system of the Home State of the parent company or head office of the group.
For further information |
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2005-01-25, 2005 Symposium on SMEs & Transnational Cooperation “Boosting Innovation for a Competitive Europe”, European Parliament, Brussels
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This SME UNION event in cooperation with SANDOZ informed on "SMEs - Key Factors for innovation in Biogenerics" given by Andreas RUMMELT, CEO Sandoz, Janez POTOCNIK, Commissioner for Science and Research, Patrick VINK, Sandoz, John PURVIS MEP, and Alois JUNGBAUER, Institute for Applied Microbiology, after the introduction of Gregor WOSCHNAGG, Permanent Representative of Austria to the European Union. |
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On “How to reverse the European ‘Brain Drain’?” Ján FIGEL, Commissioner for Education and Training gave us his ideas as well as Joseph PENNINGER, Austrian Scientist of the Year and Head of the Viennese Institute for Molecular Biotechnology, Christian WEINBERGER, DG Enterprise, Ján HUDACKY MEP, and Greg PERRY, European Generic Medicines Association.
SME UNION Co-President Peter JUNGEN concluded the conference. |
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2005-01-21, Annual SME Hungary Conference, “9 Months in the EU: The Future of Hungarian SMEs” Budapest, Hungary
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Jacques SANTER, President of the SME UNION, György BISZTRAY, President of KKVE -the Hungarian SME UNION - and László MÁDI, Member of the Hungarian Parliament FIDEZ-MPSZ chaired the SME UNION Conference “9 Months in the EU: The Future of Hungarian SMEs”.
Impulse statements were also given by Zoltán CSÉFALVAY, Professor of the Andrássy University, György SZÜCS, President of IPOSZ (Hungarian Union of Handcraft Organizations), Marian MILUT, President of the National Union of Romanian Employers, Etelka BARSI-PATAKY MEP, Ildiko SZENCI, Director of SME Women and SME UNION Co-President Peter JUNGEN. |
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2005-01-20, Budapest, "The Future of the European Energy Market and its Effects on SMEs"
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SME Energy President Peter M. MOMBAUR and SME UNION President Jacques SANTER invited to a conference in Budapest in cooperation with UPEI and MVV discussing with European energy experts the liberalization of the European energy market, the Energy Efficiency Directive and its effects on SMEs.
Michael LOWAK from MVV Energy Services suggested to establish and update energy efficiency programs and practical monitoring mechanisms to promote energy efficiency by creating better information bases in the Member States through cooperation and exchange of best practice between Member States. If properly implemented by the Member States, the directive will be able to reach the targets and demonstrate the EU's success in saving energy. Dieter KREIKENBAUM, Director of Energy Policy of the German Association of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) gave an overview over the Directive. |
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Bernd SCHNITTLER, Secretary General of UPEI – Union Pétrolière Européenne Indépendante – stressed that especially the private-sector initiatives and programs for improving energy efficiency must be possible without restriction. A different method of procuring public services and infrastructure by combining the best of the public and private sectors – so called PPP or public-private partnership - with a foreseeable impact on value for money and delivering quality public services should be foreseen. The aim of such a partnership in energy services will be the efficient performance of tasks that would otherwise be provided by the public sector.
Other high level speakers on these topics were Kalman KATONA, former Hungarian Minister for traffic and water management, Hellmuth WEISSER, President of UPEI, Urmas ARUMAE, former Estonian Minister of Justice, Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman of the Czech Civic Democratic Party ODS, Norbert BOROSS from the Hungarian electricity supplier ELMÜ, Peter KADERJAK and Jean SENOT from RTE. |
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2005-01-19, Working Breakfast “The Services Directive: Chances & Challenges for SMEs”, European Parliament, Brussels
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The first SME UNION Working Breakfast of the year 2005 “The Services Directive: Chances & Challenges for SMEs” was a huge success. This event was organized in cooperation with UEAPME and the SME Circle of the EPP-ED Group.
70% of the EU GDP comes from the services sector. 90% of the companies in the field of services are SMEs. 30% of them are involved in cross-border trade.
President of the SME Circle MEP Alexander RADWAN opened the discussion. Margot FROEHLINGER, Head of Unit of the European Commission, Internal Market, made the Keynote Speech. Impulse statements were given by Malcolm HARBOUR MEP, Shadow Rapporteur of the Services Directive, Luc HENDRICKX, Services Directive expert of UEAPME, Edda KNITTEL from the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Paul RUEBIG MEP, Coordinator of the EP Industry Committee and President of SME Global and Xavier R. DURIEU, Secretary General of EuroCommerce.
More than 15 MEPs were present to discuss with the experts the very important liberalisation of the European services market. |
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2004-12-18, International Serbian SME Congress “Via Economic Cooperation to EU Integration” , Belgrade, Serbia
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The year 2004 ended traditionally for the SME UNION family with our Annual SME Balkan Conference last December in Belgrade where we had the pleasure to discuss with the Serbian Deputy Prime-Minister Miroljub LABUS (G17 Plus Party) national SME policies. Our friend, Finance Minister and Vice Prime-Minister of the Slovak Republic Ivan MIKLOS gave advice on how to introduce a competitive tax system for Serbia in favor of SMEs. Former Austrian Defense Minister Werner FASSLABEND eluded on the importance of history and the future aspect of the region. Petar PAVLOVIC, Deputy-Minister of Economy and Privatisation of Serbia, Ludger FISCHER of UEAPME, Simona MARZETTI and Christian PASSIN discussed about the role of SMEs in the process of globalisation. SME UNION Co-President Peter JUNGEN discussed with representatives of academia, Worldbank and national politicians and experts the importance of the finance sector for SMEs. |
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2004-12-07, SME UNION BUREAU Meeting
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The SME UNION invited all their Members, Partners and Friends for their bi-annual BUREAU Meeting. The SME UNION warmly welcomed its new Members from the Baltic States: the Homeland Union from Lithuania, Res Publica from Estonia and New Era from Latvia.
As SME UNION Topic for the Year 2005 was chosen "Education to Entrepreneurship". MEP Othmar KARAS reported on the newly created SME Intergroup within the European Parliament. UEAPME's Secretary General Hans-Werner MÜLLER underlined the importance for SMEs of the Services Directive. Therefore an "Ad Hoc SME Working Group on the Services Directive" was installed by SME UNION, SME Circle and UEAPME. The BUREAU Meeting was followed by the SME UNION Xmas-Reception at SME UNION House. |
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2004-12-02, Working breakfast “More Energy for SMEs!”, the Future of the European Energy Market and its Effects on SMEs, European Parliament, Brussels
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Peter M. MOMBAUR, President of SME Energy, moderated this working breakfast. Impulse statements were given by Dieter KREIKENBAUM, Director of Energy Policy of the German Association of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Alejo VIDAL-QUADRAS ROCA MEP, Shadow Rapporteur for the Energy Efficiency and Services Directive, Randall BOWIE, Regulatory Policy, European Commission DG for Energy and Transport, Anja WEISGERBER MEP, Paul STORME from UPEI and by Michael LOWAK from MVV Energy Group. |
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SME UNION
22 Rue de Pascale
1040 Bruxelles
Tel : (+32) 2 233 38 38
Fax : (+32) 2 230 92 18
sme@sme-union.eu
http://www.sme-union.eu
Content Manager : Stefan Hoeftberger
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| Newsletter January 2005 |
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