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| Newsletter November 2004 |
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Dear Members of the SME UNION, dear Friends of SMEs!
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The European Union is getting more and more political and this means also more power and influence for the political parties and its recognized organizations like the SME UNION of the European People’s Party. The European Parliaments power is increasing while at the same time its political groupings strengthen their muscles. The reshuffling of the BARROSO Commission led to an even stronger team for a stronger Europe. A strong team will be indeed necessary, also as regards the huge tasks ahead committing Europe to growth and employment after the bleak half time report on the Lisbon agenda just published by the Wim Kok task force. In this increasingly political level playing field the SME UNION is strengthening its ties with the EPP (see below Resolution on Lisbon Agenda) and the SME Circle of the EPP-ED Group (see below joint events) and is implementing a SME cross-party Intergroup within the European Parliament for even stronger lobbying for our SME interests. |
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2004-11-24, Brussels, Belgium
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On the occasion of the 3rd WTO Parliamentary Conference in Brussels from 24th-26th November 2004, SME GLOBAL and SME UNION, cordially invite you to a Working Breakfast "Stronger Involvement of SMEs in the New Global Market", 8.00-9.30h, Salon des Députés, European Parliament. |
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2004-11-25, Brussels, Belgium
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Conference of the Economic and Social Policy Committee of the EPP, SME UNION & Partners, "The Future of the Lisbon Strategy-Committing Europe for Growth", Featured panelist: José Manuel BARROSO, 15.30-19.00h at Room ASP 1G3, European Parliament.
Program and Registration Form |
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2004-12-02, Brussels, Belgium
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SME UNION Working Breakfast "More Energy for SMEs!: The future of the European Energy market and its effects on SMEs" in cooperation with the SME Circle and SME Energy, 8.00-9.30h, Salon des Députés, European Parliament.
Information and registration: sme@sme-union.org |
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2004-12-07, Brussels, Belgium
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SME UNION Christmas BUREAU Meeting for all SME UNION Members, partners and friends, 18.00-20.00h, followed by a reception.
SME UNION House, 22 Rue de Pascale. |
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2004-12-09, Brussels, Belgium
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SME CIRCLE meeting, only for EPP-ED Group MEPs, taking place before Working Group E, 9.00-10.00h at the room A5G3, European Parliament.
Information: aradwan-assistant@europarl.eu.int |
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2004-12-10, Krakow, Poland
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SME start-up/PSMP Conference 2004: "Starting a Business in Europe – the key for European Growth", 9.30-16.00h in Krakow, Poland. |
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2004-12-18, Belgrade, Serbia
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II International Serbian SME Congress of the Serbian Association of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SASME), Serbian Employers Association (SEA) in cooperation with SME UNION: "Via Economic Cooperation to EU Integration",
8:30-10.30h at the Save Center, Congress Hall, Belgrade, Serbia. |
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2005-01-20, Budapest, Hungary
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SME ENERGY Conference: "More Energy for SMEs: The future of the European Energy market and its effects on SMEs",
12.30-16.30h, at the Hotel Mercure Buda, Budapest, Hungary.
Information: sme@sme-union.org |
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2005-01-20/22 Budapest, Hungary
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Annual SME UNION Hungary Conference: "More Energy for SMEs: The future of the European Energy market and its effects on SMEs",
at the Hotel Mercure Buda, Budapest, Hungary. |
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2005-01-25 Brussels, Belgium
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2005 Symposium on SMEs & Biogenerics: "Boosting Innovation for a Competitive Europe" in cooperation with SANDOZ,
12.30-18.00h, European Parliament. |
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Service & Information |
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EPP Resolution on Lisbon Agenda:
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The Resolution of the European People's Party (EPP) on "Re-Visiting the Lisbon Agenda: Committing to Growth, Prosperity and Employment" was approved by its Political Bureau October 19, 2004.
The Resolution was prepared and presented by the EPP Economic and Social Policy Committee under the guidance of the Chairmen Peter JUNGEN and Bartho PRONK. The Resolution is an answer to the economic problems in Europe and gives advice to the new Commission and Member States until the year 2010. It was decisively shaped by the SME UNION ideas strongly put forward by our Co-President Peter Jungen. Download Document |
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The Hayek Series: Are informed patients a threat to EU Health budgets?
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A debate on the current EU ban on pharmaceutical advertising. Featured Panelists: Pat COX, Former President of the EP and 2004 Winner of the Charlemagne Prize and Dorette CORBEY MEP.
On November 9, 17.00h at Solvay Library, Parc Leopold, Rue Belliard 137, Brussels.
Information and registration: hrasmussen@techcentralstation.com |
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The Politics of new Balkan Economy Conference
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This Summit takes place shortly after the new Commission enters into office and the European Parliament welcomes its new members. The event will therefore serve as an opportunity to put the Balkans and their relationship with the European Union back on the EU’s agenda.
On November 7, 9.00-15.00h at Solvay Library, Parc Leopold, Rue Belliard 137, Brussels. |
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How to get European funds?
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This course for SMEs is to understand the grants landscape, to master European projects building in partnership, to identify the relevant programme, to optimize the application, to promote the project’s proposal on November 11–12 in Budapest, Hungary. |
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Europe XXL? - How to deal with Obesity at a European level?
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The European Enterprise Institute (EEI) invites to a lunch discussion on Europe XXL.
Featured Panelist: Christofer FJELLNER MEP, Michael KUNZE, Center for Public Heath, Vienna and Noëlle VONTHRON, EuroCommerce on November 23, 13.00-14.30h in the Members Salon, European Parliament.
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European Discussion on Tax Competition
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The European Enterprise Institute (EEI) invites to a black coffee meeting with Ivan MIKLOS, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs of the Slovak Republic on November 25, 11.00-12.30h at the Renaissance Hotel.
Information and registration |
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Symposium CEE How permanent is the economic growth in Central and Eastern Europe?
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2nd Symposium Central and Eastern Europe. Connecting Corporate and Academic Europe on November 18-19 at the University of Vienna, Austria. Symposium Homepage |
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How to move ahead in Hungary? - Prospects for national and foreign SMEs
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A conference with entrepreneurs from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Hungary in co-operation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation on November 24-25, 10.00-18.30h at the Hotel Mercure Buda in Hungary, Budapest.
Download the programand the registrationform. Information |
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Basel II training and information for SMEs
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The website for the project Basel II for SMEs! A European Commission (EC) funded project designed to inform Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Multi-Annual Programme (MAP) countries about Basel II, organized by UEAPME (European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) |
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EU Innovation Services for SMEs
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Cordis, the European Community’s Research and Development Information Services, host the Business Incubators Service, set up by the European Commission’s Enterprise Director-General. http://www.cordis.lu/incubators |
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How SMEs get involved in the Sixth EU Programme for Research and Technological Development/FP6?
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This site offers an overview of current EU research for SMEs, providing links to the online services of FP6s seven priority thematic areas, but its main focus is on the SME-specific measures, known in FP6 as "Horizontal research activities involving SMEs" http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/sme.htm |
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SME Legislation: Latest Enterprise Directorate-General
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he latest (ninth) 'Pink Book' list of EU legislation managed by the Enterprise Directorate-General, including 482 directives. The list includes both "hard" law (legally binding) and "soft" law (implementing arrangements) for SMEs. Download Pink Book |
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Facing the Challenge – The Lisbon strategy for growth and employment
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Wim Kok, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, on November 3rd presented "Facing the Challenge", the report of the High Level Group on the Lisbon strategy that he has chaired. The report concludes that the disappointing delivery of the strategy has been due primarily to a lack of determined political action. |
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Working Breakfast on REACH, October 13th, 2004, European Parliament, Brussels
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On 13th October, Arnaldo ABRUZZINI, Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES, Craig BARKER from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Thomas MANN MEP and Maja ZIPPEL from Frey & Lau participated at a working breakfast on REACH, jointly organised by EUROCHAMBRES, SME UNION and SME CIRCLE.
Several problems that undermine SME downstream users were discussed:
- Global competitiveness perspective must be kept in mind: the introduction of few, industry-spreading exposition categories is a precondition;
- Increases in cost will lead to a loss in profits which means creation of fewer new jobs, uncertainty for those already employed, reduction of paid taxes and of investment in innovation.
- Prioritisation should be based on risk and above any other criteria.
- Mandatory substitution would seriously undermine the competitiveness of European business.
- Legislation that overlaps with the requirements of REACH must be reviewed.
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Working Breakfast on Patient Information & Benefits of Conscious Drugs Choice
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October 20th, 2004, European Parliament, Brussels
The SME UNION and the European Enterprise Institute (EEI) hosted on October 20th 2004 a breakfast debate at the European Parliament on Patient Information and conscious Drug Choice.
The breakfast was structured as a one and a half hour discussion under Chatham rules including MEPs, Commission and Council officials, industry representatives and other Brussels based stakeholders.
The discussion was kicked-off by the EEI Co-President Gunnar HÖKMARK MEP and SME UNION Co-President Paul Rübig MEP. The general conclusion of the meeting was that increasing the access to information for patients entails potential economic gains but also remains a fundamental right. |
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Working Breakfast on Galileo – More chances for SMEs!
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October 21st, 2004, European Parliament, Brussels
The SME Circle and the SME UNION welcomed Olivier ONIDI, DG TREN,
EC; Hans Peter MARCHEWSKI, Galileo Joint Undertaking; Christian
WEINBERGER, DG Enterprise, EC and Wolfgang LECHNER Telematica &
MercatorPark. Alexander RADWAN, MEP, President of the SME Circle led the
discussion and held introduction statement.
The objective of the SMEs is to put together information
that can be translated and distributed together within the EU Member
States to help small companies understand the opportunities that Galileo
presents them. The conclusions of the meeting were:
- Provide a fair tendering procedure for SMEs - Exclusive calls & tenders for SMEs
- At least 25% of total infrastructure investment should be dedicated to SMEs
- At least 35% of future calls of the GJU and of any Galileo related calls of FP6 & FP7 have to be reserved for SMEs
- Easier application forms for SMEs (One-Stop-Shop for SMEs)
- Nomination of an SME Galileo envoy
Possible next steps for a better SME involvement:
- Formulation of common SME requests on national and European level
- Getting support for these specific SME requests from national, European and international organizations and stakeholders
- Realization of short term, medium term and long term measures for SMEs
- Research on how could be modified the FP7 to get a better participation for SMEs
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For comments and further information please do not hesitate to contact us.
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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
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| Newsletter November 2004 |
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