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| Newsletter October 2007 |
| Foreword |
| Upcoming Events |
| Service & Information |
| Latest Events |
| SME Lex |
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Dear Members of the SME UNION, dear friends of SMEs!
Successful lobbying is reached by means of a clear vision and planning. October was a month full of thriving events for the SME UNON of the EPP achieved through precise work, awareness and dedication to our European SMEs. As political success we can announce to you that the Commission is rolling out the pilot project Erasmus for Entrepreneurs, an issue which the SME UNION demanded already in 2006 from the Commission in its 10m+ programme. The implementation of an EU Small Business Act and the issues of Climate Change and EU energy policy and Flexicurity will follow us as hot topics until the end of the year.
The SME UNION Working Breakfast on the Review of EU Consumer Law & SMEs saw with us this October European Commissioner for Consumer Protection Meglena Kuneva who underlined that consumer policy is not a social policy, but needs to be seen as a competitiveness tool. Our Working Breakfast on Plant Protection brought together professional impulse statements, various opinions and a profound discussion centered on the currently heavily discussed legal framework of plant protection legislation in order to help farmers and SMEs to keep the European agriculture competitive as well as providing consumers with healthy farming products. Together with Eurochambres and partners our joint Passport to Trade conference tackled the topic of cultural barriers in a business driven European Union including a business cabaret in a very successful manner.
On Tuesday November 20th our Annual Topic of the Year Conference will focus on "Less and better regulation for European SMEs" in order to fully support the Better Regulation initiative of the European Commission cutting the red tape burden of SMEs by 25 percent by 2010. At the end of the conference the SME UNION Political Entrepreneurship Awards 2007 will be handed out. On that day we will also hold our bi-annual SME UNION Political Bureau with all our members and patrons voting on new members, the budget of next year and discussing the political guidelines and workplan for 2008.
We wish you a captivating reading of this month newsletter and we are looking forward to welcoming you at our next events.
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2007-11-07 Brussles, SME Energy Working Breakfast on Renewable Energy Sources & SMEs
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EUROCHAMBRES, UPEI and the SME UNION Working Group SME Energy invite you to our Working Breakfast on the 7th November 2007 in the European Parliament. |
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The topic discussed will be the new European energy policies especially on renewable energy sources & SMEs – how are they affected, what can they deliver?
Invitation |
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2007-11-08, Brussels, UEAPME SME Policy Dialogue
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Together with the UEAPME, Othmar Karas invites to the SME Policy Dialogue entitled "European SME Policy: Challenges ahead" that will take place in Brussels in the premises of the European Parliament on 8 November 2007 from 15:00 to 18:00. The event is organised with the support of the EPP-ED group in the European Parliament. Registration until 30 October at office of Othmar Karas.
E-mail registration |
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2007-11-09, Pristina, Kosovo, SME Union Kosovo Seminar with President Sejdiu
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In cooperation with the SME Union Kosovo of LDK a entrepreneurship conference will be organized in the capital of Kosovo on Friday 9 November. A SME UNION delegation will be present to support entrepreneurs in Kosovo and offer the network of our political family. The delegation, led by Secretary General Patrick Voller includes Austrian member of Parliament Wolfgang Grossruck, mayor of Grieskirchen and member of the foreign policy and human rights committee in the Austrian Parliament, will have the chance to exchange views with the President of Kosovo Fatmir Sejdiu. |
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2007-11-07/09, Glasgow, Scotland, ISBE : 30th Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship Conference
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From Wednesday 7th till Friday 9th November 2007 ISBE (Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship) will organize a conference on “International Entrepreneurship – stimulating smarter successful small businesses world-wide”. This event will take place in the Radisson SAS Hotel in Glasgow, Scotland and is going to start at 9:00h on Wednesday 7th November and will last till 13:30h on Friday 9th November.The conference will have an integrated programme of nine parallel Tracks covering the whole spectrum of small business and entrepreneurship.
Further information |
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2007-11-20 Brussels, SME UNION Topic of the Year Conference, Political Bureau and Political Entrepreneurship Awards
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The SME UNION of the EPP will organize her Topic of the Year 2007 Conference on Less & Better Regulation for European SMEs on Tuesday 20 November in Brussels. During the Conference also our SME UNION Political Entrepreneurship Awards will be given away. The bi-annual Political Bureau
comprising all SME UNION members, patrons and the Presidency will take place the same day.
Programme (all events in Brussels):
10.00-11.30h, SME UNION Presidency (for Presidency members),SME UNION, Rue de Pascale 22, 1040 Brussels
12.00-13.00h, SME UNION Lunch Reception (for all members) European People's Party, Rue de Commerce 10, 1000 Brussels
13:00-15:00h, SME UNION bi-annual Political Bureau Meeting (for all SME UNION members, observers and partners)
15.30-17.30h: SME UNION Annual Topic of the Year Conference "Less & Better Regulation for European SMEs" with SME UNION Political Entrepreneurship Awards 2007 Ceremony and Cocktail Reception, Hotel Leopold, Rue du Luxembourg, 35, 1050 Brussels (for everybody)
Conference Draft Programme
For further details please contact our project manager, Ulrike Riebl or +32 2 233 38-30. |
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2007-11-21, Brussels, SME Working Lunch on e-skills
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The SME UNION of the EPP and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) plan for Wednesday, 21 November 2007, 12:30 – 14:00h in the Renaissance Hotel in Brussels a Working Lunch on the importance of "E-Skills: Investing into the Future" and SMEs. Further details will follow and invitations send out. Fir further information contact SME UNION project manager Ulrike Riebl, sme@sme-union.org, Tel: +32 2 233 38 - 34 |
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2007-11-21, businesseurope SME Action Day
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A special SME Action Day, organised by businesseurope will take place in Brussels.The participants will discuss the findings, highlighting why SMEs play a predominant and dynamic role as drivers of growth and innovation. They will also examine the attitude to entrepreneurial activity and how it can be valued more highly.
More information
Visit the website |
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2007-11-23/24 Bad Waltersdorf, Austria, SME UNION, SME Union Austria, SME Union Hungary and SME Union Slovenia regional SME Workshop
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"Growing Together: EU Enlargement as Success Story for Regional SMEs", will be the title of a two days entrepreneurs seminar organized by the SME Unions of Austria, Hungary and Slovenia in order to bring entrepreneurs from this region to join forces and make business. All SME UNION members and friends are invited. The Austrian Minister for Economy Martin Bartenstein, regional SME politicians and MEPs already confirmed their participation.
Invitation |
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2007-11-29, Brussels, KfW-SME Working Breakfast on Emission Trading & SMEs
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The SME UNION of the EPP and the German KfW Bank will organize a joint working breakfast in the European Parliament on Thursday 29 November, 8.00-9.30h in Brussels. The topic discussed will be the EU emission trading system and its chances and challenges for SMEs. Further details and information will follow. For further information contact SME UNION project manager Peter Kovari, sme@sme-union.org, Tel +32 2 233 38 - 37 |
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2007-12-06/07, Porto, Portugal, Entrepreneurship Conference on Successful Local Strategies & European Enterprise Awards 2007
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This international Conference will focus on local and regional solutions to the key challenges facing SMEs. Workshops will present participants with case studies and examples of best practice focusing on: micro-credit to improve SMEs' access to finance, creating new entrepreneurs, reducing the administrative burden on SMEs, promoting SME growth in the region.On 24 October, a jury composed of entrepreneurs, business organisations, academics and representatives of European Commission and the Portuguese Presidency short-listed 13 initiatives supporting entrepreneurship for the European Enterprise Awards 2007. The initiatives, chosen from 48 nominees, will compete for awards in 5 categories: the Entrepreneurial Trailblazer Award, Enterprise Support Award, Red Tape Reduction Award, Investment in People Award and Responsible Entrepreneurship Award.The Jury’s Grand Prize will also be awarded to the entry that is considered the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe at a ceremony in Porto, Portugal on 6 December.
Visit Conference's Website
To see the list of 13 short listed initiatives |
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2007-12-14/15, Belgrad, Serbia, Annual SME Union Serbia Conference and young entrepreneurs workshop
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On Friday 14 December afternoon the SME UNION Working Group start-up in cooperation with the EPP Youth (YEPP) will organize in Belgrade a workshop for young entrepreneurs of South-East Europe from our political family. SME start-up President and French MEP Jean-Paul Gauzes will preside this day. On Saturday, 15 December the annual SME Union Serbia conference will be held. Further information will be send out soon. |
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Service & Information |
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Christoph Leitl reelected as Austrian SME Union Wirtschaftsbund President
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On 20 October at the 17th Annual General Assembly of the Austrian SME Union Österreichischer Wirtschaftsbund ÖVP, SME UNION President Dr. Christoph Leitl was reelected with a vast majority of over 90 per cent. As Vice-Presidents were elected Jürgen Bodenseer (Tirol), Brigitte Jank (Vienna), Franz Pacher (Charinthia) and Sonja Zwazl. Former Prime Minister Wolfgang Schüssel and several members of the Austrian government were among the participants of the assembly, moderated by SME Union Austria Secretary General Kalrheinz Kopf MP. SME UNION board members MEP Paul Rübig, MEP Othmar Karas and Secretary General Patrick Voller were present to show European support. SME UNION Co-President Peter Jungen delivered the official greeting address in the name of the UNION eluding on the Austrian school of economics. The SME UNION of the EPP congratulates Christoph Leitl for this strong reelection and wishes him all the best for his new mandate for the next 4 years.
Further information |
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EU Commission publishes SME Mid-Term Review
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On the 8 of October, the European Commission published its Mid-Term Review on SME Policy. It takes stock of the progress achieved since the EU’s modern SME policy was launched in 2005, focusing on five main areas: cutting red tape, improving access to markets, promoting entrepreneurship and skills, improving growth potential and strengthening dialogue with stakeholders. At the same time, the Commission adopted a Communication on reducing the stigma of business failure, which proposes a new ‘second chance policy’. In its Communication on reducing the stigma of business failure, the Commission invites Member States to disassociate bankruptcy from fraud through legal and awareness–based measures, to help entrepreneurs avoid bankruptcy and to provide a ‘second-chance’ for non-fraudulent bankrupts. A new website has been launched to promote this policy.
Press Release
Background information - Economic and Financial Affairs Council
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Vice-President Kauppi: Tax competition beneficial for Europe
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SME UNION Vice-President Member of the European Parliament Piia-Noora Kauppi, also the EPP-ED Group spokesperson on the European Parliament's report on the contribution of taxation and customs policies to the Lisbon Strategy, expressed her satisfaction as the centre-right - liberal majority reached a significant result in the Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee when voting on the amendments to the report. First, the Committee confirmed the idea that healthy tax competition is beneficial for the European economy and it should be promoted. The overall level of taxation in EU is still higher than OECD average. Second, the view of the EPP-ED that tax policy should be geared towards creating favourable conditions for small and medium sized enterprises as well as facilitating R&D activities, both of great importance for Europe 's competitiveness, was supported. Finally, the committee called for innovative solutions in tax policies to cut down compliance costs for companies and facilitate their cross-border investment and growth were called for. "Healthy tax competition is beneficial for the European economy and well-managed tax administration system linked to it would reduce possibility for fraud. This would in no way affect Member States' freedom to set their tax rates, but rather boost European competitiveness", concluded Kauppi.
Further information:
Piia-Noora KAUPPI
Antti TIMONEN, EPP-ED Press Service
More information |
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EU supports western Balkans’ scientific community
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An EU-founded project has created a database aimed at increasing the visibility of the scentific community in the countries of the western Balkans. The “West Balkan research” database pools together information on universities, institutions and companies active in R&D in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro and Serbia. Using the tool, the region’s scientific landscape can be searched by thematic area (as defind within FP7), by organisation type and by geographical region. The aim is to help universities and companies from elsewhere in the EU identify partners in the western Balkans for scientific collaboration. The project, which builds upon the achievments of a previous EU initiative (“ERA Westbalkan”), will organise training workshops and networking events for research centres wishing to participate in FP7. It will alos carry out activities to help strengthen the network of national contact points (NCPs) in the region and improve their links with NCPs in other EU Member States and candidate countries.
Visit the website |
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Failure culture: EU supports second-chance policy
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While efforts to make it easier for Europeans to set up their own company are starting to pay off, a majority of EU citizens continue to hold back for fear of going bust. The Commission is now proposing taking action to reduce the stigma attached to business failure and encourage non-fraudulent bankrupts to make a fresh start. The European Commission underlined the need for a “second-chance policy” for entrepreneurs:”The age of industrialisation was possible thanks to the development of the steam engine, an invention which brought James Watt and his business partner close to bankruptcy. Very often learning, discoveries and research findings need stamina and several attempts need to be made – as does entrepreneurship. Still today, many people do not realise their entrepreneurial ambitions because they are afraid of the stigma of failure present in our society.”
Commission Press Release |
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Commission adopts Compliance Assistance Programme for SMEs
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On 8 October, the European Commission adopted a Communication, which proposes the establishment of an Environmental Compliance Assistance Programme for SMEs. It comprises a set of measures that aim to help small businesses minimise the environmental impact of their activities and to implement existing legislation. Funded by Life+, CIP and the Structural Funds, the Programme intends to disseminate information specifically targeted at SMEs and promote support networks and training activities that build expertise.
See the Communication from the Commission |
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Commission “Eurobarometer on Entrepreneurship in the EU”
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This survey on entrepreneurship is about peoples’ entrepreneurial mindset. It examines the motivation, choices, experiences and obstacles linked to self-employment. The results will help EU policy makers to understand problems and develop future policy responses.45 % of the Europeans would like to become their own boss whereas the entrepreneurial urge reaches 61 % in the US. But: over half of the EU's young people (15-24 years old) who are not self-employed are likely to follow the entrepreneurial route compared to 30 % for all EU citizens and 42 % in the US. Almost 60% of those in the EU starting up a business consider this as an opportunity rather than a necessity. But: The fear of business failure, bankruptcy and the uncertainty of income are the top fears in the EU. Lack of finance remains to be the main problem in the EU.
Find out more information |
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President Leitl on SME Envoy homepage
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To provide Europe’s SMEs with an easier means to make the Commission aware of their viewpoints, the European Commission has appointed a special SME Envoy. The Envoy’s role is to open up channels of communication between the Commission and SMEs, and their representative organisations. Information should flow in both directions, making it quicker and easier for the Commission to provide information to SMEs as well as to seek their views. Through regular, often informal, consultations, both SME stakeholders and the Commission will grow to understand each other’s position better. Current SME Envoy Francoise Le Bail invited already several times SME UNION President Leitl to discuss SME issues. On the SME Envoy homepage you can find further information.
Further information |
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Commission work programme 2008
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The European Commission has adopted on 23 October 2007 its work programme for 2008. The Programme shows the Commission focus on delivering core policies for the globalisation agenda: detailing key strategic priorities which the Commission undertakes to adopt in 2008, and setting out other areas where the Commission will concentrate attention next year.
More information |
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“New” Europe close to US entrepreneurial spirit
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Citizens of the 10 countries which joined the European Union in 2004 are closer to the United States than older EU members in their attitudes to entrepreneurship, figures released have shown. Only 28 percent of citizens in older EU member states think it desirable to become self-employed, but 40 percent of citizens in new member states find the idea attractive, compared with 42 percent of US citizens, the poll by EU polling agency, Eurobarometer, found. Among young people, citizens of the new member states are even keener than their US counterparts to start a business, with 62 percent of “new” Europeans in favour of the idea, against 57 percent in the US and 51 percent within the EU as a whole. In 2004, the EU enlarged to take in 10 new members, eight of them in Central and Eastern Europe. While those countries are less wealthy than long-standing EU members, most have been marked since their accession by red-hot economic growth, falling unemployment and keen consumption.
Further information |
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European Parliament Temporary Committee on Climate Change sets out aims for Bali
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Binding emissions targets for all industrialised countries, a global "cap and trade" system and a 50% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of this century should be some of the EU's core targets for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, says a resolution adopted by the European Parliament Temporary Committee on Climate Change.
Further information
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New Commission brochure on SME policy
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The Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry has published an information pack revising its “Guide to SME policy”.
The information pack entitled "Putting SMEs first" provides a comprehensive guided tour of the measures the European Commission has already in place to help SMEs, and the ways in which it intends to expand and improve them. As regards the way of presenting these measures, the subtitle of the document provides a good summary: “EU is good for SMEs and SMEs are good for Europe!”
Further information |
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Making Europe more attractive to highly skilled migrants and increasing the protection of lawfully residing and working migrants
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On 23 October 2007, the European Commission adopted two legislative proposals in the area of economic migration. The first proposal aims at establishing a Framework Directive for the purpose of admission of highly qualified migrants to the EU, creating the EU Blue Card. The second proposal is a Directive establishing a single application procedure for a single residence and work permit and a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State.
Press Release on making Europe more attractive to highly skilled migrants
Memo on attractive conditions for the admission and residence of highly qualified immigrants
Memo on simplified admission procedures and common set of rights for third-country workers
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New edition of SME UNION magazine The Entrepreneur published!
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The latest edition of our magazine "The Entrepreneur" is out. Please find below the pdf version and find out more about our organization, latest events and acitivities.
The Entrepreneur |
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Erasmus for young entrepreneurs
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The SME UNION of the EPP demanded in its 10m+ Programme in March 2006 a real exchange program for entrepreneurs. Following this action a new ERASMUS pilot programme for entrepreneurs was launched by the European Commission. Regarding this topic, the Commission plans an event and a consultation on 17-18 December 2007. The pilot project 'ERASMUS for young entrepreneurs' aims at being a big success and comprises mesures that will facilitate training, networking and exchange of experiences among nascent young entrepreneurs by means of traineeships in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in another country. This action will contribute to promote entrepreneurship, internationalisation and competitiveness of established SMEs and new start-up enterprises in the EU.
Application to participate in the Stakeholders'Meeting 17-18 December 2007
Direct contact if you would like to participate in the focus groups in November/December
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EU steps up the fight against undeclared work
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Undeclared work is still a problem in Europe and is undermining the EU's ability to meet its targets for more and better jobs and stronger growth, says a new European Commission report released today. It identifies the main drivers for the informal economy, sets out successful ways to reduce it and proposes a series of concrete follow-up actions at European and national levels. New figures from Eurobarometer – which has carried out the first ever Europe-wide harmonized survey on this sensitive topic – confirm the existence of a large market for undeclared work all over the EU.
Press Release
Communication from the Commission: Stepping up the fight against undeclared work
Memo: EU steps up the fight against undeclared work
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Business Culture – Passport to Trade
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The Passport to Trade website is a free on-line programme designed to help the entrepreneurs increase their export potential in Europe. It will allow them to understand a variety of European cultures, their importance when doing business and how to work more effectively with business people from across the EU. Creating partnerships is a critical element of growing a business and this can happen much more effectively if the entrepreneurs understand the culture within which of the potential partners are working.
Go to Passport to Trade website! |
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Financing SMEs: recommendations for action
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What are the best ways of improving the flow of finance to small firms? The European Commission, the Member States and finance professionals have recently looked at ways that promise to improve the situation of many SMEs.This summary presents the key conclusions of five reports that have reviewed both loan and equity finance and complements the conclusions on seed investment that were published in
March 2007.
Further information |
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Competitive and sustainable destinations discussed at European Tourism Forum
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Strategies to make EU tourism destinations competitive by embracing sustainability were the focal point of discussions at the 6th European Tourism Forum, which took place on 26 October 2006 in Portimao, Algarve in Portugal. At the occasion of this conference, European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen presented the awards to the winners of the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN). At the forum the European Commission presented its new communication launching a strategy to foster sustainable and competitive tourism in Europe.
Press release |
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EUROCHAMBRES presents Regional Competition Atlas
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On 25 and 26 October 2006, EUROCHAMBRES organized a Congress regarding the challenges facing small and medium businesses in a regional Europe. Moreover EUROCHAMBRES presented on this occasion the Regional Competitivness ATLAS, a brochure of best practices.
Download Regional Competition Atlas |
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OECD on comparing administrative burdens across countries
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This OECD pilot study measures and compares administrative burdens in the transport sector across eleven member countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Turkey. The aim of the exercise is twofold: to identify good practices and provide input for national simplification strategies, and to develop and test a method for cross-country comparison.
To purchase or download this publication |
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Why it is time to give our kids a voice, too
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Ott Lumi, President of SME Union Estonia, political scientist and a member of the Estonian parliament for the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union published in the European Voice issue of 18-24 October 2007 an article encouraging to look at societal decision-making in a way which correlates with voters' cotributions to their societies. In this way the advantage of parents having more votes would be to force decision-makers to think in a longer-term perspective.
Read full article |
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Portuguese Presidency signs declaration on Financing SMEs growth
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On the 9 October, participants at a forum organised by the European Commission and the Portuguese Presidency in Estoril, Portugal, signed a declaration on “Financing Innovation”. The declaration calls for a stronger entrepreneurial attitude in decision making; measures to improve companies’ availability to attract investors; a right environment for new companies to flourish and the channelling of savings into young companies. The declaration is divided into 4 pillars: From Ideas to Market, Investment Readiness, The Right Environment and Savings for Growth and contains concrete recommendations on how to improve current practices.
Read the declaration
Read more about financing SMEs growth
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2007-09-12, CompTIA, SME UNION Working Lunch on EU competition policy
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On Wednesday, 12 September 2007, the SME UNON of the EPP organized together with the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) a working lunch on the topic “Limits to Competition Policy: Where do we go from here?” The event was opened by SME UNION Vice-President Malcolm HARBOUR MEP, Member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection who welcomed the participants. Simon TILFORD, Chief Economist, Centre for European Reform moderated the working lunch and the discussions initiated by Alec Burnside, partner Linklaters, Brussels and London and Lars Liebeler, CompTIA anti-trust counselor, Washington D.C.
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Alec Burnside discussed the impact on the European competition policy of the reformed treaty resulting from the summer negotiations, especially the removal of competition as one of the key objectives of the European Union under the pressure of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. According to Burnside, it will result in political rather than economic damages. Similarly, the awaited EU court Microsoft decision also puts into question the future of the European competition policy, whether DG Competition will be forced to reform the way it handles cases. Lars Liebeler presented CompTIAs position that favours clear and understandable rules promoting the growth of the IT industry and investment, which is not the case yet. “Anti-trust policy should stick to the basic principle of consumer welfare”, he said, adding that the industry now needs “to benefit from the invisible hand”. Bernardo de Miguel of the Spanish economic newspaper Cinco Días questioned whether it was time to create an independent European authority in charge of competition outside the European Commission.
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2007-09-10, SME UNION Working Breakfast with Commissioner Kuneva
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Professional impulse statements, various opinions and a powerful discussion started Tuesday the 9th of October. Othmar KARAS MEP, Vice-President of the EPP-ED, opened this Working Breakfast and welcomed Meglena Kuneva, European Commissioner for Consumer Protection. SME Intergroup President Othmar KARAS emphasized that her initiative is only a beginning of a dialogue between the public and the parliament, as well as between the Parliament and the Commission. |
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Meglena Kuneva postulated that EU consumer policy and the Internal Market should stick together, during the political process. Consumer protection is clearly not only a social policy but especially an economic policy. Her desire is a harmonization process of the internal market to benefit the European society. Furthermore consumer policy is not in opposition of the internal market. Xavier R. Durieu, Secretary General of EuroCommerce pointed out that commerce is a driving force of the European market, particularly the SMEs that represent 95% of the retailers. Beyond this fact commerce interfaces with 1 billion consumers per day. This means that the regulation of the internal market should enable SMEs to cope with this high amount of contacts. Bob Schmitz, Union Luxembourgeoise des Consommateurs, underlined that the EU institutions should still consider valid the existence of a consumer law sui generis. Apart from that he stated that consumer law still concerns primarily domestic relations and that it shouldn’t be sacrificed as “hampering the Single Market”. |
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Alexander Stubb MEP and member of the SME Circle emphasized that the EU consumer policies have to become more economic policies and highlighted that national consumer protections have to change in order to establish one European safety market to the detriment of national safety markets.
Impulse statements:
Speech Bob SCHMITZ
Speech Meglena KUNEVA |
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2007-10-17 Brussels, Working Breakfast on Plant Protection and SMEs
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Professional impulse statements, various opinions and a profound discussion took place Wednesday, October 17th. Richard Seeber MEP and member of the SME Circle opened this Working Breakfast and welcomed Egbert Panman, Belchim Crop Protection, Roxane Feller, COPA-COGECA, Günther Grassl, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and Friedhelm Schmider, ECPA, as well as numerous MEPs in the audience. Seeber pointed out in his introduction that the most important issue on plant protection is not to make agriculture for the farmers impracticable. Egbert Panman, Belchim Crop Protection, emphasized that there must be figured out a balance in order to appraise–and not only to minimize-the risks that are caused by pesticides. Furthermore the time-frame for the registration of pesticides must be held considerable and the national registration must be carried out parallel to the European one. Roxane Feller, COPA-COGECA, pointed out that COPA-COGECA shares with the Parliament a profound concern for the environment and the conviction that pesticides should be used as little as possible. It should however be possible for farmers to have enough tools to provide targeted solutions to pest problem whenever necessary. Their fear is that this regulatory package will simply replace the high-standard European food on consumers’ tables with cheaper products from countries where environmental protection is only a minor consideration, if at all. |
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Günther Grassl, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), accentuated that his chamber members that are most concerned by the review of the EU plant protection policy are producers of plant protection products(PPP) and the agro-commerce sector. Nearly all of these businesses are SMEs. With regard to the new plant protection legislation it is fundamental to pay attention to the objectives of the EU Better Regulation Policy. Therefore unnecessary administrative burdens which can weigh heavily on SMEs should be avoided. At the same time the coherence of the new proposals with existing measures addressing the placing on the market or the use of plant protection products has to be scrutinized. Measures to control the use of pesticides should be appropriate and in line with the principle of subsidiarity. The final statement held Friedhelm Schmider, Director General ECPA. He claimed the Commission has rightfully pointed out in its proposals that plant protection products are a vital tool in the protection of plants against harmful organisms and thereby helping to secure food that is insufficient supply, that is affordable, of good quality, and, that is safe for the consumer and user as well as for the environment. In general his opinion was that the European Parliament should be asked to support an approach which looks at the individual circumstances on the national level. The use of PPPs should be reduced to the minimum necessary to maintain public areas in good condition.
Impulse statments:
Guenther Grassl
Roxane Feller
Friedhelm Schmider |
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2007-10-17, SME UNION and partners conference on EU business cultures
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On Wednesday 17 October 2007 the SME UNION of the EPP in cooperation with EUROCHAMBRES, STRATEX, European Enterprise Institute, EUROPUBLIC and the Committee of the Regions organized a Conference on the topic: "Passport to Trade: Working across Cultures in the EU" |
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The conference started with the welcome and introductory remarks of Gerhard STAHL, Secretary General of the Committee of the Regions and Ingo FRIEDRICH MEP, Honorary President of the SME UNION of the EPP. Gerhard STAHL expressed the interest of the Committee of the Regions in SMEs development and stressed out the importance of understanding diversity of Europe by coping with different languages and cultures. Ingo FRIEDRICH emphasized the significance of the “United in Diversity!” motto and pleaded for finding solutions in order to learn from each other and to promote tolerance. Richard HILL, EU consultant and book author moderated the discussions and introduced the speakers. |
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Arnaldo ABRUZZINI, Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES presented his personal experience regarding the cultural barriers and regarded languages as main obstacle in intercultural cooperation. Jerzy SAMBORSKI, Executive Director of the European Enterprise Institute (EEI) cited the results of a recently published report on Polish SMEs which highlighted the barriers the entrepreneurs face to enter other EU markets. He mentioned that Polish SMEs are reluctant to enter other EU markets because of their inexperience and lack of awareness of possibilities offered by the EU common market. In this respect, he welcomed the creation of the “Passport to Trade” website for its aid in reducing the cultural barriers to trade within the EU and classified it as an useful tool for SMEs to take advantage of the free market. Alex LAZAR, Managing Director, Pest control Europe concentrated the discourse on the idea that business people have to adapt to the clients and their working environment. Willem van NOORT, Managing Director, Unifine expressed his interest in learning from other cultures and underlined that for business people there are different rules of which the most important is respect for the business partner. Jane SILVER, PhD, Professorial Fellow, Enterprise Centre School of Computing, Science & Engineering University of Salford and Julia RIDSDALE-SAW, Stratex sprl, presented the website of EU Project Passport to Trade and the benefits of this initiative for the business community. The Conference ended very successfully and with lot of laughs and joy with business cabaret on the topic of cultural differences performed by Otmar KASTNER from Business Comedy International.
Impulse statements:
Press Release_Julia Ridsdale-Saw
Jerzy Samborski |
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European Parliament votes on pesticides package
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On Tuesday, October 23rd the European Parliament voted at first reading over the plant protection package in Strassbourg, concerning the accreditation and use of pesticides in farming fields. The package consists of a new general EU-strategy for pesticides, an EU-decree for the accreditation of those and an EU-directive about the use and output of pesticides.To welcome this active debate, SME UNION organized on 17 October 2007 an working breackfast on plant protection.This is a really serious issue, because it is not only affecting the animals and plants, but also human health. Mostly the parlamentarians agreed that those fragrances which cause harm to people should be banished from the market and not be sold. But there are discrepancies as well, concerning the part of the directive about accreditation and use of the pesticides. Many parlamentarians share the opinion that a standardized directive would be the best and that not every member state can decide upon the accreditation itself. However, the MEPs threw out proposals to divide the EU into three zones for the purposes of approving new pesticide products.
Next steps:
On 26 November 2007, agriculture ministers will debate the rules on the use of pesticides calling for restrictions of aerial spraying, forcing producers to reduce animal testing practices and banning certain products.
Press release |
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European Commission thinks about a ‘Small Business Act for Europe’
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The European Commission published its Work Programme for 2008. It reveals proposals to establish a Small Business Act (SBA) for Europe in order to address the concerns and needs of SMEs in the EU. The current version of the Small Business Act, wider in scope, surpasses the concept of a US-style SBA in Europe. It proposes a combination of general principles and concrete action. “Think Small First” principle, which ensures specific treatment for SMEs in EU legislation, to increase SMEs access to innovation and growth and reduce administrative burdens for SMEs. The Small business act will also seek to help small businesses through the establishment of legal mechanisms and the improvement of SMEs access to the standardisation process.
SME UNION Press Release
Commission’s Legislative Work Programme
Review of Single Market Policy |
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Public consultation on Climate Change
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Climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet. On 29 June, the European Commission has therefore adopted its first policy document on adapting to the impacts of climate change. This Green Paper "adaptation to climate change in Europe - options for EU action", builds upon the work and findings of the European Climate Change Programme. Public feedback is requested on the key questions raised at the end of the main chapters of the Green Paper. All the European Institutions and all those interested are invited to contribute to the public EU-wide debate that will be launched with the adoption of the Green Paper: 1. The Green Paper will be launched publicly after adoption in Brussels. 2. In order to allow for a more direct exchange of views, the Commission will organise workshops on this Green Paper in several Member States and, where appropriate, in third countries.
Next steps:
A web-based public consultation will be open until 30 November 2007. The results of the public consultation will help shape the further work of the Commission in particular regarding the planned Commission Communication on adaptation and a further elaboration on other Community policies and the external policy action.
Green Book: Adapting to climate change in Europe
Commission webpage on climate change |
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Health policy to target jobs and growth
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On 23 October 2007 the European Commission adopted a new Health Strategy, 'Together for Health: A Strategic Approach for the EU 2008-2013'. Building on current work, this Strategy aims to provide, for the first time, an overarching strategic framework spanning core issues in health as well as health in all policies and global health issues. The Strategy aims to set clear objectives to guide future work on health at the European level, and to put in place an implementation mechanism to achieve those objectives, working in partnership with Member States. The Strategy focuses on four principles and three strategic themes for improving health in the EU. The principles include taking a value-driven approach, recognising the links between health and economic prosperity, integrating health in all policies, and strengthening the EU's voice in global health. The strategic themes include Fostering Good Health in an Ageing Europe, Protecting Citizens from Health Threats, and Dynamic Health Systems and New Technologies.
More information |
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Energy firms could get share of transmission networks
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Energy-producing companies would be allowed to own small shareholdings in transmission networks under a compromise deal on liberalisation of EU energy markets being prepared by the Portuguese presidency.Following strong opposition to this proposal from member states, including France and Germany, the Portuguese presidency is working on a compromise deal in which energy producers could retain minority shareholdings on transmission business. The Commission is insisting that full ownership unbundling is the best way to ensure fair competition.One possible element of the compromise is to take a different approach to unbundling in the gas and electricity markets. The European Parliament has appointed five MEPs to draft reports on the five parts of the energy liberalisation package. Internal electricity market: Eluned Morgan (UK, PES). Internal gas market: Romano Maria La Russa (Italy, UEN). Agency for Co-operation of Energy Regulators: Renato Brunetta (Italy, EPP-ED). Cross-border electricity exchanges: Alejo Vidal-Quadras (Spain, EPP-ED). Access to gas networks: Atanas Paparizov (Bulgaria, PES). |
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Commission delays carbon-reduction package
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The European Commission has delayed a package of proposals for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and increasing the use of renewable energy sources until January next year to avoid public splits ahead of a major international conference on climate change in Bali in December.The package is now expected in January. The Commission is still planning to present its proposal on reducing CO2 emissions from motor vehicles before the end of the year.On this topic SME UNION and its partners will organize an Working Group SME Energy on the 7th November 2007 in the European Parliament.
More information |
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New EU energy policy package
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The energy package comprises COM proposals amending the directives on common rules for the internal market in electricity and gas as well as the access to cross-border electricity networks and on the establishment of an agency for the cooperation of energy regulators.The European Parliament has appointed five MEPs to draft reports on the five parts of the energy liberalisation package. Internal electricity market: Eluned Morgan (UK, PES). Internal gas market: Romano Maria La Russa (Italy, UEN). Agency for Co-operation of Energy Regulators: Renato Brunetta (Italy, EPP-ED). Cross-border electricity exchanges: Alejo Vidal-Quadras (Spain, EPP-ED). Access to gas networks: Atanas Paparizov (Bulgaria, PES). The Rapporteur for the Energy package are MEP Fiona HAll (ALDE). MEP Avril Doyle is designated to follow this issue for the SME Circle.
Next steps:
The Energy package will be submited for voting in plenary session in June 2008.
Further information:
Proposal for internal market in electricity
Proposal for internal market in natural gas
Proposal for establishment of an Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
Proposal for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity
Proposal for access to the natural gas transmission networks |
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Public consultation calls for better enforcement of existing labour law
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The European Commission presented today the results of its public consultation on adapting labour law to the present world of work. The consultation was a great success: Over 450 opinions were received from a wide range of stakeholders in EU-27 and beyond. Despite divergent views, the results highlight that labour law is central to managing the EU'sworkforce and to providing workers with a sense of security. Many repliesunderline, in particular, the need to implement existing labour legislationfully in all Member States and to reach agreement on ongoing issues such asthe proposals on Temporary Agency Workers and the review of the Working Time Directive. Reactions also suggest that the national reform process under the EU's strategy for Growth and Jobs and the integrated approach to developing and implementing flexicurity-based principles is the best way forward.
Press Release
Communication from the Commission on the modernisation of labour law |
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Toward common principles of flexicurity
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The Flexicurity principle aims at encouraging Member States to implement more flexibility in national labour laws and to achieve a higher degree of security for the employees. The Commission's communication recognizes the competences on the national level. Legislative measures on EU-level are not foreseen by the Commission whereas the draftsman mentions i.e. the necessity for minimum wages. The Rapporteur for "Towards Common Principles of Flexicurity: More and better jobs through flexibility and security" is MEP Ole CHRISTENSEN (PSE). MEP Thomas MANN and MEP Philip BUSHILL-MATTHEWS are designated to follow this issue for the SME Circle.
Next steps:
Vote in Committee: 12 November 2007
Vote in Plenary: estimated for November 2007
Towards Common Principles of Flexicurity: More and better jobs through flexibility and security
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Law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I)
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The proposed regulation aims at modernising and at converting the Convention on the law applicable on contractual obligations (signed 1980) into Community law. The Commissions approach inter alia envisages provisions for consumer contracts. It consists of applying only the law of the place of the consumer's habitual residence. Under certain circumstances companies could be forced to adapt their products to 27 different consumer laws, especially online services could be affected. On Tuesday 15 May the SME UNION of the EPP in cooperation with EuroCommerce and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) organized a Working Breakfast discussing the Rome I proposal and particularly its Article 5 which threatens European SMEs. The Rapporteur for this regulation is MEP Cristian DUMITRESCU (PSE). MEP Klaus-Heiner LEHNE and MEP Jean-Paul GAUZÈS are designated to follow this issue for the SME Circle.
Next steps:
Vote in Committee: 19/20 November 2007
Vote in Plenary: January 2008
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I)
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Report on IAS for SMEs
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In February 2007 the IAS-Board (IASB) launched a consultation on the basis of draft proposal for accounting standards for SMEs which aims at creating international accounting standards particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. These standards exist so far only for listed companies. The draft report criticizes the lack of transparency of the IASB and the process how the standards shall be implemented. SMEs are insufficiently represented in the responsible IASB working group. International accounting standards should be better controlled. Rapporteur for this legislative measure is MEP Alexander RADWAN.
Next steps:
Deadline for amendments is due 6 November 2007
Vote in Committee: 19 December 2007
Vote in Plenary: 14-17 January 2008
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Programme for the Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics (MEETS)
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Business and trade statistics are faced with major challenges in the coming years: the strong integration of world markets is changing the structure of the economy and also European integration is progressing further. Statistics have to react to these trends and have to describe new phenomena. At the same time, the administrative burden on businesses must be reduced. The MEETS programme has four general objectives to modernise the statistical system:
1. to develop target sets of indicators and to review priorities
2. to achieve a streamlined framework of business related statistics
3. to support the implementation of a more efficient way of collecting data
4. to modernise and simplify statistics on trade in goods between Member States (“Intrastat”). The Rapporteur for this Programme is MEP Christoph KONRAD (EPP).
SME UNION of the EPP has concluded already in 2006, in the framework of 10M+ Monitoring Programme, that the administrative burden on business must be reduced. |
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New Approach directives for a Common Framework of marketing of products
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The Commission's proposals comprise a legal framework for New Approach directives. It provides for a set of modules for the conformity assessment for products as well as new and more workable rules for the accreditation of notified bodies and on market surveillance. The Commission has noted that the level of market surveillance differs from Member State to Member State which leads to a distortion of competition. On Thursday, 28 June 2007 the SME UNION of the EPP in cooperation with the European Builders Confederation (EBC) and NormAPME organized a Working Breakfast on the topic of Marketing of Products Regulation and SMEs in order to underline the importance of taking action in the field of marketing of products legislation and to advocate for finding solutions to make new decisions more systematic in relation with the requirements of SMEs. Rapporteur for this legislative measures are MEP Alexander STUBB, MEP André BRIE, MEP Christel SCHALDEMOSE. MEP Alexander STUBB and MEP Andreas SCHWAB are designated to follow this issue for the SME Circle.
Next steps:
Vote in Committee: 26.11.07
Vote in Plenary: January 2008
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A renewed EU Tourism Policy
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The Commission's communication from 2006 stresses the changes in the demographic structure of Europe will have a major impact on tourism. The number of older people who are travelling much more should increase. Alongside a significant growth in tourism, there will be a change in public demand with regard to types of tourism towards health tourism and tourism relating to cultural and natural heritage. Although Europe is the most visited region of the world, international tourist arrivals are growing at a lower rate than the world average. New competing destinations are emerging and developing further, increasing the competition the EU is facing at a global level. On the other hand, a competitive tourism has to be achieved in a sustainable way. The Rapporteur for this measure is MEP Paolo COSTA. MEP Christian EHLER is designeted to follow the legislative measure for the SME Circle.
Further information:
Communication from the Commission - A renewed EU Tourism Policy - Towards a stronger partnership for European Tourism
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| Newsletter October 2007 |
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