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| Newsletter January/February 2009 |
| Foreword |
| Upcoming Events |
| Service & Information |
| Latest Events |
| SME Lex |
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Dear Members of the SME UNION, dear friends of SMEs!
The business organization of the EPP has been very dynamic in 2008. The new working year 2009 started and we would like to wish all of our members, partners and friends all the best. End of last year, as business organization of the EPP, we could witness several successes:
Successful increase of “de-minimis-limit”
Our consistent fight for small and medium-sized enterprises in Brussels has once again yield fruit: Europe’s heads of state and government have picked up our demand for an increase of the de-minimis-limit for national SME funding. This is a great success for SMEs. This increase from EUR 200.000 to 500.000 EUR which allows national aids to be granted without permission from Brussels is now valid for a period of two years. In my function as SME UNION President I met several times with EU Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen to fight for this increase of the de-minimis-threshold.
SME UNION welcomed climate package compromise
The EU – chaired by France - has understood that we must not forget Europe as a business location. In the future, best-practice enterprises of energy intense industries will get emission certificates for free. The worst case scenario – Europe’s energy intense enterprises migrate due to exorbitant CO2 costs – was prevented at the December EU summit of heads of state and government.
SME UNION shaped SBA content
We contributed with our input and feedback to the development of the Small Business Act (SBA) intensively and from the very beginning. Taking part in the online consultation, through our “Low” Level Group proposals and through several events and personal meetings in close cooperation with the Commission and French Presidency, we could in fact shape the SBA content. We also welcomed the claim of the EU summit to completely implement the SBA. “Think small first” must be the guiding principle of all EU legislation. The member states gave their full blessing to the SBA and its newly annexed action plan at the December EU Council summit.
2009 – A year full of chances and challenges
With elections in the European Parliament in June, within our organization and at the European People’s Party, we will face new challenges coming up next year. Following our Topic of the Year 2009 ´Creative SMEs as key driver for innovation and growth´, we will join forces yet again with our task force in the European Parliament, the SME Circle, to lobby for the best legal framework conditions for European SMEs.
SME “Low” Level Group proposals partially implemented
The same day the European Commission presented its third Strategic Report on Better Regulation, our “Low Level Group to fight Administrative Burdens” (LLG) took the opportunity to assess our own achievements. Eight months after the presentation of the 21 suggestions representing a saving potential for companies of approximately 2.5 to 3.5 billions of Euros, the LLG has achieved impressive outcomes, which will bring considerable savings of time and money for European businesses. Three suggestions have already been implemented, thirteen of our proposals are currently being examined at EU institutional level, and this without spending a single euro on advice and opinions from consulting firms. In economically tough times, small enterprises should receive all support possible. They should not have to waste their time with endless procedures and burdensome regulations. We are extremely pleased to see that some of the policy proposals that the LLG brought forward last June with the aim of further simplifying the business environment in Europe have been endorsed at EU institutional level. However, EU economies and especially SMEs are strongly affected by the current financial crisis. In this bleak situation we either row together or we will sink collectively. Our aim is especially in this year to join forces and to do even more to support EU businesses. Bearing in mind this common task we wish you a fruitful reading and are counting on your support more than ever for 2009.
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2009–02-10, Brussels, Conference on Investment in Telecoms & Innovation for SMEs
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The SME UNION of the EPP will organize a Conference on "Investment in Telecoms & Innovation for SMEs" to which you are all kindly invited. The event will take place Tuesday 10 February 2009, 08.30 - 11.30h, at Hotel Renaissance, Rue du Parnasse 19, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. Please find attached the invitation for registration. Project Manager Cleopatra RUSU-DEACONU at +32 2 233 38 30 or sme@sme-union.eu.
Invitation
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2009-02-11, Brussels, CEBRE Policy Cafe on SBA
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CEBRE - Czech Business Representation to the EU - in cooperation with the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, the SME UNION of EPP, Jan Březina, MEP and Edit Herczog, MEP will organize a Policy Café Wednesday to which you all kindly invited. The event will take place on Wednesday 11 February 2009, 13.00 – 14.00, at the Meeting Room ASP 5E3 Saloon in the European Parliament. Please find attached the invitation for registration. RSVP until Monday 9 February 2009 to brussels@cebre.cz, fax: +32 2 2139 451 or call +32 2 2139 450.
Invitation |
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2009-02-12, Brussels, Working Breakfast on Electromagnetic Fields and Human Health
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The SME UNION in cooperation with Verbund Austrian Power Grid (APG) will organize a Working Breakfast on “Electromagnetic Fields and Human Health: Chances and Challenges for Europe” to which you are all kindly invited. The event will take place on Thursday 12 February 2009, 08.00 - 09.30h, at the “Salon des Membres” in the European Parliament. Please find attached the invitation for registration. Project manager Katharina WILDMOSER at +32 2 233 38 36 or sme@sme-union.eu.
Invitation |
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2009-03-04, Brussels, Working Breakfast on Benefits of satellite information and services for SMEs
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The SME UNION of the EPP in cooperation with Eurisy will organize a working breakfast to which you are all kindly invited. The event will take place Wednesday, 04 March, 08.00-09.30h, at the "Salon des Membres" in the European Parliament. Project manager Benedetta MENGHETTI at +32 2 233 38 34 or sme@sme-union.eu.
Invitation |
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Upcoming SME Events in Europe
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* 2009-02-11, Brussels, "European Multi-stakeholder Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR)"
CSR Forum Meeting
* 2009-02-09/13, Brussels, "Environment and Sustainable Development European Sustainable Energy Week 2009"
EU Sustainable Energy Week
* 2009-02-11, Brussels, Workshop on "Sustainable energy research"
Workshop on Sustainable Energy Research
* 2009-02-16/17, Brussels, Regions for Economic Change-Networking for Results
DG Regio - Conference Information
* 2009-03-2/3, Brussels, "Creativity and Innovation - Best Practice from EU Programmes"
Conference-Exhibition Programme
* 2009-03-19/20, Vienna, Austria, 2nd Annual Microfinance Forum "Implementing innovative tools and opening new horizons"
Conference Website
* 2009-03-23/27, Skopje and Ohrid, Macedonia, Greece, "Innovation in Small Countries - How Small Places Change the World"
Conference Website |
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Service & Information |
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Latest SME UNION Magazine The EntreprenEUr now online!
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Please find below the link to our latest print magazine addition of The EntrprenEUr
The Entrepreneur December 2008 |
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SME UNION President Leitl congratulates EU Council President Sarkozy
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SME UNION President Christoph Leitl addressed a letter to the last EU Council President Nicolas Sarkozy for the excellent and diligent work he has completed and to congratulate him for the leadership he has shown during the 6 months mandate of the EU Council rotating presidency. Please find below the message from our President:
Leitl Congratulation Letter to Sarkozy |
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Better public procurement will provide more opportunities to small businesses
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The EU can use its procurement rules to help improve public services whilst giving innovative small businesses new opportunities, says Malcolm Harbour MEP, Vice-President of the SME UNION and EPP-ED internal market coordinator, on Tuesday 3 February 2009 after his report on pre-commercial procurement was voted through by MEPs. Mr Harbour's report says that no new EU rules are needed, but that training, best practice networks and active support by governments will enable resources to be directed towards finding new solutions to old problems in such areas as healthcare, transport and climate change.
EPP-ED Press Release
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Boosting Creativity and Innovation in Europe: Official launch of the European Year 2009 in Prague
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The Czech Presidency of the EU and European Commission launched on Wednesday the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 with the slogan “Imagine. Create. Innovate”. The Year was inaugurated in a ceremony in Prague by the Commission President José Manuel Barroso and the Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. The aim of the Year is to promote creative and innovative approaches in different sectors of human activity and help equip the European Union for the challenges ahead in a globalised world.
DG Culture
Press Release - Commission proposes 2009 to become European Year of Creativity and Innovation
Imagine. Create. Innovate
Creativity Ambassador: Europe needs someone to take it seriously |
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OECD Report on SME financing during global financial crisis
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In a world troubled by a global financial and economic crisis, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are particularly vulnerable to the credit crunch due to their heavy dependence on bank credit and limited recourse to financial markets. In this scenario, the OECD report on “SME financing in the global financial crisis” suggests a number of measures to be adopted to deal with the immediate adverse impacts of the global crisis.
OECD Website
OECD Strategic Response to the Financial and Economic Crisis: Contributions to the Global Efforts |
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Call for Proposals: 5th ERA-NET EraSME
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The 5th call for trans-national projects of the ERA-NET EraSME initiative partnership will be open until March 31, 2009 with 12 participating funding projects from the following regions/countries: Austria, Belgium/Flanders, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy/Tuscany, The Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain/Madrid, and Sweden. The call is intended to support transnational collaboration between SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and RTOs (Research and Technology Organisations) in all technological areas, enhancing the competitive capacity of European SMEs.
5th Call for Proposals |
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European Investment Bank approve anti-crisis measures for SMEs
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The European Investment Bank's Board of Directors approved (2008-12-22) the EIB's Corporate Operational Plan 2009-2011 (COP), setting out increased lending targets and other practical measures to mitigate the current financial and economic crisis in response to the request of EU Member States. The main points are:
* additional support for small and medium-sized companies
* comprehensive package on energy and climate change, including the automotive industry
* additional support for Central and Eastern Europe
* capital increase
EIB Website |
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SME definition left unchanged - Success for real SMEs
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In the conclusions of the latest meeting of the European Council, which took place in Brussels on 11-12 December 2009, was submitted a proposal to include in the Council conclusions the possibility to amend the European definition of SME. The proposal disappeared from the adopted conclusions, leaving the SME definition untouched. Some weeks before, UEAPME had published a comprehensive position paper on the issue, explaining why an increase of the SME thresholds must be avoided and asking for a better control of the application of the SME definition in all EU programmes.
Presidency Conclusions, December 2008
UEAPME Position Paper |
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European Entrepreneurship Video Award 2009
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You want to do what you believe in and not follow the orders of somebody who pays you? Have you thought of being your own boss, of being an entrepreneur? If yes, you are different. The majority of people in Europe have never had such ideas. Maybe people simply do not know what the entrepreneurial spirit is all about. Can you explain it in a video? Maybe people are afraid of trying something new. Can your video encourage them? We are looking for videos that explore one of the following subjects: "The entrepreneurial spirit", "Innovative Entrepreneurship", "Responsible Entrepreneurship"
European Commission Entreprise and Industry |
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Strategic management tipps for SMEs in times of crisis
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"When the storm comes, some build walls, the others build windmills". In time of crisis, we must pay attention to some things without loose the real state of things.
An interesting publication where you can find some useful suggestions to interpret the actual financial crisis.
Management in a time of crisis, Simon-Kucher & Partners Publication |
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European Competitiveness Report 2008 published
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The 2008 European Commission Competitiveness Report analyses different factors that may have an impact on competitiveness and shows a continued improvement on the European economy in terms of productivity and standards of living vis-à-vis the United States.
Communication from the Commission on the European Competitiveness Report 2008 |
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Open innovation in SMEs: trends, motives and challenges
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This report was published under the SCALES-initiative (SCientific AnaLysis of Entrepreneurship and SMEs), as part of the 'SMEs and Entrepreneurship programme' financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs. This report presents the results of a survey among 605 Dutch innovating SMEs. According to the report, SMEs are increasingly adapting innovation practices. SMEs pursue an open innovation strategy in order to realise market-related objectives such as meeting customers demands or keeping up with competitors.
Open innovation in SMEs |
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Commission Report: New Skills for New Jobs
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What jobs will be available in about 10 years? Is the training provided now useful to find a job tomorrow? Are skills needs and jobs changing all over the EU? Adapting to change and ensuring the correct matching between labur market and supply is crucial if EU countries want to remain productive and competitive. The rapid change implies that EU countries have to become pro-active and be able to anticipate in order to be better prepared for future challenges. This is why EU Member States have asked the European Commission to report on future skills requirements in Europe up to 2020. The "new skills for new jobs" initiative should help to:
* Improve the capacity to anticipate and match labour market and skills needs in the EU
* Reach the objectives set out in the EU's growth and jobs strategy
* Make best use of existing initiatives and instruments
* Gather results that are comparable at EU level
* Promote a truly European labour market for jobs and training that corresponds to citizens' mobility needs and aspirations
Webiste DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities |
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Visit the European Database for Financial Education
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The European Commission has published a European Database for Financial Education (EDFE) on the "Europa" website. It has been designed to reference numerous financial education programmes offered by public or private institutions in the European Union. The EDFE includes standardized information about educational schemes and research projects. It is open to all providers and potential users. By improving access to information about the existing initiatives the Commission wants to contribute to improving financial capability of consumers and users of financial services.
Europa Press Release
EDFE Website |
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Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise
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Since its adoption in 2004, the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise has been guiding MED governments’ policy towards enhancing private enterprise sector development. Following an eight-month pilot project assessing the status of implementation of the Charter in Med Countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Tunisia), the European Commission, in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development – OECD, the European Training Foundation – ETF and the European Investment Bank – EIB, has recently published a report providing a comprehensive overview of enterprise policies underlining the importance of a further close cooperation in the Med region.
Report on the Implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise
DG Enterprise and Industry, External Relations |
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2009-01-28, Brussels, Low Level Group celebrates burdens reduction success
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The same day the European Commission presented its third Strategic Report on Better Regulation, the “Low Level Group to fight Administrative Burdens” (LLG) took the opportunity to assess its own achievements. “Eight months after the presentation of its 21 suggestions representing a saving potential for companies of approximately 2.5 to 3.5 billions of Euros, the LLG has achieved impressive outcomes, which will bring considerable savings of time and money for European businesses,” said SME UNION President Christoph Leitl. “Three suggestions have already been implemented, thirteen of our proposals are currently being examined at EU institutional level, and this without spending a single euro on advice and opinions from consulting firms.” As far as the European Commission’s report is concerned, the LLG acknowledges the progress made, but stresses that a lot of work still needs to be done to simplify life for small and medium enterprises.
Low Level Group celebrates burdens reduction success
Press Release |
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Increase of “de-minimis-limit” big success for European SMEs
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The European Commission presented on 17 December a package of temporary State aid measures as part of its answer to the economic crisis. The Commission announced that is approving plans to provide up 500.000 euros to businesses. The payment schemes would apply only in 2009 and 2010 and only to businesses not in difficulty on 1 July 2008. The new rules also foresee an increase of the so-called “de minimis” aid that can be given to private enterprises without prior notification, from 200.000 EUR over a three-year period to 500.000 EUR for the next two years. “Our consistent fight for small and medium-sized enterprises in Brussels has once again yield fruit: Europe’s heads of state and government have picked up our demand for an increase of the de-minimis-limit for national SME funding. This is a great success for SMEs”, commented SME UNION President Christoph Leitl the decision which allows national aids up to 500.000 EUR to be granted without permission from Brussels. This increase from EUR 200.000 is now valid for a period of two years. Leitl has met several times with EU Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen to fight for this increase of the de-minimis-limit. The SME UNION urged for this move in several press releases.
SME UNION President Leitl: Increase of “de-minimis-limit” big success for European SMEs |
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Working Time Directive: SMEs condemn Parliament’s plenary vote
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In a plenary vote on 17 December, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority a report by Alejandro Cercas MEP (PES/ES) on the Working Time Directive, reconfirming the stance taken by its Employment Committee one month earlier. MEPs decided to scrap opt-outs to the directive in the next years and backed a restrictive definition by which any period of on-call time, including inactive time, is deemed to be working time. UEAPME condemned the vote, which was severely criticized by all employers’ organizations. The Parliament’s decision will certainly complicate the possibility of an agreement on this long-standing dossier and generate more uncertainty both for workers and employers, denounced UEAPME. If no consensus is found between Parliament and Council in the coming months, Member States will apply the old rules on working time, leaving all stakeholders worse off compared to the rejected Council compromise, stressed the organization. Please find attached the SME UNION and Circle Presidents letter on our arguments on the WTD prior to the December 2008 Strasbourg EP plenary vote.
SME UNION and SME Circle letter on WTD |
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Better regulation – a European success story?
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The strategic review on Better Regulation in the European Union tabled by the European Commission shows that better regulation is a core component of Europe's response to the economic and financial crisis. The review shows that citizens and companies, in particular small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), already benefit from simplified measures and administrative costs savings. Thanks to radical simplification some 1,300 acts, representing around 10 % of the acquis or 7800 pages of the Official Journal, have been proposed for removal so far. The administrative burden reduction measures already presented or foreseen, represent savings in excess of EUR 30 billions. The Commission's leadership on administrative burdens has inspired most Member States and 21 of them have put in place at national level ambitious national programmes to reduce administrative burdens. Finally the Commission will continue to improve the quality of all new legislation it produces by further upgrading the quality of its impact assessments. It will do this by strengthening the subsidiarity check, improving the consultation of stakeholders, and by assessing more thoroughly impacts on, for example, SMEs, administrative burdens, fundamental rights, consumers and regions.
Third strategic review of Better Regulation in the European Union
EPP-ED Press Release: MEP Harbour on Europe´s Better Regulation Plans
Low Level Group celebrates burdens reduction success
Europa Press Release |
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MEP wants eco-design standards for all goods
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Commission proposal accepted by member states extends eco-design directive only to energy-related products. Eco-design standards should be applied to all manufactured goods, a leading member of the European Parliament argues in a report that is sparking fierce criticism from business groups. “It would be a good idea to extend the scope [of the eco-design directive] to all products...to improve their environmental performance,” said Magor Imre Csibi, a Romanian Liberal MEP who is drafting the Parliament's position on this law. If adopted, Csibi's proposals would mean that eco-design standards, which currently apply only to electrical and electronic goods, would reach far wider, covering clothing, cleaning products, furniture, newspapers and magazines, and toys. “This is not an unnecessary burden,” said Csibi. “It is a piece of legislation that will help member states and industry.”
European Voice Article |
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Parliament includes SMEs in deposit guarantee schemes
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The European Parliament’s plenary adopted on 18 December a report by Christian Ehler MEP (EPP/DE) on the revision of the Directive on Deposit Guarantee Schemes. In the context of the present turmoil in the banking sector, the report supports the EC proposal to increase the amounts to be guaranteed to 50.000 EUR per bank account in 2009 and 100.000 EUR in 2010 as well as to reduce reimbursement periods to 20 days. More importantly, it demands to include SMEs in the scope the directive, which was not the case in the original EC proposal. UEAPME warmly welcomed the outcomes of the vote, which redresses a clear flaw in the original Commission text. This decision represents a very posi-tive step in restoring SMEs’ confidence in the financial market, stressed UEAPME, which also called on Member States to make full use of the possibilities opened by the EP vote.
UEAPME Press Statement |
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Anti-discrimination Directive: Need for useful dialogue
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The EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament organized on Thursday 29 January a public Hearing on the new anti-discrimination directive that was hosted by EPP-ED Shadow Rapporteur Patrick Gaubert MEP, and Thomas Mann MEP. The aim of the Hearing was to analyze the proposed directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The EPP-ED Group, which was in favor of a sectorial directive rather than a horizontal one, will spare no effort to clarify the concepts and clauses that the Group considers not clear enough in the initial proposal. "Our goal must be to ensure that a certain level of legal certainty and the principle of subsidiarity are abided by" Thomas Mann insisted.
EPP-ED Press Release |
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European Parliament approves increase in bank deposit guarantee
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MEPs adopted a report by Christian Ehler (EPP-ED, DE) with 556 votes in favour, 21 against and 3 abstentions, to amend existing legislation on deposit guarantee schemes and raise the guarantee level in the event of deposits being unavailable. The aim of this new legislation, which may be approved in only 9 weeks since the Commission put forward its proposal, is to "bring some calm in the financial market" as the rapporteur explained during a press conference in the EP.
EP Press Release
UEAPME Press Statement |
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Comments on overhauled consumer rights rules
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The EU proposal ensures a high level of consumer protection and aims at establishing the real retail internal market, making it easier and less costly for traders to sell cross border and providing consumers with a larger choice and competitive prices. The Consumer Rights Directive merges 4 existing EU consumer directives into one set of rules. It is interesting to say that UEAPME issued its position on the new Commission proposal for a directive on consumer rights. It welcomed the simplification efforts made by the EC and was also pleased with the establishment of “common definitions” based on the legal acquis. However, it high-lighted several areas in which the proposal must be seriously amended not to harm SMEs’ image and competitiveness.
EC Proposal Consumer Rights Rules
UEAPME Position on the proposal for a Directive on Consumer Rights |
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Czechs want VAT compromise by March
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On Tuesday 20 January 2009, EU finance ministers discussed how a compromise could be achieved by March on a proposal to reduce value-added tax (VAT) rates on labor intensive services. The Czech presidency of the EU will present a time line to ministers for discussion following an agreement by EU leaders in December that they should “settle this issue by March 2009”. The Czech government itself does not support the plan, but has agreed to hold discussions at the insistence of the French government. Germany will be the hardest to get on board since it disputes the contention that reduced VAT rates would encourage consumers to spend more. The German government has asked for a “fundamental debate” on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposal, but, according to diplomats, the Czech presidency is concerned that there is no time for such analysis. On Thursday, 29 January 2009, the Commission proposed changes to the EU law to simplify VAT invoicing, including removing barriers to submitting invoices electronically, treating paper and electronic invoicing equally. The Commission estimates that the move will save businesses int he EU up to eur 18 billion.
European Voice
UEAPME Newsflash |
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SME Circle President MEP Becsey drew up a report to encourage microcredits borrowers
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The Economics Committee is calling for the Commission to propose legislation on microcredit schemes in Europe, aiming to remove problems caused by competition and money-laundering rules, to allow for more EU co-funding, to introduce a harmonized regulatory framework for microcredit providers and to raise their profile. Microcredit – the provision of small loans to very small businesses and other borrowers who might not approach the mainstream financial system – originally emerged in the developing world, but it also has a useful role to play in stimulating grass-roots economic activity in Europe. It can also help in integrating marginal groups into the mainstream economy. MEPs want to ensure that neither money laundering nor competition rules inhibit the development of microcredit provision. They add that it should be possible for public procurement procedures to give preferential treatment to goods and services provided by microcredit borrowers.
EP Press Release |
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Equal Treatment of Self-Employed Women and their Assisting Spouses / Life Partners
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With its Proposal for a Directive the EU Commission mainly wishes to improve the social protection of self-employed women and their spouses/life partners engaged in their businesses. Accordingly, spouses assisting self-employed women are to have the same access to social security schemes as self-employed persons and self-employed women are to be provided with maternity protection. Moreover, access to self-employment must be practicable irrespective of gender or family status.
Centrum für Europäische Politik (CEP) Website |
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European Private Company
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The European Private Company (EPC) statute dates back to February 2007, when the European Parliament requested such a statute as part of measures proposed under the Small Business Act. The statute was approved by EU member states last December. However, the EPC, which the Commission considers a key tool for fully implementing the internal market, especially for SMEs, did not gather the support of EU member states. National governments disagree over the new European company statute's legal status, fearing that it could threaten national company statutes. On Tuesday, 20 January 2009, sixteen members of the European Parliament's legal affairs committee voted in favour of the European Commission's text. None voted against it, while the seven Socialists abstained. In a move aimed at securing governmental approval, MEPs introduced a "cross-border component" to the text, obliging entrepreneurs to open businesses in at least two EU member states. Parliamentarians also opted to improve employees' rights should their company choose to move to another EU country. According to the approved text, companies which have over 500 workers from EU member states that provide better working conditions, existing EU legislation rather than national law will apply, as foreseen by the Commission's text.
Next steps:
2-4 February 2009: Planned vote in the European Parliament Plenary Session.
Statute for an European Company
EPP-ED Press Release
Euractive Article |
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Businesses fear revision of ePrivacy directive
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Companies that do business online are pressing MEPs not to demand what they see as excessive burdens of data privacy. MEPs are discussing with the European Commission and the Council of Ministers a revision of the ePrivacy directive, as part of the broader overhaul of regulatory framework of telecoms proposed by the Commission in 2007. Business lobbyists are concerned about which companies will be affected by the scope of the directive and about the demands that might be made on them if they lose customers' data. Companies want to see the law restricted to firms that provide access to the internet, such as telecommunications companies. Both the Commission and the member states agree with this, but the European Parliament prefers to see it extended to include online banks, online pharmacies or online retailers. If the talks between the EU institutions are successful, a final vote on the law is expected in Parliament in April.
European Voice Article |
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