Brussels, 02/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - UEAPME wants a high level economic dialogue to support and strengthen SMEs in the face of the economic crisis and in the perspective of new programmes.
The European craft and SME employers' organisation unveiled a list of necessary actions by the EU and its member states to Commissioner for Industry Antonio Tajani on Tuesday 2 October. In its opinion these actions are “to support the real economy and avoid a dangerous downturn”.
At the level of the EU27, UEAPME calls for the creation of an economic dialogue with the SMEs, a political platform at the highest level to discuss policies relating to SMEs and files on the table. “This group would guarantee the application of the 'Think Small First' principle from the outset to all policy initiatives taken at EU level and concerning SMEs. It would also greatly facilitate the quest for better regulation in the EU”, said UEAPME secretary general, André Benassi. The list of actions to be taken at EU level includes specific demands on the 2014-2020 programmes on cohesion policy, innovation and SMEs competitiveness.
On the national level, UEAPME calls for reforms to the labour market, better access to funding for SMEs, innovation and green investment support measures, the use of standards and the reduction of red tape.
At a joint press conference, at which Benassi was present with European Parliament rapporteur on the 2014-2020 programme for SME competitiveness (COSME), Jürgen Creutzmann (ALDE, German), Tajani argued for a strong European policy in favour of SMEs, and he insisted on the need for better access to funding and a reduction in the administrative load, as well as the internationalisation of SMEs. (EH/transl.fl)