28/06/2018 (Agence Europe) – During the second industrial roundtable on Wednesday 27 June, the UEAPME, the voice of SMEs, called for the industrial sector to be supported in the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework by way of different European programmes and instruments. UEAPME’s President, Ulrike Rabmer-Koller. stated that “The next multiannual financial framework and its specific programmes for financial instruments, research and innovation, qualification, digitalisation, energy efficiency and regional development have to support such a new industrial strategy and have to be accessible to SMEs”. The UEAPME pointed out that SMEs represent more than 99% of the manufacturing sector and 59% of its employment in the EU, which explains why SMEs' interests need to be included in all European policies in the future. The European Commission is planning on a budget of €4 billion to support the single market, particularly the SMEs (see EUROPE 12036). (PH)