05/11/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 5 November, during the Macroeconomic Dialogue, a bi-annual event bringing together representatives of the European Commission, the Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Central Bank and the European economic situation social partners, the Secretary General of UEAPME, Véronique Willems, expressed her concerns about the political situation threatening the Union's good economic health. Referring to the SME index (see EUROPE 12115), Ms Willems pointed to the uncertainty surrounding the Brexit negotiations and the turbulence caused by the Italian populist government. On the latter point, she insisted that the European institutions "play their role" to ensure that the widening Italian deficit does not serve to support consumption rather than growth and, in the same way, prevent another financial crisis in Europe. (PH)