On Monday 4 February, the French Confederation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (CPME) suggested eleven concrete actions for very small, small and medium-sized enterprises (VSE-SMEs) for candidates in the European elections next May and for European political players.
Objective: to enable VSE-SMEs to face major challenges such as the digital transition, migration flows and sustainable development.
"MEPs must hear the concerns of companies so that a legislative and regulatory environment favourable to their development is put in place, and this for the benefit of all European citizens", writes François Asselin, President of the CPME.
Among the proposed actions, the CPME calls for the establishment of conditions for fair and equal competition. To do this, it asks in particular to: - ensure equal treatment between actors in the collaborative economy and traditional economic agents, between multinationals and SMEs, notably in tax matters; - continue efforts concerning the system of posted workers (see EUROPE 11985) by continuing to fight against fraud on posting.
Reciprocity. In order to protect European VSE-SMEs faced with global competition, the Confederation suggests establishing a principle of reciprocity in the European Union's trade relations. It says this measure would maintain high social, fiscal and environmental standards for the entry of products and services into the EU.
In addition, to more effectively fight tax dumping, the organisation proposes that a eurozone finance minister be appointed to improve the cooperation and exchange of tax information between Member States.
Finally, the Confederation also recommends the establishment of a real common energy market to support SMEs towards a sustainable development model.
In order to discuss these measures, the CPME will meet, starting 20 February, with the heads of the main French lists in the European elections.
To see the document in French: https://bit.ly/2HySFGB (Original version in French by Damien Genicot - intern)