08/02/2019 (Agence Europe) – At a meeting on Wednesday 6 February with Environment and Maritime Affairs Commissioner Karmenu Vella, SMEunited President Ulrike Rabmer-Koller recalled the key role of SMEs in creating a European "eco-industry" and fighting climate change. However, for the President, European policies must really support SMEs in many ways, by mobilising dedicated funds in innovation programmes, facilitating access to the eco-innovation market and supporting the internationalisation of SMEs. Ms Rabmer-Koller also stressed the importance of providing technical assistance to SMEs, facilitating their access to finance and, above all, of better training the European workforce, as skills are sorely lacking. As for the circular economy, she stressed in particular the importance of having an affordable secondary raw material and helping local and regional authorities to adapt. (PH)