Brussels, 21/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME) has said that the Spring Summit for 2006 comes at a crucial time for European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME). UEAPME Secretary General Hans-Werner Müller declared in a press release that, “EU leaders now recognise the importance of Crafts and SMEs, and their crucial role for growth and employment. Unfortunately, their political rhetoric is rarely followed by concrete decisions and actions, which would really unleash the potential of SMEs to create growth and new jobs”. The UEAPME is pleased that the Austrian Presidency is seeking to focus on SMEs during this summit and points out that in a recent message to Heads of State and governments, it listed 10 specific political areas (financial perspectives, tax policy, governance, innovation, services and flexicurity) for which it is proposing concrete measures and a timetable. Mr Müller stated that, “The forthcoming European Spring Summit must spur the way to these decisions”.