ESBA - The Independant Voice for Small Business

ESBA WELCOMES MEP’S CALL TO WITHDRAW CONTROVERSIAL SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY PLAN

Brussels, December 07th 2006

ESBA today welcomed the news that Dutch Liberal MEP, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Rapporteur on the European Parliament's transport committee, has called on the European Commission to withdraw and reconsider its draft Regulation on enhancing supply chain security.

The European Commission’s proposal seeks to protect freight transport against terrorist attacks by obliging Member States to offer “Secure Operator” status, to road, rail and inland waterways companies, which comply with detailed security requirements.

Whilst the small business community is fully committed to tackling the threat of terrorism, ESBA has led calls for withdrawal of the proposal at EU level. The measures proposed in the draft regulation would cost SMEs throughout the supply chain up to 55 billion Euros, without any clear security benefits.

Commenting on the announcement, ESBA President, Tina Sommer said, “We are pleased that the needs of SMEs are being taken into consideration by the European Parliament. The Rapporteur’s decision comes as a relief for the very many small businesses whose livelihoods would have been put at risk by this initiative.”

Beyond the vast financial burden imposed by the certification scheme’s investment and audit costs, ESBA’s concerns have focused on the proposal’s scope (SMEs from the factory to the shop would be affected), its real security dividend and the authenticity of the proposed voluntary approach for operators, given market pressures.

ESBA is however particularly worried that organisations representing SMEs were insufficiently consulted during the draft Regulation’s preparation, contrary to the ‘think small first’ principle. All proposals must also under go comprehensive consultation and impact assessment in order to conform to the EU’s Better Regulation Agenda.

A Working Group organised by the Alliance during November identified common concerns amongst both sectoral and cross-sectoral group about the proposal and these have gained support from Labour, Conservative and now Liberal MEPs.

Whilst Ms. Hennis-Plasschaertsuggests that the revised Customs Code, which introduces the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) concept, offers “a realistic and better alternative” to the “Secure Operator” scheme, Mrs. Sommerreiterated ESBA’s call to the Commission to“work more closely with business to reach practical and effective solutions to the challenges posed by the threat of terrorism.”

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Note to the editor:

ESBA is a non-party political European group, which gathers member organisations from 22 European countries. It currently represents over 1.5 million small business entrepreneurs and is one of the largest organisations based on voluntary (vs. statutory) membership in Europe. ESBA cares for small business entrepreneurs and the self-employed and represents them through targeted EU advocacy activities. It also works towards the development of strong independent advocacy and benefits groups in European countries. For more information, please contact: secretariat@esba-europe.org

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Page last updated: 29/01/2007 11:20:23 AM