EU Advocacy » Latest ESBA PRs » SMEs REACT POSITIVELY TO EC PROPOSALS FOR A SMALL BUSINESS ACT
ESBA Press Release, Brussels, June 26th 2008
SMEs REACT POSITIVELY TO EC PROPOSALS FOR A SMALL BUSINESS ACT
SMEs CALL ON MEMBER STATES TO SHOW THEIR COMMITMENT AND TO CUT RED TAPE
On 25 June, the European Commission published the Small Business Act for Europe (SBA). Günter Verheugen, Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, attending ESBA’s 10th Anniversary earlier this month, outlined the Commission’s proposals and emphasised the importance of the SBA as a means to fully unlock the growth and jobs potential of small businesses. ESBA supports the Commission’s proposal for a SBA for Europe. The Commission’s communication touches upon most of the demands presented by ESBA during the public consultations phase. ESBA’s campaign to reduce administrative burdens and ESBA’s research have a good reflection in the SBA, which puts the “Think Small First” Principle at the forefront of economic policies. The SME Test proposed by the Commission should be at the core of any new legislation across the EU. Special attention should also be given to the proposed principles regarding access to public procurements, which, if properly implemented at national level, will give wider access to contracts worth as much as 16% of EU GDP. Furthermore, ESBA values the Commission’s approach to strengthen micro businesses with less than 10 employees, as they represent 92% of European SMEs.
Tina Sommer, President of ESBA said: “The Small Business Act should be seen as a set of tools to strengthen small business but it does not make a significant change to the every day business activities. Nevertheless, I hope that it opens a new chapter in thinking about small companies in Europe and that the new legislation at national and European level will from now on be truly designed to create better environment for European businesses”.
The publication of the SBA and the joint letter by Prime Minister Brown and President Sarkozy urging the EU to do more to support small businesses raise expectations that the upcoming French Presidency will approach SME policy in a progressive and responsible manner. The new initiatives for SMEs presented last week in Brussels by Philippe Maystadt, President of the European Investment Bank, are complementary to these developments and show that the SBA has a real potential, which should be used. Now, it is up to the Member States to take the initiative and to decide whether they want to boost the European economy or not.
- END -
Notes to the editor:
ESBA is a non-party political European group, which gathers member organisations from 22 European countries. It currently represents over 1 million small business entrepreneurs and is one of the largest organisations based on voluntary 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 or visit: www.esba-europe.org
Small Business Act for Europe can be found here.
Cutting Red Tape
Dr. Ingo Friedrich, MEP
Mrs. Tina Sommer, President of ESBA
Mr. Günter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission
Page last updated: 26/06/2008 6:02:49 PM