EU Intelligence » The ESBA Bulletin » ESBA Bulletins 09 » 01/06/2009 - Volume 11 No. 8
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EU News and Views from the European Small Business Alliance
ESBA BULLETIN of 1 June 2009 – Volume 11 – Number 7
Headlines
EU/ESBA: ESBA President Tina Sommer Speaks at Event on Late Payments
On 12 May 2009, ESBA President Tina Sommer spoke on the topic of late payments, alongside European Commission officials, Members of the European Parliament and experts from the industry. Late payments have become an ever-increasing obstacle for small businesses across the EU. Tina Sommer described the European Commission proposal for a revised Late Payment Directive as a step in the right direction, but no more than that.
A survey in the UK, undertaken by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) suggested that there are £18.6 billion in outstanding payments to the SME sector. The revised Late Payment Directive is certainly a step in the right direction, but it does not address the core problem; small business will be extremely reluctant to go to court if it means the end of a business relationship be it in the private or public sector. The question is late payment or no payment at all.
ESBA Opinion
While the Late Payment Directive only deals with payments from public bodies to businesses, the real problem actually lies in late payments from one business to another. ESBA calls on the European Commission to seriously consider ESBA’s proposal to include a ‘social clause’ in every procurement contract. If the European Commission pays a company within the 30-day term, the company would be expected to pay all its sub-contractors within the same terms. If that clause is not adhered to, the company risks a fine. The key issue on late payments is enforcement.
In Brief
EU/ESBA: Is your MEP ready?
On 20 April, the European Small Business Alliance has launched its 2009 European Elections Campaign. In the run up to the elections, ESBA offers voters a practical tool to test candidate MEPs’ knowledge of the difficulties faced by the European business economy.
The ESBA Quiz “Who Wants to be a Member of the European Parliament?” has been a great success so far. ESBA members and friends have already received a large number of responses from candidate MEPs across the EU.
Those who haven't had the opportunity to use the ESBA Election Quiz are cordially invited to download it at www.esba-europe.org in all EU languages and test their favorite MEP candidates during the final weeks up to the elections.
EU/Financial Market: New European Commission Recommendations in the financial services sector
On 29 April, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation regarding compensation in the financial services sector, hoping to encourage the development of compensation policies in financial institutions for risk-taking staff promoting sound and effective risk-management.
On the same day, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation regarding the system concerning the compensation of listed company directors. The Recommendation supplements earlier Recommendations 2004/913/EC and 2005/162/EC. Whereas the existing Recommendations provide for the basis of pay for performance through disclosure of the compensation system, the new Recommendation offer further guidance on how to achieve this through best practices for the design of such as system. The Recommendation is made with full awareness of the efforts that have already been made by Member States with regards to the financial crisis and will use these efforts by identifying best practices. Application of the Recommendations will be closely monitored and will be evaluated by the Commission after one year.
To read more about the Recommendation on remuneration in the financial services sector, please go to:http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/company/docs/directors-remun/directorspay_290409_en.pdf
To read more about the Recommendation on the directors’ pay, please go to:http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/company/docs/directors-remun/financialsector_290409_en.pdf
Publications
Ø OECD : Taxing wages 2008
This publication informs on income tax paid by workers, as well as social security contributions made by both workers and employers in within OECD countries. Family benefits paid as cash transfers are also discussed in this periodical. The types of data in this publication are used extensively in both academic research and during preparation and evaluation of policy making in the social and economic policy field.
To read more about this publication, please go to:
http://www.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/display.asp?sf1=identifiers&st1=232009011P1&LANG=EN
Ø OECD: Flexible Policy for More and Better Jobs
Governments are expected to take the lead in the current economic climate and to help employees compete in the global market, whilst at the same time helping employers retain jobs, increase productivity and increase the quality of employment locally. This publication offers a new indicator for benchmarking labor market policy by providing a review of the flexibility that is available in OECD countries. Any national strategy for rebuilding the economy can benefit from the new management style recommended in this book.
To read more about this publication, please go to: http://www.oecdbookshop.org/oecd/display.asp?sf1=identifiers&st1=842009021P1&LANG=EN
Ø EPC: Strength in numbers? An evaluation of the 2004-2009 European Parliament
This publication by Sara Hagemann offers an analysis of the departing European Parliament, just weeks prior to the European elections. Furthermore it evaluates the impact of the EU enlargements of respectively 2004 and 2007 on the functioning of the European Parliament.
To read more about this publication, please go to:
http://www.epc.eu/en/pub.asp?TYP=TEWN&LV=187&see=y&t=&PG=TEWN/EN/detailpub&l=12&AI=965
Ø Labour Market Latest Trends – 4th quarter 2008 data
Part of a quarterly series presenting the main results of the EU Labour Force Survey for the EU-27 and for all Member States, this publication presents indicators such as: activity rates, employment rates, part-time employment as share of total employment, average actual hours worked in all jobs per week, share of employees with temporary contracts, and share of persons whose job started within past 3 months.
To read more about this publication, please go to:
Consultations
ONGOING:
Online consultation on Administrative Burdens Reduction
The European Commission has launched an online consultation on the reduction of administrative burdens. Inspired by examples of Best Practice in Belgium and the Netherlands, the consultation invites entrepreneurs to identify unnecessary red tape in order to help the EU improve the quality of its legislation. The consultation is part of the Action Programme to reduce admin burdens on businesses in the EU by 25% in 2012.
COMING UP
Other SME related events
17-18 June 2009 High-level Conference on the implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the Western Balkans; organised by the European Commission; taking place in Brussels; for more information, please go to: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemlongdetail.cfm?item_id=3131&tpa_id=174&lang=en
To subscribe / unsubscribe: register on our website or email secretariat@esba-europe.org
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Page last updated: 03/06/2009 10:37:45