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News from Brussels in 2008
23 April 2008: ESBA urges SMEs and Members to take part in the Commission's new Online questionnaire on Diversity in the Workplace
The European Commission has launched a new research project to promote the 'Business Case for Diversity' in Europe. It aims to encourage the exchange of good practices and promote the development of diversity policies and activities by businesses, employers, and business schools. In this context, ESBA urges individual entrepreneurs and its member organisations to take part in the Commission's online consultation, which is managed by Focus Consultancy Ltd, with the support of the European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS), EIM Business & Policy Research, and the European Institute for Managing Diversity (EIMD). The questionnaire, which is available here, seeks to understand how SMEs address a range of diversity issues, including age, disability, gender equality, racial and ethnic origin, religion or belief, and sexual orientation. Responses will provide input for a report on the 'Business Case for Diversity'. It will be published and launched at a major European Conference on Workplace Diversity at the end of 2008. Closes 16 May 2008
04 April 2008: ESBA encourages SMEs and Members to participate in the Commission's new Public Consultation on VAT Reduced Rates
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the review of the legal framework on VAT reduced rates. Simple basic rules exist - Member States can apply one standard rate of at least 15%, two reduced rates of at least 5% to certain goods and services and, as part of an ongoing experiment, a reduced rate to labour intensive industries. Derogations have, however, created a complex situation across the EU. The consultation therefore poses a number of specific questions, including the possibility of including local services in the framework, and seeks feedback on the way forward. Following a first, limited legislative proposal in 2008, the consultation, which is available here, will lead to a more comprehensive revision of the framework for reduced rates, which should be more transparent and reduce administrative and financial costs for businesses. ESBA urges individual SMEs to take part and is gathering case studies from its member organisations. Closes 12 May 2008
15 February 2008: ESBA invites SMEs and Members to take part in the Commission's new Public Consultation on the SBA for Europe
Despite improving recognition of the importance of small businesses to the economy and a corresponding increase, at EU and Member State level, in the number of policy initiatives focused on their needs, the European Commission announced on 11 December 2007 a proposal for a Small Business Act for Europe. Its main aim will be to underline and establish a new range of principles and concrete measures to improve the framework conditions for European SMEs. In this context, the Commission has launched a public consultation, which aims to stimulate debate with SMEs and SMEs' stakeholders to ensure that all remaining obstacles to unlocking the growth and jobs potential of small businesses - and the solutions to tackle them - are identified. In addition to a public hearing, which took place on 6 Febraury 2008 in Brussels, the results of the consultation, which is available here, will provide a contribution to the preparation of the SBA, which is scheduled to be adopted in June. ESBA urges individual small businesses to take part in the online consultation and is consulting its member organisations. Closed 31 March 2008
10 January 2008: ESBA urges SMEs and Members to take part in the Commission's new Online Consultation on combating late payments
A recent study by transactions company Bacs has found that SMEs in the UK are owed an average of £30,000 and spend 17 working days a year chasing up late payments. A spokesman for the FSB, an ESBA member organisation, noted that 'the scale of late payments has grown in value yet again. Local businesses are spending more time on chasing debts which takes them away from productively running and growing their business.' In this context, ESBA urges individual SMEs and its member organisations to take part in the Commission's online consultation, managed by Risk & Policy Analysts Ltd, which seeks to examine the costs and benefits of 16 proposals to support the objectives of EU Directive on combating late payment in commercial transactions. The questionnaire, which is available in English, French, German and Spanish, aims to gather views on the effectiveness of the options and highlight any other measures that might be beneficial. Closes 30 April 2008
Page last updated: 23/04/2008 10:01:54 AM