A delegation from UEAPME, NORMAPME and Academy Avignon met Mr Albrecht Mulfinger, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s DG Enterprise for Crafts, small businesses, cooperatives and mutuals.

Mr Mulfinger is now retiring after a long and succesful career as Commission official.

For almost ten years, Mr Mulfinger was in charge of developing and managing SME support instruments in areas such as access to finance, European Research programmes, technical standards, public procurement and transnational activities.

During his career at the European Commission, Mr Mulfinger was also was in charge of the organisation of the 1995 Berlin Conference on Crafts and Small Enterprises. He was instrumental in preparing SMEs and craft enterprises for the European single market.

Hans-Werner Müller, UEAPME Secretary General, praised Mr Mulfinger for his dedication and efforts towards supporting European SMEs, while recalling Mr Mulfinger’s main achievements and their long-standing personal relationship.