Press Releases

This page provides you with UEAPME’s latest press releases. The ten most recent press releases from UEAPME (in reverse chronological order) are also available in RSS format.

If you are looking for previous press releases, please visit the Archive section.

Date	Press Releases
2008
03/09/08	Compromise on labelling of substances hits hard on small scale manufacturers
02/09/08	Joint press release: Joint advice by the Social Partners on the European Works Councils “recast” directive
18/07/08	Small Business Act: Member States must step up to the plate, say SMEs
16/07/08	EC plans on sustainable consumption and production a worrying signal for SMEs
16/07/08	French MEP Jacques Toubon receives 2008 “Protypos” award
07/07/08	Member States must make use of new General Block Exemption Regulation
07/07/08	Commission proposal on reduced VAT rates must now be put into practice
07/07/08	Joint press release: Joint letter from the European social partners on childcare
03/07/08	ECB’s interest hike must not be the first of a series
02/07/08	Renewed social agenda: a forward-looking approach with some limits
25/06/08	Small Business Act: “Think Small First” at last!
23/06/08	Crafts and SMEs react positively to EC proposals for a Small Business Act
18/06/08	Joint press release: European Social Partners work together on restructuring
17/06/08	Waste Directive compromise less than ideal for European SMEs
14/06/08	Irish referendum: crafts and SMEs urge Member States to avoid deadlock and suggest enhanced cooperation
13/06/08	Crafts and SMEs hand out to-do list to upcoming French Presidency
10/06/08	SMEs satisfied with Council agreement on working time and temporary work
09/06/08	Energy package: Luxembourg deal a bow to monopolistic national champions
03/06/08	Charter conference: small enterprises must not be treated as second-class
27/05/08	Energy efficiency: State aid a crucial tool to achieve SMEs’ huge savings potential
20/05/08	State aid: notice on guarantees must be integrated in “General Block Exemption”
28/04/08	State aid: SMEs call on Member States to improve General Block Exemption
17/04/08	Better regulation agenda must move from theory to practice
11/04/08	Joint press release: European employers regret ETUC’s decision to reject negotiations on European works councils
09/04/08	Waste Directive: no targets without impact assessment, say SMEs
08/04/08	Taxation rules a key barrier to cross-border trade for SMEs
14/03/08	Spring Summit: time for action on energy policy and Lisbon goals
13/03/08	Tripartite Social Summit: SMEs call for labour markets overhaul
05/03/08	ICT sector crucial for better, faster, more competitive SMEs
21/02/08	Marketing of products: EP puts “new approach” on the right track
12/02/08	EU economic slowdown: stability must prevail over interventionism
06/02/08	Small Business Act: beware of the paper tiger, warn SMEs
01/02/08	Crafts and SMEs denounce dangers of “employment dilemma”
28/01/08	SEPA not yet mature enough to be used by SMEs
23/01/08	Climate change and energy package: mixed results for SMEs
23/01/08	Small Business Act last chance for EU to deliver before 2009 elections
22/01/08	Lisbon guidelines: SMEs call for a more focused implementation
2007
17/12/07	Small Business Act a litmus test for EU’s commitment to SMEs
12/12/07	Lisbon progress report a wake-up call for more action at national level
07/12/07	European ICT small businesses will speak with one voice in Brussels
06/12/07	Employment Council conclusions do not solve working time impasse
05/12/07	Council’s political agreement on VAT package a boon for SMEs
04/12/07	SME finance: cooperative banks and small businesses join forces
26/11/07	Competitiveness Council sends strong message on simplification
23/11/07	European Private Company statute: devil is in the detail, say SMEs
20/11/07	“Internal Market review” does not meet all SMEs’ expectations
19/11/07	Report shows SMEs are active promoters of diversity and non-discrimination
19/11/07	Joint press release - Gender equality on labour markets: Social Partners consolidate their efforts to close remaining gaps aussi disponible en français
16/11/07	Agreement on EQF a major step forward for education and training
15/11/07	Joint press release UEAPME-EFAA-FEE -- Company law, accounting and auditing: Commission’s simplification approach might jeopardise the Single Market, say European SMEs and accountants
14/11/07	Marketing of products: “new approach” must not price SMEs out of the market
09/11/07	Large companies and national champions still reap most of State aid
08/11/07	UEAPME elects Andrea Benassi as new Secretary General
05/11/07	High-level event to gather SME representatives and EU policymakers
25/10/07	SMEs are not willing to pay for energy giants’ extra profits any more
24/10/07	Undeclared work is back on the agenda thanks to the EC
24/10/07	European Commission takes sensible stance on migration issues
19/10/07	“Reform Treaty” must become the dawn of a new era
19/10/07	SME organisations key for a successful Euro changeover in new Member States
18/10/07	Tripartite Social Summit: time to restore confidence, say SMEs auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
11/10/07	State aid: SMEs voice their worries on “general block exemption”
10/10/07	Urban policy: Portuguese Presidency must redress Leipzig Charter’s shortcomings
08/10/07	SME policy review shows it is time to move up a gear
08/10/07	ECAP: enhancements are needed to help SMEs become greener
02/10/07	R&D and SMEs: “Eurostars” programme could aim even higher
26/09/07	Green paper on urban transport provides more questions than answers
19/09/07	EC plan for energy sector shake-up lacks clout on regulation
14/09/07	European SME policy has not reached small entrepreneurs yet
06/09/07	Decision to leave interest rates untouched a breath of fresh air for SMEs
06/09/07	Parliament puts SMEs at the heart of Single Market
12/07/07	Parliament report stops short of promoting a functioning energy market
12/07/07	Portuguese Presidency must unleash SMEs’ growth and jobs potential auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
11/07/07	Parliament vote on postal services liberalisation strikes a good balance
06/07/07	Guimarães Council: SMEs urge Member States to deliver on reforms
05/07/07	Commission takes sensible stance on reduced VAT rates
02/07/07	Guidelines on environmental State aid must be brought closer to reality
29/06/07	Council agreement on Waste Directive leaves unsolved issues on the table
27/06/07	Flexicurity communication a good starting point for Member States’ action
25/06/07	Agreement on “Reform Treaty” a step forward to strengthen Europe
20/06/07	Plenary vote on supplementary pension rights a missed opportunity
13/06/07	EC communication puts posting of workers on the right track
07/06/07	State aid: SMEs insist on the need to polish “general block exemption”
25/05/07	Leipzig Charter will fail unless SME dimension is considered
14/05/07	Dialogue is crucial to improve SMEs’ access to finance
08/05/07	Administrative rules a key obstacle to SME-friendlier public tenders
04/05/07	Commission veteran Albrecht Mulfinger receives first “Protypos” award
03/05/07	“Responsible Entrepreneurship”: SMEs’ awareness is key to a wider CSR uptake
26/04/07	Joint press release - European Social Partners sign an agreement to fight against harassment and violence at work aussi disponible en français
25/04/07	State aid: simplified “General Block Exemption” can be further enhanced
24/04/07	Better cross-border payment services should not come at SMEs’ expenses
24/04/07	EU energy policy must tame energy giants and unleash market potential
19/04/07	European crafts conference conclusions must not remain a dead letter
17/04/07	Stuttgart conference highlights importance of direct dialogue and common views auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
12/04/07	European craft and small enterprises take centre stage at Stuttgart conference
04/04/07	Lack of progress on the creation of a Community Patent
28/03/07	Transition measures are key to the success of new payments regime
27/03/07	Medical Devices Directive: is patient safety a priority for the Parliament? auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
26/03/07	Berlin declaration must give new momentum to the European Union
22/03/07	50 years of European integration: celebrating past results, answering current concerns
21/03/07	Disappointing outcomes from EP Committee vote on pensions rights transferability
15/03/07	Modernising labour law is the basis for a workable “flexicurity” approach
13/03/07	CSR: mixed results from Parliament plenary’s damage limitation attempt
09/03/07	Spring Summit conclusions lack of substance on energy policy and structural reforms
08/03/07	Tripartite Social Summit: European SMEs call for bold structural reforms auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
06/03/07	Parliament report on CSR creates mistrust towards small businesses
02/03/07	Joint statement -- Spring Summit: no time for complacency, warn European business organisations
22/02/07	Facilitating SMEs’ access to public procurement: focus on best practices
21/02/07	EC Health and Safety Strategy a step forward, with room for improvement
14/02/07	An efficient energy internal market is key to SMEs’ competitiveness auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
14/02/07	Plenary vote on Waste Directive increases red tape for SMEs
29/01/07	Joint press release - Gender equality on labour markets: Social Partners active to reduce the remaining gaps aussi disponible en français
18/01/07	Creating “more and better jobs” requires flexibility and national labour market reforms
10/01/07	EC roadmap on energy is an ambitious but much needed step forward auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
2006
21/12/06	From EU25 to EU27: opportunities and challenges ahead for SMEs
14/12/06	Incoming German Presidency should unlock “VAT package” stalemate
13/12/06	REACH: last-minute deal a step forward for simplification, a step back for SME formulators
12/12/06	Joint press statement - Enhancing Supply Chain Security: European business associations suggest reconsidering the proposal
12/12/06	State aid: “de minimis” regulation finally answers SME concerns
05/12/06	Innovation: competition is a pre-condition for “smart” procurement
04/12/06	New UEAPME President Georg Toifl outlines priorities for his mandate auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
28/11/06	Waste Directive: Committee vote leaves crucial issues unsolved
27/11/06	Hike in interest rates may undermine EU economic recovery
22/11/06	Green paper on labour law sets the tone for debate at EU and national level
22/11/06	EC decision on State aid for R&D and innovation meets key SME demands
15/11/06	Services Directive must now clear the implementation hurdle
09/11/06	More policy efforts are needed on the European patent system
07/11/06	Lack of agreement on Working Time Directive is a huge missed opportunity
31/10/06	European innovation policy must take small businesses on board
25/10/06	Small businesses’ access to public procurement must be improved at all levels aussi disponible en français
24/10/06	Services Directive: second reading Committee vote delivers a balanced text
20/10/06	Tripartite Social Summit: SMEs call for a sensible approach to “flexicurity”
19/10/06	State aid: revised “de minimis” block exemption needs some fine-tuning
17/10/06	European standardisation: “think small first” is the real key for success
11/10/06	European Social Partners present the results of the implementation of the European Telework Agreement aussi disponible en français
10/10/06	REACH: EP Environment Committee vote delivers mixed results for SMEs
05/10/06	Second reading vote should secure a fair REACH for SMEs
04/10/06	EC communication on “Global Europe” sadly lacks SME focus
29/09/06	Patent litigation agreement is not a substitute to a comprehensive patent policy
20/09/06	Revised rules on “de minimis” State aid made more SME-friendly
13/09/06	Innovation: “smart” procurement and “lead markets” are steps in the right direction
19/07/06	New rules on State Aid for risk capital will improve innovation outlook for SMEs
17/07/06	Enterprise Experience: improving mutual understanding between EU and SMEs
12/07/06	Community Patent should be back at the top of the EU agenda
05/07/06	SMEs in FP7: Parliament moves from rhetoric to actions
30/06/06	Effective communication will ease Euro transition in new Member States
29/06/06	Crafts and small businesses from new Member States face integration challenge
21/06/06	State aid rules will endanger support services for innovative SMEs
16/06/06	Simplified food labelling rules would serve consumers and producers alike
14/06/06	Small Business Charter needs a fresh start
12/06/06	SMEs must stay at the heart of Commission actions
09/06/06	SME users and providers of ICT tools show the way ahead
08/06/06	Increased interest rates create uncertainty on investment conditions
07/06/06	“De minimis” rule for state aid: 200.000 EUR threshold is sufficient
24/05/06	Proposed state aid regulations are counter-productive for innovative SMEs
19/05/06	Education Council: European Social Partners work together on lifelong learning in Europe to resolve labour market problems aussi disponible en français
17/05/06	New rules on health claims: good for consumers, good for SMEs?
17/05/06	SME involvement is a cornerstone for an effective European standards-making process
04/05/06	Plant protection products rules should foster fair conditions for SME producers
03/05/06	SMEs need a tailored and pro-active European patent policy
12/04/06	SMEs discuss the “perfect mix” of flexibility and security
11/04/06	SME Summit: European Social Model is no barrier to competitiveness
05/04/06	Annual SME summit to focus on the European Social Model
04/04/06	Revised Services Directive is now closer to the reality of Europe’s SMEs
04/04/06	UEAPME sends urgent warning to budget negotiators: do not undermine SME finance
04/04/06	Joint release -  Business and environment federations jointly call upon Commission to maintain substantial fund for eco-innovation
30/03/06	Proposed de minimis regulation undermines SME credit guarantee schemes
28/03/06	Health Claims: much remains to be done after Parliament’s Committee vote auch verfügbar auf Deutsch
24/03/06	Spring Council conclusions: will they really make a difference for SMEs?
23/03/06	Joint Release -  European Social Partners present their work programme for the Social Dialogue 2006-2008 aussi disponible en français
22/03/06	Parliament has to be driving force behind EU SME policy
20/03/06	Spring Summit will be the real litmus test for an effective EU SME policy
16/02/06	European Parliament praised for sense of compromise in voting for a workable Services Directive
01/02/06	Agreement on reduced VAT rates scheme ends damaging uncertainty
01/02/06	EU Competitiveness Programme has increased emphasis on small firms
25/01/06	VAT deal falls foul of narrow-minded Member States
25/01/06	European Social Partners finalise negotiations on a work programme 2006-8
19/01/06	Flexicurity must be a cornerstone for economic development
18/01/06	VAT: Overdue decision on reduced rates cannot be postponed again
12/01/06	Big talk on SME Policy must be matched by actions and budget
10/01/06	Home State Taxation scheme would remove painful compliance costs
	Archive