External Relations Committee

Chairman: Ms. Ana-Maria Ferraboli, Vice President CNA (I)
Secretary: Mr. Luc Hendrickx

The External relations committee has a dual role; one which is more political that includes reflections on the WTO debates and its impact for SMEs. The other combines the political and geographical aspect and includes debates on the enlargement and projects with non –European regions SME organisations in order to strengthen the role of SMEs in those regions.

The External Relations Committee currently has 4 working Groups:

Central and Eastern European Countries Working Group

Co-ordinator: UEAPME Secretariat

The work group’s main task is to integrate SME interests in the EU enlargement process. It tries to achieve this goals by strengthening SME associations in the CEECs, by facilitating the transfer of general information, know-how and best practice to the CEECs and by enhancing the network of SME associations in the CEECs and increasing the co-operation of Western and Eastern European SME structures.

Mediterranean Countries Working Group

Chairman: Andrea Benassi, Confartigianato(I)

This working group follows the work of the European Institutions with regard to the Mediterranean countries and represents the interests of SMEs in the different programmes/ proposals developed by the Commission..

International Trade Working Group

Chairman: Andreas Henkel, WKO (A)

The Working Group consists of experts in the field of international trade. The task of the group is to discuss developments at WTO level and analyse the implications it might have on European SMEs.

EU-Latin America Working Group

Chairman: Ramon Vila I Solé, Pimec-Sefes (Merger group)

The Working Group on Latin America follows closely the European Commission's programmes and policies regarding the European Union's relations with Latin America. Thanks to the input from this Working Group, the interests of SMEs are defended in the various informative and consultative meetings with representatives of the other European Private Sector Professional Organisations and with the European Commission on EU programmes such as AL-INVEST and ARIEL.