Objectives of UEAPME

The main objectives of UEAPME, as the voice of of crafts, trades and SMEs in Europe include:

• Monitoring the EU policy and legislative process and keeping its members informed on all matters of European Union policy of relevance to crafts, trades and SMEs
  
• Representing and promoting the interests, needs and opinions of its member organisations to the EU institutions and other international organisations
  
• Supporting its members academically, technically and legally on all areas of EU policy
• Supporting the idea of European integration and contributing to European co-operation.

Our Strategy

As the recognised voice for the interests of crafts, trades and SMEs in Europe, UEAPME acts as an 'agenda setter' in the area of European SME policy. It has direct role in all EU policy that has an affect on SMEs. This is made possible through the maintenance of direct links and contact with the EU administration and strengthened by its status as a Social Partner.

UEAPME endeavours to ensure that the interests of crafts and SMEs are taken into account in all legislation that has an impact on them. Some of the key legislative areas in which UEAPME is active include: economic and fiscal policy, employment and social policy, environmental policy, enterprise policy, internal market, legal affairs, and R&D.

UEAPME analyses the role of SMEs in European economies and the challenges they face. On the basis of this analysis, UEAPME, with its members, identifies the ways in which SMEs can adapt to the challenges of the open and competitive EU economy.