http://www.ueapme.com/EN/press_releases.shtml The ten most recent press releases from UEAPME in reverse chronological order. Please contact pressoffice@ueapme.com for more information. en http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080428_GBER.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080428_GBER.pdf Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 28 April 2008 – Despite significant improvements over the existing version, the latest “General Block Exemption Regulation” on State Aid does not yet meet small businesses’ needs, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. The UEAPME Economic and Fiscal Affairs Committee, meeting in Brussels today (Monday), put forward a series of remarks (1) ahead of a crucial meeting between the European Commission and Member States on the same day. UEAPME called on Member States to support the inclusion of State aid in form of guarantees, aid for innovation support services and aid for the hiring of highly qualified personnel in the scope of the GBER, which specifies the forms of aid that must not be notified to the EC. It also insisted on the need to extend the coverage for State aid for business transfers, and stressed the necessity to simplify aid requirements for energy saving investments. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080417_bled_simplification.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080417_bled_simplification.pdf Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:00:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 17 April 2008 – Although “better regulation” regularly tops the list of the most recurring buzzwords in Brussels, much remains to be done to ensure that its benefits finally reach European small entrepreneurs, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. Speaking today at a conference on “the reduction of administrative burdens on SMEs” organised by the Slovenian Presidency of the EU and UEAPME’s Slovenian member OZS in Bled, Secretary General Andrea Benassi stressed that the SME dimension should become the rule, rather than the exception in European policymaking, and called once again on politicians at all levels to make better regulation a tangible reality for European SMEs. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080411_Joint_PR_Employers.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080411_Joint_PR_Employers.pdf Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:00:00 GMT+2 On 11 April, BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME and CEEP have informed Commissioner Spidla that they regret the decision of the European Trade Union Confederation to reject the opening of negotiations on European works councils. Employers asked the Commissioner to make his best efforts to enable a social dialogue solution on European works councils. They believe that negotiation between European social partners is crucial to find the right balance between the needs of employers and workers as part of a revised Directive on European works councils. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080409_WFD.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080409_WFD.pdf Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:30:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 9 April 2008 – The European Parliament’s Environment Committee delivered once again a negative message to small businesses when voting in second reading on the Waste Directive yesterday (Tuesday), according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. MEPs reinserted quantitative, legally binding and EU-wide targets for the recycling of waste and rejected sensible amendments aiming at carrying out an impact assessment study before setting goals. While UEAPME is not opposed to targets in principle, it had repeatedly called for a prior feasibility study, especially since large differences remain between and within Member States as far as the existing recycling facilities and rules are concerned. Moreover, the Committee voted down the creation of a consultative “waste forum” open to all stakeholders. On the other hand, UEAPME was pleased by MEPs’ support for a simplified “waste list” for SMEs. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080407_tax_forum.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080407_tax_forum.pdf Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 8 April 2008. Different tax systems triggering high compliance costs are a barrier for small businesses wishing to trade their goods and services cross-border in the EU, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. Speaking on the occasion of the European Commission’s “Tax Forum 2008” coming to a close in Brussels today (Tuesday), Secretary General Andrea Benassi called for SME-friendlier rules on company taxation and VAT. Schemes such as “one-stop shops” for VAT, “home state taxation” and a common tax base on company profits would provide SMEs with the right incentives to go international and make the most out of the single market. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080314_spring_summit.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080314_spring_summit.pdf Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:00:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 14 March 2008. UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, was pleased by the focus on concrete actions put by today’s Spring Council conclusions on critical policy dossiers such as energy and climate change and the new “Lisbon strategy cycle” for 2008-2011. It warned, however, that it is now more than ever time for action to transform commitments into results. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080313_tripartite.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080313_tripartite.pdf Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:00:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 13 March 2008. Urgent reforms at national level are needed to improve the functioning of Europe’s labour markets and make the most out of small businesses’ growth and employment potential, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. Speaking at the Tripartite Social Summit ahead of the Spring Council today (Thursday), President Georg Toifl urged Member States to act swiftly through the “flexicurity” approach with the aim of broadening the skill set of workers and jobseekers, increasing the availability of qualified staff and fighting undeclared work. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080305_cebit.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080305_cebit.pdf Tue, 05 Mar 2008 15:00:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 5 March 2008. New technologies such as e-invoicing, the uptake of “e-skills” and SME-friendly standards are the main opportunities and challenges ahead in the ICT sector for Europe’s small companies, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. Speaking today at a conference organised by UEAPME’s partner organisation PIN-SME at CeBIT, the world’s largest ICT trade fair, Secretary General Andrea Benassi stressed the need to promote ICT as a means to enable European SMEs to be better, faster and more competitive. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080221_new_approach.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080221_new_approach.pdf Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:30:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 21 February 2008. The European craft and SME employers’ association UEAPME and its sister organisation NORMAPME, which represents SMEs’ interests in the European standardisation and certification systems, warmly welcomed today’s vote at the Parliament’s plenary in Strasbourg on the so-called “goods package”, a framework on various horizontal aspects of marketing of products, including CE marking and other general requirements for a product to be placed on the market. According to the two organisations, today’s vote brings the package closer to the needs and expectations of European small companies, by enforcing the proportionality principle and facilitating conformity assessments for small series and made-to-measure products, which often represent crafts’ and SMEs’ core business. UEAPME and NORMAPME praised the EU institutions for reaching consensus on this crucial dossier, and encouraged all EU policymakers to take these principles into account in the upcoming revision of sector regulations and directives. http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080212_macroeconomic_dialogue.pdf http://www.ueapme.com/docs/press_releases/pr_2008/080212_macroeconomic_dialogue.pdf Tue, 12 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT+2 Brussels, 12 February 2008. Stabilising financial markets, providing sufficient liquidity and continuing wage moderation are the crucial answers to the current economic uncertainties, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. Speaking at the Macroeconomic Dialogue ahead of the Eurogroup meeting yesterday (Monday), Secretary General Andrea Benassi encouraged the ECB to pursue its policy to limit inflation and provide sufficient liquidity, and stressed that UEAPME sees no need for an immediate interest rates cut. Wage increases at the lower end of the market would not decrease precarious jobs but rather cut the overall job offer, said Mr Benassi, who called instead a the reduction of non-wage labour costs in this sector. “Wage growth”, he said, would only result in a wage-price spiral and more inflation.