Regional policy and structural funds
Europe’s regions are crucial to the creation of employment and economic development, especially in disadvantaged areas and new Member States. UEAPME has set up a Regional Policy and Structural Funds Working Group, which gathers experts from the main SME and Craft associations of Europe to discuss current and future European Cohesion Policy and the role crafts and SMEs can play.
Video: European Entrepreneurial Region award launch
UEAPME is a partner of the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER), a new pilot scheme launched by the Committee of the Regions in partnership with the European Commission which rewards every year up to three EU regions with the most outstanding political vision to boost their entrepreneurial environment.
This video, shot in-house in October 2008 by Communications and Media Director Dieter Grohmann for UEAPME, was presented at the launch event on 7 October 2009.
Position papers and other policy documents
June 2010: Discussion paper: Innovation policy at regional level
December 2009:
UEAPME response to the Committee of the Regions’ White Paper on “Multilevel Governance”
(aussi disponible en français)
February 2009:
UEAPME position paper on the Green paper on Territorial Cohesion
January 2008:
UEAPME response to the European Commission’s consultation “Growing regions, growing Europe”
May 2004:
UEAPME’s Position on the Third Report of European Cohesion Policy
Press releases
25/06/2010:
Regional funds and programmes are not reaching SMEs, warn UEAPME members
11/02/2010:
L’artisanat et les PME soutiennent les efforts des régions en faveur du Small Business Act
20/09/2004:
Rural development fund: UEAPME praises historic win for rural micro-entreprises
11/05/2004:
UEAPME welcomes 3rd Cohesion report
16/02/2004:
Regional Policy: focus must be given to SMEs in less developed rural areas says UEAPME
(aussi disponible en français)