European Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry

EUROCHAMBRES is the European Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and forms one of the key pillars of business representation to the European institutions. EUROCHAMBRES voices the interests of over 20 million member enterprises in 45 European countries through a network of 2000 regional and local Chambers represented by 45 national and one transnational organisations. More than 93 % of these enterprises are Small or Medium Enterprises. Chamber members employ over 120 million employees. EUROCHAMBRES is the sole European body that serves the interests of every sector and every size of European business - due to the multi sectoral membership of Chambers - and the only one so close to business, as a result of the Chambers’ regional focus.

Entrepreneurship Action Plan: motivating potential new entrepreneurs the no. 1 priority — 10 January 2013, 22:57 CET

While fully endorsing the Entrepreneurship Action Plan’s aim of re-igniting entrepreneurial spirit, EUROCHAMBRES called for implementation to focus heavily on the challenge of motivating and equipping more young Europeans to become entrepreneurs. The many other objectives set out in the communication – which cumulatively resembles a second Small Business Act - must not undermine the pursuit of this primary objective.

Western Balkan companies moving forward on road to the EU — 20 December 2012, 23:56 CET

While Member States delayed important decisions on EU enlargement at last week's European Council, a recent EUROCHAMBRES analysis highlights that businesses in the Western Balkans are moving forward on their way to the EU.

Youth Guarantees: a valuable measure if member states deliver — 06 December 2012, 23:02 CET

EUROCHAMBRES welcomed today’s Communication by the European Commission on Youth Employment, and particularly the proposal for a Council Recommendation on Youth Guarantees*, but stressed the need for national governments to commit resources to its delivery. It also insisted on Chamber involvement in discussions on a Quality Framework for Traineeships.

Annual Growth Survey 2013 reflects weak delivery and governance of Europe 2020 — 28 November 2012, 21:39 CET

The 2013 Annual Growth Survey (AGS) published today by the European Commission confirms EUROCHAMBRES’ views that many member states are failing to deliver the reforms needed to create growth and jobs.

ETS-Backloading: wrong signal at the wrong time — 15 November 2012, 22:45 CET

EUROCHAMBRES has criticised the Emissions Trading System backloading proposal published yesterday by the European Commission for adversely affecting the recovery of the European economy and its industrial base. The proposed amendment to the auctioning regulation, which allows withholding 900 million units of carbon emission allowances in order to artificially increase the price of ETS certificates, would jeopardize growth and employment at a time when Europe is striving to bring an end to the economic downturn.

European Council: financial and human capital liquidity key to growth and jobs — 16 October 2012, 15:35 CET

In view of its participation in the Tripartite Social Summit which will precede the European Council on 18 October, EUROCHAMBRES calls on EU leaders to shift their focus from repeatedly redefining priorities towards implementation. Chambers in particular highlight the importance of businesses’ access to finance and to a skilled workforce as two of the key conditions for growth and job.

EUROCHAMBRES statement on a potential EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement — 09 October 2012, 14:04 CET

Following the European Commission’s request for a mandate to negotiate an EU-Japan free trade agreement (FTA), EUROCHAMBRES reiterates that the outcome of free trade talks has to be balanced.

EUR 8 billion FP7 call: how much for SMEs? — 09 July 2012, 20:10 CET

On the day that the next set of calls under the 7th EU Research and Technological Framework Programme (FP7) were announced, EUROCHAMBRES urged the European Commission to address the issue of SME participation. To date, only 13.7% of the FP7 budget has gone to SMEs, an alarmingly low figure given smaller businesses’ economic predominance.

New Regulation on e-Signature: finally a European digital market in sight! — 06 June 2012, 22:58 CET

ChamberSign, the Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry that provides e-Signature in Europe, warmly welcomed today’s European Commission Regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions.

Argentina: respect the international rules of commerce — 18 April 2012, 18:49 CET

Today, EUROCHAMBRES and BUSINESSEUROPE addressed a letter to the President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, expressing their utmost concern over the recent adoption of trade restrictive measures and the sudden expropriation of YPF, owned by one of the largest European investors in Argentina.

Capital Requirements Directive: Chambers call for solutions to safeguard SME lending — 22 March 2012, 17:03 CET

At a breakfast meeting of the SME Intergroup of the European Parliament today, EUROCHAMBRES’ Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini called on the European Parliament to ensure no negative impact of the Capital Requirements Directive (CRDIV) on SME lending.

Energy Efficiency Directive: European Parliament committee report overlooks SMEs — 29 February 2012, 17:07 CET

EUROCHAMBRES has criticised the report on the revised Energy Efficiency Directive adopted today by the European Parliament's ITRE Committee for inadequately reflecting the needs of Europe’s business community.

Competitiveness Council: lending to the economy and patent agreement still missing — 23 February 2012, 23:11 CET

EUROCHAMBRES was pleased with the overall direction of last night’s Competitiveness Council results, but disappointed by the lack of concrete steps and commitments regarding lending to the economy and the European patent agreement.

EUROCHAMBRES outlines business priorities to Danish Presidency — 09 February 2012, 22:34 CET

In a meeting in Copenhagen with senior representatives of the Danish Presidency, including Pia Olsen Dyhr, Minister for Trade and Investment and Acting Minister for Health, EUROCHAMBRES' President Alessandro Barberis highlighted three specific aims that the Danish Presidency should focus on in its efforts to develop a more favourable business environment.

New patent system favourable to SMEs — 06 December 2011, 23:58 CET

Today’s Council agreement on a unitary protection for patents and the translation system has been long awaited by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) according to EUROCHAMBRES, the European association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Europe’s businesses pin hopes on exports for tough 2012 — 28 November 2011, 13:27 CET

A EUROCHAMBRES survey of nearly 70,000 businesses across 25 European countries highlights export markets as the main source of optimism for 2012, a year that will otherwise be characterised by restricted investment, negligible job creation and constrained domestic sales.

'Erasmus for All' or for some? — 24 November 2011, 00:03 CET

"Erasmus will remain for some and not for all", said Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES, commenting on today's proposals by the European Commission for the 2014-2020 education programme 'Erasmus for All'.

C20 takes position on G20 issues — 03 November 2011, 18:49 CET

Ahead of this week’s G20 Summit in Cannes, France, a group of Chambers belonging to the C20 group* [or the C20 group] calls for a coordinated global effort intended to put the world economy back on track of strong, sustainable and balanced growth.

Declaration on restoring confidence in Europe's economy — 27 October 2011, 18:09 CET

Europe’s business community – especially smaller companies - is suffering during the current crisis: bank lending is tighter and costlier, the economic outlook is uncertain, growth has come to a standstill and the main currency is the subject of countless rescue packages.

European Contract Law proposal: an appealing idea that requires closer examination — 13 October 2011, 22:51 CET

The European Commission proposal for a European contract law regime seems appealing at first glance, but still needs to be carefully assessed.

Enterprise Europe Network: a key component of EU SME support — 27 September 2011, 18:16 CET

During the opening session of the annual conference of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) today in Warsaw, EUROCHAMBRES President Alessandro Barberis reiterated the Chambers' continuing support for the network, while highlighting two ways to improve its impact and efficiency.

Business leaders call for more European investments in the Mediterranean — 21 September 2011, 23:07 CET

"Europe must support economically the Southern Mediterranean after the challenges of the Arab spring. A combination of concrete actions and the development of a stable and transparent investment policy in the Mediterranean countries will pave the way for a sustainable increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the region. Programmes such as Invest in Med could be an effective step in this direction," said Alessandro Barberis, President of EUROCHAMBRES, today in his speech at the EUROMED INVEST Business Summit in Alexandria, Egypt.

New Multiannual Financial Framework: evolution rather than revolution — 30 June 2011, 13:44 CET

EUROCHAMBRES supports the proposed 5% increase in the post-2013 EU budget, while regretting the minimal shifts in how the funds will be spent.

Energy Efficiency Directive: incentives and targeted information rather than obligations — 22 June 2011, 21:06 CET

While supporting the aim of providing an encouraging legal framework to contribute to the EU’s target of 20% increased energy efficiency by 2020, EUROCHAMBRES has certain concerns about the European Commission’s new proposal for an Energy Efficiency Directive. The approach of binding measures would create unnecessary burdens compared to a voluntary approach based on advisory services to better inform and encourage energy consumers to increase energy efficiency.

Consumer Rights Directive: a costly vote for businesses — 24 March 2011, 23:01 CET

"Today's vote shows that Members of the European Parliament have lost sight of one of the key objectives of the on the Consumer Rights Directive, which was to cut legal costs for businesses wishing to sell cross-border," said Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES.