European craft and SME employers’ organisation

UEAPME is the employers' organisation representing exclusively crafts, trades and SMEs from the EU and accession countries at European level. UEAPME has 84 member organisations covering over 12 million enterprises with 55 million employees. UEAPME is a European Social Partner.

Basel III: Parliament's committee vote a key step in the right direction, say SMEs — 15 May 2012, 12:35 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, warmly welcomed yesterday's vote at the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on the implementation in the EU of the "Basel III" rules on capital requirements.

"Employment package" too shy on SMEs as job creators, warns UEAPME — 18 April 2012, 15:27 CET

The "employment package" presented by the European Commission today is spot on when it comes to addressing both the demand and supply sides of labour markets and encouraging structural reforms. However, it is too limited on the key role of small and medium-sized companies as job creators, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation.

Parliament and Council must bring "Horizon 2020" in line with SMEs' needs — 22 March 2012, 15:40 CET

UEAPME issues position paper; calls for 15% dedicated budget, single entry point; rejects attempts to dilute SME definition

Cohesion policy for 2014-2020 must keep a clear focus on SMEs — 15 March 2012, 20:47 CET

The new cohesion policy for 2014-2020 must closely associate economic and social partners in programming at all levels, including in the identification of priorities, and secure “ring-fenced” budget quotas for SMEs’ competitiveness and innovation-related activities, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation.

Stable business confidence hides worrying developments, survey finds — 01 March 2012, 11:02 CET

European small businesses are in “wait and see” mode as uncertainty prevails over confidence and a mild recession is under way, according to a survey conducted by UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, and its members.

White Paper on pensions: occupational pensions must remain attractive, say SMEs — 16 February 2012, 14:30 CET

The proposals put forward by the European Commission's White Paper setting out an agenda for adequate, safe and sustainable pensions unveiled today (Thursday) must avoid raising the cost of occupational pensions for employers and workers, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation.

Electronic waste: Parliament vote far from being ideal, warn SMEs — 19 January 2012, 17:59 CET

The compromise on the revision of the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive approved by the European Parliament's plenary today (Thursday) is far from being ideal despite the attempts made to respond to the concerns of small retailers, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation.

Professional qualifications: EC proposal is going too far on many aspects — 21 December 2011, 23:20 CET

Today’s proposals by the European Commission to modernise the EU system for the recognition of professional qualifications is going too far on many important aspects, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation. On the positive side, the organisation welcomed the creation of a European professional card and the increased compulsory use of online means to provide information to professionals and to citizens.

Public procurement: SMEs welcome simplification, warn about transparency — 20 December 2011, 18:30 CET

The package of measures to modernise the EU public procurement rules unveiled by the European Commission today (Tuesday) contains some remarkable proposals and improvements to facilitate the participation of SMEs to public tenders. However, the increased recourse to the so-called “negotiation” procedure will trigger risks in terms of transparency, non-discrimination and equal treatment, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation.

SMEs welcome EC plan on access to finance, call for tax reforms to boost venture capital — 07 December 2011, 13:29 CET

Tax systems main obstacle to uptake and provision of venture capital; “Basel III” implementation must not harm SME loans, warns UEAPME

SMEs broadly welcome new "Erasmus for all" programme — 24 November 2011, 13:14 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, welcomed the "Erasmus for all" proposal by the European Commission, which suggests allocating EUR 19 billion towards promoting skills and learning mobility of young people in what will become the successor of the current Lifelong Learning Programme.

Commission's strategy on internationalisation is spot on, say SMEs — 09 November 2011, 17:04 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, warmly welcomed the "Small Business, Big World" communication released by the European Commission today (Wednesday).

"Responsible business package": good news on accounting, bad news on CSR, say SMEs — 26 October 2011, 16:15 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, was left with mixed feelings by the "responsible business package" presented by the European Commission yesterday (Tuesday).

Cohesion policy: SMEs overall satisfied with Commission's proposals — 06 October 2011, 14:20 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, was left overall satisfied by the legislative proposals on the new cohesion policy programming period unveiled by the European Commission today (Thursday).

SBA implementation slowing down and far from being complete, survey finds — 05 October 2011, 19:09 CET

Although more open to including SMEs' concerns in legislation, the European institutions still have a long way to go when it comes to "thinking small first" on business support and administration, according to a survey conducted by UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation.

Electronic waste: SMEs disappointed by Parliament's committee vote — 05 October 2011, 00:18 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, was left disappointed by today’s second reading vote at the European Parliament’s Environment Committee on the revision of the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.

EC proposals on capital requirements take SMEs' concerns on board — 21 July 2011, 23:32 CET

Stricter capital requirements are needed and welcome as long as their impact on lending to small businesses is minimised, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation.

Food labelling: final compromise leaves SMEs overall pleased — 06 July 2011, 23:37 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, was left overall satisfied by today’s vote at the European Parliament on a new set of food labelling rules.

Commission’s post-2013 budget proposal ticks all the right boxes, say SMEs — 30 June 2011, 13:03 CET

The plans for the post-2013 EU budget unveiled by the European Commission yesterday (Wednesday) tick the right boxes in terms of spending priorities, although their benefits for small companies will largely depend on the final budget available and on the concrete implementation of the various headers and programmes, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation.

UEAPME calls for dedicated SME programme integrating R&D and innovation — 12 May 2011, 00:01 CET

The upcoming “Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding” must begin from market needs and ideas, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation.

Single Market Act: good ideas but more ambition is needed, say SMEs — 14 April 2011, 12:47 CET

Despite the many positive proposals contained in the text, the “Single Market Act” unveiled today by the European Commission should have been more ambitious on governance and on the enforcement of legislation, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation.

Transport white paper: SMEs welcome outline but warn about financial impact — 31 March 2011, 13:35 CET

UEAPME Transport Forum backs plans to increase sustainability of the sector, suggests support measures for small operators

Common tax base good in principle but EU plans are too complex, say SMEs — 17 March 2011, 13:03 CET

A common tax base could dramatically reduce compliance costs for small companies operating cross-border in the EU, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation.

Uncompetitive prices and wages are the root of recent imbalances, say SMEs — 15 February 2011, 00:11 CET

The uneven economic performance of EU Member States is certainly due to wage developments but also to the price pressures placed on private companies by uncompetitive public and semi-public services, according to UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation.

E- waste: UEAPME praises Parliament's limits to collection duties for micro companies — 03 February 2011, 17:59 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, welcomed the limits on collection duties for micro retailers approved by the European Parliament today in its plenary vote on the revision of the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.