Climate Law: More focus on SMEs needed

05 March 2020
by smeunited -- last modified 05 March 2020

Following the presentation of the new Climate Law, SMEunited approves of the key principles underpinning the Commission’s activity to reach climate neutrality at the latest by 2050.

However, considering the key role of SMEs for the welfare and social cohesion in the EU, SMEunited urges the EU Institutions to foresee SME specific impact assessments in the trajectory till 2050. Moreover, the Climate Law should ensure long-term certainty and be flanked by concrete measures enabling SMEs to successfully make the transition to a greener EU.

"It is positive that the new Climate Law explicitly refers to the competitiveness of the EU economy, to energy affordability and security of supply, as well as to the best available and most scientific evidence as key elements of the trajectory to achieve climate neutrality", declared President Alban Maggiar after the presentation of the Commission's proposal. "These are issues we have always highlighted in our contributions to the Climate Law together with other important concepts, such as technological neutrality in innovation and consideration of the international efforts to comply with the Paris agreements" he went on commenting. "I am pleased that these concepts are also clearly at the basis of the strategy to reach climate neutrality in the EU at the latest by 2050. The fight against climate change must be the opportunity to make the EU fit for worldwide competition in the next decades. In a nutshell, being fit means becoming the leader of a thriving sustainable economy!"

The need to ensure a just and socially fair transition is also supported by President Maggiar ". Without the full involvement of all sectors and components of our society the green revolution will cause uproars and deeper populistic feelings in the Member States, which will undermine the European integration and the achievement of the final aim. We cannot afford to leave whole areas behind in this process and particularly the SMEs operating there!" he argued further.

"However, the Climate Law fails to recognise that SMEs are the key to the success of any initiative to a more sustainable EU, be it the fight  against climate change or the achievement of the circular economy! "This is why the Climate Law should foresee specific SME-impact assessments for every initiative aimed at reaching climate neutrality" the President pointed out adding that "moreover, the Climate law should ensure long-term certainty and be accompanied by a strategy setting up a favourable framework enabling SMEs to accomplish the transition to greener business models! This would allow them to stay on the market ensuring jobs and a sustainable growth. I refer to easier access to finance, technical assistance at local level, upskilling and reskilling of their workforce and targeted information on climate neutral opportunities".

SMEunited is the association of Crafts and SMEs in Europe with around 70 member organisations from over 30 European countries. SMEunited represents national cross-sectoral Craft and SME federations, European SME branch organisations and associate members. Combined, it represents more than 12 million enterprises with around 55 million employees across Europe. SMEunited is also a recognised employers' organisation and European Social Partner. SMEunited was formally known as UEAPME.

SMEunited