SMEs ask for an alternative scenario for the Future of Europe

13 September 2017
by UEAPME -- last modified 13 September 2017

Ahead of Jean-Claude Juncker's speech in the European Parliament on the State of the European Union, UEAPME President Ulrike Rabmer-Koller addressed the Commission President to share her considerations on the future of Europe.

She put forward the SMEs point of view for the crucial debate initiated with the White Paper on the topic. SMEs expect to see the debate to aim for progress in improving the conditions for growth and job creation, improving fairness, and ensuring a stable political and societal environment. UEAPME is asking for an "SME scenario" to be integrated and has underlined that the EU needs to better deliver to achieve the aforementioned expectation.

At the extraordinary Social Summit end of March this year, President Ulrike Rabmer-Koller had already welcomed the debate initiated by EC President Jean-Claude Juncker through the White Paper on the Future of Europe and will contribute in the crucial debate. When discussing the needs of SMEs with member organisations, it became clear that not one particular scenario included in the Commission's White Paper will be able to fully deliver what SMEs expect from the future of Europe.

"Indeed, highlighted Ms Rabmer-Koller, SMEs expect the debate to aim for progress as regards three dimensions: improving the conditions for growth and job creation, improving fairness for carrying out business within the single market and globally, and ensuring a stable political and societal environment."

For this, the future Europe has to be able to better deliver on: making the EU more competitive, less bureaucratic and more attractive for private investments, ensure fair distribution of the positive aspects of globalisation, digitalisation and technological developments, guarantee openness and fairness within the single market, allow a better functioning of economic governance and more stability of the Eurozone, support the interests of SMEs in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, and tackle the challenges of migration and refugees.

Ms Rabmer-Koller clearly stated that "UEAPME is therefore asking for an SME scenario that could be called a scenario for growth, jobs and welfare in a stable economic, social and political environment."

UEAPME is the employers' organisation representing Crafts and SMEs from the EU and accession countries at European level. UEAPME has 64 member organisations covering about 12 million enterprises with 55 million employees. UEAPME is a European Social Partner.

UEAPME - the European craft and SME employers' organisation