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European SMEs further join forces

14 June 2019
by eub2 -- last modified 14 June 2019

In November 2018, UEAPME rebranded to SMEunited and set out to shape Europe for SMEs and to strengthen SMEs in Europe.


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With the Bucharest declaration at the Entrepreneurship Conference in April, SMEunited made a strong request for a holistic SME policy. Moreover, a successful implementation of its #SMEs4Europe campaign ahead of the European Elections motivated political groups to take on board SME priorities in their programmes and entrepreneurs to vote for Europe. This renewed strategic orientation further strengthened SMEunited's voice and convinced new national SME associations and European SME branch organisations to join SMEunited.

At today's General Assembly, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) from the United Kingdom  and the European Confederation of Bakery and Confectionery organisations (CEBP)  have been welcomed as new members. This means, within 6 months, in total 6 new organisations joined SMEunited and increase its representativity as the Association of Crafts and SMEs in Europe. "Thus, at the beginning of the new EU-legislative term, we stand ready to shape Europe for SMEs and SMEunited will definitely be a strong partner for the European decision makers to do so." SMEunited President Rabmer-Koller stated today.

Already end of 2018, the Italian association Confcommercio, joined SMEunited as full member organisation. Together with the Federation of Small Businesses from the UK they strengthen the representativity of the organisation within the European Union significantly. Whatever the eventual outcome of Brexit,, the cooperation with FSB allows for European and British SMEs to continue economic dialogue.

Moreover, the SME family represented by SMEunited also reaches out to third country SME organisations, which are interested in a close link to the European Union and its policy for SMEs. SMEunited has been newly joined by the Confederation of Andorran Enterprises (CEA), the Handicraft Chamber of Ukraine and the Norwegian SME organisation Bedriftsforbundet.

The new branch organisation, the European Confederation of national Bakery and Confectionery Organisations (CEBP) will improve our network for sectorial policy and will contribute to the work of the SMEunited "Food Forum", which provides a platform to European SME organisations active in this sector.

President Rabmer-Koller stated "the increase in member organisations gives SMEunited an even stronger mandate to speak up as unique voice of Crafts and SMEs to shape Europe for SMEs".

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.

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