European craft and SME employers' organisation

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, we represent more than 12 million enterprises with around 55 million employees across Europe. SMEunited is also a recognised employers' organisation and European Social Partner. SMEunited’s mission is shaping Europe for SMEs and shaping SMEs for Europe.

SMEunited insists: Think small first and build on Letta report to act — 18 April 2024, 23:50 CET

SMEunited joins the call from Heads of State and Government to apply the "think small first" principle when designing policy. Strengthening EU competitiveness must be a priority. Enrico Letta’s report on the Single Market addresses pressing points with concrete roadmap to guarantee Europe’s sovereignty and SMEs role in it.

SMEs call for adequate economic environment to deliver on social progress — 16 April 2024, 18:50 CET

High Level Conference discussed the future of the European Pillar of Social Rights

Social investments should support reforms and growth — 11 March 2024, 21:19 CET

“A number of reforms are crucial to recreate a positive economic spiral for SMEs, to improve the welfare of European citizens and deliver on social objectives.

SMEs call for investment certainty and assistance — 07 February 2024, 00:06 CET

"To make climate policy a win-win for planet and SMEs, a net emission climate target for 2040 should be set in due time, to ensure planning stability and investment certainty. It must be robust and feasible for our economy and society", said SMEunited's Secretary General Véronique Willems.

SMEunited calls for social dialogue to adapt to changes in working life — 31 January 2024, 19:00 CET

"SMEs have played a significant role in the creation of economic wealth, jobs and social cohesion. We entrepreneurs hear the ambitious objectives for social Europe and whilst reaffirming our support, we call for a serious commitment from the European Commission and the Member States to re-create a positive economic spiral on our continent, and show that Europe is a continent where business and social standards go hand in hand", stated SMEunited President Petri Salminen at the Val Duchesse Summit.

Make the Green Deal deliver for SMEs — 30 January 2024, 18:51 CET

Entrepreneurs shared their stories about boosters and blockers for the Green Deal implementation with Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra in today's SME Climate Dialogue with SMEunited.

Europe must facilitate SMEs to drive the transition — 01 December 2023, 18:56 CET

The green and digital transition will be driven in Europe by SMEs. They must be able to develop and invest, which requires Europe to be an attractive place for private investments. SMEunited members decided "SMEs driving the transitions" should be at the centre of demands for the upcoming elections to the European Parliament and the next European Commission.

Europe must deliver on improving business environment — 26 October 2023, 18:44 CET

"SMEs are anchored in their local community and hence much more affected by local business conditions", stated SMEunited President Petri Salminen at the Tripartite Social Summit.

SME demands for profitable investment environment Labour shortage and realistic transition pathways to be top of the EU agenda — 13 October 2023, 00:16 CET

The SMEunited Board of Directors in Graz, Austria exchanged with Commissioner Schmit on one of the top priorities of SMEs: finding skilled staff. Furthermore they presented the key demands for next years' EU elections: putting law into practice in a realistic way to safeguard their global competitiveness.

SME Relief Package: basis for more room to do business — 12 September 2023, 19:03 CET

SMEunited welcomes the publication of the SME Relief Package, which indeed provides certain relief to SMEs. While fostering liquidity through stronger legislation on late payment and the reinforcement of the SME window is fundamental to ensure SMEs' investment capacity, reducing regulatory burden and building the bridge between available training and SMEs' needs should further positively impact entrepreneurial resources.

SME State of the Union: call for a strong SME Relief Package — 13 July 2023, 17:24 CET

SMEunited welcomes the united call of the European Parliament Plenary session for concrete measures to ensure a regulatory framework in which SMEs can develop their businesses. Two months ahead of the publication of the SME Relief Package, the adopted resolution sets the tone for efficient legislation.

SMEunited launches "SME claims" analysis — 28 June 2023, 23:00 CET

SMEunited launches "SME claims" analysis to review decision-makers’ claims and will call for alteration if claims cannot be concretised.

SME priorities for European Elections 2024 — 11 June 2023, 00:32 CET

SME representatives from across Europe agreed on their priorities for the 2024 European elections at the SMEunited General Assembly in Stockholm today. The European Institutions must consider the specific characteristics of small- and medium-sized companies to let them drive the green and digital transition, say SMEunited members.

Consumer Package: win-win potential for consumers and SMEs — 22 March 2023, 18:36 CET

SMEunited welcomes today's adoption of the Consumer Package by the European Commission. The Package includes two Directives: on Green Claims and on the Right to Repair. With improvements based on the Think Small First principle in the legislative process, these initiatives can bring benefits for both consumers and businesses.

SMEs ask for quick adoption of SME Relief package — 22 March 2023, 18:32 CET

SMEunited at the Tripartite Social Summit urged to have a strong and impactful SME Relief package no later than summer 2023. For the organisation addressing the regulatory environment, especially for SMEs, to attract investments and increase competitiveness is key.

SME Recovery fades, but recession unlikely — 16 March 2023, 22:42 CET

The SME Business Climate Index presented today drops further to 71.3 and shows that SME recovery is stalling. However, the index stays above the baseline of 70, which means no recession is expected in the coming months.

Single Market Communication celebrates success of Single Market but lacks prospect of better regulation — 16 March 2023, 22:38 CET

SMEunited welcomes the European Commission Communication on the 30-year anniversary of the Single Market. In reaction, the organisation stresses that future success depends on the full implementation and enforcement of current rules. The European Commission must also create a predictable and simple regulatory framework through better regulation.

Women's Day: Boosting women’s entrepreneurship — 09 March 2023, 16:54 CET

On the occasion of International Women's Day, SMEunited pays special attention to women entrepreneurs and their contribution to the European economy and society. We especially thank all women entrepreneurs across Europe who invest their valuable time to represent SMEs at local, regional, national and European level!

EU Data Act: Parliament misses opportunity for real data market — 09 February 2023, 22:03 CET

"The result of the vote in the EP Committee for Industry and Research on the draft report for a European data law is a missed opportunity. The compromise falls short of our expectations and allows significant unjustified access restrictions for SMEs offering maintenance and repair services," said SMEunited Secretary General Véronique Willems.

Support for social dialogue welcomed by SMEs — 25 January 2023, 17:29 CET

SMEunited welcomes the European Commission Communication on the European social dialogue and the proposal for a Council Recommendation on national social dialogue. Social partners at all levels are best placed to modernise labour markets and make them more resilient to strengthen SMEs productivity, innovation and competitiveness.

SMEunited continues support to European Partnership for Integration — 19 December 2022, 22:56 CET

European social and economic partners together with the European Commission renew their commitment to the European Partnership for Integration.

Revised packaging rules put additional constraint on SMEs — 30 November 2022, 23:51 CET

SMEunited disagrees with the policy option to put all responsibility on economic operators to comply with the new obligations on packaging and packaging waste. The new targets will create a serious disruption of the current working methods, without providing for initiatives to mitigate the impact or facilitate the process towards new models.

Make Better Regulation work better for SMEs! A joint analysis of the SME Test — 29 November 2022, 19:19 CET

BusinessEurope, Eurochambres, and SMEunited have joined forces to analyse the application of the SME Test across the European Commission services. 26 impact assessments have been checked against the European Commission’s own better regulation guidelines to assess whether and to what extent the SME Test, a mandatory tool in ensuring an SME-proofed regulatory regime, is carried out.

SBS and SMEunited welcome the agreement on the amendment to the Regulation on European standardisation — 20 October 2022, 21:24 CET

SBS and SMEunited welcome the agreement by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on a technical amendment to Regulation 1025/2012 on European standardisation.

SMEs require targeted measures to survive energy crisis — 19 October 2022, 22:41 CET

SMEunited calls on all EU Member States to immediately act and implement targeted measures for SMEs that need help during the energy crisis. The emergency regulation already provides the necessary instruments. Furthermore, SMEs ask for a swift prolongation and extension of the State aid crisis framework.