Implementation of the Green Action Plan for SMEs risks to fail

02 July 2014
by UEAPME -- last modified 02 July 2014

Today, the European Commission published its new Green Action Plan for SMEs presenting a solid list of actions aimed at improving SMEs' resource efficiency.

UEAPME - the European Craft and SME association - welcomes this list per se, which includes information about drivers and obstacles for SMEs, awareness raising campaigns and financial instruments targeting SMEs. However, when it comes to the implementation, the Commission disregards the competence and long-term experience national Craft Chambers and SME organisations have in assisting SMEs in their green initiatives and once more relies too strongly on its own network (Enterprise Europe Network). Hence risking for it not to reach SMEs.

On this subject UEAPME offers in addition the following quotes from Peter Faross, Secretary General

“In the complex task of enhancing SMEs’ resource efficiency, it is necessary to promote the combination of expertise from different intermediaries and not only work with the EEN. Crafts and SME organisations, with their experience in the field, must be involved in the provision of resource-efficiency services to SMEs.”

“The Green Action Plan presents a long list of positive actions to help SMEs to be more efficient in the use of resources, which is very much in line with our proposals and demands. Nonetheless, for the Plan to be successful, UEAPME firmly calls on the European Commission to fully associate the real SME intermediary bodies, Crafts and SMEs organisations, in the implementation of the proposed actions”.

Today, the European Commission published its new Green Action Plan for SMEs presenting a solid list of actions aimed at improving SMEs' resource efficiency. UEAPME is the employers' organisation representing exclusively crafts, trades and SMEs from the EU and accession countries at European level. UEAPME has 80 member organisations covering over 12 million enterprises with 55 million employees. UEAPME is a European Social Partner.

UEAPME - the European Craft and SME association