Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools
Sections
You are here: Home Members European craft and SME employers' organisation Industrial Strategy: Ecosystems approach needs coherent transition pathways

Industrial Strategy: Ecosystems approach needs coherent transition pathways

06 May 2021
by smeunited -- last modified 06 May 2021

In its update of the New Industrial Strategy, the European Commission included some important concerns of SMEs. Strengthening and reinforcing the Single Market, reducing the risky dependencies from other economies and creating the right framework for a workable twin transition are the right approach. It can support a swift recovery and strengthen Europe’s economy.


Advertisement

"The current crisis has proven again how important a well-functioning Single Market is and that the freedom of movement cannot be taken for granted", stated SMEunited President Alban Maggiar. Therefore, the Single Market has to become more resilient to future crises. An effective implementation and enforcement of common rules has to make it more robust and fairer, especially for SMEs. "Further efforts to tackle the problem of late payments and the new initiative to address the solvency risk of SMEs are much appreciated in these challenging times" continued Mr. Maggiar.

Disruption of global supply chains and risky dependencies from third country deliveries also impact SMEs. Therefore, it will be important to facilitate further the participation of SMEs in Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) and to ensure the full involvement of SMEs, when strengthening the European standardisation system. Both can become an important instrument to increase strategic autonomy.

As regards the transition to a green and digital economy, SMEunited is convinced that an acceleration will only be possible, if private investors are provided with predictability and legal certainty. Therefore, the different ecosystems need clear and coherent transition pathways, and all relevant stakeholders have to be involved in their definition. In addition, more efforts are required to tackle the skills gap and to ensure that SMEs are able to finance innovation and investments.

Finally, SMEunited warns that additional administrative burdens and increasing regulatory compliance costs may hold back the recovery and the twin transition. Especially the current debate about sustainability and due diligence reporting, and also new social initiatives raise the concern of SMEs.

SMEunited, formerly known as UEAPME, is the association of crafts and SMEs in Europe with around 70 member organisations from over 30 European countries. SMEunited is a recognised employers' organisation and European Social Partner and acts on behalf of crafts and SMEs in the European Social Dialogue and in discussions with the EU institutions.

SMEunited
Become a Partner

Partnership gives you:

  • Your own section on EUbusiness.com - with your press releases, position papers, events, job vacancies etc
  • Each content item linked from topic channels where your organisation has expertise
  • Listing on Partners page
  • Branded with your logo and links

For further details on becoming a Partner, contact email salesSales by email, or phone Nick Prag on +44 (0)20 8058 8232.

Membership options