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Just Transition Fund welcomed by SMEs

15 January 2020
by smeunited -- last modified 15 January 2020

In a first reaction on yesterday's proposal to establish a "Just Transition Fund", SMEunited President Alban Maggiar supports the general approach put forward by the European Commission.


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SMEs are pleased that the European Commission intends to focus the support to the most impacted regions at NUTS 3 level, making the support conditional to a transition plan and including support for investments in SMEs. However, in practice it will only work, if all economic and social partners are involved in the elaboration of the concrete transition plans at regional level, particularly including SME associations.

Furthermore, President Alban Maggiar underlined that it is important to include the Just Transition Fund into the Common Provision Regulation to keep the procedures consistent with the other EU funds and as simple as possible. In order to strengthen the impact of this new instrument and to ensure the commitment and contribution of the regions, SMEunited welcomes the provision that the priorities of the transition plan should also be supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund.

Finally, SMEunited agrees with the three pillars of the Just Transition Mechanism, which includes - next to the Fund - a dedicated scheme under InvestEU and a public loan facility within the European Investment Bank Group.

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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