“Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are key actors in the European industrial supply chains. The proposal for an Industrial Accelerator Act should now bring positive trickle down effects from specific measures for strategic sectors to the wider economy”, underlined SMEunited Secretary General Véronique Willems in a first reaction to today’s proposal by the European Commission.
SMEunited highlights that the measures proposed target a specific part of the industry, however they should have positive trickle down effects to SMEs across the board, by reinvigorating the EU’s industrial base.
“We welcome the provisions to take the impact on downstream users of demand side measures for chemical products and low-carbon requirements into account. To ensure SME profitability, we ask that the cost criterion is made mandatory in the overall assessment”, stated Secretary General Willems.
“The actions on easing permitting procedures, should create a general shift in mindset. Member States must ensure that digital tools and smoother procedures provide relief and must in any case avoid that swifter permitting for strategic sectors results in longer procedures for other companies due to lack of administrative capacity”, Ms Willems continued. Regarding the acceleration areas, the more flexible approach should be extended to SMEs instead of access being limited to “strategic projects”, given that the functioning of such areas or clusters relies on companies in the supply chain and as well as their service providers.
SMEunited published its position on European preference earlier today, asking for an approach which ensures competitiveness without protectionism. Therefore, we can support EU preference requirements for public procurement of State aid based on the specific provisions mentioned. The geographical coverage will keep the market open for third countries, willing to cooperate and compete under fair conditions. However, co-legislators should carefully reflect whether the obligation for European preference in public procurement and State aid stands as long as it would not lead to 25% higher costs or a delay in delivery of more than seven months.
“Finally, the new rules for the treatment of third-market operators (European preference and FDI requirements) alone will have to be accompanied by decisive improvements in the functioning of the Single Market, in particular for capital, energy and telecommunications” concluded Secretary General Willems.
