“The role of SME employers as creators of economic prosperity, quality jobs, and social cohesion must be fully and better recognised”, stated SMEunited President Petri Salminen at the Tripartite Social Summit.
“Companies with fewer than 10 employees account basically for the same amount of employment as large companies, around 30%. Holding on to old mindsets in social dialogue is no longer affordable, given the pace of change. As social partners, we must come together and find solutions jointly”.
Marking the end of his four-year mandate, the President underlined three priorities to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness: simpler rules, predictable frameworks, and a stronger focus on people. He urged policymakers to cut red tape and ensure consistent implementation across Member States, enabling SMEs to focus on growth, innovation, and job creation. “Stable and predictable regulatory environments”, he stressed, “are the foundation for investment and confidence in Europe’s future.” SMEunited launched the Think Small First Charter to gather support for smart legislation implementable by SMEs.
Highlighting the growing skills gap, the President called for a renewed commitment to skills development and labour mobility. “We must help everyone who can work to find a job, improve mobility within Europe, and make our continent more attractive to global talent,” he said. “Together with trade unions, we can build modern working conditions that are flexible enough to innovate and fair enough to protect”.
Secretary General Véronique Willems reinforced these messages, emphasising that “simplification and a stronger Single Market are essential to unlocking productivity and competitiveness. Legislation is not always the right approach: SMEs need guidance in further implementing the EU acquis, which makes Europe a great place to work and live”.
The Tripartite Social Summit discussed how to make Europe stronger in a changing world that delivers for workers and enterprises.
