SMEunited

"The Omnibus proposal shows the European Commission is willing to fix the unintended indirect impact on #SMEs of certain legislation", stated SMEunited Secretary General Veronique Willems during the debate on the #Omnibus proposal's impacts on the food sector. Companies need legal certainty to plan and invest. SMEs have been lacking this certainty for years as it is not clear what their place in supply chains requires from them under the #CSRD and #CS3D. The Omnibus proposal brings the possibility to overcome these challenges. We would not need such an Omnibus proposal if the legislator had adopted a #ThinkSmallFirst approach from the beginning, explained Ms Willems. The Omnibus proposal introduces necessary clarification. Talking about the CSRD, Secretary General Willems explained it is important that the #VSME becomes legally the cap in the value chain. “Large companies, banks and SMEs developed together a voluntary standard to support SMEs who have to share sustainability information. Therefore, it fulfills the needs of every actor. The VSME must become the unique dataset on the market, to ensure SMEs report only once and finally see a real reduction of reporting burden”. 👉 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ezTdhKws

 “Europe has to create a well-functioning Savings and Investment Union to mobilise private investments. However, it will depend on the willingness of Member States to go the extra mile for necessary harmonisation steps in taxation, company law, insolvency procedures and supervision”, stated SMEunited President Petri Salminen in a first reaction on publication of a ”Savings and Investment Union”. ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/ebvQNNHw

The European Parliament held its first #SMEIntergroup of the mandate. Thanks, Aura Salla and Niels Flemming Hansen for chairing the event. Secretary General Veronique Willems took the opportunity to insist on key priorities: ✅ Think Small First ✅ Create an SME-friendly EU regulatory landscape  ✅ Give the possibility to #SMEs to drive the twin transitions by taking action instead of drafting reports ✅ Ensure business transfer in the coming years ✅ Recognise the key role of SMEs in #defence and #security ➡️ Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/e-HhfKHJ Laura Ballarín Cereza, Jeannette Baljeu, Vladimir Prebilič, Eurochambres, EuroCommerce, BusinessEurope #DGGrow #ThinkSmallFirst #BetterRegulation #TwinTransition

“If we are serious about strengthening Europe’s security and #defence, giving leeway to #SMEs must be a priority. These businesses are not just economic players – they are guardians of our #security, stability, and #innovation”, stated President Petri Salminen at the Tripartite Social Summit. ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/eU6JFapy #TSS

The urge for #simplification and stress-test of the acquis show how important it is to get it right in the first place. Continuing to improve the #SMETest can significantly improve the quality and proportionality of European legislation, explained Sophia Zakari, Director for #Enterprise Policy and Legal Affairs, during the Council Working Party on Better Regulation. ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/ep5HYDFk Council of the European Union #BetterRegulation 

“At a time of important labour shortages facing the EU economy, offering concrete solutions and increasing investments in quality #training is more necessary than ever. For these measures to be successful, #socialpartners must be further involved in the implementation process, as they are best suited to find tailored solutions while respecting the subsidiarity principle” - Social Affairs and Training Director, Valentina Guerra, during a dedicated meeting of the #Employment Committee Policy Analysis Group on the implementation of the Action Plan on #Labour and #Skills shortages. ➡️ Read more: https://lnkd.in/e7U9XTgb #VET #SocialDialogue

📣 Check out our weekly #SME recap: ✅ Stagnating economy calls for swift agreement and implementation of relief measures ✅ Crafting a resilient future - Strengthening SMEs for #competitiveness, #security and #sustainability ✅ Roadmap for Women’s Rights should pave the way for more women entrepreneurship ✅ How the #SMEtest leads to Better Regulation ✅ SMEunited calls for further concrete measures to address the structural #labour and #skills gaps faced by SMEs ✅ Improving skills matching in Europe requires specific attention for #SMEs ➡️ Enjoy the read: https://lnkd.in/e2ETfF6i #MEDPOL #EuropeanCraftsConference2025 #BetterRegulation #IWD #WomensDay

On the #EuropeanCraftsConference2025 panel on #sustainability, our Director for Climate, Energy and Environment, Andreas Brieger, stressed that the Green Deal legislation must be workable for SMEs: ‘This is a make-it-or-break-it moment. We’re in the middle of a triple crisis – planetary, economic, and regulatory. While there is no business on a dead planet, there won’t be any transition if #SMEs are left behind.’ The #GreenDeal has put forward more than 150 new or revised laws. However, the devil is in the details of the several hundred pieces of secondary legislation still to be drafted. It is crucial that #SME organisations are consulted in this process. #ThinkSmallFirst must be the baseline for the Green Deal implementation. European Commission Teresa Ribera Wopke Hoekstra EU Environment and Climate

At the #EuropeanCraftsConference2025 in Munich, SMEunited President Petri Salminen highlighted a crucial message: for #SMEs to innovate, grow, and prosper, they need a strong sense of security. Moreover, having the right conditions, SMEs will also contribute to strengthening #security and resilience in Europe! ✅#Competitiveness and security are deeply linked. Businesses can only thrive when they operate in a stable, predictable environment. ✅Europe must be prepared for all kinds of challenges. From economic shifts to global crises, SMEs need the right support to adapt and react. ✅A secure business environment fosters innovation. When #SMEs feel secure, they invest, create, and push industries forward also enhancing security of our continent. European Commission Henna Virkkunen Roxana Minzatu Andrius Kubilius Enrico Letta Veronique Willems Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks (ZDH) Confartigianato Imprese CMA France SMVdanmark Związek Rzemiosła Polskiego Small Enterprises' Institute - IME GSEVEE WKO Oberösterreich Chambre des Métiers Luxembourg CNA Suomen Yrittäjät ry

📢 “I would focus on three words: interest representation, information, networking.” At the #EuropeanCraftsConference2025 in Munich, Veronique Willems highlighted what SMEs need from #craft organisations and how SMEunited can support them: ✅ Interest representation – Giving #SMEs a strong voice in policy decisions. ✅ Information – Providing SMEs with the right knowledge to navigate challenges and opportunities.  ✅ Networking – Connecting businesses to grow and innovate. SMEunited is committed to strengthening SMEs across Europe. What do you think is the biggest support they need right now? Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks (ZDH) Confartigianato Imprese European Commission CMA France SMVdanmark Związek Rzemiosła Polskiego Small Enterprises' Institute - IME GSEVEE WKO Oberösterreich Chambre des Métiers Luxembourg Zentralverband des Deutschen Handwerks (ZDH) CNA