luc hendrickx sofia 20 february 2006 successful representation of smes at eu level - best practices...
TRANSCRIPT
Luc Hendrickx
Sofia 20 February 2006
Successful representation of SMEs at EU level - best practices -
TAIEX
Workshop on Competitive Power
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UEAPME www.ueapme.com
Employers’ organisation representing the interests at European level of crafts, trades and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
78 member organisations (national cross-sectoral associations and European trade federations).
Represents 9 million enterprises in EU which employ over 30 million people. EU + : 11.5 million businesses in 32 countries with nearly 50 million employees.
Recognised European Social Partner.
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Successful representation of SMEs at EU level (1)
• It is about how to realise the concerns of SMEs;
• In most MS: through representative democracy: the so-called “social midfield”;
• Need for intermediary organisations, which are more then an ordinary lobby group, more then a pressure group: social partner;
• UEAPME is exponent of this model;
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Successful representation of SMEs at EU level (2)
European Institutions are, apparently, also in favour of this model:
• Council Resolution 22 November 1993 called for a “strengthening of the partnership between the European Institutions, the Member States and the organisations representing SMEs with a view to consolidating growth and employment”.
• European Charter for Small Enterprises, 10th Action Line: “to develop stronger, more effective representation of small enterprises’ interests at Union and national level.”
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Successful representation of SMEs at EU level (3)
Report European Charter for Small Enterprises:
• “Providing small businesses with the opportunity to voice their interests, preferably in a systematic matter, is of crucial importance”
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Problematic representation (1)
• Specificity of SME-organisations ◄► big industry interests and trade unions;
• They were involved in European policy from beginning; ECCS 1952;
• Role of small enterprises was underestimated after WWII and during the sixties;
• No provision about SMEs in treaty of Rome: only industry;
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Problematic representation (2)
• Catalist: oil crisis 1973 - massive unemployment: small enterprises are vital for the renewal of the economic life;
• Turning point : Single Market 1992;
• Before: SMEs not greatly affected by EU developments.
• The economic landscape has changed since the Treaty of Rome;
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Problematic representation (3)
• European enterprise policy (an enterprise is an enterprise) OR a small enterprise policy? (taking into account their specific needs)
Example: administrative burden;
• European SME definition ≤ 250 employees;
• Our clientele: 1 - 5 Southern Europe 8 - 12 Northern Europe• Average: 6 employees;
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Problematic representation (4)
• SMEs/SEs have deficits: size, role of owner-manager,…
• SMEs need intermediaries. Our enterprises need support (training, advice,…)
• About 70% of legislative decisions affecting businesses are directly or indirectly started in “Brussels”!!!!!!!
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What should we lobby for?
• UEAPME does not advocate for exemptions for SMEs, as this can give the wrong impression that employees, consumers, clients, society as a whole, are less protected in SMEs.
• The impact of legislation on small businesses must be an important consideration in determining its form and content.
• “Think small first“ approach.
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How do we work?Lobbying targets
• European Commission;• European Parliament;• Council;• Economic and Social Committee;• Committee of the Regions;• Other associations;• Press…
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How do we work?
• UEAPME tries to encourage its members to collaborate directly in its policy committees and facilitates the placement of national experts in events and meetings organised by EU;
• UEAPME participates in more than 50 working groups and advisory bodies of the European Commission; (>350 existing)
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How do we work?
• Draft positions prepared in UEAPME’s eight specialised Committees (enterprise, environment, social affairs,…)
• Committees open to all UEAPME members. Draft position circulated to all members for comments and approval;
• Final position promoted at European level;
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Stakeholder consultation by Commission
• Communications; • Green Papers (Commission Green Papers are documents
intended to stimulate debate and launch a process of consultation at European level on a particular topic (such as social policy, the single currency, …) ;
• White Papers;
• Legislative proposals;
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Stakeholder consultation by Commission: deficiencies
• Consultation time: minimum 8 weeks;
• Languages;
• Absence of consultation criteria;
• No automatism;
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Role of representative business organisations (1)
• = Intermediaries between enterprises and the European Institutions.
• Role is not simply to register or collect the opinion of their member's, but to find a COMMON position that reflects the opinion of the different countries or economic sectors.
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Role of representative business organisations (2)
• Their opinion is more than a simple sum of all the opinions from single enterprises, they are result of democratic consultation and decision making process.
• Regulations based on collectively agreed opinions will be more easily respected.
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Direct consultation
• Direct consultation through Internet can only be an additional way;
• Results lack representativity, are frequently biased;• Small enterprises and SME-sectors risk to be
excluded;• Documents are not always available in all languages;
Conclusion:
consultation of the representative European business organisations should have the preference over direct consultation!!!!!
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Recommendations (1)
• Understand the decision making process;
• Lobbying the right person / institution;
• At the right time (not too early- not too late);
• Based on correct information;
• Deliver good documentation/ facts;
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Recommendations (2)
• Bring an European message, not a national point of view;
• But: you can use national arguments!• Position has to respect the European diversity /
cultures.• Lobbying towards the Member States is also
important: Commission takes them into account.• European Parliament: who to approach is important.
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Recommendations (3)
• European Parliament: who to approach is important.
• Do not use "collective " letters;
• Personal contact;
• Contact them before you need them!
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