SME EUROPE AND PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTREPRENEURS

SME Europe (Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Europe) is the independent political network of Christian-Democrat and Conservative political and pro-business organization. The organisation was founded in May 2012 by the three Members of the European Parliament, Paul Rübig, Nadezhda Neynsky and Bendt Bendtsen. The main purpose of SME Europe is to help shape EU policy in a more friendly way. The importance of the work of SME Europe can be seen in the fact that SMEs are the key for sustainable jobs, growth and prosperity.

As a political partner of the European People's Party (EPP), SME Europe shares the basic values and principles of the EPP-freedom and responsibility- and in fostering the environment and social conditions in Europe by market mechanisms. It stands for the promotion of free enterprise, the implementation of the principle of subsidiarity, the limitation of bureaucratic obstacles to economic development and the protection of free competition based on efficiency. Nevertheless, SME Europe is and shall remain in any event independent from the EPP decisions. The interests of SMEs are best served in a system of free markets and free enterprise and less state intervention, limiting the role of government to providing the best framework conditions for SMEs. 

As a mission, SME Europe supports and promotes the interests of small and medium sized businesses in their dealings with the policy institutions of the European Union and provides advice to the EPP. On the basis of clear analysis of the situation, the challenges and the problems faced by SMEs, SME Europe presents proposals for solutions that can improve the business environment for SMEs. In doing so, SME Europe considers the following principles as essential preconditions for a free economic and social order:

• Promotion of free enterprise with a particular emphasis on family based entrepreneurship;
• Limiting bureaucratic obstacles to economic development;
• Implementation of the principle of subsidiarity
• Limiting the role of government;
• Safeguarding competition based efficiency;
• Promoting employment;
• Promoting sustainability in environmental, social, economic and fiscal matters;
• Improving the level of education;
• Limiting the tax burden for SMEs and for the citizens.

Members of SME Europe include: Österreichische Wirtschaftsbund (Austria); SME Union Bulgaria; Democratic Rally (Cyprus); Konservative Folke Parti (Denmark); UMP (France); Nea Demokratia (Greece); KKVE (Hungary); PDL (Italy); Unity (Latvia); Parti Chrétien Social Luxembourgeois (Luxembourg); Unicorn (Poland); RMDSZ (Romania); ACDES (Slovakia); Nova Slovenija (Slovenia), Partido Popular and Unio Democratica de Catalunya (Spain). SASME (Serbia) is an Observer Member.

Working Groups include: SME Energy Efficiency; SME Renewable Energy; SME Energy and Grids; SME Health; SME Women; SME Telecom; SME Finances; SME Juri; SME Internal Market and Consumer Protection; SME Media; SME Transparency; SME Digital Agenda; SME Future; SME Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics; SME Enlargement Balkan Area; SME Air and Space; SME Agri; SME Science and Innovation.