Targeting the next European Commission: What’s the Outlook for SMEs? – A Lunch on the Topic of New Grounds
In the framework of an informal lunch on the 25th of September, SME Connect, together with the Taxpayers Association of Europe, represented by Michael Jäger, hosted a presentation and discussion concerning the Parliamentary Hearings on the Commissioners – designate. The collective aim of this event was to examine potential future progressions in the light of SMEs.
With Prof. Dr. Inese Vaidere MEP, Ivan Stefanec MEP and Herbert Dorfmann MEP the opinion of the European Parliament was taken into consideration, just as much as the view from the European Commission, as we welcomed Jolana Mungengová, member of Commissioner Cecilia Malmströms Cabinet. With around 18 participants, the lunch made for a lively exchange of opinions and thoughts, giving a diverse prospect for SMEs within the following 5 years.
Sustainability, digitalisation, the tax and regulatory framework – headwords that stood for challenges SMEs have to tackle, as Alessia Cogliandro from the Aboca Group exemplified through her experience on the topic of agriculture, health and nutrition. Further, moderator Dr. Horst Heitz, Secretary General of SME Connect, expanded on the issues, when running a business, sizing as a small – or medium Enterprise, while Alessandro Tschirkov, representing Herbalife, a friend of SMEs, brought another business perspective into the discussion on future SME objections.
Visibility, enforcement, data – words suggesting proposals, contrasting the previously stated issues to face. Almost like a mantra, as Jolana Mungengová appropriately put it, we talk about SMEs as the backbone of our economy. But what is there to look out for in the upcoming years of a new Commission? In a time of uncertainty, the key lies in an ever so powerful presence. SMEs need to be seen; they need to be present. Agreements are to be enforced; statistical data that shows realistic progression has to be examined. Participants were certain that the acts of implementation, simplification and transparency are the key factors, making for SMEs as a powerful branch of the European economy with the ability of future competitiveness. And may it be that working on new grounds leads us the way, as a productive lunch discussion on “Targeting the next European Commission: What’s the Outlook for SMEs?” did on the 25th of September.