Shaping the Future of OPCs and Self-Employment

This breakfast will bring together policymakers, Members of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Commission, representatives of European associations and entrepreneurs for an open exchange and reality check with the largest—yet weakest—voice in Brussels: solo entrepreneurs, freelancers, and micro-businesses. With 60% of SMEs being one-person companies and over 32 million Europeans—around 14% of the workforce—working as self-employed, this group forms the power cells of Europe’s entrepreneurial fabric. Despite their significance, they remain systematically underrepresented in EU policymaking and debates. We will address challenges such as navigating a fragmented Single Market, limited mobility, restricted access to tailored financing or support schemes, lack of knowledge on how to get started, bureaucratic hurdles, and the complexities of digital transformation. At the same time, we will explore the opportunities offered by technology, innovation, individual initiative, and the pursuit of self-realization. The exchange will also provide an opportunity to look at what the European Commission is currently doing for this community—from SME-focused initiatives and access-to-finance programs to efforts in reducing administrative burdens—and how these measures can be better aligned with the daily realities of one-person companies and the self-employed. By convening politicians, EU institutions, and entrepreneurs, this working breakfast seeks not only to ensure that the realities of one-person companies and the self-employed are heard, but also to make them an active and recognized partner in shaping Europe’s future.