Our confederation has launched a manifesto outlining our demands for the upcoming 2024 European elections.
Starting from the needs of SMEs across Europe and our awareness of the opportunities and challenges they face, the manifesto identifies the biggest pitfalls in the current Industry Policy of the European Union, outlining four key problematic aspects: addressing climate change by Europe alone, a top-down approach to strict regulations, unnecessary pressure on the productive part of society and the limitations placed on technological innovation. These issues in the EU’s approach lead to higher production costs, increased dependencies, rapid changes in technologies and skills, and significant financial pressures on businesses and individuals.
Our Demands and Calls to Action
The manifesto calls upon the European Union’s institutions, member states, political families, business community, and civil society to prioritize a Green, Digital, and – most of all also a – Competitive Transition of the European Industry with realistic targets, timeframes, and technological openness. It specifically outlines ten demands, urging stakeholders to support their cause and participate in their campaign.
- Relaunch the “Think Small first” approach, keeping SMEs at the policies’ core.
- Put all legislation under examination to fit SMEs
- Put a moratorium on new reporting and compliance bureaucracy
- Define clear “CO2 Lifecycle” targets.
- Reduce bureaucratic burdens through the “Once Only” principle.
- Make authorisation procedures easier and faster.
- Use the full potential of digital technologies.
- Significantly reduce company taxes on Member States levels, rewarding virtuous ones.
- Take into account workforce’s capacity
- Foster the transfer of green innovations to the European Real Economy.
By addressing the concerns of a significant portion of the EU’s economic landscape, the manifesto aims to garner support and influence the discourse surrounding the 2024 European elections. With a focus on realistic targets, technological openness, and a collaborative approach, the manifesto calls for meaningful dialogue and concerted efforts to shape a more conducive policy environment for the European industry.
