We are the biggest political organisation in Europe that operates for the rights of small and medium sized enterprises, creating and developing a common European SME friendly policy
My focus has always been on strengthening the business climate and empowering entrepreneurs. This has been paramount for me both as an entrepreneur myself, when I was mayor and now as member of the European Parliament."
Jörgen Warborn
Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of SME Europe
SMEs create new jobs and drive economic growth. The constructive part of my political vision is to design strategies with the needs of SMEs in mind, helping them to exploit the single market’s full potential.
Iuliu Winkler
Member of the European Parliament, First Vice-President of SME Europe
Behind every SME there is a personal story. It is often not a story of an immediate success, it is a business journey of errors and mistakes. In fact, failure is great, when you own it and start all over again until you succeed.
Angelika Winzig
Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President & Treasurer of SME Europe
I am committed to connecting SMEs to both European and international opportunities for financing and knowledge exchange. I worked on the review of the European Fund for Strategic Investments and advocated for its extension and for the creation of regional advisory hubs for SMEs.
Eva Maydell
Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of SME Europe
Throughout my political career, I have always considered the SME sector as one of the most important engines of the EU economy. That is why I have shown special attention to the SMEs in all aspects of my actions and constantly advocated for their equal and fair conditions, taking into account their importance. Coming from a region in Croatia well known for our entrepreneurship, I am aware that a lot can be done for the sector from the European level and I am dedicated in further strengthening the collaboration between the European SMEs and policy makers.
Sunčana Glavak
Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of SME Europe
As a business owner, I understand firsthand the importance of fostering a supportive environment where businesses can thrive. That’s why I've dedicated myself to the SMEs by advocating for the policies and resources they need to grow and succeed.
Niels Flemming Hansen
Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of SME Europe
I am committed as a Member of the European Parliament to help SMEs, entrepreneurs and innovators to succeed in the EU. Regulatory burden, fragmentation of the market, uncertainty and lack of risk capital to grow are among the reasons for companies to leave the EU. With concrete action we need to make the EU a place where innovation thrives, not dies under the paperwork.
Aura Salla
Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of SME Europe
Europe needs to contribute to common defence - as the former Chief of Estonian Defence Forces, I see this as my main mission. The time of peace dividends in Europe is over! In addition, I stand for SMEs that are the engine of technological innovation in every field, therefore their contribution must be made less bureaucratic and attractive.
Riho Terras
Member of the European Parliament, Vice-President of SME Europe
The EU’s Engine Out of Sync – France and Germany in Crisis: What Does This Mean for Europe’s Economy?
Green transition in Lithuania Best practices, Examples and Lessons Learned
A Status Discussion: Will the Proposal for AI Work for SMEs?
Baltic debates collection Episode II: Latvia’s future as investment and growth region
Economic Situation in the Baltics: The Highest Inflation in the EU & the Impact for SMEs in Estonia
Evaluating Responsibilities Across the Value Chain: AI Act and its Consequences for European SMEs
AI Regulation and its Impact on SMEs: Focus on the French Presidency Proposals on General-Purpose AI
Will the WTO Waiver of Intellectual Property Rights help or harm the COVID Response?
Building a Fair and Trustworthy Data-Driven Economy for the Future
AI in the Healthcare Sector: Challenges and Opportunities for Legislation and SMEs
SME Digitalisation Workshop – Lessons from Estonia & Good Practices from Germany
Reflection on the Digital Markets Act IMCO Report
SMEs & Platform Work
Reaching Women's Economic Independence
How Can Wi-Fi Contribute to the EU Digital Decade?
How are SMEs Better Off When Seeking Patent Protection?
The new EU-China strategy
The Future of AI Regulation
Digital Markets Act: Tech Industry & SMEs
AI & SME Competitiveness
Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe
A European Union of Equality
Implementation of the EU-China CAI
Business Impact Assessment for Covid-19
Making #DSA Work for SMEs
5G: Connectivity & Security for SMEs
Gatekeeper Rules for Digital Platforms & Their Impact on SMEs
COVID-19 & Cashless Payments
SME Impact Assessment - Survey Presentation
EU-China: a Strategic Conversation
Covid-19: Economic Response for SMEs
SME Star Awards 2018
Our instruments
SME Europe - Small and Medium Entrepreneurs of Europe
We advise on EU legislation for small and medium enterprises. We aim at tight cooperation with all the stakeholders representing entrepreneurial sector as the entrepreneurs are given an early warning on legal development whist we receive their own evaluations on the effects of this will have on them
Legislative Initiatives
Contributing to the discourse of legislation and intervening in undesirable developments. We gather information, opinions and positions both locally in Brussels and in the member states.
Communication
Through public events for an open discourse bringing together various stakeholders of all levels: European Parliament, European Commission, associations, SMEs, field experts, etc
Mentoring Programmes
For SMEs bringing them into direct contact with the European institutions and explaining procedures of the EU
B2B Networking
By organising meeting and trips, both EU-wide and internationally
Launching Projects
By building up effective partnerships and sharing the know-how to support the first steps in cross-border cooperation
This event, organised together with ZPP – Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers, will delve into the multifaceted challenges and strategic opportunities that define the future of the European automotive sector. At a time when the industry is navigating a complex landscape shaped by external competition, regulatory demands and the transition to climate-neutral technologies, this event will bring together key policymakers, industry leaders and experts to propose actionable solutions.
A central focus of the discussion will be the need to re-establish technological neutrality in EU policies. Current regulations, such as the 2035 ban on internal combustion engines (ICEs), have disproportionately favoured specific technologies, creating an uneven playing field. The roundtable will explore how restoring a level field for various technologies – ranging from ICEs powered by alternative fuels to electric and hybrid vehicles – can enhance innovation, consumer choice and cost-effectiveness while still achieving the EU’s ambitious decarbonization targets.
The Polish automotive sector, a vital player in the European supply chain, exemplifies the importance of maintaining technological neutrality. In 2023, the production value of automotive parts and accessories in Poland reached 27 billion EUR, reflecting a 9.3% year-over-year growth. This segment constitutes over 50% of Poland’s automotive production and employs approximately three-quarters of the sector’s workforce. With Poland ranking as the 7th largest exporter of automotive parts globally, its contribution to maintaining a balanced technological ecosystem cannot be overstated.
The event will also highlight the importance of addressing data access as a cornerstone for advancing research and innovation in areas like autonomous driving, vehicle safety, and industry competitiveness. Panellists will examine the need for sector-specific regulations on in-vehicle data, ensuring robust cybersecurity and promoting secure cross-border data exchanges to streamline development and deployment of cutting-edge automotive technologies.
Another vital area of discussion will be the role of infrastructure investment in supporting the shift towards sustainable mobility. Poland’s specialisation in producing key automotive components like batteries, powertrain elements and braking systems underscores its potential leadership in sustainable mobility solutions. However, the lack of adequate charging and refuelling networks, especially for heavy-duty vehicles, remains a significant barrier to widespread adoption of new technologies. Participants will discuss strategies for accelerating infrastructure deployment, leveraging public-private partnerships and ensuring equitable distribution across the EU.
Finally, the roundtable will address broader issues of supply chain resilience, including the diversification of critical raw material sources, fostering a circular economy, and countering unfair trade practices that disadvantage European manufacturers. For example, Polish firms exported automotive parts to 157 countries in 2023, demonstrating the importance of resilient and diversified supply chains for maintaining global integration and competitiveness. This event aims to outline a comprehensive strategy for securing the competitiveness of the EU automotive sector, ensuring it remains a driver of economic growth and a leader in sustainable transformation.
Omnibus Package: The Start of a Simplification Revolution?
We stand for European SMEs! We are the biggest political organisation in Europe that operates for the rights of small and medium sized enterprises, creating and developing a common European SME friendly policy
We stand for European SMEs! We are the biggest political organisation in Europe that operates for the rights of small and medium sized enterprises, creating and developing a common European SME friendly policy
The EU’s Engine Out of Sync – France and Germany in Crisis: What Does This Mean for Europe’s Economy?
We stand for European SMEs! We are the biggest political organisation in Europe that operates for the rights of small and medium sized enterprises, creating and developing a common European SME friendly policy
Practical Exchange and Connected Perspectives: EU Economic and Political Outlook Insights
We stand for European SMEs! We are the biggest political organisation in Europe that operates for the rights of small and medium sized enterprises, creating and developing a common European SME friendly policy
We cordially invite you to our event co-organised with Związek Przedsiębiorców i Pracodawców / Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers on "Securing the Competitiveness of the EU Automotive Industry: Technological Neutrality and Data Access in the Driver's Seat", hosted by Elżbieta Łukacijewska MEP, on 26 March at 12PM, in the European Parliament in Brussels.Amid rising competition, evolving regulations, and the shift to climate-neutral technologies, this discussion will gather policymakers and experts including Kosma Złotowski MEP, Malgorzata Wenerska-Craps, Tomasz Bęben, Mark Nicklas, Aleksandra Kozlowska, Benjamin Krieger, Sylvia Gotzen, Marcin Barankiewicz and Zuzana Púčiková to propose actionable solutions for the future of the European automotive sector.Key topics include restoring technological neutrality in EU policies for fair competition among drivetrain technologies, improving data access for research, safety, and competitiveness, and establishing clear regulations on in-vehicle data and cybersecurity.We will also address infrastructure challenges for sustainable mobility, particularly charging and refuelling networks. Poland’s strong automotive component production is key to the green transition, but infrastructure remains a challenge.Agenda and registration 👉 www.smeeurope.eu/events/automotive-competitiveness/... See MoreSee Less
SME Europe of the EPP maintains this website to enhance public access to information about its initiatives. Our goal is to keep this information timely and accurate. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. This privacy policy will explain how our initiative uses the personal data we collect from you when you use our website.
Your Privacy
When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience.
Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms.
You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site.
All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
