Partner Article

Local MEPs asked to back small businesses

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging all North East MEPs to sign a declaration demanding Europe’s 20 million small and medium sized enterprises receive fairer treatment from the EU.

The ‘Written Declaration’, launched by MEPs, calls for the European Commission to ensure the impending Small Business Act contains tangible improvements in the business environment. In addition, it aims to ensure that any future EU laws are considered from the perspective of small businesses.

If over 50% of all MEPs sign the Written Declaration before 24 July 2008, it will become a formal declaration of the Parliament and carries a great deal of weight with the Council of Ministers and the European Commission.

The content of the Small Business Act is currently being negotiated amongst the EU’s 27 national governments, and publication is expected in July.

The FSB wants the proposals to include regulatory exemptions for small businesses, and that assessments on proposed European legislation look specifically at how it might impact on small businesses.

Simon Hanson, North East Policy Manager, said: “The Small Business Act offers the European Union a golden opportunity to make life easier for North East small businesses, but we are concerned that national governments will water down the proposals. “This Written Declaration gives MEPs the opportunity to tell the other European institutions they want the Small Business Act to provide tangible results for small businesses, which for too long have been held back and disadvantaged by European bureaucracy.

“Our MEPs must show their support for the engines of the local economy: small businesses.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .