Regional Policy Dialogue Meeting “SMEs in a Green Economy”, 09 March 2018, Paris Session 1, Guido Lena - Director for Sustainable Development, UEAPME

1. Voice of the interests of smallVoice of the interests of small
business in the EUbusiness in the EU
SMEs challenges in making green transitionSMEs challenges in making green transition
Guido Lena - Director for Sustainable DevelopmentGuido Lena - Director for Sustainable Development
UEAPMEUEAPME
09/03/2018 – SMEs in a green economy09/03/2018 – SMEs in a green economy
OECD – ParisOECD – Paris

2. UEAPME
 Employers’ organisation representing the interests at
European level of Crafts, trades and Small and
Medium-Sized Enterprises.
 67 member organisations (national cross-sectoral
associations and European trade federations).
 Represents 12 million enterprises in EU which employ
nearly 55 million people.
 Recognised European Social Partner.

3. SMEs in Europe
 European definition ≤ 250 employees
 EU :21,7 mio enterprises – 99.8% SME
 2/3 of all employment, close to 60% of added value
 50% one-person company
 Average: 5 empl
 90% = micro-enterprises < 10 empl

4.  The green transition is a systemic change impossible to
achieve without the full involvement of SMEs considering
their role in EU’s economy
 This transition is not a quick process happening overnight
 The transition should take place in a way that most SMEs
manage to stay on the market, thus avoiding loss of
growth and employment in the EU
Starting points

5. Main challenges for SMEs I - Framework
 Insufficient SME-friendly favourable political and legislative
framework to foster this transition at EU and national level

6. Main challenges for SMEs II – Company level
 Lack of information
 Lack of experience/know-how
 Need of finances for upfront investments
 Lack of green skills
 Lack of incentives
 Inadequate support from public authorities and business
organisations, particularly in some Member States

7. Main challenges for SMEs III – Third parties
 Lack of consistent, permanent demand for green products
 Lack of suitable relations in the value chain

8.  Need for a thorough and consistent policy and legislative
framework at EU and national level facilitating the transition
for SMEs, based on:
 First of all the SBA principles and, particularly, the “Think
Small First” approach
 The elements presented below
Solutions I – Framework

9. Solution II – Company level
 Awareness-raising activities/campaigns at EU and national
level
 Technical assistance at local level at reasonable costs
 Easier access to different forms of financing
 Green upskilling for employees and entrepreneurs
 (Fiscal) incentives when SMEs employ somebody with a
sustainability background
 Different forms of capacity building for SME organisations

10. Solutions III – Third parties 1
 Stimulate the demand for green products with awareness-
raising for consumers and other concrete measures =
green products should cost less: no/reduced VAT?
 Deeper cooperation along supply chains so that SMEs get
the suitable materials to produce more green products. It
would be useful to 1) increase the availability and the
quality level of by-products/recycled products 2) give a
common interpretation at EU level of the end-of-waste
definition

11. Solutions III – Third parties 2
 Carry out the necessary investments in innovation and
digitalisation so that they are widespread in the society,
since digitalisation is one key element to reduce the
excessive manufacturing of physical products typical of the
linear economy and to switch to more services and/or
services which also involve products and are related to
them (such as car sharing, leasing of white goods, etc.)

12. Doubtful measures for traditional SMEs
 Green public procurement
 Extended producer responsibility
 Extension of Eco-design to circularity aspects (reusability,
recyclability, reparability)

13. Contact
Guido LENA
Director for Sustainable Development
Tel. +32 2 230 75 99
g.lena@ueapme.com
UEAPME
Rue Jacques de Lalaingstraat 4 B - 1040 Brussels
Tel. +32 2 230 75 99 | Fax +32 2 23 07 861
EU Transparency Register: identification number 55820581197-35
www.ueapme.com