The Integrated Guidelines and the Community Lisbon Programme Gerhard Huemer UEAPME - Director Economic and Fiscal Policy Renewed Lisbon Strategy 2008-2010 Brussels, 7-8 February 2008

The renewed Lisbon Strategy - is it a success? 2 8 1 The renewed Lisbon Strategy - is it a success? New governance systems delivers better Integrated guidelines has improved coherence and ownership Three years cycle provides more stability and allows better focus on implementation But there are still shortcomings: Member States are still indulging in “cherry picking” Social Partners are not always sufficiently involved in programming and implementing

Integrated Guidelines - is there a need to change? B O N 2 8 1 Integrated Guidelines - is there a need to change? Unfortunately, the improved economic development has weakened the courage of Member States to implement reforms during the last years. The existing Integrated Guidelines cover the needed policies and therefore, UEAPME does not see much need for changes. The next governance cycle has to focus on implementation. But there are some special challenges: Member States, which are late in budget consolidation will have less room to react to future downturns Flexicurity: reforms in the taxation and social system at the lower end of the market – undeclared work and working poor Special needs for small enterprises to implement Flexicurity

Community Lisbon Programme O3 – A European Small Business Act 2 8 1 Community Lisbon Programme O3 – A European Small Business Act The SBA is the last opportunity for the current Commission and the current Parliament to do something effective for SMEs. The SBA cannot be another lip service exercise, but must include clear commitments from the European Institutions and the Member States on principles for SME policy and delivering. Think small first; impact assessment; once only; simplification instead of exemptions The SBA must encompass all policy areas relevant for SMEs and deliver measures that make a difference for the 25 Million SMEs in Europe. access to markets – public procurement, taxation, IPR protection access to standards and certification; access to finance and knowledge; Find more at: http://www.ueapme.com/docs/pos_papers/2007/071214_pp_SBA.pdf

Community Lisbon Programme 2 8 1 Community Lisbon Programme O5 – strengthening the single market Energy Market Reforms must break up existing monopolies: effective unbundling is a precondition and not negotiable strengthening the competences of European regulators needed Single Euro Payments Ares – SEPA far from being mature: SEPA has to deliver the same features than existing systems Direct Debit – one day for veto is unacceptable for SMEs European and national competition authorities have to avoid the emergence of new monopoles – credit cards, terminals, etc. Retail Banking services: more competition – especially cross border – is needed but don’t destroy the structures of saving and cooperative banks SMEs finance depend on such decentralised structures

Community Lisbon Programme 2 8 1 Community Lisbon Programme O7 – innovation - venture capital and IPR UEAPME welcomes to move to widen the definition of innovation, which is more than R&D and High-Tech. CIP could do more to found risk financing without a community patent and simplified access of SME to litigation, IPR will not work in the SME sector O10 – market access and defence measures SMEs are very much concerned about trade defence measures. SMEs see fair trade as a precondition for the political support of globalisation: access to anti-dumping and anti-subsidise procedures SME interests in bilateral agreements and negotiations IPR protection on the EU border – custom services

Thank you for your attention L I S B O N 2 8 1 Thank you for your attention Gerhard Huemer UEAPME Director for Economic and Fiscal Policy Rue Jacques de Lalaing 4 B-1040 Brussels T: +32 2 230 7599 F: +32 2 230 7861 E: g.huemer@ueapme.com www.ueapme.com