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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Community Lisbon Programme O3 – A European Small Business Act2 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:

5. Community Lisbon Programme2 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

6. Community Lisbon Programme2 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

7. 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: F: E: