📢 Our #SME recap:
✅ #Standardisation: inclusiveness matters
✅ From #simplification to #implementation
✅ European Council backs #ThinkSmallFirst
✅ #SMEEnvoys on simplification
✅ #ECF priorities for SMEs
✅ #Skills & talent for #SMEs
▶️ Read more: mailchi.mp/smeunited/ne...
@consilium.europa.eu
EU legislation must be workable for #SMEs in practice - SG @veroniquewillems.bsky.social at the @euractiv.com panel:
➡️ Apply #ThinkSmallFirst consistently
➡️ Set realistic, proportionate requirements
➡️ Allow sufficient transition time
➡️ Strengthen impact assessments across EU Institutions
EU is home to 26.17M companies, 24.5M with <10 employees. Yet rules are often designed for 44,358 large firms. SMEs don’t want exceptions – they are the majority & should be the rule. SMEunited insists on turning #ThinkSmallFirst into practice - @veroniquewillems.bsky.social at #SMEsForum
More ⤵️
The European Competitiveness Fund can boost 🇪🇺 #resilience & #competitiveness with #SMEs fully on board.
SMEunited calls for
➡️ #SME role in governance
➡️ 20% per window for SME projects
➡️ 30% #InvestEU guarantee for SMEs
➡️ Dedicated SME support in programmes
#ThinkSmallFirst
EU leaders reaffirm #ThinkSmallFirst a positive signal for Europe’s #SMEs. Reacting to 19 March conclusions, President Galli welcomed renewed efforts on #simplification & burden reduction.
➡️ SMEs sustain rural jobs, services & heritage
➡️ Cut admin burden & energy pressure
➡️ Strengthen short supply chains & #ThinkSmallFirst
➡️ Tackle unfair trading practices #UTP
➡️ Boost support for rural #SMEs post-2027
▶️ Read more: www.smeunited.eu/news/smes-at...
@christophehansen.bsky.social
“EU legislation should reflect the capacity of #SMEs. Turning the #ThinkSmallFirst principle into practice is key to reaching objectives while keeping rules feasible for SMEs”, said President Galli in a meeting with Council President Costa ahead of the #EUSummit.
@eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu
“If Europe is serious about sovereignty, #security & prosperity, we must apply #ThinkSmallFirst. SMEs are the EU economy. When #SMEs grow, Europe grows”, said President Galli at the #TripartiteSocialSummit
▶️ Read more: www.smeunited.eu/news/smes-mu...
#TSS
#SMEs must have a real seat at the table in EU social policy - President Galli meeting EVP @roxanaminzatu.bsky.social
#ThinkSmallFirst is key - incl. for #QualityJobs Act. SMEs ask for simple rules, less burden & practical guidance.
➡️ More: www.smeunited.eu/news/smeunit...
♻️ SMEunited urges the EC to apply the #ThinkSmallFirst principle when designing the future #CircularEconomyAct
Key priorities: harmonised #EPR rules, clear end-of-waste criteria, better separate collection, fair price signals & foster Circularity Hubs.
➡️ Read more: www.smeunited.eu/admin/storag...
➡️ Read the position paper: smeunited.eu/admin/storag...
👉 Sign the #ThinkSmallFirst Charter: smevision2040.eu/charter
#InternationalWomensDay
Empowering women entrepreneurs is equality & a strategic investment in Europe’s prosperity, SG @veroniquewillems.bsky.social . #SMEs require better access2finance, mentorship, networking, and work–life balance support, with #ThinkSmallFirst applied to #PayTransparency.
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Entrepreneurs don’t ask for more rules - they ask for trust, freedom and the space to innovate.
Through SMEunited, #SMEs can speak with a strong and united voice.
➡️ Explore the #ThinkSmallFirst Charter: smeunited.eu/charter
Conference Vision 2040 by Crafts & SMEs
One month before the 28th Regime proposal, SMEunited calls for a truly SME-friendly approach.
The #28thRegime must:
✅ Be accessible to all companies
✅ Remain voluntary & usable at any stage
✅ Remove fragmentation - not add new burdens
➡️ smeunited.eu/news/how-can...
#SMEs #ThinkSmallFirst
Innovation happens locally - but it needs the right conditions to scale.
From skills and funding to proportionate rules, #SMEs need tailored and enabling frameworks.
➡️Explore the #ThinkSmallFirst Charter: smeunited.eu/charter
@hennavirkkunen.bsky.social
📢 Our weekly #SME recap:
✅ SME demands for Industrial #Competitiveness
✅ #SMEs supporting fair #jobs & inclusion
✅ Navigating the #AI transition
✅ Tackling #skills mismatches
✅ SME-friendly urban logistics
▶️ Enjoy the read: mailchi.mp/smeunited/ne...
#ThinkSmallFirst @cy2026eu.bsky.social
➡️ Read more: smeunited.eu/news/2026-eu...
➡️ Sign the #ThinkSmallFirst Charter: www.smeunited.eu/charter
@veroniquewillems.bsky.social
#AntwerpDeclaration #SaveOurIndustry
“SMEs across Europe have three core demands: put #ThinkSmallFirst into practice, ensure access to #finance, and remove unjustified barriers.”
At the European Industry Summit, SMEunited outlined what restoring EU competitiveness requires.
© Frederik Beyens
MED OPBRUD I DEN REGELBASEREDE ORDEN
er vi udfordret i EU. Det er bagtæppet for det uformelle #EUCO om konkurrenceevne. EUs svar skal både være flere våben & stærkere #competetiveness. Det kræver stærke #SMEs, regelforenkling, #ThinkSmallFirst, velfungerende #SingleMarket & #28thRegime. #SMEunited👇🏻
Prioritise action on #financial, #energy and #telecom services to make the Single Market work in practice.
➡️ Sign the #ThinkSmallFirst Charter: smeunited.eu/charter
➡️Read the Antwerp call to action: antwerp-declaration.eu/the-antwerp-...
#AntwerpDeclaration #SaveOurIndustry
For SMEs, three elements are essential for competitiveness:
1️⃣ #ThinkSmallFirst must guide EU policies from the outset, ensuring SMEs can invest and grow.
➡️ Sign the #ThinkSmallFirst Charter: smeunited.eu/charter
➡️ Read the Antwerp call to action: antwerp-declaration.eu/the-antwerp-...
@wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu @teresaribera.ec.europa.eu @veroniquewillems.bsky.social @deloitteinsights.bsky.social
#SMEs #AntwerpDeclaration #SaveOurIndustry
Crafts and #SMEs are at the heart of local communities - especially in small towns and rural areas.
That reality should be better reflected in how policies are shaped.
➡️ Discover #ThinkSmallFirst Charter: smeunited.eu/charter
@eesc-president.bsky.social
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up the vast majority of Europe’s businesses.
That reality must be reflected in how policies are designed and implemented.
A moment from the Vision 2040 by Crafts & #SMEs Conference, highlighting why #ThinkSmallFirst matters.
📢 Check out our #SME recap:
✅ #ThinkSmallFirst for #competitiveness
✅ #SingleMarket at a standstill
✅ #MFF expectations
✅ #VET & skills
✅ Social dialogue
✅ Better Regulation
✅ Digital Package
✅ Product rules
✅ Webinar on green logistics
▶️ Enjoy the read: mailchi.mp/smeunited/ne...
Better Regulation must deliver proportionate, practical rules that work for #SMEs.
In its contribution to the Call for Evidence, SMEunited stresses that #ThinkSmallFirst must be embedded in EU law-making - with early stakeholder involvement and SME-friendly implementation.
“If the EU is serious about sovereignty, security and prosperity, #ThinkSmallFirst must guide every political choice”.
Ahead of the EU leaders’ retreat, SMEunited President Davide Galli calls for #SMEs to be a strategic priority in Europe’s #competitiveness agenda.
“Putting the #ThinkSmallFirst principle in practice is part of the work to be done to reach a more entrepreneurial society”.
At the Commission’s Clean, Just and Competitive conference, SMEunited Secretary General @veroniquewillems.bsky.social presented Vision 2040 by Crafts & #SMEs.
