Charter
Vision 2040 - “Think Small First” Charter
“There is no Europe without its SMEs.”
Small and medium sized enterprises drive our economy, sustain our communities, carry forward a legacy of skills and innovation. The European Union accounts for 26,17 million companies: 44.358 are large companies and 26,13 million are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs provide 65% of employment and deliver 54% of added value.
SMEs have specific characteristics: the owner-managers work side by side with their employees, providing quality products and services to their customers. In addition, the entrepreneurs manage the company, coach the staff, keep up with new business developments and legislation, implement those in the company and take care of administrative tasks. They are workers, mentors, strategists, innovators, and administrators — all in one.
To ensure these specific characteristics of SMEs are considered in all stages of policy development, the Small Business Act in 2008 already set out the “Think Small First” principle. This principle is rooted in the understanding that "one size does not fit all”. The SME Test was put in place to assess the potential impact of new legislation on small businesses. However, its application remains uneven.
Signing this “Think Small First” Charter, I commit to:
- Draft policies impacting business from the perspective of SMEs. This means that policies should be designed from the outset to be as practically applicable as possible for the smallest enterprises.
- Assess the – direct and indirect – impact on small companies from the start and throughout the entire legislative process, instead of designing rules for large companies and either exempt SMEs or adjust later.
- Include SME friendly provisions in legislation, such as the ‘once only principle’, longer transition periods, ‘advise first – sanction later’ approach, along with mitigating and implementation support measures.
This leads to legislation which is proportionate, practical and tailored to the specific characteristics of micro companies. This lighter touch approach to rules will also enable the growth of companies.
In this way, we provide a pathway for companies to develop and grow, and we guarantee that legislation is compatible with the reality of 99,8% of businesses in Europe.
Sign the charter
SIGNATORIES
Petri Salminen
SMEunited
Véronique Willems
SMEunited
Gerhard HUEMER
SMEunited - Craft and SMEs in Europe
Johan Bortier
UNIZO
Anton Van Assche
UNIZO
Josep Ginesta
PIMEC
Jarosław Romaniuk
Polish Craft Association
Andrew Aquilina
Malta Chamber of SMEs
Marco Granelli
Confartigianato Imprese
Lode Nulmans
Limburg Campings
maurizio ronchi
Gammacolor srl (Italy)
Luca Crosetto
Confartigianato Imprese
Jesse Kuronen
Kuronen Yhtiöt oy
ANTONIO CAÑETE MARTOS
Pimec
David Riba
HABITAT APARTMENTS
Domingo Morilla Ribelles
Federacio Intercomarcal d'Hostaleria, Restauració I Turisme-FIHRT
Domingo Morilla Ribelles
Gremi d'Hosteleria de Viladecans
José Carlos Romero Sanz
GREMI DE TRANSPORT I MAQUINÀRIA DE LA CONSTRUCCIÓ DE CATALUNYA
Mariona Martí
Gremi Comarcal d'Hostaleria i Turisme del Solsonès
Arantxa Codorniu Castelló
Associació de Restauració d'Amposta
Núria Carbó Carbó
Gremi Comarcal d'Hostaleria i Turisme de l'Alt Penedès
Daniel BRASE ARNAU
Federació Intercomarcal d'Hostaleria, Restauració i Turisme-FIHRT
M CARMEN CHAVEZ LEZAMETA
ASOCIACION GREMIO DE HOSTELERIA Y ALIMENTACION DE HOSPITALET Y COMARCA
Antonio M. Rodríguez Arenas
AMITS
Josep Inarejos
Ina design
Joan Carles Martin Nasarre
APAC
Xavi Camps i Comas
Empordà Turisme
Angel Nevado
Associació Catalana d'Industrials del Parquet
Carolina Allepuz
Fergarcia SAU, Allepuz Garcia SL, Fergarcia ESP, Qanat Studio SL, Cleare 2020 SLU, Infinity Belgium SRL, Cleare Belgium SRL
Miquel Camps
Miquel Camps S.L.
Josep Maria Catalan Ferre
AECIP
JORDI PALAU SOLANES
GREMI DE TINTORERS I BUGADERS DE CATALUNYA
Chris Van Wesemael
Belgische Tuincentra Vereniging vzw (Belgian Garden Centre Association)
Clara Lapiedra
Marlin Capital Partners SL
M.Carme Soler
ASFAC
Mikel Camps
Pimec
Fernando Martínez Iglesias
Secretari General
Mireia Cammany
Pimec
Marta Mercader
AFYDAD- SPAIN IS SPORT
Dr. Lluís Monset i Castells
ACES
Israel Vicente Bernal
Jesús González
Gremi de Serrallers de Catalunya, Any 1380
JACINTO SOLER MATUTES
EESC
VICTOR ESTEVE MIRET
ASSOCIACION PROVINCIAL D`ESTACIONS DE SERVEI LLEIDA
Josep Tres
ASSOCIACIO CATALANA EMPRESAS NETEJA (ASCEN)
Natividad Mellado
ASSOCIACIO PROFESSIONAL D'EMPRESARIS INSTAL.LADORS - APEI
Gemma Badillo
Pit Lane Advisors, SL
JOSE FERRE ESTORACH
MADERSENIA S.L.
Eva Mititieri Peiró
DEC Mititieri, S.A.
SONIA PATRICIA MARTINEZ
CONSTRUCCIONES METALICAS CERRAMETAL,S.L.
JORDI MARTI COTS
OSCAR SANCHEZ FABREGAT
OSCAR SF
Jordi Bonet
COLELL S.A.
Juan Ramon Galindo Rico
Gremi Serrallers Cataluña
ALBERT GISBERT
PUERTAS METALICAS CANALEJAS S.L.
Albert Leon
FERRETERIA ROSSELL
LAIA SALVADOR POCH
39901984C
Joan Prats Gil
Jose Mª Casanovas Enrich
Xavier Pujol
PIMEC
FERRAN MARCO
HIDRALAIR. S.L.
Carles Reverter Monfulleda
Ferros Reverter SL
Imma Ruiz
ACCAC - Associació Cases de Colònies i Albergs de Catalunya
ESTHER TORRENT
ATA_ASSOCIACIÓ TURÍSTICA D'APARTAMENTS
Josep Carbonés
ATA
Jan Willem Beun
Vereniging ION
ISABELLE RUBIS
Turisme Rural Can Gat Vell SCP
Judith Gibert Sotelo
INICIATIVES GISO SL - Apartaments Gibert i Turisme Rural Mas Llorenç
Xevi Teixidor
Teixidor Manresa, sl
René Oller
UP LANGUAGE SCHOOL TERRASSA
Alba Illescas
AAprendre idiomes
Jeanine Parramon Ros
Boutique Homes Costa Brava, S.L.
cristina gutierrez leston
Mirada Granja S.L.
Alexandra Borja Gutierrez
La Granja Ability Training Center
Judith Argelés
Step In Centre de Formació
Neus Guix
I-kids
Jordi Ciuraneta
Pimec Tarragona
JOSEP MIRO
FEDERACIO GREMIS D' EMPRESAS INSTAL•LADORES DE LA PROVINCIA DE TARRAGONA
Javier Mañanet Jovellar
GLOBAL TEACHING S.L.
NATALIA BORDAS
Global idiomes
Egbert Roozen
European Landscape Contractors Association (ELCA)
Liliana Mateus Caraça
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
SÒNIA PÉREZ
FERRETERIA EUMAN SL
Rody van Egmond
Holiday Promotion Group SC
Deborah Gail Watson flindall
COMPLEMENTOS Actividades Pedagógicas SL