SME Europe

On 26 February, President Ursula von der Leyen will present the first Omnibus simplification proposal, focusing on three major ESG laws: 🔹CSRD – Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive 🔹CS3D – Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive 🔹Taxonomy Regulation Recently, I co-hosted an event with SME Europe and Eurochambres on this first Omnibus package. Thank you to the nearly 150 participants who joined the discussion, highlighting the demand for slashing red tape. We explored how excessive regulatory complexity is stifling growth, especially for SMEs. While I believe the Omnibus is a step forward, it is not enough. We must extend simplification efforts beyond climate regulation to the digital sector. Regulations such as GDPR and the AI Act—while well-intended—have created a complex and costly environment for businesses. For Europe to lead in innovation and competitiveness, regulation must be a catalyst for growth—not a roadblock. Simplification does not mean lowering standards or compromising policy goals. Smart, well-designed regulation supports both growth and sustainability. But excessive bureaucracy creates barriers, drives up costs, and stifles innovation. Businesses need legal certainty, but from clear, practical rules—not an ever-growing compliance burden. I believe this is a key moment, and it must mark the start of a long-term commitment to simplification.

Europe’s businesses need real regulatory relief! While the "one in, one out" policy proposed earlier by the European Commission was a good start, it maintains the status quo. It’s time to push for a 📣 🇪🇺 "one in, two out" approach as a step forward towards a greater simplification and efficiency. We thank Eurochambres, Ben Butters for joining forces in this important conversation "Omnibus Package: The Start of a Simplification Revolution?" in the European Parliament on February 4th, our President, Jörgen Warborn for leading the debate and @Michael Wimmer, Michael Saxl, Antonija Božič Cerar, Paul RÜBIG EU and all present for contributing their expertise. Our major takeaways: 🔹 Streamline overlapping regulations to reduce inefficiencies. 🔹 Improve data requirements & IT infrastructure for easier compliance. 🔹 Ensure regulatory clarity so businesses can plan investments with confidence. 🔹 Create one-stop-shop solutions to simplify reporting and reduce administrative burdens. 🔹 Avoid excessive regulatory demands that hinder global trade and risk being perceived as protectionism. The Omnibus Package is welcomed as a starting point, but more must be done to make the real change for SMEs across Europe, covering all sectors and policies. Read the report 👉 https://lnkd.in/dARzgWCr

Aura Salla 👉 ‘Where the EU got this wrong is that we will not “catch the Big Tech” with our tsunami of #tech regulation but it will harm our own scale-ups needing #data, risk capital, enabling single market and talent to grow to be big. No one is going to follow our lead to over-regulate their own market.❗️We are regulating high-tech innovation before we even have innovation in this continent and push our scale-ups to search opportunities in the US.☝️’

Trump speaking to the audience in Davos:  ”One in, ten out”. EPP is modest asking for one in, two out.  Time to step up our game and slash red tape!

SME-friendly policies, stronger networks, bold communication, and streamlined collaboration—our strategy for European SMEs in 2025. Bureaucracy has to be reduced. Overregulation is a serious challenge, and Europe’s competitiveness is at stake.

On Tuesday, 4 February, from 08h00 to 09h30 CET we cordially invite you to join our working breakfast titled 🇪🇺 “Omnibus Package: The Start of a Simplification Revolution?” hosted by Jörgen Warborn MEP, President of SME Europe of the EPP, and organised in cooperation with Eurochambres. Our event will take place in the European Parliament with the participation of Antonija Božič Cerar, Michael Saxl, Ben Butters. 📄 Agenda: https://lnkd.in/dBuy8igg  👉 Registration https://lnkd.in/dHV-H6QT 👆 REGISTRATION CLOSING ON 24 JANUARY The new Commission is due to adopt an Omnibus Simplification Package in the coming weeks. During this event, we want to explore how to ensure that the new EU term can achieve substantive results that will tangibly reduce the regulatory burden on Europe’s business community. The Green Deal – the most prominent and significant legislative package of the 2019-2024 Commission – will be discussed as a case study on both the scale of the challenge and the ways in which it can be addressed. We aim to bring together policymakers, business representatives, and other stakeholders to shed light on the challenges businesses face with compliance reporting obligations under the European Green Deal, discuss practical solutions and policy measures to streamline requirements, and to shape a wishlist for the Omnibus Simplification Package to ease the regulatory burden.

Speaking at the recent European People's Party Political Assembly, Iuliu Winkler MEP emphasized SME Europe’s unique role within the EPP family as a driving force in shaping policies that matter to entrepreneurs in the EU. 🇪🇺✨ #EPP has always been the political home for Europe’s SMEs 🏛️. As the central hub for SME party organizations and the broader SME community 🙌, we  serve as a dedicated platform to strengthen EPP’s position as the leading political advocate 📣 for SMEs.

During a compelling online discussion titled “The EU’s Engine Out of Sync – France and Germany in Crisis: What Does This Mean for Europe’s Economy?”, held on 19 December, Tobias Winkler, Anthony Bisch and Dr. Florian Hartleb examined the political and economic challenges facing France and Germany, highlighting the urgency of cross-border collaboration to address shared issues like competitiveness, governance, and populism. The speakers emphasised pragmatic policymaking, trust-building, and strengthening EU cohesion as key pathways to a resilient and united European future. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/dJA-cU98

On Thursday, 19 December, from 12h30 to 13h30 CET, we cordially invite you to join our webinar titled "The EU’s Engine Out of Sync – France and Germany in Crisis: What Does This Mean for Europe’s Economy?", with the participation of Anthony Bisch, Tobias Winkler and Dr. Florian Hartleb. Agenda and registration 👉 https://lnkd.in/dDjX47YB France and Germany, often seen as the EU's "engine," are facing political turmoil. In Germany, coalition tensions and declining support spark talk of snap elections, while France struggles with government deadlock and social unrest. This instability in the EU’s core raises concerns about Europe's economy, impacting businesses, investments, trade, and the single market. How can the EU restore confidence and ensure stability amid such uncertainty?

Last week we celebrated Women’s Entrepreneurship Day with inspiring discussions on empowering women in business across Europe. From addressing systemic barriers like funding gaps and work-life balance to showcasing innovative solutions, our speakers shared powerful insights. The event was hosted by Jörgen Warborn, President of SME Europe and joined by Roberta Metsola as well as the exceptional lineup of female leaders Zuzana Púčiková, Giulia Rocchi Eurochambres, Valeryia Despaihne-Chernyak EuroCommerce, Natasha Jamal Mastercard Strive, Eleonora Meleti MEP, Christina Teusl and Denise Vorraber FEMINDS, Olga Diakova Impact Force, Jennie Sinclair Ownershift - power shift through ownership, Georgia Mourad Brooks The Nine and Florence Raes UN Women. Key takeaways: 🔹 Women are driving resilience and innovation, even in the most challenging circumstances, as seen in Ukraine. 🔹 There’s a growing push for policies supporting childcare, equitable funding, and tailored financial and social welfare systems for female entrepreneurs. The system should adapt to women’s needs, rather than forcing women to conform to rigid existing structures 🔹 Collaboration between public, private, and nonprofit sectors is essential to create lasting change. Recognizing the importance of the topic, we are committed to driving follow-up initiatives to track progress and advance impactful policies that drive meaningful change for female entrepreneurship throughout the EU. Read our report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dTt88usb