UEAPME, represented by Enterprise Director Luc Hendrickx, took part in a high-level conference with European Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Günter Verheugen on the future of SME policy in the EU.

The meeting aimed at guiding the Commission in its deliberations on future SME policy. It represented the first time that the relevant stakeholders had been consulted prior to the Commission’s own in-service consultation phase and, as such, set an important precedent.

UEAPME welcomed the opportunity to be consulted in such an important initiative for SMEs at such an early stage. The European Commission was encouraged to take more ownership in the field of SME policy.