EPP members appealed to Commissioner Thierry Breton responsible of the internal market to ensure a level playing field and support SMEs during a debate on the economic aspect of the COVID-19 recovery.
"Commissioner, investment in rebuilding comes at a high price: that of rising debt. We must take care of both targets: fiscal consolidation must be the foundation on which we build-up sustainable growth." Michael Murphy, Councillor Of Tipperary County told Commissioner Breton. Murphy stressed the need to support SMEs "We need healthy SMEs up and running again through viable alternatives like equity finance and venture capital, instead of more debt-based loans. "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SnCRVSfSZU&t=84s
Eddy van Hijum, member of the Provincial Executive of the Province of Overijssel and Rapporteur of the SME strategy appealed to Commissioner Thierry Breton to give more freedom to local and regional authorities to take into account the interest of the European manufacturing industry in tendering procedures. "Local and regional SME's are confronted with unfair competition from third country companies. We need to get tough on unfair competition from outside the EU and enable a level playing field in trade agreements for SMEs. There is no level playing field and no reciprocity and this hurts manufacturing industry and causes loss of jobs."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9sRdns5PJw
Piero Mauro Zanin President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional council and vice-president of the CIVEX Commission said that for a successful recovery, it was necessary to address demographic challenges, invest in production supply chains in the health sector and support SMEs that are the real assets for local communities.