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As the UK's leading business organisation, the FSB is also the leading small business voice at the heart of the European Union - ensuring the UK's entrepreneurs are heard through our dedicated office in Brussels. More
Tina Sommer, EU and International Affairs Chairman
Latest News
> SME Envoy visits FSB London Office
The new European SME Envoy, Daniel Calleja Crespo, recently met with the FSB. At the meeting the FSB raised a number of issues including the accumulative effect of costs and burdens of European legislation on small businesses.
The FSB advised him to concentrate on a range of key issues. For example, greater transparency on what the Commission is doing in terms of burden reduction. The FSB would like to see real figures on the net burden reduction of reviewed and new legislation. For example, it is currently impossible to check the figures of the Commission with regard to the Action Programme for the Reduction of Administrative Burden.
Furthermore, the burden of proof whether legislation is necessary should be reversed. The question should always be asked whether it is necessary that small businesses comply with proposed legislation or not. If not, than small businesses should be exempted. A study on how legislative burden influences the competitiveness of European businesses would be very desirable.
This links in with the Think Small First Principle. Calleja agreed that this was quickly forgotten in the member states and he promised to revive the principle and look for ways to possibly enforce it. He will also actively spread best practices. For example, credit mediators work very well in France. These practices should be made known to other member states.
The FSB gave him examples of burdensome proposals such as legislation on parental leave, the review of the muskeloskelatal directive, and the need for a data protection officer in proposed data protection legislation.
Finally, the FSB urged him to use his influence in the Commission and police DGs to do an SME test on the proposals they publish. The FSB is also supportive of a seat for the SME Envoy on the Commission's Impact Assessment Board.
> Review of Small Business Act adopted
On 23 February the review of the European Small Business Act was formally adopted. More
> Stakeholders meeting on the UK's implementation of the Small Business Act (SBA)
The FSB was invited to take part in a discussion organised by DG Enterprise and Industry, in London, on SBA implementation in the UK. Topics included access to finance, broadband, small business support structures, female entrepreneurship, exporting and the "Think Small First" principle. More
> The Services Directive Explained - new FSB guide
The FSB has launched a new guide explaining what this Directive means for small businesses and how they can take advantage of the opportunities it offers.
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FSB EU and International Affairs
Tina Sommer - Chairman, EU and International Affairs
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