Commitments for Implementation

1
Commitments for Implementation

• European Stakeholder Meeting on Sustainable
  Consumption and Production
• Ostend, 24-26 November 2004
• UEAPME
• Guido Lena
• Director for Environmental Affairs

2
UEAPME in short

• UEAPME is the employers organisation
  representing the interests at European level of
  crafts, trades and Small and Medium-Sized
  Enterprises.
• UEAPMEs 81 member organisations mainly consist
  of national cross-sectoral associations and
  European trade federations.
• UEAPME represents more than 7 million enterprises
  in the EU which employ over 38 million people.
  Across the whole of Europe, UEAPME represents
  over 11 million businesses with nearly 50 million
  employees.
• UEAPME is a recognised European Social Partner.

3
The importance of SMEs

• EU definition of SMEs (employees)
• 0 till 250
• 99,8 of European businesses are SMEs
• SMEs are the backbone of the European economy

4
Role of UEAPME

• UEAPME shares objectives of SCP and SDS provided
  a real mutual integration of the pillars takes
  place.
• UEAPME already engaged in different activities
  (not exhaustive)
• IPP ( inter alia EMAS, Eco-label.)
• Environmental Technologies and Eco-efficiency
  (ETAP Partnership for a Clean, Clever,
  Competitive Europe)
• Corporate Social Responsibility

5
Not enough what SMEs need

• Micro and S.B. are under pressure by different
  sources and do not have any environmental policy.
  
• SC can be seen as a cultural revolution!!
• Therefore, institutional support at all levels
  is needed to create a tailored-made framework for
  them with
• awareness-raising (dissemination of
  information sharing of experience, best
  practices etc.)
• Education and Training
• Technical Assistance
• Incentives (fiscal incentives loans)
• Programmes