UEAPME
Encyclopedia
The European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises or UEAPME is an umbrella group for associations
of SMEs
based in Brussels
, Belgium
. UEAPME represents the interests of European crafts, trades and SMEs at EU level. Its 82 member organisations from 34 European countries consist of national cross-sectorial SME federations, European branch federations and other associate members. Its members combined represent more than 12 million enterprises, which employ around 50 million people
across Europe
. UEAPME is a recognised European Social Partner
.
, Germany
. After some years in Germany, the organisation moved its headquarters to Brussels
, Belgium
, where it was established in 1991 as an international not for profit association under Belgian law (AISBL). The acronym UEAPME was made official in this incorporation and stands for “Union Européenne de l’Artisanat et des Petites et Moyennes Enterprises”, i.e. the European Union of Crafts and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
The aims of UEAPME as written in its statutes are as follows:
In 1996, with the support of the European Commission, UEAPME was one of the founding members of the European Office of Crafts, Trades and Small and Medium sized Enterprises for Standardisation, or NORMAPME
in short. NORMAPME was created as an international non-profit association under Belgian law. The aims of NORMAPME are to improve the participation of SMEs in European standardisation, to increase the influence of small enterprises in standards making and to help them understand and implement standards.
As of 1998, UEAPME is a European Social Partner alongside BUSINESSEUROPE (previously UNICE), the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Enterprises of General Economic Interest (CEEP) and the European Trade Union Confederation
(ETUC). In 1996, the first negotiations between UNICE, CEEP and ETUC led to the conclusion of a framework agreement on parental leave. UEAPME challenged the validity of the directive implementing the agreement before the European Court of First Instance, claiming a violation of its own right to negotiate. The complaint was dismissed in June 1998, but the court case created political momentum for the opening of discussions with UNICE, according to the principle of mutual recognition. In November of the same year, the two organisations reached an agreement, further to which UEAPME became a recognised participant in the European social dialogue.
, from the Netherlands, since January 2011.
The UEAPME structure also includes a Board of Directors as well as several Committees, Working Groups and Task Forces.
Associate members attend and speak at UEAPME meetings, but have no voting rights.
Employers' organization
An employers' organization, employers' association or employers' federation is an association of employers. A trade union, which organizes employees is the opposite of an employers' organization...
of SMEs
Small and medium enterprise
Small and medium enterprises or small and medium-sized enterprises are companies whose headcount or turnover falls below certain limits.The abbreviation "SME" occurs commonly...
based in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. UEAPME represents the interests of European crafts, trades and SMEs at EU level. Its 82 member organisations from 34 European countries consist of national cross-sectorial SME federations, European branch federations and other associate members. Its members combined represent more than 12 million enterprises, which employ around 50 million people
People
People is a plurality of human beings or other beings possessing enough qualities constituting personhood. It has two usages:* as the plural of person or a group of people People is a plurality of human beings or other beings possessing enough qualities constituting personhood. It has two usages:*...
across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. UEAPME is a recognised European Social Partner
Social partners
The social partners are the trade unions and the employers engaged in social dialogue. The idea of social partnership is strongly founded in many European models of industrial relations and is now adopted across the European Union. At the European interprofessional level, the social partners are...
.
History
UEAPME was founded in 1980. The first headquarters of the association were in MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After some years in Germany, the organisation moved its headquarters to Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where it was established in 1991 as an international not for profit association under Belgian law (AISBL). The acronym UEAPME was made official in this incorporation and stands for “Union Européenne de l’Artisanat et des Petites et Moyennes Enterprises”, i.e. the European Union of Crafts and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
The aims of UEAPME as written in its statutes are as follows:
- Monitoring the EU policy and legislative process and keeping its members informed on all matters of European Union policy of relevance to crafts, trades and SMEs;
- Representing and promoting the interests, needs and opinions of its member organisations to the EU institutions and other international organisations;
- Supporting its members academically, technically and legally on all areas of EU policy;
- Supporting the idea of European integration and contributing to European co-operation.
In 1996, with the support of the European Commission, UEAPME was one of the founding members of the European Office of Crafts, Trades and Small and Medium sized Enterprises for Standardisation, or NORMAPME
NORMAPME
NORMAPME or European Office of Crafts, Trades and Small and Medium sized Enterprises for Standardisation was created in 1996 by UEAPME with the support of the European Commission....
in short. NORMAPME was created as an international non-profit association under Belgian law. The aims of NORMAPME are to improve the participation of SMEs in European standardisation, to increase the influence of small enterprises in standards making and to help them understand and implement standards.
As of 1998, UEAPME is a European Social Partner alongside BUSINESSEUROPE (previously UNICE), the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Enterprises of General Economic Interest (CEEP) and the European Trade Union Confederation
European Trade Union Confederation
The European Trade Union Confederation is a trade union organization which was established in 1973 to represent workers and their national affiliates at the European level....
(ETUC). In 1996, the first negotiations between UNICE, CEEP and ETUC led to the conclusion of a framework agreement on parental leave. UEAPME challenged the validity of the directive implementing the agreement before the European Court of First Instance, claiming a violation of its own right to negotiate. The complaint was dismissed in June 1998, but the court case created political momentum for the opening of discussions with UNICE, according to the principle of mutual recognition. In November of the same year, the two organisations reached an agreement, further to which UEAPME became a recognised participant in the European social dialogue.
Structure
UEAPME is run by a Secretariat based in Brussels comprising more than 20 staff members working in thematic directorates. The Secretariat also includes an administrative section, a press office and a Study Unit. The current Secretary General is Andrea Benassi, from Italy, who took up his duties in January 2008 replacing Hans-Werner Müller. The current President is Loek HermansLoek Hermans
Louis Marie Lucien Henri Alphonse Hermans is a Dutch politician and President of UEAPME.-References:...
, from the Netherlands, since January 2011.
The UEAPME structure also includes a Board of Directors as well as several Committees, Working Groups and Task Forces.
Members
UEAPME counts more than 80 member organisations spanning across all Member States of the EU and beyond, representing 12 million enterprises and nearly 55 million employees.Full members
The full members of UEAPME are composed of representative national, cross-sectoral organisations representing craft activities and/or SME businesses in the different sectors of the economy within the European Union. Full members have the right to vote.Associate members
UEAPME has three types of associate members.- Associate members from non-EU countries: this group is composed of national associations of craft industries and of SME businesses from European countries that are not members of the European Union.
- European sectoral organisations: this category is composed of European and International organisations representing SMEs in a specific trade sector.
- Other associate members: this category is made of all types of institutions and organisations, which are involved in craft and/or SME activities and support the SME family.
Associate members attend and speak at UEAPME meetings, but have no voting rights.
Main areas of activity
Some of the key EU legislative areas in which UEAPME is active include:- Economic and fiscal policy (Lisbon strategy, macroeconomic policy, taxation)
- Education and vocational training (lifelong learning, recognition and transparency of qualifications)
- Employment and social affairs (European Social Dialogue, labour law, social protection, social inclusion)
- Enterprise policy (access to finance, standardisation, CSR, R&D)
- Environmental policy (sustainable development, chemicals, waste policy, energy policy, climate change)
- Internal market and legal affairs (better regulation, services, consumer protection, IPR, company law, State aid)
- Regional policy and structural funds
- Sectoral policies (construction, healthcare, foodstuffs, retail, tourism, transport)