BusinessEurope’s SME Roadshow. Fourth stop Berlin. Prosperity and competitiveness: How to better EU framework conditions for SMEs?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential to Europe’s prosperity and competitiveness, which were identified as the n°1 priority for the EU by European Commission President von der Leyen. Despite their significance to job creation and wealth generation, SMEs have encountered a range of challenges in recent years, including persisting labour shortages, rising energy prices, increased credit costs, and above all a wave of new regulations – all this whilst the demand for sustainability and innovation continues to grow. To enable SMEs to flourish in Europe, proactive measures are critical.
In response to these pressing issues, BusinessEurope is hosting the “SME Roadshow” in Berlin on 15 October 2024. This event marks the fourth stop in a series dedicated to addressing SME issues across the EU, this time organised together with the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA) and supported by the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
Draft programme
Note: the timings below are based on CET.
Moderated by: Arne Franke, Director European Affairs, BDA; and Garunya Wieczorek, Principal Adviser European Affairs, BDA
| 13.30-14.00 | Check-in & light lunch |
| 14.00-14.10 |
Welcoming (video) message by
|
| 14.10-14.20 |
Welcoming message by:
|
| 14.20-14.40 |
Keynote address by:
|
| 14.40-15.20 |
From backbone to driving force: How can the new EU agenda 2024-2029 pave the way for SMEs? Panel discussion with:
|
| 15.20-16.00 |
From insight to action: addressing SME needs for a competitive EU framework Panel discussion with:
|
| 16.00 |
Concluding remarks |
| Networking coffee |