15 Amendments of Jens GEIER related to 2018/2545(RSP)
Amendment 5 #
Recital A
A. whereas the 23 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, which make up around 99 % of all businesses and provide more than 90 million jobs while generating some EUR 3.9 trillion in added value, make a vital contribution to economic growth, social cohesion and jobthe creation of sustainable and high-quality jobs, and are a major source of innovation in the EU;
Amendment 6 #
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas 90% of European SMEs and 93% of all EU companies in the non- financial business sector are micro firms, which contribute the largest share of value added and employment among SMEs as they employ approximately 30% of the European workforce and which thus need special attention;
Amendment 8 #
Recital B
B. whereas SMEs are disproportionately affected by administrative burdens and financial obstacles by comparison with larger firms and regardless of their organizational structure; whereas at EU and, Member State, regional and local level further efforts could be made to create an SME-friendly environment which go beyond the political pledges already given;
Amendment 34 #
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Commission to terminate the general exclusion of SMEs with public participation because of their ownership structure, as they face the same regulatory and financial challenges as other businesses of the same size, are deeply rooted in their local business environment and, inter alia, create the right preconditions for the growth of all other SMEs; emphasises that, as regards partners and related undertakings, the Commission communication on the definition of SMEs is appropriate and sufficient to prevent harmful corporate structures and that, in accordance with the principles of EU competition law, the criteria for SMEs should only be of a quantitative nature.
Amendment 41 #
Paragraph 4
4. UrgesCalls on the Commission to at least updateconsider updating the financial thresholds for the SME definition to take account of the rise in inflation and labour productivity since 2003; strongly supports an adjustment beyond the index-linking of inflation and labour productivity, in order to take account of future inflation, provide certainty and obviate the need for a rapid further adjustment in the next few yearwhile also, possibly, taking account of the Commission’s economic forecasts;
Amendment 45 #
Paragraph 4
4. UrgesCalls on the Commission to at leastconsider an update of the SME definition to take account of the rise in inflation and labour productivity since 2003; strongly supports an adjustment beyond the index-linking ofaccording to the Commission's economic forecasts regarding inflation and labour productivity, in order to take account of future inflation, provide certainty and obviate the need for a rapid further adjustment in the next few years;
Amendment 51 #
Paragraph 5
5. Points out that the employee numbers is not a criterion which can be used to draw up for accurate EU-wide comparisons, as labour productivity varies from one Member State to another; underlines that SMEs may refrain from employing more people to prevent losing the SME status; stresses that this is contradictory to the EU focus on jobs and growth; welcomes, therefore, a shift towards the criteria of turnover and balance sheet totals;
Amendment 63 #
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that there is a need to clarify not onlsimplify the terms ‘linked enterprise’ and ‘partner enterprise’ butand also SMEs’ status in mergers, and consortiums and regards the simplification of procedures and the cutting of red tape as imperative; calls on the Commission in that connection to further simplify the applicable rules;
Amendment 89 #
Paragraph 8
8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic challenges and exploit economic opportunities at global level more effectively; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts in that area, without creating duplicate structures; calls, in that connection, for an ‘Export growthpotential in relation to enterprise size’ indicator to be developed and for additional support to be offered to small enterpriseSMEs with high export volumespotential;
Amendment 90 #
Paragraph 8
8. Takes the view that economic diplomacy instruments employed at EU level, such as the Mission for Growth, could be used to address economic challenges and exploit economic opportunities at global level more effectively; calls on the Commission to step up its efforts in that area, without creating duplicate structures; calls, in that connection, for an ‘Export growthpotential in relation to enterprise size’ indicator to be developed and for additional support to be offered to small enterpriseSMEs with high export volumespotential;
Amendment 97 #
Paragraph 9
9. Is concerned that, despite the considerable contribution they make to employment and growth by virtue of their productivity, MidCaps (enterprises that have outgrown the SME definition but still have typically medium-sized structures) are being neglected by policy-makers; calls, therefore, for a separate definition to be established for these companies based on the criteria that they are family-run, have high equity ratio and employ up to 3000 peopleto make sure that their importance for the economy is considered without taking the risk of enlarging the SME definition to an extent that would facilitate its misuse and weaken the status of SMEs that really need it;
Amendment 125 #
Paragraph 11
11. Takes the view that SME categorisation should not be exclusively based on the criteria of employee headcount, annual turnover and balance sheet totals; calls, therefore, for the criteria of ‘export-intensive’ (high level of exports in relation to number of employees), ‘largely independently-run’ and ‘high equity ratio’ - to be defined in due course - to be taken into account when categorising companies and for enterprises with these characteristics to at least be exempted from the relevant specific reporting obligations and/or for it to be made easier for them to access financial supportCalls on the Commission to examine whether, in addition to the current criteria of the SME definition, other elements should be taken into account when defining SMEs;
Amendment 139 #
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Commission to conduct a study into the possible impact of the SME definition on business development and on lock-in-effects, i.e. when enterprises deliberately opt not to expand in order to avoid bureaucratic burdens and other obligations that arise from the loss of their SME status;
Amendment 141 #
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12a. Underlines that small local public service enterprises that meet the SME criteria fulfil important tasks for local communities; notes that having public ownership does not necessarily imply financial or regulatory support by the public entity due to national legislation, state aid laws and financially weak public entities; stresses that they thus face the same challenges as SMESs, which may lead to unfair competitive disadvantages for these enterprises when they are financially independent, organized under private law or are operating under competitive conditions with private companies; therefore, urges the Commission to re-examine and consider a deletion of the exclusion of enterprises with a public ownership of more than 25% from the SME definition;
Amendment 157 #
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to provide guidance to enterprises on the procedures used to determine SME status, as well as information about any changes on the SME definition or procedures in an unbureaucratic, timely and pragmatic manner;