Företagarna, the Swedish Federation of Business Owners, influences the policies of the European Commission and the European Parliament through the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Businesses, UEAPME.
Restart Europe
In view of Sweden’s Presidency of the EU, Företagarna (the Swedish Federation of Business Owners) here presents the actions needed for the continued development and growth of Europe.
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Current EU related policy issues 2009
Environment and Climate Change
On 16 July, 2008, the European Commission adopted the Sustainable Consumption and Production Action Plan (SCP). The purpose of the Action Plan is to encourage producers to manufacture more environmentally friendly and energy efficient products, and to increase the demand for these products among consumers. The package consists of both voluntary and compulsory measures.
Företagarna has asked for more coordination between the different initiatives in the environment and energy field, and in our comments on the Action Plan emphasised that some proposals unfortunately seem poorly suited for SMEs. Företagarna will closely follow the next developments.
For more information, please contact Ms. Rebecca Källström, Analyst, rebecca.kallstrom@foretagarna.se
The Directive on Payment Services
The European Commission has enacted a directive thought to harmonise the regulation on payment services. Because of this, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority has made two propositions for laws concerning payment services.
The most important practical consequences of these propositions on companies in Sweden are:
- All actors providing payment services will either apply for permission from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (and thus be called “payment institution”) or, if their turnover is too small, be granted an exception (and thus be called “payment services supplier”).
- A “payment institution” can use the internal market according to the principles of only authorisation, homeland supervision and mutual recognition
Företagarna emphasizes that measures that will increase the size and efficiency of the internal market are important –especially in order to promote a functioning and secure market of payment services.
There are, however, problems with the directive, for example regarding the rules on reimbursements, which give the payer the right to demand reimbursement up to eight weeks after a payment has been made. This is obviously not reasonable –the rules have to be revised.
For more information, please contactMr. Lars Jagrén, Chief Economist, lars.jagren@foretagarna.se
European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
Sweden has decided to implement the EU recommendation European Qualifications Framework, EQF, a common frame of reference thought to facilitate for individuals and employers to compare education levels in different EU countries. Eight qualification levels is measured in three categories: knowledge, skills and competence. The frame of reference enables students in vocational training to carry out parts of their education in another country, and it also promotes geographic mobility and labour market mobility.
The member countries will link their national qualifications systems to the European frame of reference in 2010, at the latest, and a reference to the frame will be introduced into new diploma certifications in 2012, at the latest. Also, international branch organisations get the opportunity to relate their qualifications systems to the common European frame of reference. Thus, national qualifications systems and systems of international branch organisations may be compared more easily.
Företagarna is positive to the common frame of reference. Clarifying qualification levels will raise the status of vocational training programmes and enable quality control. Företagarna also takes part in the Swedish government’s working group for the frame of reference.
For more information, please contact Ms. Christina Linderholm, Head of Analysis & Opinion Unit, also responsible for Vocational Education and Training, christina.linderholm@foretagarna.se
Working Time Directive
Företagarna has presented its views on the EU Working Time Directive to the Swedish government. Företagarna conveyed the opinion that working times should not be a question decided upon by the EU, but should rather be dealt with at national and company levels.
For more information, please contact Mr. Anders Fogelberg, Labour Market Expert, anders.fogelberg@foretagarna.se
Directive on Equal Treatment
The EU Commission has put forward a proposal for a new Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. The directive will apply also outside the working life. The means that the disposal of goods, services and housing cannot be discriminatory on the grounds mentioned in the title.
UEAPME has conveyed that it is against discrimination on all grounds, and that small and medium sized companies feel a big social responsibility. However, UEAPME states that further EC legislation in this area would be complicated and difficult to interpret, and therefore opposes the proposal.
For more information, please contact Mr. Anders Fogelberg, Labour Market Expert, anders.fogelberg@foretagarna.se
Community patent
To obtain a patent is considerably more expensive in the EU than in the US. A Community patent can, rightly designed, improve the possibilities of patent rights within the EU. The question of a Community patent is being negotiated since a long time. Many difficult questions need to be solved, for example the language regime and a court solution. Compromise solutions are being discussed. The consultation on a common patent policy for the EU has shown that there is an interest for a Community patent, but not at any price.
For more information, please contact Ms. Ulrica Dyrke, Legal Expert, ulrica.dyrke@foretagarna.se
The Services Directive
Företagarna believes that the Services Directive, despite its limitations, can contribute to an internal market for services within the EU. However, a similar implementation in all member states and the adequate service of the contact points play a great part in achieving this.
Företagarna welcomes the directive’s aim of creating a well-functioning internal market for services. A removal of the current barriers to cross border trade increases growth and job opportunities for small businesses.
In order for smaller companies to establish themselves abroad, Företagarna emphasizes the need for smooth application processes and contact points must be able to provide comprehensible information on local requirements.
In the future, Företagarna would like to see an inclusion of more areas such as the health sector. In order to ensure the desired harmonization it is of great importance to overlook the member states’ implementations.
For more information, please contact Ms. Ulrica Dyrke, Legal Expert, ulrica.dyrke@foretagarna.se