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SPEECH/99/75
Mr Christos Papoutsis,
Member of the European Commission
Europartenariat Austria 1999
Vienna, 10 May 1999
Main Points:
(…) "The gradual introduction of the euro up to 2002 will open up new and
promising prospects to all SMEs in terms of export, supplies and investments." (…)
(…) "It is obvious that the stability incorporated in the process, leading towards the
full establishment of the euro, is a positive factor for job creation. However, the
introduction of the euro will not be a miracle cure for solving all structural
employment problems. The unemployment challenge is a major issue for the 18
million unemployed in Europe today." (…)
(…) "Hi-tech industries constitute the key to economic development and growth, and
are the future of the European economy. These industries should be given special
attention by governments and the Commission. More investment in research and
development and innovation, especially in the new electronic sector, computer and
communications technologies, should be encouraged." (…)
(…) "Considering the importance of the SME sector in the candidate countries it is
necessary to give priority to these economic partners. As part of bringing these
countries closer to the European Union and to prepare them for accession, the
Third Multiannual Programme for SMEs has from this year been opened to Cyprus
and seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe." (…)
(…) "I firmly believe that the current Commission has succeeded in many fields and
achieved almost all of its goals: the euro and the enlargement negotiations are just
two of the major objectives attained. I am sure that the new Commission, under the
leadership of Mr Prodi, will further enhance European integration." (…)
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Full Text:
Chancellor, Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an honour and a pleasure for me to represent the European Commission, here,
today in Vienna, at the inauguration of the twentieth Europartenariat event. The first
such event to be held in Austria.
Small and medium sized enterprises play an increasing role in creating
employment, generating wealth and economic growth in the European Union.
During the last years we have underlined the importance of having an effective
enterprise policy, and have developed an action plan with concrete measures to
create the proper business environment and stimulate entrepreneurship in Europe.
The current Multiannual Programme for SMEs is the cornerstone of the
Community’s SME policy. It provides the basis for actions aimed at improving the
environment and the conditions, in which these companies operate.
The Europartenariat in Vienna is taking place in a crucial period for Europe. We are
at the initial phase of the introduction of the Euro and preparing for the enlargement
of the European Union.
Indeed, the most important element of European integration, after the establishment
of the single market, has been the development of the single currency. The euro
was launched successfully on 1st January this year. It constitutes the key to
economic growth, and monetary and financial stability.
The introduction of the euro enables businesses to implement European strategies,
and helps them to internationalise their activities. The euro is a unique opportunity
in the internal market, and will improve the possibilities to enter neighbouring
markets.
The gradual introduction of the euro up to 2002 will open up new and promising
prospects to all SMEs in terms of export, supplies and investments.
SMEs have a transitional period of three years to prepare themselves and make the
necessary adjustments, both in terms of internal functioning and external activities.
The euro will be the major currency for all transactions within the Union, as well as
at an international level, and will affect all enterprises, small and large. It will open
new prospects for SMEs and contribute to improve their competitiveness. With the
single currency, Europe will become a still more powerfull global player and partner.
It is obvious that the stability incorporated in the process, leading towards the full
establishment of the euro, is a positive factor for job creation. However, the
introduction of the euro will not be a miracle cure for solving all structural
employment problems. The unemployment challenge is a major issue for the 18
million unemployed in Europe today.
Considering that SMEs represent 67 % of employment, national governments and
the Commission are aware of the necessity to deploy special efforts in favour of
SMEs, in order to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth.
I would particularly like to highlight the importance of innovative and high-growth
sectors. Hi-tech industries constitute the key to economic development and growth,
and are the future of the European economy.
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These industries should be given special attention by governments and the
Commission. More investment in research and development and innovation,
especially in the new electronic sector, computer and communications technologies,
should be encouraged.
The enlargement of the Union is another major priority. Formal accession
negotiations were opened last year with a number of Central and Eastern Europe
countries .
Considering the importance of the SME sector in the candidate countries it is
necessary to give priority to these economic partners. As part of bringing these
countries closer to the European Union and to prepare them for accession, the
Third Multiannual Programme for SMEs has from this year been opened to Cyprus
and seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia,
can now participate in the programme. Similar decisions should be taken for other
Central and Eastern European countries which are candidates for joining the
Union.
It is thus a great pleasure for me today to observe that together with the 450
Austrian host companies of the Europartenariat another 120 companies from
Central Europe are hosting the parallel PHARE-partenariat here in Vienna.
All these hosting companies participate together with a large number of visiting
companies. Companies from very different parts of the world have come to Vienna
today. I would like to welcome you all.
The Commission has given for several years through the PHARE programme
different kinds of support to SMEs in the candidate countries. But it’s the first time a
PHARE-partenariat is organised in connection with a Europartenariat. This stresses
the importance the Commission attaches to developing the SME sector in this
period of pre-accession.
Hopefully, the impact of parallel partenariats will strengthen cross-border European
co-operation. They will offer favourable opportunities, particularly to SMEs from the
candidate countries.
In addition to stimulating business co-operation between SMEs one of the main
objectives of Europartenariat is to support the economic and social development of
the regions.
The fundamental purpose of Community Regional Policy is to reduce economic and
social disparities and promote employment opportunities. We have been successful
in these aims. A recent report shows that, over the ten years since 1989, the
Community has experienced rapid economic convergence.
Much of this has been in areas such as Ireland, Spain, Portugal and my own
country, Greece, where the Community Regional Policy has been most intensively
pursued.
I would also like to point out that Community co-financed projects have created
many hundreds of thousands of jobs, more than 15000 of them in Austria alone.
I believe that the success of these efforts has been recognised, as well as the
continuing need. At the Berlin summit in March the heads of State and Government
agreed on the allocation for Structural Policy of 260 billion Euros over the period
2000-2006.
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This sum includes current Member States and what will be needed by Central and
Eastern countries and Cyprus both during the pre-accession period and after they
join the European Community.
We look forward to welcoming these candidates. We are happy to work with them in
preparing the ground for the application of policies, which should bring their
economies up to Community level in time.
We are particularly glad to see Austria as host country of this Europartenariat event.
Austria has a geographically central position in Europe, strong historical and
traditional links with Eastern Europe, and a big experience from co-operation with
companies and organisations in these countries.
These links, which represent 12,7 % of Austria’s total exports, have been
strengthened since the opening up of markets in Eastern Europe.
During this Europartenariat event small and medium-sized companies will meet face
to face with large number of pre-selected visiting companies coming from a wide
range of countries.
These meetings will give them the opportunity to discuss co-operation in areas like
joint ventures, marketing, distribution networks, equity participation, franchising. In
fact, they will have the opportunity for full range of commercial, financial and
technical co-operation.
I am convinced that the successful formula of direct contacts between
entrepreneurs will now as before bring about many fruitful co-operation agreements
and other business arrangements.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As this is my last Europartenariat Opening Speech as a European Commissioner,
let me take this opportunity, in order to underline once more how important and
successful the Commission’s work has been over the last years in this and in other
sectors.
I firmly believe that the current Commission has succeeded in many fields and
achieved almost all of its goals: the euro and the enlargement negotiations are just
two of the major objectives attained. I am sure that the new Commission, under the
leadership of Mr Prodi, will further enhance European integration.
I would like to thank the Austrian authorities, the main organiser Austrian Federal
Economic Chamber for the excellent preparation of this event. I would also like to
thank the National Counsellors for their work in bringing so many enterprises to this
Europartenariat and Phare-partenariat in Vienna.
Finally, I would like to welcome the heads and representatives of all the businesses
who will meet for two days here in Vienna. You will have the opportunity to develop
new contacts and new co-operation partnerships, putting into practice the objective
of international co-operation.
I wish all participants many fruitful contacts during these two days, that will certainly
lead to numerous co-operation agreements of mutual benefit to you and your new
business partners.
Thank you very much.
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