Liguria. On 8 and 9 June, Italian citizens are called to elect the new European Parliament. An important appointment also for the future of the 23.3 million artisans, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises which represent 99.8% of the total European companies, generate 64.4% of jobs and create 52.4 % of value added in the EU.
For Confartigianato Liguria is the opportunity “for a turning point, a change of gear that places the 4.4 million small Italian businesses and the 100 thousand Ligurians at the center of the European political and economic agenda and allows them to face the great transformations of the market , to seize the opportunities of the ecological and digital transitions, to contribute to the construction of sustainable development”.
“The future of Europe – underlines the president of Confartigianato Liguria Giancarlo Grasso – depends on the ability to focus on policies to support the productive fabric, through the valorisation of the widespread heritage of businesses, of its assets within the global value chains, of the excellence of the manufacturing tradition and the distinctive innovation expressed by the companies. With our vote we ask the candidates for the electoral consultations on 8 and 9 June to place MPIs at the center of interventions to relaunch competitiveness, allowing them to face major market transformations, to seize the opportunities of the ecological and digital transitions, to contribute to the construction of sustainable development”.
The Confederation has therefore prepared the document “Crafts and MSMEs are a driving force for transitions” which contains proposals for a Europe suited to artisans and small businesses and a particular commitment to Ligurian infrastructure. Competitiveness, skills, credit are the areas of action in which Confartigianato has set out the priorities on which it urges the commitment of Ligurian candidates in the European elections.
Among the key themes stand out: the creation of a favorable environment for small entrepreneurs with clear rules that allow all companies to compete on equal terms; the qualification of the skills necessary to promote the employability of young people, to face the challenges of technological innovation and sustainability, to guarantee business continuity; access to resources to invest in development.
Key themes that were also taken up by the Manifesto for the 2024 European Elections of SMEUnited (European Association representing crafts and SMEs, of which Confartigianato is a founding member) which asked for the next legislature to place SMEs at the center of EU competitiveness policy, to support the training of skilled workers and to promote a stable and favorable environment for micro and SMEs.
“Europe – concludes the President of Confartigianato Liguria – must learn to listen to the majority of its entrepreneurs. The stability of the political and social system, the relaunch of the economy, both in Europe and in Italy, require urgent interventions for micro and small businesses: starting with taxation and credit, with training and employment policies, with interventions for the innovation and internationalization of small businesses”.
