WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2252/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. SMU and craft industries
Date: 1997-07-02
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: EU policy, aid to undertakings, business policy, handicrafts, small and medium-sized enterprises

C 102/22

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/33)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2252/97

by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission

(2 July 1997)

Subject: SMU and craft industries

With reference to the question of craft industry and small and medium-sized undertakings (Doc. CES 328/97),
bearing  in  mind  the  special  situation  and  problems  faced  by  craft  industries  frequently  raised  in  official
Commission and European Parliament documents, and stressing the importance of this sector to the European
economy because of the number of firms and jobs concerned and the contribution it makes to GDP, appropriate
political action should be taken at European level, complementing policies to support SMU and taking account of
their special characteristics, enhancing their economic and social role and, above all, supporting craft industries
as a breeding ground for new firms and new jobs.

Will the Commission establish a European academy of craft trades and small firms and support the development
of a European identity for craft industries and small firms, encouraging them to prosper at European level?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 1997)

At the first European Conference on the Craft Industry and Small Enterprises, which was held in Avignon in
1990, the participants put forward the idea of a European Craft and Small Business Academy, the purpose of
which would be to promote the craft and small- enterprise sector at European level. This project was considered
again in greater detail at the second European Conference on the Craft Industry and Small Enterprises, which was
held in Berlin in September 1994.

In  its  communication  on  (cid:145)The  craft  industry  and  small  enterprises,  the  keys  to  growth  and  employment  in
Europe(cid:146) (1), which set out the results of the Berlin Conference, the Commission confirmed that it was in favour of
such  a  project  but  felt  that  the  initiative  should  be  taken  by  the  sector’s  representative  organisations.  The
Commission also pointed out that it was up to the sector to hold consultations in order to draw up a coherent,
viable project for the creation of the Academy, to which all the enterprises and representative organisations of the
sector should be able to relate.

This initiative was finally implemented on 27 September 1996, when the European Union of the Craft Sector and
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME) and the European Committee for Small and Medium-sized
Independent  Companies  (EUROPMI)  submitted  a  joint  proposal  to  the  Commission  for  the  creation  of  the
Avignon Academy. The Commission asked the UEAPME and the EUROPMI to provide further information.
This  they  did  in  their  letter  of  17  June  1997,  in  which  they  informed  the  Commission  of  the  creation  of  the
(cid:145)Acade·mie  Avignon  asbl(cid:146)  and  the  future  publication  of  the  relevant  notice  in  the  (cid:145)Moniteur  Belge(cid:146).  The
Commission therefore intends to provide financial support for the launching of the Academy as soon as possible.

In addition, the Commission has published a call for proposals (2) concerning assistance for craft enterprises and
small enterprises. The Commission hopes to be able to select a number of projects dealing with the development
of a European identity in the craft sector and small enterprises. One of the objectives of the call for proposals is
the promotion of a European business culture and spirit of enterprise, with particular emphasis on strengthening
the  role  of  women  entrepreneurs  and  enhancing  the  image  of  small  enterprises  and  the  craft  sector  by
demonstrating  their  qualities  and  opportunities,  particularly  to  young  people,  parents  and  the  teaching
profession. The deadline for submitting proposals was 16 June 1997. The Commission is currently assessing the
proposals  received.  Finally,  in  conjunction  with  the  Italian  authorities,  the  Commission  is  holding  the  third
European Conference on the Craft Industry and Small Enterprises in Milan on 20 and 21 November 1997. The
subject of enhancing the image of the craft sector and small enterprises will be discussed in working parties on
the basis of the results of the preparatory symposia.

(1)  COM(95) 502 final.
(2)  OJ C 117,15.4.1997.