EU Commission Sugar Coating Red Taped SMEs With Taxpayers' Money

Primary tabs

Submitted by yadranko on Fri, 10/30/2015 - 03:02

“It's not the lack of money from the EU that hampers SMEs, but the ridiculous amounts of red tape and burdensome regulations that come from this parliament.” . . . “We must ensure that harmful, costly, and bureaucratic legislation is repealed. If the Commission is serious about assisting SMEs for the future, it must prioritize addressing the foundations of the problem, rather than sugar coating the situation with taxpayers' money.”

• European Parliament, Strasbourg, 28 October 2015

• Margot Parker MEP, UK Independence Party (East Midlands), Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) group | http://www.margotparkermep.uk @MargotLJParker

• Debate: Access to finance for SMEs

Commission statement

[2015/2906(RSP)]

....................

• Video: EbS (European Parliament)

Source :UKIP MEPs YouTube channel.

Transcript:

On behalf of the EFDD group, madam Margot Parker, one minute, take up floor please.

Margot Parker:

Thank you President. This discussion this evening reminds me of the old adage: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.” Whilst we discuss access to finance for SMEs, we're in fact only delaying discussion of the real everyday problems that SMEs in the EU face. For it's not the lack of money from the EU that hampers SMEs, but the ridiculous amounts of red tape and burdensome regulations that come from this parliament.

SMEs are the backbone of our economy. They represent over 99% of businesses and help provide millions of jobs, deliver crucial services to our citizens. To ensure that long term prosperity and growth of SMEs is not stifled, we must put SME's at the heart of all future decisions. And we must ensure that harmful, costly, and bureaucratic legislation is repealed. If the Commission is serious about assisting SMEs for the future, it must prioritize addressing the foundations of the problem, rather than sugar coating the situation with taxpayers' money. Thank you.