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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT OF ENTERPRISES 2008


"Since I chair Plenary Sessions, I have never seen so many people in this room!", exclaimed Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, faced with the hundreds of entrepreneurs who flooded the Brussels Hemicycle on the occasion of the first ever "European Parliament of Enterprises" on 14 October 2008.
 
PARTICIPANTS
The event was indeed an outstanding success! Over 750 business men and women, working for all sizes and sectors of business, and coming from 45 European countries, had the chance to 'be' Members of the European Parliament for one day, debating and voting on some of the most crucial topics at the heart of political debate, face to face with members of the EU institutions, and in the presence of the major European press.
 
DEBATES
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Hervé Novelli, French Secretary of State in charge of commerce, speaking in the Opening session, outlined their respective institutions' priorities for enterprises, with a special focus on the financial turmoil and on the implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe.

Indeed, the issue of the financial crisis was foremost in the participants' minds, and with their votes EPE Members illustrated that the shockwaves from the crisis were already spreading across the business community.

But apart from the financial situation, entrepreneurs debated some of other key issues facing Europe, including international trade, climate change and demographic shifts.

Pierre Simon, President of EUROCHAMBRES 2006-2009 said: "The views of an individual business, especially a small or medium-sized one, are easy to ignore, but the 750 plus entrepreneurs gathered in the ‘European Parliament of Enterprises' conveyed the concerns of 23 million businesses across Europe, so their cumulative impact is enormous. Policy makers must take notice of their concerns and work with them closely in finding solutions that will enable Europe to come out of recession and compete globally."

VOTE RESULTS
By their numerous and intense oral contributions, and by their overwhelming participation in the votes, entrepreneurs confirmed their willingness to make their voice heard, and to play a greater role - shoulder to shoulder with political institutions - in the shaping of future European policy.
 
EUROCHAMBRES and its network of Chambers of Commerce have conveyed the results of the fist "European Parliament of Enterprises” to all major European and National institutions. They will continue to do so in all future discussion to make sure that entrepreneurs' views are heard.