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The European Parliament of Enterprises (EPE) is an event for European corporations, organized by Eurochambres, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, once every two years. The first edition of the event was launched on 14 October 2008 on the occasion of Eurochambres' fiftieth anniversary.
The concept of the European Parliament of Enterprises originated from the consideration, that there is a democratic gap between the European institutions and the main actors of economic growth, entrepreneurs and that, consequently, European legislators do not sufficiently take into account entrepreneurs' concerns. On the other hand, businesses are largely unfamiliar with the role and functioning of the European Union and the significance that the institutions’ decisions can have on their activities and results.
751 entrepreneurs, or Members of the European Parliament of Enterprises (MEPEs), gather in the symbolic location of the Hemicycle of the European Parliament. The composition of the EPE reflects the number of Members of the European Parliament per member state.
The EPE aims to bring businesses and institutions face-to-face for one day so as to enhance mutual understanding. The EPE represents a unique opportunity for businesses to have a direct debate with high European representatives and to provide them with a direct bottom-up feedback on EU policy related issues.
During the EPE, Members of the European Parliament of Enterprises exercise their voting rights on major EU business-related issues. The results of the votes are presented by Eurochambres to the relevant political interlocutors from all of the EU institutions as "the voice of European businesses”. The "European Parliament of Enterprises” is organised with the active cooperation of Eurochambres' members, the national associations of Chambers of Commerce & Industry.
The European Parliament (EP) is one of three legislative branches of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union, it adopts European legislation, commonly on the proposal of the European Commission. The Parliament is composed of 705 members (MEPs). It represents the second-largest democratic electorate in the world and the largest trans-national democratic electorate in the world.
The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its over 45 million members in over 100 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise.
A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network, for example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community. Local businesses are members, and they elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy for the chamber. The board or council then hires a President, CEO, or Executive Director, plus staffing appropriate to size, to run the organization.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are businesses whose personnel numbers fall below certain limits. The abbreviation "SME" is used by international organizations such as the World Bank, the European Union, the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The politics of the European Union are different from most other polities and states due to the unique nature of the European Union. The EU is similar to a confederation, where many policy areas are federalised into common institutions capable of making law; the competences to control foreign policy, defence policy or the majority of direct taxation policies are mostly reserved for the twenty-seven state governments. These areas are primarily under the control of the EU's member states although a certain amount of structured co-operation and coordination takes place in these areas. For the EU to take substantial actions in these areas, all Member States must give their consent. Union laws that override State laws are more numerous than in historical confederations; however the EU is legally restricted from making law outside its remit or where it is no more appropriate to do so at a state or local level (subsidiarity) when acting outside its exclusive competences. The principle of subsidiarity does not apply to areas of exclusive competence.
Paul Rübig is an Austrian politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 1996 until 2019. He is a member of the Austrian People's Party, part of the European People's Party.
The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture(TCCIA) is a government agency of Tanzania with a mandate to promote business and industry, and to facilitate an interface between the private sector and public sector in the country. TCCIA was founded in 1988 and its head offices are in Dar es Salaam. It has played in important role in the privatization and liberalization of Tanzania's economy.
Eurochambres is the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The association is one of the largest business representative organisations in Brussels, representing over 20 million companies through 45 members and a European network of 1,700 regional and local Chambers. More than 93% of these businesses are small and medium sized enterprises.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that operates under the Russian Federation Law on Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the Russian Federation and the Chamber's Charter and represents the interests of small, medium-size, and big businesses encompassing all business sectors—manufacturing, domestic and foreign trade, agriculture, the finance system, and the services. Chaired by Sergey Katyrin.
Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce is a German 'chamber,' similar to an English guild but is required under German law and provides political influence of a trade union. This organization was formerly known as the Deutscher Industrie- und Handelstag or DIHT.
Founded in 1966 by French entrepreneurs, the Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce (FTCC) is today one of the most dynamic European chambers in Thailand with over 315 members, with business interests in France and Thailand, and more than 60 events organized every year.
In May 2003 the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EUMCCI), now known as EUROCHAM Malaysia, is a business organization in Malaysia.
The Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) is a non-profit international organisation that represents the Mediterranean private sector, regrouping Chambers of Commerce and Industry and other similar entities from both shores of the Mediterranean.
Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) is the umbrella organization of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. It was established in 1965 with the aim of promoting business and industry while protecting the rights and interests of business and industrial communities FNCCI has been playing a key role in promoting business and industry in the country. It provides, inter alia, information, advisory, consultative, promotional and representative services to business and government and organises training / workshop / seminar on a regular basis. FNCCI is Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
SME Europe is the official business association of the European People's Party with the aim of defending the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises at European level. The organisation was founded in May 2012 by the three Members of the European Parliament, Paul Rübig, Nadezhda Neynsky and Bendt Bendtsen.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia is independent, modern and responsible non-budget institution, the national association of all Serbian businesses which its tradition, experience, and knowledge put in the best interest of its members and the economy of Serbia. To establish Serbia as a country with great investment potential, free market economy and open borders, a country prepared to be competitively integrated into the European mainstream. A century and a half long tradition of the chamber system of Serbia and widely spread chamber network encompassing sixteen Regional Chamber of Commerce, two Provincial Chambers, Belgrade Chamber of Commerce and Industry and nine representative offices abroad are supporting economy and the business community.
Croatian Chamber of Economy, is a professional association of businesspeople in Croatia, and the oldest institution of its kind on the Croatian territory.
The European Business and Technology Centre (EBTC) was constituted in 2008 as a programme co-funded by the European Union. It transitioned to an independent organisation in March 2016, continuing the EU mandate to facilitate Europe-India cross-border collaboration. EBTC as an organisation is coordinated by EUROCHAMBRES, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
The European Parliament Intergroup on long term investment and reindustrialisation or #invest 4 future is an intergroup of the European Parliament's legislators which focuses on financing of long-term sustainable investment in the real economy within the European Union. It is aimed to accompany European regulatory work during the period 2014-2019.
Selima Ahmed is a Bangladeshi businessperson & politician. She is the Vice Chairperson of Nitol-Niloy Group and the founder and President of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She elected as member of Parliament from Cumilla-2. She also served as board member of state-owned Janata Bank Limited and is a former board member of Sonali Bank Limited. In 2014 she received the Oslo Business for Peace Award for her contributions in the Business sector. She is a Global Ambassador of The International Alliance for Women and former Course Teacher of MBA class in University of Dhaka.
On one of the resolution adopted by the EPE related to the European patent system - Europolitics (25/03/2009) .
French Presidency of the Council of the EU (14/10/2008) - The first European Parliament of Enterprises .