Event report

CONTEXT Mouvement Européen Provence is a non-profit organization based in Aix-en-Provence, France, whose mission is to promote dialogue about Europe among citizens. In the context of the Conference on the Future of Europe, it has set a double event related to small- and medium-sized companies and entrepreneurs called "Réussir en Europe - Les aides pour les PME en region". On the one hand, four experts debated the topic at the Technopôle de l'Environnement Arbois Méditerranée in Aix on December 2nd, 2021. On the other hand, a survey (consultation citoyenne) on the website of Mouvement Européen Provence collected opinion from December 2nd to December 31st, 2021. In the lines below is a report from this survey. REPORT FROM SURVEY Information on contributors Disclaimer: data collection and data processing are anonymized to protect privacy of contributors Number of contributors: 31 persons Gender/age: not surveyed Employement position: 8 students, 2 job-seekers, 7 retired people, 14 at work of whom 8 as self-employed, 4 in production/engineering department, 2 in general management Geographical position of current or last employment position: 25 in PACA-Sud region, 3 in Occitanie region, 2 in Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne region, and 1 in Corsica region Economic sector of employer company or self-employment activity: 5 in agricultural sector, 15 in industrial sector, 11 in service sector of whom 7 to services to companies and 4 to services to consumers ANSWERS TO SURVEY Note: the following answers are summarised for a better reading Question "Quelle est selon vous la plus grande difficulté pour une entreprise quand il s'agit de vendre à l'étranger?" (What is the most difficult task when exporting?) Even before answering this question, almost all contributors pointed out the effects of COVID-19, halting down markets and generating loss as fixed costs soared. Governmental support and policies, like direct subsidies and paid furlough (chômage partiel), were useful to prevent more business closure (one contributor lost his job for pandemic-related reasons). None quotes NextGenerationEU recovery and development plan. About the question, about half of contributors say that the main issue when selling abroad is identifying prospects (potential buyers), the other half that they have not enough information on foreign law (contractual terms, debt collection procedure). Question "Quel accompagnement est nécessaire pour réussir à l'export?" (What support do you need for exporting?) Following the last question, a third of contributors quotes business networks as a key element to entering foreign markets, because they offer valued-added compared to directories of raw data. Another third says that exporting generates extra costs (regulatory compliance, logistics, customs duties out of the EU) which are compensated later than in domestic sales. A last third finally mentions practical, ready-to-use models for contracts and procedures. Question "Quels sont les atouts des entreprises françaises en Europe?" (What advantage for French business in Europe?) Answers are numerous, like industrial excellence (aircrafts manufacturing and pharmaceuticals quoted), innovative products, central position in Europe allowing supply from and delivery to other countries, good level of education, presence of French corporate groups across Europe through subsidiaries. But one contributor says that there is no specific advantage for French companies, as one or several States in Europe share the same skills. Question "Quel(s) inconvénient(s) fait peser l'Europe sur les entreprises?" (What burden from European origin on French companies?) Two thirds of contributors mention complex European technical regulation (with no example). Ten persons (self-employed and retired only) point out "excessive" or "unfair" competition by other European countries, caused by lower wages or looser regulations, while goods and services from these countries can enter or can be provided in France freely. 3 contributors call for minimum wage harmonization European-wide. Question "Quelles sont les difficultés pour accéder aux financements de l'Union européenne?" (How difficult is it to access European Union funding?) Not all contributors have applied for European Union fundings, or they do not know whether their employing company benefited from them. 9 persons took part to procedures resulting in receiving EU funding, of whom 3 managed them; they blame heavy reporting duties and documentation at the end of funded operations (nevertheless, they do not mention complexity for application). 4 other contributors (not among the 9 persons above) planned to enter EFRD-related application, but stopped because of complexity matters. PROPOSALS OF CHANGE FOR EUROPEAN POLICIES Question "Quels changements dans les politiques européennes souhaitez-vous au profit des entreprises?" (What changes of European Union policies for business do you expect?) Note: proposals below (from contributors to survey) are made separately from December 2nd debate; they are not mitigated by replies from experts. There are 3 categories of proposals: (1) Create a true European business policy = protect European industrial excellence by fighting patent infringement; support critical sectors with special funding (example face masks) (2) Set adapted and accessible manufacturing standards = make simpler or voluntary-only technical standards in some sectors; make YourEurope and Access2Markets websites more detailed, especially about non-EU-harmonized goods (intra-EU trade) (3) Build up easier and clearer EU funding procedures = set up one-stop shop (guichet unique) for application; show what money comes from local/national/European levels; involve chambers of commerce into application procedures or information spreading; be able to combine national and European funding to generate leverage effect; lower reporting duties.