News From the European Union
Entirely submitted by Daniel Schaubacher
Europe needs more businesswomen
Article, advice and support from the European Commission
Entrepreneurs are indispensable to Europe’s economic growth and prosperity. But women are still held back from launching their own companies by a range of barriers including education, stereotypes, lack of confidence and access to start-up finance. The EU is working with Member States to overcome these obstacles, thus enabling women to express their potential to the full. A new network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors will help spread the message.
Entrepreneurs are the people who have the creative ideas, drive and determination to set up new small businesses: the seeds from which big enterprises can blossom. However, women currently make up only a third of the EU’s entrepreneurial community because of an environment that makes it more difficult for them to set up and grow their own companies. Only about 8% of the female workforce is self-employed, compared with 16% of men, and almost three times more self-employed men than women have their own staff.
Click here to read the full article and find useful advice and support links
EPC Breakfast meeting offers opportunities to spread ethics
A Jan. 13 breakfast meeting in Brussels attended by some 250 business and EU affairs people provided me with the opportunity in the Q&A period to extend a “warm welcome (to the newly-appointed US Ambassador Wm Kennard to the EU) on behalf of EBBF – a business ethics network active in 70 countries, and our appreciation for America’s contribution to the values we share and our liberties” and ask a question on global monetary governance and the decrepit nature of the US$. The ambassador’s answer is reported as follows in the attached EPC www.epc.eu report :
"Asked about the US’ financial position, Ambassador Kennard said a weak US dollar was helping to boost exports, but he predicted that “there will be a natural strengthening of the dollar once our economy gets back on track”. He added that the President is committed to ensuring the government does not lose sight of the need for fiscal discipline."
YOUNG EUROPEAN ENTREPRENEUR AMBASSADORS
Europe needs to give more support to young entrepreneurs by establishing a permanent dialogue with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) launching a network of Young European Entrepreneur Ambassadors, creating a one-stop shop for access to financing and by promoting exports to third countries. These were the main requests formulated by more than 20 young entrepreneurs gathered for a two-day training seminar at the EESC.
"Europe can help business and stimulate entrepreneurship", noted Henri Malosse, President of the Employers' Group hosting the event, adding that young entrepreneurs should get involved in civil debates at the European level.
Sandra Miegl founder of Start Vienna, an organisation which helps young entrepreneurs, argued that Europe and Europeans needed to change their attitudes towards success and failure. "In the United States, you have to fail three times to get a credit, whereas in Europe, if you fail once you never get a credit" she added. Everyone should be entitled to a pot of money to start a business, noted EESC member Madi Sharma. "But if you cannot have a positive attitude towards success in your own country, how could you have it in Europe?" she wondered.
Vice President of the Employers' Group Brenda King felt that both young and new entrepreneurs sometimes failed to understand how the European institutions could help them. Florin Jianu, President of the Young Entrepreneur Association from Romania, stated that "When we meet with the EESC, we have the strong feeling that we speak the same language". Jeanelle Catania from the Maltese Chamber of Commerce felt that business skills education was a key factor for success.
One key challenge facing European companies was how to export their products outside the EU. "It is not only about learning to adapt your business plan, it is more about approaching a new culture. You have got to look for the invisible", said Franceso Fiore, one of the participants in an EU-Japan cooperation programme. Arie Vos, trainer in Japanese business manners believed that a lack of legislation coordination inside the EU was also bad for export. "Starting a business can take three days in Germany, up to two years in Cyprus" he added. Vice President of the Employers' Group Eve Päärendson wanted to encourage young people to have ambitious dreams, and to come out of their comfort zone to realise them.
Christian Weinberger from the European Commission picked up on two concrete recommendations-made by the participants to better promote entrepreneurship among young people and society: launching a network of Young European Entrepreneur Ambassadors and creating a Young Europeans Day to enable a direct dialogue with EU Institutions.
For more information, please contact helene.bertrand@eesc.europa.eu
Or send an e-mail to gr1@eesc.europa.eu
Highlighting Innovation Across Europe
Public Service Events, UK, invited me to a stunning conference highlighting R&D, innovation, scientific achievements and policies in Europe, on November 12, 2009.
Click here to view a photo report
International Business & Leadership Symposium : Corporate Culture and Spirituality
On November 6, 2009, I participated in a remarkable conference at the European Parliament in Brussels on Ethics in Business - Corporate Culture and Spirituality, which dealt with contributions to a sustainable future through a focus on human values and ethics.
Go to this Facebook album for an illustrated report. Or go to www.ccsforum.org
The Hub Brussels hosts the Youth Action for Change event
The Hub, Brussels offers collaborative work space and serves as incubator for social innovation and entrepreneurship. On November 10, 2009, The Hub hosted a presentation by Youth Action for Change which is launching a new magazine YIE-Young Innovations Europe/Young People Building Europe.
Some feedback on our cooperation with AIESEC in Brussels, where I serve on the Board of Advisors of AIESEC at ICHEC – one of the largest business colleges here (2,000 students).
In Belgium, AIESEC presently counts 631 members, at AIESEC ICHEC (one of the 12 university campus where AIESEC Belgium is present) about 120. At the last NTMS conference (a national training event in values-based leadership for new and prospective members of AIESEC Belgium www.aiesec.be ), there were 185 participants (they expected 250). 35 attended Dale Emerson’s EBBF workshop on CSR/values-based leadership. (click to see here article in the News from Branches section)
At ICHEC University, AIESEC organized a job fair with 26 companies taking a stand and all expressing their satisfaction. A source of sponsors and human resource contacts for AIESEC. More than one third of the so-called master class students at ICHEC visited and were interviewed. I have a i-tune movie available...
