Invitation

4th Craft and SME Summit

Meet the Lisbon Agenda:
Simplification & Business Succession

22nd and 23rd of April 2005

Portorož, SLOVENIA

______

With the support of:


European Craft and SME - Summit

High-level discussion on Europe's SME policy

The fourth Craft and SME Summit, organised by UEAPME and Academy Avignon, will be the first meeting of its kind in one of our new Member States. The Slovenian Craft Chamber will welcome the participants in Portorož, a charming town on the Adriatic coast. With the support of our Slovenian Member, and also from ACCA and ORACLE, we aim to provide high-level discussions on the EU issues of relevance for Europe’s SMEs.

The reviewed Lisbon Agenda of the European Union will be among the important issues for Europe's SMEs on the agenda of the 2005 Summit.

Participation in this summit is a must for all
who want to influence European Policy for SMEs.

Paul Reckinger
President UEAPME / Hans-Werner Müller
Secretary General UEAPME

What is the Craft and SME Summit?

The SME and Craft Summit is an annual event of high-ranking representatives from UEAPME and its Member Organisations.

The work programme will include:

·  discussions with high ranking representatives from European Institutions and research centres on recent developments in European SME policy;

·  general discussions about pre-selected SME policy issues;

·  presentation of new results and discussions about the policy implications from recent studies and projects of the Academy Avignon.

The outcome of the discussions will inform future SME-Policies.

The summit also offers different opportunities for a more informal get together, with the possibility to exchange views on European SME policy issues. High-ranking external experts will be invited in order to broaden the perspective.

During the working sessions simultaneous translation will be provided in five languages (EN, FR, DE, IT, SLO).

Academy Avignon

Rue Jacques de Lalaing 4, B-1040 Brussels

Tel +32 2 2307599, Fax +32 2 2307861,


Programme

Thursday, 21st of April 2005

20.00: Welcome dinner

Friday, 22nd of April 2005

09.00: Welcome and registration of the participants

09.30: Welcome statements

·  Miroslav Klun, President OZS

·  Paul Reckinger, President UEAPME

10.00: Representative of the Slovenian Government, tbc.

10.30: 1st working session - chairman: Peter Vesterdorf, tbc.

Business Transfer Planning and avoiding Business Failure

·  Prof. Robert Blackburn, Kingston University, GB

·  Prof. Johan Bortier, UNIZO, B

·  Chas Roy-Chowdhury, Chairman, UEAPME Tax Working Group

13.00: Lunch

15.00: 2nd working session - chairman: Paul Reckinger

Simplification: Doing business has to become easier

·  Erwin de Pue, ASA, B

·  Chris P. Buijink, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Enterprise & Innovation, NL

·  Anthony Murphy, DTI, Director European Strategy and Better Regulation, UK

·  Luc Hendrickx, Director UEAPME

The European Constitution – What’s in it for SMEs?

·  Hans-Werner Müller, Secretary General UEAPME

20.00: Dinner

During day: Sightseeing Program for accompanying persons

Saturday, 23rd of April 2005

09.30: 3rd working session - chairman: Hans-Werner Müller

Crafts, Trades and SMEs in a global Economy:
Does the Lisbon Agenda meet the needs of small companies?

·  Wim Kok (requested)

·  Klaus-Heiner Röhl, German Institute for Business Research, D

·  Gerhard Huemer, Director UEAPME

13.00: Lunch

15.00: Sightseeing Tour

Practical information

·  Conference Venue: St.Bernardin, Adriatic Resort & Convention Center,
Hotel Bernardin, Obala 2, SLO 6320 Portorož,
Tel: +386 5 695 0000, Fax: ++386 5 674 6410

·  Conference languages: English, French, German, Italian and Slovenian

·  Tourist information: http://www.portoroz.si

List of available hotels (www.h-bernardin.si) - please make your own arrangements directly with the hotel of your choice:

·  Grand Hotel Bernardin

Price: double / single used 126 Euro
double 74 Euro /per person

·  Hotel Histrion

Price: double / single used 90 Euro
double 55 Euro /per person

·  Vile Park

Price: double / single used 60 Euro
double 40 Euro /per person

The prices are per person and include breakfast. Lower prices will be offered for a minimum stay of 5 nights.

Please make your reservation directly with the Hotel Bernardin Convention Centre until April 11th, 2005

E:

T: +386 5 695 5104

F: +386 5 674 6410

Travelling to Portorož:

Our Slovenian Partner recommends to fly to Trieste (Italy).


Registration Form

4th Craft and SME Summit

Meet the Lisbon Agenda

22nd and 23rd April 2005, Portorož, SLO

I will participate in the 4th Craft and SME Summit.

Date of Arrival:

Date of Departure:

¦ I will be accompanied by:
(The accompanying persons are invited to the dinners and lunches.)

I participate in Accompanying person

¦ Dinner on Thursday, April 21, 2005 ¦

¦ Lunch on Friday, April 22, 2005 ¦

¦ Dinner on Friday, April 22, 2005 ¦

¦ Lunch on Saturday, April 23, 2005 ¦

Sightseeing Tour, Friday, April 22, 2005 (for accompanying persons) ¦

¦ Sightseeing Tour, Saturday, April 23, 2005 ¦

Name, First name:

Organisation:

E-mail:

Street:

Area Code – Town:

Phone: Fax:

Date/Signature:

For further information please contact the Avignon Academy
(email: ) or Mr. Gerhard Huemer (Tel. +32 2 230.75.99)

Please return to the Avignon Academy,
e-mail: , Fax. +32 2 230.78.61