SFA Mission to Brussels
The SFA Director David Broderick and SFA Public Affairs Lead, Jonathan McDade had a series of meetings in Brussels to advance the agenda for Ireland’s small business community. These are crucial engagements as the EU embarks on a programme to enhance competitiveness within the Single Market. Furthermore, many of Ireland’s laws originate from the EU so it was also important to get first sight of various EU policies that will eventually be transposed into Irish law.
Firstly, the SFA was represented at the European Parliaments SME Inter Group Committee. This included a briefing from MEPs and European Commission officials about the various simplification of regulations programme for the upcoming term.
The SFA also attended a special briefing at Ibec’s Brussels Office from pan European lobby group Business Europe about the current state of EU / US trading relations. There was also a briefing from officials in Commissioner Michael McGrath’s cabinet. Following this event, the SFA briefed high ranking officials responsible for SME policy at DG GROW (European Department of Enterprise). Those discussions covered areas related to regulations on businesses, the Late Payments Directive and the EU SME test.
The day concluded with a networking session with Ireland’s MEPs in the European Parliament which was followed by Ibec’s St. Patrick’s Day reception which was hosted by Sean Kelly MEP where European Parliament President, Roberta Metsola and Ireland’s European Commissioner Michael McGrath were among the special guests that addressed the event.
