SME Europe (Small and Medium Entrepreneurs 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.
[1] The organisation was founded in May 2012 by the three Members of the European Parliament, Paul Rübig, Nadezhda Neynsky and Bendt Bendtsen.
[3] Together with cooperation partners is regularly organises events at European level in order to raise awareness of the needs of SMEs.
[4][5] The European Commission supports the organisation through its two honorary members, the Commissioner for Regional Development Johannes Hahn[6] und EU Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani.
[7] Furthermore, in 2013, the former President of the European Commission, Jacques Santer, the former President of Eurochambres, Christoph Leitl, as well as the former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Ingo Friedrich became Honorary Members of SME Europe.