Institutional presentation

PIMEC's main aim is to support and represent the interests of our members and act on their behalf in all the government consultancy and debate forums at a regional, national and European level. The latter representation is through UEAPME*, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and JEUNE, Young Entrepreneurs of the European Union.PIMEC's main aim is to support and represent the interests of our members and act on their behalf in all the government consultancy and debate forums at a regional, national and European level. The latter representation is through UEAPME*, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and JEUNE, Young Entrepreneurs of the European Union.

PIMEC's remit is to work towards an economic policy which favours the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed workers which, as the main commercial network of Catalonia, represents more than 90% of the businesses in our country.

This task can only progress by maintaining continuous dialogue with those institutions, government bodies, departments, and civic agencies which are involved in applying these economic measures. In light of this, PIMEC is represented in economic, civic consultancy and debate forums, both defending and representing the interests of the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Within these forums, PIMEC can use its influence to introduce new measures with which it hopes to contribute, along with the other civic agencies, in the creation of a more favourable framework for their members.

How do we represent our members?

• We have direct influence on the legislation which affects small and medium-sized businesses as members of the Council for Labour, Economic and Social Council of Catalonia (CTESC).   This is an advisory body for the Catalonian Government, to whom we tender our proposals and demands.

• We negotiate joint agreements at regional and national levels.

• We participate in more than 300 institutional representation tables of the different bodies within local, regional, national and European governments.

• Through PIMEC's Labour Commission, which comprises members of this body and business people, problems within the different areas are analysed. Members explain any problems within their sphere of business during the Commission's meetings which are then passed on to the main political parties and public institutions, along with any improvements proposed by PIMEC. A large number of proposals recommended by the Commission have been included in the policies and government programmes of the political parties.

* UEAPME is composed of 75 national and pan-European organisations which represent nearly ten million businesses within the member states of the European Union and most of the member states in the course of qualifying for EU membership.  It currently represents approximately 50 million workers. UEAPME acts within the social, political and economic framework of the European Commission as a civic agency.  It represents the interests of crafts and small and medium-sized enterprises.  It is, therefore, a recognised permanent consultancy body of the European Commission and general management agencies.  It helps to interpret the regulations, directives and recommendations of the European Community and Parliament.