Final Day of SME Assembly 2025: Driving Competitiveness Through Cooperation

The event closed with the handover to the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will host the 2026 edition.

The final day began with parallel sessions exploring the major challenges and opportunities shaping Europe’s SME landscape. Discussions covered topics ranging from achieving Net Zero and harnessing artificial intelligence to addressing late payments and unlocking venture capital investment. Speakers underlined that for Europe’s SMEs to succeed, they must have the resources and conditions to invest and grow.

Cinzia Alcidi from the Centre for European Policy Studies presented the findings of the EU Payments Observatory Annual Report 2025, revealing that 52% of European firms experienced late payments in 2024 — a five-point increase on the previous year. Tackling this issue, she noted, could unlock billions in much-needed capital, ease cash-flow pressures, and reinforce the competitiveness of Europe’s SMEs.

During the session on unlocking investment in Europe, Vincent Jocquet of RDY Venture emphasised the importance of accelerating processes, remarking that “fast is essential — if we all go a little faster, Europe can become a true breeding ground for innovation.” The panel agreed that greater regulatory harmonisation could help remove barriers, mobilise more capital and drive SME growth at scale across the continent.

The Assembly continued with the announcement of Gonçalo Ribeiro as the winner of the 2025 Youth Start-Up Competition for his innovative solution to make cancer treatment safer while reducing pressure on Europe’s healthcare systems. You can find out more here.

In her policy conclusions, Outi Slotboom, Director at DG GROW, stressed the need to simplify and reduce regulatory and administrative burdens for SMEs, allowing businesses to focus more on productive activity. She highlighted ongoing European Commission efforts — including the “omnibus” measures and the SME ID digital identity tool — while urging Member States to take complementary action at national and local levels. Slotboom also called for a more balanced SME policy approach that recognises not only high-growth, high-tech firms but also the millions of small and micro-enterprises that form the backbone of Europe’s economy.

During the closing ceremony and handover to the Irish Presidency, Danish SME Envoy Andreas Rahlf Hauptmann highlighted the importance of cooperation through Team Europe — a message echoed by Ireland’s Ross Church, who called for a more united and competitive Europe with SMEs at its heart.

The European Commission and the organisers of the SME Assembly extended their thanks to the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU 2025, to all speakers, delegates, partners and to the host city, Copenhagen, for an inspiring and memorable event. The next SME Assembly will take place in Ireland in 2026.

Watch highlights from the event ⬇️