Preparing for the euro changeover. Challenges for SMEs. Working document

The European Commission's department on Economic and Financial affairs (DG ECFIN) organised in co-operation with UEAPME a conference on SMEs preparations for the euro introduction. The conference took place on 18 October in Brussels.

The conference aimed to identify the particular challenges for SMEs and best practices for authorities and other stakeholders how to address SMEs and their concerns.

The sessions did not only look back to the changeover in 2002 but also to recent and on-going preparations. A particular focus was the impact of the euro on financial markets and the challenge of preparing the IT systems for the euro changeover.

The audience gathered representatives of the national authorities from the newer Member States as well as representatives of chambers of commerce and SME associations, both on European and national level.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Economic and Financial Affairs: News: Conference SMEs and the euro: Preparing for the euro changeover, October 2007 http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/events/2007/events_brussels_sme_en.htm

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