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European Family Businesses

EFB

European Family Businesses represents family-owned enterprises and entrepreneurs to ensure a level playing field.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Marie-Hélène Pradines (Head of Unit Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

25 Nov 2025 · Discussion on recent SME policies: New Business Transfer Recommendation Definition of SMC Omnibuses – state of play

Meeting with Gabriela Tschirkova (Cabinet of Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis)

7 Oct 2025 · Omnibus IV and Statistics on family businesses in EU

Meeting with Jörgen Warborn (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Sept 2025 · SME's

European Family Businesses urge opening 28th regime to all companies

22 Sept 2025
Topic — Consultation on a single set of harmonized rules for companies in the Single Market.
Message — EFB requests a voluntary 28th regime open to all companies, not just innovative ones. The framework should prioritize digital-by-default solutions and 'think small first' principles for SMEs. It must also provide legal certainty regarding labour laws and social security rules.123
Why — This would allow family-owned firms to bypass fragmented national regulations and lower costs.4
Impact — Companies outside the regime could face market distortions and competitive disadvantages.5
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Meeting with Gabriela Tschirkova (Cabinet of Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis)

20 May 2025 · Family Businesses

Meeting with Niels Flemming Hansen (Member of the European Parliament) and BUSINESSEUROPE

6 May 2025 · European competitiveness

Meeting with Andrea Wechsler (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Mar 2025 · EU Industry policy

Meeting with Valentina Schaumburger (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné)

18 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on business transfers, SMCs definition, Union of skills and the broader simplification agenda.

Response to EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy

14 Mar 2025

Please find attached European Family Businesses' (EFB) feedback to the call for evidence on the EU start-up and Scale-up strategy. Please contact us at: jpeixinho@europeanfamilybusinesses.eu if you would like any further information.
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Meeting with Miguel Jose Garcia Jones (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra)

5 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on the challenges European family businesses face.

Meeting with Valdis Dombrovskis (Commissioner) and

4 Mar 2025 · EU Competitiveness and simplification

Response to Single Market Strategy 2025

30 Jan 2025

European Family Businesses (EFB) is pleased that the European Council has asked the Commission for the creation of a horizontal strategy for the single market to ensure that there is a removal of Single Market barriers at both EU and member state level. Ensuring that the Single Market is completed is critical for businesses competitiveness. After consulting with our members, we have highlighted in the attached documents the main challenges facing family businesses and some suggestions for deepening the Single Market backed by examples from our members. Please visit the Annex to the attached document for their full responses. We asked our members to consider the following points and provide us with examples relating to their business: Examples of regulatory and administrative barriers that make your company's business difficult. Divergences in regulatory and administrative regimes across the single market that make life difficult for businesses, workers and citizens. What difficulties have you experienced in obtaining or establishing cross-border services/ trade in goods and investments? What are the obstacles to growth within the Single Market? Do you have examples of when your company faced obstacles in accessing skilled labour? Family Businesses come in all sizes and operate across all sectors as our feedback in the attached document will illustrate, they are vital vehicles for Europes competitiveness across all sectors. Please contact us at: jpeixinho@europeanfamilybusinesses.eu if you would like any further information.
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Meeting with Christophe Hansen (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Sept 2024 · Welcome reception

Meeting with Eero Heinäluoma (Member of the European Parliament)

10 Sept 2024 · Current Affairs

Meeting with Angelika Niebler (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Mar 2024 · EU competition policy

Meeting with Dragoş Tudorache (Member of the European Parliament)

25 Sept 2023 · Digital transition

European Family Businesses back review of EU late payment rules

14 Mar 2023
Topic — Revision of EU legislation to tackle payment delays in the single market.
Message — The organization supports the review to ensure companies respect payment rules and avoid delays. They state timely payments are crucial for businesses to survive economic turbulence.12
Why — Reducing payment delays would decrease bankruptcy rates and boost family firm competitiveness.34
Impact — Companies that currently improve their own liquidity by delaying payments to their providers.5
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European Family Businesses urge stronger equity tax incentives

26 Jul 2022
Topic — EU consultation on reducing tax bias between debt and equity financing.
Message — The group cautions against restricting interest deductibility since debt financing remains critical for business operations. They recommend including a larger portion of equity and clarifying complex anti-abuse rules for company groups.123
Why — Broader allowances would lower tax bills and provide stronger incentives for long-term growth.4
Impact — EU Member States would lose significant tax revenue if equity deductions are expanded further.5
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Meeting with Valdis Dombrovskis (Executive Vice-President) and

6 Mar 2020 · Industrial Strategy, SMEs strategy, Social Dialogue and Pillar of Social Rights, European Semester

Meeting with Ann Mettler (Director-General Inspire, Debate, Engage and Accelerate Action)

13 Jul 2016 · Annual Conference and Digitalisation

Meeting with Ruth Paserman (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)

5 Apr 2016 · general information

Meeting with Ruth Paserman (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)

5 Mar 2016 · statistics on family businesses

Meeting with Nathalie De Basaldua Lemarchand (Cabinet of Commissioner Jonathan Hill)

3 Mar 2016 · Capital Markets Union and Family Owned Businesses

Meeting with Lowri Evans (Director-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

25 Jan 2016 · SME and start-ups policy

Meeting with Jyrki Katainen (Vice-President) and

25 Jan 2016 · Family businesses