Inside EPE2025: One Day in the European Parliament Through an SME Lens

On November 4, I sat in the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels alongside 700+ entrepreneurs from across Europe.

For one day, we became “Members of the European Parliament”: we listened to for-and-against arguments, debated with our neighbors, and pressed the vote buttons ourselves.

It was structured, serious, and surprisingly personal. I left with a notebook full of ideas and a clear list of “do this next week” actions for small and mid-size companies.

What was the event?

The European Parliament of Enterprises (EPE) is a simulation of a parliamentary session designed for business owners. Organised by Eurochambres with the European Parliament, the agenda focused on three themes that touch every SME sooner or later:

1. Decarbonisation and competitiveness
2. The Single Market (working across EU borders day-to-day)
3. Trade strategy (growing beyond your home country)

This isn’t a conference where you only listen. You take a seat, you vote, and your perspective is taken into account. That matters, because policy turns slowly—and only turns in the right direction if entrepreneurs continue to speak up.

What it felt like – quick notes from my seat

• They listened. It wasn’t grandstanding. Questions were sharp, and there was a genuine appetite to hear where SMEs get stuck in their everyday operations.
  
• The mix was valuable. Micro, small, and mid-size companies from different industries sat side by side. Comparing realities across markets was its own masterclass.
  
• Networking was real. Hallway conversations turned into concrete invitations. Leaders from Latvia and Lithuania’s chambers, among others, were open to exploring joint visits and partner searches immediately.

What’s in it for SMEs?

Below are the three themes through a practical lens—what to watch and what to try next week.

1) Decarbonisation and competitiveness: don’t overcomplicate the first step. 

You don’t need a perfect sustainability report to make business-sensible moves. EU policymakers understand it. We are not there yet, but it’s clear they see that decarbonisation has to come without overwhelm. Explore the EU Digital Identity/e-signatures (eIDAS) – prepare your sales and supplier flows for cross-border signatures.

2) The Single Market: remove tiny frictions that cost real money

The promise of the EU single market is simple paperwork, fast contracting, and smoother cross-border trade. We’re not fully there yet either, but momentum is real. What’s in it for you? Book a free advisory chat: Your local Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) node can sanity-check rules, make intros, and suggest funding or events.

3) Trade Strategy: make one bold export move per quarter

The EU has tens of millions of SMEs, but only a fraction export outside the EU. There’s headroom. You don’t need a big trade mission to start—just a focused test. Check your product in Access2Markets: Type your HS code and target country; note duties, documents, and product rules. Find one partner lead: Ask your Chamber or EEN to propose a shortlist of distributors or resellers. Then run five quick outreach emails.

My three takeaways for SME leaders and marketers

1. Simplicity wins. The companies that move fastest reduce steps: signatures, onboarding fields, reporting “nice-to-haves.” Make it easier for customers and partners to say “yes.”
   
2. Partnership beats solo effort. Chambers, EEN advisors, and fellow SMEs are willing to help. Ask specific questions and share what you’ve already tried.
   
3. Momentum > perfection. Quarterly export tests and monthly friction removals compound. You will feel the impact by year-end.
   

One more thing: networking that actually mattered

Beyond the hemicycle votes, the most valuable moments were the coffee-break conversations. Leaders from Chambers (and others) extended open invitations to explore joint visits and scope out potential partnerships. 

If you need a hand finding the right contact at a Chamber or EEN node, DM or email through our Powerful Marketers Hub —we’ll point you to a person, not a generic mailbox.

If you’re not in the Hub yet and you’re looking for structured support (plus peers who test and share what works), you’re welcome to join us. We’re stronger together—no one wins alone.