FIDA in Brussels: Discussion on the Future of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Experiencing Europe firsthand, gaining a better understanding of political decision-making processes, and bringing back new ideas for small and medium-sized businesses—that was the focus of the BVMW Thuringia delegation’s trip to Brussels. Our colleague Björn Marz was also part of the delegation and took the opportunity to exchange ideas with representatives from the worlds of politics and business.

The trip focused on how political decisions are made at the European level and what impact they have on businesses and Thuringia’s small and medium-sized enterprises. It is particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises to identify developments early on and seek dialogue with political decision-makers.

A highlight of the program was the visit to the European Parliament, where participants had a personal discussion with Member of the European Parliament Marion Walsmann. In the run-up to the trip, BVMW Thuringia collected numerous questions and topics from its network of member companies and brought them into the discussions. This allowed for direct discussion of the current challenges and prospects facing small and medium-sized enterprises.

The program was complemented by visits to the Parlamentarium and the House of European History, which provided fascinating insights into the work of the European Union and its development.

For us, events like these are a valuable opportunity to gain new perspectives, better understand political contexts, and actively shape the dialogue between business and politics. Direct dialogue, in particular, helps bring the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises to the forefront and provides important impetus for future developments.

We would like to thank BVMW Thuringia for organizing this successful study tour and for giving us the opportunity to get to know Europe from a new perspective.