Fem Female Entrepreneurs in Europe Silvia Sicheri, APID FEM

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Fem Female Entrepreneurs in EuropeSilvia
Sicheri, APID - FEM
PHARE Business Support Programme of the European
Union UEAPME - SME FIT II
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FEM - The European Association of Female
Entrepreneurs and Co-entrepreneurs

• In 1990 FEM was founded as the European umbrella
  organisation for national and regional
  associations for women in small and medium-sized
  businesses in Europe.
• At the moment FEM comprises 17 organisations in
  10 European countries. Furthermore, there are
  contacts to more organisations in other european
  countries, e.g. in Middle- and Central Eastern
  Europe.
• Since 1995 FEM is a member of UEAPME - the
  European Union of craft and small- and
  medium-sized businesses - and has therefore
  gained even more contacts.

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Task and aim of FEM and its member organisations

• Improvement of the social, cultural and social
  position of female entrepreneurs in small and
  medium-sized businesses and craft
• Equal opportunities for men and women in politics
  and economy in small and medium-sized businesses
  and craft
• Encouragement of female entrepreneurship on
  European and international level
• Exchange of knowledge and experience between
  women in EU Member States and non-EU countries
• Encouragement to establish working groups in all
  countries with the aim of further education on
  all economic and personal levels
• Contact point on European level in all matters
  concerning female entrepreneurs

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FEM Member Organisations
Bundesverband in der Praxis mitarbeitender
Arztfrauen e.V.
TERZIARIO DONNA
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Aim of FEM Strengthening of SME-female
entrepreneurs importance within the EU.

• Key functions in economical, social and political
  fields (business associations, political
  functions and impact possibilities)
• Requirement of studies about the position and
  function of female entrepreneurs in the SMEs
  within the EU number, education, access and work
  within the businesses, income, social security,
  coverage in case of death of the business owner
  or in case of divorce)

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Aims of FEM encouragement of establishment of
organisations of female entrepreneurs

• Information about establishing conditions, aims
  and tasks
• Formulation of guide-lines for establishing
  organisations by female entrepreneurs
• Practical execution in different member states of
  the EU
• Coordination of the regional working groups on
  regional, national- and EU levels

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Aims of FEM development of a pan-European
further education concept for female entrepreneurs

• Necessary job experience and qualifications in
  managerial and technical-organisational fields of
  a business
• Acknowledged degree as condition for the
  (possibly necessary) autonomous management of a
  business

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Aims of FEM advancement of the language ability
of female entrepreneurs

• Encouragement of economical contacts and
  therefore increase of the sales opportunities
• Support of contact possibilities within the
  EU-wide working groups in order to strengthen the
  role of female entrepreneurs within the EU.

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Lobbying in Brusselsthe competition for FEM is
hard and numerous

• European institutions
• European Commission, European Parliament, Council
  of Ministers
• European Social and Economic Committee, Committee
  of the Regions
• Representations of regions
• Representations of different interest groups
• Representation of big businesses

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Program Intensifying the collaboration with
experts and decision makers.

• FEM participates in expert groups of the European
  Commission
• e.g. Directorate General Enterprise and Industry
• Overcoming financial barriers and improving
  access to finance
• BEST project and study on social security of
  self-employed and their families
• Exchange of good practice, analyses and
  recommendations

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Contacts

• Rue Jacques de Lalaing 4
• B-1040 Brussels
• Belgium
• Phone [phone]
• Fax. [phone]
• Email d.rabetge_at_ueapme.comwww.fem-online.eu
• Contact Doris Rabetge

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Thank you!Fem Female Entrepreneurs in Europe
Silvia Sicheri, Apid - FEM
PHARE Business Support Programme of the European
Union UEAPME - SME FIT II