At the initiative of its president, Simon Defat, the MR's Consultative Assembly had the honour of welcoming the Minister for SMEs and Self-Employed Workers, Eléonore Simonet, for an in-depth exchange on the current challenges facing Belgium's entrepreneurial fabric.
In a context marked by successive crises (energy tensions, international economic uncertainty and growing administrative pressure), this meeting made it possible to gather concrete proposals from the field. Contributions that will feed into the next stage of government action: the SME 2.0 plan.
A shared observation: unleashing entrepreneurial energy
Before the members of the Assembly, the minister set out a clear diagnosis: Belgian SMEs, despite their resilience, remain hindered by numerous obstacles.
With more than 1.3 million self-employed people in Belgium, an increasing share of whom work on a secondary basis, entrepreneurship is an essential pillar of our economy. Yet the message from the field is unequivocal: too many constraints, too much complexity, and an urgent need for simplification.
The guiding line defended by the minister is clear: more opportunities, fewer obstacles.
A first ambitious plan, a momentum to be continued
The minister recalled the broad outlines of the first SME plan, made up of 89 concrete measures, aimed in particular at:
- supporting start-ups and attracting international talent
- improving access to financing
- offering entrepreneurs a genuine second chance
- strengthening female entrepreneurship
- combating unfair competition
- drastically simplifying administrative procedures
Significant progress has already been made, such as the extension of maternity leave for self-employed women, the simplification of certain administrative obligations, and measures in favour of digitalisation.
The essential contribution of the Consultative Assembly
Beyond the government presentation, this meeting above all enabled a direct and unfiltered exchange between policymakers and stakeholders from the field.
Members of the Assembly were able to share concrete, sometimes striking testimonies:
- administrative overload weighing particularly heavily on micro-enterprises
- excessive complexity of employment-related obligations
- lack of recognition of family realities in small structures
- difficulty accessing employment despite the willingness to hire
- growing regulatory and mental pressure on self-employed workers
This feedback highlighted an often underestimated reality: the mental burden on entrepreneurs, which has become a central issue.
Towards a jointly built SME 2.0 plan
The minister stated it clearly: just like the SME Plan 2025, the next SME plan will also be the result of the minister's meetings with stakeholders from the field.
With this in mind, the proposals put forward during this Consultative Assembly will be directly incorporated into the ongoing deliberations.
Among the avenues discussed:
- a clearer distinction between micro-enterprises and large companies, particularly regarding administrative burden
- further simplification of administrative obligations
- better recognition of the role of family helpers
These are low-cost measures with a strong concrete impact.
The objective is clear: to build a simpler, fairer and more efficient entrepreneurial environment.
The Consultative Assembly, a driving force for proposals
This meeting fully illustrates the role of the MR's Consultative Assembly: to act as a link between the field and political action.