As households and businesses face rising energy bills, the EU's Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights is stressing the importance of supporting small and medium-sized businesses all over Europe. "A lot of households and household incomes depend on the survival of SMEs. That's why it's important to support businesses and particularly SMEs," Nicolas Schmit told FRANCE 24's Armen Georgian. Schmit also discussed the latest developments on minimum wages and the regulation of platforms such as Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
On rising energy prices and businesses, Schmit said: "A lot of companies in sectors that consume a lot of energy could face difficulties. This starts not just with the big companies like steel, glass and chemicals, but also small companies like the baker, who needs energy to make his or her bread. There is a threat that companies stop production, or they displace the production outside Europe."
