Welcome message for the YES EXECOM meeting in Thessaloniki, June 24 - 26

Dear friends,

Europe is under a severe financial crisis, the worst since the end of the 2nd World War. The ultimate tragedy of WW2 lead to the birth of the European Idea, the vision of a great single European country. European Union has been the outcome of the efforts towards materializing this vision and the Monetary Union, the Eurozone, doubtlessly is the most important milestone till today.

The current financial crisis has made clear though that a number of structural weaknesses have to be overcome for building a truly united Europe on a solid ground. One major part of the weaknesses concerns decision making and economic governance. We are very happy to watch recently the European Council initiating the process of addressing this challenge. However, another set of weaknesses, at least of the same importance with economic governance, has to do with entrepreneurial culture, spirit and investing in inventiveness, domains where Europe has to perform much better in the future for remaining sustainable and keeping its leading position in the global economy.

In the June 2010 EXECOM we shall try to uncover the EU structural weaknesses which let the financial crisis to have such a severe impact in our economy and to discuss the ways that Europe can boost entrepreneurship and inventiveness the years to come.

EU-27 does have the highest GDP worldwide. This fact makes all of the Europeans feel proud but also responsible for the global economy. Entrepreneurship, innovation, inventiveness and green economy form the core of the European response to the challenges of the financial crisis and will successfully lead Europe to sustainable growth the prosperity in the 21st century, the century of the united Europe.

Dear friends,

All of the members of ESYNE, the Hellenic Association of Young Entrepreneurs, will be honored and pleased to host you in Thessaloniki in a creative discussion for the future of entrepreneurship in Europe!

Dimitris Tsigos

Vice President

YES - European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs

President

Federation of Hellenic Associations of Young Entrepreneurs