Union des entreprises de proximité

The Union des entreprises de proximité (U2P) is one of France's representative interprofessional employers' organisations, alongside the Mouvement des entreprises de France (Medef) and the Confédération des petites et moyennes entreprises (CPME). Originally named Union professionnelle artisanale (UPA), it changed its name in November 2016. Its mission is to represent, defend and promote artisanship, local retail and the liberal professions. As a social partner, U2P is consulted by public authorities and takes part in negotiations between employers' organisations and trade unions. U2P brings together four member confederations and one associate member: the Confédération de l'artisanat et des petites entreprises du bâtiment (CAPEB), the Confédération générale de l'alimentation de détail (CGAD), the Confédération nationale de l'artisanat des métiers et des services (CNAMS), the Union nationale des professions libérales (UNAPL, since 2016) and the Artisanat des travaux publics et du paysage (CNATP). Through these components, 120 national professional organisations are affiliated to U2P, whose action is relayed by 110 territorial structures. U2P says it represents 2.8 million French businesses in artisanship, local retail and the liberal professions — two-thirds of French businesses — and six million active people, including four million employees, or 25% of all private-sector employees. U2P's statutes provide that the presidency is entrusted for four years and in turn to the representative of each of the four member organisations. Recent presidents include Jean-Pierre Crouzet (2013–2017), Alain Griset (2017–2020), Laurent Munerot (2020–2021), Dominique Métayer (2021–2023) and Michel Picon (since 2024). In January 2024, Michel Picon, then U2P vice-president and president of UNAPL, was appointed president of U2P for four years. U2P places small and medium-sized enterprises (TPE-PME) at the centre of the national economic and social stage, aiming to end decades of public decisions oriented towards large companies. Its current priorities include balanced employer representativeness, social protection, social dialogue, employment and work, training and apprenticeships, and the economy and environment. In 2024 it campaigned on employer representativeness, arguing that current measurement rules favour large-company representatives because they count employees rather than member companies, and presenting five legislative measures to parliamentarians and government members. The organisation continues to publish positions, run events such as the Rencontres U2P, and mobilise small-business owners.

The organisation was originally named Union professionnelle artisanale (UPA) and changed its name to Union des entreprises de proximité (U2P) in November 2016. It is one of France's representative interprofessional employers' organisations, alongside the Mouvement des entreprises de France (Medef) and the Confédération des petites et moyennes entreprises (CPME). Its mission is to represent, defend and promote artisanship, local retail and the liberal professions. As a social partner, U2P is consulted by public authorities and participates in negotiations between employers' organisations and trade unions. U2P groups four member confederations and one associate member: CAPEB, CGAD, CNAMS, UNAPL (since 2016) and CNATP. Through its four components, 120 national professional organisations are affiliated to U2P, whose action is relayed by 110 territorial structures. U2P states that it represents 2.8 million French businesses in artisanship, local retail and the liberal professions — two-thirds of French businesses — and six million active people, including four million employees, or 25% of all private-sector employees. Under its statutes, the presidency is held for four years and rotates among the representatives of the four member organisations. Jean-Pierre Crouzet served from 2013 to 2017, Alain Griset from 2017 to 2020, Laurent Munerot from 2020 to 2021, Dominique Métayer from 2021 to 2023, and Michel Picon since 2024. In January 2024, Michel Picon, vice-president of U2P and president of UNAPL, was appointed president of U2P for four years. U2P places TPE-PME at the centre of the national economic and social stage to end decades of public decisions oriented towards large companies. In 2024 it led a major campaign on employer representativeness, arguing that current measurement rules allow large-company representatives to impose their law without regard for TPE and SME representatives, because the number of employees prevails over the number of member companies. It presented five legislative measures to parliamentarians and government members and mobilised business owners through a video by the U2P president on YouTube and a dedicated page on its website.

• 2024

  Michel Picon is appointed president of U2P for four years.

• 2024

  U2P campaigns on employer representativeness, presenting five legislative measures.

• 2021

  Dominique Métayer becomes president (2021–2023).

• 2020

  Laurent Munerot becomes president (2020–2021).

• 2017

  Alain Griset becomes president (2017–2020).

• 2016

  Union professionnelle artisanale (UPA) changes its name to Union des entreprises de proximité (U2P).

• 2016

  UNAPL joins U2P as a member.

• 2013

  Jean-Pierre Crouzet becomes president (2013–2017).

Representative interprofessional employers' organisation for artisans, local retailers and liberal professions in France.

1. 1U2P official websiteu2p-france.fr
2. 2Notre histoire et nos succèsu2p-france.fr
3. 3Wikidata Q3550450wikidata.org
4. 4Union des entreprises de proximité — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org