AFEP, an original ecosystem rooted in reality
Representing 113 of the largest private corporations operating in France, AFEP – the French Association of Private Enterprises – takes part in the public debate in order to provide pragmatic solutions to develop a competitive French and European economy.
AFEP’s member companies contribute over 13% of French GDP, directly employ 2 million employees and pay 19% of mandatory corporate taxation.
AFEP is an association governed by the French law of 1 July 1901. Its accounts are certified annually by an auditor. Its annual budget of 7 million euros comes entirely from its member contributions, identical whatever the size of the company. Its budget is dedicated to its activities in France and Europe.
AFEP is registered in the Register of interest representatives of the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life.
With offices in Paris and Brussels, given the importance of European legislation in national laws, its primary objective is to represent its members’ voices to the French public authorities, European institutions and international organisations. It intervenes in the drafting of legislation at a cross-sectoral level.
It initiates and develops detailed analysis and proposals that contribute to legislative and regulatory work, with the direct support of the CEO’s and experts from its member companies. Its work is based on objective analyses of companies’ situations and covers taxation, corporate governance, the economy, finances, social protection, employment law, the environment, energy, competition, intellectual property, trade negotiations and more generally all areas of importance to business (see Topics).
When it is consulted on reform and legislation projects, AFEP presents to the French and European executive or legislative public authorities reasoned observations agreed by the member companies, with a view to developing appropriate, fair, predictable rules of law.
Prior to this specialist work, AFEP draws on the experience and vision of the CEO’s of its member companies, through its Board of Directors or its working and discussion groups. This work produces economic and social policy guidelines that are submitted to the European and national bodies, together with the actions to be taken in the interest of growth and jobs.
As a specific, apolitical ecosystem, AFEP is a key place for interaction between its member companies, politicians, parliamentary representatives and the French and European administrations.
Chaired by Laurent Burelle since 9 May 2017, AFEP has had six other Chairmen since its creation in 1982: Ambroise Roux, its founder, until 1999, Didier Pineau-Valencienne (Schneider Electric) until 2001, Bertrand Collomb (Lafarge) until 2007, Jean-Martin Folz (Peugeot SA) until March 2010, Maurice Lévy (Publicis) until June 2012, then Pierre Pringuet (Pernod Ricard).
