Horst Heitz

Horst Heitz is a prominent advocate for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe, with over a decade of experience in promoting their interests across various European platforms. He has been the Executive Director of SME Europe of the EPP (European People’s Party) since 2012 and the Secretary-General and Special Representative for SMEs at the Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE) since 2019. 

Horst has also chaired the Steering Committee of SME Connect (SMEC) since 2017 and serves as a Senator in the European Economic Senate. Additionally, he is an alternate for Dr. Paul Rübig at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) since 2020.

Horst Heitz’s career in public policy began with his academic background, earning a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science, Communication, and International Law from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich and a doctoral degree in Political Science from the University of Vienna. His doctoral dissertation focused on “Lobbyism in the European Union.”

Horst’s work spans various roles, including being an Ambassador of the League for Digital Boost, which aims to support digitalisation of SMEs in Central and Eastern Europe. He also holds advisory roles at Mastercard Strive EU Small Business Council and the European Confederation of Junior Enterprises.

Horst Heitz is the author of The 7Ds - De-risking Globalisation in Depth, contributing to the discourse on globalisation and SME-related policy challenges.

Horst Heitz was born in 1976 in Basel, Switzerland. He studied political science, history, communication science, and international law at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich and Paris-Lodron Universität Salzburg. After completing his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree, he went on to earn a doctoral degree in political science at the University of Vienna. His dissertation focused on "Lobbyism in the European Union."

Horst's career began in the field of public policy, and he has spent over a decade working to promote the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe. Since 2012, he has served as the Executive Director of SME Europe of the European People’s Party (EPP), an organisation dedicated to advancing the policies of SMEs at the European level. In addition, Horst has been the Secretary-General and Special Representative for SMEs at the Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE) since 2019. In this role, he represents the interests of SMEs in various European policy discussions and works to ensure their concerns are heard at the European level.

Horst has also played a significant role in SME Connect (SMEC), an initiative that brings together SMEs from across Europe. He joined the Steering Committee of SME Connect in 2017 and was appointed Chairman the same year. Horst’s leadership in this role has focused on building connections between SMEs and policymakers to strengthen the sector. Furthermore, he has been a member of the European Economic Senate since 2015, where he represents the interests of the SME sector and provides input on economic policy.

In 2020, Horst became the alternate for Dr. Paul Rübig at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), where he has contributed to discussions on policies that impact SMEs in Europe. His involvement in the EESC allows him to directly influence policy decisions and advocate for the interests of SMEs across various industries.

Horst is also an Ambassador of the League for Digital Boost, an initiative focused on supporting the digitalisation of SMEs in Central and Eastern Europe. This project aims to provide SMEs with the tools and resources necessary to navigate the digital economy. Horst’s work in this area supports the growth of SMEs by helping them leverage new technologies to enhance their business operations.

In addition to his advocacy work, Horst is involved in various advisory roles. He has been a member of the Mastercard Strive EU Small Business Council since 2025, where he advises on strategies to help SMEs grow and thrive in the digital economy. He also serves on the Board of Advisors of the European Confederation of Junior Enterprises (JE Europe), an organisation that supports the development of student-run businesses across Europe.

Horst Heitz is the author of The 7Ds - De-risking Globalisation in Depth, a publication that examines the risks associated with globalisation and provides strategies for managing these risks, particularly for SMEs. 

Horst Heitz envisions a Europe where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are fully empowered to thrive in the digital age. He believes that by promoting innovation, digitalisation, and sustainable practices, SMEs can drive economic growth and create jobs across the continent. His vision includes a strong and unified SME sector that actively participates in shaping European policies, with a particular focus on making SMEs more competitive globally. Horst advocates for creating a supportive environment where SMEs can access the resources, technology, and networks necessary for success in an increasingly interconnected and fast-evolving digital economy.

Horst Heitz has earned significant recognition for his contributions to the SME sector in Europe. His work advocating for SMEs has been acknowledged through his appointment to key positions such as the Secretary-General and Special Representative for SMEs at the Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE) and his leadership role as Chairman of the Steering Committee of SME Connect (SMEC).