Founded in 1946, CNA – the National Confederation of Craft Trades and Small and Medium Enterprises – represents over 622,000 entities employing more than 1.2 million people. CNA represents artisans, retailers, professionals, self-employed workers, micro and small enterprises in tourism, services and manufacturing. The widespread presence of craft enterprises—both in large cities and small towns—corresponds to CNA’s extensive territorial network: more than 8,500 employees across over 1,100 offices, including 19 regional and 96 territorial branches.
In Emilia-Romagna, CNA is structured with one regional headquarters, 10 territorial branches and 234 operational offices, employing 2,562 people and representing over 150,000 members, including enterprises, pensioners and citizens, forming a community of around 714,000 people.
CNA Emilia-Romagna ensures political representation for the entire CNA system before all institutional, political, economic, social and trade union bodies in the Emilia-Romagna region.
In particular, it:
a) represents and protects the interests of the CNA system and its members at the regional level and before regional institutions;
b) develops legislative proposals to be submitted to the Emilia-Romagna Region;
c) operates within regional economic promotion policies, and – together with CNA Nazionale – also in interregional initiatives;
d) implements and manages, within the overall guidelines of the CNA system, EU policies and measures in the Emilia-Romagna Region;
e) pays special attention to the various business/market dynamics, to small and medium enterprises as examples of positive evolutionary paths, to young entrepreneurs who ensure generational renewal, to women entrepreneurs who significantly characterize the local business fabric, and to all forms of self-employment. It also supports and protects social welfare services for artisans and their families and employees, as well as for other categories of citizens, through the Patronage and Social Assistance Institute (EPASA);
f) promotes and supports training activities, for which it relies on CNA Formazione;
g) participates as an autonomous and active political actor in shaping policies for the development of the competitiveness of the region’s economic and civil system.
Pursuant to Article 9 of the National Statute, which is hereby acknowledged and fully transcribed:
“ART. 9 – Composition of CNA National Bodies.
The national bodies of CNA, except as provided by Articles 18 (Board of Auditors) and 19 (Board of Guarantors), are composed of entrepreneurs who are CNA members, pensioners who are members of CNA Pensionati, as well as legal representatives and executive directors with operational mandates from companies and associated forms registered with CNA.
The legal representatives and directors of companies established, participated in or promoted by CNA confederal branches cannot serve as members of bodies at any confederal level in such capacity.
Each body has its own specific autonomy, responsibilities and powers.
“It is the responsibility of each member to safeguard the principle of consistency between the mandate received from the appointing associative body and the powers and autonomy of the body itself.”
The governing bodies of CNA Emilia-Romagna are:
- Assembly
- Presidency
- President
- Board of Auditors
- Board of Guarantors
The CNA system is deeply rooted across the territory:
Where there is enterprise, there is CNA.
CNA Emilia-Romagna maintains a direct relationship with businesses through its widespread territorial network of local offices, each of which develops its own specialized structures of services and consultancy tailored to enterprises.
CNA’s strength lies in being an integrated and extensive networked organization.
The CNA Emilia-Romagna system consists of:
- CNA Retirees
- Interest Groups: CNA Cinema and Audiovisual, CNA Young Entrepreneurs, CNA Women Entrepreneurs, CNA Industry, CNA Tourism and Trade
- CNA Professions
- 53 Trades
The CNA Emilia-Romagna system also includes specialized, autonomous professional structures such as:
- CAF Srl
- CNA Formazione, the body for professional and managerial training and upskilling
- EPASA – ITACO, the CNA–Confesercenti patronage institute for assistance and social security
- SIAER, a consortium company
- CNA Innovazione, the first center for the dissemination and management of innovation in craft trades and small enterprises
