Economic & Social Policy - vdma.org

Traditionally at the beginning of the year, the VDMA revises and updates its economic policy positions.

The VDMA Legal Department invites you to an online workshop in cooperation with Osborne Clarke and BTG Legal on Business and Human Rights in India.

The competitiveness of Europe as an industrial location is once again at the top of the European policy agenda. Now a political initiative is needed quickly to improve the regulatory environment in the EU for investment and economic activity across the board.

The VDMA Metallurgy is the partner of THERMPROCESS. Together with the Research Association for Industrial Furnace Engineering FOGI, it organizes the Ecometals Forum on June 12, 2023.

How do I reduce my CO2 footprint as a manufacturing company? The industry working group Research & Technology conveyed various approaches that can also be implemented in glass machinery manufacturing.

VDMA welcomes the statements by Commission Vice-President Šefčovič that he would like to conclude negotiations with Switzerland by 2024. This would have the potential to remove trade barriers in the machinery sector.

The EU has agreed on ambitious targets to help rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the high seas. The EU shipping industry, like marine engine manufacturers, now has clarity on how to get there by 2050.

VDMA welcomes the announcement by the EU and Thailand to resume negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement. This will remove tariffs and other trade barriers for the machinery sector.

Trade fair postponements and cancellations could be lawful against the background of the loss of the basis of the contract, so that exhibitors are not entitled to claim damages, as a ruling by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main shows.

Germany and the EU are called upon to intensify cooperation with allies like Japan. There is still considerable potential for mechanical and plant engineering in Japan.

The EU Commission's ambition to make the EU a competitive location for climate protection technologies is right and important. The Net Zero Industry Act can make a contribution to this - especially with its regulations on faster approval procedures.

The EU Commission has recognized the strategic importance of raw materials and wants to act. It is good that in its legislative proposal on critical raw materials it refrains from far-reaching intervention in corporate decisions.

European Policy Reception at Hannover Messe 2023 with EU Commissioner Thierry Breton

The EU Data Act poses too many risks for data-based business models of companies doing business with other companies (B2B). In particular, the contractual freedoms that are absolutely necessary for B2B data exchange must be provided for in the Data Act.

The causes of the shortage of skilled workers are also to be found in the education system. There is a particular need for action in the technical skills of young people. To make dual training fit for the future, the state urgently needs to invest in vocational schools.

Technology innovations bring good indoor climate together with reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Positive sales development in 2022 and stable outlook for 2023 speak for the good overall condition of the industry.

VDMA and Schubert & Salzer discussed with MEP Walsmann how the EU can support the mechanical engineering sector with right framework conditions, such as on sustainability obligations.

Attention Europe enthusiasts! With our new web seminar series "EU Bubble talks - 30 minutes insights from Brussels" we take a look behind the scenes of European politics and take you with us.

There are many reasons for European companies to think about diversification of supply chains, production sites and sales markets. Indonesia is increasingly coming into focus in the machinery and plant engineering sector.

Recycling strategies for construction elements with and made of glass is the topic of the next meeting on 25 April 2023. CO2 neutrality in glass machine manufacturing was the topic of the video conference on 14 February 2023.

Change is needed in various areas of education and working life to attract more women to technical professions. The latest study by the VDMA's Impuls Foundation investigates exactly what is needed. For the first time, the study focuses on the link between studies, career entry and the first years of employment for female engineers.

Issue Number 2: January/February 2023

The EU often discusses what would help small and medium-sized enterprises. One of the many solutions would be a proposal for a European Private Company!

The EU and the United Kingdom reached on 27 February 2023 a fundamental agreement on Northern Ireland. What are the most important elements of this so-called Windsor Framework?

Since April 2022 the EU has released measures to respond to the rapidly changing energy situation within 27 member state block. What exactly are these measures and how do they differ? This article provides a concise overview.

On 20 February 2023, BMAS and BMI presented drafts of a law on the further development of skilled labor immigration and an ordinance on the further development of skilled labor immigration.

The energy policy of the future, must balance aspects such as economic efficiency, industrial and transformation policy, environmental compatibility as well as security of supply.

Stable 2022 market performance of the industry despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties.

From 2035, no more passenger cars with internal combustion engines are to be registered in the EU. However, the use of climate-friendly eFuels in passenger cars must continue to be possible, because combustion engine technology in combination with CO2-neutral fuels is part of the solution for global climate protection.

Too few women choose this career path as an engineer because technical job descriptions are often unclear. Prevailing role models and clichés need to be cleared up.

What are the effects of the IRA on the American market and what are the consequences for the European mechanical and plant engineering industry? Current VDMA publication provides an overview.

The mechanical and plant engineering sector benefits from the European Union more than almost any other industry. However, political enthusiasm within the EU has also waned considerably in recent years. Instead of further developing the single market, for example, there are even noticeable tendencies toward deconstruction. In addition, there are national solo efforts outside the EU. The VDMA, on the other hand, is calling for a steady expansion of the internal market to continue its 30-year success story.

Europe is to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050: One initiative to achieve this is the digital product passport (DPP) and this is intended to map more transparency on sustainability information.

On the question of which products should be regulated as a priority under the new Ecodesign Regulation, the EU Commission is seeking an answer via a public consultation to gather stakeholder opinion.

Finally, a breakthrough on the Northern Ireland Protocol is in sight. Three years after Brexit, it is high time to resolve the permanent conflict and the ongoing uncertainties.

Short-time work is an important instrument, but all special rules on short-time work have long been superfluous. By still sticking to making it easier for companies to access short-time work, Federal Labor Minister Heil is bringing the entire instrument into disrepute.

Some Inflation Reduction Act tax incentives require that all subcontractors use U.S. apprentices on the jobsite. This is impossible for many VDMA member companies.

Germany has deposited the instrument of ratification of the Agreement on the Unified Patent Court with the Council of the EU, thus taking the final step for the new system to start on 1 June 2023.

Trade shows are finally underway again, and visa practices are hampering the success of the events. Foreign visitors and exhibitors report problems obtaining visas.

The machinery and plant engineering sector continues to support the economic sanctions against Russia. The question is whether they were extensive enough and enforced with the necessary political consistency. At the same time, they show some serious shortcomings in terms of craftsmanship: Errors in the lists of goods or the lack of 'blacklisting' of many Russian defense companies.

The EU-Commission has presented the trade agreement with New Zealand for ratification. VDMA welcomes this step and hopes that this will soon also be the case for other EU trade agreements.

Minister Schulze and Minister Heil promote better economic cooperation between Germany and Africa. With its "Skilled Workers for Africa" initiative, the VDMA is working intensively to promote on-site vocational training and the expansion of local value creation.

With their far-reaching obligations, the German and planned EU supply chain laws overburden small and medium-sized companies in particular. VDMA members make their displeasure clear.

For the state to remain capable of acting, it must comply with the debt brake in accordance with the constitution. This is because it forces policymakers to set priorities and resolve conflicts over the use of scarce resources instead of resorting to debt.

The EU-Commission is trying to combat bureaucracy in the area of posting of workers in three ways. Which are these?

On 07.02.2023 ECHA has pre-published the restriction dossier on the broad restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The German Metal and Electrical Employers' Federation (Gesamtmetall) has commissioned three expert reports on current issues relating to working time legislation.

Finding and retaining skilled workers is increasingly a Herculean task. Against this background, too, it is becoming increasingly important to attract more women to technical professions.

The publication provides an overview of CECE's activities. It shows the topics with which the CECE is involved at European and international level.

Without a doubt: the Inflation Reduction Act is a tremendous tool and strengthens the attractiveness of the US market. However, the reflex and temptation to govern by the same means should not guide either the EU or Germany. Rather, structural answers are needed to keep Germany and Europe competitive and to develop them further. This is the view expressed by VDMA Executive Director Thilo Brodtmann on the occasion of Chancellor Scholz's government declaration.