Traditionally at the beginning of the year, the VDMA revises and updates its economic policy positions.
The VDMA's regulatory policy sounding board discussed how to deal with China as a competitor and new challenges, and adopted theses.
Employer is not entitled to reduce recreational leave in proportion to the annual working days in case of short-time work, if there is no short-time work "zero" at the basis.
The EU-Commission has launched a consultation on the Data Act. This law, which is to be passed this year, aims among other things to facilitate access to company data.
The Higher Regional Court of Cologne (Case No.: 1 U 9/21) has ruled that a cancellation of hotel rooms booked before the outbreak of the pandemic justifies a 50/50 split of the booking costs.
Millions of people use elevators every day - but how safe is it in times of a pandemic? The latest episode of the VDMA's industry podcast is about infection-free use of lifts during the Corona pandemic. Even simple measures can make elevators safer for people.
Under the umbrella theme of sustainability, the international standardisation in the textile sector on microplastics and the circular economy is repositioning itself and additionally expanding its radius of action.
Under the umbrella of the EU Green Deal, the European Commission intends to develop a strategy on "Circular Textile Economy". A strategy adopted by the Commission is expected towards the end of 2021.
The EU-US summit is a turning point in transatlantic trade relations. The Boeing and Airbus subsidy dispute will find a solution and the planned "Trade and Technology Council" can ensure that the leading industrial standards of tomorrow are developed.
The EU Commission is drawing its lessons from the Corona pandemic. From the VDMA's point of view, it is clear that only open markets and global partnerships contribute to economic recovery.
As of May 27, 2021, the U.S. Department of State has expanded opportunities for business travel to the United States. Travel opportunities for VDMA member companies will improve significantly as a result.
At the beginning of June 2021, the board members of the VDMA East drew up an issues paper with concrete demands for the VDMA and politicians. And: One comrade-in-arms has left the board.
Climate, free trade and digital transformation are three major topics for the VDMA. But eastern German companies are still struggling with completely different problems, as the conversation with the VDMA President showed.
Since the beginning of the year, suppliers in the EU have been obliged to report products containing substances of very high concern.
The EU-US summit in Brussels must be used to advance the transatlantic trade agenda. To this end, VDMA President Karl Haeusgen calls on EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to conclude agreements with the US on the elimination of tariffs on industrial goods and on conformity assessment.
The EU Green Deal sets a high goal for a pollution-free environment. The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability of October 2020 is one of the implementations of this goal.
Brussels has reformed the export control of dual-use goods. For mechanical engineering, hardly anything changes, but: The new version of the Dual-Use Regulation has - once again - become more complicated.
The German supply chain law puts companies under general suspicion. What is needed now is a better European regulation that actually protects human rights without unilaterally harming companies.
Attention all those interested in Europe! 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.
The majority of companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector are planning to recruit new staff. The situation has improved for young talent as the companies plan to expand their vocational training and dual study programs. Companies, on the other hand, are threatened with personnel bottlenecks that could endanger their innovative thrust.
Competitiveness, sustainable growth and long-term employment security require adaptability to a dynamic environment and a flexible labour market.
Africa is a continent of opportunities. In order to take advantage of them, qualified local skilled workers are particularly in demand. They are the engine for the development and diversification of the economy.
Egypt Customs introduces a new system for pre-registration of cargo information called "Advanced Cargo Information (ACI)" with mandatory effect from 01/07/2021.
The Bundestag is currently debating the government's draft for a company master data register and the introduction of a uniform national business number for companies.
In this Power Talk, Mr. James shares his insights on the future potential of Floating Offshore Wind
The EU telecommunications ministers are discussing the digital future of the European Union. The EU's ambitious plans for platforms, artificial intelligence and data are good in principle. However, they must not be at the expense of small and medium-sized enterprises.
VDMA welcomes the agreement on IPI in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States. Companies can now get better access to the public procurement market in third countries.
The uncoordinated border closures during the Corona pandemic have shown that the internal market is not crisis-proof. It must be strengthened, which is why a new Schengen strategy is the right thing to do. Member States must seek European solutions.
The rising demand for labour reflects the hope of companies that they will be able to leave the crisis behind them in the foreseeable future.
Your support is needed: On behalf of the VDMA, the Kienbaum Institute @ ISM is conducting a study aimed at identifying the new competence requirements resulting from the digital transformation in our member companies.
After the United Kingdom, the next rich industrialised country has now distanced itself from the European Union. After seven years of negotiations, Switzerland has let the planned framework agreement with the EU fall through. In the coming years, this could also have an impact on the mechanical engineering industry.
Germany and the EU must be strengthened by an active foreign trade policy. This requires the negotiation of new free trade agreements with important third countries, but also better coordination of ministries and authorities.
Open markets and free trade secure growth and employment. Despite the impact of the Corona pandemic on global trade flows and occupational mobility, the German mechanical and plant engineering industry exports more than 80 percent of its components, machinery and equipment. The most important sales markets besides the EU are China and the USA - with an upward trend. The export business is threatened by the increasing protectionism worldwide. It is therefore now time to rethink foreign trade policy.
In this Power Talk the climate protection law is evaluated from the point of view of the VDMA.
Which subsidies are available for energy efficiency and what do I have to look out for when applying?
The Supply Chain Act remains a bureaucratic imposition for companies, especially as it is not clearly defined how they can sufficiently fulfil their duty of care.
Are you planning to expand your sales to third countries? VDMA Foreign Trade supports and accompanies you into future markets that have potential.
Do you always have to reinvent the wheel? Not necessarily . The Maschinenhaus Toolbox offers a comprehensive collection of good practice examples that can serve as orientation for the further development of university teaching. The latest additions focus on corporate cooperation in higher education teaching.
The mechanical and plant engineering sector supports the European climate targets and also the proposed addition to emissions trading for the buildings and transport sectors. However, the path to the climate target must be flexible.
The implementation of legislative projects - especially in tax law - means new or changed assessment bases for the entrepreneurial tax burden for the companies.
In its second and third reading, the Bundestag today passed a law to modernise corporate tax law and the law to implement the anti-tax avoidance directive.
African markets offer a wide range of market potential that has so far remained largely untapped by German companies - the Africa export quota of the German mechanical and plant engineering industry was just two percent in 2020. Many best practice examples show that entering African markets through vocational training and further education is a promising approach.
The EU has agreed on the introduction of an EU Covid certificate. This will facilitate freedom of movement, which is an advantage when companies send technicians to other EU member states, for example.
On 21 May 2021, the Bundestag passed the Act to Promote Works Council Elections and Works Council Work in a Digital Working World ("Works Council Modernisation Act").
In April, the "Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft" started its new survey on research and development (R&D) in the industry in 2020. The results are highly significant.
The EU Commission has published a proposal for a regulation to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). AI in machines may also be affected as "high risk AI", for example when it comes to safety components.
Many affected machine builders have not yet noticed: anyone who produces even a small special component for armaments has been subject to investment auditing since May 1, 2021.
For the German mechanical engineering industry, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is an important factor in ensuring that access to international markets continues to be as unhindered as possible.
EU Bubble Talks 03 June 8:30 to 9:00am
In our theme publication you will find facts and figures on research and development, innovations and patents in mechanical engineering.
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