VDMA European Office - vdma.org

The EU and the USA have negotiated a political agreement in principle in the tariff dispute. Among other things, it provides for a tariff rate of 15 percent for most EU exports to the United States.

The budget of the EU research program Horizon Europe has almost doubled - a positive signal. However, horizontal key technologies such as robotics, industrial AI and production technologies must be given greater consideration.

VDMA emphasized during its discussions in Brussels in particular the importance of better framework conditions so that Europe can compete with China and the United States.

The VDMA welcomes the EU Commission's plan to strengthen the data economy. However, any measures must remain voluntary and must not lead to forced data exchange and further bureaucratic burdens.

A restructuring of the EU budget must not mean new levies for companies. That would be an own goal for investments in Europe.

The EU Commission wants to reduce bureaucracy for small-mid caps (SMCs) - for example in the GDPR, the F-Gas Regulation and the Battery Regulation. Larger companies should also benefit - for example through the digitalization of documentation obligations.

When it comes to raw material stocks in Europe, a broad perspective is needed. Stockpiling is one component, the circular economy another.

Legislators must not ignore the reality of everyday industrial life, and this also applies to the EU Commission's Chemicals Action Plan.

The European Union remains ambitious in climate protection with a new emissions reduction target for 2040.

Incoming orders in May were a positive surprise - albeit on a weak prior-year basis. Overall, companies have recorded a small increase in orders so far this year, but global uncertainty remains high.

The EU Commission announced that it would simplify the rules on State aid in order to promote the development of clean energy, decarbonization and net-zero technologies.

The EU omnibus package is intended to significantly reduce the bureaucratic burden on companies. Now the package must no longer be torpedoed. Bureaucracy must not become an obstacle to innovation.

Canada wants to expand its economic partnerships - an opportunity for Europe. It is crucial that the CETA free trade agreement is finally implemented in full.

Security and competitiveness will be two overarching priorities for the Danish Presidency, but it will also focus on the 28th regime and data.

The EU omnibus package is intended to significantly reduce the burden on companies. This applies in particular to the limitation of due diligence obligations to direct business partners. The EU must not be dissuaded from this course.

The EU-Commission has announced that it will withdraw the proposal for a Directive on AI liability. VDMA is calling on the EU-Commission to take the necessary steps.

On 21 May 2025, the EU Commission presented a fourth omnibus package to reduce the annual administrative costs for companies. It also provides for simplifications in the implementation of data protection for certain companies.

The Council has adopted its negotiating mandate on the eDeclaration. This is a first step towards less bureaucracy in the area of posting of workers.

The EU-Commission has presented a Single Market strategy and focuses on removing the 10 most harmful obstacles, including barriers to the posting of workers.

It is right to combine the topic of startups and scaleups with an EU strategy. After all, startups drive Europe's innovative strength and future viability.

The EU and the United Kingdom have decided to enter into a dialog on the entry and stay of persons for business purposes. The VDMA hopes that this will facilitate work assignments in the United Kingdom.

The CO2 border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) should be simplified. This is also urgently needed: Small and medium-sized companies in particular must be exempted.

The EU internal market needs ambitious reforms. The EU internal market strategy aims to improve Europe's competitiveness, but remains too vague in detail.

EU Commissioner Séjourné signals a change in policy to strengthen companies. What is needed is a drastic simplification of EU legislation, the completion of the internal market and more trade agreements.

The EU-Commission launches public consultations on possible countermeasures in response to Trump's introduction of “reciprocal” tariffs and tariffs on cars and car parts from the EU.

The first quarter of 2025 resulted in an overall increase in orders of 4% - the first positive quarterly balance of orders in three years. March also closed with a pleasing increase in orders of 4%.

The EU internal market must be standardized and deepened. The points on the EU internal market strategy that have now become known in advance sound promising. This applies in particular to the "think-small first" approach.

VDMA has met with the EU Member States, the EU-Commission and the EU-Parliament to campaign for the eDeclaration. If adopted, this would be an important first step towards reducing bureaucracy.

The EU's action plan emphasizes the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence. There is a lot of potential for AI, especially in industrial applications. Small-scale regulations must not stand in the way of this.

The new Clean Industrial Deal seeks to answer the industry calls for competitiveness as the successor of the EU Green Deal?

Did you miss the last Regul8 of the Materials Handling and Intralogistics Association? No problem, you can watch the presentation on current EU policy again here.

Good news from Brussels: the suspension of several reporting obligations gives companies the capacity to act in order to focus on important areas of transformation.

VDMA has conducted an initial analysis of the Mercosur agreement. This Free Trade Agreement is an important signal against isolationism and in favor of open markets in the current tense geopolitical situation.

For the 15th time, VDMA organised the European Policy Reception together with Deutsche Messe. This year, one thing is clear: everything revolves around how to deal with US President Trump, because a trade war benefits no one.

More than 250 leaders in machinery and equipment manufacturing from across Europe came to Amsterdam on 17 and 18 March 2025 to discuss geopolitics, new markets, innovation and the shortage of labour.

On March 4, 2025, representatives of the additive manufacturing industry from seven European countries will meet with the Parliament and the Commission in Brussels

Europe's defense industry needs efficient value chains for components and production technologies. The European mechanical and plant engineering industry will play a key role here.

The machinery and equipment industry in Europe can hold its own in the face of increasingly tough global competition - if the promised relief comes and companies push ahead with their transformation.

The objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal are fundamentally correct. However, EU policy must urgently improve the conditions in Europe across the board. Not only the symptoms of crisis industries must be treated.

The EU seems to have its sights set on cutting red tape. The announced proposal to simplify regulations must therefore include concrete improvements for companies. That is what matters now.

The EU's planned omnibus regulation could simplify three particularly burdensome sets of rules for companies. However, the EU needs to talk much more with small and medium-sized enterprises.

Companies are waiting for the promised relief from the EU Commission. Quick and clear measures are now needed to strengthen the competitiveness of industry.

The EU and the Philippines announced the resumption of trade negotiations in 2024. VDMA prepared a document with the most important demands for the negotiating teams, e.g. the abolition of all tariffs.

With the Omnibus Regulation, Commission President von der Leyen wants to consolidate, reduce and simplify various ESG reporting obligations. The VDMA welcomes the initiative and is submitting specific proposals for improvement.

The EU is committed to a more competitive Europe. A strategy for European industry must not get lost in individual aids, but must fundamentally strengthen Europe as a business location.

Donald Trump's economic program could be a test of strength for Europe. This makes it all the more important that the EU now acts as one, especially on trade issues.

Overview of the VDMA's foreign trade policy activities in 2024 - a review of the year

The European single market urgently needs reforms to improve and deepen it. Small and medium-sized companies are particularly dependent on this.

At the end of 2024, Switzerland and the EU managed to redefine their relations. It is questionable whether the necessary referendum in Switzerland will accept the rules.

The European Deforestation Regulation is being postponed - an important measure to ease the burden on companies. Other EU regulations must now also be put to the test as part of the omnibus regulation.