European Policy - vdma.eu

Europe must become less dependent on raw material imports. The EU action plan, which aims to reduce dependence on China, would be an important step in this direction. The focus must also be on the European production of critical raw materials.

The EU member states must finally put their commitments to strengthening competitiveness into action. The proposals for adapting the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) point in the right direction.

The US tariffs on steel and aluminum are a huge burden on the European mechanical engineering industry. They need to be renegotiated. This is because they contradict the spirit of the tariff deal concluded between the EU and the USA in Scotland.

Ahead of the CBAM’s planned extension proposal at the end of 2025, VDMA has updated its position paper on CBAM calling for its abolition.

Courage to act and reliability are crucial in the context of the EU sustainability omnibus package. EU policy must finally implement a tangible reduction in bureaucracy for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The EU-Commission has published the formal withdrawal of the AILD proposal in the EU Official Journal. The VDMA welcomes this official step.

The EU's Apply AI strategy is sending out the right signals: artificial intelligence must be used where it creates real benefits - in the real economy. Mechanical engineering is the linchpin here.

Approximately 40 percent of our exports to the U.S. are affected by tariffs on steel and aluminum derivatives. VDMA is working to find a solution to these trade barriers with our most important export market.

The EU Commission has launched a survey on the Digital Omnibus—a law that aims to simplify EU digital regulations. The VDMA is participating and calling upon the EU to be bold in simplifying.

The VDMA NRW Executive Board discussed bureaucracy reduction, US tariffs, energy prices and procurement procedures with EU stakeholders in Brussels. The aim: better framework conditions and greater competitiveness for the mechanical and plant engineering sector.

Three political groups in the European Parliament are blocking the urgently needed simplification of sustainability reports. Europe's competitiveness must not become a plaything of ideological interests.

The "customs deal" is increasingly being called into question by the US - is now being investigated whether robotics and industrial machinery pose a threat to US security. The EU must make it clear: European mechanical engineering is not a security risk!

The EU trade agreement with Indonesia opens up the opportunity to improve access to this future market. The EU Council and Parliament should therefore approve the agreement as soon as possible.

In view of growing global tensions, the mechanical engineering industry is striving for closer cooperation with Japan. The further development of Industry 4.0 in particular offers good opportunities for this.

The EU and India want to conclude negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year. VDMA would welcome such an agreement, provided that key demands of the European machinery and equipment manufacturing industry are also considered.

The EU Council needs an agreement on the 2040 climate target so that Europe can continue to play a leading role in climate protection. It is therefore all the more important that a clear position is adopted quickly.

The EU has a range of trade policy instruments at its disposal to ensure a level playing field for German and European companies in trade with China.

Two Committees of the European Parliament have approved the negotiating mandate on the eDeclaration. VDMA hopes that the trilogue negotiations between the EU institutions can now begin promptly.

Instead of promoting innovation in the single market, EU digital laws have become hurdles in many places. The EU legislator must therefore use the digital omnibus to fundamentally correct digital regulation.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is building on Europe's industrial strength. To achieve this, however, the poor customs deal with the USA must be renegotiated.

The agreement on CBAM simplification is an important step, but the extension to downstream sectors should be taken off the table. And the technical specifications are still missing.

The EU and Indonesia finalised on 23 September 2025 the negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). VDMA welcomes this, as our export-oriented industry needs new markets.

The planned EU Deforestation Regulation urgently needs to be revised and its launch postponed by at least two years. It is poorly crafted and bureaucracy at its best, criticizes the VDMA in a letter to the Commission.