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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 agreement in the customs dispute creates planning security in the short term and averts an incalculable trade war. However, the agreement also reflects the balance of power. The EU must therefore now consistently strengthen its competitiveness.

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 first round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and the UAE took place in June 2025. VDMA hopes that this will result in an agreement to abolish localization requirements, amongst other things.

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 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.

Nine major business associations from Germany have issued a joint appeal warning that progress on cutting red tape in Europe should not be jeopardized.

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

The CO2 border adjustment mechanism CBAM is being simplified and many small companies will be exempt. An important step - but only a temporary solution.

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.

Europe's vulnerability in terms of security of supply is becoming increasingly clear. The VDMA is calling for a consistent European raw materials strategy that also relies on its own technologies.

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

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 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 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.

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.

To ensure the competitiveness of the mechanical and plant engineering industry, the VDMA is calling for reliable economic framework conditions. A strong industry means a strong economy.

In response to the imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the EU, the EU-Commission has initiated countermeasures against imports from the US. This included a consultation on EU countermeasures for US exports.

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 EU wants to noticeably relieve companies of the bureaucratic costs associated with CBAM. This is a welcome relief for many small and medium-sized companies.

On 26 February, the European Commission published the omnibus proposal on sustainability. The EU Commission is thus responding to the concerns of the overburdened economy and strengthening competitiveness.

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 Commission has launched a survey on the provision of construction and installation services. Take part!

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 establishment of a European private company would make it easier for companies to set up companies in other EU Member States under simple conditions and thus benefiting from a harmonized set of rules.

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.

VDMA welcomes the announcement by the EU and Malaysia to resume their trade negotiations. Tariffs and non-tariff barriers in the machinery sector could then be removed.

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.

2025 is the last year before CBAM’s full implementation, what are the latest developments EU companies need to consider?

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 German government now also wants to relieve companies of CSRD reporting obligations. It would be an urgently needed step. Politicians must now do everything they can to convince the EU of this measure.

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.

Heavy seas and no calm in sight: the mechanical engineering industry expects a decline in production and a slight reduction in jobs in 2025. A political turnaround is needed to strengthen the industry.

The EU Commission President wants to ease the burden on industry in Europe by simplifying regulations. There must be no taboos, even hard-won compromises must be tackled anew.

The new EU Commission can begin its work on December 1. Europe's industry now needs quick decisions to strengthen its competitiveness.

he posting of employees in Europe must not be a bureaucratic madness. The EU Commission's proposal for an eDeclaration is right, but further measures must follow.

CECE Congress 2024 brought together industry leaders, policymakers and key stakeholders to discuss the future of the European construction equipment sector.

Valdis Dombrovskis is to take on a decisive portfolio in the EU Commission. There are still no concrete proposals for better regulation that could signal real change.

Companies in Europe need significant relief quickly: less bureaucracy and laws that can also be implemented in practice. A VDMA position paper.

VDMA met with MEPs to promote free trade. VDMA emphasized the importance of Free Trade Agreements for our industry.

The four states of the European Free Trade Association and India have signed a trade and economic partnership agreement. If they can do it, why can't the EU?

Representatives of VDMA met with Commission officials from DG GROW, CONNECT and JUST to discuss reducing bureaucracy for SMEs, late payments, the EU Data Act and liability.

The EU rightly wants to put the structure of its budget to the test. Scarce resources must be managed efficiently, innovation and competitiveness must be at the top of the agenda.

The EU Deforestation Regulation is a prime example of well-intentioned but poorly implemented regulation. It must be postponed and fundamentally revised.

VDMA hopes for a breakthrough: a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Indonesia can significantly advance the European mechanical engineering industry in Southeast Asia.

The "Electronic Travel Authorization" (ETA) will be extended to numerous European countries from April 2025. The application is possible from 5 March 2025.

Transformation will only succeed if the framework conditions for Germany as an industrial location are improved. Reforms must not be put on the back burner any longer.

The "Draghi Report" rightly emphasizes how important economic success is for Europe. Open markets and free trade in particular are essential for companies.

The new European Parliament is in place. This is a good opportunity to actively draw the attention of the new Members of the European Parliament to the bureaucracy surrounding the posting of workers.

Mechanical engineering is indispensable for a European circular economy. The Circular Economy Act is an important building block, but it must not end in the minutiae of regulation.

Since 1 July 2024 work assignments in the Czech Republic must be reported via an online reporting platform. The procedure is complex and many rules are still unclear.

The German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) provides information on the possibility for companies to provide evidence of their efforts to obtain data on CBAM goods and the use of its discretionary powers in the assessment of CBAM reports

The economic policy direction of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's guidelines is right. However, a broader strategy to strengthen Europe as a business location for all companies is still missing.

The EU's upcoming Clean Industrial Deal addresses the right issues from the perspective of the mechanical engineering industry. Implementation must now be a priority, involving the relevant stakeholders.

As part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, the Net-Zero Industry Act is now in force aiming at boosting green manufacturing in Europe. Which technologies will be favoured? And how is resilience secured?

On the occasion of the European elections, VDMA has published its key demands for the 2024-2029 legislative period and is calling on the EU to draw up a bold master plan to strengthen Europe's competitiveness.

Over 220 leading figures from the European mechanical and plant engineering industry came together in Vienna to discuss the current challenges facing the industry and to exchange ideas on approaches to achieving climate neutrality.

The proposed regulation of voluntary environmental claims in Business-to-Consumer activities awaits vote in European Parliament.

The EU Data Act aims to put data traffic on a new footing, including between companies. This could shift the center of power in the economy. For industrial SMEs, this law is both an opportunity and a risk.