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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. What is VDMA doing 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.

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.

The EU is finally making progress on the Mercosur agreement. The decision to treat the trade part separately is particularly helpful. Now it is up to the EU Council and Parliament.

The EU internal market for products is regulated by the NLF and its 30 harmonised legal acts. The European Commission is currently planning to revise the NLF. For this to be successful, the focus must be on simplification.

The EU proposes tariff exemption for US products - while punitive tariffs are extended to European machinery. The EU Commission urgently needs to renegotiate; mechanical engineering products must be permanently exempted from sectoral tariffs.

The EU Commission defends the 15 percent "tariff deal" with the USA. But more and more products are falling under the much higher steel and aluminum tariffs. The VDMA is urgently calling on the EU Commission to work towards improvements.

The EU's omnibus package on sustainability is intended to protect small and medium-sized industrial companies from excessive reporting obligations. This goal must no longer be watered down in the European Parliament.

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.

A politically motivated ban on exports of rare earths from China is not compatible with a trusting trade relationship. The EU must show strength towards China and take action.

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?

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

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?

With the new Ecodesign Regulation and the establishment of a digital product passport, the EU Commission has set an important milestone under the Green Deal. The mechanical engineering sector will already be affected by the new requirements in the short term.

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 CECE Annual Economic Report reports on the macroeconomic situation, the development of the construction industry and the key market segments of the European construction equipment industry.

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.

Karl Haeusgen continues to see many advantages in Germany and Europe as a business location. But the flood of regulations from politics and the growing support for the AfD are causing the VDMA president great concern.

In the future, only safe, circular and sustainable products are to be allowed on the EU internal market. The central element for mechanical and plant engineering in this context is the revision and opening of the Ecodesign Directive and the establishment of a digital product passport.

VDMA is campaigning for less bureaucracy in work assignments in Europe. An overview of the facts and figures shows that there is still a long way to go before the Internal Market runs smoothly.

The EU and U.S. should finally bury the hatchet on this half-decade-long trade dispute that has triggered uncertainty and increased costs for manufacturers in both markets.

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.

The planned EU reporting obligations on sustainability are out of touch with reality. Among other things, they are supposed to cover the entire value chain of companies. For this, medium-sized companies lack the in-house-expertise. Moreover, there are not enough experts available.

In the future, the EU wants to allow only sustainable, safe and circular products on the internal market. Product-specific requirements, coupled with a Digital Product Passport, can create space for new business models in the sense of the circular economy. However, it is crucial that the EU does not aim for a 'one-size-fits-all solution' here.

Two of the four environmental objectives of the taxonomy regulation are also relevant for the textile sector. However, textile machinery is currently only mentioned in five taxonomy criteria relating to services.

In future, the digital product passport is to include all important environmental and material data of a product along its entire life cycle. VDMA sees opportunities and challenges in this concept and calls for the involvement of the industry.

Access to sustainable finance could become more difficult for the machinery and equipment sector, despite its significant contribution to the green transformation.

Three public consultations of the Sustainable Finance Platform and many more innovations in the EU taxonomy

EU Commission adopts second package on sustainable finance - Mechanical engineering as supplier of green technologies not sufficiently considered in taxonomy.

The Corona pandemic has also become a decisive point of departure for the EU Commission's climate agenda. The Green New Deal offers many opportunities for the mechanical and plant engineering industry - if it is based on market principles.

The EU Parliament has adopted its position on the new circular economy package. From the VDMA's point of view, this is a good step into the right direction, but too much bureaucracy has to be avoided.

Intersolar Europe 2024 will take place from June 19-21, as part of The smarter E Europe 2024 at Messe München.

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