Improving instead of only managing - the EU needs fresh priorities
Date
Sections
Frankfurt, April 19, 2018
The EU must secure its future through reforms and set fresh priorities. The debate on this must be held now. The mechanical engineering industry not only wants to set an example against EU scepticism and populism, but also wants to show where Europe can do more than it does today. The VDMA is therefore expanding its initiative #europeworks to include new topics under the motto "Promoting Europe" (www.europeworks.de).
"We must not only administer the European Union, we must improve it. A few months ago there was a serious risk that the EU would break up. In order to prevent another situation like that, we must now talk about what the future of Europe should look like", says Thilo Brodtmann, Executive Director of the VDMA. "For the mechanical engineering industry it is clear that both citizens and companies benefit from European integration. In the troubled times of the past year, our industry has taken a clear position for a strong Europe with #europeworks. Now we want our initiative to contribute to the discussion of what we expect from the EU in the future."
Great success last year
The initiative #europeworks illustrates in German and English how European integration improves the lives of citizens. The initiative was launched on the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome in March 2017 and received 12.1 million impressions in social networks within six months. In February 2018 at the European Association Awards, #europeworks won silver in the category "Best use of social media" and bronze in "Best communication campaign". In its continuation, the initiative now concentrates on areas in which the EU needs to develop further, starting with the topics "digital future" and "openmindedness".
The future of Europe will also play an important role at the Hanover Fair on April 23. Michel Barnier, the chief negotiator of the EU Commission in the exit talks with the United Kingdom, is expected to speak at the 8th European Policy Reception of the VDMA and Deutsche Messe. Under the title "How hard will Brexit be for industry?", Barnier will give insight into the state of negotiations, starting 6.30 p.m. in the House of Nations on the exhibition grounds.
Learn more about it: