Brussels/Frankfurt, 28 April 2021 - On the vote of the post-Brexit agreement in the European Parliament, Thilo Brodtmann, Executive Director at VDMA, says:

"It was high time that MEPs approved the trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and the UK. Now a little stability is returning to the current tense situation. However, it is also clear that the work is not done with ratification. There are still critical points that need to be renegotiated, such as the rules on the posting of workers. This is something that Britain and Europe should now address.

Trade with the UK has changed for companies in the mechanical and plant engineering sector since the UK left the EU: more bureaucracy, higher costs and long waiting times at the borders are putting a strain on business. All this leads to delays in supply chains and makes the UK less attractive as a market. Added to this is the unpredictability of British politics. Those who want to maintain good economic relations must be able to rely on each other and stand by their word and not, as has been the case in the past, threaten to break contracts. For the industry, it is elementary that the British stick to the agreement."