(Brussels, 4 March 2016) FoodDrinkEurope is committed to a European Single Market, allowing people, goods and services to circulate freely throughout the European Union.

The possibility that the Schengen agreement, which supports border-free circulation, should come to an end is extremely worrying for the food and drink sector. Various economic analyses estimate the cost of such a closure to be between 500 million and more than 1 trillion euros over the coming ten years [1]. Goods would once more be met by border controls, causing delays and expense, which would be partially covered by the end consumer. Trade would inevitably decrease impacting negatively on the region’s GDP, etc.
 
This situation would obviously have serious consequences on the entire European Union where weak growth and unemployment, especially of our young people already prove to be extremely challenging.

The Single Market may not be complete, it may not be perfect, but its existence has allowed for exchanges which support all our national economies and enhance our food and drink sector, the largest manufacturing sector and employer in the European economy. The Schengen Agreement is worth much more than the sum of its parts; its elimination would deal a dramatic blow to the European Union.

[1] Source : Bertelsmann study

Note to the editors:
FoodDrinkEurope is the organization of Europe’s food and drink industry, the largest manufacturing sector and leading employer in the EU and a key contributor to its economy (1.3 trillion€ turnover, 286 000 companies, 99% SMEs, 4.2 million employees).

Press contact:

Florence Ranson
Director of Communications
Phone: +32 2 5081028                                                    
f.ranson@fooddrinkeurope.eu