Joint appeal by the German business community for the 2024 European elections

Berlin, June 3, 2024: The European Union is of central importance for German companies and their employees. It is our economic and social home. It is our home market. This is where democracy, the rule of law, freedom and the social market economy are practiced, thereby also protecting economic stability.

The European elections from June 6 to 9, 2024 will decide the future direction of Europe. We encourage all eligible voters - in this country and throughout the EU - to exercise their right to vote and send a signal for Europe. Only with a strong EU will we promote prosperity and security for all.

For the German economy, one thing is clear: the EU is our future. With its export-oriented economy and efficient SMEs, Germany benefits from the advantages of the European single market like no other member state. Jobs, value creation and prosperity are closely linked to the open borders within the EU. The common currency, uniform standards and a strong pan-European voice in negotiations with international partners form the basis of our global competitiveness. And the massive economic impact - particularly on companies and businesses in Europe - of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine makes it all the more clear that the EU must also play a decisive role in security and foreign policy.

We, the leading German business associations, stand for European integration and are committed to the intelligent and intergenerationally fair further development of the EU. We clearly reject all efforts to divide and weaken Europe.

We need an EU policy that enables companies and employees across Europe to fully exploit their potential. This includes a reversal of bureaucratic burdens. Only in this way can we make our contribution to the European transformation processes and to a good and intergenerationally just future for Europe.

The election decision on June 9 is therefore a decision on the course of future European policy on key economic issues. From a business perspective, it is clear what is at stake here:

- We need less bureaucracy in order to become faster and more dynamic.

- We need a globally competitive economic area that focuses on innovation.

- We need the single market and free trade for value creation and prosperity in Europe.

- We need integration and diversity to play to our European strengths.

- We need freedom, democracy and the rule of law to make all of this possible in the first place.

June 9 must lay the foundations for a sustainable EU in these new times. A policy is needed that is firmly committed to these values and has a clear roadmap to achieve these goals.

Rainer Dulger, President, Confederation of German Employers' Associations (BDA)

Siegfried Russwurm, President, Federation of German Industries (BDI)

Peter Adrian, President, German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK)

Jörg Dittrich, President, German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH)