Statement by German business on the coalition negotiations
While the global economy continues to grow, Germany remains in recession. Companies and businesses are increasingly falling behind in the competition between locations. Our country is losing economic strength. Strength that Germany needs to ensure its prosperity, social cohesion and security.
The economic situation has worsened dramatically in recent weeks. Trade conflicts are escalating, inflation is rising, growth is weakening further - the signs of crisis are increasing everywhere. Unemployment has now reached the three million mark. The facts are indisputable: Germany is in a serious economic crisis. A comparison with other countries shows that this crisis is primarily home-made. Germany does not just have a temporary, cyclical problem, but structural problems in particular.
However, the participants in the coalition negotiations appear to be unimpressed by these developments. Their interim results to date are inadequate and do not take into account the worsening situation in companies and businesses. What has been presented so far ignores the growing economic challenges in many areas. One thing is clear: debt alone will not solve any problems. Without far-reaching reforms, there will be no sustainable upturn. And new economic growth is the only way to secure jobs and apprenticeships. Decisive action is therefore needed now.
The coalition negotiations must not be about who gets their way symbolically. Rather, it is about setting the course for more growth and employment in our country. Particularly in the following areas, a coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD must show significantly more ambition than previous interim results suggest:
- With a tax burden of around 30 percent for companies and businesses, Germany is an international leader, which has become a considerable disadvantage for the country as a business location. The tax burden on companies and businesses must be noticeably reduced. The aim must be to reduce the current tax burden on companies - at least gradually - to an internationally competitive level of a maximum of 25%.
- The social security systems urgently need to be reformed in order to make them financially viable, future-proof and fair to all generations. For companies and, in particular, wage-intensive businesses, rising contribution rates mean an increased burden and a weakening of competitiveness. For employees, they lead to less net from gross.
- The German state must become faster and more efficient. The future coalition partners must give top priority to reducing bureaucratic burdens for the economy. Reporting and documentation obligations must be systematically reduced. Time-consuming and cumbersome planning and approval procedures also prevent investment and slow down innovation in the economy. All procedures must be simplified and shortened across all specialist legislation.
- High energy costs have become a major competitive disadvantage for the German economy. Germany therefore needs internationally competitive energy prices (electricity, gas, hydrogen) and greater security of supply. In addition to short-term measures to ease the financial burden on energy consumers, massive structural reforms are also urgently needed to reduce energy costs in the long term.
Only economic growth secures jobs and social cohesion. The CDU, CSU and SPD must now decide on effective, structural reforms. Germany urgently needs to become more attractive again as a business location - for investment, for innovation and for all those who take on responsibility with entrepreneurial courage. It must be worthwhile to run a company in this country. If the future federal government does not make this possible quickly and consistently, the economic downturn will be unstoppable in the coming years.
In a joint statement, more than 100 associations appeal to the coalition partners to focus on the economy in the negotiations.
