BDI and BDA: "We are convinced Europeans"

Berlin (ots) -
- Achieving a fair deal with Great Britain at EU summit
- Making substantial progress now in European refugee policy
- House of German Business in Brussels opened

Immediately before the EU summit in two days' time, BDI President
Ulrich Grillo and German Employers' President Ingo Kramer appealed to
the heads of state and government to conclude an agreement with Great
Britain. "The demands made by the British government are in part very
sensible. The EU must strengthen European competitiveness and bring
about a major reduction in bureaucracy", said Grillo. "A Brexit would
only lead us up a dead end. Departure from the EU by Britain would
not only be a shock for the common single market but would above all
send out a strong signal against Europe. In the view of German
industry there can be only one message to the British: "Stay in - it
is in your own interests."

On Tuesday Grillo, Kramer and Martin Schulz, President of the EU
Parliament, opened the House of German Business, the new BDI/BDA
Representation in Brussels.

Employers' President Ingo Kramer emphasized that the EU summit
must achieve substantial progress in European refugee policy:
"European solidarity is needed in order to bring the influx into
Europe under control and to reduce it. We must help the neighbouring
states in the crisis regions even more effectively. In addition, we
must work together to achieve better control of Europe's external
borders. Individual member states cannot manage this on their own.
Frontex, the border management agency, is in urgent need of greater
competences. The securing of external borders is the precondition for
open internal borders."

The Presidents of BDI and BDA warned that the European Union is
facing a decisive year. "The opening of our office comes at a time in
which it is more important than ever to make our presence felt in
Brussels and to shoulder responsibility. For German industry a united
Europe is essential. We are convinced Europeans. We know that it is
the EU which makes a decisive contribution to our prosperity in
Germany and in Europe", said Grillo.

Europe should take advantage of all opportunities offering the
prospect of future growth and stability. For German industry this
includes the rapid expansion of economic cooperation with USA within
the framework of the free trade agreement TTIP. "We businessmen in
Europe must campaign for the agreement. It would be disastrous if we
were to waste this opportunity. The Pacific Agreement TPP is now
entering upon the ratification phase. That must be an additional
incentive to take a major step forward in the next TTIP negotiating
round in the coming week", stressed Kramer.

Pressekontakt:
BDI Bundesverband der Dt. Industrie
Presse und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Breite Straße 29
10178 Berlin
Tel.: 030 20 28 1450
Fax: 030 20 28 2450
Email: presse@bdi.eu
Internet: http://www.bdi.eu