German rubber industry calls for ‘realistic economic policies' as European Parliament voted in

Frankfurt/Main, Germany – The German rubber industry association (WDK) has called for realistic policies to secure Europe’s ‘economic location’, as the new European Parliament has been voted in.

The “new majority situation in Brussels", said WDK president Michael Klein 11 June, now enables a “realpolitik” that includes all parts of civil society in its political actions.

Klien called on the new MEPs to give voice to “politicians with core economic expertise”, noting that radical forces lack “the necessary competence or ideological neutrality” to help advance the EU economy.

Following the vote on 6-9 June, the new EU Parliament will hold its first plenary session mid-July in Strasbourg.

At a later stage, the Parliament will elect the new European Commission president and assess candidates for commissioners.

“We and the new EC now have the unique opportunity to replace the ideologically dominated EU decisions of recent years with a European policy based on a realistic economic foundation," Klein added.

Klein also renewed his call for an "Industry Deal" to enable both Germany and the EU to continue their previously announced strategies.

Both Germany and Europe, he said, suffer from the same issues: high energy costs, high corporate taxation, and unique over-regulation, “as seen in no other competing economic area.”

As long as these issues are not addressed “quickly and massively”, there will be more insolvencies among medium-sized company, Klein warned.

Large corporations, meanwhile, “simply relocate” their companies to 'low-cost countries,' often outside the EU.

“In doing so, we strengthen the competing economic area out of our own necessity. A downward spiral in Europe,” Klein added.

The WDK leader, therefore, called for ‘breaking the cycle,’ adding that “the time for 'political games' is definitely over!"