German Spanish Business Meeting

BDI, BDA and DIHK on the German Spanish Business Meeting 2015: courageous reform policy makes Spain driver of growth.

On Tuesday the presidents of the German and Spanish business associations handed over a joint declaration to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Berlin. It contained demands to intensify the process of European integration and to implement necessary reforms at national level. The heads of government and the German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble, the Spanish minister for economics and competition Luis de Guindos and the Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Garcia-Margallo were guests at the German-Spanish business meeting staged by the BDI, BDA, DIHK, CEOE and CEPYME in the House of German Industry.

 “Spain has pulled off the Turnaround”, said BDI president Ulrich Grillo. “This year the Spanish economy will record vigorous growth. The courageous reform policy in Madrid has made a remarkable contribution to this development. Spain is now one of the countries driving growth in Europe. Now it is vital to stick to this course,” Grillo declared with regard to the elections due in Spain in the autumn.

The BDI president stressed that the good relations between Germany and Spain must be put to good use in order to push ahead with European policy. “The current challenges in Europe require clear political responses. That means more reforms aimed at boosting growth and employment, strengthening the single market for digital technology, energy and capital and deepening monetary union. The influx of refugees also calls for joint answers aimed at integration.”

The German employers’ president Ingo Kramer welcomed the fact that Spain has undertaken structural reforms. “Simplifying Spanish labour law and introducing greater flexibility, linked to the expansion of the dual system of vocational training, are already bearing first fruits. Unemployment is falling and even the long-term unemployed are finding their way back into the labour market. The sustainability and reliability of the social system have been enhanced and that benefits the population as a whole.”

Kramer pointed out that the main problem continues to be the dramatically high rate of unemployment among young people. “Spain’s labour market policy must continue to focus on getting young people qualified and integrated into the labour market. German industry is supporting this process with numerous joint bilateral projects aimed at providing dual vocational training for young Spaniards.”

Martin Wansleben, director-general of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), emphasized, “Young people in Europe need opportunities through training and employment. The continued expansion of industry-related training structures in Spain can make an important contribution to this.” In both countries the Chambers of Industry and Commerce and Spain’s Chamber of Foreign Commerce are already helping with the creation of dual vocational training systems – with good results.

 “We are pleased that in recent years Germany has been able to give young people from Spain opportunities for training and for the future. Some of them will build a future for themselves in Germany. Many will return to their home country and the qualifications they have gained here will make them valuable for Spain’s economy,” said Wansleben.