The EU must make Europe independent of Russian energy sources. In this context, the focus is primarily on reducing energy consumption. The mechanical engineering industry offers a wide range of solutions.

Brussels/Frankfurt 17/05/2022 – Commenting on the European Commission’s RePowerEU plan, Thilo Brodtmann, Executive Director of VDMA, says:

“The European Union must make a joint effort to make Europe independent of Russian energy sources. That is why it is right that the European Commission is now proposing concrete measures under the RePowerEU plan to reduce dependence on Russia in the coming months and years. The main focus here is on reducing energy consumption. A wide range of solutions from the mechanical and plant engineering sector are available here. Much of what was considered uneconomical two years ago has now become virtually necessary in order to achieve the even more ambitious targets for energy efficiency and the expansion of renewable energies.The EU must find new international partners as quickly as possible to reliably close the supply gap.Thilo Brodtmann, VDMA Executive Director

The EU has rightly recognized that even with a very strong reduction in energy consumption, Europe will still be dependent on energy imports for the foreseeable future. It is good that not only existing partnerships for fossil energy sources are being renegotiated, but that renewable energy sources are also coming into focus for energy imports. However, time is of the essence and the next winter is just around the corner. Therefore, the EU must find new international partners as quickly as possible in order to be able to reliably close the supply gap.

In view of the war in Ukraine, there is a risk that Russia will reduce or even stop supplying Europe with energy at some point. The European Union must be prepared for this eventuality: Not only the individual EU member states, but the entire continent needs an emergency plan that, in the event of an energy shortage, ensures that the burden is shared in solidarity across Europe, thereby avoiding irreparable damage to certain EU member states.”

The VDMA is Europe’s most important mechanical engineering industry associaton and represents more than 3,400 German and European companies. The industry stands for innovation, export orientation and medium-sized businesses. The companies employ around four million people in Europe, more than one million of them in Germany alone. Mechanical and plant engineering represents a European turnover volume of around 800 billion euros. In the entire manufacturing sector, it contributes the highest share to the European gross domestic product with a value added of around 270 billion euros.Download Media