Alfred Hartmann, President of the German Shipowners’ Association (Verband Deutscher Reeder – VDR), has this to say regarding the coalition agreement:
"We are satisfied on the whole with the outcome of the negotiations of the CDU, CSU and SPD. The maritime sector is assessed as a strategic industry for Germany and the necessity is understood to keep the location of Germany competitive on an international scale.
The maritime shipping industry is undergoing rapid change worldwide, intensified even further by digitalisation and increasing requirements relating to climate and environmental protection. For this reason, the German federal government constantly needs to monitor the level of competitiveness of maritime shipping in Germany and – where necessary – adopt suitable measures to reinforce it. Against this backdrop, the agreement to create a competitive tax system in an international and European context certainly is a correct approach.
We share the criticism of the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (Bundesvereinigung der Deutschen Arbeitgeberverbände – BDA) on the restrictions concerning employment agreements subject to time limits under labour law. These must not be allowed to weaken job opportunities for German seafarers and their coming generations in the fiercely competitive global economic environment.
The fact that the Maritime Agenda 2025 is to be implemented and the promotional and financing instruments are to be extended is an encouraging sign from the coalition parties to protect top-quality workplaces, expertise and value added in the German maritime sector for the future, too."
About the German Shipowners’ Association
The German Shipowners’ Association (Verband Deutscher Reeder, VDR) is responsible for representing the common business and social policy interests of German shipping companies at federal and state government level as well as in relation to European and international bodies. Founded in 1907, the VDR merged with the Association of German Coastal Shipowners in 1994. With a membership of around 220, the VDR represents the majority of Germany’s merchant fleet. For more details, visit www.reederverband.de.
