The German food industry has signed up to the initiative 'Europa Braucht Helden' (Europe Needs Heroes), calling for greater unity across Europe, ahead of the European Parliament elections at the end of May.
The Federation for Food Law and Food Science e.V. (BLL) and the Federal Association of the German Food Industry e.V. (BVE) have joined forces with the Employers' Association for Food (ANG), to mobilise their members ahead of the forthcoming elections.
In a statement, the BLL said that the European market brings with it many advantages, including free borders and similar laws relating to the food industry across all markets.
The groups are advertising on the pro-Europe website Europa-braucht-Helden.de and are using the hashtag #EuropasHelden (Europe's Heroes) in their communications, to promote the initiative.
Christoph Minhoff, BLL chief executive, said that the EU is the foundation of economical success. "The latest developments must shake us up, we must not take the EU for granted," he said.
Largest Food Producer
Germany is the EU's largest food producer and hence the growth engine for food production in Europe, the BLL said.
Some 30 million tonnes of food from neighbouring EU countries are consumed in Germany every year and 39 million tonnes of German food are consumed in other European countries.
Moreover, the same rules and safety standards apply throughout Europe, for example in terms of food labelling.
"The EU has shaped a European way of life for all of us to defend", said ANG President Brigitte Faust, referring to European employment and social partnership.
Elsewhere, BLL President Stephan Nießner emphasised the importance of food diversity at affordable prices, which according is one reason why more togetherness is needed.
"Even though the conflicts with all EU countries can be lengthy and complicated, our greatest potential lies in the European community and in cohesion", added Wolfgang Ingold, the chairman of BVE.
Well-known companies from industry and trade as well as trade associations have already joined the initiative, including REWE Group and Metro AG.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Jana Zimmermann. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
