Minister Altmaier and his Austrian counterpart Minister Schramböck discuss industrial and digital policies in the context of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU

Today, Federal Minster Altmaier met with the Austrian Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs Dr Margarete Schramböck in Berlin. On the agenda of the meeting were strategic European value chains and other topics related to industrial and digital policy in the context of Germany’s ongoing Presidency of the Council of the EU. The meeting centred on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal Minister Altmaier said: “Germany and Austria are not mere neighbours, but also cooperate closely at the European level, particularly on forward-looking issues such as battery-cell production and microelectronics. Another matter that is extremely close to our hearts is how to strengthen strategic value chains, in particular in healthcare. This is why we are in close discussions with our European partners and want to use Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU to make progress on this.”

Germany and Austria want to address the major challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic together and use Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU to ensure that Europe can emerge reinvigorated from the crisis in terms of its economy. Support for innovation and key-enabling technologies is key to this.

Germany and Austria share close economic ties. In 2019, bilateral trade amounted to nearly €110.12 billion (Austria ranking 7th for German exports: €66.07 billion and 9th for imports: €44.05 billion). Austria ranks eighth among Germany’s most important trading partners. Germany is Austria’s number one trading partner in the world.