30 January 2019

European industry needs cross-party unity

Ceemet, European Tech & Industry employers, notes the votes in House of Commons yesterday, 29 January 2019, to try to break the Brexit impasse. It calls for cross-party unity to agree a deal which delivers for European industry.

Ceemet notes the votes which took place in the House of Commons which set out a clear vision towards avoiding a no-deal Brexit. The UK Government must now use this mandate from the UK Parliament to avoid a catastrophic cliff edge for industry, no-deal is not an option. A hard Brexit would be disastrous for manufacturing companies across Europe whose business models have been built up around fully integrated supply chains and just in time delivery.

Uncertainty is bad for business and investment, the ambiguity surrounding the Brexit process continues to stifle investment and companies are having to make decisions that will have immediate and long-term ramifications on the economy and people’s livelihoods.

Ceemet Director General Uwe Combüchen stated, “Business needs certainty and clarity. As we have seen no real movement by the UK Parliament to deliver this, we reiterate our call for an extension of the Article 50 process for an adequate duration in order to negotiate a deal which would avoid a hard Brexit and deliver for industry.”

As Ceemet described it in the #10PointPlan.

​​​​​​​“Ceemet calls on all parties in the UK Parliament to back a deal which delivers for European industry. Businesses on both sides of the channel deserve better.”