Roofing trade commits to Europe and calls for more bureaucracy reduction

The ZVDH underscores the importance of Europe for the German economy and the skilled trades sector. It calls for a growth-friendly environment and appropriate framework conditions for skilled trades businesses in the coming legislative period.

This article is part of the special feature on bureaucratic madness in the skilled trades.

The Central Association of the German Roofing Trade (ZVDH) is calling for participation in the European elections . The association emphasizes the importance of Europe for the skilled trades and, conversely, the importance of the skilled trades for Europe. "The German economy, and therefore the skilled trades, needs a strong and united Europe . Especially in times marked by war and disintegration, it is all the more important to stand together and present a united front," explains ZVDH Managing Director Ulrich Marx.

Ulrich Marx Photo: © ZVDH

This doesn't mean that the skilled trades shouldn't be critical. "On the contrary: we must remain critical and take our demands to Brussels . But under the premise of making Europe better together . Only in this way can we preserve our freedom, our prosperity, and our democracy," said Marx. President Dirk Bollwerk is calling above all for a reduction in bureaucracy and a growth-friendly environment in Europe. He emphasizes the importance of suitable framework conditions for the skilled trades to operate successfully.

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"Increasing paperwork, incomprehensible guidelines and regulations, and complicated approval processes contribute to a lack of motivation among master craftsmen to start or take over businesses. This is disastrous, as more and more businesses are being abandoned due to a lack of successors," says Bollwerk. He believes that energy-efficient building renovations, ensuring watertight roofs, and participating in the expansion of solar energy are the important tasks of our time.

Dirk Bollwerk Photo: © ZVDH / Giulio Coscia

"What we don't want is to fill out forms every evening, struggle through incomprehensible bureaucratic jargon, and despair over the logic of some regulations." If the skilled trades are to help shape the climate transition, the interests of small and medium-sized enterprises must also be taken into account , for example, through the strict application of the "Think Small First" principle , demands Bollwerk. "Europe can only survive together with the skilled trades. Therefore, it's also time for roofers to cast their votes on June 9th."

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