"Tomorrow's Europe: In Search of Best Practices for Growth and Social Equilibrium"

On 19 June 2019, the Franco-German conference entitled "Tomorrow's Europe: In Search of Best Practices for Growth and Social Equilibrium" took place in Paris.

The President of the Franco-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, together with the President of the French Employers' Federation (MEDEF), invited to the headquarter of the French Council for Economic, Social and Environmental Affairs. The aim was to promote exchange with around 300 representatives from business, science and politics.

Kay Hoffmann, Director Government & Public Affairs, took part in a panel discussion on behalf of the Wilo Group on the subject of labour market reforms in Germany and France and their effects on the economic success of companies. Other participants in the panel were Prof. Peter Hartz, former German manager and head of the Commission on Labour Market Reforms in the context of Agenda 2010, Xavier Fontanet, former president of the Essilor Group and current visiting professor at the University of HEC Paris, as well as Bernard Gainnier, president of PwC France and French-speaking Africa.

"For the Wilo Group France is one of the most important single markets. Our aim is not only to serve the local market but also international markets with our French plants. The Wilo Group is investing particularly in digital transformation in order to counter demographic change and shortage of skilled workers," emphasised Kay Hoffmann.

“The strong cooperation between German and French teams within the Wilo Group is a great benefit. Further important key factors to our competitiveness are intimacy with the market and especially as employer, an ongoing transparent social dialogue,” adds Philippe Marjollet, Managing Director Wilo Salmson France. The final highlight of the event was a speech by Amélie de Montchalin, French State Secretary for European Affairs and an exclusive small dinner with the Envoy of the German Embassy in France, Prof Dr. Pascal Hector.