The interests of companies in the paper industry in Germany will in future be represented uniformly at the federal level by an economic and socio-political umbrella organisation.
The Association of German Paper Mills e. V. (VDP) decided at its general meeting on June 24th in Berlin that Die Papierindustrie e. V. is to be the new name. This is the first step in establishing a new association with the Association of Employers’ Associations of the German Paper Industry e. V. (VAP). From January 1, 2022, both associations will then be jointly named Die Papierindustrie e. V., representing the interests of the German paper industry. At the same time, the national associations of the paper industry will also become members of the new association.
Both federal associations, which have already passed the relevant fundamental resolutions, have to finally decide on the merger at their extraordinary general meeting in November. The joint association will also elect a new board. From January 2022, the paper industry will only be managed by the new association, which will have its headquarters in Berlin. The new association is led by the previous VDP general manager, Alexander von Reibnitz. Andre Müller, who has been chief executive officer of VAP until now, will be deputy chief executive officer.
The new association will be the central social, collective bargaining and economic interest representation of companies in the paper industry in Germany and will bundle and represent the common interests of the industry with its more than 100 companies and around 47,000 employees at federal and state level.
“With the merger of the two associations, we want to make our representation of interests more effective and leaner. This is also a clear signal to politics in Berlin,” stated the VDP President, Winfried Schaur.
“Through the re-organisation of our two federal associations, the socio-political and economic interest representation of the paper industry will be even more closely linked. Both areas are inextricably linked. Together with our regional associations, we will continue to promote the trusting social partnership as well as basic, advanced and advanced training in our industry, especially in our paper centre in Gernsbach, ”explained the chairman of the VAP, Martin Krengel.
