01.07.2026 - "Our locational problem is not abstract. It manifests itself very tangibly in postponed investments, rising insolvencies, and more than 10,000 lost industrial jobs, month by month. Business must become simpler, more attractive, and more reliable. Specifically, this means: no new burdens for the SME sector.

An increase in the top tax rate or the so-called wealth tax largely affects individual enterprises: trade firms, family businesses, industrial suppliers – precisely those who invest, train, and take responsibility locally.

A higher VAT would also be the wrong approach. Total tax revenue this year amounts to around 990 billion euros, doubling over two decades. The answer to our growth weakness cannot, therefore, be further burdening businesses, but rather structurally reviewing expenses and setting priorities.

For reducing bureaucracy: don't just announce – implement. Bureaucracy costs us 146 billion euros annually, nearly 3 percent of GDP. For consistent reduction, a systemic shift is required. A moratorium on reporting, verification, and documentation obligations is needed. Only that which is constitutionally or legally mandated by the EU should apply. It is not the easing that must be justified but every single burden.

Such a consistent reduction of bureaucracy would represent the greatest growth programme possible without a single additional euro of expenditure.

We also need a new direction in the labour market: transitioning to weekly working hours instead of rigid daily limits provides flexibility for companies and employees to manage peak orders and boost productivity. This is not an infringement on worker protections but an update reflecting modern work realities.

This logic applies to every issue on the coalition committee table. Growth is not just another topic; it is the foundation for prosperity, employment, and stable public budgets.

My appeal to the government coalition is: Don’t decide on anything that hampers growth. Decide on measures that make investments, employment, and competitiveness feasible again.

The location doesn't need new burdens. It needs a fresh start."