“Europe and its industry need to become more independent from China and the US,” the chairwoman of Germany’s largest single trade union told German news agency dpa.

“Given Chinese state capitalism and the plans of President-elect Donald Trump, believing that there is a free market is naive, “she said.

Benner stated that the European countries must agree on industrial projects in a binding manner and also attract external investments.

The focus should be on digitalisation, low energy costs, and relieving companies from bureaucratic burdens while adhering to climate goals, she said. Funding should be made dependent on the highest possible value creation within the EU.

On the expected parliament or Bundestag elections in February, Benner would like a stable federal government, ideally consisting of only two coalition partners, as she believes the necessary steps could then be implemented more easily.

The trade unionist noted that in the last months of the centre-left coalition of the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the Free Democrats “politics no longer worked properly,” and opportunities were missed.

As for domestic German policies, Benner focused on the need for cheaper energy – both for companies and consumers.

“There is a threat of de-industrialisation if businesses cannot access affordable energy,” she said.

Consumers also need cheaper energy to advance electromobility, plus the charging infrastructure needs to be expanded more quickly.