Introduction to the mechanical and electrical engineering sectors of new EU member states

This study was commissioned by the European Commission, Directorate General "Enterprise and Industry" and was completed at the end of 2005. The objective was to investigate the impact of the accession of new member states on the intra-European division of labour and on global competitiveness in the engineering sectors. The research consortium was led by the Ifo Insitute and co-ordinated in the Ifo Department of Industrail Branch Research. Experts from the German associations of engineering industries, GzF/VDMA and ZSG/ZVEI created a data base for the engineering industries of the new member states that is compatible with existing data for the EU-15. The Ifo researchers carried out comprehensive field work in the new member states, collecting qualitative information on the performance of companies and their strategic orientation, with a special focus on the opportunities and problems for their future development in a new framework, in particular under the Acquis Communautaire. All partners co-operated on the analytical parts of the study regarding intra-EU developments as well the competitiveness of the EU-25 in the global economy.