STUTTGART (dpa-AFX) - The president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Hildegard Müller, sees jobs in the German and European automotive industries at risk in view of global competition for raw materials and energy. "If we do not move forward quickly and decisively on issues such as access to raw materials, the supply of renewable energies and trade partnerships, the industrial location will be seriously endangered," she told the "Stuttgarter Zeitung" and "Stuttgarter Nachrichten" (Wednesday). The previously strong economy could then no longer be a guarantee of prosperity.

China and the U.S. are tirelessly concluding raw materials and energy agreements and strengthening their competitiveness, she said. Compared to this, Europe and Germany are not only too slow in implementing them, but are also still lagging behind in realizing them. Access to energy, raw materials and intermediate products has long since become a key issue in international competition. While other countries are securing access and partnerships by contract, people in this country have been talking about an Africa strategy for far too long, Müller told the newspapers. Today, he said, it is taking its toll that "we have not sufficiently secured our supply."/ols/DP/mis