Lobby and transparency report

The following contents incl. thyssenkrupp nucera (listed company with thyssenkrupp AG as majority shareholder)

Transparent business interest representation

We are living in times of tremendous entrepreneurial challenges. Geopolitical tension is rising, and the economy is being rocked by significantly more volatile forces. Our society must tackle climate change while developing ways to serve a rapidly aging population and enhancing its appeal to skilled workers.

The green transformation of our economy is both the greatest task and the greatest opportunity for Germany. Coordinated solutions are needed to ensure that Germany and Europe remain an attractive and competitive business location. In the face of this renewal program, our entrepreneurial activities are largely shaped by political decisions. This is because politics creates the framework for companies to implement their plans for the future.

We are actively taking on the challenges that lie ahead of us and want to help design good framework conditions. We add our voice to political and societal debates being conducted in Germany and Europe – constructively and progressively. An alliance of all relevant actors is the only way to seize the economic opportunities being created by the green transformation.

As part of our search for the best solutions, we conduct a continuous dialogue with political decision-makers and other groups. We want to be both a partner and an advisor. To this end, we make our broad sector and technical expertise available both directly and indirectly via various interest groups. This is how we lead the green transformation to success.

The trust of the general public is a fundamental precondition for our active role in the democratic process. Transparency is one key way to create this bond. This report about the way we represent our interests will help create it.

Overview Transparency Report

This Transparency Report is based on disclosure requirements on the German and European levels. For this reason, it draws on data from the German Lobby Register and the EU Transparency Register. The information provided in the Transparency Report is regularly updated following the release of the Annual Report. The reporting period of this Transparency Report covers the fiscal year 2023/2024 (October 2023 through September 2024).

Business interest representation done by thyssenkrupp outside the scope of the German Lobby Register and the EU Transparency Report (for instance, on the municipal, regional or state levels in Germany) is not covered.

Our guidelines for political business interest representation

We continuously strive to create added value for our customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, partners and, ultimately, society as a whole. Our value-creation process is carried out against a backdrop of increasingly complex geopolitical and regulatory conditions. This situation requires continual interaction with political decision-makers, work that is conducted on the basis of clear rules. We apply the following guidelines in our business interest representation work:

  • Promote transparency: Our political business interest representation is conducted within a coordinated, open and transparent framework.

  • Observe clear rules: We are committed to a form of political business interest representation that is conducted on the basis of international and national law. We apply the principles of integrity and professionalism.

  • Apply standards: Regulatory and ethical standards are rigorously observed. We strictly follow the U.N. Convention Against Corruption and prohibit corrupt behavior as defined in this convention.

  • Pursue our corporate objectives: We introduce our commercial priorities and objectives into the political decision-making process and support them with our expertise as long-term partners and advisers.

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Our priorities for political business interest representation

We are committed to making a significant contribution to reducing our own CO2 emissions and systematically conducting our activities on the basis of sustainability criteria. We are also determined to use our products and technologies to be a relevant partner for our customers – and, even more, an enabler of their own green transformation. This is why our commercial activities focus in particular on the areas of hydrogen, green chemicals, renewable energies and electromobility. Our technological focal points are:

We intend to advance the green transformation along the entire value chain with our hydrogen expertise. We will use tremendous amounts of hydrogen to produce climate neutral steel in the future and help to significantly lower harmful climate emissions. Thanks to the electrolysis specialist thyssenkrupp nucera, we are one of the few companies around the world that are capable of producing hydrogen on a giga scale.

Our plant engineers at Uhde are experts in the construction of facilities that produce ammonia – the transport medium used to import large quantities of green hydrogen to other countries.

In addition, thyssenkrupp Polysius offers solutions for CO2 reduction at various points along the value chain in the cement industry, including new processes for complete CO2 capture during the manufacturing process.

 Our innovative bearings are a key component that is being used to rapidly expand wind energy, a form of power that is helping produce green hydrogen, among other things.

We also have other promising products and solutions in our portfolio that will play a major role in the success of the green transformation. These include our non-drive-dependent components used in automaking and the intelligently optimized supply chains at Materials Services.

Corporate priorities

We have set clear company priorities based on this strategy. We aim to accomplish two goals in the process. First, we as an enabler of the green transformation are committed to offering and applying our expertise and solutions. Second, we will work with our partners and ensure that the right conditions in which technologies of the future can be competitively produced and then applied are created.

During our political business interest representation activities, we strive to serve as a partner and advisor who are committed to facilitating the green transformation of industry and strengthening the competitiveness of Germany and Europe. As part of this commitment, we provide innovative and climate-protecting technology solutions and create conditions that will facilitate the green transformation of industry. We stand ready to serve as expert advisors. A long-term and regular dialogue with political stakeholders is an essential aspect of this work.

To successfully achieve the green transformation, thyssenkrupp considers the broadest possible promotion of technologies and processes necessary. This applies particularly to scaling up the hydrogen economy, which will enable comprehensive decarbonization of industrial processes and energy supply.

On the path toward a green hydrogen economy, thyssenkrupp also advocates for the temporary use of blue hydrogen during a transitional phase. Furthermore, processes such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) should be permitted to decarbonize industrial processes as quickly as possible. To create stronger incentives for the use of climate-friendly raw materials, thyssenkrupp is also committed to establishing green lead markets.

The securing of long-term stable and competitive energy prices is of crucial importance for thyssenkrupp. This applies not only to the electricity sector, which will become increasingly significant due to growing electrification, but also to the green hydrogen required for the green transformation. Therefore, thyssenkrupp advocates for competitive energy prices in Germany and Europe.

In times of increasing geopolitical tensions, the importance of preserving fundamental technical capabilities and production capacities in Europe is growing. Strategically important industries include plant engineering, shipyards, and steel production. By maintaining these competencies in Germany and Europe, value chains can be better protected. thyssenkrupp advocates for resilient, diversified supply chains, the promotion of a strong European industry, and the preservation of technical and industrial expertise ("Buy European"). A key contribution to this is also securing skilled labor locally.

In order to survive in global competition, it is necessary to increase the attractiveness of Germany and Europe as a business location in the long term. Good regulatory conditions and efficient government agencies are two critical factors that facilitate industrial development.

In addition to areas previously mentioned, focal points include combating shortages of skilled workers, digitalizing government offices and accelerating planning and approval processes. Dismantling regulatory barriers can help to further increase competitiveness.

We have to ensure that the business community in Germany and Europe has fair competitive conditions. In addition to promoting promising technologies of the future, we support a strong European single market.

Trade association memberships

We share our goals and priorities with a large number of other societal actors. We have joined trade associations for the purpose of jointly conducting societal and political activity and effectively articulating our positions. We exchange information in these associations, bring together interests and formulate positions for political leaders and government agencies. These associations also serve as contacts for political leaders and government officials, and provide packages of information produced by its members. For this reason, we consider them to be an important aspect of the continuous dialogue with our industries and with other social actors.

The following list provides an overview of the trade association memberships of thyssenkrupp AG and our segments contained in the German Lobby Register and the European Transparency Register as well as a brief description of each association. These associations recognize the guidelines of our political business representation activities.

Note: The following list does not include any memberships in regional associations, standardization committees and required memberships.

We are committed to advancing the green transformation. This is our overarching strategic objective. We are not alone in this regard. Many other companies share our commitment as well. Consequently, we are members in many trade associations that represent our industries’ interests.

We work in these associations to draw attention to the needs and positions of our sectors within the framework of the political decision-making process. The leitmotif of our memberships in these associations is the green transformation. For this reason, we promote positions that advance this transformation both within the associations themselves and in our dealings with political leaders and government officials.

Our commitment is multifaceted. We view our positioning for the right conditions related to the green transformation as broad. For this reason, we promote a wide-ranging agenda along our entire value chain.

  • Steel for Packaging Europe (former APEAL)

    The association represents the interests of European steel producers regarding the regulation of packaging standards. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG is a member of this organization.

  • German Association of the German Lime Industry

    The German Association of the German Lime Industry is the trade association of German lime producers. It represents the industry’s interests in a dialogue with political decision-makers. Until its existence, thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG was a member of this organization.

  • DENA Market Offensive Renewable Energies

    The objective of the initiative in which the German Energy Agency (DENA) of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and companies work together is to strengthen business models for the direct provision of green energy. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG is a member of this organization.

  • German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association

    As a trade organization, the association promotes the production and use of green hydrogen, particularly in the areas of mobility and energy provision. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG and thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA are members of the organization.

  • ESTEP – European Steel Technology Platform

    This public-private project strives to improve the market position of the European steel industry in international competition through the use of innovative technologies. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG is a member of this organization.

  • EUROFER – the European Steel Association

    The association serves as a spokesman for European steel producers and represents their interests in a dialogue with political decision-makers. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG is a member of this organization.

  • H2Global Foundation

    The foundation is funded by companies from a wide range of industries and promotes the development of markets for green hydrogen and power-to-X solutions. thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA is a member of this organization.

  • Hydrogen Europe

    The association represents European companies that work with hydrogen and conducts the industry’s business interest representation. thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA is a member of this organization.

  • The Climate Economy Foundation

    This initiative of German companies promotes the achievement of German and European climate goals. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG is a member of this organization.

  • VAIS Trade Association for Plant Engineering and Industry Service

    The association represents German plant engineers in the areas of power plants and chemical facilities and thus the industry’s interests. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • German Association of the Automotive Industry

    This association serves as a spokesman for German automakers and represents industry interests in a dialogue with political decision-makers. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association

    This association serves as a spokesman for the German mechanical engineering industry and represents industry interests in a dialogue with political decision-makers. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • Association of German Transport Companies

    The association represents the business interests of public transportation and freight transport, particularly freight transported by rail. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG is a member of this organization.

  • Association of German Cement Producers

    The association serves as the spokesman of German cement producers and represents their interests in a dialogue with political stakeholders. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG and thyssenkrupp Polysius GmbH are members of this organization.

  • VIK – Association of the Industrial Energy and Power Industry

    This association serves as a spokesman for energy-intensive production companies and represents industry interests in a dialogue with political decision-makers. thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG is a member of this organization.

  • VOICE – German Association of IT Users

    The organization is an alliance of German companies that strives to promote the companies’ market position through the use of software and other digital instruments. thyssenkrupp AG is member of this organization.

  • The World Energy Council Germany

    The World Energy Council Germany is the German branch of the World Energy Council and serves as a platform for discussions about global and long-range energy questions. In the process, it does its part to help develop the best-possible energy systems in the future. thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH is member of this organization.

  • The Steel Trade Association

    The association represents the interests of German steel producers. Its primary objective is to help create political conditions that will enable steel to be competitively produced in Germany for many years to come. thyssenkrupp AG and thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG are members of this organization.

As a group that does business internationally, we are active in many markets around the world and are part of global supply chains. For this reason, one of our highest priorities is business relationships with other countries as well as the security and stability of these countries.

The creation of strategy autonomy certainly requires local capacities and expertise to be strengthened. We believe that it cannot and should not be separated from its international base. We believe that the aim should be derisking, that is, the diversification of supply chains, and not decoupling, that is, the complete severing of certain business relationships.

At the same time, Europe must reinforce its own economic stability. This is why we work in various trade associations to promote business relationships with other countries. We simultaneously support efforts to increase security and the sovereignty of our continent and our international partners.

  • The Africa Association of the German Business Community

    The association promotes business relationships between Germany and the countries of Africa. thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH is a member of this organization.

  • American Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V.

    This association of German and U.S. companies fosters bilateral and, in particular, business relationships. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • Asia-Pacific Committee of the German Business Community

    The committee is an organization of German companies that promotes business relationships between German and countries in Asia. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • Atlantik-Brücke e.V.

    As its name suggests, this organization serves as an Atlantic bridge and works to strengthen ties among Germany, Europe and America. It serves as a network for business, political, academic and media decision-makers on both sides of the Atlantic. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • Association of the German Security and Defense Industry

    The association serves as a spokesman for German arms manufacturers and represents their interests in a dialogue with political decision-makers. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH is a member of this organization.

  • German Society for Military Technology

    This association of members of the German security and defense industry works to ensure that the German military has the very-best equipment at its disposal. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH is a member of this organization.

  • Association for Ship Making and Marine Engineering

    The association represents German shipyards and suppliers for ship makers and marine engineering. It performs the industry’s business interest representation. thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH is a member of this organization.

As a company, we take responsibility for the big picture. This is why we have also committed ourselves to issues that affect entire industries and society as a whole along with our business-related priorities.

We support various issues that affect society as a whole. Such areas include the scientific community, an improved work world and dialogue in political forums. The priorities that are drawn from our strategy form the basis of our engagement in each of the associations listed above.

  • Alliance of Opportunities

    This cross-branch business initiative focuses on the evolving world of work, an area of change that includes digitalization, climate change and demographic developments in particular. It develops solutions to address the challenges related to them. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • German Association of Commercial Lawyers

    The association is the largest independent lobbying organization for lawyers who work in the legal affairs departments of companies, institutions, trade associations and legal entities. Employees of the thyssenkrupp group of companies are members of this organization.

  • German Stock Institute

    As an association of listed companies and institutions, the German Stock Institute strives to create good business conditions for high-performance capital markets. It also promotes stock as a financing and investment instrument and the strengthening of Germany as an international center of financial services. thyssenkrupp AG and thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA are members of this organization.

  • DECHEMA Society for Chemical and Biological Technology

    The DECHEMA is a scientific-technical society that supports the development of chemical technologies and processes, and readies new research and development findings for use in the real world. thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH is member of this organization.

  • German Investor Relations Association

    The association is the largest European trade group that strives to create a bond between companies and capital markets. It serves as the link between issuers, investors and relevant intermediaries, and promotes professional quality standards. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • Econsense Forum for Sustainable Development of the Germany Economy

    Econsense is an alliance of German companies. Its objectives include promotion of sustainable development in such areas as climate and environmental protection as well as human rights. It members also help develop reporting standards. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research

    This research society provides applied research and development services through its more than 80 research institutes. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • Donor Association for the German Scientific Community

    The donor association is an organization that is funded in particular by donations from German companies. It focuses on the promotion of education, science and innovation. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

  • Association of German Company Physicians

    The organization is the trade association of German company physicians and represents the interests of its medical members in Germany. It is the largest occupational health and safety trade association in Europe. thyssenkrupp AG is member of this organization.

  • Association of German Engineers

    The Association of German Engineers is the trade group of German engineers. In this role, it focuses on promoting technical science, developing young engineers, issuing certification marks and facilitating networking among engineers. Members of this organization are thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH and thyssenkrupp Polysius GmbH.

  • Economic Forum of the German Social Democratic Party

    The forum organizes the dialogue between Social Democratic leaders and the German business community. thyssenkrupp AG is a member of this organization.

Financial expenditures for political business interest representation

The job of political business interest representation also requires funding. For the fiscal year that ran from 10/22 to 09/23, the expenditures that we made within the scope of the German Lobby Register and the European Transparency Register will total between €3,450,003.50 and €3,784,999*. These expenditures are broken down into the following individual segments:

Expenditures for German political business interest representation

  • thyssenkrupp AG: €210,001 - €220,000

  • thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG: €2,290,001 - €2,300,000 EUR

  • thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH: €330,001 - €340,000

  • thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA: €80,001 - €90,000

  • thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH: €160,001 - €170,000

  • thyssenkrupp Polysius GmbH: €150,001 - €160,000

Expenditures for European political business interest representation

  • thyssenkrupp AG: €10,000 - €24,999

  • thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG: €700,000 – €799,999

  • thyssenkrupp nucera AG & Co. KGaA: €25,000 - €49,999