German businesses on Thursday called for voters to participate in European Parliament elections at the end of May.

A joint statement by the country's three major business associations said all German citizens should "make use of their right to vote." 

The European Union represents nearly 70 years of peace and is the reason why businesses were speaking out "passionately" for EU integration and participation in the elections, the statement said.

The associations noted that 60 per cent of German exports go to other EU countries, meaning that millions of jobs in Germany were dependent on trade with its neighbours...

[The] statement... was issued by the German associations for employers, industry and the chamber of commerce...