Following the increase in Germany’s trade volume with Russia in 2021, companies called on the government to maintain good economic relations with President Vladimir Putin.
The easing of tensions with Russia will be the key to the continuation of the upward trend of German trade in Eastern Europe, the German Committee for Economic Relations of Eastern Europe stressed on Thursday.
“With a huge joint effort, we have been able to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic crisis,” said Oliver Hermes, president of the business group.
“Now, we can not jeopardize this success through political conflicts, new sanctions or even military adventures,” he added.
Together with its Western partners, Germany had vowed to implement decisively economic and financial sanctionagainst Putin in the event of any aggression against Ukraine.
However, Hermes called the approach “irresponsible”, saying “safeguards” would jeopardize the “narrow network of trade and logistics that we all benefit from”.
The comments came after the commission released new data showing that Germany’s trade volume with Russia had increased by more than 34%, to almost € 60 million in 2021, making it Germany’s third largest trading partner in Eastern Europe. , after Poland and the Czech Republic.
At the same time, the committee praised her Foreign Minister Analena Berbock for its efforts to consolidate economic cooperation during its visit to Moscow. “What we need are new prospects for intensifying our economic relations,” Hermes said.
During her visit to Russia a few weeks ago, Burbok promised a decisive response to any Russian aggression, but also stressed the two countries’ common interest in stable economic and cultural relations.
euractiv.gr
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