Sanctions against Russia harm the German economy more than any other European economy

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In recent months, the Office of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany has been registering more and more appeals from the leaders of large German concerns. The captains of German business are unhappy with the official line of Berlin. Anti-Russian sanctions, which Germany as a member of the EU is forced to follow, are not in their interests.

The vagueness of public assessments expressed by Angela Merkel, says that she does not feel his position is firm. Thus, in mid-October, speaking in the Bundestag, A. Merkel said that “sanctions against Russia, although they are an important mechanism of pressure, are not an end in themselves.” A few days later, in a conversation with colleagues, she admitted that in the medium term we can expect to establish “normal relations with Moscow”. However, after a while she expressed herself in the sense that the elections in Donetsk and Luhansk strengthened her in the intention to preserve the regime of sanctions against Russia. “We have to leave everything as it is,” announced A. Merkel.

During the G20 Summit, speaking at the Lawy Institute for International Politics in Sydney, the Federal Chancellor stated that "the Ukrainian crisis goes beyond the framework of a regional conflict." (By the way, what does this mean? After all, “beyond the scope of a regional conflict” is a world conflict). According to Merkel, the West will not abandon attempts to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict with Russia, but this will not prevent it from introducing new economic sanctions against Russia in such a volume and as long as necessary.

However, the formula “how it will be needed” (who will need it: Mrs. Federal Chancellor or her political friends in Washington?) Is not satisfied with big German business. The chairmen of the boards of German companies that appear in the DAX Germany's stock market activity index insist on the early termination of the restrictive measures against Moscow or at least on their significant weakening. For companies such as BASF, E.ON or for German automobile concerns, the amounts of annual transactions with Russian partners are estimated at billions of euros.

In the first half of November, a delegation of German businessmen from 15 people, including three members of the Economic Council of the CDU (Chairman of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy Eckhard Cordes, President of the German-Russian Chamber of Commerce, CEO of Wintershall Holding GmbH, Rayner Seele, Head of Policy and Foreign Relations of Daimler AG Eckart von Claden), as well as Olaf Koch, Chairman of the Management Board of Metro AG, came to Moscow and together with the heads of the representative offices of German companies in Russia met with the First Deputy Prime Minister Russian Federation Igor Shuvalov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. According to Eckhard Cordes, “the main purpose of the meeting was to discuss, together with the Russian side, the economic situation in Russia, the consequences of the sanctions and the future of German-Russian economic relations.”

Those who came to Moscow over the past months tried to convince the German government not to impose sanctions on Russia, so as not to "harm the joint business." Participants of the meeting with I. Shuvalov and S. Lavrov discussed ways to preserve business ties between the two countries “in the context of sanctions and the crisis in relations between Russia and the EU,” the Russian newspaper Kommersant wrote, noting that businessmen left Moscow “encouraged.”

The Office of the Federal Chancellor did not comment on the Moscow meeting. The comment was given by the Russian edition of Deutsche Welle Radio. The article “Why did the German business lobbyist go to Moscow?” Rejected the very idea of ​​“partisan German business circles and their attempts to circumvent the economic sanctions imposed by the EU against Russian business structures”. It was noted that "the meeting took place with the knowledge of the federal government."

It is rumored in journalistic circles that many leading politicians belonging to the “big coalition” parties speak on the sidelines of the need to lift anti-Russian sanctions. At the same time, it is allegedly proposed not to associate such a decision with the annexation of Crimea to Russia. The vice chairman of the CSU, Peter Gauvayler, generally believes that Russia should be urgently returned to the G8, from where it was excluded after the Crimea was annexed to it. Bavarian P. Gauvayler says: “The Federal Chancellor and the Foreign Minister should return Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table. The common goal of the West should be Russia's participation in the G8 summit, which will be held next year in the Bavarian castle Elmau under the chairmanship of Germany. "

They say that Angela Merkel, before flying to Brisbane for the G20 summit, made it clear that "in the medium term, a return to normal relations with Moscow is possible." However, as conditions for the normalization of the current abnormal relations between Germany and Russia, were called "the cessation of further destabilization of the east of Ukraine and negotiations on the future status of the annexed Crimea." This is strange. If you really want “normal relations with Moscow”, you should not consider the Ukrainian crisis in terms of “destabilizing” the situation with Russia. And in the same way, the subject of international negotiations “on the Crimea” is not for Moscow. It would seem that in Berlin this should be understood.

The fact that Angela Merkel cannot but think about the worthy completion of her political career is quite understandable. It is also clear that she can not ignore the big German business. Although there is time before the next election to the Bundestag, we need to think about them today. And there is something to think about. From January to August of this year, exports of goods from Germany to Russia fell by 16,6%. Only in August, the decline was 26,3% in annual terms. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said in an interview with the Bild newspaper: “German companies delivered 2,3 billion euros to Russia in August, which is the weakest indicator since the financial crisis of the year 2009. Sanctions against Russia have a stronger impact on the German economy than on any other European economy. ”

The Financial Times wrote back in September: “Russia, which previously preferred Europe, is beginning to gradually turn towards Asia. If, until now, it accounted for less than 25% of the turnover of Russian foreign trade, and for Europe - more than 50%, then recently the volume of Russian trade with Asia has been growing. In particular, between the Russian Federation and China they have already surpassed the volume of trade with Germany (80 billion dollars against 50 billion). The turn is quite reasonable: it will help Moscow to hedge against stagnation in Europe. ”
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20 comments
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  1. +5
    25 November 2014 14: 42
    So keep the Bundes! Soon we will not buy anything from you at all! More sanctions are good and different!
    1. +3
      25 November 2014 14: 47
      ... "sanctions against Russia, although they are an important mechanism of pressure, but not an end in themselves" ...

      You don’t have to push us, you need to hear us. You can see something with the ears ...
    2. The comment was deleted.
    3. +3
      25 November 2014 14: 57
      The Germans should "thank" Merkel for her course in the American channel, which brings losses to German entrepreneurs.
    4. The comment was deleted.
    5. -7
      25 November 2014 15: 06
      Quote: Good cat
      So keep the Bundes! Soon we will not buy anything from you at all! More sanctions are good and different!

      dada .. no laughing matter, your entire oil and gas industry has been tied to German equipment for decades))) I was recently a translator from representatives of one of Gazprom’s subsidiaries, they were bought decently.
      1. +11
        25 November 2014 16: 06
        When they begin to be procured in South Korea, Japan and China, then the lifting of sanctions will not return the Russian market to Germany. The Germans understand this. Translators are not.
        By the way, the Americans are selling their equipment to Russia, as before. Congress allowed them.
        1. 0
          25 November 2014 17: 23
          they don’t start, but they buy. You can’t even imagine how much money Russia gives to Japan even for heavy equipment, spare parts and maintenance
        2. The comment was deleted.
        3. 0
          26 November 2014 06: 40
          staffers do not sell all the equipment. Companies that are subject to sanctions do not sell.
      2. +1
        25 November 2014 17: 17
        Everything that we buy in Germany has an alternative in other markets, and most importantly, we have the opportunity to produce ourselves. And we know how the Germans "stimulated" purchases, and we are not alone!
      3. +1
        25 November 2014 17: 21
        By the way, the technology is decently bought from the Germans by these daughters. Now it’s true, and we do these machines under license (or rather assembly), but ...
      4. +6
        25 November 2014 17: 21
        Of course, I wasn’t where I was, but if Russia leaves the European market for the Asian, I think Germany will cost thousands of jobs lost ..
      5. The comment was deleted.
      6. +1
        25 November 2014 17: 48
        all your oil and gas industry has been tied to German equipment for decades))) most recently I was a translator from representatives of one of Gazprom’s subsidiaries, they were purchased decently.
        Now Gazprom will not be purchased from you, which is what we are talking about. the translator has less work and income wink
        1. -2
          25 November 2014 20: 28
          Quote: jktu66
          all your oil and gas industry has been tied to German equipment for decades))) most recently I was a translator from representatives of one of Gazprom’s subsidiaries, they were purchased decently.
          Now Gazprom will not be purchased from you, which is what we are talking about. the translator has less work and income wink

          There are not stupid people sitting there and they won’t throw money away buying equipment that is much inferior to the Germans in quality .... the budget of Russia depends on it.
          1. +1
            25 November 2014 22: 15
            Quote: 290980
            There are not stupid people sitting there and they won’t throw money away buying equipment that is much inferior to the Germans in quality .... the budget of Russia depends on it.

            I hope you will agree that not only Germany produces world-class equipment. And even the lifting of sanctions will not turn everything into place right away. To enter the market, and even take a place there for many, is years and decades.
            1. The comment was deleted.
      7. 0
        25 November 2014 18: 10
        and what? You were fed ... buying equipment. And you apparently snickered, but under the amers lay-if the breadwinner under sanctions!
  2. +2
    25 November 2014 14: 47
    Asian goods are no worse than European ones, and maybe even better.
  3. Bobo beck
    +1
    25 November 2014 14: 49
    Our armies in the GSVG were a good guarantor of the organization in Europe.
  4. +2
    25 November 2014 14: 51
    Here you have Angela Khorstovna and all politics-friendship is friendship, and the tobacco is apart!
  5. +1
    25 November 2014 15: 07
    Quote: Bobo Beck
    Our armies in the GSVG were a good guarantor of the organization in Europe.

    This makes no sense
  6. +6
    25 November 2014 15: 11
    Russia has its own development path. It does not coincide 100% with either western or eastern.
    We have neither such capital as in the West, nor such a labor market as in the East. So it is necessary to conglomerate the advantages of both in relation to our capabilities (which, in fact, is being done).
    Russia has always been and is the cord-umbilical cord between the West and the East.
    Therefore, despite populism regarding sanctions, etc., Russia will be an important participant in global politics, including economic.
  7. +4
    25 November 2014 15: 18
    Merkelsha with his policy will bring the country to major trouble.
  8. +1
    25 November 2014 15: 35
    Let them bend more under the USA
    1. +3
      25 November 2014 16: 26
      They spit all together in a well, and now they want to drink clean water, it won’t work, gentlemen of the Geyropeans.
    2. The comment was deleted.
  9. +4
    25 November 2014 16: 08
    Regarding EU sanctions against the Russian Federation:
  10. +3
    25 November 2014 16: 28
    Again, the Germans are bred by the Anglo-Saxons on their favorite shank nah ost (onslaught to the east). Partially promised them Ukraine, and the fact that they may lose Russia to say as always forgot. Here the poor fellow, apparently, they will have to regret them and conclude an agreement with them (as they did with China this spring) on ​​mutual settlements of the national currency - rubles, so they can buy something more from the Chinese for they’ll their economy, the Anglo-Saxons, will surely be destroyed.
  11. +1
    25 November 2014 16: 32
    Until Europe understands and recognizes our position on Ukraine, there will not be any attempt to waive sanctions, it is a recognition of the defeat of all the policies of European countries both in Ukraine and in the World, therefore, while Asia is our immediate prospect, and not worse, and sometimes even better than Europe. That's where the partners were still twitching, the market really began to lose and this is just the beginning, then more
  12. postoronim V
    0
    25 November 2014 16: 38
    It's like "Hit the Russian off-road with a motor rally." I wonder what they agreed on then?
  13. 0
    25 November 2014 16: 58
    A few days later, in an interview with colleagues, she admitted that in the medium term we can expect the establishment of "normal relations with Moscow." However, after some time, she spoke out in the sense that the elections in Donetsk and Lugansk strengthened her intention to maintain a sanctions regime against Russia.

    Yes, uzhzh ...! This behavior is called: Like .. a thread on a thread. It turns to the side depending on which side it was clicked on.
    However, this behavior is characteristic of all EU leaders.
  14. 0
    26 November 2014 00: 05
    Quote: Giant thought
    The Germans should "thank" Merkel for her course in the American channel, which brings losses to German entrepreneurs.
    This is not her course. She is an extras, where the owners indicate, there Frau and taxis. Germany is an occupied country, since the Second World War and its gold reserve in Washington.

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