Russia – “Here is a hand outstretched” – Süddeutsche.de

The Eastern Committee of German Economy will relax the sanctions.

Business representatives do not tend to make a wish. They “hope”, says Wolfgang Büchele. In this spirit, hoping the chairman of the Committee on Eastern Economic sure that the European Union as soon as possible relax its sanctions against Russia. The players involved understand that there will be no normalization of relations without further contribution. “There is the possibility of entering the exit.” However, he did not think that sanctions are fully lifted in the summer.

During the Ukraine conflict and after the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula, the West has sanctions against Russia imposed, under which Russia suffers significantly. Much stronger but harms the low oil prices of the economy. For the land draws much of its export revenue from the sale of oil and gas. To make matters worse, the ruble has depreciated against the dollar and the euro. 82 percent of German companies in Russia expect in 2016 a rather poor economy.

94 percent

of 152 German companies surveyed that do business with Russia shops, specify that the local business climate have developed more negative since the beginning, 2015. About five percent felt in the past 13 months, no change. . Just one per cent stated that the business climate has even improved

“All experts agree: The situation is as critical as the last 25 years no longer “Büchele said. He had received at the Munich Security Conference positive signals from Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev towards relaxation. “Here is a hand outstretched. Russia wants to be part of the solution.” In the media, however, is only one of Medvedev’s words about a new Cold War been mentioned.

The dedicated Russia German companies and the local trading partners suffer from the sanctions and the miserable economic situation. Last year, Russia bought far fewer German products than in 2014 (minus 25.5 percent). “Measured against the previous record year of 2012, the German export has therefore almost halved in the past three years from 38 billion to 21 billion euros,” Büchele said. He anticipated that exports continue to decline in the current year by ten percent to a range of less than 20 billion euros.

The German exports to Ukraine were in 2015 significantly. The minus of 18 percent to three billion euros. “One end of the deep crisis in Ukraine is not in sight,” Büchele said. The country is largely dependent on the Russian economy. After Bücheles view other not keep next to Russia to discuss the so-called Minsk Convention. Ukraine about have demanded therein points such as greater independence of East Ukraine not implemented. However, a reaction of Minsk is imperative for the dismantling of the sanctions. Büchele suggested adding the trialogue between Russia, Ukraine and the European Union.

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Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the Munich Security Conference – see business leaders positive signals towards relaxation.

(Photo: Dmitry Astakhov / Sputnik / Reuters )