Russia (bbabo.net), - Those who question economic relations with Russia should rather consider what opportunities for dialogue and influence will remain in Germany's hands. Burning bridges completely will not make the world safer, said Oliver Hermes, chairman of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy.

According to him, the majority of German citizens would like to see closer cooperation between the EU and Russia. According to a representative poll by the sociological institute Forsa, commissioned by the Eastern Committee, 62 percent of German citizens were in favor of more intense relations between the EU and Russia.

The Chairman of the VC pointed out that the economic importance of Russia is often downplayed and reduced solely to the volume of bilateral trade. "But foreign trade is only part of our economic relations. Russia is the largest market in our immediate environment and an important direction for investment," says Oliver Hermes in an article.

At the same time, it was noted that German companies have already created local and regional production chains to meet the needs of customers not only in Russia itself, but also in other markets of the Eurasian Economic Union and Central Asia, which are easily accessible from Russia.

The head of the Eastern Committee recalled that more than 40 percent of oil and gas imports come from Russia. "The last few months have shown us very clearly that we are still dependent on natural gas in the European energy transformation. In the medium term, we will need more, not less gas imports from Russia," he stressed. In this regard, Nord Stream 2 is necessary for the reliable supply of Europe with natural gas, and in the future with hydrogen, until the final rejection of fossil fuels occurs.

Oliver Hermes believes that new economic sanctions, whether on Nord Stream 2 or on the Russian financial sector, will come at a big cost to both sides. Forced economic measures are increasingly becoming an instrument of foreign policy and geopolitics. After 30 years of hyperglobalization, there is a threat of the collapse of established production chains, according to the Eastern Committee of the German Economy.

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The Eastern Committee of the German Economy promotes economic development in 29 countries of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Germany's trade with Eastern Europe accounts for about one-fifth of its total foreign trade, making it more important than trade with the US and China combined. VC has about 350 member companies and is supported by six leading German business associations.

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