Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Russia's shadow in economic policy

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Russia's shadow in economic policy

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, connections to Russia are well established. Once a big business with a lot of energy, the geopolitical situation has severely tested these relationships. In the past, this region was considered Russia’s “outpost in the EU,” as Russian Deputy Industry Minister Vasily Osmakov emphasized in 2018. But how did this come about and what role do political actors play?

A central figure is Andrej Zverev, the head of the trade and economic office of the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Zverev, also known as the Soviet Union's deputy finance minister, initiated numerous meetings with the state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after 2012. He worked closely with Wolfgang Clement (SPD), a key figure in German energy policy, and since 2009 was also involved in the founding of the Eastern Institute, which was intended to promote German-Russian cooperation. One goal of these initiatives was to weaken German reactions to Russia's invasion of Ukraine starting in 2014, as Bachhausen reports.

Economic ties and projects

The association to promote German-Russian cooperation was founded in 2009. In order to further strengthen the relationship with Russia, regular “Russia Days” took place, which often attracted sponsors such as Gazprom and Nord Stream AG. Despite the challenges posed by the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing war in Ukraine, business representatives remained interested in dialogue. The state government left no stone unturned to maintain economic ties.

Especially under Prime Minister Erwin Sellering, followed by Manuela Schwesig, numerous initiatives were taken to advance projects such as the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Critics accused the politicians of catering too strongly to Kremlin interests. However, after the military escalation against Ukraine in February 2022, relations were abruptly broken off and an investigative committee is now looking into the controversial decisions of the past, as NDR reports.

A look into the future

In the current situation, the actors see themselves facing a decisive turning point. The Russian President is planning another pipeline and Gerhard Schröder, as a gas lobbyist, wants to push these projects forward in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Given the country's critical view of Russian tensions and calls for a reorientation towards a more responsible approach to dealing with its neighbors, lessons could be learned from the mistakes of the past, as Katapult-MV emphasizes.

Despite the heated situation, there are still some politicians at the local level who believe in a diplomatic solution to the conflict and exude optimism. However, Zverev's networks of recent years, which have now been renamed and sold to Lithuania, remain active. The Eastern Institute continues its events to discuss relations with Russia, which is not exactly unproblematic in the current light of events.

The Ukraine conflict and the resulting new normal will have to have a decisive influence on Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's next steps. The political landscape has changed significantly, and the question remains: How do we find new ways of working together? A rethink is required, and it will be exciting to see how this region will reposition itself in the coming years.