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

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

Chorweiler, Deutschland - In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the connections to Russia are well anchored. If they were once a big business with a lot of energy, the geopolitical situation put these relationships to the test. In the past, this region went through as a "outpost of Russia in the EU", as the Russian Vice-Principer Minister Wasilij Osmakow in 2018 underlined. But how did it come about and what role do the political actors play?

A central figure is Andrej Zverev, the head of the commercial and business office of the Russian embassy in Berlin. Zverev, also known as Vice-Finance Minister of the Soviet Union, initiated numerous meetings with the state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after 2012. He worked closely with Wolfgang Clement (SPD), a key man in German energy policy, and has also been involved in the founding of the East Institute since 2009, which was to promote German-Russian cooperation. One goal of these initiatives was to weaken the German reactions to Russia's raid on Ukraine from 2014, such as Bachhausen.

economic interdependencies and projects

In 2009, the association was founded to promote German-Russian cooperation. In order to further strengthen the Russian relationship, regular “Russia days” took place, which often attracted sponsors such as Gazprom and Nord Stream AG. Despite the challenges resulting from the annexation of Crimea 2014 and the continuing war in Ukraine, the business representatives remained interested in a dialogue. The state government left nothing to maintain the economic connections.

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 to go into the Kremlin interests too much. After the military escalation against Ukraine in February 2022, however, relationships were abruptly broken off and an investigation committee now deals with the controversial decisions of the past, as the NDR reports.

A look into the future

In the current situation, the actors see themselves before a crucial turn. The Russian President plans another pipeline and Gerhard Schröder as a gas lobbyist wants to drive this project in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In view of the country's critical look at the Russian tensions and the demands for a reorientation towards a more responsible way of dealing with the neighbors, teaching could be drawn 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 radiate optimism. However, Zverev's networks of recent years, which have now been renamed and sold to Lithuania, remain active. The Ostinstitut continues its events to discuss relationships with Russia, which is not exactly unproblematic under the current light of events.

The Ukraine conflict and the resulting new normality will have to significantly shape the next steps of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The political landscape has changed a lot, and the question remains: How do you find new ways of cooperation? A rethink is required and it remains exciting how this region will re -position in the coming years.