Relations to Member States

It is necessary to coordinate the national positions with the European partners to effectively address German interests in the Union.

Close contacts on a bilateral basis in politics and economy are essential. In addition to that, the opportunities offered to German businesses by the European internal market have to be used more consequently. This is crucial especially for SME’s. Their international activities are still limited and concentrated mostly on export. The European neighbours are the ideal partners for a first step on to the international market, both, if it is aimed to the west into the old member states as well as to the east to the acceded countries of 2004. Here, efforts of politicians and business confederations are needed to the same extend.

Germany’s economy benefits enormously from the EU: intensive trade and cross-border value added chains create growth and employment. In 2008, 64 percent of German exports went to the European internal market. The German industry plays a prominent role in the whole industrial added value of the EU with a share of 27 percent.

For over 20 years now, without change, France is remaining Germany’s most important trading partner (first place in exports, second in imports). The bilateral trade volume came up to 137.3 billion Euros in 2008 compared with 133.6 billion Euros in the previous year.

Nevertheless, also Eastern Europe offers great opportunities for an economic engagement: The volume of German exports increased by over 260 percent between 1993 and 2005. Concerning direct investments, Germany is a major partner in the region with a volume of approximately 41.35 billion Euros. In all, German enterprises often take a leading position in the new EU member states and by thus enforce their competitiveness.