Survey of Brandenburg's companies: "The sanctions hurt Germany more than Russia"

Brandenburg - Almost two thirds of the companies in East Brandenburg have called for the economic sanctions against Russia to be eased. This harmed the German citizens and companies more than the government in Moscow, according to one of the respondents in a representative study published on Monday by the East Brandenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

More than half of the companies stated that they were severely affected or threatened their existence, among other things, by the increased purchase and energy prices and the disrupted supply chains. Logistics and the hospitality industry recorded particularly high values. In addition, 80 percent do not consider the measures taken by the EU towards Russia to be suitable for ending the war in Ukraine. According to the study, eleven percent are convinced of the effectiveness of the sanctions.

Majority thinks sanctions are too harsh
At 63 percent, more than half of those surveyed rated the measures from Brussels as too harsh or significantly too harsh. 17 percent think they are “just right”. Another 20 percent want tougher or significantly tougher sanctions. “Russia must be weakened by all means in order to put a stop to the expansionist policy. We have more to lose than our wealth,” the study quotes one respondent as saying.

More than two-thirds of the companies are now in favor of maintaining oil deliveries from Russia with a view to the refinery in Schwedt an der Oder. In the Uckermark, more than three quarters of the companies agree with this position. On the other hand, less than a quarter of those surveyed support the current position of the federal government, according to which no Russian oil should be obtained from this refinery.

Businesses support nuclear power
According to 80 percent of those surveyed, a remedy could be to extend the lifespan of the remaining German nuclear power plants in addition to diplomatic approaches. 74 percent also consider it sensible to switch off the coal-fired power plants at a later date in order to ensure the energy supply. "The federal government must use the current situation as an opportunity to strategically position Germany more securely in the long term with regard to indispensable resources and raw materials from abroad. This is the only way for the German economy to remain capable of acting in the event of future conflicts,” the authors of the study sum up.

"The federal government's sanctions policy is destroying the economic basis of the entire Uckermark," warns AfD member of parliament Hannes Gnauck. The majority of companies consider the sanctions senseless and dangerous. The mood and the assessments of the East Brandenburg economy corresponded to a large extent with the evaluation and the demands of his party.

Source: Junge Freiheit