Economic determinants of the eastern policy of Germany and France

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyse the role of Russia and other Eastern
European countries, especially Ukraine, for German and French economies,
as well as the determinants of business interests’ influence on foreign policies
of these EU Member States. Moreover, the question is asked to what extent
economic interests of Germany and France are functional or dysfunctional
in terms of constructing coherent and effective EU eastern policy, as well
as coherent actions of the transatlantic partners. The theoretical part of the
paper relies on neoclassical realism and liberal intergovernmentalism. The
empirical part draws on two sources: data on trade, investment and patterns
of energy dependence on the one hand, and press overview of lobbying activities
by German and French business opposing economic sanctions against
Russia in the context of the Ukrainian conflict.