Flags of the Netherlands and Germany

Flags of the Netherlands and Germany

© iStock.com/PhotographerCW

As neighbours and major export nations, Germany and the Netherlands have a long tradition of close economic and energy cooperation, and their economies are particularly closely integrated. These fields were also the focus of the talks that Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier held with his Dutch counterpart Mr Eric Wiebes, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, in a video conference today at the beginning of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2020.

Federal Minister Altmaier said: “Germany and the Netherlands enjoy close and trusting relations. We will continue to work closely together during Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the EU to tackle the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic jointly and in a spirit of solidarity. Our aim is an economic policy that builds on a favourable policy environment and innovations and promotes Europe’s digital and technological sovereignty. We are pursuing a forward-looking energy policy that provides a clear framework for cross-border offshore projects and explicit incentives to develop hydrogen technologies.”

Economic relations in figures: in 2019, bilateral trade between Germany and the Netherlands totalled around €190 billion. Exports to the Netherlands amounted to €91.59 billion, while imports from the Netherlands totalled €98.54 billion. The Netherlands ranks 2nd for Germany in terms of imports, 4th in terms of exports and 2nd in terms of turnover among the most important trading partners. Germany is the Netherlands’ most important trading partner by far.