Germany and eastern Europe: The challenge of an integrative configuration of Europe

Its eastern neighbors see reunified Germany as an advocate for their return to Europe, a mediator of security issues with Russia, and a necessary actor for economic prosperity. This perfectly corresponds to Germany's interests: German leaders are endeavoring to export stability eastwards (opening up NATO and the EU) in order to avoid importing instability westwards. Central European countries do not want to become the safety cordon along the eastern border of a bigger EU or NATO, since these institutions may not admit the next ring of countries to the east as members. Generally seen as the central power in Europe, Germany will always play a leading role. German leaders have the objective of, in agreement with their partners to the west, integrating eastern countries in a peaceful European order. However, Germany's pragmatic trade policy gives no evidence of an eastward drift. German foreign policy is determined by the primacy given to multilateral ism. Europe's future is seen in the framework of EU-NATO institutions.