German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned against economic isolation and potential consequences for businesses amid the prospect of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) taking power in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
"I can only urgently warn against a return to national solutions," he said during a meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on Tuesday at the Foreign Office in Berlin.
Sefcovic also warned against countries going it alone in the face of a difficult global economic environment.
The AfD, which is highly critical of the European Union and advocates Germany leaving the eurozone, is seeking to form a government in Saxony-Anhalt after its strong showing in the state election.
It could become the first party classified by German authorities as confirmed far-right extremist to take power in a German state since the end of World War II.
When asked whether he expected this to affect international willingness to invest in Germany and Saxony-Anhalt should the state be governed by the AfD, Wadephul replied: "I hope not."
He emphasized, however, that only the EU "gives us the opportunity to ensure reasonably fair conditions for our industry on the global market. And that is why any threat to the European Union must be avoided."
Anyone advocating leaving the eurozone would jeopardize cohesion within the EU and, with it, prosperity, security and freedom, he said.