
News
2025 German federal election
What role do the German political parties assign to Europe?
HS – 01/2025
There will be a lot at stake in Brussels when Germany elects a new
parliament on 23 February. Stable governments, especially those in the larger Member
States, are important for a strong European Union (EU). Moreover, Germany has disrupted
internal processes due to disagreements within the governing coalition, making
decision-making within the Council even more difficult. The election manifestos
show that the centrist parties are united in their pro-European orientation,
but they set different priorities.
SPD in favour of an externally strong EU
In its election manifesto the SPD focuses in particular on EU foreign and defence policies.
Europe must speak with one voice in order to assert its values and interests
worldwide. The SPD is in favour of a European defence union, a strong European
defence industry and arms policy. As far as cooperation with other Member
States is concerned, the SPD would especially like to use the Weimar Triangle
(Germany, France and Poland) as a driving force to initiate new projects. The
SPD is also in favour of treaty reforms to abolish the unanimity principle in
the Council and wants to introduce a right of initiative for the European
Parliament.
More Europe only in selected areas for the CDU/CSU
The CDU/CSU election manifesto calls for more Europe only where it creates clear added value – for
example to strengthen the internal market and competitiveness, to complete the
energy and capital union and to pursue ambitious targets in the climate
protection, foreign trade and migration sectors. Other unnecessary tasks should
be cancelled, and the subsidiarity principle should be respected. The CDU/CSU
also want to reduce bureaucracy and make the EU more capable of acting by
reforming its institutions and working methods.
Plea for a stronger (social) Europe from Alliance 90/The Greens
The Alliance 90/The Greens election manifesto wants a Europe that guarantees social security and sets binding
targets for a strong social pillar. This is one of the reasons why the Greens
are calling for better financial resources for the EU through new own
resources. With regard to intra-European cooperation, the Greens see the Weimar
Triangle as an important form of cooperation for advancing the EU. Their target
is a federal European republic with its own constitution. The EU institutions
and EU electoral law should be reformed in order to abolish the unanimity
principle in the Council, grant the European Parliament a right of initiative
and to elect some of the Members of the European Parliament via transnational
lists in the future.
The FDP sees the Commission as the "main source of bureaucracy"
The FDP election
manifesto focuses on the one hand on reducing the excessive bureaucracy
imposed by Brussels – for example by abolishing reporting obligations as part
of the Green Deal – and on the other hand on further developing the strategic
sovereignty of the EU. For the FDP, the latter means an independent ability to
act with regard to foreign policy. This also includes strengthening both the
defence and security policy as well as the European defence industry.
The AfD rejects the EU in its current form
The AfD rejects the EU in its current form in its election manifesto. It sees "illegitimate de-democratisation, centralisation,
over-regulation and a planned economy emanating from Brussels" and
therefore advocates leaving the EU. It is to be replaced by a new economic and
interest community. The AfD is in favour of reintroducing a national currency
and withdrawing from the EU's asylum and migration policy. At the same time,
certain tasks, including the protection of the EU's external borders, would be
organised jointly within the new community.
A social and peaceful Europe is the main focus for the Left
The Left's election manifesto aims for a social EU that is committed to international equality
and helps people on low and middle incomes. Accordingly, more public money
should be invested in climate-friendly development, education, health and
social welfare. Social cohesion should also become a priority of EU policy in
order to improve the living conditions of citizens throughout the EU. With
regard to reforms, the Left wants the European Parliament to be given the right
of initiative and for EU-wide referendums and plebiscites to be made possible.
BSW wants a return to the EU's core peacekeeping tasks
In its election
manifesto the BSW speaks out against EU bureaucracy, the centralisation of
power within the European Commission and the admission of new Member States.
Instead, responsibilities should be transferred back to the Member States, as for
example social achievements could be better protected at national level. BSW
therefore rejects deeper integration towards a European federal state. The EU is to concentrate on its core tasks, including the establishment of digital
sovereignty.