
The new German government
What does the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD say on Europe?
HS – 04/2025
On 9 April, the CDU, CSU and SPD presented what they had agreed on
in their coalition agreement and what they intend to do in the coming years. Overall, the
CDU/CSU and SPD are clearly pro-European and want to tap into the full
potential to strengthen the European Union's (EU) strategic sovereignty and its
ability to act. The CDU/CSU and SPD are also committed to an effective,
coherent and reliable European policy with a constructive approach to its
implementation. According to the coalition agreement, the EU more than ever needs
a strong Germany that contributes with European conviction, ideas and
commitment.
Commitment to a social Europe
The coalition agreement commits to the goals, values and principles
of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The CDU/CSU and SPD want to work along
these lines towards an EU that improves the lives of European citizens,
guarantees fair working conditions, participation and good collective
bargaining partnerships, as well as combats social inequalities and poverty.
The three parties also support effective means to promote fair and
well-functioning labour markets and social systems, while respecting the
principle of subsidiarity.
Supporting labour mobility
The CDU/CSU and SPD are in favour of a European social security
pass with an EU digital identity (EUDI wallet). According to the three parties,
the reform of the eDeclaration is intended to technically simplify the EU
posting declaration under labour law and pool it with the A1 procedure under
social security law. In the future, the disability card, pension certificate and
the A1 certificate are to be made available digitally. The CDU/CSU and SPD
reject a European unemployment insurance scheme.
Improved working conditions
With regard to occupational health and safety, the coalition
agreement supports higher European occupational health and safety standards for
commercial drivers. Furthermore, in line with the European Working Time
Directive, the possibility of weekly instead of daily maximum working hours is
to be created in order to give employees and companies more flexibility and
improve the work-life balance of employees. Moreover, prevention is a top
priority. Both the concept of 'prevention before rehabilitation before
retirement' and the prevention of mental illness are to be reinforced.
Chemicals policy as an economic factor
According to the coalition agreement, Germany is to become the
world's most advanced centre of innovation for chemicals, pharmaceuticals and
biotechnology. In the chemicals policy, the CDU/CSU and SPD are in favour of a
balanced European regulatory framework with a risk-based approach, so as to
harmonise environmental protection, health protection and competitiveness. This
applies to the revision of the EU Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation,
Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), for example. A complete ban
on certain chemical substance groups such as PFAS is rejected. At the same
time, research and development of alternative substances is to be intensified,
and PFAS are to be replaced as soon as possible, where feasible.
Healthcare and supply reliability
The CDU/CSU and SPD want to relocate production sites for critical pharmaceuticals
and medical devices back to Germany and Europe in order to strengthen supply
reliability. At the same time, the internal market is to be further developed
in a targeted manner in the areas of energy and telecommunications, as well as
medical products, the pharmaceutical industry and digitalisation. With regard
to global health, the CDU/CSU and SPD are calling for intensified research into
antimicrobial resistance and want to promote more sustainable financing of
healthcare systems worldwide.
Promoting artificial intelligence
Germany's role as a data centre location is to be strengthened, and
at least one of the European AI gigafactories is to be brought to Germany.
Furthermore, the CDU/CSU and SPD want to examine whether and in what form
liability rules governing artificial intelligence need to be adapted at the
European level. With a view to the announced revision of the European General
Data Protection Regulation, the CDU/CSU and SPD advocate exempting
non-commercial activities, small and medium-sized enterprises and low-risk data
processing from its scope.
Revision of public procurement law
The CDU/CSU and SPD want to work on simplifying, accelerating and
digitising public procurement law at the national and European level for all
types of supplies and services for the federal, state and local governments. To
this end, public procurement law is to be realigned with its objective of
economic, discrimination-free and corruption-free procurement, and options of
sectoral exemptions from public procurement law (for example in the area of
national security) are to be offered.
Strengthening the internal market
The coalition agreement includes a clear commitment to the internal
market as the driving force behind the EU’s economic strength. According to the
CDU/CSU and SPD, competition in the internal market must be based on innovation
and efficiency. Mobilisation of private capital requires steps towards a
genuine capital market and banking union. In addition, the three parties want
to prevent unnecessary burdens at the European level and are in favour of a
comprehensive and effective reduction of EU bureaucracy.
Capability to act at the EU level
The coalition agreement calls for a united approach of the federal government
towards its European partners and institutions. To this end, any
interdepartmental conflicts should be resolved as early as possible through a
weekly meeting of secretaries of state under the leadership of the Head of the
German Chancellery (EU monitoring) or otherwise raised to the cabinet level.
Furthermore, the coalition agreement envisages more extensive application of
the principle of enhanced cooperation within the meaning of a 'multi-speed
Europe' concept. To protect cohesion within the EU, this enhanced cooperation
must always be open to all Member States.