A Comparison of Election Programs

Europe, Security, Climate: The Key Issues of Germany’s 2021 Federal Election

With September’s federal election looming, take a closer look at the positions of Germany’s main political parties on Europe, foreign policy, climate, security, and geo-economics. Here, DGAP offers a comparison of the election programs of the CDU/CSU, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, SPD, and FDP as well as Die Linke and AfD.

Topics of this Comparison of Election Programs

Click on the following topics to read and compare the ideas that the CDU/CSU, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, SPD, FDP, Die Linke, and AfD are pursuing in each area.

European Union
International Order and Multilateral Organizations
Bilateral Relations
Geo-Economics
Climate and Energy
Migration
Security Policy
Technology and Digitalization

Click below to access the original source material:

Link: You find the election program of the Christian Democrats (CDU) here.
Link: You find the election program of the Social Democrats (SPD) here or a short election program overview in English here.
Link: You find the election program of the Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) here.
Link: You find the election program of the Liberal Party (FDP) here or the short election program in English here.
Link: You find the election program of the Left (Die Linke) here or the short election program in English here.
Link: You find the election program of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) here.

DISCLAIMER: These are machine translations of German texts into English.

European Union

Healthcare Policy

Pandemic response has highlighted lack of concerted action at European level
Create emergency capacity for supply-critical agents through government stockpiling
Strengthen German and European independence and bring value chains of sovereignty-critical medical products back into the EU
Examine which measures can be considered to ensure that supply-critical medicinal products are available in sufficient quantities in the EU in the event of a crisis (e.g., amendment of European public procurement law)

Common European Health Policy

Building on the success of the Corona vaccines, pool all resources in the fight against Alzheimer's and cancer and establish a European health union; this should pool and intensify cutting-edge research
Improve pandemic preparedness; therefore, complete work on the Health Union quickly
Strengthen the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Medicines Agency
Constructively accompany the establishment of a European Health Emergency Agency (HERA)
Work to speed up the development of "notified bodies" responsible for reviewing new medical devices in the EU

Vaccination Management

Ensuring the supply of vaccines and crisis-relevant medicines and medical devices
To this end, constructive support for the establishment of a European Health Emergency Agency (HERA)
Here, reducing the EU's dependence on third countries
Incentives from research to reimbursement for new anti-infectives and vaccines
Examine whether German public procurement law can be amended to require pharmaceutical manufacturers to use active ingredients produced in the EU in the production of supply-relevant medicines in particular

Develop public health systems, improve access to medicines and vaccines, provide health education, and strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights
Need system that ensures production, supply and distribution of medicines and medical devices; no shortages as during pandemic
Commitment that medicines developed here are not expensive and in short supply in developing countries

Common European health policy

Create a sovereign European health union with a resilient health economy and strong civil protection mechanism; crisis-proof European health authorities with wide-ranging powers and resources
Promote procurement of essential medical supplies

Vaccination Management

EU to establish vaccination quota for refugees

Promote the development of vaccines, medicines and medical devices more strongly
If public funding is significantly involved in research, attach clear conditions to funding regarding transparency of research costs, fair pricing and equitable access worldwide
Public services, good healthcare and education must be strengthened in all European member states

Common European health policy

The production of medicines and medical products should be promoted - in European cooperation - and the supply, e.g. with respiratory masks, should be ensured by own production sites
More common strategy and coordination, for example through joint planning and use of
medical emergency capacities or through a European early warning system and the joint collection and use of relevant data
Rapid development of HERA
Strengthening the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control; closer cooperation with national health authorities

Take measures to encourage the manufacture of pharmaceuticals back to Germany and the EU (reduce bureaucracy, examine investment subsidies)

Drugs developed through taxpayer-funded research must be made available royalty-free for replication
Establish a global primary health care system with access to the best available therapies
Transfer public service companies, such as pharmaceutical and medical companies or energy companies, into public (or cooperative) ownership and ownership forms

Vaccination Management

Scandal that under the German Council Presidency an internationally unequal distribution of Covid vaccines was enforced
Solidary pandemic control worldwide instead of vaccination nationalism and favoritism of the Global North
Release patents of the Corona vaccines
Publicly funded research should be released to poorer countries and generic producers on social terms through Equitable Licensing (the socially responsible exploitation of patents)
Proposal of the establishment of a public vaccine production (in the sense of Regional Vaccine Manufacturing Hubs), globally coordinated by WHO and UN
Worldwide establishment of public vaccine production necessary

AfD health policy builds on existing German health system

DGAP publications on this topic

Globale Gesundheit

Mit Kooperation und Vorausschau gegen zukünftige Krisen

Tobias Bergner

Rule of Law

Transparency of European legislation for citizens is one of the foundations of the EU; must become more democratic and closer to the citizens
Right of initiative for the EP
Introduction of an electoral law with a blocking clause for the next European election to prevent fragmentation of the EP
Strengthening the principle of top candidates
Reduction in the size of the Commission
Commitment to new dialog formats on the rule of law and consistent punishment of violations, up to and including the cancellation of EU funds and the withdrawal of voting rights

EU to become the world's most modern democracy
Commitment to protecting the rule of law
Rule-of-law dialog and rule-of-law mechanism have made EU more defensible; commitment to its consistent implementation and tougher sanction options
Completion of the EP's co-decision rights including a genuine right of initiative
Creation of a common electoral law for the election of the European representation of the people
Promotion of civil society cooperation through special fund for democracy and rule of law

Cross-border cooperation in the fight against crime needs an independent judiciary and fair criminal proceedings in all EU member states
EU Charter of Fundamental Rights to be enforceable
enforceable against the nation states
Stronger cross-border cooperation between police and judiciary: through joint European police teams, by upgrading Europol to a European Criminal Investigation Office, and through closer judicial cooperation between the member states, also with the help of Eurojust and in the fight against fraud affecting EU finances with the EU's anti-fraud office OLAF and the
European Public Prosecutor's Office using state-of-the-art analytical methods
Ambitious transposition of the EU directive on whistleblower protection into national law

Democratic Deficit

Goal: strengthen EU parliamentary democracy
Parliament and Council to decide on an equal footing with the Council, right of initiative for the EP, strong budgetary power
Commission elected by EP on proposal of Commission President; constructive vote of no confidence possible
MEPs elected via EU-wide, transnational lists
Develop EU citizenship into European citizenship, so that EU citizens enjoy the same rights and obligations in the member states in which they live
EU citizens who have their permanent place of residence in Germany should also be able to vote in state and federal elections in the future
Majority decisions involving the EP in all areas where the unanimity principle still applies; the goal is to expand the European institutions into a bicameral system
EU citizens should be able to call for European Future Conferences or citizens' initiatives, which can also suggest a reform of the treaties
More transparency: commitment to deadlines
in legislation by which a public debate must have taken place in the Council; all governments must present their current position on the Council Presidency's proposal
Substantially develop access to EU documents
Mandatory lobby register, stricter waiting periods when switching between politics and business, and introduction of a "legislative footprint," controlled by sanctionable independent ethics authority

Rule-of-Law Mechanism

Rule-of-law mechanism must be used immediately; municipalities and regions as well as NGOs
should then be able to receive direct funding from the EU
The annual rule-of-law report should be followed by concrete measures, including infringement proceedings and non-payment of subsidies
Needs substantial progress in Art. 7 procedures
All member states to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office in receiving new EU funds and publicly account for subsidy recipients
Advocate for a stronger instrument to sanction violations by authoritarian member states
Strengthen minority rights such as preservation of language, culture and identity, and naming rights in the EU
Consistently oppose attacks on academic freedom in states like Hungary and counter them with the rule of law mechanism

Transposition of the EU Directive on the Protection of Whistleblowers into National Law
Institutional reforms for more transparency and efficiency
Effective rule of law mechanism; control of states among themselves through Art. 7 TEU not proven
EP election according to uniform electoral law with cross-state lists and top candidates
Commission President to be the leading candidate with a majority in the EP
EP can censure Commission President by majority vote and elect another person instead
Reduce Commission to a maximum of 18 Commissioners with clear and easily identifiable portfolios
Right to propose Commissioners lies with Commission President, must be confirmed by EP
Council and its subgroups should meet in public

Democratic Deficit

European Parliament to have right of initiative
European Parliament to take fundamental decisions instead of Commission, Council or Eurogroup
Members of the European Parliament should elect Commission President and Commissioners
European Council works intransparently; must be obliged to be transparent
Respect subsidiarity principle
Enable EU-wide referendums and citizens' decisions; lower high hurdles for citizens' initiatives
EU transparency register and a transparency regulation
Expand and strengthen European anti-fraud agency OLAF

Rule-of-law Mechanism

The state of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU should be regularly evaluated and violations sanctioned; needs binding force for compliance

EU steadily accelerating wheel of de-democratization

Fiscal Policy

Harmonization of employee share ownership rules in the EU

Reform of EU Financial Policy

European financial market regulation (taxonomy), sustainability reporting and supply chain legislation require precise global competition analyses, especially for SMEs
ESM, banking and capital markets union to be further developed and completed
In order to complete the banking union, it is imperative that existing risks be reduced; we reject bailing out banks from tax revenues or communitarizing the assumption of liability
In all changes at EU level, the special features of the proven German three-pillar system of private, public and cooperative banks must be preserved; must not restrict credit supply to small and medium-sized enterprises

Monetary Union

Commitment to the independence of the ECB; monetary and fiscal policy must be separated, therefore no monetary state financing
Digital euro as fast, simple and secure means of payment; must only supplement cash

EU Budget

Budget funds must be used primarily for measures that create European added value; focus on European tasks for the future
Structural funds should be used to support reform processes and innovations
ESM, banking and capital markets union to be further developed and completed
Need orderly procedures for crises, including insolvency proceedings for states
Rapidly reinstate the fiscal rules of the Stability and Growth Pact and the Fiscal Treaty after the Corona pandemic and develop them further without watering them down
Restrict discretionary powers in the deficit procedure and strengthen the principle of conditionality; violations of the stability criteria must be sanctioned consistently
Stronger role of the EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner, especially in enforcing the stability criteria; country-specific recommendations should target key areas

Digital Tax

Commitment to European financial transaction tax; must not burden small investors

Common corporate tax base in the EU; taking into account the special features of the German corporate landscape
Aim for a German or European stock exchange modeled on NASDAQ; so that fast-growing technology companies do not have to migrate to the U.S.

Reform of EU Fiscal Policy

Further development into a true fiscal, economic and financial union
Creation of a strong European capital market through Capital Markets Union and completion of Banking Union
Advocating for overcoming the unanimity principle in tax matters and ending tax dumping within the Union

EU Budget

Further development of the Stability and Growth Pact into a sustainability pact
Taxation of large digital corporations, CO2 border tax and new revenue from emissions trading for fairer and more independent financing of the EU

Digital Tax

Introduction of a financial transaction tax - if possible with European partners
Conclude international negotiations to introduce effective and fair minimum taxation of digital companies

Enforce the public sector's withdrawal from investments in fossil energies if no reliable steps are taken for a sustainable transformation of the companies behind them
Climate and environmental risks should be disclosed and backed by equity in banks and insurance companies, and taken into account in ratings
All investments, not just green ones, must have a sustainability rating that is transparent to all investors; for this, BaFin needs robust ESG supervisory authority
Uniform certification of sustainable financial products at the European level
Reform Stability and Growth Pact in a way that prevents too much pressure to cut and privatize and further increases future investments in all member countries
Ambitiously implement international minimum tax rates for large companies in Germany and the EU; tough EU rules against the abuse of letterbox companies; introduce a common assessment basis for corporate taxes in the EU and a minimum tax rate of 25% in the medium term without exceptions; advocate an internationally binding set of rules that sets minimum standards for the tax obligations of companies and states, and strengthen the UN Tax Committee
Move to majority decision-making in the EU on tax issues as well; if this does not succeed, first work together with individual states

Reform of EU Fiscal Policy

EU to have a sustainable investment fund as an instrument for sustainable fiscal policy; fund stabilizes in the event of a crisis and invests in European public goods such as climate, research, digital infrastructure, railroads and education; must be designed in such a way that it cannot be blocked by individual countries in the event of a crisis and strong control by the European Parliament is ensured
Banking union is completed by a common deposit guarantee as reinsurance

Monetary Union

Support for the ECB's initiative to create a digital euro
Strictly reject the undermining of the monetary monopoly by private currencies of powerful conglomerates; needs clear rules
Stand by the ECB's independence; at the same time, welcome the ECB's debate on its new monetary policy strategy; sensible that all monetary policy measures take into account the impact of the climate crisis on monetary and financial stability; how it strengthens the European Green Deal with its environmental and social objectives as the EU's guiding economic policy strategy is for it to decide independently
Develop € into a credible international reserve currency; should become the international means of payment in future markets such as investment in climate protection; create secure European assets in which the world can save
Further develop the European Stability Mechanism into a European Monetary Fund; countries will receive conditional short-term credit lines to avert speculation against individual states in advance
Reduce the burden on the central bank through a common and more anti-cyclical fiscal policy
Reduce imbalances jointly in surplus and deficit countries and take economic and fiscal policy decisions as a community

EU Budget

Strengthen EU budget by providing it with its own revenues; EU should receive revenues from Carbon Border Mechanism, taxation of plastics and digital corporations and, if possible, also financial transactions
EU budget funds should in future also increasingly be provided directly to municipal and local civil society actors

Digital Tax

Introduction of a national digital tax, since it has failed at the European level for the time being
Make speculation and short-termism unattractive through, among other things, an EU-wide financial transaction tax with a broad tax base
Curbing harmful high-frequency trading

Reform of EU Fiscal Policy

For a uniform EU corporate tax base; against permissibility of tax deals
Commitment to an efficient European banking market characterized by competition and diversity of business models; modern banking regulation that ensures a level playing field for all market participants
EU regulations on the establishment and strengthening of national deposit insurance schemes should be complied with; creation of a uniform European deposit insurance scheme is rejected
Stability and economic pact effectively suspended due to Corona to be reinstated in full after the crisis and reformed by tightening sanctions against countries that persistently violate the principles of public budget management

Monetary Union

Transform the ESM into a European Monetary Fund (EMF) to depoliticize the supervision of euro bailout programs

EU Budget

Rapid return to a debt-free EU budget; rejection of a debt union
Introduction of additional EU taxes is not compatible with the European treaties and is rejected

Align ECB with the goal of promoting good and meaningful work, full employment and socio-ecological transformation of the EU; ECB must provide lending programs to enable public investment banks to support and invest in the climate-neutral transformation of the economy by 2035

Reform of EU Fiscal Policy

Stability and Growth Pact curtails democracy in individual member states and locks them into neoliberal fiscal policies; EU needs an investment offensive without handbrakes
Call for debt cuts and meaningful investment programs for Europe's poorer regions
Deficit and debt rules must be adjusted
Needs an EU-wide minimum tax rate for companies with broad and uniform tax bases
Call for common minimum standards for taxation of large assets and top incomes
Tighten fight against tax evasion; revoke licenses of banks operating in tax havens

Monetary Union

Without compensatory measures, the euro as a common currency of very different economic areas increases the imbalance between the rich states in Northern and Western Europe vis-à-vis the states in Southern Europe; must build a fair and common European economy instead of continuing the competition fight
ECB must be committed to the common good instead of the criterion of competitiveness
ECB to guarantee solvency of member states by being obliged to be lender of last resort; inflationary risk does not exist because ECB remains committed to its inflation target
EU treaties to be amended to allow ECB to provide sovereign financing
ECB should be democratically controlled by the European Parliament instead of being at the mercy of the influence of financial lobbyists
ECB must not continue to buy bonds of companies with high CO2 emissions and thereby undermine climate protection

EU Budget

Money from the EU budget must be reallocated: Instead of military rearmament, it must be invested in solidarity-based and ecological projects for the future
In view of the challenges posed by Corona and climate catastrophe, the EU budget must be expanded by issuing European bonds; 1 to 2 trillion euros required for the European investment and spending program
EU needs a socio-ecological investment program; EU financial resources must be expanded and used specifically for the economically weaker countries, regions, industries and for future tasks
The EU Commission's powers to control and steer the allocation of funds must be limited and the European Parliament must be more closely involved; democratic control of the use of EU funds must take place at the European level; no more cutbacks must be imposed in the process

Digital Tax

European own resources are needed, for example from a financial transaction tax

Today, socialist joint liability, transfer payments, EU debt as well as forbidden state financing and economic policy of the ECB contrary to its mandate, which is contrary to the treaty and not democratically legitimized.
All sureties, guarantees and money gifts (facilities, Next Gen. EU, ESM,...) are illegal as well as EU taxes

Reform of EU Fiscal Policy

ECB policy leads, among other things, to the destruction of funded pension systems, retention of companies that are no longer marketable in the market, capital misallocation, economic damage, destruction of bond markets, ...; violates EU law
Cessation of all ECB measures to manipulate the free market
No government financing by the ECB
No secret and highly ideological economic policy via "Green Deal" and bond purchases
End of zero interest rate policy and ECB bond purchase programs
Call on the Bundesbank to lobby the ECB to change the voting modalities in the Rules of Procedure with regard to the voting rights of the members of the ECB Governing Council; reject the principle of rotation
Put an end to the hitherto tolerated overutilization of the Target 2 clearing account; claims on the Bundesbank must be reduced, settled, subject to appropriate interest and backed by collateral

Monetary Union

The idea of a single currency has failed
Re-introduction of national currencies is solution to systemic euro crisis
Against digital currencies issued by central banks, as a gateway for the creeping abolition of cash; BReg is preparing the abolition of cash with the ECB and IMF, which would result in full surveillance right down to the most intimate areas of life
Exit from the transfer union and reintroduction of a national currency (if necessary with parallel retention of the euro or an ECU-like more flexible unit of account)
Transfer of the entire German state gold to Germany in order to be secured against the euro currency crisis

EU Budget

Immediate cessation of all EU borrowing, allowed only at national level
No de facto communitization of debt

DGAP publications on this topic

Memo Artikelbild mit BTW2021-Balken zu Shahin Vallee

A New Roadmap for the Euro Area

Germany Has a Critical Responsibility to Advance Profound Reforms

Shahin Vallée

Reformstrategie für die Währungsunion

Deutschland sollte der EU neue Impulse geben

Martin Wiesmann

Neighborhood Policy / Enlargement Policy

Principle: Deepening before enlargement
Internal cohesion of the EU must not be weakened by the admission of new members; candidate countries must fully meet all accession criteria
Intensify ties between the Western Balkan states and the EU

Growing influence of other states requires a realigned neighborhood policy in Southern and Eastern Europe
Expanding the EU-Africa partnership economically and politically
Integration of the countries of the Western Balkans

Taking on more responsibility in the direct neighborhood

EU Enlargement / Planned Accessions

For concrete progress in the integration of the Western Balkan countries
Actively support necessary reforms in democracy, rule of law, fight against corruption, and inclusion and protection of minorities, especially Roma
Progress in Serbia-Kosovo dialogue essential
Reconciliation processes and political and judicial processing of war crimes must be strengthened
Clear rejection of ethnic border shifts or discrimination
Visa liberalization for Kosovars
Opening of the first EU accession chapters for Albania and northern Macedonia
Creation of a civil society with equal rights for all citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Eastern Partnerships

Supporting people fighting for democracy, rule of law and human rights in Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus
Strengthen democratic and socio-ecological transformation processes in the region, within the framework of the EU's Eastern Partnership and bilaterally, for example by linking more funding to the sustainable implementation of reforms
Keep EU accession open to EU-associated countries in the Eastern Partnership
Support democratic civil society and independent local media
More exchange between East and West
Advance judicial reforms

Mediterranean Sea

New Mediterranean policy that realizes development potential for the region
Challenges: Terrorism, authoritarian regimes, state collapse
Making the Mediterranean a plus-energy region with ambitious energy partnerships

Current and future EU accession candidates should commit to democracy and human rights without reservation; applies in particular to Turkey
Turkey's current government must implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, guarantee democracy and freedom of expression, end the persecution of the democratic opposition and release all imprisoned parliamentarians and mayors of the opposition Kurdish party HDP

Strict rejection of EU enlargement
Privileged partnership with countries of the Western Balkans; especially security cooperation with regard to migration issues

DGAP publications on this topic

Geopolitics in Europe’s Neighborhood

New Strategies for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership

Dr. Laura Gelhaus

Serafine Dinkel

Action Plan for the Western Balkans and EU Neighborhood

How Germany Can Contribute to Lasting Peace in the Balkans

Gerald Knaus

Social Europe / Social Union

Within the framework of the "European Pillar of Social Rights", especially globally active corporations should be made more socially responsible and structures of social partnerships should be created and expanded

Common Unemployment Benefit Scheme

Rejection of a European unemployment, pension or health insurance system; social security systems are the responsibility of the member states

Common Workers' Protection Standards

EU should focus on basic standards for employee rights as well as health, environmental and consumer protection standards
Rejection of European unemployment, pension or health insurance; social security systems are the responsibility of member states
Simplify recognition of professional qualifications and improve portability of occupational pensions between EU member states to further promote worker mobility

Implementation of the European child guarantee (child poverty)
Strengthening the European Youth Guarantee (youth unemployment); increasing full-time jobs for young people that are subject to social security contributions and of unlimited duration
Commitment to implementing the EU gender equality strategy, breaking the deadlock on Women on Board and the EU's Paytransparency Directive
Advance efforts for pay transparency law to expose gender pay inequality at the European level

Common Unemployment Benefit Scheme

Advocate for permanent European unemployment reinsurance
Advocate for minimum standards in national basic social security systems

Common Workers' Protection Standards

Welcome proposal for a legal framework for European minimum wages
Enforcement of labor law and protection of seasonal workers urgently needs to be improved
Agreement on binding social standards in all trade, economic partnership and investment agreements and concrete complaint and sanction mechanisms; workers' rights are not considered discriminatory practices
Strengthening European works councils, including through the right to collective action and collective bargaining

Expand European Monetary Union into a Social Union
Advocate for EU-wide guarantee of European social and labor standards; must have the same status as economic freedoms of the internal market
Advocate for a European directive on basic social security, which would set minimum social standards for each country, depending on their economic situation
Long-term goal: make the social rights enshrined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights enforceable as fundamental rights against the member states before the European Court of Justice

Common Unemployment Benefit Scheme

Introduction of a European unemployment reinsurance scheme

Common Workers' Protection Standards

Advocacy at European level for an ambitious EU directive on equal pay
Country-specific minimum wages
Continuation of the European short-time work program introduced during Corona
Strengthening European works councils; further safeguarding co-determination in cross-border companies

Common Workers' Protection Standards

Demand for all citizens in the EU social rights and minimum wages that secure existence
Unequal living conditions force young people in particular to migrate; no one should be excluded from social benefits for this reason
The principle of "equal pay for equal work in the same place" must be enshrined in law to prevent wage dumping
All people working in Germany and the EU should be well insured; social insurance from day one
Statutory minimum wages amounting to at least 60% of the median wage in the respective country
Minimum regulations required to protect and promote collective agreements and trade union rights
Restore and expand co-determination rights and rights of trade unions and employees alike; therefore, together with the European Trade Union Confederation, call for the introduction of a European framework directive to safeguard corporate co-determination

Efficient social system belongs in the hands of the nation states; rejection of the weakening of the unanimity principle in the area of social policy

Cohesion and Structural Policy

Want to create a uniform, common legal framework for existing and future European universities; improve recognition of degrees and scientific exchange
Use the next decade to achieve close infrastructural links with Central and Eastern European neighbors, such as those between Germany, France and the Benelux countries; for a "cross-border networking and infrastructure development" program
For better European high-speed rail traffic; Europe-wide connections at day and night; for this, accelerate line construction
Expansion of exchange programs
Free Interrail ticket for every 18-year-old
Double funding for Erasmus+
Introduce legal form of a European association to strengthen civil society across borders
Strengthen cooperation especially with neighboring Central and Eastern European countries; especially scientific relations

European Recovery and Resilience Plans

European debt assumption by Next Gen. EU is temporary and one-off; is not and must never be an entry into a debt union; rejection of the communitization of member states' debts or risks

The German language must be given equal legal status to the procedural languages English and French in the EU institutions.
Support considerations of a media platform that makes quality content of public service media accessible to all citizens across borders; also accessible for partnerships with museums and cultural institutions
Turn the EU Reconstruction Fund into a permanent integration fund

Offer fast sprinter trains and night trains that connect all major European cities at an affordable price
More stays abroad for students and trainees; increased funding for programs such as ERASMUS+; target: at least 10% of trainees should be able to spend time abroad
Media libraries of public broadcasters
should be made permanently accessible and interlinked at European level, with appropriate remuneration for authors
Introduction of a European public service media platform; Europe-wide high-quality content - free of advertising, open and multilingual; through cooperation of the national public broadcasters; free of
any political influence
Introduction of an EU-wide law on associations and non-profit organizations
Further develop the concept of European Universities
Strengthen town twinning for more Europe-wide cooperation, expand INTERREG programs for cross-border cooperation and promote Euregios and Eurodistricts through less bureaucracy and more flexibility

European Recovery and Resilience Plans

Make the newly created reconstruction instrument permanent and transform it into a permanent investment and stabilization instrument under the control of the European Parliament

Economic development of all members after the Corona crisis as a goal
European innovation policy to specifically benefit weaker regions
Consistent implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration on the recognition of qualifications within the EU
Expansion of Erasmus+ and Education Worldwide; Erasmus for teachers
Establishment of a German Vocational Exchange Service as a counterpart to the DAAD
Establishment of a European Digital University (EDU), which bundles e-learning offers of the participating EU universities and thus improves educational mobility
Proven instruments such as "Horizon 2020" or the European Innovation Bank are to be made more powerful

European Recovery and Resilience Plans

Temporary debt financing by Next Gen. EU must be one-time and time-limited
Introduction of additional EU taxes is not compatible with the European treaties and is rejected

Advocating for a Europe-wide night train law; by 2030, all major European cities must be accessible by long-distance train on a coordinated interval timetable

European Recovery and Resilience Plans

Particularly negligent that investments and health spending were cut from the reconstruction package
Rejection of the fact that the allocation of funds from the EU reconstruction fund is tied to conditions that in effect turn the recommendations of the EU Commission within the framework of the European Semester into regulations
EU has cut Just Transition programs from 40 billion euros to 17.5 billion euros - reconstruction cannot succeed this way; want to strengthen the Just Transition Fund

Re-introduction of the tried and tested diploma and master's degree programs; Bologna process has led to more schooling of studies

European Recovery and Resilience Plans

So-called Corona recovery pact takes transfer union to a new dimension; contradicts treaties and promises of German politicians, will also result in descent of all European economies
Introduction of EU taxes under the "recovery funds" must be prevented; raising taxes must be a national competence
Limitation of Corona-related spending programs and associated debt to a necessary level

DGAP publications on this topic

Municipal Foreign Policy

Resilient Cities Foster Germany’s Capacity to Act

Dr. Anna-Lena Kirch

Serafine Dinkel

Fanny Kabisch

Conference on the Future of Europe

Conference is a departure for fundamental reforms of the EU
Should be used for a sovereignty offensive
Treaty changes are not a goal in themselves, but a possible instrument to make the EU more capable of acting
Subsidiarity as a guiding principle for Europe
Want more majority decisions in Europe with greater use of bridging clauses for faster decisions and decisive action

Offers great opportunity to strengthen European public opinion and develop reforms together with citizens
Next step on the way to a Federal European Republic
Results of the conference are to be implemented within the framework of European legislation up to and including treaty amendments

Supports conference; to focus on key policy areas that are of long-term common relevance
Wants to make EU more robust in dealing with pandemics, develop Europe as a continent of opportunity and mobilize it as a driver of progress; reform EU institutionally to make it closer to citizens and more capable of action
This also includes treaty changes
After the Convention, convene a constitutional convention to give the decentralized and federally structured Union a legally binding constitution with a catalog of fundamental rights and strong institutions
Decision on constitution in a joint European referendum; to create basis for federal and decentralized European federal state
Until then: integration through "multi-speed Europe"

Treaties of Maastricht and Lisbon have inscribed neoliberalism in the foundations of the Union; demand for new treaties to make the EU more social, just and ecological

Miscellaneous

Further expand, simplify and strengthen the German government's European policy coordination
Expand impact assessment at European level

Expanding the scope for action of municipalities in the European Union and protecting services of general interest from the pressure of liberalization

Fundamental reform of EU agricultural policy; consistently link payments to scientifically based environmental and social criteria and animal welfare

Commitment to a Europe of fatherlands that cooperates where it is possible to shape things better together, in particular free trade with fair competition; expansion into a state structure counterproductive
Federal government does not fulfill its duty to oppose treaty violations and self-empowerment by EU institutions
Withdrawal of Germany from the EU and foundation of a new European economic and interest community
Renationalization of EU agricultural policy; has so far done more harm than good

DGAP publications on the topic

Globale Gesundheit

Mit Kooperation und Vorausschau gegen zukünftige Krisen

Tobias Bergner

A New Roadmap for the Euro Area

Germany Has a Critical Responsibility to Advance Profound Reforms

Shahin Vallée

Reformstrategie für die Währungsunion

Deutschland sollte der EU neue Impulse geben

Martin Wiesmann

Memo10_Ziviles Krisenmanagement_Artikelbild

Strengthening the EU’s Civilian Crisis Management

Germany Should Seek to Enhance the EU’s Capacity to Act

Florence Schimmel

Geopolitics in Europe’s Neighborhood

New Strategies for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership

Dr. Laura Gelhaus

Serafine Dinkel

Action Plan for the Western Balkans and EU Neighborhood

How Germany Can Contribute to Lasting Peace in the Balkans

Gerald Knaus

Photo of German, EU and French flags waving in a blue sky

Franco-German Unity on Economic Recovery Weaker than It Appears

The New Bundestag Should Brace for Controversial Debates

Jacob Ross

Sustainable Crypto Currencies

Mining is affecting supply chains and the environment, but Germany can help mitigate it

Dr. Marlon Ebert

Dr. Matthias Hirtschulz

Ulf Henning Jacobs

et al.

Municipal Foreign Policy

Resilient Cities Foster Germany’s Capacity to Act

Dr. Anna-Lena Kirch

Serafine Dinkel

Fanny Kabisch

Back to the topic overview

International Order and Multilateral Organizations

International Order

States like China and Russia systematically undermine human and civil rights, force states into political and economic dependency and want to divide Europe
Global system competition is real and sometimes leaves only the choice between the frying pan and the fire
Prefer rules-based, multilateral cooperation to informal formats
Make international policy feminist; must always be included in bilateral and multilateral negotiations; needs gender analyses for individual country contexts at regular intervals and close cooperation with feminist actors; work with civil society and academia to develop binding guidelines for a feminist foreign policy for the German government
Decolonize international relations; clearly name colonial injustices and assume responsibility
Democracy offensive; partnership of countries, civil society groups and parliamentarians
Create a judiciary that prosecutes environmental crimes independently and across borders

Advocate for and strategically coordinate common values of the "Alliance of Democracies," particularly within the UN and other multilateral organizations, especially in system competition with China

Effort to promote forces for democracy, equality and social justice instead of making deals with dictators; therefore, support for progressive social movements from Kurdistan to Western Sahara to Colombia

Strict adherence to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states

Human Rights and Discrimination

Strengthening human rights mechanisms
Enforce right to religious freedom worldwide; persistently advocate for persecuted Christians

Commitment to EU-wide ratification of the Istanbul Convention
Europe should be a pioneer in international crisis prevention, peacebuilding and human rights
Strengthening the institutions of the Bundestag and the German government that deal with human rights
Commitment to EU-wide outlawing of discrimination against LGBTIQ*
More consistent recording and punishment of discriminatory crimes (racist, anti-Semitic, anti-Islamic, anti-LSBTIQ*, etc.)
Demand consistent application of the UN Convention on the Rights of Women
Counter anti-gender movement
Consistently use EU human rights sanctions regime; incl. entry bans and freezing of accounts
Implement obligations under Istanbul Convention (further develop counseling centers, women's shelters, protection facilities; etc.)
Legal entitlement to counseling and protection for women affected by violence
Strengthen the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency and modernize the General Equal Treatment Act
Establishment of a focal public prosecutor's office to prosecute anti-Semitism and racism in Germany

International Criminal Justice

Strengthening the ECtHR
Strengthening possibilities for global criminal prosecution
Strengthening the ICC
EU accession to the ECHR

Not only demand compliance with and protection of human rights from others, but also measure up to them themselves
Protection of self-determination of women and girls as a cross-cutting task; education and health as key
Protect rights of minorities inside and outside the EU
Establish a National Council for Peace, Sustainability and Human Rights; for strategic and coherent action in all departments and policy areas
Introduce a sustainability and human rights vetting process for proposed legislation; check for compatibility with UN sustainability and climate goals and human rights conventions
Strengthening the rights of indigenous communities
German missions abroad in particularly affected countries should establish human rights officers as a point of contact for human rights activists and introduce interdepartmental systematic reporting on the human rights situation in the country
Issue humanitarian visas to persecuted human rights defenders more quickly and more frequently; expand newly established Elisabeth Selbert Initiative to temporarily host them
Advocate at the international level for civil society initiatives and their strengthening of protection instruments and institutions such as special rapporteurs
Implement recent UN-level declarations and recommendations on the protection of human rights defenders
Advocate for the protection and targeted promotion of human rights defenders from EU member states
Expand individual trauma counseling for victims of human rights violations and war crimes
Use of all diplomatic means to ensure that the Istanbul Convention is applied
Structural endowment of the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid
At least double the financial resources of the National Agency for the Prevention of Torture and the German Institute for Human Rights
Advocate for the global implementation of the Yogyakarta Principles for the protection of LGBTIQ*
Adoption of the 5th anti-discrimination directive
Advance EU action plan against racism nationally and internationally

International Criminal Justice

German criminal law offers possibility of conviction of war criminals also in Germany; to this end, expand capacities at BKA and Federal Prosecutor General's Office
Improve investigations in cases of sexualized violence and reform the Code of Criminal Procedure where it does not yet take into account the special features of international criminal proceedings
Make companies liable under civil law for the most serious human rights violations
Politically and financially strengthening the ICC and other institutions such as the UN Mechanism for the Investigation and Prosecution of the Most Serious War Crimes in Syria (IIIM)
Advocating for all states to accede to the Rome Statute of the ICC

Commitment to a society free of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and homophobia
Diplomatic commitment to freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law are an indispensable part of a successful and credible foreign policy
Want to make internet freedom and digital human rights new foreign policy priorities
Advocate for strengthening LGBTI rights and abolishing discriminatory laws
Alleged "LGBT-free zones" in Poland are not compatible with European values
Fast and comprehensive implementation of the Istanbul Convention and UN Women's Rights Convention
Strengthen position of women in crisis and conflict management; position women in leadership and key positions in UN, EU and federal government
Ambitious implementation of Res. 1325 UNSC (women, peace, security)
In the event of tougher penalties against LGBTI people in countries, Germany must put development cooperation to the test in dialogue with NGOs and, if necessary, cancel budget support/end cooperation
Demand LGBTI convention on UN level
Same-sex marriages within the EU should be recognized with all rights and obligations

Strengthen women's and girls' rights, especially health (sexual and reproductive rights) and education
Germany must actively advocate for the release of political prisoners; end arbitrary criminalization of progressive movements, including by NATO allies and authorities here at home
Stand in solidarity with the persecuted whistleblowers Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden or journalists like Julian Assange
Implement the Istanbul Convention consistently and fully; reverse restrictions made by the German government during ratification

International Criminal Justice

Want the federal government to sign the Additional Protocol to the International Covenant on Human Rights so that individuals have the option of appealing to the UN
Bring destroyers of the environment, climate and biodiversity to justice; introduce the crime of ecocide into German criminal law and the Rome Statute
Strengthen international criminal jurisdiction to enforce human rights globally
Anchor the right to peace in international law
Accession of the EU to the ECHR; fundamental social rights must be enforceable for individuals at the European
Court of Justice

So-called anti-discrimination laws must be rejected
Decision about abortion must be up to parents, but AfD refuses to declare killing of unborn a human right
Equality of men and women a high good; quotas for women constitute discrimination

Civil Crisis Prevention and Peacebuilding

Strengthen women and girls in particular in all approaches
Expect close cooperation from partner countries in combating the causes of flight and illegal migration (e.g. readmission of own nationals)
Close cooperation with churches and NGOs
Expansion of the Center for Peace Operations (ZIF)
Establishment of a highly professional team of peace emissaries for conducting negotiations
Focus on diplomacy and dialogue as well as international cooperation; revitalize multilateral action - also together with NGOs and civil society

Europe should be a pioneer in international crisis prevention, peacebuilding and human rights.
Call for the consistent implementation of UN Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace, Security

Guided by the UN concept of the Responsibility to Prepare, Protect and Rebuild
States are equally obliged to expand instruments for prevention, crisis response and post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction of war-torn societies
Increase human and financial resources for civil crisis prevention and make them more predictable in the long term by reforming the law on allocations
Guidelines "Preventing Crises, Managing Conflicts, Promoting Peace" to be supplemented by a reconstruction plan with civilian planning goals
Build a reserve of EU mediators and experts in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and mediation
Provide greater support to local civil society approaches and actors in peacebuilding
Expand the Civil Peace Service (ZFD); strengthen the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF); strengthen peace and conflict research; increase the endowment capital of the German Foundation for Peace Research and strengthen the newly established faculty of the German Police University and other academic institutions (especially in terms of personnel and by making them permanent)
Communicate the successes and opportunities of civil crisis prevention and conflict transformation to the general public through public communications
Support international UN missions that contribute to stability, protection of civilians and implementation of peace processes; address resource and capability gaps in the field and significantly increase civilian and military contribution to UN missions; high proportion of women through targeted recruitment; mission needs clear and achievable mandate, balanced civilian and military capabilities and independent (interim) evaluations

DGAP publications on this topic

Memo Artikelbild mit BTW2021-Balken zu Gerrit Kurtz

Civilian Conflict Management

Priorities for the Next German Government

Dr. Gerrit Kurtz

Strengthening the EU’s Civilian Crisis Management

Germany Should Seek to Enhance the EU’s Capacity to Act

Florence Schimmel

Humanitarian Aid

Align commitment to humanitarian aid with growing needs; strengthen and expand base of international donors

Continuous adjustment of funds for humanitarian aid; needs-based and increasingly allocated on a multi-year basis, enables planning and flexibility

Reject civil-military cooperation; civilian aid must not be linked to military measures.
Invest funds currently spent on foreign missions in a civilian reconstruction and peacekeeping program.
Establish civilian structures for international disaster management

Development Cooperation

Strengthen women and girls in particular in all approaches
Continue to spend 0.7% of GDP on public development cooperation
Even more intensive coordination and division of labor, especially within the EU framework, in the use of funds
Commit new donors of development funds, such as China, to common standards
Close cooperation with churches and NGOs
Continue to provide adequate funding for political foundations; make important contribution to political education, strengthening democracy in the international arena and development cooperation
In bilateral cooperation, support people in the least developed countries to gain access to basic government services
Develop the Marshall Plan with Africa into a deeper institutional partnership in the form of an EU-Africa Council
Link development cooperation and strategic foreign trade promotion more closely
Adapt the dual vocational training system to local conditions and promote it even more strongly
Strengthen Europe in the global raw materials market with sustainable development aid and offer an alternative to the Chinese Silk Road

More responsibility in jointly aligned EU development cooperation by increasing EU funding.
ODA quota of 0.7% of GNI; 0.2% of which for the poorest developing countries

Development opportunities for all as the best precaution against the climate and biodiversity crisis, conflicts, violence, hunger, flight and displacement.
Keep international commitments for development cooperation, climate finance and biodiversity
Better dovetail humanitarian principles, civilian crisis prevention and development cooperation
Removal of many Latin American countries as partner countries for German development cooperation is shortsighted; Greens want to change this
Promote minorities as a focus of development policy
Work internationally toward binding transformation quota and support countries of the global South in particular
Achieve 0.7% ODA quota by 2025; provide another 10 billion for international climate finance
Drive innovation globally through climate and development partnerships
Align development cooperation financially and conceptually to consistently stand up for the rights of women and girls (education, health, sexual and reproductive rights); gender justice as a cross-cutting issue
Current debt moratorium for countries of the global south is correct; for a debt restructuring procedure for states based at the UN; private creditors must be legally obligated to do so; start with legislation in Germany and partner countries if not possible at the international level.
Advocate in the EU to prevent excessive food speculation

For a strengthening of European and international development cooperation.
Create additional synergies through stronger cooperation and coordination with European international partners.
Call for a coordinated European policy for Africa; the goal must be long-term access to the EU's internal market and the dismantling of protectionist measures; support the AU's plans to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Strengthen multilateral support for the least developed countries (LDCs) and make 0.2 percent of gross domestic product available by 2030 at the latest, primarily for multilateral initiatives
Create a European Development Bank under the umbrella of the European Investment Bank; can be part of a joint European response to BRI

Previous development policy not only failed, but an instrument of (post-)colonial oppression and exploitation; development cooperation must be oriented to the needs of people in poorer countries - instead of continuing to be oriented primarily to the interests of European companies
For just economic relations, sustainable development cooperation and multilateralism based on solidarity
Rejection of the interlocking of development and security policy in the sense of so-called border protection and migration control
Criticism of the cessation of development cooperation with Cuba; advocacy for a resumption of development cooperation with Cuba
Prohibition of speculation with foodstuffs; prohibition of patents on seeds; the WHO should no longer be responsible for food trade, but the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
Right to water and food for all; strengthen local food markets and agro-ecological farming methods that preserve farm diversity and protect plant and animal life; end abuse of agricultural development programs by transnational corporations
Development funds must no longer be misused as investment incentives for German or international capital; discontinue initiatives such as the Marshall Plan with Africa or Compact with Africa
Strengthen public and civil society structures for development cooperation; end undemocratic influence of private foundations and large investors as well as public-private partnerships
Strengthen the instrument of budget support
Increase development cooperation to the amounts pledged
Debt cut and a sustainable debt relief initiative for all countries of the Global South whose debt burden is unsustainable; force private creditors to participate
Need insolvency procedures for countries

For development policy that takes account of German security and economic interests
Development policy based on the principle of ownership, respect for the right of states to self-determination and respect for the cultural identity of all partners
View of German and European development policy on the population explosion in Africa
Success of German development policy through strict demand orientation, priority for long-term cooperation; financial contribution of at least 51% by partner countries mandatory; regular evaluations
Due to limited funds, limit projects to selected countries (oriented to German interests); criteria are corruption index, efforts in education, handling of previous projects, disclosure of state revenues (especially mineral resources), contribution of the country to regional stability
Granting of development aid linked to the repatriation of migrants who are obliged to leave the country
To implement these points: EU reform to return development policy entirely to the national level of member states

Multilateral Organizations

Advocating for the establishment of a global fund for basic social protection systems

Improve Germany's representation in international organizations and strengthen commitment

United Nations

UN and its organizations are fundamental for managing international tasks; must therefore become more capable of decision-making and action
Agenda 2030, Paris Agreement and human rights as guiding principles of the Union
Strengthen arbitration possibilities of the United Nations in international climate protection

SPD policy in Europe committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda
Support a UN agreement on business and human rights
Demand the consistent implementation of UN Resolution 1325 "Women, Peace, Security
Call for consistent application of the UN Convention on the Rights of Women
Reform of the UN is urgently needed
Ratification of the Additional Protocol to the United Nations Social Covenant in Germany
Establishment of a global tax coordination office at the UN and OECD in the fight against global corporate profit reduction and relocation

International cooperative and active policy within the UN framework
Support international operations within the UN framework that contribute to stability, the protection of civilians and the implementation of peace processes; use of force as a last resort
Policy based on SDGs, Paris Climate Agreement, international human rights norms and rights-based international order
Advance implementation of Agenda 1325 "Women, Peace, Security" within Germany and internationally
Take up French initiative to codify international environmental law
Enshrine the right to a clean environment in a UN General Assembly resolution
Substantially strengthen Germany's and the EU's commitment to the UN in terms of funding, personnel and diplomacy, improve coordination and consistently implement international agreements in national and European policy
Adapt Security Council and other organs to 21st century realities
Implement recent UN-level declarations and recommendations on the protection of human rights defenders
Politically and financially strengthen the ICC and other institutions such as the UN Mechanism for the Investigation and Prosecution of the Most Serious War Crimes in Syria (IIIM)
Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Social Covenant, the UN Migrant Workers Convention, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Small Farmers - long overdue in Germany
Support and advance the process for a UN agreement on business and human rights (so-called Binding Treaty)
Create a criminal offense of enforced disappearance in Germany to address the shortcomings in the implementation of the International Convention against Enforced Disappearances
Commitment to strengthen UN technical committees and special rapporteurs
Current debt moratorium for countries of the global South correct; for UN-based debt restructuring procedure for states; private creditors must be legally obliged to do so; start with legislation in Germany and partner countries if not possible at international level

UN urgently needs to be reformed, especially UNSC
Agenda 2030 is mankind's most comprehensive attempt to date to bring the various aspects of sustainable development into a globally unifying system of goals
Advocate and strategically coordinate common values of the "Alliance of Democracies", especially within the UN and other multilateral organizations, particularly in the system competition with China
Germany must ensure sustainable multilateral cooperation by providing reliable funding for the UN's specialized agencies
Expand the consensus of R2P
Demand LGBTI convention at UN level

The UN lacks money everywhere: makes it dependent on the support of private companies and foundations, which primarily pursue their own interests; undermines the neutrality of the UN
Return to the UN Charter; strengthen and democratize the UN
Rich countries must finally meet their payment obligations, especially to the sub-organizations
Support for the call for a global ceasefire
Proposal to establish public vaccine production (in the sense of Regional Vaccine Manufacturing Hubs) , globally coordinated by WHO and UN
Strengthen the General Assembly vis-à-vis the Security Council; therefore reject a German seat in the Security Council
Countries of the Global South need more influence; strengthening of ECOSOC; exclusive forums such as the G7 should be merged into it
UNCTAD should be strengthened vis-à-vis WTO
Increase basic contributions to reduce influence of private actors
UN expenditures for military operations must be redistributed in favor of funds for hunger reduction, peaceful conflict management and civil crisis prevention
Implement UN Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security

AfD is committed to the values of the UN Charter and international law; in particular, the right of peoples to self-determination must not be undermined by the agendas of IGOs, NGOs and global corporations
The UN must be reformed in such a way as to take account of the changing weightings in the world
Abolition of the enemy state clause directed against Germany
Abrogation of the UN Migration Pact and the UN Refugee Pact

NATO

NATO Backbone of Euro-Atlantic security; full commitment to NATO
Europe continues to need U.S. nuclear umbrella; Germany's participation in nuclear sharing is an important component of credible deterrence; necessary financial resources must be made available for this purpose
Goal: By 2030 at the latest, the Bundeswehr should provide at least 10% of NATO's military capabilities
Explicit commitment to NATO's 2% target
Need more political unity in the EU and NATO and more capability for credible deterrence and resilience to meet challenges from Russia
NATO is a community of values; Turkey must contribute to collective security as a NATO member and fulfill commitment to security consultations
Strengthen NATO's European pillar; contribute to the implementation of the NATO 2030 concept and NATO's orientation for the next generation

NATO central pillar of European security, but in parallel EU must also become stronger in terms of defense policy

NATO suffers from diverging security interests within the alliance, including interstate conflicts; lacks a strategic perspective
NATO nevertheless still an indispensable actor
Advocate, as part of the ongoing strategic process, for a repositioning of NATO and, building on this, for a debate on fair burden-sharing and balanced participation of member states
2% target is not based on capabilities and enablement and therefore does not provide an answer, therefore rejected by Greens; advocate for a new target definition that is not abstract, national and static, but based on common tasks, and will seek discussion with NATO partners about it
Also: stronger cooperation and coordination with European NATO partners such as Great Britain and Norway

Clear commitment to NATO
Support for the NATO decisions of Wales and Warsaw
Development of a new Strategic Concept including a clear strategy for dealing with China and cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific

NATO is a relic of the Cold War and still acts that way today; need détente with Russia instead of further escalations and troop deployments
NATO arms spending $1.1 trillion vs. $61. billion by Russia; not about threat prevention
Rejection of the enemy image designations of China and Russia in NATO and EU strategy papers
Rejection of presence of German soldiers abroad under NATO responsibility (as for example in Lithuania)
Also "war on terror" of NATO countries has not brought security
Rejection of maneuvers such as Defender 2021; against any presence of German soldiers east of the Oder-Neisse border
NATO construction of a space center at Ramstein base for "defense in space" has an offensive background; Left rejects militarization of space (by all states)
Nuclear sharing within NATO must be ended; no combat flight carrier systems must be provided or acquired for this purpose
Demand dissolution of NATO and replacement by a collective security system including Russia with the central goal of disarmament
Advocate that Germany withdraw from the military structures of NATO and that the Bundeswehr be taken out of NATO's supreme command
Stop plans to expand the military training area Oberlausitz for the escalation policy in Eastern Europe
Immediately stop support for NATO countries which, like Turkey, disregard international law
Close all foreign military bases in Germany

Membership in NATO and an active role in the OSCE central elements of the AfD security strategy
In line with U.S. demands for fair burden sharing and European aspirations for a greater say in NATO, it is in Germany's interest to strengthen the European pillar of NATO
NATO must once again become a purely defensive alliance, therefore limit NATO's area of operations to alliance countries

DGAP publications on this topic

(Even) More Money for Security and Defense

How, For What, and Why Germany Should Increase Its Defense Budget

Sophia Becker

Dr. Christian Mölling

UN-Security Council (UNSC)

Permanent seat of the EU in the UNSC

Reform of the UN is urgently needed
Permanent European seat
Adequate representation of the Global South in the UNSC

Adapt Security Council and other bodies to 21st century realities
Abolish veto in the long term
In the case of the most serious crimes against humanity, a veto should be accompanied by a justification and an alternative proposal as an intermediate step
If the UNSC is blocked in the case of the most serious human rights violations, the GA should be able to adopt peace-enforcing measures in its place in accordance with the "United for Peace" resolution with a qualified majority under Chapter VII of the UN Charter

UNSC urgently needs to be reformed and adapted to the security situation of the 21st century
Permanent European seat
Expansion of the R2P consensus

USA, Russia and China block UNSC
Strengthen General Assembly vis-à-vis Security Council; therefore reject German seat on Security Council

Permanent seat for Germany in the UNSC

WHO (-Reform)

WHO makes important contribution; but could only insufficiently fulfill its mandate in global health due to lack of resources
Strengthen WHO sustainably - financially, technically and politically
Continue active support for an international pandemic treaty to strengthen global health security

Strengthen WHO through a bold reform process
Financial and substantial support for COVAX

WHO must be provided with a broad financial base
Support WHO competencies in sustainable product development partnerships and across the full spectrum of diseases
Establish public vaccine production (in the sense of Regional Vaccine Manu-facturing Hubs), globally coordinated by WHO and UN
Food trade should no longer be the responsibility of WHO, but of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization

WHO has to be fundamentally reformed to restore independence and neutrality; streamline and thus reduce contributions financed by taxpayers' money
Extend the definition of a pandemic to include "an enormous number of deaths and illnesses", which was valid until 2009
Germany should not be able to withdraw from the WHO if the reform is not enforceable according to these standards

Human Rights Council

Germany should advocate for a fact-finding mission on Xinjiang in the UN Human Rights Council

G7 / G20

Support work at G20 level to tax large international and digital corporations fairly

OECD / OSCE / Council of Europe

OECD has proven itself as an international standard setter with the Action Plan against Profit Shifting and Short-Cuts by Transnational Corporations (BEPS)
Commitment to fair taxation of the digital economy at OECD level; should pay taxes where they also generate their revenues

Establishment of a global tax coordination body at the UN and OECD to combat global corporate profit shifting and shorting

Strengthen and further develop European institutions such as the OSCE and the Council of Europe
Continue to engage the EU's eastern neighbors on the basis of shared values for an effective and strong system of collective security and support democratic civil societies on the ground; which is necessary in view of Russia's nationalist and retrograde policies that undermine Europe's security and the self-determination of Russia's neighbors
Attempts by authoritarian states to dominate the OSCE agenda along the lines of their interests can only be opposed together with partners
OSCE needs more financial and human resources as well as active engagement on the part of the German government and participating parliamentarians
12. ratify additional protocol to ECHR on anti-discrimination
Commitment at the European level to the implementation of the judgments of the ECHR

Support work at OECD level to tax large international and digital corporations fairly

OSCE's role in stabilizing crises in Europe's periphery has proven its worth and must be expanded
Membership in NATO and active role in OSCE central elements of AfD security strategy

WTO (-Reform)

Strengthen multilateralism through reform of the WTO

For strengthening the WTO
All instances of the dispute settlement mechanism should again have a quorum, therefore fair recognition of the development needs of both the Global South and the North
Strengthening through expansion of the rules, inclusion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and improvement of the enforcement possibilities

Reform WTO in a sustainable and fair way
As a first step, revive dispute settlement to curb the multiplication of trade disputes according to the law of the jungle

Further develop the proven framework of the WTO in a transparent and inclusive manner
Rejection of national unilateralism and arbitrary tariffs
Commitment to unblocking WTO dispute settlement as quickly as possible, balancing the interests of industrialized, emerging and developing countries
At the same time: Evaluation of where WTO rules are not effective in practice
WTO should work to ensure that farmers worldwide can operate competitively, independent of government subsidies

UNCTAD to be strengthened vis-à-vis the WTO

International Labor Organization (ILO)

Support demand that occupational health and safety be upgraded as a core ILO labor standard
Implement the international agreements on protection against violence at the workplace (ILO Convention 190)

Complete the implementation of the ILO Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Make ILO core labor standards enforceable in European trade agreements

As the country with the world's largest surplus in trade in goods and capital, Germany must support the legally binding nature of the international ILO Convention on the Protection of Global Migrant Workers

Europol

Develop Europol in such a way that it becomes a kind of European FBI in important areas such as cybercrime or terrorism; operational powers remain with member states

Upgrading EUROPOL to a European Criminal Investigation Office

Develop Europol into a genuine European Criminal Investigation Office

IMF

The long-term goal remains the establishment of a cooperative world monetary system; IMF must be able to provide much more liquidity on an unconditional basis in crisis situations; advocate a significant increase in special drawing rights
IMF should also help countries of the global South to introduce and implement capital controls, and work with countries with global financial centers to do so
Voting weight must shift in favor of countries of the global South; EU states should pool their voting rights

DGAP publications on the topic

Civilian Conflict Management

Priorities for the Next German Government

Dr. Gerrit Kurtz

Strengthening the EU’s Civilian Crisis Management

Germany Should Seek to Enhance the EU’s Capacity to Act

Florence Schimmel

Back to the topic overview

(Even) More Money for Security and Defense

How, For What, and Why Germany Should Increase Its Defense Budget

Sophia Becker

Dr. Christian Mölling

Bilateral Diplomatic Relations

Transatlantic Relations

Strengthening the rules- and values-based international order together with the U.S. and at the same time looking to its own capabilities
USA most important global political partner
Re-establish cooperation with our transatlantic partners and build new structures capable of action worldwide (alliance of democracies)
Closer cooperation also with Canada, democratically consolidated states in Latin America and the Caribbean
Comprehensive transatlantic economic, trade and future area; rapid restart of negotiations
Finally ratify CETA
Intensify joint fight against organized crime and terrorism and closer cooperation on foreign climate policy
Expand exchanges at the societal level; establish a German-American Youth Office and double the Bundestag's parliamentary exchange program

New start needed in transatlantic relations
Intensify cooperation on climate protection, global health policy, trade, disarmament, and security issues, among others

Aligning international cooperative and active policy with transatlantic relations, among other things
Transatlantic relations central pillar of German foreign policy
Joint commitment to strengthening multilateralism in trade issues and health policy; also human rights protection, further development of international legal norms, global arms control and disarmament, rules-based order
U.S. focus will not be Europe; EU must assume more foreign and security policy responsibility itself, especially in the security of the Baltic states and Poland
Establish strong climate partnership to be inspiration and driver for social-ecological transformation
Reaching an understanding on how to deal with authoritarian states
Engage in transatlantic debate at many levels, including civil society forums

Convinced transatlanticists; Joe Biden's election offers great opportunities
"Alliance of Democracies" of the U.S. administration offers ideal point of contact to be taken up and underpinned; avoid duplication of structures
Advocate and strategize for shared "Alliance of Democracies" values, particularly within the UN and other multilateral organizations, especially in systems competition with China
Deepen transatlantic trade relations toward a transatlantic economic area
"Renegotiate the "EU-US Privacy Shield
Strengthen the European capacity to act and the cohesion of NATO in order to place the special relationship between Europe and the U.S. on a basis that takes account of the current geopolitical upheavals
Do the same for NATO partner Canada; also adopt CETA as quickly as possible

U.S. and EU seek to assert their supremacy against Russia and China; threatens to escalate into a new Cold War; new administration also envisions confrontation to secure its own supremacy
Germany to push for U.S. to rejoin nuclear agreement with Iran, and for all parties to abide by agreement
Stand in solidarity with persecuted whistleblowers Chelsea Manning, Edward Snowden or journalists like Julian Assange
Close Ramstein and other U.S. military bases in Germany; no drone warfare from German soil; terminate the Stay Treaty and Supplemental Agreement to the NATO Status of Forces or establish breach of the former by the U.S.
U.S. nuclear weapons must be withdrawn and destroyed immediately; no nuclear weapons must be or become stationed in Germany; federal government must not provide delivery systems and pilots for them
Final abandonment of TTIP, rejection of CETA and MERSOCUR agreements

Stable European peace order requires cooperation with both the USA and Russia
U.S. currently strongest ally; guiding principle must be equality of partners; U.S. sanctions against Germany are unacceptable

DGAP publications on this topic

Memo_07_Transatlantische-Beziehungen_Artikelbild

Transatlantic Relations

Germany Must Seize the Opportunity

Dr. Markus Jaeger

Julian Müller-Kaler

„It's the Innenpolitik, stupid!“

Wieso Europa die USA realistischer betrachten muss

Sophia Becker

United Kingdom

Close partner even after Brexit
Will pay attention to compliance with contractual assurances (fair trade with comparable standards, preservation of peace in Ireland)
Include the UK in an improved and flexible European security architecture
Close cooperation in the areas of internal and external security and science
Appointment of a UK coordinator for the German government
Expansion of the UK connection into a German-British Youth Office; establishment of a Parliamentary Sponsorship Program of the German Bundestag

Close friend of the EU even after Brexit; joint agreements as the foundation of a comprehensive partnership
There must not be a race to the bottom in terms of environmental standards and employee/consumer rights

Regret about Brexit; good that a new start has been created with trade and cooperation agreement
Need for further efforts to prevent European standards from being eroded
Peace on island of Ireland must not be jeopardized
Want to keep exchange of students and researchers in vocational education alive

Glad that hard Brexit did not happen
Agreements reached, however, only establish sustainable and future partnership if agreed rules are adhered to; focus on whether UK adheres to comparable regulatory standards and does not create unfair competitive conditions
Demand protection of peace and rights of citizens on both sides of the channel through full implementation of withdrawal agreement
EP to be involved in further development of treaties
FDP wants close foreign policy cooperation with UK
Wishes to see an exchange modelled on Erasmus+ as soon as possible
Door for second accession should remain open

UK to remain closely intertwined with Europe after Brexit; support maintenance of relations and reject blockades and punitive measures on the part of the EU

France

Franco-German friendship elementary; has gained new momentum through the Aachen Treaty
Close cooperation, especially in areas such as AI, hydrogen technology, battery cell research and security and foreign policy cooperation
Strengthen understanding among each other in the "Weimar Triangle" (Germany, France, Poland), through youth exchange program between the three states and incentives for new city partnerships

International cooperative and active policy along Franco-German cooperation

DGAP publications on this topic

Franco-German Unity on Economic Recovery Weaker than It Appears

The New Bundestag Should Brace for Controversial Debates

Jacob Ross

Russia

Work for an end to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and a return to Crimea's legitimate status under international law; as long as Russia is unwilling to do so, sanctions must remain in place
Need more political unity in the EU and NATO and more capacity for credible deterrence and resilience to meet challenges from Russia
Continue to seek dialogue and cooperation where there are common interests (climate change, economic cooperation)

To make joint progress in the German and European interest on issues such as common security, disarmament, climate, and pandemic control
Setbacks due to regular breach of international law by Russia
Nevertheless, peace in Europe not possible against but only with Russia
Goal of a common and coherent new European policy toward the East; prerequisite: Russia constructively willing to engage in dialogue
End of sanctions dependent on implementation of Minsk agreements
Promotion and expansion of civil society contacts with Russia
Visa facilitation for exchanges of young people

States like China and Russia systematically undermine human and civil rights, force states into political and economic dependency and want to divide Europe
Increasingly transformed into an authoritarian state
Russian foreign policy increasingly aggressively threatens democracy, stability and peace in the EU and neighborhood through military and hybrid means
At the same time, the democracy movement in Russia is growing stronger
Easing of sanctions dependent on clearly formulated conditions of the EU; if necessary, tightening of sanctions
Demand Russian government implement Minsk agreement commitments
Support courageous civilian population; intensify cultural, political and scientific exchange
Stop Nord Stream 2; does not contribute to climate protection, goes against EU energy and geostrategic interests, endangers EU stability
Constructive climate dialogue with Russia, whereby human rights must be protected in individual steps
CAI currently inadequate in areas of level playing field and human rights; no approval in current form

View Russia's policy with great concern
Demand end to violence in eastern Ukraine and annexation of Crimea
Stand behind EU sanctions; in case of further military escalation; reduction only if Minsk agreement is implemented
Strongest condemnation of actions to physically and politically destroy prominent opposition figures such as Alexei Nawalny, mass imprisonment of protesters, and systematic restrictions on press freedom
The EU must not play down dangerous developments despite its willingness to engage in dialogue
In terms of energy policy, cooperation with Russia should focus on renewable energies, hydrogen and synthetic fuels
Call for a moratorium on NS2 until the Russian leadership ensures independent and comprehensive investigations into the Nawalny case and the human rights situation improves
Keep channels of dialogue open, especially with civil rights organizations such as Memorial
Facilitate travel for civil society through visa facilitation; only after Russian return to respect rule of law, civil liberties, and international law

Rejection of the enemy image designations of China and Russia in NATO and EU strategy papers
Need détente with Russia instead of further escalations and troop deployments
NATO arms spending $1.1 trillion vs. Russia's $61 billion; not about threat defense
In view of historical German responsibility, the Left renews its commitment to Russia and former USSR countries: Never again fascism and war from German soil
Start negotiations on a German-Russian treaty to perpetuate reconciliation and friendship

Relaxation with Russia a prerequisite for lasting peace in Europe
Commissioning of Nord Stream 2 indispensable
Resumption of talks in the Russia-NATO Council
Expansion and deepening of confidence-building measures (cooperation in arms control; refrain from expanding military infrastructure near areas of interest)
For lifting EU sanctions; for expanding economic relations

DGAP publications on this topic

A Pragmatic Policy Toward Russia

Germany Should Strengthen Its Negotiating Position

Dr. Stefan Meister

China

Great Economic Dynamics in Asia and the Rise of China Change the International Power Structure
China is a competitor, cooperation partner, but also a systemic rival
If necessary, stand united and strong against China together with partners, especially in the protection of intellectual property, high technology and data
Where possible, cooperate with China, but only within the framework of fair competition on equal terms and reciprocity
Advocate for a European China strategy and joint action by the West
Need firm and forceful response to China's Silk Road initiative

Growing importance of Beijing makes global response to major challenges of the day hardly possible without Beijing
Conflicts of interest and values are increasing; European dialogue on cooperation and competition must be conducted cohesively, constructively and critically with China
Condemn serious human rights violations against Uyghurs
Principle of "one country, two systems" must be upheld for Honkong
View pressure on Taiwan with great concern
Involve China more in all disarmament efforts

States like China and Russia systematically undermine human and civil rights, force states into political and economic dependence and want to divide Europe
China is a competitor, partner and systemic rival
Demand end to blatant human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet and increasingly Hong Kong
Needs constructive dialogue with China, willing to cooperate constructively but with clear counter-strategies in place where China seeks to weaken international standards
Cooperation with China must not be at the expense of third countries or human and civil rights
Greens adhere to "one China policy" and emphasize that unification with Taiwan must not happen against the will of the Taiwanese people; at the same time, expand political exchange with Taiwan
Expect China to ratify ILO core standards and end all forms of forced labor
EU supply chain law must deny access to the domestic market to goods from forced labor in view of human rights violations - for example in Xinjiang - just as it must hold companies liable for their products
CAI cannot be approved in its current form
Will work on close European and transatlantic coordination vis-à-vis China
Seek joint political, economic and technological efforts on climate change, such as China's coal phase-out
Use trade relations to call for fair market access for foreign investment, legal certainty and a level playing field
Germany should advocate in the UN Human Rights Council for a fact-finding mission on Xinjiang and call the oppression of the Uyghurs an international crime

China is a systemic competitor
Further develop EU-China relations despite systemic rivalry, but only on the basis of and in compliance with international law (especially UN, WTO and ILO rules)
CAI is first step, but still needs to be supplemented before ratification; also includes unjustified counter-sanctions against EU
By interning and forcibly sterilizing members of ethnic minorities, China exposes itself to accusations of genocide; must be discussed as part of the EU-China dialogue
Strongly condemn military threatening gestures against Taiwan
Condemn Hong Kong's security and new election laws
Action means subjugation of Hong Kong; Germany and EU must respond with personal sanctions against those responsible for breaking international law
Support EU targeted sanctioning of Chinese officials responsible for human rights violations
Address the Chinese government's political influence through Confucius Institutes; end government co-funding

Rejection of the enemy image designations of China and Russia in NATO and EU strategy papers

China's increasing influence is a challenge
Cooperation only under conditions of equality and fairness; requires alignment of legal framework for trade and investment
Further sell-out of German and European technology must be prevented
BRI is a project of the century; in order to help shape it, Germany should participate offensively in the project; not only from East to West but complementing an initiative from West to East
Prevent KPC influence through Confucius Institutes; remove them from universities again

DGAP publications on this topic

Meeting the China Challenge with Bolder Action

Germany Should Diversify Its Economy and Protect Its Technology

Didi Kirsten Tatlow

Action Plan for China and Foreign Policy

What Germany Must Do to Hold Its Own in the Systemic Competition with China

Dr. Tim Rühlig

Middle East

Partnerships with states and civil societies in the Middle East; strengthening of civil societies, cooperation on climate protection and promotion of independent and sustainable economic structures - especially for young people.
Mediation between Iran and the Gulf states as well as efforts to mediate conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya and to prevent state collapse, corruption, social upheaval and displacement

Turkey

Turkey of great strategic and economic importance; closely linked through people-to-people contacts
Set on open, critical and constructive dialogue with Turkish leadership
Want to strengthen bilateral relations and civil society diversity in Turkey
Turkey is moving away from the goal of political EU accession criteria; full membership for Turkey will not happen with the Union; close partnership instead
NATO is a community of values; Turkey, as a NATO member, must make its contribution to collective security and fulfill commitment to security consultations
First rapprochement through definition of common interests and contractual agreements on their implementation

Concern about the Turkish government's course; principles of the rule of law, democracy and international law must be respected; urgent need to discuss them in the context of a critical intensified EU-Turkey dialogue

Turkey and the EU have more in common than divides them
Side with those fighting for democracy, rule of law, equality and human rights in Turkey
Condemn human rights violations and call for the immediate release of all political prisoners and a return to a political dialogue and peace process on the Kurdish issue
Strongly reject the aggressive foreign policy of the Turkish government and call for a return to a multilateral foreign and security policy
Must also be addressed in NATO, especially in view of the military offensive in northern Syria, which is contrary to international law
Condemn the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention and call for its reversal
Resumption of talks on EU accession is a political goal, but only possible if Turkey makes a U-turn
Turkey is not a safe third country
People in Germany must never again be instrumentalized, monitored and threatened by the Turkish government and its supporters
"EU-Turkey deal" undermines international asylum law, has failed and must be ended
New agreement must be in line with international law, guarantee financial and logistical support on the ground, support Turkey in reception and make binding quota commitments for resettlement in the EU; Turkey must guarantee good care and integration of refugees; agreement must be debated and decided in parliament
Especially in difficult times, expand exchanges with democratic civil society and expand youth exchange programs

Turkey remains a closely networked neighbor and indispensable partner as a NATO member and with the EU; committed to a new start in relations and to reducing security tensions in the alliance
Termination of current accession negotiations, as Turkey does not meet Copenhagen criteria regarding a functioning rule of law and respect for human rights
Relations should therefore be placed on a new basis of close security and economic cooperation
Already developing economic, scientific, and civil society relations with Turkey for the post-Erdogan era

Current and future EU accession candidates should commit to democracy and human rights without reservation; applies in particular to Turkey
Turkey's current government must implement the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, guarantee democracy and freedom of expression, end the persecution of the democratic opposition and release all imprisoned parliamentarians and mayors of the opposition Kurdish party HDP
Immediately stop support for NATO countries that, like Turkey, disregard international law

Relations difficult; Turkey is not culturally part of Europe
Progressive Islamization is a cause for concern; Turkey is moving away from Western community of values
Reject Turkey's EU accession; immediate end to all accession negotiations
Ban on construction and operation of mosques by Islamic states; end cooperation of German authorities with DITIB

Israel

Israel's security and right to exist part of German reason of state
Stand by Israel's right to self-defense
Support all measures that promote peaceful coexistence and make a two-state solution possible
Further develop close friendship with Israel, for example through youth exchanges, in high technology and in the promotion of start-ups

Israel's security part of German reason of state
Together with the USA, support initiatives to revive the peace process on the basis of the Oslo agreements (two-state solution)
Diplomatic rapprochements with Arab states are encouraging signals
Refrain from unilateral steps on all sides; end terror on Palestinian side; democratic progress necessary in Palestinian territories; annexation plans must be rejected; settlement construction in violation of international law must end

Sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians a central concern of German foreign and security policy
Israel's existence and security as the national home of the Jewish people with equal rights for all its citizens non-negotiable; Israeli security part of Germany's reason of state
Condemn the continuing threat to Israel and its sovereignty in its neighborhood and the terror against its people
Criticize both the escalation of violence and measures contrary to international law, such as the annexation of occupied territories or the ongoing construction of settlements, as they stand in the way of peace and an end to the occupation
Needs a two-state solution within the 1967 borders
Advocate for continuation of close German-Israeli relations
Advocate for elections, a democratization process, and the establishment of rule-of-law structures in the Palestinian territories; coordinate closely with the U.S. government

For revival of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process
Israel's security and right to exist remain German reasons of state
Israel's right to defend its people against Islamist terror is self-evident
Negotiated two-state solution so far the only way to lasting security
Therefore, we are concerned about possible steps by Israel to annex parts of the West Bank
Future Palestinian state needs basis of democracy and rule of law; lack of democratic legitimacy of Palestinian leadership and blatant human rights violations are obstacles here
Regular checks to ensure that aid funds from Germany or the EU are not misused for violence and terrorism

Advocating a peaceful solution to the Middle East conflict based on two independent states of Israel and Palestine and the 1967 borders

Belarus

Stand with people of Belarus; regime must clear way for peaceful transition or face harshness of sanctions

Support demands for democracy and freedom; violence and repression must end
New elections under OSCE supervision

Stand with the brave people fighting for democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Belarus

Stands with the peaceful democratic protests in Belarus, who rightly denounce massive electoral fraud and democratic deficits
Demand immediate release of all political prisoners and early new elections as a result of OSCE-mediated dialogue between opposition and rulers
Observe Russian interference as worrying for Lukashenko
Support for the opposition through increased information services by Deutsche Welle and financial support for civil society as well as visa facilitations

Visegrad Group

Close Cooperation and Cultivation of Friendship with Poland Remains Central Task of German Foreign Policy

Support the efforts of the Visegrád countries to preserve the European identity

Balkans

For concrete progress in the integration of the Western Balkan countries.
Actively support necessary reforms in democracy, rule of law, fight against corruption, and inclusion and protection of minorities, especially Roma
Progress in Serbia-Kosovo dialogue essential
Reconciliation processes and political and judicial processing of war crimes must be strengthened.
Clear rejection of ethnic border shifts or discrimination
Visa liberalization for Kosovars
Opening of the first EU accession chapters for Albania and northern Macedonia
Creation of a civil society with equal rights for all citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina

DGAP publications on this topic

Geopolitics in Europe’s Neighborhood

New Strategies for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership

Dr. Laura Gelhaus

Serafine Dinkel

Action Plan for the Western Balkans and EU Neighborhood

How Germany Can Contribute to Lasting Peace in the Balkans

Gerald Knaus

(Sub-Saharan)Africa

Africa of central importance for Europe's long-term security; goal is to enable countries to fight terrorism and ensure their own security with the help of the AU in the long term
African Continental Free Trade Area offers opportunity for further opening of EU internal market, for climate protection and cooperation in future technologies
Develop the Marshall Plan with Africa into a deeper institutional partnership in the form of an EU-Africa Council
In partnership with German industry and within the framework of an external climate policy, drive forward energy transition in Africa

Expanding the EU-Africa partnership economically and politically

EU and African states closely linked regionally and historically; differentiated view of the continent
EU-Africa policy must free itself from patriarchal patterns of thought, assume European responsibility and reconcile respective interests; Germany should take on a more active role here within the framework of the EU
Focus of EU-Africa cooperation: climate protection, digitalization, technology transfer, civil crisis prevention and socio-ecological transformation, as well as fair and secure migration routes
Rejection of unilateral Africa policies based on refugee rejection, unfair trade and agricultural policies, and exploitation of natural resource deposits
Joint development of an EU-Africa strategy
Increased cooperation with civil society and the cultural and scientific communities in Africa; participation of the diverse African diaspora
Supporting the AU in the implementation of its Agenda 2063, the African Free Trade Area, and regional development and peace agendas

Federal government and Bundestag must fully recognize the genocide of the Herero and Nama as genocide; cultural and natural objects must be returned to the countries of origin; reappraisal of colonialism, among other things, in the Bundestag's Commission of Inquiry

Iran

Advocate for Iran to comply with commitments under the JCPOA and end its ballistic missile program and aggressive role in the region

Resumption of talks with the U.S. administration on how to fully implement the JCPOA with Iran

Preservation and revival of the JCPOA can prevent nuclear arms race in the Middle East
Mediation between Iran and Gulf states task of European security policy

Germany should work to ensure that the U.S. rejoins the nuclear agreement with Iran and that all parties abide by the agreement

DGAP publications on this topic

Looking Beyond Iran to the Persian Gulf

German Foreign Policy Must Get Serious about the Entire Region

Dr. Cornelius Adebahr

Indo-Pacific

Deployment of German frigate to the region shows presence and sends the right signal to partners
Expand cooperation and develop new structures capable of action with partners on the ground; especially democracies such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India and South Korea, which are committed to strengthening the rules-based international order

Commitment to free and open Indo-Pacific region based on global norms and international law
Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan equally important partners, as strategic partnerships with India and ASEAN to be expanded
Comprehensive cooperation in the areas of rule of law and democracy; strengthening multilateralism; digitalization; climate protection
Strengthening civil societies a central part of the Indo-Pacific strategy
Develop sustainable bilateral trade relations that are democratically and transparently established and promote public welfare interests such as climate protection and social standards
Intensified dialogue on peace and security in the region
Increased and concrete support for countries threatened by rising sea levels
Germany's active commitment to a global EU connectivity strategy for joint infrastructure development in accordance with high quality international standards

Together with democratic partners (in the Indo-Pacific), devise strategy to dissuade China from threatening to take Taiwan by force

Taiwan

Adhere to "One China Policy" and emphasize that unification with Taiwan must not happen against the will of the Taiwanese people
Expand political exchange with Taiwan

Support Taiwan's democratic development based on the rule of law as an alternative to the People's Republic of China
Strongly condemn China's military threatening gestures against Taiwan
Expansion of economic, scientific and civil society relations between the EU, Germany and Taiwan
Developing a strategy together with democratic partners (in the Indo-Pacific) to dissuade China from threatening to take Taiwan by force

Central/Latin America

Expand cooperation and develop new structures capable of action with local partners
Implement the MERSOCUR agreement, provided it can be ensured that production and product standards in agriculture in particular meet our benchmarks

EU MERCOSUR agreement important, but no approval without binding and sanctionable auditing, implementation and enforcement mechanisms for environmental and social standards

Commitment to well-coordinated Latin America and Caribbean policy by Germany and the EU
Deletion of many Latin American countries as partner countries of German development cooperation is short-sighted; should be changed.
Promotion of socio-ecological transformation and protection of human rights; because previous way of doing business, which naturally destroys livelihoods by overexploitation and increasingly authoritarian styles of government, threat to human rights activists
Trade policy like MERSOCUR agreement must be bindingly aligned with guidelines for the protection of human rights, climate and environment

Conclude and ratify EU-MERSOCUR free trade agreement swiftly

Criticism of cessation of development cooperation with Cuba; advocacy for resumption
Condemn the blockade of Cuba by the Biden administration and all attempts by the U.S. and the EU to remove disagreeable governments in Latin America, such as Venezuela and Bolivia, and to destabilize them through economic sanctions
Demand from a new federal government that it finally backs up its words with deeds and consistently implements the EU blocking regulation of 1996
Unilateral sanctions by the U.S. and EU are contrary to international law and continue to escalate the situation
Support the proposal to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the Cuban medical missions
Definitive abandonment of TTIP, rejection of CETA and MERSOCUR agreements

DGAP publications on the topic

Transatlantic Relations

Germany Must Seize the Opportunity

Dr. Markus Jaeger

Julian Müller-Kaler

„It's the Innenpolitik, stupid!“

Wieso Europa die USA realistischer betrachten muss

Sophia Becker

Franco-German Unity on Economic Recovery Weaker than It Appears

The New Bundestag Should Brace for Controversial Debates

Jacob Ross

A Pragmatic Policy Toward Russia

Germany Should Strengthen Its Negotiating Position

Dr. Stefan Meister

Meeting the China Challenge with Bolder Action

Germany Should Diversify Its Economy and Protect Its Technology

Didi Kirsten Tatlow

Action Plan for China and Foreign Policy

What Germany Must Do to Hold Its Own in the Systemic Competition with China

Dr. Tim Rühlig

Geopolitics in Europe’s Neighborhood

New Strategies for the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership

Dr. Laura Gelhaus

Serafine Dinkel

Action Plan for the Western Balkans and EU Neighborhood

How Germany Can Contribute to Lasting Peace in the Balkans

Gerald Knaus

Looking Beyond Iran to the Persian Gulf

German Foreign Policy Must Get Serious about the Entire Region

Dr. Cornelius Adebahr

Back to the topic overview

Geo-Economics

Foreign Trade Policy

Strengthening Europe in the global raw materials market with sustainable development aid and offering an alternative to the Chinese Silk Road

Level Playing Field

European financial market regulation (taxonomy), sustainability reporting and supply chain legislation require precise global competition analyses, especially for SMEs
Need dovetailing of trade defence measures with competition law instruments
When improving market access, market openings must be mutually granted to the same extent and brand piracy curbed
Enforce European industry standards worldwide
Advocate for EU regulation of supply chains; must enforce standards of German law across Europe, but not tighten them; thus create fair competitive conditions
Create incentives for our high standards, for example in environmental, consumer and worker protection, to become international standard; especially with transatlantic partners
Adapt European competition and state aid law to compensate for distortions in trade and competition resulting from state subsidies and interventions in other parts of the world

Trade Agreements

Advance conclusion of trade agreements by EU
EU to work consistently for improvements in market access for goods and services
Need fair trade agreements that take into account the high standards of EU agriculture; imports must be subject to the same conditions as domestic food; include food process quality
Comprehensive transatlantic economic, trade and future area
Finally ratify CETA
Implement the MERSOCUR agreement, provided that it can be ensured that production and product standards in agriculture in particular meet our standards
Rapid start of renegotiations for EU-US trade agreement

Global Supply Chains

Advocate for EU regulation of supply chains; must enforce standards of German law across Europe, but not tighten them; thus create fair competitive conditions
Will close value chains within Europe, making EU more independent and economically sovereign in systemically important areas
Develop a raw material security strategy for Germany

Commitment to a reorganized European competition and state aid law that reduces competitive disadvantages vis-à-vis other major economic areas

Trade Agreements

EU MERCOSUR agreement important, but no approval without binding and sanctionable review, implementation and enforcement mechanisms for environmental and social standards
Concrete complaint and sanction mechanisms in all trade, economic partnership, and investment agreements; abolish private dispute settlement and replace with public tribunals
Creation of a multinational investment court
No possibility of legal action against environmental legislation, worker protection, and areas of public service provision
Extend the EP's control and decision-making rights in trade policy and increasingly involve civil society (e.g. trade unions)

Global Supply Chains

Require companies to comply with human rights and environmental due diligence requirements along global supply chains
Consistently develop national supply chain law
Law on tracing goods traded on the global market at European level

Fair trade, especially with countries of the global South, must become the standard; these countries must be allowed to protect their markets through tariffs and quotas, if necessary

Level Playing Field

Anti-dumping rules must be applied even more strongly than before, even in the event of dumping due to low environmental and social standards
Reform of EU state aid law can prevent distortions of competition by state-subsidized corporations from other regions of the world
Use trade relations with China to demand fair market access for foreign investment, legal certainty and a level playing field
CAI currently inadequate in areas of level playing field and human rights; do not approve in current form
Anti-dumping and anti-subsidy instruments must be further developed

Trade Agreements

For proactive and multilateral trade policy that must ensure prosperity of all people, human rights and environmental standards
Reject trade agreements that do not adequately protect climate, environment and consumers
EU can enter trade negotiations with confidence; European trade agreements must contain binding and enforceable human rights, environmental and social standards and regulate market openings in the services sector in principle only in positive lists; this includes making the Paris Agreement and ILO core labor standards enforceable and always upholding the European precautionary principle
Good trade policy must adequately protect municipal services of general interest and the possibility of remunicipalization
Reject litigation privileges or special justice for foreign investors
Seize the opportunity to resolve trade disputes with the new U.S. administration and create a transatlantic market for climate-neutral products
Reject trade agreements like MERSOCUR agreements that have negative impacts on the environment and food sovereignty
Do not ratify CETA in its current version; thus ensure that the dangerous investor-state arbitration tribunals are not applied; also criticize provisionally applied parts of CETA; further develop and realign agreement with Canada
In trade policy, make environmental and social capital of future trade agreements legally binding and subject to sanctions
Trade agreements should not only regulate rights for companies, but also their obligations; therefore in favor of a multilateral trade court at the UN that covers both
Better involve the European Parliament in the future

Global Supply Chains

Need binding and effective national and EU supply chain law; at its core must be civil liability for companies
Improvements to the German Supply Chain Act are urgently needed, e.g. expansion of the companies covered, but also an expansion of the environmental due diligence obligations
Commitment to GMO-free supply chains
EU supply chain law must, in view of human rights violations - for example in Xinjiang - deny goods from forced labor access to the domestic market just as it must hold companies liable for their products
Goods whose production is linked to serious human rights abuses, such as child or forced labor, should be denied access to the EU's internal market
Advocate for an import ban on agricultural products linked to illegal deforestation and human rights abuses such as deforestation
Advance a legally binding UN agreement on business and human rights

Protect and strengthen the European competition regime; thereby set international standards
Germany should become an international advocate of rules-based free trade
Call for a Minister of State for Foreign Trade in the BMWi
Rename the BMWi to "Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, Free Trade and Energy
Own international trade court for Germany

Level Playing Field

Want to take action in the EU and the world against market distortions caused, for example, by heavily subsidized state-owned enterprises
Commitment to the principle of reciprocity
Combat subsidies and dumping where this impedes fair competition (especially train, aircraft and shipbuilding)

Trade Agreements

Federal government to take an active leadership role within the EU and the world on trade agreements, investment agreements and fair investment conditions
Design free trade agreements (such as EU-China) so that only the EP and not national and regional parliaments have to approve them
New start of a new transatlantic trade agreement (CETA can be blueprint)
Ratification of CETA by Germany
EU-MERSOCUR free trade agreement to be concluded and ratified swiftly
Customs policy
Reject national go-it-alones and arbitrary tariffs

Global Supply Chains

Commitment to the active responsibility of companies and consumers for better protection of human rights
For a uniform European regulation on human rights due diligence in the supply chain
Liability in the supply chain should only be related to the area of direct control

Need basic social services in addition to fair trade; only possible if wealth is redistributed worldwide
The German government continues to pursue unilateral economic and geopolitical interests in the competition between locations; weakens forums for cross-border cooperation in the face of the climate catastrophe; increases global inequality
Finally make trade policy an instrument of global cooperation, socio-ecological progress and democratization
Paradigm shift, away from cuts, free trade agreements and market radicalism, towards public investment, cross-border cooperation and solidarity
End trade conflicts; trade policy must no longer be used for political expediency
Needs an international balancing mechanism that commits countries with export surpluses to balanced trade accounts

Level Playing Field

When companies shift profits to envy tax jurisdictions, they should be taxed back in the countries where they operate

Trade Agreements

Rejection of special rights of action that subordinate democracy and fundamental rights to profit interests
Cooperation instead of free trade agreements; the European Economic Partnership Agreements cement dependencies of the Global South as suppliers of raw materials and must be replaced by fair trade agreements
Definitive abandonment of TTIP, rejection of CETA and MERSOCUR agreements

Global Supply Chains

Want a socially and climate justice oriented supply chain law worthy of its name; German government law leaves too many loopholes; companies with 250 or more employees and SMEs in high-risk sectors must be required to monitor the entire value chain; includes effective civil liability rule
Workforce must have a say in decisions on relocations, closures and outsourcing, mass layoffs and decisions on future investments
Strengthen regional economic cycles to push back the sometimes absurd excesses of globalized supply and production chains
Revise the Conflict Minerals Regulation; expand to include other raw materials as well as the entire value chain; close loopholes
New European raw materials strategy; the dependence of the countries of the South on raw materials exports must be ended; raw materials should be processed where they are extracted from the earth; value creation must be made possible and promoted in the countries of the global South

The global economy is caught between further expansion of global interdependencies and their moderate return to decentralized, regional value-added structures

Level Playing Field

The goal of German foreign trade must be non-discriminatory access to foreign import and export markets for German companies (incl. access to raw materials and free trade routes)
Cooperation with China only under conditions of equality and fairness; requires alignment of legal frameworks for trade and investment

Global Supply Chains

Ideologically motivated go-it-alone measures such as the Supply Chain Act should be rejected

DGAP publications on this topic

Memo Artikelbild mit BTW2021-Balken zu Claudia Schmucker

Geo-Economics and Trade

Germany Must Support Open Global Trade

Dr. Claudia Schmucker

Meeting the China Challenge with Bolder Action

Germany Should Diversify Its Economy and Protect Its Technology

Didi Kirsten Tatlow

Foreign Economic Policy

A strategic foreign trade policy must also be established at the European level
For stronger control and consideration of macroeconomic and defense policy German interests in the takeover of German companies by foreign corporations/investors; protection against takeovers in sensitive areas
Establish and strengthen sanction mechanisms for violations of sustainability and climate protection aspects
Further strengthen and deepen single market in all areas, especially digital, energy and capital

Investment Policy

Need structural reforms for greater competitiveness and private investment that create growth, jobs and innovation
Need framework that enables greater European investment; want to expand future funds and expand venture capital or equity financing for startups
Modernize EU public procurement law to reduce bureaucracy
Commitment at EU level to accelerate planning procedures, also within the framework of the Aarhus Convention

Foreign Direct Investment

Need clear rules for investors from third countries; must resolutely oppose attempts at hostile takeover of patents and licenses

End global dumping tax competition; need a global registry for greater transparency
Support an initiative for a global sovereign insolvency process that includes sovereign and private creditors and formulates and implements debt relief for particularly vulnerable groups of countries following the financial burdens of the pandemic
SPD has developed a concept for a global minimum corporate tax in government, initiated international negotiations and will continue to work on its implementation
Establishment of a global tax coordination office at the UN and OECD to combat global corporate profit reduction and relocation

Sanctions

Consistent use of the EU human rights sanctions regime; incl. entry bans and freezing of accounts

Investment Policy

Promote trade in sustainable goods
Trade with less developed countries especially with smallholder and agroecological agricultural policies

Sanctions

Advocacy of the instrument of targeted EU sanctions against human rights criminals
A new EU instrument against economic coercion should help the EU defend itself against unlawful economic pressure from outside the EU

Single Market

To shape digitization, services of platforms and their market power must be regulated
Platforms must be obliged to ensure European quality and security standards in online commerce as well
Ensure that companies in the European market also take international responsibility for their production and distribution methods along the entire value chain

Investment Policy

Climate neutrality must be tackled jointly by the state and companies; while the state realizes more public investment, at the same time set incentives for more investment by companies
Public investment should provide start-up support, especially for new technologies; climate treaties help to provide lasting planning security for long-term climate protection investments
In the future, German foreign trade promotion and its instruments must support hidden champions instead of fossil plants and power plants
Investment offensive with €50 billion in additional investments in, among other things, fast Internet, cutting-edge research from quantum computing to biotechnology, climate-neutral infrastructures, renewable energies, etc.
Investments are to be depreciated on a declining-balance basis for a limited period at a minimum of 25%
Tax incentives for research should in future flow more specifically to SMEs and start-ups; evaluate and increase effectiveness
Start-up capital for founders; one-off amount up to max. 25,000€; condition: Alignment with SDGs and performance audit; bureaucratic simplifications

Foreign Direct Investment

EU review mechanism for foreign direct investment needs to be improved to prevent European companies from being taken over by highly subsidized foreign firms

Working together with the U.S. for a global minimum tax on companies

Single Market

Commitment against protectionism in the European single market
Resolutely against political promotion of "national champions"; slows down innovation and scalability
Simplification of the Posting of Workers Directive; debureaucratization of the German Posting of Workers Act

Investment Policy

For solid investment-oriented budget policy in compliance with the debt brake
Target: 25% of GDP to be invested in Germany in 2025 - not primarily by the state, but primarily privately
Expansion of the Future Fund for startup financing, primarily through private capital
Introduction of an industry-independent startup subsidy

Sanctions

Economic sanctions primarily affect ordinary people and must be ended
Unilateral sanctions by the USA and EU, such as those against Iran, Cuba, Syria or Russia, are illegal under international law and continue to escalate the situation

Investment Policy

State subsidies must be used primarily for ecological modernization, regional structural policy in economically isolated regions and for cooperatives
Promotion of companies that are wholly or partly collectively owned by the workforce when awarding public contracts
The state must not continue to support climate destruction with taxpayers' money; divestment from financial assets, investments and subsidies that flow into projects that serve the fossil and nuclear energy industries

Decisions of foreign national courts with extraterritorial effect considered null and void, unilateral sanctions against Germany's economic projects considered contrary to international law
For the lifting of EU sanctions against Russia

DGAP publications on this topic

Action Plan for the Economy and Foreign Policy

How Germany Can Strengthen Its Economy and Shape Globalization

Prof. Dr. Guntram Wolff

Industrial Policy

Industrial Strategy

Need ambitious European technology and industrial strategy that strengthens capabilities to develop key technologies
Oppose introduction of wealth tax or increase in inheritance tax, as this would endanger Germany's economic substance
Comprehensive unleashing package that relieves companies of taxes and bureaucracy; no tax increases
Roadmap for the switch to zero-emission mobility in the automotive industry (in addition to electric, also hydrogen and synthetic fuels)

Industry 4.0

Improved depreciation rules for future technologies such as investments in server systems, artificial intelligence, 3D printing or Factory 4.0

SME

Use digitalization to reduce CO2 more cost-effectively and promote startups and small and medium-sized enterprises that develop digital solutions for energy and resource efficiency
Mandatory reporting for official statistics burdens small businesses in particular; reporting requirements should therefore be reduced by 25%
Examine the use of a preferred equity model to promote SME investment in technology and innovation
Support for funding programs that are particularly important for SMEs, such as the Central Investment Program for SMEs (ZIM), Industrial Cooperative Research (IGF) and the INNO-KOM innovation competence funding program
Enable SMEs to make better use of the results of AI research through AI pilots

Fast Internet crucial for SMEs; therefore bandwidth of at least 1GB/s must be guaranteed
Low-threshold access to subsidies for SMEs
Have made it easier for SMEs to enter into company pension plans for their employees; goal: significantly more employees covered by company pension plans

Industrial Strategy

Make steel, cement and chemicals in Germany the technology pioneers in the development of climate-neutral processes
In the transformation of the chemical industry, focus on new innovative products, processes and procedures which, in addition to greenhouse gas neutrality, also promote the circular economy, increase efficiency, avoid emissions and waste from the outset and make us independent of fossil raw materials such as oil or natural gas
Launch regional transformation funds for companies that cannot manage structural change on their own
Promote transformation through investment subsidies and declining-balance depreciation
Drive decarbonization by removing hurdles to green self-supply and increasing use of green hydrogen; carbon contracts for difference provide investment security
Create lead markets for CO2-neutral products with quotas for the share of CO2-neutral basic materials; provide special support for pilot plants
Introduce a new corporate legal form for responsible ownership; legal form that enables 100% asset commitment to the company; profits are reinvested or donated
State venture capital fund (future fund), especially for projects in greentech, AI, sustainable mobility, bioeconomy and circular economy; at the same time, build a functioning secondary market for direct investments and shares in venture capital funds, for example through a co-investing platform
Promote regional green hubs; facilitate collaboration between startups and established companies

SME

Restart after Corona must consciously help those affected, including SMEs
Green SME policy relies on triad of reducing bureaucratic burdens, innovation-friendly tax policy and broad-based research landscape
Extending the tax loss carryback for SMEs
Introduce attractive and time-limited depreciation conditions
Help SMEs restructure more easily with simplified restructuring procedures without filing for insolvency
Tax incentives for research to flow more specifically to SMEs and start-ups in future; evaluate and increase effectiveness
Establishment of an independent innovation agency (D.Innova) that systematically, proactively and flexibly promotes innovation networks (SMEs, universities, civil society) oriented toward the SDGs
Faster planning and approvals as well as efficient digital administration to support SMEs
Consistent application and improvement of so-called SME- tests on national and European level
Raise the profit threshold for compulsory accounting in order to relieve and promote solo self-employed and micro-enterprises
Make subsidy programs and investment grants sustainable and ensure that they primarily benefit SMEs
Promote tailored consulting for climate protection and digitization, including over longer periods of time
Improve protection against termination for SMEs and give them more rights to extend leases on reasonable terms; commercial rent brake

Targeted stimulus in tax law to relieve and promote the economy
Ensure skilled workforce by strengthening vocational training, among other things
Need better competitive conditions for young and medium-sized companies in particular, especially in the digital economy; concentration of market power on large companies harms competition and innovation
Reject a one-off wealth tax or revive the wealth tax, as this would inhibit SMEs' economies

Industrial Strategy

Industrial structure must become more regional, crisis-proof and less dependent on exports, as well as climate-neutral in the long term
Goal: Industry production to be climate-neutral, sustainable and energy-efficient by 2035; industrial structure in Germany to be less dependent on exports of cars, weapons, security technology and environmentally harmful forms of chemical production
Government aid must be tied to long-term guarantees of jobs, collective agreements and binding investment plans
The German government, together with the workforce, trade unions, science, environmental and social associations, must develop a binding plan for the future of industry that ensures climate-neutral industrial production by 2035 and is linked to job and income guarantees for employees
A consistent European full employment policy and a genuine industrial strategy are needed; the goal must be climate neutrality and, above all, a future for de-industrialized regions
State industrial transformation fund of €20 billion per year to support the necessary ecological transformation in industry, especially the automotive supply industry; decision on funding should lie with economic and transformation councils
Initiate process of arms conversion in industry
Instead of subsidies for shareholder returns, a rescue package for industrial jobs
Investment program for a future-proof transformation to a climate-neutral steel and basic materials industry, including the use of green hydrogen; only with democratic control and in return for public ownership shares in the steel companies

Industrial strategy

Stopping the massive migration of German companies abroad and making Germany attractive again as a business location for investment
Rejection of the fact that the German government increasingly sees itself as an entrepreneur and tries to steer the economy through regulations and subsidies
No secretive and highly ideological economic policy via "Green Deal" and bond purchases

SME

Germany especially characterized by SMEs; due to socialist ideas of equality and class-struggle envy feelings, many functioning companies were destroyed by the inheritance tax, therefore abolition of inheritance tax
SMEs cannot cope with double burden of politically initiated structural changes ("climate rescue") and pandemic-related restrictions; rescue packages insufficient and promote redistribution in the sense of the "Great Transformation

DGAP publications on the topic

Geo-Economics and Trade

Germany Must Support Open Global Trade

Dr. Claudia Schmucker

Meeting the China Challenge with Bolder Action

Germany Should Diversify Its Economy and Protect Its Technology

Didi Kirsten Tatlow

Action Plan for the Economy and Foreign Policy

How Germany Can Strengthen Its Economy and Shape Globalization

Prof. Dr. Guntram Wolff

Back to the topic overview

Climate and Energy

Carbon Neutrality

Target: Germany climate neutral by 2045; 2030 reduction of 65% (reference: 1990); 2040 reduction of 88%
German contribution to the international pursuit of the 1.5 degree path
Investments in climate technologies and energy efficiency for CO2 reduction to be more tax deductible in future
Climate efficiency reform to gear energy-related taxes, levies and charges more closely to CO2 emissions

Germany to be greenhouse-neutral by 2045

1.5 degree path of the Paris climate agreement
Raise German climate target to at least minus 70 percent in 2030; achieve 100 percent renewables by 2035
Provide planning certainty for the German and European economy with ambitious targets in the form of limit values, CO2 reduction targets and product standards, and provide impetus for new investments
Incorporate climate protection into the legal system; include the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement and the nuclear phase-out in the Basic Law
CO2 brake for new laws

Goal: Climate neutrality by 2050; commitment to the 1.5 degree target of the Paris climate agreement
Path to this goal is left to engineers, scientists and technicians by setting incentives

Target: climate neutrality by 2035; at least 80% reduction by 2030
Only cargo and cruise ships powered by diesel or environmentally friendly propulsion systems should be allowed to enter EU territorial waters; thus restrict the use of heavy fuel oil
Bring destroyers of the environment, climate and biodiversity to justice; introduce the crime of ecocide into German criminal law and the Rome Statute

Rejection of "Great Reset" (decarbonization of industry and society); to date no evidence that climate change is man-made and industry-made
Global warming not only negative consequences; increasing CO2 concentration has contributed to a greening of the earth
Climate per se not protectable
Rejection of the German government's Climate Protection Plan 2050

Climate Diplomacy

Establish ambitious standards in international climate cooperation with major economies
Advocate for alliance to strengthen innovative climate-friendly technologies worldwide
Form international climate cooperation to achieve Paris goals
Closely cooperate with the U.S. on foreign climate policy
Clean tech initiative to support developing countries in environmental and climate protection through knowledge transfer
Support the establishment and financing of waste collection and sorting systems and intensify cooperation against marine and environmental pollution
Credit emission reductions from climate protection projects in developing and newly industrializing countries proportionately to national climate targets; without double counting
Commitment to international protection of carbon sinks and its rewarding
Long-term goal: global emissions trading
Use modern trade policy to set high standards for climate protection measures
In partnership with German industry and as part of an external climate policy, drive forward energy transition in Africa
Strengthen Europe in the global raw materials market with sustainable development aid and offer an alternative to the Chinese Silk Road
Commitment against illegal logging and for the international protection of forests

EU as International Actor

EU climate envoy to strengthen and bundle EU climate foreign policy, positioning Europe as a global actor in the fight against climate change

European Green Deal

Support ambitious goal of Green Deal
Green Deal to create more jobs and bring more value to Europe; all Green Deal strategies therefore need impact assessment and transition support measures
Establish forest protection as an important part of the Green Deal
EU climate envoy to strengthen and bundle EU climate foreign policy, positioning Europe as a global player in climate protection; should advance European clean tech initiative
Further develop Green Deal into a genuine growth strategy; in this context, incentives instead of bans
Extend European emissions trading to transport and heat sectors
Drive forward initiative to streamline EU planning and environmental legislation

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Focus on carbon leakage protection
Together with European partners, introduce WTO-compliant carbon border adjustment mechanism

European Emissions Trading

Comprehensive European emissions trading with uniform price and global connectivity
Carbon Contracts for Difference as an important instrument
Strengthen European emissions trading in aviation as quickly as possible and establish it in other sectors such as mobility, heating and shipping
Tighten up the CO2 pricing process
Return revenue from emissions trading in full to citizens (electricity subsidies through abolition of EEG surcharge)
CO2 bonding premium for forest owners

Fulfill and further increase commitments under the climate agreement
Support countries of the Global South in their sustainable development as they adapt to climate change

EU as International Actor

Make EU the first greenhouse-neutral continent by 2050 at the latest

European Green Deal

Create planning certainty with a long-term national industrial strategy embedded in the EU Green Deal

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Use of a CO2 border adjustment levy Independent and fair financing of the EU

Deliver on international commitments for development cooperation, climate finance, and biodiversity
Make tackling climate impacts a strategic priority of international governance across ministries
Living up to the historical responsibility of Germany and Europe
Work internationally toward binding transformation quota and support countries of the global South in particular
Pool spending on development cooperation, international climate finance and parts of humanitarian aid to finance a global transformation along the SDGs and the Paris climate goals
Provide an additional €10 billion in international climate finance; achieve 0.7% ODA quota by 2025
Drive innovation globally with climate and development partnerships
Create green potential with neighboring countries; secure postcolonially sensitive green energy needs (hydrogen imports)
Equip existing international funds for climate adaptation and mitigation
Use to set up a fund to compensate for damage and losses to finance climate risk insurance
End fossil fuel subsidies in development and export finance
Transform investment banks such as the World Bank and KfW into transformation banks
Strengthen legal recourse also against multilateral investment banks; support climate lawsuits

EU as International Actor

Increase human and financial resources for Germany's and the EU's foreign climate policy

European Green Deal

Commit to ambitious design and implementation at all levels
Increase and expand the Just Transition Fund
In the Common Agricultural Policy, fight to bring its implementation under the goals of the Green Deal and the Paris Agreement
In trade policy, make environmental and social capital of future trade agreements legally binding and sanctionable
EU and member states should withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, which is completely out of date, also in order not to jeopardize the goals of the EU's Green Deal

Nord Stream II

Nord Stream 2 should be stopped; it does not contribute to climate protection, is against the EU's energy and geostrategic interests, and endangers the stability of the EU

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Advocate for border adjustment of CO2 costs
Use revenues from mechanism to help poorer trading partners decarbonize as well

European Emissions Trading

If climate targets were to be achieved solely by pricing CO2, this would inevitably lead to significant social imbalances
EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to be reformed in light of new EU 2030 climate target to finally fully deliver on its incentive effect
Significant reduction and cancellation of surplus allowances to achieve CO2 price that has a steering effect in the electricity, industry and European aviation sectors
Price massive climate damage caused by coal-fired power generation; the best way to do this is via EU emissions trading with a steering CO2 price; if this cannot be achieved quickly enough at EU level, then set a national minimum price in the ETS for industry and electricity of €60/ton of CO2
Under pressure from the Greens in Germany, also introduced for transport and heating; but still needs to be improved to be socially fair
Bring forward increase of CO2 price to 60€ to 2023; thereafter, CO2 price should increase in such a way that, in concert with support measures and regulatory requirements, it secures achievement of the new climate target 2030
Make shipping climate-neutral through binding emission reduction targets and inclusion in EU emissions trading

Credit projects in other countries and corresponding greenhouse gas reductions against own targets without double counting (Art. 6 of the Paris Agreement)

EU as International Actor

Advocate at the European and international level for an expansion of Arctic protection
Create international incentives for the protection and reforestation of forests and peatlands
Together with European partners, promptly recover pollutants in the sea and render them harmless

European Green Deal

Supplement 55% target with 5% target for negative emissions through negative emissions technology
Extend European CO2 emissions trading to the entire transport sector

Nord Stream II

Commissioning must be decided jointly in the EU in accordance with EU trade rules, applicable sanctions against Russia, and taking into account Ukraine's interests
Moratorium on NS2 until Russian leadership ensures independent and comprehensive investigation in the Nawalny case and human rights situation improves

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

The goal is an internationally coordinated approach that goes beyond the European emissions trading system
Involvement of partners in European trading systems is preferable in any case
Support the EU in introducing a WTO-compliant "carbon leakage" protection system based on the EU ETS

European Emissions Trading

Emissions trading creates incentives for investment in climate-friendly technologies
Expand EU emissions trading to all sectors and geographies as quickly as possible; policy specifies how much may be emitted per year

Industrialized countries are increasingly outsourcing climate and environmental protection measures, for example forest protection initiatives, to the Global South, thus shirking their responsibility
Germany must provide more funds for the Global South so that it can shape its development in a climate-neutral and equitable way
Establish a compensation fund at UN level for the consequences of climate change and colonialism, financed by industrialized countries; former colonial powers pay in more than other states; increase corresponding climate finance transfers annually

European Green Deal

EU Commission has launched a "Green Deal" with which the EU is not even able to meet its climate targets
Goal: Make EU climate neutral by 2035 at the latest

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

Advocacy for a European CO2 border adjustment mechanism

European Emissions Trading

Emissions trading does not offer effective climate protection, therefore rejected
Instead, clear targets for corporations and government subsidy and investment programs to support the conversion process
At the EU level, support for a reform of EU emissions trading that leads to an increase in climate protection targets in the emissions trading sectors to the Paris targets and excludes any misuse of the instrument; rejection of an extension to the heat and transport sectors

Termination of the Paris Climate Agreement; withdrawal of Germany from all governmental and private "climate protection" organizations and withdrawal of their support
Abolition of any form of CO2 pricing

EU as International Actor

Oppose unrealistic EU CO2 reduction targets for aviation
Existing EU reduction legislation in the transport sector out of touch with reality

European Green Deal

No secretive and highly ideological economic policies via "Green Deal"
Rejection of the Green Deal and any further form of planned economy

Nord Stream II

Commissioning of Nord Stream 2 indispensable
Securing gas supply by terminating Nord Stream 2

DGAP publications on this topic

Die Zeit wird knapp

Deutschland braucht eine starke Klima-Außenpolitik

Dr. Kira Vinke

Bild: Windrad im Vordergrund - Kohlekraftwerk im Hintergrund

Energiewende auf beiden Seiten des Rheins

Deutschland und Frankreich müssen den Klimawandel bekämpfen – gemeinsam und strategisch.

Hatim Shehata

Action Plan for Climate and Foreign Policy

How Germany Can Become a Climate Leader

Dr. Friederike Otto

Action Plan for Climate and Security

How Climate Change Fuels Conflict and What Germany Can Do About It

Dr. Kira Vinke

Research and Innovation

Hydrogen Strategy

The goal is to establish the comprehensive value chain for hydrogen production, including the necessary network infrastructure
Production from renewable energies; in a transitional phase, blue hydrogen will also be accepted
Strengthening of the national hydrogen agency for the implementation of the hydrogen strategy, international cooperation for the import of hydrogen and advancement of infrastructure development and conversion of existing systems
Exploit new opportunities for cooperation - especially with Mediterranean countries - with regard to green hydrogen
Establish a European hydrogen network; further develop the "H2 Global" funding concept for this purpose
Expand application-oriented research and global hydrogen strategies; accelerate innovation cycles; targeted promotion of power-to-X technologies
Expand gas networks in Germany and make them suitable for hydrogen feed-in

Greentechnology

In mobility, focus on synthetic fuels and hydrogen in addition to electric vehicles; remain open to new technologies
Support for alliance to strengthen innovative climate-friendly technologies worldwide
Support research, development and pilot projects for negative emissions
Together with European partners, secure and promote opportunities for carbon capture and storage (CCS); requires intact carbon cycles (CCU) and thus solid-state storage (CCUS) technologies as well as the development of a CO2 infrastructure
Promote research and innovation in low-waste product production, sorting technology in recycling processes, use of recyclates, battery recycling, re-oil processes, chemical recycling, plastic alternatives
Bringing the use of ammonia and methanol in shipping to market maturity

Increase target value for total government spending on research to at least 3.5% of GDP

Hydrogen Strategy

Large-scale industrial production of climate-neutral hydrogen essential for climate neutrality
Promote hydrogen
Support use of hydrogen-powered trains
Faster expansion of hydrogen pipelines; planning beyond 2025

Greentechnology

Targeted promotion of innovative forms of renewable energy and establishment of strategic energy partnerships
State support for investments in heating networks and neighborhood concepts
Government support for the switch to climate-friendly production processes
Development of a raw materials security concept to create a circular economy

With a view to sectoral structural support such as the development of a hydrogen infrastructure, solar module and battery cell research or the promotion of the semiconductor industry, a European orientation is crucial; European cooperation with open standards to avoid dependencies
Target: State and companies invest a total of 3.5% of GDP in research and development by 2025
Existing support programs for transfer from theory to application are not sufficient; push for expansion of support programs for high-tech start-ups, incubators and entrepreneurship training; silent participation of public institutions should become the new spin-off standard
"Agency for leapfrog innovation" (SprinD) to be designed more flexibly

Hydrogen Sstrategy

Further expand Germany's leading role in hydrogen and create corresponding infrastructure
Hydrogen must be green, also applies to imported; hydrogen or synthetic fuels must not be part of a delaying tactic; must be used where they are really needed, for example industry, shipping and aviation
Create market incentives and comprehensive support programs
Create green potential with neighboring countries; postcolonially sensitive Secure green energy needs (hydrogen imports)
Fair partnerships; support exporting countries in energy transition; indispensable to involve local population, protect human rights and align with SDGs and introduce binding standards

Greentechnology

In the transformation of the chemical industry, focus on new innovative products, processes and procedures that, in addition to greenhouse gas neutrality, also promote the circular economy, increase efficiency, avoid emissions and waste in the first place and make us independent of fossil raw materials such as oil or natural gas
Drive innovation globally with climate and development partnerships
Promote transformation through investment grants and declining-balance depreciation
Drive decarbonization by removing hurdles to green self-supply and increasing use of green hydrogen; carbon contracts for difference provide investment certainty
Create lead markets for CO2-neutral products by setting quotas for the share of CO2-neutral basic materials; provide special support for pilot plants
Promote research and innovation for all technology options for zero-emission mobility; create sustainable battery cell production in Europe, including an effective recycling system and research into the next generation of batteries.
State venture capital fund (future fund), especially for projects in greentech, AI, sustainable mobility, bioeconomy and circular economy; at the same time, establish a functioning secondary market for direct investments and shares in venture capital funds, for example through a co-investing platform

Emissions trading creates incentives for investment in climate-friendly technologies
Expand EU emissions trading to all sectors and geographies as quickly as possible; policy specifies how much may be emitted per year
European and international cooperation to define uniform standards for autonomous driving

Hydrogen Strategy

Hydrogen and synthetic fuels as second pillar of future energy system
In addition to green hydrogen, also rely on "blue" and "turquoise" from natural gas; prerequisite exclusion of methane leakage
Worldwide investments in hydrogen plants necessary
Establish a European Hydrogen Union; create a European strategy for importing climate-neutral gases and fuels, including early development of international partnerships

Greentechnology

Promote innovative research for more efficient use of resources
No expensive subsidies such as e-car purchase premiums
More alternative fuels and easier certification
Separate legislation on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies; no technology hostility
Enable recycling that is open to technology; allow chemical recycling as an equivalent option to packaging recycling; no legal discrimination against technology
Put EU CO2 fleet limits to the test; open technology laws and regulations in vehicle construction
Revise regulations on hybrid vehicles to take real emissions into account

Research and science must contribute to solving social division, climate change and environmental problems; federal innovation and technology funding as well as non-university research must be geared towards this goal

Hydrogen Strategy

Strategies to run cars and building heating systems on hydrogen in the future are neither social nor ecological; production uses too much
much energy; produce exclusively on ecological basis and use only where no efficient alternative is available (for example, steel, chemical industry, air and sea transport)
Where electrolysis plants are publicly funded, they must be at least proportionately publicly operated
Rejection of the import of hydrogen from nuclear power or fossil sources; also for countries of the global south as long as they cannot cover their own demand from green electricity
Investment program for a future-proof conversion to a climate-neutral steel and basic materials industry, including the use of green hydrogen; only with democratic control and in return for public ownership shares in the steel companies

Greentechnology

Green technologies are of course part of the system change, but are not sufficient on their own; rebound effects again and again
Ban on CCS technologies; must not be available for greenwashing of natural gas or hydrogen; promote sinks such as peatlands or forests as compensation

Hydrogen Strategy

Preference and promotion of a hydrogen economy is rejected; requires ecologically, energetically and economically nonsensical parallel infrastructure system

Greentechnology

Preference and promotion of a hydrogen economy as well as electromobility is rejected; technology openness; both require nonsensical parallel structure; internal combustion cars (possibly with synthetic fuels) must be considered
Creation of competence centers for waste disposal and raw material recovery technologies

Renewable Energy

Expand renewable energies at a much faster pace
Public acceptance is just as important as planning certainty and less bureaucracy
Need competitive industrial electricity prices
Need energy storage for renewables; continue to promote the necessary technology development and implementation and examine the extent to which stored electricity can be exempted from surcharges and fees

Solar Energy

When constructing ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, no additional land may be taken away from agriculture for compensation under nature conservation law
Promote photovoltaics in a solar package; make online approval procedures as simple as possible

Wind Energy

Promotion of onshore and offshore expansion
Cross-border cooperation within the framework of the European offshore strategy and the national wind-sea law
Explicitly designate areas

Energy Transition

Germany's energy supply to be based entirely on renewable energies by 2040
Building sector to gradually become climate-neutral; target: to supply five million homes via innovative heating and energy systems by 2030
By 2030, Germany to become a lead market for climate-neutral steel production and low-CO2 transport
By 2030, build Europe's most modern and climate-friendly mobility system
By 2030, at least 15 million e-cars in Germany
Definition of expansion targets for renewables in a pact for the future between the federal government, the states, municipalities and leading municipal associations
Citizen participation through energy cooperatives, tenant electricity, municipal participation models and electricity bonds
Further development of energy efficiency targets and standards
Abolish EEG levy by 2025 and finance it from the federal budget; including from revenues from CO2 pricing
Examine a per capita bonus for the socially weaker in the event of an increasing CO2 price
Create a legal rule according to which landlords bear the CO2 price
Reduce investments that are harmful to the climate and environment
Public sector to increasingly procure climate-neutral basic materials for buildings by 2030 and exclusively thereafter
Prevent relocation of production and emissions abroad through tailored instruments
Competitive industrial electricity prices for companies that compete internationally
Develop a "Mobility Plan 2030" for public transport and rail; exchange programs for climate-neutral bus and rail fleets; change road traffic law in favor of cyclists and pedestrians
Establishment of a German and European rail act

Solar Energy

Solar installations on all suitable roofs (especially public buildings and new commercial buildings)

Achieve 100% renewable energies by 2035
Define renewables as mandatory for security of supply and use 2% of land nationwide for this purpose
Make Mediterranean region a plus-energy region with ambitious energy partnerships
Targeted investments in European manufacturers of components for renewables; no dependence on non-European manufacturers

Energy Transition

Massive expansion offensive for renewable energy
Continuous process of removing obstacles to expansion
Launch an immediate climate protection program that triggers immediately effective measures in all sectors, removes existing obstacles to expansion, implements obvious savings opportunities, and also strengthens climate and development partnerships in line with the global budget approach
Tighten up the still inadequate climate protection legislation
Comprehensive tax and levy reform so that sector coupling progresses and electricity is available at reliable and competitive prices
Change energy market design so that renewable electricity is not further slowed down; abolish double burdens
Utilize generation peaks for storage and production of heat or green hydrogen according to the principle "use instead of shut down"
Secure critical infrastructure with emergency power-capable solar plants
Equip distribution grids and consumers with smart technology so they can respond flexibly when a lot of renewable power is being produced at any given time
Fundamental reform of energy law; support sector coupling through system-serving use of renewable electricity and take regional differences into account; develop the EEG into an instrument of support and security in the long term; the EEG levy will thus be phased out automatically in the long term

Solar Energy

Goal: Increase expansion from 10-12 GW at the beginning to 18-20 GW per year from the mid-20s onwards
Target: 1.5 million new solar roofs in the next 4 years
Promote solar roofs and make them standard; leasing, renting and contracting models can be supportive here
Significantly simplify tenant electricity regulations and promote tenant electricity projects; reduce bureaucratic hurdles for electricity from own roof; strengthen own consumption and direct marketing
Improve political and legal framework conditions for photovoltaics and facilitate construction - preferably on sealed surfaces rather than on valuable farmland; agri-photovoltaic systems can make an important contribution here

Wind Energy

Target: annual increase of at least 5-6 GW onshore wind from now on, 7-8 GW from mid-2020s; for offshore wind, 35 GW by 2035
Rejection of preventive planning; excessive, blanket minimum distances do not contribute to increasing acceptance; involve local residents at an early stage
Support construction of plants in industrial areas; electricity produced where it is needed and noise protection more easily ensured
Minimize conflict with nature conservation and species protection (species protection programs), protect residents and reduce bureaucratic hurdles (simplified procedures, more personnel and uniform assessment standards)
Facilitate repowering; allow turbines over 20 years old to continue operating
Expand offshore wind farms and link them in the European Energy Union with the solar farms of the Mediterranean countries, with the hydropower of Scandinavia and the Alps; the more interconnected, the stronger

Innovation, reason and freedom instead of ideological blinkers
Climate protection targets will not be achieved by relying only on direct electrification based on renewable electricity in Germany
Rejection of legally prescribed expansion paths for individual technologies and state-guaranteed purchase prices
Strengthening local acceptance of the energy transition through early public participation and consultation with local residents, as well as transparent legal procedures
Strengthening and expanding ports and shipping, as these play a crucial role in the energy supply of the future
Expansion of CO2 emissions trading
Abolish EEG levy and climate dividend to offset social costs of climate protection
If the EEG levy is abolished, funding commitments from the past should be financed as far as possible from the revenues of CO2 pricing
Legally define storage technology as an independent pillar of the energy system alongside producers, grids and consumers, and exempt it from levies and surcharges for economic operation

All energy should come from renewable sources as soon as possible
Bioenergy from energy crops grown specifically for this purpose or newly felled wood should no longer generally be considered ecological and should not receive any government subsidies as renewable energy
Support municipalities in the climate-neutral conversion of energy supply and the creation of good jobs
Require investors to offer site municipalities a stake in new wind farms, photovoltaic power plants and energy storage facilities; municipalities become co-owners in this way
Advocate for the establishment of an alternative "European Community for the Promotion of Renewable Energies and Energy Saving"

Energy Transition

Renewable energy must replace fossil fuels by 2035
Renewable energy is limited by resources and required area; therefore need limitation of absolute consumption
Support of energy cooperatives and bioenergy villages as a regionally oriented energy turnaround anchored in the population
Align EEG in such a way that it is also profitable for small operators and municipalities; structural reform of EEG
Finance the promotion of renewable energies to a large extent via the federal budget instead of via the current EEG levy in order to lower the price of electricity
Disempower large energy companies and transfer them to the public domain in the interest of the common good; energy turnaround in the hands of citizens
Electricity and heat grids must be transferred to public ownership
Introduce a uniform federal grid fee for all voltage levels so that grid fees in regions with many green power plants are not higher than in regions with few green power plants
Stop the Energy Charter Treaty, because it prevents the energy turnaround

Solar Energy

Goal: Install at least 10 gigawatts of photovoltaics per year by 2025
Support tenant power concepts of an in-house power supply through photovoltaic systems on the roof
Want to make solar compulsory for new buildings as well as for existing buildings after comprehensive roof renovation and if there is a technical suitability for solar power generation

Wind Energy

Goal: Install at least 7 gigawatts of onshore wind energy and 2 gigawatts of offshore wind energy per year by 2025

Energy Transition

Complete conversion to renewable energies is unrealistic and unecological and therefore to be rejected
AfD rejects new building energy law (GEG)
Politically and ideologically forced expansion of renewable energies is an economic disaster and burdens home, lifestyle and nature; no expansion over the heads of the citizens
Abolish the EEG without replacement and end priority feed-in
No wind and solar plants in forests and protected areas
Support of individual transport; expansion of railways, optimal timing with buses and planes; expansion of high-speed rail network

Solar Energy

Change microclimate and devalue agricultural land
New construction of photovoltaics on open spaces is rejected because of high land consumption and deterrent effect on tourism

Wind Energy

Devastating effect on birds, bats and insects; harmful effects on health due to shadow impact, infrasound and noise emissions
No wind and solar plants in forests and protected areas
Designate priority areas for wind energy only with the consent of citizens
Minimum distance between wind turbines and residential areas must be 10 times the total height, but at least 2.5 km
Plants that fall out of the subsidy after 20 years participate in the market without subsidies and feed-in priority
Complete dismantling must take place (incl. concrete foundations)

DGAP publications on this topic

Energiewende auf beiden Seiten des Rheins

Deutschland und Frankreich müssen den Klimawandel bekämpfen – gemeinsam und strategisch.

Hatim Shehata

Conventional Energy

Expand LNG technology and realize an import terminal for liquefied gases

Phasing out coal (and nuclear power) was decided in combination with structural aid decided in this legislative period and must now be implemented
Creation of new value added and new jobs as well as reclamation and aftercare in mining areas

Complete phase-out of fossil fuels

Coal

Coal phase-out too late; not compatible with 1.5 degree pathway
Complete phase-out by 2030; use all opportunities to do so, including at EU level
Price in massive climate damage caused by coal-fired power generation; the best way to do this is via EU emissions trading with a steering CO2 price; if this cannot be achieved quickly enough at EU level, then set a national minimum price in the ETS for industry and electricity of 60€/ton CO2
Tighten limits on emissions of pollutants, especially mercury, from large combustion plants
Fundamentally revise mining law and strengthen affected parties' rights, environmental protection and nature conservation

Natural Gas

No more new gas-fired power plants and infrastructures unless they are absolutely necessary and already planned to be hydrogen-ready
No more new port terminals for LNG landings to be approved
New natural gas pipelines such as Nord Stream 2, which are not geared towards green hydrogen, cement dependence on climate-damaging resources, counteract the energy transition and should be stopped.
Lay the groundwork for new operating permits to be issued for a limited time and include switching from natural gas to renewables

Nuclear Power

Nuclear power is not suitable for combating climate crisis
Commitment to the agreed path for siting; dismantling as quickly as possible, without delay and at the highest safety level
Overall concept as a prerequisite for interim and final storage; above all, security against terrorism must be guaranteed; storage and transport must be strictly monitored
Complete nuclear phase-out in Germany
Goal is to close nuclear factories in Gronau and Lingen as quickly as possible; operation of the research reactor in Garching with highly enriched uranium must be ended
In the EU, push ahead with phase-out
Advocate for reform of Euratom, against further privileges or new subsidies for nuclear power, and for binding safety standards for all nuclear sites in Europe
Exhaust the possibilities for objections to the construction of new nuclear plants or reductions in the operating lives of nuclear plants in Europe and withdraw from the joint liability of the states for nuclear accidents

Common EU foreign energy policy
In view of Europe's dependence on energy imports, energy policy is also always foreign and security policy and requires a common stance by the EU members

Ban fracking without exceptions

Coal

Coal phase-out by 2030 at the latest - must start immediately across Europe
No more villages to be dredged for lignite mining; Hambach Forest must not be destroyed any further
Ban on the construction and commissioning of new hard coal and lignite plants supplemented by an analogous ban on the construction and commissioning of new hard coal and lignite plants abroad by companies based in Germany, including their subsidiaries
Prohibit by law the export and sale of hard coal and lignite production plants
Immediately remove Datteln 4 from the grid
40 billion euros for structural change
Establish transformation councils in the affected areas of structural change which have a right of initiative over money from the transformation fund and regional infrastructure policy
Promote hemp cultivation in former lignite areas

Natural Gas

Phase-out of fossil natural gas must follow nuclear and coal phase-out
Natural gas phase-out law with binding phase-out path and social protection for affected employees and regions

Nuclear Power

E-mobility must not lead to a return to nuclear power
Ensure that the nuclear phase-out is enshrined in the Basic Law
Immediately shut down all nuclear power plants still in operation
Commitment to nuclear phase-out in Europe and the world; needs a pan-European plan for decommissioning of nuclear power plants
KfW should no longer promote nuclear power plants abroad
Ban import and export of uranium fuel; ban production at Gronau and Lingen plants
No storage in the "final repository" in Salzgitter; for the nuclear waste to be salvaged from the scandalous Asse II waste repository in the district of Wolfenbüttel, a fair search for a site for an interim storage facility at a greater distance from residential areas than has been planned so far; needs comprehensive rights of co-determination and rights of action in all phases of the search for a site
Costs for decommissioning and dismantling must be borne by nuclear companies
Public funds, including pension reserves and pension funds, must be immediately withdrawn from investments in companies in the fossil-nuclear energy sector

Coal

Generation of electricity from lignite and hard coal as a base-load and controllable energy source
Coal phase-out rejected

Natural Gas

Securing gas supply by terminating Nord Stream 2 and allowing liquefied natural gas to be landed

Nuclear Power

Assess nuclear power plant lifetimes based on technical service life and economic reasons - nothing else
Create "closed fuel cycle"; final repository was found with Gorleben; opponents of nuclear power exaggerate problem of final disposal
New installation of safe power plants

DGAP publications on this topic

Energiewende auf beiden Seiten des Rheins

Deutschland und Frankreich müssen den Klimawandel bekämpfen – gemeinsam und strategisch.

Hatim Shehata

Grids and Network Expansion

Expansion of the charging station network is crucial; charging options must be the reason for switching to electric vehicles
Accelerate construction of the necessary power lines; bundle routes wisely and implement them in a way that is compatible with residents
Examine whether more cost competition and accelerated investments can be ensured in the area of transmission networks

Faster expansion of power grids and e-car charging stations; planning beyond 2025

Early public participation essential
Expand grids more quickly; expansion must be system-oriented and make optimum use of all the possibilities of existing grids and supplement them with intelligent systems and storage facilities
Expansion of uniform charging infrastructure for e-cars in Germany and Europe

Digitization of the energy transition necessary to improve energy efficiency and make consumption more flexible
Rollout of intelligent metering systems as a prerequisite for "smart grids" and the use of AI for energy supply
Area-wide expansion of fast-charging stations for e-cars with interoperable payment structures
Expand transportation networks in Europe ((high-speed) rail network, ports, airports, trunk roads)

State must coordinate creation of e-car charging network with EU countries as well

Biodiversity

Present a national biodiversity strategy (based on the European Biodiversity Strategy and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Further reduce sealing of soils, unseal and promote subsequent use of sealed soils
Review compensation regulations in nature conservation and construction law and further develop compensation measures in such a way that they promote biodiversity in a targeted manner
Better protection of endangered species and their habitats
Protect the Baltic and North Seas and the Wadden Sea in accordance with the European Biodiversity Directive, taking fisheries into account
National climate adaptation law

Central is the preservation of forests and their adaptation to climate change; as well as the protection of peatlands and the rewetting of already drained peatlands
Reduction in the use of fertilizers and pesticides
Align agricultural subsidies so that environmentally friendly agriculture can compete in the marketplace; prevent unfair practices in the food trade

Species conservation needs different land use
Keep international commitments on development cooperation, climate finance and biodiversity
Support programs to halt global deforestation and protect or reintroduce critically endangered species
Support targeted species conservation programs of zoos and scientific institutes while improving animal husbandry there
For marine protection, implementation of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive, a deep-sea mining moratorium and the designation of large-scale non-use marine protected areas are necessary
Launch an emergency program for species protection that will greatly reduce the use of pesticides and ban particularly harmful environmental toxins such as glyphosate
Stop the sale of federally owned areas of high natural value and the drainage of moorland sites; make military concession areas available for nature conservation
Create nature conservation corridors for better networking of protected areas
Increase and create national parks and protected areas
Use 10% of Energy and Climate Fund money for climate protection through nature conservation measures
Expand wilderness fund so that at least 2% of the state's land area is restored to true wilderness
Demand development of healthy forests; set minimum legal standards; leave at least 5% to nature
Advocate for an ambitious UN agreement on biodiversity conservation and its implementation in Germany
In accordance with the EU's biodiversity strategy, effectively protect at least 30% of the land area and 30% of the oceans
Commitment to protect the oceans via binding agreements and to close enforcement deficits and regulatory gaps
Comprehensive biomass strategy
Launch renaturation offensive
Implement EU Water Framework Directive and EU water legislation
International agreement to protect the oceans from plastic litter; immediate program for litter prevention
Adjust fishing quotas and fisheries agreements, extend closed seasons; phase out bottom trawling and regulate gillnets; provide support for the conversion process

Species extinction must be prevented as far as possible; protection against invasive species
Marine flora must be given special protection
Forests and peatlands are guardians of biodiversity and carbon reservoirs; create international incentives to protect and reforest them

Nature conservation and biodiversity targets must be integrated into other policy areas in a binding manner
To ensure that EU nature conservation directives and their national equivalents are complied with, they must be financially supported
Nature conservation areas belong in public hands and should be leased to nature conservation and environmental associations
We want to secure and expand the national natural heritage, financed by a natural heritage fund
Focus on near-natural forest management
Ban glyphosate and neonicotinoids; pesticides and pesticide active ingredients not approved in the EU must neither be produced in Germany nor exported; drastically reduce pesticide use
Reduce nature- and environment-destroying subsidies and invest the freed-up funds in nature and environmental programs
Increase the federal program "Biological Diversity
Implement the UN Convention on Biological Diversity
Coordinate biodiversity monitoring nationwide; record the total stock at all levels
Establish and fully extend the right of environmental, nature and animal protection associations and individuals to take legal action in accordance with the Aarhus Convention
Consistently prosecute and combat environmental crime
Protection for wild animals through area-wide biotope connections as well as animal corridors and passages, also for example through fences along highways and speed limits to reduce wildlife accidents
Expand nature reserves and marine protected areas as habitats to the maximum extent possible; maintain habitats for animals in cities as well
Preservation or renaturation and rewetting of peatlands
Protected areas in the North Sea and Baltic Sea free of fishing, military use, resource extraction, other economic interventions; promote alternative fishing methods
Removal of military contaminated sites on land and water; financing from the budget of the German Armed Forces

DGAP publications on the topic

Die Zeit wird knapp

Deutschland braucht eine starke Klima-Außenpolitik

Dr. Kira Vinke

Energiewende auf beiden Seiten des Rheins

Deutschland und Frankreich müssen den Klimawandel bekämpfen – gemeinsam und strategisch.

Hatim Shehata

Action Plan for Climate and Foreign Policy

How Germany Can Become a Climate Leader

Dr. Friederike Otto

Action Plan for Climate and Security

How Climate Change Fuels Conflict and What Germany Can Do About It

Dr. Kira Vinke

Back to the topic overview

Migration

Asylum and Resettlement

Commitment to the fundamental right to asylum
Rejection of an expansion of the existing family reunification program
Significantly increase pressure on identity fraudsters and those who refuse to cooperate by expanding legal and technical means
False statements in the asylum procedure must be punishable by the BAMF
Reform EU asylum system
The Common European Asylum System must be fundamentally reformed; the Commission's proposal for a fair and solidary distribution of costs and burdens is a step in the right direction
Establishment of European-managed decision-making centers at the EU's external borders; in the long term, this could lead to the development of a European authority that supports member states and assumes coordination tasks
Development of common standards in European asylum law and Europe-wide harmonization of reception conditions, procedures, accommodation and care in order to prevent internal migration

Humanitarian and solidarity-based asylum and refugee policy
Reform of the Dublin system towards a solidarity-based distribution mechanism
Further Europeanization of the asylum system
Creation of legal migration channels as part of a comprehensive approach
Development of the European Asylum Support Office into a fully-fledged European asylum agency
Promote receptiveness of European municipalities and cities and take up "safe havens" initiative
EU to establish vaccination quota for refugees

Current conditions in the camps mean breach with European values and human rights
For the reception of Afghan local forces, which are in danger due to the cooperation with German institutions such as the Bundeswehr or GIZ
States, counties, cities and municipalities should be given more opportunities to have a say and to shape the humanitarian reception of refugees
Asylum procedures must be legally secure, fair, transparent and timely; includes adequate staffing and functioning quality management of the BAMF
Applications for family reunification under the Dublin Regulation must be approved quickly
Pandemic-related loss of work, training or study places must not lead to disadvantages under residence law
Offer Edward Snowden life in Germany
Change the approval rule between the BMI and the states from agreement to consultation; thus clarify that in the future, federal states can decide independently and freely to accept refugees beyond the Königstein Key; promote readiness to accept refugees through federal and EU funds
Ensure non-governmental independent asylum procedure counseling for all asylum seekers
Reverse possible 18-month extended stay of refugees in initial reception facilities to a maximum of three months
Optimize asylum procedural law
Abolish the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act (Asylbewerberleistungsgesetz); abolish legal regulations that are hostile to integration, such as work bans, blanket residence requirements, and benefit cuts
Reverse undermining of residence and asylum laws
Reject the proclamation of "safe" countries of origin or third countries - also at the European level
Abolish airport procedures and immediate rejections at German internal borders
Reduce permanent toleration to zero if possible; secure right to stay after 5 years; 3 years for families with minor children, adolescents and youths
Secure right to stay for victims of human trafficking

Reform of the EU Asylum System

European refugee policy is Europe's big failure
Early asylum procedure checks at external borders are not compatible with Green plan
Rejection of inhumane camps and closed facilities, transit zones or European external camps in third countries
In favor of pragmatic issuance of passport replacement documents
Turkey is not a safe third country
Plan to break EU blockade: Community registration centers run by EU institutions in EU countries at the external border register refugees, cross-check them against security-related databases, provide them with medical and psychological care, and house them in accordance with human rights; taking into account language skills and circumstances such as family ties, the EU's asylum agency determines which host member state will conduct asylum procedures; Underlying distribution mechanism relies initially on voluntary willingness of member states, regions and cities - then receive assistance from EU integration fund; if reception places are not sufficient, all member states expand their offer in proportion to GDP and population size on a mandatory basis or make at least an equivalent contribution to total costs
More staff at German and European embassies and the possibility to submit applications digitally
"EU-Turkey deal" undermines international asylum law, has failed and must be ended
New agreement must be in line with international law, guarantee financial and logistical support on the ground, support Turkey in reception and make binding quota commitments for resettlement in the EU; Turkey must guarantee good care and integration of refugees; agreement must be debated and decided in parliament

Fundamental right to asylum is inviolable
In particular, those persecuted on religious grounds or on the basis of sexual identity need secure procedures and secure accommodation
Create a separate, unbureaucratic and uncomplicated status for war and civil war refugees; should usually return after the end of the war; relieves asylum system
Federal government is responsible for all issues from protection status and termination of residence to deportation; states focus on integration

Reform of the EU Asylum System

Binding distribution of protection seekers among EU member states, unless they have no discernible prospects of remaining (
If timely agreement is not possible, Germany should lead the way with a "coalition of the willing"; those who do not participate must reckon with appropriate cuts in EU budget allocations to cover reception costs
Fixed eight-year responsibility of the EU member state to which the person in need of protection was assigned; assistance only there; the and further development of the Dublin rules should effectively prevent secondary migration

Climate refugees must not be further denied the right to asylum
Decentralized accommodation of queer refugees
Queer people who are persecuted must be granted unrestricted asylum or protection; no deportations, not even to so-called safe third countries; specialized office for LGBTIQA* refugees
Individual access to asylum procedures and legal protection must be ensured for asylum seekers at the EU's external borders
Rejection of fast-track procedures and detention of protection seekers (whether in so-called return, transit, controlled centers or "hotspots")
Decentralized accommodation of queer refugees
Queer people who are persecuted must be granted unrestricted asylum or protection; no deportations, not even to so-called safe third countries; specialized office for LGBTIQA* refugees
Extend and enforce asylum law; negative competition through lowered standards for accommodation, care and rights must be abolished
Comprehensive independent asylum procedure counseling by welfare organizations and associations, which must be publicly financed

Reform of the EU Asylum System

EU Commission wants to enforce a "migration pact" that continues to aim at isolation, deportation and disenfranchisement
Overcoming the Dublin system; instead, a European refugee levy; unequal distribution can then be compensated for by equalization payments from countries with low numbers of refugees; countries, regions and cities that are willing to take in more refugees will be financially supported with EU funds

Global migration pressure is increasing; contrary to the UN migration pact, migration is not the solution but would only destabilize receiving countries like Germany without solving the problem
Current system dysfunctional and resembles a lottery; help on the ground instead of financial disincentives to migrate
Due to high financial incentives, the federal government is heavily to blame, as the pull effect leads to the death of many people
Application for asylum only with proven identity; strict punishment for false statements
Loss of protection status should those entitled to asylum have returned to their country of origin
Refusal of any family reunification
Combating the abuse of legally granted asylum application visas
Settlement permit for recognized asylum seekers only after 10 years
"Advice and support" no longer provided by organizations of the "asylum industry" (profiting from high asylum numbers)
No work permit for asylum seekers
Annual review of the continued existence of the grounds for asylum
Basic craft training for returnees so that they can rebuild their homeland (fit for return)
Reduction of financial incentives; social benefits for asylum seekers exclusively as benefits in kind; social benefits are no longer automatic, immediate and unlimited in time and content
Tax on remittances leaving the European Economic Area

Reform of the EU Asylum System

As long as permanent and effective protection of the EU's external borders is lacking, Germany must take them into its own hands
Germany's sovereignty in immigration policy no longer given by left-wing extremist "one-world utopia
Expansion of the number of safe countries of origin
No blanket immigration quotas and redistribution quotas (neither at national, EU or non-European level)
No admission within the framework of a "European solution" abusing sea rescue (creates pull factor)
Reverse communitarization of right of residence and asylum; Frontex in parallel with national border security
Prevent EU migration pact; no common European asylum system with fixed reception quotas

DGAP publications on this topic

Bild: Syrischer Flüchtling bei seiner Abschiebung

Migrationspolitik nach Merkel

Drei Themen könnten bei den Koalitionsverhandlungen strittig werden: die Aufnahme von Flüchtlingen, der Umgang mit Ausreisepflichtigen und die EU-Agentur Frontex.

Victoria Rietig

Why the Resettlement of Refugees Is Unpopular But Necessary

Victoria Rietig

Refuge

Refugee Routes

Continue efforts to ensure that the number of people fleeing to Germany and Europe not only remains low, but is further reduced; make a clear distinction between people in need and those who are not in need of protection
Define further safe countries of origin; use possibilities of European asylum law to create a new concept of safe countries of origin, the "small" safe country of origin; Bundesrat and Länder could not block here; unaffected by this would be examination for asylum according to Art. 16a GG
Establishment of European-administered decision centers at the EU's external borders; on-site examination of asylum claims

Border Control

External borders must be effectively protected
Expansion of FRONTEX into a genuine border police and coast guard with sovereign powers; increase in personnel capacities
Design databases relevant to border police, such as Schengen Information System or EURODAC, so that all information is retrievable and available
Want to monitor entry at the external borders comprehensively electronically; advance the entry and exit register for third-country nationals EES and the travel information and authorization system ETIAS
Allow situation-based dragnet searches; not only in border areas but also in the vicinity of train stations and airports; expand the current border corridor of the German Federal Police

Causes of Refuge

Germany and the EU must assume more responsibility in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East through prevention and mediation
EU must intensify cooperation with countries of origin to combat causes of flight (such as poverty); in particular, comprehensive partnership with African continent and active stabilization policy in the Middle East
Expect partner countries in development cooperation to cooperate closely in combating the causes of flight and illegal migration (for example, readmission of own nationals)
Improve life prospects on the ground through humanitarian aid for refugees and programs such as the "Cash for Work" employment offensive
Supporting states on the ground in the fight against terrorism

Rejection of the instrumentalization of development cooperation to avert refugees
Comprehensive implementation of the Global Compact on Migration
Pushbacks at the EU's external borders are blatant violations of international law; rescue at sea is an obligation of the international law of the sea and must not be criminalized

Establish mandatory protection for people forced to leave their homes due to extreme weather events or environmental change; in particular, support regional approaches to assist those affected
Hold countries that have contributed most to global warming accountable to contribute especially to supporting home and host countries of climate-induced migration
Structurally strengthen UNFCCC Task Force on Displacement and implement recommendations
Implement the Global Compact on Migration and the Global Compact for Refugees

Refugee Routes

Ensure that EU resettlement is aligned with UNHCR criteria
Create safe and legal access routes to the EU, including for humanitarian visa applications
Lift restrictions on family reunification, including for people with subsidiary protection; allow siblings to rejoin their families again
Within the framework of the UNHCR's resettlement program, distribute refugees to host countries in an orderly manner and in a spirit of solidarity; deprives traffickers of the basis of their business
Proposal: Together with U.S. and Canada and others in a global humanitarian partnership, significantly expand admission from the resettlement program; in the medium term, achieve fulfillment of at least each country's fair share of annual resettlement needs, as determined by UNHCR, according to economic strength
Provide financial and logistical support to host countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Sudan, Pakistan, or Uganda and to aid organizations based there

Border Control

Currently systematic breach of law at EU external borders
For European border controls, which has the common protection of human rights as a basis and is not abused for flight prevention
Pushbacks, committed by national border police or Frontex, must be legally and politically punished
Commitment to ensuring that intransparency and human rights violations no longer have any room at EU agencies such as Frontex
The need for close parliamentary control of Frontex operations and systematic human rights monitoring on the ground
Germany must not participate in operations that violate international and human rights law; violations must be prosecuted and must have consequences
Continue to fight for a civilian and comprehensive, European-coordinated and financed sea rescue; lead the way with those states that take sea rescue seriously as a duty under international law
Civil society rescue initiatives; end criminalization and obstruction by authorities; make it easier to register ships
Expand government and civil society human rights monitoring, especially through the EU Fundamental Rights Agency

Causes of Refuge

Cooperation with third countries must respect human and fundamental rights as well as international asylum standards and not be aimed at preventing flight
Existing "migration partnerships" as well as cooperation with the Libyan coast guard are therefore rejected
Readmission agreements must not be made a condition in other policy areas such as development policy or support for the rule of law
We cannot influence all the causes of flight; consistent action is all the more decisive where our economic activity and consumption also lead to exploitation and a lack of prospects
Putting the structural causes of flight and displacement and our responsibility in this regard at the center of our policies: civil crisis prevention, restrictive export controls on European arms exports to dictatorships and war zones, a fair trade system

Refugee Routes

Possibility to apply for asylum abroad in the embassies of the EU
Establish clear rules in the European law, which enable people to come to Europe without a life-threatening journey

Border Control

Faster expansion of the EU border protection agency Frontex to a strength of 10,000 officers; accompanied by structural reform and expansion of control and transparency mechanisms
Frontex must take over sea rescue to prevent deaths in the Mediterranean; as long as private agencies that currently do this must not be prevented from doing so
"Pushbacks" are to be taken very seriously; advocacy for intelligence and mechanisms to prevent human rights violations

Fighting the causes of flight and not refugees
Clear escape routes and fight the causes of flight; without Frontex, deprivation of liberty and pushbacks and with legal escape routes
Conditions in the accommodations for refugees are inhumane
Federal government must finally push for the EU to take action against those member states that disregard their human rights obligations
Funds for municipalities and cities that are willing to take in refugees
Disband "hotspots," such as the Moria slum camp and its successors; immediate humanitarian program to take in people; as long as that is not possible, Germany must lead the way with a coalition of the willing
Extend binding refugee rights to poverty, environmental and climate refugees and issue appropriate humanitarian visas; needs comprehensive reception quotas and abolition of visa requirements for protection seekers
Municipalities must be able to decide for themselves whether they want to take in more people than the number of refugees allocated to them

Refugee Routes

Legal and safe entry to the EU

Border Control

Rejection of the inhumane EU-Turkey deal or the agreement with the Libyan coast guard
Advocacy of open borders for all people in a Europe of solidarity that does not close itself off
The principle of non-refoulement at the EU's external borders and on the high seas must be followed without restriction
Individual access to asylum procedures and legal protection must be ensured for asylum seekers at the EU's external borders
Reject fast-track procedures and detention of protection seekers (whether in so-called return, transit, controlled centers or "hotspots")
Disband Frontex and replace it with a civilian sea rescue program
Put existing instruments for monitoring the Mediterranean and external borders at the service of sea rescue; immediately end criminalization of civil society sea rescue
The refugee deal with Turkey and similar agreements or forms of cooperation with militias and dictators in states such as Libya, Egypt, Sudan and Morocco must be terminated

Causes of Refuge

Those who want to fight the causes of flight must stop creating and exporting them over and over again
Rejection of the interlocking of development and security policy in the sense of so-called border protection and migration control
Instead of continuing to systematically export causes of flight such as weapons, environmental and climate destruction, and poverty, overcome global injustices, support democracy and social movements from below, and effectively help people in need

Border Control

As long as permanent and effective protection of the EU's external borders is lacking, Germany must take them into its own hands
Entry only for those who are allowed to enter; rejections at the border must become normal again
Modern and effective security equipment for the border
Modern concept for securing the "green border" (if necessary, physical barriers such as fences)
Better equipment (financial and personnel) for the federal police, use of state-of-the-art search technology such as facial recognition software; expansion of area of responsibility in combating illegal migration and cross-border crime

Causes of Refuge

Humanitarian aid in the crisis region itself instead of migration

DGAP publications on this topic

Action Plan for Migration and Foreign Policy

How Germany Can Limit Irregular Migration and Help Refugees

Gerald Knaus

Immigration and Toleration

For effective order and management of migration

Immigration of Skilled Workers

Germany is still too little a destination for the world's bright minds
Qualified immigration continues to address the skilled labor needs of small and medium-sized businesses and industry
In favor of proposing a tech visa program for highly skilled professionals at the European level
Make foreign institutions (embassies, AHKs, schools, DAAD, Goethe Institutes, ...) more active ambassadors and provide information about and promote opportunities for studying and training in Germany
Pilot project of "skilled immigration attachés", who provide information about skilled immigration to Germany at German embassies in third countries
"Germany Year Scholarship" for students without German citizenship at German schools abroad
Strengthening the Skilled Workers Immigration Act through improved recognition of degrees and certification of qualifications, as well as digitalization of the application process

Inner European Migration

Strengthening the potential of internal migration with targeted language and qualification offers in the home countries
Immigrants and their families from the EU should also be given better support through targeted information and language support measures

Modern citizenship law that legally anchors multiple citizenship; shorten the current standard residence period of 8 years

Adopt modern immigration law; introduce a points-based talent card based on annual workforce needs
Facilitate educational migration via scholarships and educational visas; facilitate requirements for permanent residence permits and recognition of professional qualifications acquired abroad
Expand and consolidate well-functioning concepts for labor migration, such as the Western Balkans arrangement

Immigration of Skilled Workers

Facilitate immigration by introducing a talent card and faster recognition of educational and professional qualifications, also reciprocally within the EU

Inner European migration

Employees from other EU countries often work in exploitative conditions; they must be paid and protected just as well as German employees, regardless of how long they work here
In order to avoid exploitation, among other things, effective action against undeclared work and bogus self-employment, European social security number, more control by a strengthened European labor authority, more information about rights, etc.
European-level advocacy for EU citizens seeking work

Two-pillar model consisting of a revised Blue Card and the introduction of an opportunity card for a points system based on the Canadian model (the latter is to be merged into a European talent pool in the medium term)

In order to live up to the historical responsibility of Western states as the main emitters of climate-damaging greenhouse gases, climate passports are to be offered to EU residents of threatened states that become uninhabitable due to the climate crisis
German citizenship for children born here whose parents live permanently in the country; migrants should have a legal right to naturalization after 5 years of residence in Germany
Legalization options for people without residence status and effective right to stay regulations for people who have to live in an uncertain residence status or with chain toleration; access to education, health and labor law protection against exploitation
Comprehensive visa liberalization and open and inclusive immigration laws
Remove BMI's responsibility for migration and integration; call for a federal ministry for migration and participation

Immigration of Skilled Workers

Against a possible shortage of skilled workers, there is no need for a targeted poaching of qualified people abroad, but decent training, working conditions and pay for all people in Germany

Immigration must be decided in democratic self-determination at the national level; replacement of outdated international regulations such as the Geneva Refugee Convention
Preventing the naturalization of criminals; in the case of serious crime committed up to 10 years after naturalization, this must be revoked; corresponding adjustment of Article 16 (1) of the Basic Law

Immigration of Skilled Workers

Development of an identity-preserving immigration policy based on the Japanese model; claims by some business associations that there is a shortage of skilled workers in Germany only superficially serve the common good; in some cases they even conceal anti-German resentment
Foreign medical professionals must have language skills of at least C1 level and professional qualifications must fully meet German standards

Inner European Migration

Entitlement to benefits under the basic security scheme for job-seekers only for those EU foreigners who entered Germany with the intention of taking up a livelihood-securing activity and who have pursued this activity for an appropriate period of time; benefits limited to a maximum of one year

Integration

The prerequisite for successful integration is a commitment to Germany's fundamental values and norms, its constitution, its laws, its institutions, its history, language and culture
Accelerate language acquisition, focusing increasingly on digital, flexible and target-group-specific offerings
Comprehensive language assessment in early childhood education and care
Federal program to promote municipal integration specialists
Support and reach women and mothers through targeted digital offerings
Better recognition and transferability of foreign qualifications; special emphasis on labor market integration of women
Important that imams preaching in this country are also trained in Germany and in German; facilitates integration

Return

More restrictions on the right to stay of those who are obliged to leave the country
Better enforcement of obligations to leave the country, e.g. through detention facilities at airports
Consistent deportation of criminals
It must be possible to read data carriers and, in particular, cell phones to clarify security concerns if someone deceives the state about his or her identity and prevents his or her deportation
Regulations on detention pending deportation and on deportation detention must be made more practicable

Ensure entitlement to integration and participation offers
Years of "chain toleration" are an obstacle to integration and must be ended by a deadline regulation
Public service must be a role model for integration
Strengthen integration and language courses; access from day one - regardless of residence status
Immediate possibility of kindergarten attendance and immediate effect of compulsory schooling for children
Bring family immigration regulations for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection back into line with those for refugees
Creation of sibling reunification for unaccompanied minor refugees
Abolition of work bans
Participation and Integration Act, which obliges state institutions to engage in a process of intercultural openness

Return

Forced repatriation of people to countries where they are threatened with danger to life and limb is rejected

Do not interpret obstacles to the clarification of identity that are not the fault of the person to be naturalized to the detriment of the person to be naturalized
The basis for living together are the values of the Basic Law
Decentralized accommodation and a self-determined life in one's own home, a broad range of counseling services, especially for families, as well as indiscriminate access to health and social services and to daycare centers, educational institutions, training and work are essential
Sponsorship program based on the Canadian model
Refugees should be given the opportunity to change lanes, which will give them more legal security during their training, studies and work and thus enable them to have career prospects in Germany
Right from the start to accessible and federally funded language and integration courses; focus also on women and people with learning difficulties
Establishment of a municipal integration fund at the European level, providing financial relief to municipalities that have agreed to accept refugees
Lowering the barriers to free movement within the EU for recognized refugees
Better protect scientists and students persecuted worldwide in Germany and at the EU level and offer them prospects in exile
Facilitate the recognition of foreign professional qualifications and the issuance of visas
Those born in Germany are to be granted German citizenship if one of their parents has a legal habitual residence in Germany
Accelerated and simplified naturalization procedures for recognized refugees
Naturalization procedure
Reduce bureaucracy in the naturalization process

Return

Human rights-compliant readmission agreements instead of safe countries of origin; in return, offer those countries that effectively guarantee security to their citizens upon return reliable prospects for orderly migration via visa facilitation or training partnerships
Readmission agreements must not be made a condition in other policies, such as development or rule of law assistance; not apply to third-country nationals or counteract immigration law
Detention without crime to enforce departure is a massive encroachment on the constitutionally guaranteed right to liberty; therefore, ensure consideration of the separation requirement and guarantee of legal assistance
End deportations to countries at war and in crisis, including Syria and Afghanistan nationwide; no cooperation with Syrian authorities for deportations and end deportation partnership with Afghanistan
No deportations to countries for which the State Department has issued a travel warning based on Covid-19
No deportations of victims of human trafficking

Integration policy model that includes basic law, is independent of religion and reflects social diversity
Language and integration courses must be offered nationwide and free of charge from day one, but must also be accepted; must teach respect for democracy, gender equality, acceptance of sexual orientation and (non-)religious freedom
Integration mentors based on the Canadian model
Partnerships with countries of origin; develop local recruitment strategies with selected partner countries
Simplified access to German citizenship after a total of 4 years (regardless of immigration route); settlement permit after only 3 years
Nationwide implementation of naturalization ceremonies
"German Dream" grant in funding for daycare centers and schools with low socio-economic status; upward mobility partnerships for children from educationally disadvantaged households

Return

An orderly immigration law also includes consistent enforcement of the obligation to leave the country through deportation and the creation of sufficient places in detention pending deportation

Rejection of the restriction of social securities for migrants from EU countries and other states by the federal government
Own housing for refugees; no undignified housing in mass accommodations; decentralized housing in apartments nationwide
Free language courses and, instead of discriminatory non-cash benefits, cash benefits equivalent to the minimum income support
Training program for teachers who teach German as a second language; initial provision of school supplies; additional language and literacy courses and information on vocational training for refugees from the employment office
Make it easier for refugees to take up studies; must ensure right to stay and protect against deportation
Enable scientists who have been politically persecuted to continue their scientific work at universities in Germany
Residence and work permits independent of length of employment and employer
Need better recognition of qualifications and degrees of non-EU citizens
Nationwide hardship fund and an anonymous health insurance voucher for the treatment of people without coverage
Legal right to interpreter services as part of medical services
Active and passive voting rights at all levels for all people with a migration history living in Germany for a long time
Enquete Commission to implement the demands of the UN Anti-Racism Committee and the NSU Committee
Immediate program to train additional school social workers and teachers to teach German as a second language
Right to family reunification without restrictions, also for refugees in need of subsidiary protection; for underage refugees, right to reunification of siblings

Return

Refusal of deportations, especially to war, persecution and misery as a form of double punishment

Immigrants have a duty to integrate; accept German culture and values; German language particularly important
Cutbacks with regard to education or employment in the public service are rejected
Integration projects of the state are to be evaluated, the profit business of NGOs and welfare associations is to be terminated
Ban on headscarves in the public sector and at schools; ban on burqas and nicotine in public places
Abolish the birthplace principle and return to the principle of descent when acquiring citizenship
Prepare asylum seekers who are required to attend school for their return to their home country; lack of language skills must not hold back native pupils; if necessary, teach in native language
No denominational Islamic instruction in schools; this represents an obstacle to integration
German as a learning language in Koranic schools

Return

Failure to repatriate is an expression of state failure; powerful anti-deportation industry
Voluntary return is preferable to deportation
Facilitation of deportation; in particular, reintroduction of mandatory deportation even for minor crimes, deportation already by criminal convictions, enabling the placement of criminals who have not been deported abroad, creating the legal possibility to keep endangered persons in custody as long as they are still in the country
Deportation of dangerous persons also to Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria
Launch deportation offensive
National and supranational "remigration agenda" based on the principle of "help on the spot"
No more tolerations, but obligation to leave the country
Transfer of responsibility for enforcement to federal police and their corresponding equipment
Include prevention of deportations as a criminal offense
Use of free space on Bundeswehr transport flights for deportations
Cancellation of the church asylum agreement between BAMF and churches

DGAP publications on this topic

Back to the topic overview

Security Policy

European Foreign and Security Policy

Majority voting in foreign policy
Improved and flexible security architecture, involving the UK
Take the initiative in an alliance of the willing to improve foreign and security policy coordination and increase the effectiveness of European defense
Limit military acquisition costs through joint armaments projects with European partners; push forward key central projects with commitment
Promote joint armaments projects and procurement with the help of the European Armaments Agency and the European Defense Fund and progressively develop a common security culture and a European arms export directive
Establish joint European armed forces in the long term within the framework of the European Defense Union and PESCO
Improve military cooperation between national armies and network them more closely
Realize own command capability for EU missions by establishing a European headquarters
Expand European cyber brigade; defend against cyberattacks, disinformation, terrorism; develop own offensive capabilities

Strategic Autonomy

Aim of a European army as part of the peace power Europe
Bundling of European armaments cooperation allows synergies and saves unnecessary additional expenditures
Introduction of majority decisions in foreign policy
Aim of a European army as part of the peace power Europe
Bundling of European armaments cooperation allows synergies and saves unnecessary additional expenditure
Sovereign development of new arms control and disarmament initiatives for the European continent

Reform of the Council of Foreign Ministers

Long-term further development of the office of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy into an EU Minister for Foreign Affairs

CSDP requires a common EU foreign policy
Advance European policy of global networking and connectivity
Strengthen European External Action Service, Common Foreign and Security Policy, including the role of the High Representative
Develop reserve of EU mediators and experts in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and mediation
Joint EU foreign operations should be more closely monitored and controlled by the European Parliament

Strategic Autonomy

Reject the reallocation of funds from the EU budget, previously earmarked exclusively for civilian purposes, for military purposes
Establish an EU security union with strong parliamentary control and a common restrictive arms export policy with strict rules and enforceable sanctions
Enhance cooperation among the EU's armed forces, pool military capabilities, achieve more efficient procurement and close generally recognized capability gaps jointly and by consolidating the European armaments sector; this will require appropriate equipment, expansion of EU units and strengthening and consolidation of the joint EU command structure and European initiatives such as PESCO
Reduce dependence on third parties in critical areas and expand sovereignty and strategic capability to act

Hybrid Threat

Needs interdepartmental strategies to combat hybrid threats, clear legal requirements, and strong parliamentary oversight for Bundeswehr actions in cyberspace

Strategic Autonomy

Support the goal of strategic autonomy; primarily means the ability to act and assert values, e.g. in the areas of energy supply, raw material imports and digital technology
In trade and development policy, EU must use own strengths more strategically
Must not lead to protectionism or self-isolation
CSDP must develop own military capabilities; does not contradict transatlantic partnership or NATO
Develop a European army under joint supreme command and parliamentary control
Want common EU external energy policy
In view of Europe's dependence on energy imports, energy policy is also always foreign and security policy and requires a common stance by EU members
Gradually closer interlocking and expansion of joint capabilities of armed forces of EU member states willing to integration
Creation of a European Defense Union as an intermediate step toward a future European Army
Creation of European command structures and a joint military headquarters, but also of training facilities, such as a European Security Academy
Exchanges between armies through Erasmus+ for soldiers of all ranks
Strengthening interoperability with NATO forces in all these activities

Reform of the Council of Foreign Ministers

Qualified majority instead of unanimity principle
High Representative must be a real EU Foreign Minister

USA and EU try to assert their supremacy against Russia and China; threatens to escalate into a new Cold War; against imperialism
German government and EU are arming; thus intensifying conflicts
ESCO is to ensure that billions are spent on armaments, while there is a huge lack of arms control and civil conflict management
Expansion of a "military union" does not lead to more security, but only militarily safeguards corporate interests
With the European Peace Facility (EFF), the EU itself becomes a supplier of weapons and ammunition
Rejection of plans for a European defense union and cooperation between NATO and the EU
Rejection of the European Defense Fund
Abolish the EU Armaments Agency
EU-wide ban on arms exports; immediately stop exports to authoritarian regimes like Turkey or Egypt
End PESCO and all military-related EU programs and funds, such as the European Friends Facility

Rejects communitarization of European foreign and security policy (CFSP) and the European External Action Service

Strategic Autonomy

Transition to a multipolar world; Germany should strive to achieve strategic autonomy for its European partners

Hybrid Threat

Massive strengthening of the Bundeswehr against hybrid threats and cyberattacks

DGAP publications on this topic

(Even) More Money for Security and Defense

How, For What, and Why Germany Should Increase Its Defense Budget

Sophia Becker

Dr. Christian Mölling

Armaments Policy

Disarmament and Arms Control

Support measures against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and associated missile technologies and the outlawing of autonomous-killing weapons systems

Nuclear Disarmament

Long-term goal: Nuclear weapons no longer needed for deterrence; push for greater momentum in arms control and disarmament
Long-term goal: Complete disarmament of all intermediate-range nuclear missiles and cruise missiles in Europe
Existing agreements must be respected

Restrictive arms policy is central
New arms export law stipulating that German arms exports to countries outside the EU, NATO and equivalent states are restricted and that control over the whereabouts of the weapons - documented in a publicly comprehensible manner - is extended (exceptions: only justified individual cases)
Arms exports to non-EU or non-NATO countries only if the recipient country ratifies and complies with the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

Disarmament and Arms Control

Existing agreements on arms control and disarmament must be saved at all costs
Establish arms controls in the areas of biotechnology, cyber and AI
Goal: outlaw autonomous lethal weapons systems
Involve China more fully in all disarmament efforts
International nuclear agreement
Resume talks with U.S. administration on how to fully implement the JCPoA with Iran

Nuclear Disarmament

A conscientious, factual and careful discussion of technical nuclear sharing should precede a decision on a successor system to the Tornado
Goal: world without nuclear weapons; obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) must be implemented
UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons brings further momentum; as an observer at the Conference of the Parties, DEU should constructively support the intentions of the treaty
Support for the start of negotiations between Russia and the USA on verifiable and complete disarmament in the sub-strategic area with the aim of withdrawing and destroying nuclear weapons in Germany and Europe

Disarmament and Arms Control

First steps to revive conventional arms control are de-escalating measures in conflict zones and resumption of security dialogue and military contacts between NATO and Russia; involve all countries, including China
Germany must take the lead in regulating autonomous weapons systems in an internationally binding manner and in outlawing and banning applications that violate ethical and international law principles in an internationally binding manner
The same applies to digital weapons such as attack and spy software

Nuclear Disarmament

Aspiration of a world free of nuclear weapons
New treaty initiative necessary after denunciation of the INF Treaty; rejection of the stationing of new medium-range missiles in Europe
Use transatlantic relaunch and revival of New-START to enter into talks with USA on Obama's "Global Zero
Germany to be free of nuclear weapons and join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; can only be achieved through intermediate steps: first, Germany should participate in the Conference of the Parties as an observer; beyond that, in the coming legislature, an international initiative to reduce the number of nuclear weapons, a NATO renunciation of any first strike, and a broad public debate on the outdated deterrence doctrines of the Cold War
Awareness of the need for numerous talks in the alliance in view of Russian rearmament, as well as strengthening and reassurance of the Poles and the Balts

Disarmament and arms control

Need urgent disarmament negotiations on cyber weapons and hypersonic glide vehicles

Nuclear Disarmament

Commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons
Germany and Europe must provide strong impetus to renew and rethink the instruments of disarmament and arms control
Can only succeed if nuclear weapons states such as China are involved in addition to the USA and Russia
Urgent need for disarmament negotiations on hypersonic glide vehicles

Support programs in the economy as well as for research at universities should only serve civilian production

Disarmament and Arms Control

Adherence to the vision of a world without armies
In the coming year, call on all countries in the world to reduce military spending by 10%; leaves relative security balance the same and frees up billions for pandemic recovery, social systems and fighting hunger and poverty

Nuclear Disarmament

Nuclear weapons powers are not meeting their disarmament obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty
UN General Assembly voted in favor of a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT); German government did not even participate in negotiations; this was wrong
Rejection of the dangerous concept of nuclear deterrence
Use of uranium-enriched mission must be outlawed
Federal government must heed appeal of "Mayors for Peace" campaign and move forward with global outlawing of nuclear weapons
U.S. nuclear weapons must be withdrawn and destroyed immediately; no nuclear weapons may be stationed in Germany; the German government must not provide delivery systems and pilots for them
Nuclear sharing within NATO must be ended; no combat flight carrier systems may be made available or acquired for this purpos
Germany must finally sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Germany should support a relaunch of the treaty banning medium-range missiles between the USA and Russia

Preservation of an efficient and autonomous defense technology industry in Germany

Disarmament and Arms Control

Commitment to strengthening and expanding control mechanisms for conventional and nuclear armaments; as well as renegotiation of recently suspended treaties (INF, Open Skies)
Commitment to global abolition of NBC weapons

Nuclear Disarmament

Rejects nuclear first-strike reservations; advocates global abolition of NBC weapons

Arms Exports

Arms exports are a shaping element of security policy; commitment to uniform European guidelines

Advocacy for tightening of EU arms export agreements
Arms exports to non-EU or non-NATO countries only if recipient country ratifies and complies with Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)

Arms exports to dictatorships, regimes that despise human rights and war zones are prohibited
Joint restrictive arms export control by the EU with enforceable strict rules and sanction options
Arms export law for Germany, introduction of a right of action by associations in the event of violations of the new law and effective end-use control
Abolition of Hermes guarantees in the arms sector
Strictly regulate the use of security companies in international
Strictly regulate the use of security companies in international conflicts and ban private military companies
Ban the export of European surveillance technology (such as facial recognition software) to repressive regimes; anchor the safeguard clause in German and European export controls

Support Arms Export Control Act for a legal ban on all arms exports
Support the Hamburg popular initiative against arms exports
Immediate stop of all arms exports, especially export of arms factories, small arms and light weapons
End Hermes guarantees; arms exports must no longer be supported with taxpayers' money
Force European arms companies such as Airbus or Rheinmetall to cease arms production for authoritarian regimes; the same applies to digital technology that enables surveillance and control of telecommunications and terminal equipment
Close legal loopholes that allow German companies to circumvent German laws
Exports of dual-use goods that can be used to manufacture chemical or biological weapons must not be approved to states that have not ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention or the Biological Weapons Convention, respectively
Exports of substances suitable for the production of chemical weapons must be subject to tighter controls
Together with social partners from trade unions, the peace movement and churches, develop conversion programs for and with employees in the arms industry in order to create new, civilian jobs

New German Foreign and Security Policy

Make Germany fit for global politics; can only succeed with new foreign policy strength
Must be more prepared than in the past to use all instruments of German foreign, defense and development policy, including military ones if necessary
Assume more responsibility with partners internationally, both in robust operations and in peace missions and development cooperation on the ground
Become a security architecture that enables better coordination and a forward-looking strategic approach
Bundle more strategic approach in a national security strategy to be presented regularly and debated in parliament
Create a National Security Council in the Federal Chancellery

Establishment of a mechanism at the parliamentary level that examines programs, laws and plans to determine whether they contradict peace policy goals

Aligning all policy areas in Germany with sustainability transformation
More interdepartmental analyses, early crisis detection and project planning, closer coordination with international partners, and an appropriately endowed fund
"Crisis prevention, conflict management and peacebuilding"
Strengthening scientific freedom must be a central aspect of foreign policy; therefore, expand foreign science policy
Establish a National Council for Peace, Sustainability and Human Rights; for strategic and coherent action in all departments and policy areas
Introduce a sustainability and human rights TÜV for proposed legislation; check for compatibility with UN sustainability and climate goals and human rights agreements
50% women's quota in all international negotiations, secondments to international organizations and implementation levels; also means 50% quota in the selection of personnel for international assignments, in ministries working internationally, and in both the senior and European Foreign Services
Stable indicators, criteria and timeframes for gender equality plans of ministries, comparable to Swedish Government
Make the Foreign Service fit for today's tasks
Together with civil society and academia, develop binding guidelines for a feminist foreign policy for the German government

Call for a unified German foreign, security and development policy; more strategic and institutionally unified approach
Implement the networked approach more strongly than before
Establish a National Security Council
Develop an overall political strategy that sets out goals and priorities
Invest 3 percent of GDP in international security (3D - defense, development, diplomacy) as part of the networked approach; in this way, fulfill NATO commitments, consolidate development policy and strengthen diplomacy
Commitment to improved, earlier and more stringent coordination of Germany's European policy in the next government

Rejection of the enemy image designations of China and Russia in NATO and EU strategy papers
Non-violent conflict resolution and cross-border cooperation, instead of arms exports and foreign deployments of the Bundeswehr
Rejection of the GroKo's rearmament and confrontation course
Rejection of civil-military cooperation; civilian aid must not be linked to military measures
Foreign policy must become feminist social and ecological and not only serve economic interests and put short-term self-interests first
German foreign, development and human rights policy must promote peace policy and gender justice worldwide
Close all foreign military bases in Germany

DGAP publications on this topic

Action Plan for German Foreign Policy Structures

How Germany Can Better Make, Communicate, and Implement Foreign Policy Decisions

Prof. Dr. Daniela Schwarzer

Dr. Christian Mölling

Action Plan for Security and Defense Policy

What Germany Must Do for Security, Defense, and Peace

Dr. Claudia Major

Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller

Dr. Christian Mölling

(Even) More Money for Security and Defense

How, For What, and Why Germany Should Increase Its Defense Budget

Sophia Becker

Dr. Christian Mölling

German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr)

Continue along the path of cooperation and integration with armed forces in Europe and allies
No place for extremists in the Bundeswehr
In the event of a particular terrorist threat, the Bundeswehr must also be allowed to provide support in the interior; under the leadership of the police and within the framework of defined limits
Visits by Bundeswehr youth officers to schools should have a fixed place in the school curriculum
Free rail travel for soldiers a complete success; expansion to include public transport
Vows to be held largely in public
Continue voluntary military service in homeland security

Bundeswehr Equipment

Bundeswehr must have all modern technologies needed for defense; this includes unmanned and AI-integrated systems
Target: By 2030 at the latest, the Bundeswehr should provide at least 10% of NATO's military capabilities
Explicit commitment to NATO's 2% target
Germany's participation in nuclear sharing is an important component of credible deterrence; necessary financial resources must be made available for this purpose
Bundeswehr Planning Act to secure financial resources even in the event of economic fluctuations
Increase number of soldiers to 203,000 in accordance with personnel structure model
Renewal of the procurement system
Develop new capabilities in cyber and information space and in space; seek legal regulation of military use of AI, cyber and space capabilities
Strengthen Bundeswehr capabilities for drone defense, air defense, and electronic warfare
Limit military acquisition costs through joint armament projects with European partners; advance key central projects with commitment

Drones

Commitment to the weaponization of drones, which is nowadays a matter of course in military terms
Strengthening the Bundeswehr's drone defense, air defense and electronic warfare capabilities

Bundeswehr Deployment

Participate in foreign missions with partners whenever German security interests are at risk

Intelligence Reform(s)

Reject any weakening of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Task of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in combating terrorism Focus on social networks, especially with regard to radicalized individual perpetrators
The powers of the police and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution must be as effective in the digital world as they are in the analog world
Adjust the requirements for source tapping and online searches throughout Germany so that they are legally secure and effective
Same software for federal and state governments with a common legal framework so that it is fast and reliable in the event of imminent danger
Adapt powers of intervention if perpetrators' modus operandi or technical frameworks change; use possibilities of AI to identify structures at an early stage and counter them

Attractiveness of service in the armed forces to be increased

Bundeswehr Equipment

Only a well-equipped and modern Bundeswehr can fulfill its tasks as an international partner
In the last legislative period, after years of austerity measures, investments in the defense budget were increased; principle: equipment instead of rearmament

Drones

Protection of soldiers, also by drones; decision on whether these should be armed only possible after a comprehensive political and social debate with careful consideration of all aspects
Unmanned armed drones to be recorded internationally and included in international regulatory framework; comprehensive debate

Bundeswehr should reflect the diversity and variety of society in its personnel structure
Ideologies that are hostile to humanity and right-wing extremism have no place in the Bundeswehr; such structures must be dismantled and consistently pursued; in addition to comprehensive education, effective prevention is crucial, through practiced and further developed Innere Führung (internal leadership), responsible recruitment of personnel and up-to-date, binding political education
Rejects the recruitment of minors as well as the armed deployment of the Bundeswehr in internal affairs
Needs interdepartmental strategies to combat hybrid threats, clear legal guidelines and strong parliamentary control for the actions of the Bundeswehr in cyberspace; Bundeswehr needs a self-image in digital space oriented toward protection and defense
Soldiers should be comprehensively cared for and supported after missions; expand services for mission victims
Ending voluntary military service in homeland security
Equalize political education in schools by strengthening civilian crisis prevention and conflict management

Bundeswehr Equipment

The Bundeswehr must be securely and predictably equipped in terms of personnel and materiel in accordance with its mission and tasks, and must be organized in the best possible way; inadequate protective equipment during missions is unacceptable

Drones

Reject armed drones for extralegal killings and other acts in violation of international law
Recognize, however, that these systems can better protect soldiers
Therefore, it must be made clear for which Bundeswehr deployment scenarios armed drones should be used at all before deciding on their procurement; factors such as "hackability" must play a role in consideration

Bundeswehr Deployment

Support international missions within the UN framework that contribute to stability, the protection of civilians, and the implementation of peace processes; use of force as a last resort may be necessary
Bundeswehr missions abroad must be embedded in a system of mutual collective security - i.e. not in unconstitutional coalitions of the willing - and in an overall political concept based on the Basic Law and international law
A mandate from the United Nations is required for interventions in the sovereignty of a state or where state sovereignty is lacking
Abuse of the veto power in the UN Security Council to cover human rights violations poses a dilemma for the international community, since inaction is just as damaging to human rights and international law as action
Address resource and capability gaps in peacekeeping and significantly increase civilian and military contributions to UN operations
High proportion of women through targeted recruitment; deployment needs a clear and achievable mission, balanced civilian and military capabilities, and independent (interim) evaluations

Intelligence Reform(s)

Constitutional protection has gambled away a lot of trust in the past
The expertise on anti-constitutional efforts that already exists in academia and civil society must be used more systematically; include expertise and strengthen it across the board through the Democracy Promotion Act
Structural reorganization: first, with an independent institute for constitutional protection that works scientifically from public sources, and second, with a downsized Federal Office for Danger Identification and Counterintelligence, which works with intelligence resources that conform to the rule of law and are clearly separated from police tasks
Closer parliamentary control and legal regulation of the use of human sources in order to regain trust

Bundeswehr Deployment

Training and equipping soldiers must be brought into line with the missions of the Bundeswehr
Support for the NATO Wales Decision
The trend reversals that have been initiated must be reviewed and the modernization process must be financially secured in the long term
Invest 3% of GDP in international security (3D - defense, development, diplomacy) as part of the networked approach; thus fulfills NATO commitments, solidifies development policy and strengthens diplomacy

Drones

Homeland security in the airspace and drone defense must be borne by the public sector and organized effectively

Intelligence Reform(s)

Reject the use of "state Trojans," especially for intelligence gathering
Source tapping and online searches only if core area of people's private lives is protected
No exploitation or acquisition of IT security vulnerabilities; instead, vulnerability management and reporting to the BSI
Rejection of data retention; instead, quick freeze procedure
Parliamentary control and data protection oversight must also apply to security agency cooperation platforms such as GTAZ or GETZ
Security law moratorium pending evaluation of security laws related to existing powers
Anchor separation law to separate tasks of intelligence services and police in GG
Reorganize control of intelligence services according to three-pillar model (judicial independence; improved parliamentary control; parliamentary intelligence commissioners)
Telecommunications companies must provide effective legal protection; those affected need a practically effective right of action against surveillance measures
Surveillance in Germany or another EU state must be communicated to those affected after the measures have been completed

No accession of a federal government that wages wars, permits combat missions of the Bundeswehr and promotes rearmament and militarization
Rearmament of the Bundeswehr is accompanied by militarization of society
Extreme right-wing, racist and democracy-endangering ideas in the Bundeswehr and in security companies working for Germany must be uncovered and combated
Scandal surrounding right-wing networks in the Bundeswehr shows the danger to democracy posed by the Bundeswehr's orientation toward war missions
Rejection of Bundeswehr advertising in job centers, schools, etc. as well as in public; no advertising for dying
Bundeswehr must not accept minors; not even in so-called voluntary homeland security
Rejection of voluntary homeland security as a form of militarization of society
Rejection of the use of the Bundeswehr in the interior; disaster control must be better equipped - Bundeswehr not as planned compensation for poor disaster control; Bundeswehr must never be given police powers
Bundeswehr and secret services have no business in the area of defense against attacks on IT infrastructure; instead, promote independence of BSI
Study on racism and right-wing ideas in the Bundeswehr
Disband the KSK
Annual reduction in military spending

Bundeswehr Equipment

Federal government and EU are arming; thus intensify conflicts
Refusal to invest in militarization and rearmament
Conversion of the Bundeswehr into a globally operating army does not serve our security, but large corporations and elites in the global struggle for raw materials, spheres of influence and sales markets; first dismantle material and troop units that are designed exclusively for foreign missions
Expenditures for armaments must be drastically reduced; will reject increases in military and armaments expenditures; the price for a highly equipped Bundeswehr is the lack of billions in tax revenues for the expansion of the health care system, social infrastructure, education and climate protection
Invest funds currently spent on foreign missions in a civilian reconstruction and peacekeeping program
Downsize the Bundeswehr
Do without large-scale armament projects such as FCAS or MGCS
Disband the Bundeswehr's cyber and information space; Left strictly rejects paradigm shift in military technology to "revolution in military affairs" (RMA) and cyberwar
No new combat flight carrier systems for nuclear sharing should be acquired

Drones

No to combat drones
As a first step, Germany must generally refrain from arming drones and lobby internationally for a ban on nuclear weapons that is binding under international law
Arming drones first step toward autonomous weapons systems, for example planned remote carriers at FCAS; Left rejects this
Close Ramstein and other US military bases in Germany; no drone warfare from German soil!
Federal government must launch initiative for worldwide outlawing of autonomous weapons systems; no more research for this in Germany

Bundeswehr Deployment

Left opposes all foreign missions mandated by the Bundestag; also opposes the presence of German soldiers abroad under NATO responsibility (such as in Lithuania)
Withdrawal from Afghanistan is to be welcomed, but reveals disaster; none of the declared goals has been achieved
Bundeswehr must not be re-deployed in new foreign missions
Rejection of training missions for soldiers and security forces
No participation in international police and intelligence missions or training missions that serve to support authoritarian regimes
Withdrawal of the Bundeswehr, special forces and intelligence services from all active foreign missions

Intelligence Reform(s)

No participation in international police and intelligence missions or training missions that serve to support authoritarian regimes
Withdrawal of the Bundeswehr, special forces and intelligence services from all active foreign missions

National and alliance defense as main task
Cultivating a strong esprit de corps, German values and living the best traditions of German military history (incl. songs and customs)
Massive strengthening of the Bundeswehr against hybrid threats and cyberattacks
Re-introduction of compulsory military service, supplemented by a community service year (in nursing, fire department, THW) for those who do not opt for military service
Service in the armed forces reserved exclusively for Germans (i.e., no other citizenship) to avoid conflicts of loyalty
Uniform federal pay for soldiers, police officers and emergency services, with hazard, overtime and special duty allowances

Bundeswehr Equipment

In line with U.S. demands for equitable burden sharing and European aspirations for a greater say in NATO, it is in Germany's interest to strengthen the European pillar of NATO
Bundeswehr in desolate condition; privatization and centralization must be reversed; autonomy in materiel and personnel; responsibility returned to inspectors and commanders

Intelligence Reform(s)

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution must be reformed so that it can no longer be misused as a party-political instrument against political opponents

Terrorism

Resolutely oppose all forms of extremism, whether from the right, the left or Islamism
Violent left-wing extremism must be consistently countered
Increasing anti-Semitism is shameful; clearly name and combat it - regardless of where it comes from
Islamophobia must not be tolerated, nor must antiziganism and other racially motivated devaluations of groups
In the future, the German Bundestag should receive regular reports on extremism from the federal government

Counterterrorism

Commitment to Frankfurt am Main becoming the seat of the new independent EU authority for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism
Task of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution to focus on social networks, especially with regard to radicalized individual perpetrators
GETZ and GTAZ have proven their worth
Further intensify cooperation between all security authorities and constantly adapt to current challenges
In the event of a particular terrorist threat, the Bundeswehr must also be allowed to provide support inside the country, under the command of the police and within the framework of defined borders
Support states in the Middle East and Mediterranean region in the fight against terrorism
Closer cooperation between European police forces and intelligence services in view of the ongoing terrorist threat
Linking existing data from European police forces and security agencies in a way that allows access to data needed to prevent attacks and prosecute terrorism; sharing broadly enough to enable rapid police responses
Pan-European tracking of threats, joint threat assessment, and merging of national threat lists
Develop Europol so that it becomes a kind of European FBI in key areas such as cybercrime or terrorism; operational powers remain with member states
For rapid progress on e-evidence regulations at European level
Identify extremist tendencies at an early stage with targeted educational work and react in good time
Intensive prevention work in prisons
Advice and concrete help for dropouts
Systematically evaluate, professionalize and standardize federal prevention programs
Re-introduce a democracy clause; those who receive funding must commit to the FDGO
Use all necessary instruments: Bans on anti-constitutional organizations, bans on symbols of hatred and terror, entry and residence bans, expulsions, deportations and fundamental rights forfeitures
Use all legal means to monitor dangerous persons; establish legal basis for monitoring with state-of-the-art technology (e.g. electronic ankle bracelets)
Place radicalized dangerous persons in preventive detention as soon as they come to the attention of the criminal authorities; already for first-time offenders
Make soliciting sympathy for criminal or terrorist organizations a punishable offense again
Judges should be able to impose a general, lifelong ban on weapons upon conviction
Increase minimum sentence for gun trafficking to no less than 2 years
Politically motivated criminals who are known to the police and change their place of residence to be automatically transferred to the relevant state protection agency
Central Financial Transaction Investigation Unit (FIU) must be significantly strengthened; reconnection to BKA necessary

Right-Wing Terrorism

Right-wing extremism remains the greatest threat
Create special police units for "cold cases" to reexamine unsolved serious crimes with a possible right-wing extremist background

Islamic Terrorism

Islamism is an extremist political ideology; fight it with the full force of the rule of law
Take a closer look at the ideological basis of Islamism
More transparency with regard to foreign sponsors of mosques in Germany

Counterterrorism

Protection of the Constitution must be a democratic early warning system
Prohibition of anti-constitutional organizations
Consistent intervention by security authorities where religious freedom is abused for religious fanaticism
Advance measures with the states to protect against radicalization and deradicalize offenders

Right-Wing Terrorism

Consistently combat right-wing extremism in the armed forces
Countering the emergence of racist thought patterns in everyday police work through supervision, advanced and further training and good working conditions
Establishment of a special prosecutor's office to prosecute anti-Semitism and racism

Need for a European harmonized definition of threats with legally verifiable classification and de-classification criteria
Cooperation and communication
between security authorities, including across national borders, must be reformed; also means creating legal basis for GTAZ and GETZ
Rejection of encroachments on fundamental rights for classified dangerous persons beyond the defense against terrorism
Rejection of the use of biometric identification in public spaces, such as facial recognition, as well as the indiscriminate expansion of video surveillance, the indefinite
data retention, general backdoors in digital devices and applications, or the infiltration of technical devices (online searches or source tapping)
Better analytical capacities and resolute punishment and documentation of anti-Semitic incidents
Need guidelines for effective protection of Jewish institutions
Continued threats to Muslim institutions show that prevention programs and comprehensive protection concepts for Muslim individuals and spaces are urgently needed
Want an independent, civil society monitoring and information center to document and process racist incidents, also against Sinti and Roma; implement new EU Roma framework strategy (post-2020)
Close and consistent monitoring of dangerous persons; consistent execution of open arrest warrants for dangerous persons; consolidate ongoing proceedings across national borders
Expand dropout, assistance and counseling programs for people from the right-wing extremist and Islamist scenes; needs a nationwide, professionalized prevention and deradicalization network
Strengthen prevention and deradicalization in prisons
Step up prosecution of illegal arms trafficking, including and especially on online marketplaces; gradually end availability of weapons, except for hunters

Counterterrorism

Cross-border cooperation in fighting crime needs an independent judiciary and fair criminal proceedings in all EU member states
Cross-border cooperation in fighting crime needs an independent judiciary and fair criminal proceedings in all EU member states
Stronger cross-border police and judicial cooperation: through joint European police teams, by upgrading Europol to a European Criminal Investigation Office, and through closer judicial cooperation between the member states, also with the help of Eurojust and in the fight against fraud affecting EU finances with the EU anti-fraud office OLAF and the
European Public Prosecutor's Office using state-of-the-art analytical methods

Right-Wing Terrorism

Nationwide networked prevention strategy; also focus on nationalist-folkish and anti-feminist diminesions such as "Grey Wolves
Support civil society organizations through democracy promotion legislation
Initiate independent scientific studies on racism and right-wing extremism in the security authorities, record hate violence and prosecute it consistently
Establish an archive on right-wing terror similar to the Stasi Records Authority (on the NSU murder series)
Establish a federal fund for victims and victims of right-wing violence
Crimes against black people should be explicitly reported in the constitutional protection report

Politics and security authorities must take specific threat to Jewish life seriously
FDP observes BDS with concern and confronts it clearly
Effective protection of Jewish institutions through state measures
Contact persons at the police to deal with anti-Semitic dangers and deeds
Teaching materials and teachers to prevent anti-Semitic prejudices at schools
Ban on anti-Semitic and anti-Israel business practices in Germany
Consideration of a ban on the al-Quds march in Berlin
Tougher criminal sanctions for burning Israel flags as an expression of Israel-related anti-Semitism

Counterterrorism

Countering all extremism (right-wing, left-wing, religious or nationalist)
Parliamentary control and data protection oversight must also apply to security agency cooperation platforms such as GTAZ or GETZ
Findings of national security authorities on cross-border issues should be jointly evaluated and operations coordinated
Better equipment of police and judiciary as well as renewal of the security architecture to counter enemies of the rule of law
Standardization of threat databases and definitions at the European level
Expansion of scientific expertise in the security authorities
Putting prevention work and functioning dropout programs on a reliable footing

Right-Wing Terrorism

Right-wing extremism and racism is a particular challenge
No place for people with right-wing extremist attitudes in public service
Consistent ban on right-wing extremist associations
Intensification of observations of right-wing extremist threats
Protection of particularly endangered groups and institutions by security authorities

Islamic Terrorism

Joint federal and state prevention strategy against Islamist radicalization (after prior evaluation of all ongoing projects)

Counterterrorism

Anti-terrorism legislation of the federal governments of the past 20 years should be put to the test in terms of civil law
Lifting of the PKK ban

Right-Wing Terrorism

Extreme right-wing, racist and democracy-endangering ideas in the Bundeswehr and in security companies working for Germany must be uncovered and combated
Right-wing terrorists encouraged by a social climate in which the value of human life is questioned
Since the Office for the Protection of the Constitution gives priority to protecting informants, it repeatedly obstructs police investigations and even helps build extreme right-wing structures
There is no equipment and authority problem with security agencies, but an attitude problem
With its policies, the grand coalition has prepared the breeding ground on which racism and ideologies of exclusion thrive
Necessary to stop the AfD in parliament and on the streets
Set up a committee of inquiry into right-wing terrorism and create focal points of investigation against militant neo-Nazis; release all NSU files
Protest and education against the right are a condition of democracy and must no longer be criminalized; strengthen civil society democracy alliances as well as antifa initiatives with a genuine democracy promotion law and provide long-term financial support; there must be no structural mistrust and no compulsion to cooperate with the police and domestic intelligence service
Replace the Office for the Protection of the Constitution with an independent monitoring center; not part of the solution, but part of the problem; first step: uncover and end the domestic intelligence service's V-people system and its entanglements with the extreme right
Disarm the extreme right and Reichsbürger as well as focus investigations on right-wing terror at the BKA and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, especially right-wing networks in the police, the Bundeswehr and special forces
Right of abode for victims of right-wing violence
Scientific investigation of extreme right-wing attitudes and racist practices in the police and the Bundeswehr; in the police, an independent complaints and investigation body at the federal level, mandatory identification, an overhaul of training and rotation models for closed units are needed
Ban on militant, armed, neo-Nazi organizations

Prohibition of the use of military security and mercenary companies

Counterterrorism

Left-wing extremism increasingly crosses threshold into left-wing terrorism
Re-introduction of a binding extremism clause in the allocation of state subsidies
Ban on the left-wing extremist platform "Indymedia
Classify groups associated with Antifa as terrorist groups

Right-Wing Terrorism

Jewish life threatened not only by right-wing extremism but increasingly by Muslims hostile to Jews and Israel

Islamic Terrorism

Islamist terrorism remains a serious threat that must be combated with all available legal means
Jewish life threatened not only by right-wing extremism but increasingly by Muslims hostile to Jews and Israel; ban on Al-Quds Days in Berlin

DGAP publications on this topic

Artikelbild: Anti-Terror-Betonpoller vor Striezelmarkt in Dresden

Gewaltorientierter Extremismus

Deutschland braucht eine nachhaltige Präventionspolitik

Sofia Koller

Miriam Katharina Heß

Alexander Ritzmann

Democracy Protection

Media competence is democratic competence
Democracy Promotion Act for long-term support of associations, projects, initiatives
Improve access to political education opportunities; make it easier for employees to use educational leave to take time off for volunteer work

Participation and media competence as well as political education as a cross-sectional task in daycare centers, schools and youth welfare for growing democrats
Democracy promotion law for foundations, NGOs, etc.
Strengthening the Federal Agency for Civic Education

Scandal about right-wing networks in the Bundeswehr shows the danger to democracy posed by the Bundeswehr's focus on war missions

Totalitarian tendencies threatening democracy (opening of borders, Corona policy) have also increased in Germany, mainstream media have given up critical-objective reporting; only alternative media and whistleblowers remain to expose governmental injustice
EU directive on whistleblower protection insufficient; call for national law on whistleblower protection (adaptation of civil service law, alternative external reporting options, protection of whistleblower)
Comprehensive screening of all mosque associations for unconstitutionality

DGAP publications on this topic

Action Plan for Resilience and Democracy

How Germany Can Repel Attacks on Its Society and Democracy

Prof. Dr. Christian Calliess

DGAP publications on the topic

Action Plan for German Foreign Policy Structures

How Germany Can Better Make, Communicate, and Implement Foreign Policy Decisions

Prof. Dr. Daniela Schwarzer

Dr. Christian Mölling

Action Plan for Security and Defense Policy

What Germany Must Do for Security, Defense, and Peace

Dr. Claudia Major

Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller

Dr. Christian Mölling

(Even) More Money for Security and Defense

How, For What, and Why Germany Should Increase Its Defense Budget

Sophia Becker

Dr. Christian Mölling

Gewaltorientierter Extremismus

Deutschland braucht eine nachhaltige Präventionspolitik

Sofia Koller

Miriam Katharina Heß

Alexander Ritzmann

Action Plan for Resilience and Democracy

How Germany Can Repel Attacks on Its Society and Democracy

Prof. Dr. Christian Calliess

Back to the topic overview

Technology and Digitalization

Cyber Security

Develop new Bundeswehr capabilities in cyber, information space, and space; seek legal regulation of military use of AI, cyber, and space capabilities
Expand European cyber brigade; defend against cyberattacks, disinformation, terrorism; develop offensive capabilities itself
Transparent certification of IT products by the BSI
Advance cyber security research in Germany; includes leading encryption technology and security-by-design solutions; also non-discriminatory algorithms

Cybersecurity Strategy

Continually assess what is needed to respond appropriately to dynamic developments in cyberspace
BSI as a strong third pillar of the cybersecurity architecture alongside the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA)
Invest more money in protection against cyber attacks in IT procurement projects
Create own technical capabilities to be able to actively act on the cause of serious cyber attacks to stop them
Expand BSI to become the central agency for information and cyber security issues
Further develop National Cyber Defense Center so that it can coordinate defenses against threats and attacks
"Cyber quota"; in future, allocate certain proportion of material funds for federal IT projects to information security

Cybercrime

Businesses and SMEs in particular are sought-after targets of foreign intelligence services and criminals; protective measures against cyberattacks must be stepped up
Expand role of BSI advisory services for businesses
Examine tax incentives such as faster write-off options for investments in IT security; accelerate and simplify applications for funding programs
Further develop Europol so that it becomes a kind of European FBI in important areas such as cybercrime or terrorist attacks; operational powers remain with member states

Establish arms control in the areas of biotechnology, cyber and AI
Strengths of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
Expansion of encryption research
Require manufacturers of software, hardware and digital services to be secure (security by design) and to choose the most secure option as the default setting (security by default)

Disinformation

Disinformation campaigns threaten democracy
Commitment to European rules to combat punishable online hate speech
Expansion of European early warning systems against disinformation campaigns

Cybercrime

Further develop NetzDG

Special protection for critical infrastructure
The validity of the UN Charter must be extended and international humanitarian law must also be applied in cyberspace; to this end, European cooperation must also be expanded, to which Germany must make a corresponding contribution
Germany must work internationally to regulate digital weapons such as attack and espionage software in a binding manner and to outlaw and ban applications that violate ethics and international law in an internationally binding manner

Cybersecurity Strategy

In federal IT procurements, factors such as vendor dependency, follow-on procurement, technical openness, security, data protection, repairability, sustainability, and social criteria must be mandatory factors in assessments
Strengthen digital competencies of security agencies
Needs interdepartmental strategies to combat hybrid threats, clear legal requirements and strong parliamentary oversight for Bundeswehr actions in cyberspace; Bundeswehr needs a self-image in digital space oriented toward protection and defense
All government agencies must continuously increase their resilience and support critical infrastructure operators in doing so
Incentivize good data protection and best IT security, expand innovative, technical approaches to effective protection, and promote auditing and uniform European certifications
Provide greater support for the work of supervisory authorities; strengthen the independence of the BSI
Promote the development of secure hardware in a targeted manner
Introduce an obligation to actively report security vulnerabilities and work toward remediation

Disinformation

In dealing with disinformation, but also for the legal control of platform providers as a whole, better structure supervision both nationally and at European level, e.g., with joint media authority of the federal states

Urgently need international disarmament negotiations on cyber weapons
Strengthen and upgrade the BSI
Strengthen the European cybersecurity agency ENISA

Cybersecurity Strategy

Germany must take a leadership role in Europe and internationally as part of an effective cybersecurity strategy, especially on the right to privacy, anonymity online and encryption, and protection of personal data and from mass surveillance
Actually implementable and agile cybersecurity strategy; components: effective vulnerability management, right to encryption, security-by-design incl. liability of manufacturers for damages caused by negligent IT gaps, obligation of manufacturers to provide updates during the normal useful life of a product
Initiation of a national strategy for cybersecurity in science together with the states, universities and scientific institutions

Disinformation

Want to empower Europe's liberal democracies to be able to defend against disinformation
Germany needs to take a more proactive approach through active diplomacy, a pooling of responsibilities at
intelligence services and the work of political foundations
Combine efforts, incorporating the latest research findings
Better protection of critical election infrastructure
Uniform European approach to covert party financing
Advice to member states from the Commission and the European External Action Service
Lifelong learning concepts to teach digital and media literacy so that all people can evaluate Internet content in context
Strengthening Deutsche Welle abroad

Cybercrime

Enable victims of crimes on the Internet to obtain a right to information against platforms and Internet providers
Abolish NetzDG and replace it with a regulatory mix; it is the task of the state to take action against criminal acts

Research on IT security must be promoted more strongly and not criminalized
Disband cyber and information space of the Bundeswehr; Left strictly rejects paradigm shift in military technology to "revolution in military affairs" (RMA) and cyberwar
Combating cybercrime and protecting critical infrastructure are the responsibility of domestic security agencies, not the Bundeswehr
Extend liability of IT software manufacturers; legal requirements for product lifetime, mandatory security updates and support
Prohibit and prevent intelligence agencies from buying up information about and commissioning work on security vulnerabilities in IT systems
Obligation to report security vulnerabilities
give
Oppose the EU Commission's efforts to criminalize end-to-end encryption

Cybersecurity Strategy

German armed forces and intelligence services have no business in the area of defending against attacks on IT infrastructure; instead, promote independence of BSI
Open source operating systems and applications must be promoted by the state; the development of privacy-by-design standards can be linked to the promotion of open source technologies
Digital violence on the Net must be legally recognized and prosecuted; build up competence in law enforcement agencies

Disinformation

Stronger media education instead of censorship is needed to combat disinformation

Cybercrime

Combating cybercrime and protecting critical infrastructure is the task of domestic security authorities, not the Bundeswehr

Authorities must not use software backdoors; security vulnerabilities must be reported and closed immediately Massive strengthening of the Bundeswehr against hybrid threats and cyberattacks
Municipal critical infrastructure must be better protected against hacker attacks
Immediate update of all IT security laws and strategies in Germany
Uniform legal framework for certification and standardization of IT infrastructures, products, services and systems
Expansion of the BSI into an authority for digital consumer protection
Abolition of the NetzDG

Data Protection and Privacy

GDPR enables sovereign handling of data, but can only be used by individual citizens with a lot of effort
Voluntary data donation passport gives new opportunities for simpler and clearer consent forms and cookie consents
The potential of data is still not sufficiently exploited; data protection is not a "super fundamental right"; excessive interpretation of data protection requirements must not be allowed to inhibit innovation and slow down procedures bureaucratically
Fundamental issues in data protection should be decided once and bindingly throughout the EU at the European level
Ensure greater data transparency (comprehensible terms and conditions, active decisions on use of data)
Eliminate legal ambiguities in data protection and streamline authority structures; harmonize data protection supervision in Germany; better coordination and comparable interpretation at European level

Big Data

To enable innovation, pharmaceutical companies need pseudonymized healthcare data

Based on the model of a digital "life chain," citizens (in an official context) should be able to assign and delete authorizations themselves in order to control who accesses their data
Protection of the right to informational self-determination
GDPR is milestone; needs practical improvement in enforcement
Need well-equipped and effective data protection supervisory authorities
Against mandatory use of clear names on the Internet
Technically secure end-to-end encryption a matter of course
Create permanent, regular and independent monitoring of laws in the security sector in relation to the Federal Constitutional Court's ruling on recording by state surveillance measures

Big Data

Creation of a data law that focuses on data use for the common good (incl. trusted data-sharing infrastructure; establishment of public data fiduciaries; requiring large corporations to share anonymized data for public good purposes)
Funding for development of anonymization techniques and punitive prohibitions on de-anonymization
Stringent regulation and oversight that ensures algorithm and AI decisions are clearly defined and verifiable (including for transparency and anti-discrimination)

Digital Service Act

To protect suspects who have committed crimes from or on the Internet, national protection provisions Criminal Code and NetzDG must be further developed; also advocacy for binding European rules under the Digital Service Act

Set own European standards and rules
Encrypted communications save lives every day and social media make human rights abuses visible
End-to-end encryption must become standard for all government IT projects
Reject the use of biometric identification in public spaces, such as facial recognition, as well as the indiscriminate expansion of video surveillance, indefinite
data retention, general backdoors in digital devices and applications, or the infiltration of technical devices (online searches or source tapping)
Strengthen secure digital networking of civil society organizations worldwide through trainings
Ban the export of European surveillance technology (such as facial recognition software) to repressive regimes; anchor the safeguard clause in German and European export controls
Decriminalize encrypted communications; oppose weakening of encryption technologies and standards
Data protection authorities to be consulted in Bundeskartellamt merger control and their opinions to be taken into account in merger decisions

Big Data

Needs a paradigm shift toward common standards instead of compartmentalized data silos
Create new approaches, especially in the industrial sector, to improve joint voluntary use of non-personal and anonymized personal data, e.g. from development and manufacturing processes, and make it legally secure
Clear legal rules for cooperative and decentralized data pools and data trust models
such as data cooperatives
Europe needs to invest in its own expertise in big data processing for artificial intelligence
Want to advance quality criteria as well as European efforts for transparency and verifiability in algorithms so that algorithmic decision-making systems do not discriminate; increasingly define and implement equal standards at the European level; also means modernizing the General Equal Treatment Act as well as strict criteria for the use of algorithmic and automated decisions, especially in public administration; platform providers must also be able to make and explain their automated decisions, comparisons or prices transparently
Propose a federal transparency law, through which government data holdings are made available to the general public according to the principle of Open Data; wherever possible, use open interfaces, standards and software
Establish a public data institute with a statutory research mandate to address fundamental questions about making data more accessible or anonymous and to promote networking and the development of standards and licensing models; goal: timely data for research
Strengthen the Federal Statistical Office to improve data availability for policymakers, the public, and researchers and to make data available in a more timely manner

Need more self-determination and transparency in data protection; processing only after consent has been given
Consider impact of data protection measures for SMEs whose core business is not handling personal data
Make data protection usable with as little bureaucracy as possible, effective and technically less costly solutions; targeted regulations, for example, for the protection of telecommunications data or data processing by drones
Rejection of any restriction on cryptography and any obligation to keep IT security loopholes open
Rejection of the use of "state Trojans," especially for intelligence gathering purposes
Source telecommunication surveillance and online searches only if the core area of people's private lives is protected
No exploitation or acquisition of IT security vulnerabilities; instead, vulnerability management and reporting to the BSI
Rejection of data retention; instead, quick freeze procedure
Right to anonymity in public space also applies to digital public space
Informational self-determination through privacy by design and default; possibility of networking Personal Information Management Systems (PIMS)
Strengthening of informational self-determination in general terms and conditions law
Right to encryption

EU-US Data Protection Agreement

EU-US Privacy Shield to be renegotiated quickly to find legally secure solution for transatlantic data traffic

Digital Service Act

Require providers to have interfaces ready for data portability and interoperability
Create an EU-wide framework for non-personal data; reject a general data sharing obligation, but allow access to data sets on a sector-by-sector basis and against payment if competitor has no chance to collect data set itself

Right to fast access to the Internet, data sovereignty and digital access are part of a basic service guaranteed by the state and should become enforceable fundamental rights
Consumers must have the right to determine for themselves what happens to their data without being disadvantaged; GDPR contains important rights for this, but is not yet sufficient; consistently sanction companies for violations; strengthen data protection authorities
The public sector, including public companies, should provide end-to-end encrypted communication channels via e-mail and chat that can be operated independently of providers and used decentrally
Data privacy and transparency globally; need global cooperation to create a rulebook that sets binding privacy rules for robotics, data flows and AI and makes algorithms transparent
Users' and employees' interests in protecting their data and personal rights when using digital systems must be defended against the interests of companies in developing new business models by exploiting as much data as possible
It must be possible to use public services without commercially exploiting the resulting data; general terms and conditions must be comprehensible and available in a simplified and barrier-free form
The storage of personal data by public authorities must also comply with the principle of proportionality and the fundamental right to informational self-determination for refugees
Force European arms companies such as Airbus and Rheinmetall to stop producing arms for authoritarian regimes; the same applies to digital technology that enables the surveillance and control of telecommunications and end devices
Ban the export of surveillance technology and the use of autonomous weapons systems and armed drones
Ban video surveillance in public spaces; no automatic facial recognition
Reject the unprovoked retention and centralized storage of biometric data such as photos of faces and fingerprints
Prohibit source tapping and state Trojans
Prohibit data retention
Strictly regulate data protection for digital payment service providers; strict separation between payment and other corporate services
Employee data protection law

Big Data

Data collected as part of commercial smart city projects must be made available to the general public free of charge

Refraining from the use of digitization that promotes totalitarian structures
Adherence to principles of the rule of law in the digital sphere
Rejection of a cross-domain personal identifier for administrative registers; allows creation of personality profiles
Abolish the GDPR and replace it with a lean law
Data protection authorities should also be able to impose sanctions on government agencies
End-to-end encryption by design and by default to be enshrined in law as standard
Expansion of the BSI into an authority for digital consumer protection

Big Data

Encroachments on privacy by data-driven corporations, government agencies and intelligence services in some cases exceed civil liberties; AfD wants to counter these threats and give citizens back their right to informational self-determination

Connectivity

Link existing and new digital education platforms to create a nationwide and European-capable platform system; as a first step, provide 150 million

Digital Infrastructure (5G)

Eliminate all white spots with stationary or mobile masts by 2024 at the latest
Create nationwide 5G network by 2025
Provide a total of €15 billion for gigabit networks by 2025
Accelerate unbureaucratic, digital and rapid approval practice
Increase education against skepticism of alternative laying methods at lower laying depths

GAIA-X

Will develop agricultural data space in GAIA-X; goal is to enable interoperability of agricultural equipment data across manufacturers

Digital Sovereignty

Digital sovereignty does not mean compartmentalization
Need smart balance of measures for more digital autonomy and management of different international courses of action to make risks of digital dependency manageable
Europe needs its own hardware and software manufacturers again who are globally competitive; supplier diversity best protects against dependencies
Commitment to a vital market place for Europe that uses global strength to set technological world standards and promote our digital achievements

For European Clod Infrastructure
For digital sovereignty of citizens and consumers; monopolies of global platform corporations threaten digital diversity and tend to circumvent nation-state rules
Together with EU states, strong and precise regulations must be created to ensure competition and promote alternative offerings; needs more offerings with high data sovereignty
Build long-term and strategic European production of components and parts of digital infrastructures and technologies; independence from China and U.S.

Encrypted communications save lives every day and social media makes human rights abuses visible
Protect and promote free access to information as a public good
Make EU-wide interoperable digital identities a basic infrastructure of the digital community; provide every person with a free digital identity; business should also be able to use this process

Digital Infrastructure (5G)

When expanding digital infrastructures, e.g. 5G, ensure the integrity of our critical infrastructure, the digital sovereignty of Europe and the observance of human rights such as the right to privacy
On the one hand, the highest IT security standards for components in digital infrastructures are necessary; on the other hand, strengthen Europe's technological independence through increased in-house developments and productions, through diverse digital ecosystems and open standards
Legal, constitutional, security-related and geostrategic aspects must be included in the review in addition to technical aspects
Reject the involvement of untrustworthy companies, especially from authoritarian states, in critical infrastructure
In favor of a legal claim to fast basic Internet services
Create independent public funding foundation that promotes socially relevant, free and open software

GAIA-X

Realize common European cloud infrastructure based on open source technologies
Strengthen national research data infrastructure and seize the opportunities of the European cloud for science and research

Digital Sovereignty

Shaping digitization and ensuring that the necessary innovations are developed in Europe
and marketable in Europe; to this end, take advantage of the opportunities offered by the German G7 presidency
With a view to sectoral structural support such as the development of a hydrogen infrastructure, solar module and battery cell research or support for the semiconductor industry, a European focus is crucial; European cooperation with open standards to avoid dependencies
Expand EU capacity in the area of semiconductor technology to 20% of global production as proposed
Particularly promote the areas of AI, quantum computing, IT security, communications and biotechnology or further development of ecological battery cells in order to secure technological sovereignty
Strengthen multi-stakeholder governance of the Internet at the international level

Companies that are subject to the extensive influence of authoritarian regimes should not be involved in the expansion of critical infrastructure such as the 5G network
Nationwide, high-performance mobile coverage through genuine competition; fiber-optic network; consistent upgrade of existing mobile function networks
Completion of the nationwide roll-out of a 5G network by 2025

Right to fast access to the Internet, data sovereignty and digital access are part of a basic service guaranteed by the state and should become enforceable fundamental rights

Digital Infrastructure (5G)

Counties, cities and municipalities must be supported in building digital infrastructures
The profit-oriented mobile network operators have no interest in nationwide network expansion
Fiber-optic expansion with annual investment of €10 billion throughout Germany; all homes to be connected
Uniform mobile communications network from a single source; network expansion and operation should be carried out by the public sector

Digital Infrastructure (5G)

Promotion of regional structures in the expansion of fiber-optic and wireless networks
5G network expansion must continue to be accompanied by scientific studies with regard to health risks and citizens must be informed of the results
Mobile communications frequency band auction must be fundamentally reconsidered

Digital Sovereignty

AfD calls for bundling of European IT competencies within the framework of research and development cooperations
Mandatory alignment of government procurement with long-term and strategic security policy considerations
Better bundle competencies in the field of AI in Germany and promote national cooperation more strongly

DGAP publications on this topic

Forging Germany’s Digital Grand Strategy

It’s Now or Never

Tyson Barker

Internet Governance

Foreign Policy and the Backbone of the Digital World

Dr. David Hagebölling

Cyber Diplomacy

Present and implement the "Women in Digitization" strategy

Immediate update of all IT security laws and strategies in Germany

Breg's digital strategy is a billion-dollar subsidy for private corporations

DGAP publications on this topic

Meeting the China Challenge with Bolder Action

Germany Should Diversify Its Economy and Protect Its Technology

Didi Kirsten Tatlow

Platform Economy

Be the first country in the world to create a new, future-proof legal framework with the Digitization FCA that puts tech giants in their place and establishes a level playing field
Need clear responsibilities, accountability and due diligence, including reporting and remediation procedures for illegal content
Large online platforms have particular impact on economy and society; therefore need to be even more transparent and develop appropriate risk management tools to protect data integrity from manipulation
Creation of a European digital identity; alternative to the platform logins and identification offerings of the major providers such as Google, Apple, Facebook or Amazon
Facilitate interoperability of providers and messenger services; consider commitment
Advocate for fair taxation of the digital economy at OECD level; should pay taxes where they generate revenue
Establish a permanent governance structure for permanent oversight for messenger service providers

Social Networks

Break the spiral of brutalization of language and political discourse
Initiating investigations by law enforcement agencies in particularly serious cases, if necessary even without filing charges
A variety of preventive instruments and free support services for victims of hate speech; in serious cases, victim advocates and, for traumatized victims, psychosocial process support
Virtual domiciliary rights in the terms of use of service providers must not be used to influence the formation of political will as the core of democracy; in particular, adapt the law on general terms and conditions in the German Civil Code to conform to the constitution

Digital Single Market

Genuine digital and data union with modern competition law based on the social market economy, top-class digital infrastructure, European storage and computing capacities, and uniform data protection law
Develop and introduce a European digital market order as a global pioneer for fair and equitable competition in the digital economy, with modernized competition law and a fair and appropriate "standing charge" in the market order
Digital ecosystems in which all players cooperate for the development and financing of new digital products; advocacy for significant expansion of the
Framework conditions for such joint initiatives at European level, e.g. for AI or quantum computing
EU should further improve framework conditions for the Digital Single Market and create networks that make it easier for young companies to scale their business models

Digital Markets Act

Want to establish European platform economy
Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act to ensure fair competition, innovative strength of companies and freedom of choice for consumers in the digital economy
Establish clear legal framework at European and federal level for digital platforms (incl. liability, security, warranty, software updates, user ratings and product rankings)

Social Networks

Monopolies of global platform corporations threaten digital diversity and tend to circumvent nation-state rules
Strong and precise regulations must be created together with EU states to ensure competition and promote alternative offerings; needs more offerings with high data sovereignty
Market power of individuals harms; to stay ahead of developments in the market, create preventive and proactive competition and antitrust law with preventive controls
Development of new European instruments to tame powerful platforms or, if necessary, to unbundle them (necessary basis: preservation of net neutrality)
Make interoperability between social networks, digital services and platforms a legal requirement (for example, switching between messenger services)

Digital Single Market

Promote platforms for regional trade and services
Consistent action against tax fraud in online trade and wage, social and environmental dumping

Internet and tech giants use their market power to restrict or even eliminate competition
Companies should also be able to be split up independently of abuse if their market power becomes too great or is already too great
Secure and consistently enforce network neutrality
In dealing with disinformation, but also for the legal control of platform providers as a whole, better structure supervision both nationally and at European level, including with a joint media authority of the federal states
Reject the use of upload filters
Relevant acquisition transactions by tech corporations should be reviewed by the Federal Cartel Office to prevent the strategic buyout of burgeoning competition ("killer acquisitions"); data protection authorities should be given the opportunity to comment
Interoperability, data portability and open interfaces should be made mandatory wherever possible by market-dominant companies

Social Networks

Platform operators must not undermine existing rights, are liable for content, and must uphold fundamental rights when moderating
Special duties of care must apply to porn platforms to ensure that visual material is not published against the will of individuals
Platform operators must not undermine existing rights, are liable for content and must uphold fundamental rights when moderating
Special due diligence must apply to porn platforms to ensure that visual material is not published against the will of individuals
Develop effective legal framework to enable victims of online hate crime to defend themselves; ambitious design and swift implementation of the EU's Digital Services Act to this end
Requires law enforcement agencies with the best possible staffing and technical capabilities
When deciding which content should be allowed to remain, the targeted use of representative, civil society platform councils could be an option
Large operators should participate through a levy on independent counseling services for those affected by hate and incitement to hatred
Bundle measures in a law for digital protection against violence; should include possibility to take action against accounts if no perpetrator is identified

Digital Single Market

To shape digitization, services provided by platforms and their market power must be regulated
Platforms must be obliged to ensure European quality and security standards in online commerce as well
Clear minimum standards for labor and data protection and digital access rights for trade unions in the new digital world of work (for example, gig and crowd working)

Digital Markets Act

Ambitious design and swift implementation of the EU's Digital Services Act as a means of combating hate crime online
Commitment to ambitious implementation of the Digital Markets Act at European level
Establish a European digital supervisory authority under the umbrella of an independent European antitrust office that acts as an early warning system and can issue sanction-proof cooperation and transparency obligations

For effective control of gatekeeper companies (search engines, social networks, trading platforms)
Commitment to net neutrality
Rejection of upload filters

Social Networks

Social networks must comprehensively designate competent delivery agents in Germany

Digital Single Market

European Digital Single Market in which business models are easily scalable across Europe and regulatory barriers are removed; need uniform regulation across Europe in a digitized and data-driven world

Digital Markets Act

Support plans to create a Digital Markets Act at EU level, creating antitrust complementary European regulation for gatekeeper companies
Act must prevent distortion of competition by favoring own search results, limiting interoperability and using partners' business data for own benefit

Employees working via platforms must be entitled to full labor and co-determination rights as well as social security protection
Monopolies must be broken up; commons-based public offerings
At the European level, advocacy for guidelines and requirements to unbundle market-dominating monopolies
Digital corporations must pay taxes where they operate
Rejection of the use of upload filters and network blocks; platform operators must not be obliged to delete content without a court order, nor must large platforms be allowed to create their own parallel right without public control
Net neutrality must be ensured by constitutional law
Rejection of efforts by large digital corporations to enshrine their interests in international trade agreements on e-commerce or within the framework of the WTO; want to secure regulatory and taxation options and enforce minimum standards
Promote platform cooperatives and publicly operated platforms as alternatives
Prohibit self-favoring by IT companies through platform structure legislation, ensure data protection and guarantee the interoperability and portability of user data under sanctions
Commercial software must also include its source code
Platforms like Airbnb must be required to share their data with public authorities

Digital Single Market

Money and currency must remain part of state sovereignty, reject creeping privatization; regulate fintechs as strictly as conventional payment service providers
Introduction of a financial transaction tax of 0.1% per transaction; revenue for sustainable development of the Global South, global climate protection and restructuring of industrial society
Security by design and default through regulation at European level
Mandatory security certification for market access
Prohibition of energy- and resource-wasting production of so-called cryptocurrencies

Prevention of upload filters
Quasi-oligopoly of social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram must respect users' freedom of expression
"Fact checkers" and opinion watchdogs in social media must not receive state funding
Require providers to provide non-discriminatory access and maintain content neutrality
Decisions on the legality of content on the platform should no longer lie with the operator, but with the judiciary alone
Central reporting office for citizens affected by rights violations on platforms

Research and Innovation

Target: Industry and government to spend 3.5% of GDP on research and development by 2025
Europe should be a global leader in key industrial fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, hydrogen or blockchain
Need ambitious European technology and industrial strategy that strengthens capabilities to develop key technologies
In the case of CO2-neutral mobility, promote open-technology competition for the best ideas
Goal: To place at least one German university in the world's top 20; therefore continue to support excellent universities
Implement the "Horizon Europe" framework program so that the world's best and most innovative researchers can realize their projects in Europe
Improved depreciation rules for future technologies such as investments in server equipment, artificial intelligence, 3D printing or Factory 4.0
Use Blockchain to digitize all files and deeds in planning processes
Create more possible applications for blockchain; too often fails due to legal obstacles
Double tax research allowance to €8 million per company
Provide capacity for experimental spaces and reallabs; strengthen funding and application
By 2025, establish a national agency for biomedical research and development
Establish a bio-IT research center
Reduce bureaucratic hurdles; innovation freedom law
Overcoming EU restrictions on the transfer of science to industrial application
Strengthen digital citizen participation in the search for solutions, for example through hackathons

Artificial Intelligence

Europe should take a leading position worldwide
Commitment to significantly expanding the framework conditions for joint initiatives at the European level from politics, science, research and industry - e.g. in AI or quantum computing
Commitment to a value system that exploits the opportunities of AI for healthcare while minimizing the risks
Stronger push to build the capabilities needed for AI in research and development and microelectronics manufacturing
Target new AI professorships; continue to establish AI campuses (important: new patents must remain in Germany)
Build new Bundeswehr capabilities in cyber, information space, and space; seek legal regulation of military use of AI, cyber, and space capabilities
Use AI to help automated speech recognition and translation make a breakthrough; aim to enable people in Europe to communicate without language barriers while launching a flagship project for artificial intelligence
Improved depreciation rules for future technologies such as investments in server systems, artificial intelligence, 3D printing or Factory 4.0
Empower SMEs to make better use of AI research results through AI pilots
Using AI for security video surveillance, for example, in soccer stadiums, train stations, etc.

Quantum Computing

Goal: Build competitive quantum computers in Germany by 2025
Expand cooperation with other leading EU countries and advance education and training in quantum technologies
Further expand high-performance computing

Space

Rely not only on established space companies in Germany, but also on the development of a newspace ecosystem and the strong German space sector
Build new capabilities for the Bundeswehr in cyber and information space as well as in space; seek legal regulation of military use of AI, cyber and space capabilities
Adopt a space law that is friendly to startups and small and medium-sized businesses
Support the Copernicus program
Develop market through government demand through small satellite offensive, access to all EU and ESA launch programs, space fund under Future Fund, open competition for EU next generation launchers
Advocacy at international level for sustainable use of space

Targeted and coordinated support of the European and German digital economy along the entire value chains (semiconductors; quantum technology; AI, edge computing; cyber security; etc.)
Promotion of future technologies
Increase target value of overall government spending on research to at least 3.5% of GDP
Stringent regulation and oversight to ensure that decisions made by algorithms and AI are clearly defined and verifiable (including for transparency and anti-discrimination), especially when used in recruitment

In order to be able to keep up in the international competition between locations, a strong European network of top-level research is required
Civilian orientation of science is central
Target: Government and companies to invest a total of 3.5% of GDP in research and development by 2025
Promote digital and data-driven innovations that can significantly reduce energy and resource consumption or are more sustainable than analog ones
Promote alternatives to critical raw materials such as rare earths and their extraction in compliance with human rights
Existing funding programs for transfer from theory to application are not sufficient; drive expansion of funding programs for high-tech startups, incubators and entrepreneurship training; silent participation of public institutions should become the new spin-off standard
Particularly promote areas such as AI, quantum computing, IT security, communications and biotechnology, as well as further development of ecological battery cells, in order to secure technological sovereignty.
Requires private risk capital, which is to be strongly leveraged by state funds
Also means attracting urgently needed talent and funding research appropriately
State venture capital fund (Future Fund), especially for projects in greentech, AI, sustainable mobility, bioeconomy and circular economy; at the same time, build a functioning secondary market for direct investments and shares in venture capital funds, for example through a co-investing platform
"Agency for leapfrog innovation" (SprinD) to be designed more flexibly
Expand technology assessment and monitoring for decision-makers
Strengthen national research data infrastructure and seize the opportunities of the European cloud for science and research

Artificial Intelligence

Lay the foundations today, for example by creating a European ecosystem for testing artificial general intelligence (AI)

Space

Maintain independent access to space
Strengthen ESA and the New Space domain
Advocate for a European and international legal framework that also regulates private actors
Launch more advanced, internationally binding rules to prevent militarization of space

Defending freedom of research and teaching; no Cancel Culture in research
Build up new competencies in cutting-edge technology, e.g. by expanding basic research
When making political decisions, observe not only the provider principle, but also the innovation principle, i.e., in addition to risk, determine in impact assessment how what opportunities will be lost by not taking action
Initiate a national strategy for cybersecurity in science together with the states, universities and scientific institutions
Promote software and high-tech companies as well as startups by establishing a German Transfergemeinschaft (DTG), which will make funding possible
Tie funding release of federal programs more to goal achievement, especially in funding strategies on AI, hightech, FONA, etc.
Designate digital free zones to favor clusters of key IT technologies (AI, blockchain, etc.); fewer regulations apply there, tax incentives for research, better funding for startups, less bureaucracy
Sending "innovation ambassadors" to hubs of the IT and high-tech industry

Artificial Intelligence

European legal framework needed to fully exploit potential of new technologies such as AI, machine learning, and robotics with legal certainty
AI roadmap; each ministry to identify and implement ten concrete AI use cases in its jurisdiction by 2025
Startups, SMEs, and greener should also benefit from subsidies
Establish so-called "regulatory sandboxes" (regulatory testing zones of new technologies)
Digital competencies, opportunities of AI for learning processes, and digital learning and teaching methods must become an integral part of teacher training
Develop clear standards for use of learning analytics in schools; AI offers opportunity for individualization of teaching and learning
Development of AI, VR and AR in administration

Robotics

European legal framework needed to fully exploit potential of new technologies such as AI, machine learning, and robotics with legal certainty
Relieving the burden of care through robotics, digital applications and automation

Space

Space law that provides security for future investments and realizes projects and awards more quickly; participation in major EU projects and state as anchor customer
Goal: Spaceport for small launch vehicles in Europe; launch quotas for institutions and research facilities

Tax funds for research funding should only go to institutions that are bound by collective agreements
Funding programs in industry and for research at universities should only serve civilian and not military production; anchoring of civilian clauses at all universities and scientific institutions
No more research for autonomous weapons systems in Germany
Digitization offensive at universities; expansion of IT at schools accompanied by strengthening of digital skills of teachers
State-funded research promotion that addresses societal challenges by observing critical and pluralistic research

Artificial Intelligence

Use of AI must be regulated by law to ensure public benefit-oriented application; when AI is applied to personal data, democratic design options, extensive data protection and free formation of opinion in digital media must be guaranteed
AI must counteract social division, monopolization tendencies in the economy by a small number of technology corporations, and surveillance
On this basis, further research and use the potential and regulatory approaches of AI

Space

NATO construction of a space center at Ramstein base for "defense in space" has an offensive background; rejection of militarization of space (by all countries)

Unleash investment in technology leadership through "Blue Deal"; i.e., focus education and research on STEM subjects, promote implementation of scientific findings in projects, promote self-employment and inventiveness; areas: pharmaceutical-medical field, quantum computing, outer space
Blue Deal" measures: improve framework conditions for investors in Germany, improve infrastructure, end state intervention in the energy market, streamline labor law and make it more flexible, end discrimination against small and medium-sized enterprises, create a reliable regulatory framework, reduce or limit the duration of regulations and subsidies, reduce the number of areas of law relevant to the economy that are susceptible to litigation
Introduce higher basic funding for universities to reduce dependence on third-party funding

Artificial Intelligence

Better bundle competencies in the field of AI in Germany and promote national cooperation more strongly

Quantum Computing

Establish and implement a quantum computing development plan
Increase public spending on research and application of quantum cryptography

Space

Support continuation and expansion of national and international space programs to further open up space for science, as a source of raw materials and as a possible new habitat for humans
Develop technologies and business models for the use of space

DGAP publications on this topic

Action Plan for Technology and Foreign Policy

How Germany Can Compete in the Global Contest over Technology

Dr. Stefan Heumann

Miscellaneous

Establishment of a federal ministry for digital innovation and transformation
Digital TÜV prior to legislative consultation; coordination by the Digital Ministry

World-class digital infrastructure in Germany by 2030
Rejection of private digital currencies (also stablecoins)

Introduction of a ministry for digital transformation

DGAP publications on the topic

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Bundestagswahl 2021

A Comparison of Election Programs

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