Party Positions on Key Foreign Policy Issues
Source: Official Party Programs
|
| Issue |
CDU/CSU |
SPD |
Free Democrats
(FDP) |
The Greens |
Socialists
(PDS) |
European Union |
Clear separation of competences between European, national, and sub-national level. Foreign, Security, and Defence Policy are core competences for the EU.
Enlargement: Flexible interim periods (depending on regions and sector) for freedom of movement for workforce, investment and services (no specifics).
|
Clear separation of competences. Common policies on agriculture and structural funds shall be delegated back to the member states. The EU-level has to receive more responsibility for foreign and security policy.
Enlargement: 7-year interim period for freedom of movement for workforce and services
|
Stepwise integration of justice and home affairs into the first EU pillar, strengthening of the European Court of Justice.
Public referendum on the new European constitution.
Enlargement: No interim periods for free movement of the workforce and services.
|
Stronger integration of social and environmental policies as a tool to politically shape the globalisation processes.
Public referendum on the new European constitution.
Support of a "swift" enlargement by 2004 (no specifics).
|
More redistribution of financial resources from richer to poorer regions in the EU.
Harmonization of property and business taxation in the EU.
Creation, along the model of the European Monetary Union, of a Union for Social Policy, Employment and the Environment within the EU framework.
Support of enlargement by 2004 (no specifics).
|
European Security |
The European Rapid Reaction Forces (ERRF) as "a first step toward further integration of the European armed forces."
Creation of a common industrial defence basis.
Common force planning, armament policy and military procurement within the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
|
For the EU, development of an holistic approach to foreign, security and defence policy, incorporating both military and non-military tools.
The EU has to be able to act militarily independent in crisis management if NATO as a whole is not engaged.
|
Strengthening of ESDP. Creation of "common European armed forces under unified command" as the goal in the long run.
|
The EU should not become "a new military Great Power" through the creation of the European Rapid Reaction Forces.
"Civilian Power" Europe providing leadership in worldwide disarmament. Priority has to be given to non-military conflict prevention capabilities.
|
The PDS categorically opposes the "militarization" of the EU through the creation of the ERRF.
|
Transatlantic Relations |
Creation of an "Atlantic Charta" to intensify co-operation on criminal prosecution, environment and energy.
Creation of a transatlantic free-trade area.
Active support for US plans for an "Allied Missile Defence".
|
No specifics
|
Transatlantic partnership as a "dominant pillar" in German foreign policy.
Support for the creation of a common transatlantic market.
|
The Greens advocate a "critical dialogue" with the US, "with the ultimate goal of military disarmament."
|
The PDS explicitly states that emerging conflicts with the US "should not be denied." Recent examples: Armament policies, the environment and the International Criminal Court.
|
NATO |
NATO keeps its primacy not only in collective defence but also in crisis management.
The CDU/CSU aims to refocus the strategic outlook of the Alliance toward South-Eastern Europe.
|
NATO is seen as the "decisive political and institutional bracket" for the Euro-Atlantic partnership.
|
NATO should keep its primacy also in crisis management while a strong European pillar should help to strengthen the Alliance as a whole.
The FDP supports enlargement, but stresses that strategic rather than political considerations should guide the enlargement policy.
|
No specifics
|
NATO shall be dissolved and be replaced by collective security structures of the UN and its regional organizations (like the OSCE).
|
| Foreign Military Deployment of the Bundeswehr |
Yes.
But "more flexibility" in the preparation and implementation of missions abroad.
Domestic deployment of the Bundeswehr in specific situations should be possible
|
Yes.
Preconditions are a UN mandate and the consent of the German Parliament.
|
Yes.
With the approval of the German Parliament
|
Yes, but.
Deployment only under very strict criteria, including a UN mandate and approval of the Bundestag. The Greens advocate the introduction of a two-third majority requirement for parliamentary approval.
|
No.
The PDS categorically opposes foreign deployment of the Bundeswehr. It also advocates a complete withdrawal of all forces currently participating in operations
|
| Reform of the Bundeswehr |
Pro Conscription.
Force level: 300.000, 100.000 of which shall be conscripts.
Conscription period remains 9 months.
Rise of the defence budget (no specifics).
|
Pro Conscription.
"Material equipment of the armed forces shall be improved" (no specifics).
|
Contra Conscription.
Advocates a force level of 240.000, including 30.000 short-term recruits
The FDP supports a modest increase of the defence budget. Additionally, the modernisation of the armed forces is to be financed through synergies of defence cooperation on the European level.
|
Contra Conscription.
The Bundeswehr is to be reduced in size (to 200.000 forces) and modernized.
The ultimate goal is to "visibly reduce the military potentials in our country."
|
Contra Conscription.
The PDS long-term goal is the complete abolishment of the Bundeswehr.
In the medium-term, it shall be transformed into an all-volunteer organization of 100.000 men and woman.
All programs on modernization and procurement are to be stopped.
|
| World Economy and Globalization |
No specifics.
|
Social and ecological "minimum standards" for the world economy.
|
The "Tobin-Tax" on international financial transfers is opposed.
Social and environmental standards shall not be "the only pre-condition" for participation in world trade.
The FDP aims to incorporate competition policies into the World Trade Organization.
|
Social, ecological and human rights standards are to be treated as binding criteria in the world economy.
Germany has to take the initiative to introduce the "Tobin-tax" on a global, or at least, a European level.
The rich countries (especially from the EU) have to phase out their export subsidies on agricultural products.
|
The PDS advocates the introduction of the "Tobin-tax."
Germany has to push hard to dry up tax havens.
Social and ecological standards have to be enforced in world trade. The PDS wishes to introduce binding codes of conduct for multinational corporations.
Export subsidies, especially for agricultural products, have to be phased out in order to give poor countries development perspectives
|
| Development Assistance (DA) |
The long-term goal is to increase DA to 0.7% of GDP "as soon as possible".
|
Step-wise realization of the "0,7%-goal", 0.33% DA of GDP until 2006 (according to Barcelona European Council).
The poorest countries have to have full access to the European market.
|
The activities of the Ministry for Development Assistance (BMZ) should be transferred to the Foreign Office.
|
A sustained process of disencumberment for the poor countries.
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The PDS advocates measures beyond the "0.7-goal." It proposes the creation of a "Marshall Plan for Development" which would commit developed countries to shift resources from military spending to development assistance.
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