CDU on Europe

The CDU wants to focus the state's Baltic Sea policy on economic cooperation and climate protection and expand its partnership with Denmark. The Fehmarnbelt fixed link is to be pushed forward. Border checks with Denmark are to be dismantled and replaced by police cooperation.

The CDU wants to work more with countries around the Baltic Sea. The focus is on business and climate protection. The Fehmarnbelt tunnel to Denmark should be built. Checks at the border with Denmark should end.

Besides the economy and climate protection, the platform names marine protection and cooperation in science and culture. The Hansebelt model region between Hamburg and Copenhagen is to be developed, and the Jutland corridor strengthened as a further development axis. The CDU wants to continue the development alliance with the Region of Southern Denmark and build a new partnership with Sjælland (Zealand). It intends to talk with the German federal government and the Danish government about removing border checks. Cooperation in the North Sea area is also to be deepened.

The CDU wants to increase Schleswig-Holstein's weight at the federal and EU levels and to strengthen the state's representation in Berlin and the Hanse-Office in Brussels for this purpose. EU funds are to be used with little red tape, especially for rural areas. An internationalization strategy is also meant to connect the state better worldwide.

Schleswig-Holstein should have more say in Berlin and Brussels. The CDU wants to strengthen the state's offices there. Money from the EU should be easy to get. The state should also work more with other countries around the world.

The CDU calls for a revised EU Baltic Sea strategy and a matching strategy for the North Sea. It wants to keep backing the cross-border INTERREG programs and strengthen the LEADER approach for rural areas; according to the platform, about 900 million euros in EU funds are available to the state through 2028. The EU Commission is urged to turn the Minority SafePack Initiative for minority protection into legislation. Staff exchanges with European offices are to become more attractive, and Erasmus+ is to be used more. School classes are to get support for visits to the European Parliament or other European parliaments.

The CDU wants to implement EU requirements in the state one-to-one, without adding extra state-level conditions. In the platform's view, such additions create unnecessary bureaucracy and a sense of being patronized.

The EU makes rules for all member countries. The CDU wants to adopt these rules exactly as they are. The state should not add its own rules on top. This should avoid red tape.

The demand applies to programs and regulations. To spot European requirements early and help shape them, the CDU wants to use existing bodies such as the Committee of the Regions. The Hanse-Office run jointly with Hamburg is to be strengthened for this. For EU funding programs, the party seeks conditions that involve little red tape and suit small and mid-sized businesses.