Grüne on Europe

The Greens want to reduce the border checks ordered by the federal government to the level provided for under the Schengen rules. In the platform's view, the checks make daily life harder in the regions bordering France and Switzerland.

There are more checks at the borders again. The Greens say this disrupts daily life there. Many people work or meet friends in the neighboring country. The checks should be reduced again. Working in the neighboring country should also get easier.

The platform calls open borders a core part of the European idea and points to the trinational region on the Upper Rhine. Checks are to take place only to the extent the Schengen area allows. At the EU level, the Greens also want to cut red tape in the rules on posting workers abroad to make commuting, training and working across the border easier.

The Greens commit to supporting Ukraine and want to build a new economic and regional cooperation with partners. They back EU membership for Ukraine, the Western Balkan states and the Republic of Moldova.

The Greens stand with Ukraine. They want to help rebuild destroyed areas. Ukraine should be able to join the EU later. Countries in the Western Balkans and Moldova should join the EU too.

The platform bases its position on the view that Russia also threatens the European system of values. The planned cooperation is meant to advance the reconstruction of destroyed regions and pave Ukraine's way into the EU. Baden-Württemberg and the Republic of Moldova have agreed to expand their cooperation.

The Greens want the EU to use its rule-of-law instruments more consistently and tie funding to compliance. European democracy is to be developed further and civil society strengthened across borders.

All EU countries should respect the rule of law. Only then should they get money from the EU. The Greens want to strengthen democracy in Europe. People should also learn more about Europe.

The platform welcomes proposals by a German-French expert group, including majority voting in EU foreign and security policy. The state wants to keep supporting civil societies through projects such as regional rule-of-law dialogues and the Danube Youth Council. Partnerships between municipalities, clubs, universities and schools are to get new formats such as virtual platforms. Public outreach on Europe is to be expanded and digitalized. Through the Europapool (a staff exchange scheme), employees of municipalities and agencies are to gain European expertise.

The Greens oppose having nation-states rather than regions decide on regional EU funding in the future. In their view, the regions know best where the money is put to good use.

The EU gives money to regions. So far, regions help decide how to use it. A new plan wants to change that. Then the countries would decide. The Greens want regions to keep their say.

The trigger is the draft for the EU's new multiannual financial framework, which would shift allocation to the nation-states, for instance for the regional development fund and the social fund. The Greens want to push back against this. For laws with cross-border effects, the state wants to coordinate early with its European neighbors. Border municipalities are to be actively advised on cooperation.