SPD on Europe

The SPD supports the EU membership bids of Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkan states and commits to European integration. Governments that violate the EU's values should face effective sanctions. The party recognizes conscientious objection to military service as grounds for seeking refuge.

The SPD wants Ukraine to be able to join the EU. The same goes for Moldova and the Western Balkan countries. Governments that act against EU values should be punished. People who refuse military service and are persecuted for it should get protection.

The platform bases its position on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which it calls a violation of international law. The SPD declares solidarity with people who stand up for democracy, freedom, peace and equal rights, inside and outside the EU. It sees nationalist and populist currents in several member states as a danger to Europe. Refusing military service is to count as grounds for flight when the country of origin persecutes and punishes objectors.

The SPD wants to permit fixed border checks toward neighboring countries only in short-term emergencies and to expand cooperation with the Czech Republic and Austria. Plans include closer cooperation between police forces and emergency services, a Bavarian-Czech regional council and a shared labor market in the border regions. The free movement of people and goods within the EU should not be restricted.

The SPD wants fixed checks at Bavaria's borders only in real emergencies. Bavaria should work more closely with the Czech Republic and Austria. Fire crews and ambulances should be allowed to help across the border. People should find it easier to work in the neighboring country.

Emergency services and fire departments should be able to operate across the border without restrictions in emergencies. A model labor region with the Czech and Austrian border areas is meant to allow employment without bureaucratic hurdles. The SPD advocates a European social security number to better protect cross-border workers and to combat social security fraud by companies. The European right to internet access is to be fully implemented, especially in border regions. Bavaria should also campaign in the EU for a European transit association and affordable cross-border transit networks.

The SPD wants the EU to become a fiscal and social union with a common fiscal policy and its own budget. The unanimity rule would be dropped for tax matters and largely abolished in the Council. The European Parliament would get its own right of initiative, and EU funds would be fully tied to the rule of law.

The SPD wants the EU to decide more things together. The EU should get its own budget for a shared financial policy. It should no longer take every country's yes to pass something. The EU Parliament should be able to propose laws itself. EU money should go only to countries that respect the rule of law.

The platform says a fiscal and social union includes a common investment policy, tax fairness and guaranteed stable social security systems. As one instrument it names a European unemployment reinsurance scheme, to be paid for from newly created budget funds. Parliament is to be strengthened relative to the Council and the Commission, and electoral law is to be developed further. Disbursement of EU funds would depend 100 percent on compliance with the rule of law.