The sibling parties CDU and CSU have provided the federal government under Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2021 with changing coalition partners and have thus Party had the opportunity to shape and mould the republic. We are not making a recommendation on behalf of the editorial team, nor do we wish to pass judgement on the quality of the content. Instead, we would like to provide our readers with an initial overview: Is there a maritime awareness in the positioning of the respective party and how is it anchored? In this way, we want to encourage further debate and discussion.
The programmes are checked for maritime content and, as always, the parties themselves are responsible for the content and readability of their programmes!
From the Election programme of the Christian Democrats of the CDU/CSU for the 2021 federal election (extract):
A new start for the transatlantic partnership
The USA is our most important global political partner. With President Joe Biden, we associate the opportunity of a new departure for the transatlantic partnership. Only by working closely together will we be able to shape climate, trade, science and technology policy. Our goal must be to defy the opponents of freedom together, to set global standards and to maintain and expand our technological lead. This requires a further deepening of our trade and science relations. indispensable.
Our goal is a comprehensive transatlantic economic, trade and future area. In order to maintain the technological leadership of the value-based West, we must closely coordinate our cutting-edge research and product applications.
We also want to cooperate more closely with Canada and the democratically stable countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Strengthening fair world trade
In Germany, one in four jobs depends on exports, and in German industry even more than one in two. We are committed to free world trade with fair international trade conditions. competitive conditions instead of protectionism and compartmentalisation.
Together with our partners, we want to promote multilateralism through reform the World Trade Organisation and promote the conclusion of free trade agreements. by the European Union. Overall, we need to dovetail of trade defence measures with competition law instruments. We want to establish our shared fundamental values and common standards in trade policy worldwide, particularly with our transatlantic partners.
We are campaigning for the overdue ratification of the European Union's economic agreement with Canada (CETA). We are also in favour of the full implementation of the EU's trade agreement with the Mercosur region, provided that it can be ensured that production and product standards in agriculture in particular meet our standards.
We are striving for a rapid restart of the negotiations between the EU and the USA: We want a transatlantic trade, economic and investment agreement with the USA that also sets ecological standards worldwide.
Our Europe of order & security
What we need in Europe is a security union. More security in and through Europe also means more security for Germany. Open borders in Europe are a benefit for us all. But even with open internal borders and freedom of movement in the Schengen area, internal security in the European Union must be guaranteed. To achieve this, Europe's external borders must be effectively protected. Only together as a European Union can we effectively combat drug smugglers, human traffickers, international gangs, dangerous individuals and terrorists. In order to guarantee Europe as an area of freedom, security and justice, we also need effective policing within Europe's borders.
We want to develop the European border protection agency FRONTEX into a genuine border police force and coast guard with sovereign powers. We will significantly increase its personnel capacities.
Understanding NATO as a community of values & security alliance
NATO is the backbone of Euro-Atlantic security. This security is guaranteed by nuclear sharing, the mutual assistance clause in the event of an alliance crisis and the presence of American soldiers in Europe.
Europe's ambition must be to stand up for freedom, peace and democracy in the world as an equal partner with the USA. This means that we must take on more responsibility together with our alliance partners - both in robust operations and in peace missions and development cooperation on the ground.
We want to strengthen the European pillar in NATO. In the decade of modernisation, Germany will make an important contribution to the implementation of the NATO 2030 concept and to NATO's orientation for the next generation. We Europeans must do more than ever before to ensure stability in our neighbourhood and advocate fair burden-sharing. We are explicitly committed to NATO's 2% goal.
Improving living conditions in the southern Mediterranean
The security of Germany and Europe is linked to the stability of the countries in the southern Mediterranean and the Middle East. If terror and a lack of economic prospects prevail there, many people will try to flee to Europe.
Germany and Europe must take on more responsibility in the region through prevention and mediation. Through humanitarian aid for refugees and programmes such as the "Cash for Work" employment campaign, we are improving the prospects of local people. At the same time, we are supporting the countries in the region in the fight against terrorism.
There are also new opportunities for cooperation with the countries bordering the Mediterranean in particular - for example in the field of green hydrogen - which can give new impetus to the European Neighbourhood Policy and bind our neighbours more closely to our community of values.
New attention for the Asia-Pacific region
The 21st century will be largely characterised by the countries of Asia and the Pacific. We are therefore in favour of close partnerships with them. Democracies such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India and South Korea, which are in favour of strengthening the rules-based international order, are our natural partners in cooperation and values. By sending a German frigate to the Asia-Pacific region, we are showing our presence and sending the right signal in coordination with our partners.
Meeting China at eye level
The greatest foreign and security policy challenge today comes from the People's Republic of China. It is a competitor, a co-operation partner, but also a systemic rival. China has the will and increasingly also the claim to power to shape and change the international order according to its own ideas - and is doing so by any means necessary. China influences other countries through technology and infrastructure investments and creates geostrategic dependencies. We therefore need a two-pronged approach:
On the one hand, where necessary, we must stand up to China's will to power with strength and unity in close coordination with our transatlantic partners and other like-minded democracies. This applies in particular to the protection of intellectual property, our high technology and our data, so that we do not fall into dangerous dependencies.
On the other hand, we want to endeavour to cooperate with China wherever possible. A genuine partnership is only possible within the framework of fair competition on equal terms and in compliance with the principle of reciprocity.
To achieve this balance at European level, we are in favour of a European China strategy and a joint approach by the West.
Modern & fully operational Bundeswehr
The citizens of our country must be able to rely on credible security provision. The CDU and CSU are guarantors that Germany will not neglect this at the expense of our children and grandchildren. We see ourselves as the parties of the Bundeswehr. Those who, like our soldiers, take on responsibility in difficult missions are entitled to the best equipment.
We will fulfil all our military obligations and fully equip the Bundeswehr. We will therefore increase the number of soldiers in the Bundeswehr to 203,000 in accordance with the personnel structure model. We stand by our commitments within NATO and the EU to further increase the defence budget to two percent of gross domestic product. This will also give the Bundeswehr planning security.
By 2030 at the latest, we want to enable the Bundeswehr to provide at least ten per cent of the Alliance's military capabilities. In doing so, we are making a decisive contribution to fair burden-sharing and cohesion within NATO. This contribution is a prerequisite for our alliance capability - and therefore in our own interests.
Today, national defence is alliance defence. Germany can only achieve this together with its partners. That is why the Bundeswehr must continue to pursue the path of cooperation and integration with the armed forces in Europe and with allies, working towards a common strategic culture. We will always participate in foreign missions with alliance partners if German security interests are jeopardised.
Ensuring the best equipment for the Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr must be optimally equipped and organised. The key points for the Bundeswehr of the future serve as a guideline for this. We will modernise the procurement system so that it receives its equipment quickly.
We need to build new capabilities in cyber and information space as well as in outer space and are striving for legal regulation of the military use of AI, cyber and space capabilities.
In order to protect our soldiers and during operations, we are in favour of arming drones as a matter of course in today's military. [...] We therefore want to significantly strengthen the Bundeswehr's effective drone defence, air defence and electronic warfare capabilities.
We want to limit the costs of military procurement by developing and implementing joint defence projects with European partners. At the same time, we want to maintain an efficient defence technology industry in Germany. We want to drive forward the key projects that are central to European defence policy. Defence exports are a formative element of security policy. That is why we are committed to standardised European guidelines.
With a Bundeswehr Planning Act, we want to help ensure that security remains a core task of the state that is reliably funded, regardless of economic fluctuations and short-term changes in political sentiment.
Expand emissions trading - relieve the burden on consumers
On the road to climate neutrality, we rely on efficient market-based instruments as key tools within a mix of instruments.
We rely on the instrument of emissions trading and offset any emissions that arise. Additional burdens with targeted relief in the areas of housing and mobility.
Building on European emissions trading for energy and industry, we want to strengthen European emissions trading in aviation and establish it as quickly as possible in other sectors such as mobility, heating and shipping.
Ensuring an intelligent energy mix
We will decisively advance the expansion of renewable energies and therefore expand them much faster in order to meet the rapidly increasing demand for energy. Only in this way will the energy transition succeed in all areas and only in this way will the Paris climate targets be achieved. We are focussing on an intelligent and diversified energy mix that is sustainable and secure. This includes energy generation from the sun and wind as well as sustainable biomass, hydropower and geothermal energy in rural areas. Public acceptance will be just as crucial for the expansion of renewable energies as planning security and less bureaucracy.
We promote the environmentally friendly expansion of onshore and offshore wind and the Repowering of turbines. We also want to enter into cross-border energy cooperation within the framework of the European Offshore Strategy and the national Wind Sea Act. To this end, we are endeavouring to ensure that areas are explicitly designated for renewable energies. To this end, we want to examine whether more areas along transport routes can be set aside as priority areas for renewable energy use.
Making Germany the No. 1 hydrogen country
Many of the technologies required for the transformation already exist. CO2-neutral hydrogen plays an important role here - as a versatile energy carrier, flexible energy storage medium and important raw material for chemical processes. Hydrogen also enables decarbonisation in areas where renewable energy cannot be used directly. Important industrial processes, for example in the steel and cement industries, can only be made climate-neutral with hydrogen. And we can also make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 in the mobility sector, in the short and medium term for lorry and ship transport, by using hydrogen. That is why we now need to establish a comprehensive value chain for hydrogen production, including the necessary network infrastructure.
Right of way for intelligent mobility
Mobility is an expression of individual freedom. For us as an economic nation, it is of great importance and an important chapter in our decade of modernisation. We will continue the record investment in infrastructure.
In order to reduce congestion on the motorways and achieve climate targets, we want to shift more freight transport from road to rail and waterways. To this end, we will invest in clean vehicles and efficient infrastructure, including new charging stations for inland waterway vessels in harbours (onshore power generation).
Making aviation & shipping fit for the future
The German aviation industry connects us with the world. It should become the technology leader for climate-neutral flying. We will also strengthen our shipping industry and make it fit for the future.
We will strengthen the maritime industry and Germany as a shipyard location. The German shipbuilding industry, shipping and harbours must remain internationally competitive.
In inland shipping, we are taking the lead in technology by promoting alternative fuels such as e-fuels and hydrogen. We will bring the utilisation of ammonia or methanol to market maturity and use them in shipping. We will also expand LNG technology and realise an import terminal for liquefied gases.
Creating the best transport infrastructure
Prosperity requires a transport infrastructure that is geared towards the needs of people, the economy and the environment. Anyone who wants equal living conditions must also recognise the diverse realities in urban and rural areas. More and more people want to switch to the train or bicycle, but they also want to be able to continue travelling by car or bus on good roads - especially in rural areas.
We rely on the best infrastructure for our country. We will maintain our transport network of railways, roads and waterways and continue to make it fit for the future. To this end, we will extend the record investments we have achieved at a high level.
Preserve creation
The preservation of natural resources, habitats and species is of central importance, also in order to promote biodiversity in Germany. To this end, we want to preserve and further develop our protected areas and improve their networking.
The biodiversity of our seas and coasts is a great treasure. It is therefore important to improve the protection of the Baltic and North Seas and the Wadden Sea in accordance with the European Biodiversity Directive, taking fisheries into account.
We will introduce a national Climate Change Adaptation Act to provide for our existence and future in order to counter the consequences of climate change in the city, in the countryside and on the coasts, seas and in the mountains.
Here you can find our other articles from the series "Maritime fact check - excerpt from the party programmes for the 2021 federal election:
Free Democrats (FDP)
Alliance 90/Greens
Social Democrats (SPD)
English 
German
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