AfD's EU Restructuring Plan

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has released a 14-page plan detailing how it would restructure the European Union if it gains a "patriotic and right-wing" majority in the European Parliament by 2029. The plan, created by the AfD's parliamentary group in the European Stability and Sovereignty (ESN) group, envisions a "Europe of nations" with reduced EU powers, focusing on areas like the internal market, external borders, defense, and research.

Reduced EU Decision-Making

The AfD proposes ending the direct election of the European Parliament and shifting decision-making power to the European Council. Under this plan, the European Commission would be reduced to an administrative body. The party also wants to abolish or "degrease" many EU directives and significantly cut the EU budget and administrative structure. Germany would no longer act as the EU's financial guarantor.

Protecting National Sovereignty

The AfD's plan emphasizes the right of withdrawal, or "Opt-Out," to protect national sovereignty in areas like migration, asylum, and defense. Germany would use this mechanism to avoid policies it sees as harmful, such as the distribution of asylum seekers or supranational social policies. The plan also includes reforms to the euro system, such as reinstating the Maastricht Treaty's stability criteria and linking ECB voting rights to a country's financial weight.

Limiting EU Competencies

The AfD wants to restrict EU powers to areas where "common added value" is clear, such as border protection, the internal market, and security. It opposes EU interference in national social or cultural matters and rejects using EU funds to finance political networks or NGOs. The party also calls for a return to national currencies and opposes central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

Legalizing the Opt-Out Mechanism

The plan proposes embedding the "Opt-Out" mechanism in EU treaties, making national reservations legally binding and unchangeable by the European Commission. It also suggests transforming the Court of Justice of the European Union into an arbitration court, limiting its role to clearly defined EU law questions.

Financial Sovereignty and Future Plans

The AfD's plan includes a roadmap for financial independence, advocating for a smaller EU budget, ending automatic redistribution, and moving away from state debt to private capital and alliances. It promotes a monetary system focused on individual asset protection and monetary discipline. The party also suggests holding a referendum on EU membership if negotiations fail, though it has not explicitly called for leaving the euro. The plan marks a shift from the party's earlier idea of leaving the EU to instead transform it from within.