Foreign Policy

SPD

The Social Democrats want Germany to have a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. The party supports the continued deployment of the Bundeswehr for missions in crisis regions. In addition, civil and peacekeeping missions as well as peace and conflict research should be expanded. It remains a goal of the SPD to ratify the European constitutional contract in all member states. The SPD warns against a breach of promise with Bulgaria, Romania, or Turkey: accession talks should be continued or, in the case of Turkey, begun.

CDU/CSU

The Christian Democrats want to strengthen ties with the primary transatlantic partner, the US, and at the same time cultivate a close relationship with all member states in the European Union, not just with France. The deployment of Bundeswehr troops abroad should be continued. EU regulations should only be implemented in a one-to-one relationship with national regulations. The Christian Union is against Turkey entering the EU and prefers instead a "privileged partnership" between the two countries. Accession talks with Croatia should begin as soon as Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal Court has been confirmed.

The Greens

The Greens support a reform of the United Nations Security Council and a permanent seat for Germany in the Council. The Bundeswehr should continue to be involved in missions in crisis regions abroad, though only when in accordance with the goals and rules of the United Nations. Military service should not be compulsory, and should be replaced by a voluntary, flexible brief service. The party wants to expand a European Civil Peace Corps and create an agency for civil crisis management and disarmament. The export of arms in Germany and the EU should be limited and controlled by parliament. The Greens oppose a lifting of the weapons embargo against China. The party is against the country of origin principle of the EU's services directive and supports a reform of the European agricultural policy. The EU constitutional contract should be voted on once again. The Greens would hold membership open for Turkey, assuming it can meet the necessary preconditions.

FDP

The FDP would like to cultivate the transatlantic partnership. Germany should function as a mediator between America and France. The party believes that the EU having a permanent seat in the UN Security Council would be the best solution; however, they would stand representatively in favor of continued efforts to obtain a seat for Germany itself. The FDP would abolish mandatory military service and transform the Bundeswehr into a "highly specialized volunteer army."

The Left Party

The Left Party opposes a permanent seat for Germany in the UN Security Council. The party avows itself to a basic version of the European Union. It wants common minimum standards for wages, taxes, and social contributions. The planned EU services directive is rejected by the party. The Left Party is against any and all deployments of the Bundeswehr, and against missions under the EU flag. Mandatory military service should be banned, and the Bundeswehr cut to 100,000 personnel.