Key facts
- AfD plans to reduce EU powers and budget, not exit the bloc initially.
- Proposes national parliamentary appointments instead of direct EU elections.
- Seeks to limit European Commission to administrative tasks.
- Threatens to slash Germany's EU budget contributions.
- Would seek a referendum on EU membership if demands are unmet.
Alice Weidel, the co-leader of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is expected to unveil her party's policy for the European Union on Wednesday at the European Parliament. According to a report by Politico, the AfD's EU policy paper does not advocate for leaving the bloc or the eurozone initially. Instead, the party aims to reduce the EU's powers and budget. Proposals include replacing direct European Parliament elections with delegates appointed by national parliaments, limiting the European Commission to administrative tasks, and supplanting the European Court of Justice with an arbitration tribunal. The AfD also plans to threaten a reduction in Germany's contributions to the EU budget and seek exemptions from regulations on migration, social policy, agriculture, and financial matters. Should the EU not agree to these reforms, the AfD would then pursue a German referendum on EU membership, though such a move would require a difficult-to-achieve constitutional amendment.