As of: March 24, 2024, 11:19 a.m
By: Jana Stabener
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The Free Democrats repeatedly block European laws.
Why is that?
BuzzFeed News Germany asks.
It is not only at the national level that the FDP stands out due to its contradictions (as with the question of new debt).
The Free Democrats have also used their vetoes more frequently in the Council of EU Member States in recent months.
The result is long discussions and, in the worst case, so-called “German votes”.
This is what insiders in Brussels describe when Germany abstains from EU decisions because the ruling coalition (SPD, Greens, FDP) cannot reach an agreement.
What is the reason for this blocking attitude from a party that, in its own words, relies on the “innovation principle” when making political decisions?
Is the FDP becoming more conservative?
No, believes Marc Debus, professor of political science and comparative government at the University of Mannheim at
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Political scientist: “FDP is trying to win back lost voters”
Debus believes he knows why the FDP tends to block at the EU level: because it has such low approval ratings.
In a current Forsa survey on the European elections, the FDP achieved three percent.
In many state elections she failed to get back into the state parliament.
“It therefore wants and must try to raise its profile compared to its coalition partners, the SPD and the Greens, in order to win back the electorate it has lost,” he says.
“In general, a traffic light coalition was and is not a desirable coalition for the FDP, as the FDP has to make major compromises with the SPD and the Greens in the economic/finance/social policy area that is central to it.” This deviation from its own market-liberal position at the federal level comes from the not well received by German FDP voters.
Hence the attempted blockade at EU level?
“The FDP will probably use every opportunity to make a name for itself, and this will particularly affect those subject areas in which the FDP can make its position clear for a weak state that does not intervene in the interests of the economy and society,” he speculates political scientist.
4 examples of “German votes” at EU level
But where has the FDP blocked laws and directives at EU level?
Here are two political decisions that became “German Votes” and two that almost became “German Votes”:
German Vote averted:
On March 15, Germany agreed to an EU packaging regulation that aims to reduce the amount of waste in Europe by banning certain disposable packaging or a uniform deposit system.
There had previously been weeks of renegotiations, also because the FDP had blocked several times.
Volker Wissing (FDP) is said to have even announced that he would not support the result,
Table.Media
reported .
German Vote:
The FDP blocked the supply chain law, which requires companies to check the products they import into Europe for child labor or environmental damage in the countries of origin.
Because of this blockage, Germany abstained from the decision.
On March 15, 2024, the other EU states without Germany decided: the supply chain law is coming.
German vote averted:
The FDP also put the brakes on the EU's new AI law, which is intended to make artificial intelligence safer.
Ultimately, the traffic light coalition was able to reach an agreement and Germany agreed.
On March 13, the EU Parliament introduced the AI law in Strasbourg.
German Vote:
In mid-February, the FDP blocked a new EU directive on platform work that wants to give employees at online portals (e.g. Uber) more rights.
In doing so, the Free Democrats ensured that Germany had to abstain.
The directive still found a majority, which Federal Labor Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) very much welcomed.
Justice Minister Marco Buschmann and Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the FDP.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
The FDP also blocked a new EU directive that wants to standardize the prosecution of gender-based violence.
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FDP says: “European Union must promote growth and not hinder it”
BuzzFeed News Germany
asks the FDP why it is blocking so many laws at the European level.
Because it is committed to reducing bureaucracy, economic recovery and relieving the burden on citizens and companies, the party writes.
The traffic light set itself these goals in the coalition agreement.
“It is therefore consistent and necessary to oppose excessive regulations and unrealistic legislative projects of the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen in the European Council,” a spokesman tells us.
“However, it would be better if the EU Commission itself presented practical solutions to the problems of our time in the future,” he believes.
This is what top candidate Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann wants to campaign for in the European elections.
“The European Union must promote growth and economic dynamism and not hinder it,” he says.
More on the topic: The Union takes its role as opposition very seriously