AfD plan would reduce EU powers and budget

Alice Weidel is expected to present the AfD’s EU policy at the European Parliament on Wednesday.

The plan, as described in a media report, would not initially seek to leave the EU or the eurozone.

Instead, the party wants to reduce the EU’s powers and budget, including by replacing direct European Parliament elections with delegates chosen by national parliaments.

It would also restrict the European Commission to administrative work and replace the European Court of Justice with an arbitration tribunal.

An AfD-led Germany would seek exemptions from EU rules and threaten to cut its contributions to the bloc’s budget.

If the EU rejected the proposed changes, the party would seek a referendum on membership, but holding one would require a difficult constitutional amendment approved by two-thirds of both houses of Germany’s parliament.

The AfD hopes to put its plans into effect after the 2029 elections, but although polls place it first, it would need a coalition partner and other parties have ruled out cooperating with it.