Programme of the CDU Elbe-Weser 2021-2026 In the midst of our society In the midst of our society - Programme of the CDU Elbe- Weser 2021-2026 Dear readers, For thirty years, the CDU has renewed the "Elbe-Weser Programme" every five years. During this time, the members of the CDU have always held political responsibility in Europe, at the federal, state and local levels. The Elbe-Weser triangle has developed into an economically prosperous region. Together we will therefore also overcome the challenges of the coming years. The combination of tradition and modernity will help us to do so. The CDU sees itself at the centre of society in our rural home. We first ask about people's concerns and then give our answers. With this programme, we emphasize which values and goals we stand for and how we differ from left wing and right wing competitors. With this programme, we would like to offer you a clear and reliable perspective for the coming years. In particular, dealing with the consequences of the Corona pandemic will be an enormous challenge for us in the years to come. Our sympathy goes out to the victims of the pandemic and their families. In the future, we will also pay special attention to those who have experienced economic and social difficulties as a result of the pandemic itself or by the restrictive measures taken to combat the pandemic. That is why we think it is wrong to make expensive promises. It is more important for us to use the narrow financial leeway to open up fair prospects for the economically disadvantaged. By way of example, we are thinking of small and medium-sized retail and catering businesses, but also of workers who have lost their jobs and of industries whose jobs are at risk. The CDU Elbe-Weser views itself as the Elbe-Weser Party and will continue to stand up powerfully and reliably for the interests and people of our region in the years to come. We wish you an enjoyable and informative reading! Enak Ferlemann, District Chairman Axel Lohse, Programme Commission I. Assessment and outlook for five years What is expected from us! The CDU Elbe-Weser - in the midst of our society! The Christian Democratic Union Elbe-Weser is the people's party of the centre with the objective of representing the interests of the people of our predominantly rural region. We see "centre" not only as our location in the political spectrum, but also as our location in society. The people in our home country expect politics to be reliable, sustainable, value- oriented, geared to the common good and pursuing long-term goals. We see this expectation as the guiding principle of our political action. The great majority of the working population expects secure jobs, an income that is sufficient for subsistence, securing the future and certain amenities of life. This is not only about fair wages and salaries, but also about fair and adequate taxes and social contributions. A small gap between the incomes of working people and those of people receiving social benefits is being perceived as unfair. Entrepreneurs, self-employed and farmers want to be able to decide freely on their economic and entrepreneurial goals and expect the government and society to provide reliable framework conditions, affordable taxes and levies, a limitation of state intervention to the maximum extent necessary and social appreciation of their activities. Taxpayers are willing to act in solidarity if they can be sure that the state will handle their money carefully and pay attention to sustainable public finances and manageable administrative costs. As road users, we want to see an infrastructure consisting of safe and fast transport routes and connections. Parents want the independent upbringing of their children and their education to remain feasible and affordable and not to lead to disadvantages in their professional lives. The young generation is concerned about future opportunities in education and work in a sustainable environment that is worth living in. The elder generation wants to leave precisely this liveable environment to future generations and also wants secure pensions that fairly reflect their own life achievements. Christians and other religious people are concerned with the preservation of creation as well as society's respect for traditions, customs and traditions that have shaped our culture over centuries. Individual money savers expect that the currency will remain inflation-proof and that a fair return will not be avoided or taxed away by the state or the central bank. Public servants see themselves as service providers for their fellow citizens and would like to see less regulation. Moreover, members of the educational professions and the security forces expect more respect from society for their difficult tasks. People with disabilities and sick people expect the solidarity of society to be able to live a life without existential fear. Safe and affordable health care for all is seen as an important prerequisite for a dignified life. What characterises us? What makes us different? In an increasingly colourful political and social spectrum, we want to position ourselves clearly as a people's party and make it clear what distinguishes us from our right-wing and left-wing competitors: 1. We stand for the open and liberal society that was developed in the Federal Republic of Germany after the Second World War. We stand firmly and unreservedly on the foundation of the Basic Law and representative democracy. We stand by our historical responsibility from two dictatorships on German soil. We reject all totalitarian state views and systems. For us, respect for human rights and freedoms is an important prerequisite for good international relations. We strictly reject violence as a means to achieve political goals or for whatever reason. In our view, there must be a balance between citizens and the state. We see the state as a means to an end. It may only intervene in the rights of the individual if the rights of others are otherwise violated or if higher interests require it. In this case, the elected or appointed representatives of the state must be accountable for their actions. We also expect unrestricted acceptance of the free legal and social order from the people who have immigrated to our country. 2. In our view, Germany is part of the Western community and shares Western values. This also includes the transatlantic community and membership in NATO as the unchanged foundation of our external security. We stand by our alliance commitments and see a modern and well equipped Bundeswehr as a parliamentary army, aligned with the principles of our basic democratic order, as an essential German contribution to securing peace. 3. For us, a united Europe is more than an economic and monetary union. The experience of two world wars, but also more than a thousand years of common history, have taught us that only European integration will lead to a lasting peaceful future. As German Europeans, we stand for our German interests when there are different interests in the European Union - just as every other European state does. The integration of Europe requires a fair distribution of burdens. We Germans are ready for this and expect the same willingness from all European partners. We see the protection of the external borders and the orderly management of immigration as a common European task. We would like to see the EU's bureaucracy and administration structured clearly and transparently in order to increase the acceptance of the EU by its citizens. 4. The social market economy is the most successful economic order of all time and has led to great prosperity in our country. The combination of free entrepreneurial activity of the individual under fair market conditions and with the consideration of social responsibility follows our fundamental Christian conviction. As an export nation, we stand for free trade in the world. Protectionism endangers our prosperity. 5. As Christian Democrats, we see the preservation and development of the creation as a major task for the future of politics. We stand for a balance between ecological necessities and economic goals. 6. Our Christian view of humanity means that we always see the other person as our neighbour first. We reject discrimination against other people for whatever reason, not least because of our historical responsibility. 7. Since its foundation, our party has stood for subsidiarity. At present, we see increasing political tendencies to overemphasise the interests of metropolitan structures. We stand for the fact that in rural areas independent decisions about their own development remain possible and are oriented towards the goals and values of the people in the affected areas. We stand for the coexistence of urban and rural areas, characterised by equality and mutual respect. Where we live! The Christian Democratic Union of Germany in the region between the Elbe, Weser and Aller sees itself as a people's party which - based on a fundamental Christian understanding - unites christian-social, liberal and conservative perspectives, but at the same time pays particular attention to the specific cultural conditions and traditions of our home region and develops these further within the framework of a modern structural policy. The connection of the grown identity of our region with the demands of a globalised world is the main concern of our politics. That is why our party, as the Elbe-Weser Party, wants to represent the interests of our citizens with one voice. With this orientation, we have achieved many successes in the last quarter of a century. While the area between the Elbe and the Weser was one of the structurally weaker regions in Lower Saxony and Germany in the decades after the war, it has experienced a dynamic upward trend in terms of economic development over the last three decades.