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AfD proposes ‘Confederation of European Nations against the EU’

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The Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is second in the polls in Germany, has once again declared that it wants to abolish the EU in its current form and turn it into a confederation of nation states with limited power, as it kicked off the European Parliament (EP) elections on Saturday 27 April.

“The AfD wants to strengthen our national sovereignty and limit the power of the EU to what is necessary and useful,” Marc Jongen, AfD candidate for the EP and a leading figure in shaping the party’s ideology, told Euractiv.

According to Jongen, the EU is turning into a “European superstate” that “will no longer be a democracy and will turn Germany into Europe’s permanent trustee”.

Maximilian Krah, the party’s candidate for the European Parliament, whose deputy was recently arrested for allegedly ‘spying for China’, did not attend the meeting.

It then emerged that the public prosecutor’s office in Dresden was investigating Krah on suspicion of receiving illegal Russian and Chinese payments. Krah rejected the allegations as ‘unfounded assumptions and insinuations’.

Strengthening national sovereignty instead of ‘Dexit’

Recently, the party seems to have moved away from the idea of Germany leaving the EU (Dexit). Instead, the AfD has defined new strategies for ‘rethinking Europe’ and creating a ‘European confederation of nations’.

According to its election manifesto, the AfD wants to work with the Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the EP, which includes Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) in France and the League in Italy, against the ‘steady erosion of the sovereignty of nation states’.

“We are not anti-European, […] but we don’t want this EU anymore,” said co-president Tino Chrupalla on Saturday.

Yes to the single market, no to harmonisation projects

The party’s basic concept is to abolish most of the EU’s harmonisation projects while preserving the EU’s single market, which is profitable for Germany. The campaign claims that the current EU will be replaced by a new European Economic and Interest Community without ‘the EU’s drive for further centralisation and paternalism’.

In the medium term, the party aims to ‘abolish the undemocratically elected European Parliament’.

Until the EU is transformed into the confederation of nation states it seeks, it proposes that legislative power should be transferred to the European Council and decisions should be guided by national parliaments.

Exit the euro, return to the deutschmark

However, the dismantling of the EU was not the main theme of the conference. Opposition to climate change, migration and gender policies were the main focus of the meeting.

The AfD wants to restore ‘the self-determination of EU member states in asylum and migration policy’ and favours European coordination and shared costs for the protection of external borders for a ‘Fortress Europe’.

Opposition to the euro and the eurozone continues to underpin the AfD’s monetary policy, which it describes as a “failure”. “A new Deutsche Mark can regain its higher purchasing power compared to other countries,” the party’s manifesto reads.

Good relations with Eurasian Economic Union and Belt and Road

The party also sees the EU and German climate change targets as a nuisance and a danger to the German economy. They are sceptical about the consequences of excessive CO2 emissions and the idea of climate change, and advocate the abolition of all European and national climate protection measures.

In foreign policy, the MEPs, led by Maximilian Krah, want to rebalance towards Russia and China in return for the ‘greater sovereignty’ that Germany has gained vis-à-vis the US. Economic sanctions against Russia would be lifted and Germany’s relations with the Eurasian Economic Union would be expanded.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) also finds strong support in the programme. The AfD says it is ‘committed to Germany’s proactive participation in shaping the programme on the basis of equality’.

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German defense minister clears way for Scholz to lead SPD into elections

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Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has officially withdrawn as the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) top candidate for the upcoming election, ending weeks of speculation about his potential to replace Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In a video message released by the SPD on Thursday evening, Pistorius stated that the ongoing public debate had harmed the party’s unity. He informed the party leadership that he was unsuitable for the chancellorship.

“Olaf Scholz is a strong chancellor and the right candidate for the chancellorship,” Pistorius said, emphasizing that the party leader embodies “reason and common sense.” He further urged, “We now have a joint responsibility to bring this debate to an end because there is a lot at stake.”

When Scholz triggered early elections two weeks ago, many assumed he would automatically serve as the SPD’s candidate, given his role as the incumbent chancellor. However, polls revealed that Pistorius, who has been defense minister since early 2023, had become Germany’s most popular politician, sparking a de facto leadership race.

Scholz faces declining approval ratings

In contrast to Pistorius’ popularity, Scholz suffered from one of the lowest approval ratings among German politicians. Voters blamed him for months of political infighting that crippled the three-way “traffic light” coalition, which ultimately collapsed earlier this month.

Despite this, the SPD central leadership continued to back Scholz. Meanwhile, Pistorius faced increasing criticism for failing to address the leadership speculation. In his video message, Pistorius denied initiating the controversy but acknowledged that it had caused “growing uncertainty” within the party and “resentment” among voters.

He emphasized that the decision to step aside was his own and pledged his full support to Scholz, whom he described as an “extraordinary” chancellor. Pistorius also affirmed his commitment to campaigning for the SPD’s re-election.

Supporters react with disappointment

Pistorius’ withdrawal left many of his supporters disheartened. “I regret this development. The aim now must be to work together and achieve the best possible election result for the SPD,” said Joe Weingarten, an SPD member of parliament, in an interview with Der Spiegel.

Another MP, Johannes Arlt, remarked, “I would have preferred a different decision, but now we have one. It is good for the party and the country. We will now go into the federal election campaign united.”

A two-way race for the chancellorship

With Pistorius stepping down, the race for the chancellorship is now expected to be between Olaf Scholz and Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democrats (CDU). Merz, a millionaire and former BlackRock Germany executive, has been polling ahead of Scholz since taking over the CDU leadership in 2022. Scholz’s supporters, however, remain optimistic that he can close the gap and outperform Merz in the upcoming election.

Pistorius: A proponent of German remilitarization

Known for his pragmatic approach to military affairs, Pistorius, 64, earned respect for his tough stance on Russia and advocacy for Germany’s rearmament. Following his appointment as defense minister in 2023, he made clear his opposition to the SPD’s historical reluctance to increase military spending.

Describing Vladimir Putin as “the despot in the Kremlin,” Pistorius warned that Germany must boost defense investments and ensure it is “combat ready.” His hardline approach on security and defense issues distinguished him within the SPD and cemented his popularity among voters.

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Poland urges EU to increase spending on eastern defence

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Poland, NATO’s largest defence spender, has urged its EU partners to bolster border defences with Russia and Belarus. The move aims to demonstrate a firm commitment to European security, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s influence on global defence policies.

Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, the deputy minister responsible for preparations for Poland’s EU presidency, set to begin in January, told The Financial Times (FT) that the EU should invest in strengthening border fortifications and air surveillance systems under the Eastern Shield initiative.

“I think solidarity on the Eastern Shield could help show Trump that, as the EU, we understand what needs to be done for defence. If Trump says he will only work with countries that invest in defence, that’s fine for Poland, because we already spend 4% of GDP on defence. But what about the others? Funding the Eastern Shield would demonstrate the shared commitment of European countries,” Sobkowiak-Czarnecka explained.

The Eastern Shield, announced in May, comprises advanced fortifications and air surveillance systems along Poland’s borders with Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. This initiative is central to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s strategy to counter what he describes as “Russian aggression”, including the “hybrid war” linked to facilitating illegal migration from Belarus into Poland.

The Tusk government has allocated PLN 10 billion (€2.3 billion) for the Eastern Shield as part of broader defence expenditures. These investments will increase Poland’s defence spending from 4.1% of GDP in 2023 to 4.7% by 2025, the highest in NATO and more than double the alliance’s 2% GDP target. In contrast, some EU nations, such as Italy and Spain, have yet to meet this benchmark.

“All our partners must understand that the Eastern Shield is not solely about Poland but also about safeguarding the EU’s borders,” said Sobkowiak-Czarnecka.

Trump’s potential return to the presidency has heightened concerns across EU capitals, given his promises to impose tariffs on the bloc and signals of a potential resolution to the Ukraine conflict that could favor Russia.

Sobkowiak-Czarnecka underscored Poland’s commitment to enhancing EU security on multiple fronts, from increasing military equipment production to countering disinformation and securing energy supplies.

“This Polish presidency comes at a critical juncture. As an expert on Ukraine and one of the strongest U.S. allies in Europe, Poland will be a guiding light in these challenging times,” she concluded.

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European energy market in turmoil: Gas prices reach one-year high

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The European energy market faces significant challenges as natural gas prices soar to their highest levels in a year. A combination of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Gazprom’s suspension of natural gas supplies to Austria, and colder-than-expected weather has placed substantial pressure on the market.

Industry representatives acknowledge that while sufficient gas supplies exist, the supply-demand balance remains fragile. Negative developments or geopolitical news could quickly trigger additional price surges.

On Thursday, Dutch TTF futures—a key European natural gas benchmark—rose to €48.8 per megawatt-hour (MWh) (equivalent to $538 per 1,000 cubic meters), a level last observed in November 2023. Since the end of the heating season on 31 March, prices have climbed by more than 150%.

The price surge accelerated on Wednesday after Ukraine targeted Russian territory using British-made Storm Shadow missiles. By the close of the trading day, prices had increased by 2.5%, reaching €46.8/MWh.

On the same day, the United States issued a warning based on intelligence reports, predicting a major air strike in the region. Following this warning, many Western countries evacuated their embassies in Kyiv.

Adding to the tensions, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of carrying nuclear payloads. This event aligns with speculation about changes in Russia’s nuclear doctrine and the US’s authorization for Ukraine to target Russian territory with long-range missiles.

While liquefied natural gas (LNG) demand in Asia remains low, traders are turning their focus to Europe to capitalize on surging prices, according to Bloomberg.

Despite the increased volatility, Gas Infrastructure Europe reports that gas storage facilities across Europe are 90% full. However, the heating season, combined with freezing temperatures in Northern Europe, has amplified concerns about market stability.

Torgrim Reitan, Equinor’s Chief Financial Officer, emphasized that the market’s fragile balance increases the influence of external factors on pricing dynamics.

The state of pipeline gas supplies from Russia is another major concern. On 16 November, Gazprom halted deliveries to Austria’s OMV, citing unresolved payment issues. The company is attempting to recover part of a €230 million arbitration judgment through this suspension.

Despite this, Gazprom continues to supply 42.4 million cubic meters of gas daily to Europe via Ukraine. However, OMV cannot access these supplies and must turn to other sources, such as Slovakia, to meet Austria’s energy needs. According to OMV officials, Austria’s energy requirements are fully covered by alternative suppliers.

Jon Treacy, editor of the investment newsletter Fuller Treacy Money, noted that although Austria maintains official neutrality, most of OMV’s customers are NATO members. Treacy added that Russia’s “long, cold winter” strategy aims to exert pressure on regions beyond Ukraine over the long term.

Market analysts warn that transit through Ukraine—a minor contributor to the European Union’s total gas imports—could be entirely cut off by January 2024. Such a development would further strain an already delicate market, potentially driving prices even higher.

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