BERLIN, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of Germany's ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) parties agreed on their program for the European Parliament elections on May 26 at a meeting in Berlin on Monday.
The slogan for the CDU-CSU European election program is "Our Europe is strong. For security, peace and prosperity". The program was launched here by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, leader of the CDU, Manfred Weber, chair of the European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, and Markus Soeder, leader of the CSU.
Weber said that Europe "can only assert itself globally with good products. That is why we want Europe to be economically strong."
Soeder cautioned that Brexit was a "synonym for when Europe is left to the wrong people". He argued that Europe should strive to "keep one foot in the door of international politics," in particular by creating its own economic "champions."
The joint CDU-CSU European election program warns that "the European idea is being attacked by populists from left and right and by nationalists. Some want a Europe of prohibition and redistribution; others want to destroy the European idea."
Kramp-Karrenbauer emphasized that the upcoming European Parliament elections are "clearly not about the question of whether one is for or against Europe."
Weber reiterated that "Europe is the flagship in the fight against climate change."
The CDU-CSU program for the European elections calls for "the global pricing of greenhouse gas emissions and a rapid implementation, if necessary initially at the level of the G20 states."
Kramp-Karrenbauer stressed that holding open discussions about "all available instruments" is vital for tackling climate change, while Soeder noted that Germany would need to have a "fundamental rethink" of its own national energy policy.
This is the first time the CDU and CSU have a single program for the European elections and a common top candidate, Manfred Weber.
