"We want a strong Europe," shouts Manfred Weber. "We want a smart Europe". And: "We want a friendly Europe." Who wanted to say no? Something like that must have been thought of in the camp of the CSU politician when it came to finding mottos for Weber's European election campaign.

"Strong", "smart", "friendly" are the buzz words for the European election campaign Webers, which the leading candidate of the European People's Party (EPP) launched on Tuesday evening in Athens. Their title: "The Power of WE", officially also #ThePowerofWE - so much Internet modernity must be.

"The Power of WE" makes it clear that "people are deciding", Weber calls into the wide circle of the Zappeion in the Greek capital. "The Power of WE" shows "that power means unity and unity". And it means "that we open a new chapter in the European dream".

How exactly this is to go, Weber presented in a twelve-point plan, which he wants to fulfill after his election as the new EU Commission President. If he is the role model for Weber's election campaign, then he should not be particularly controversial. Instead, Weber seems to follow the motto: Do ​​not step on anyone's feet.

Twelve points, little controversy

At the top of his twelve-point plan is the demand that the EU border and coastal protection agency Frontex be increased to 10,000 officials by 2022 - and not just until 2027, as the governments of the EU Member States have recently enforced. Only: what a commission president demands and what he gets is not always the same - that has just been shown with the Frontex reinforcement. The current incumbent Jean-Claude Juncker wanted to complete it by 2020. Weber is trying to speed things up again - just a bit more modest.

Other parts of the twelve-point plan, which theoretically could provide for controversy, Weber already tried to defuse in advance. He renews his call for a rule of law mechanism to protect the freedom of the press, the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption in the EU states.

Western and northern EU countries are calling for such a mechanism vehemently in view of the democratization in Poland, Hungary or Romania. But Weber does not want to vilify voters in these countries either, and that he is German does not make things easier. Probably not in vain Weber was just on Tuesday of the Polish newspaper "Polska Times" quote with the statement that he was against Nord Stream 2. The German-Russian gas pipeline is "not in the EU interest," Weber said. Especially with Poland's government, which heavily criticized Nord Stream 2, he should score points with it.

At most other points of Weber's plan threatens no major dispute. This includes:

  • a "European FBI" modeled on the US Federal Police to hunt down terrorists
  • Home loans for young families,
  • a worldwide ban on child labor,
  • an EU master plan for the fight against cancer,
  • the abolition of over 1,000 obsolete regulations.

At least as interesting is what is not in Weber's twelve-point plan. For example, the word "refugees" occurs only once, in the context of Weber's call for an end to the accession negotiations with Turkey.

The refugee pact with Ankara is a positive example of what working with Ankara could look like apart from Turkish EU membership. However, legal immigration and cooperation with countries of origin are not mentioned in Weber's Manifesto. Weber explained the "Marshal Plan for Africa" ​​only last week in a TV duel with his social-democrat opponent Frans Timmermans to "top topic for the next leader of the European Union".

Weber promises global ban on disposable plastic

When it comes to environmental protection Weber is not necessarily where it hurts. Instead, he makes full-bodied commitments. "We as the EPP promise to establish a global ban on disposable plastic," says the CSU politician. But the EU contributes just a tiny fraction of plastic waste to the oceans. By far the largest sinners are Asian countries, especially China. How Weber wants to persuade them to agree to a global plastic ban remains his secret.

The area on which the EU is one of the leading malefactors - the emission of greenhouse gases - wipes Weber, however, only with some phrases: "Climate change threatens the existence of humanity and the future of our children," says the Twelve Point Plan. Concrete proposals are sought there in vain, because they could touch on explosive issues such as the abandonment of coal power and the internal combustion engine. Especially in Germany is the mined area.

But Weber, it seems clear, does not want to make enemies. For an election campaign in the EU that has always been compromised, this is probably not the worst strategy.