- Junge Union
The Junge Union ("Young Christian Democrats") or JU is the joint
youth organisation of the two conservative German political parties CDU and CSU. To be a member one has to be between 14 and 35 years old.Philosophy
In its manifesto the JU defines itself as a liberal, conservative but progressive organisation. From an Anglo-Saxon point of view the JU would best be described as conservative. Its policies are based on the
Christian view of Man and his responsibility beforeGod . The JU advocatesdemocracy andSocial market economy . It supports the European integration and a strong partnership with theUnited States . The "Junge Union" backs the modernisation of the political agenda within its mother parties. One central objective is a consequent reform of thesocial security system which faces a tough demographic challenge in the coming years.The most important topic of the JU is education. The JU supports the elite school-type "Gymnasium" and manifest best education as their mayor aim. They support the idea of private schools, which are relatively rare in Germany, and want them to coexist with very well-equipped public schools.Well-known former members of the Junge Union
*
Helmut Kohl
*Edmund Stoiber
*Roland Koch
*Christian Wulff
*Peter MüllerChairpersons
*
Bruno Six (1947 -1948 )
*Alfred Sagner (1948 -1949 )
*Josef Hermann Dufhues (1949 -1950 )
*Ernst Majonica (1950 -1955 )
*Gerhard Stoltenberg (1955 -1961 )
*Bert Even (1961 -1963 )
*Egon Klepsch (1963 -1969 )
*Jürgen Echternach (1969 -1973 )
*Matthias Wissmann (1973 -1983 )
*Christoph Böhr (1983 -1989 )
*Hermann Gröhe (1989 -1994 )
*Klaus Escher (1994 -1998 )
*Hildegard Müller (1998 -2002 )
*Philipp Mißfelder (2002 - )International relations
The JU is member of the Youth of the European People's Party (YEPP), an umbrella organisation of
Christian Democratic and conservative youth organisations ofEurope . It works closely together with all European partner organisations but has traditionally strong ties to the neighbouring Junge Österreichische Volkspartei (JVP), youth organisation of theAustrian People's Party .External links
* [http://www.junge-union.de/ Junge Union] - Official site (German)
* [http://www.philipp-missfelder.de/ Philipp Mißfelder] - Official site of the current JU chairman (German)
* [http://www.yepp.org/ Youth of the European People's Party] - Official site (English)
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