La question de la défense européenne sur fond de guerre en Ukraine concerne tous les électeurs et les électrices en Europe. C’est ce que démontre toutes les enquêtes et eurobaromètres les plus récents. Mais les recettes pourraient croître et créer une véritable défense européenne.

Quelles sont-elles ? C’est la question qui est posée à l’ancien patron de l’Ecole Royale Militaire, le Colonel Jean Marsia avant qu’il ne s’exprime en Lettonie à Riga devant des parlementaires lettons.

The Union of European Federalists (UEF) congratulates the 180 millions (provisional data) citizens that have participated in the 2024 European elections, but expresses its concern for the stagnation in the participation rate: 50.08% percentage points (provisional results), not far off from the 2019 result of 50,66% (LINK).

Secondly, UEF expresses its concern by the increase in support for Eurosceptic and Europhobic far-right political parties: with regard to the estimations, the ID and ECR groups grow but (luckily) not significantly enough: with 4 more seats (ID) and 9 more seats (ECR) than in the outgoing Parliament. EPP also gained 9 seats, while there is a significant decrease in the seats of Renew (22 seats lost) and Greens/EFA (19 seats lost) groups. The S&D group had only a mimiminal decline, having lost two seats compared to 2019. One has to take into account that there are as many as 53 seats allocated to new parties that have to choose their European family.

The developments in France and Germany, in particular, are worrying. In France the result of the Rassemblement National (ID Group) party was confirmed with 31.37% of voting, and just after the announcement of the first exit poll results, the French President Emmanuel Macron announced the dissolution of the French Parliament and a first round of elections on the 30th of June. In Germany, the Alternative für Deutschland (far-right party currently not affiliated to any European group) became the second most voted party with 15,90% of votes.

At the same time, the European federalists would like to point out that nonetheless, the large majority of European voters have supported pro-European political parties and movements, representing no less than 454 seats in the new European Parliament. In this context, we urge all pro-European political forces with representation in the new European Parliament  to unite and form a strong and cohesive coalition based on a Legislature Agreement that categorically excludes the far-right. This is a political necessity also in order to ensure a stable majority in Parliament and a work programme consistent with the mandate of European voters.

Among the essential points on which to base a cohesive pact, UEF stresses that there must be support for the strengthening of the European Union – and thus for the reform of the Treaties through a Convention (ex Art. 48.2 TEU) – and for Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s aggression.

In accordance with the Resolution approved by the European Parliament on the 12/12/2023, and in application of the principles of the lead candidates process (“Spitzenkandidaten”), UEF urges the Conference of Presidents to back the lead candidate tabled by the political party that has gained the highest number of seats to be proposed by the European Council as candidate for President of the European Commission.

In parallel, said candidate should immediately engage in negotiations with the other lead candidates and the presidents of the European political parties and their respective parliamentary groups in order to constitute a pro-European majority for their election, on the basis of the legislature agreement.

Since the upcoming parliamentary legislature will be decisive for the future of Europe, UEF strongly believes that a fundamental condition to confirm the next President of the Commission, is that they must support the launch of the Convention for Treaty reform. The existential challenges facing the European Union and the upcoming enlargement urgently require that a process of profound reform – as already called for by the outgoing Parliament on the basis of the results of the Conference on the Future of Europe – is initiated.

The UEF calls on all democratic and pro-European forces to come together and strengthen the unity of Europe, its democracy and the model it represents as a union of States and citizens. 

Our fate, and that of our values and social model, are at stake. We cannot fail. 

Brussels, June 10, 2024 

Press Contact: Ilaria Caria, Sec.-Gen., secretariat@federalists.eu, +32 491524097

Débat hybride organisé par l’UEF, l’UEF Belgique et l’UEF Groupe Europe avec les représentants des partis européens en Belgique, le 25 avril à 18h30, depuis le Press club à Bruxelles, sur les enjeux des élections européennes

Ilaria Caria, Secrétaire Générale de l’Union des fédéralistes européens (UEF), salue les candidats et le public, présents pour le lancement par l’UEF de sa campagne électorale. Le Parlement européen, avec sa résolution de novembre 2023, a été un protagoniste majeur pour la seconde initiative de l’UEF en vue de réformer l’UE. Fidèle à sa mission historique, l’UEF lui a donc adressé un manifeste et invité les futurs eurodéputés à s’engager à œuvrer à la réforme de l’UE et à devenir membre au Groupe Spinelli.

Catherine Vieilledent, Secrétaire Générale UEF Groupe Europe (section non nationale), souligne que le Parlement européen a du pouvoir, ce dont peu de citoyens sont conscients. Certains pays sont ainsi mal représentés au PE. Il faut donc que le passage de relais d’un mandat à l’autre se passe bien, avec le soutien des fédéralistes, et que les partis valorisent les expériences des précédents élus.

Giorgio Clarotti, UEF Groupe Europe, était le maître du temps et des questions en ligne (via Slido).

Domenico Rossetti di Valdalbero, Secrétaire Général UEF Belgique, introduit et modère le débat. Trois candidats étaient présents : Laura Hidalgo (MR), Léa Charlet (ecolo) et Arslan Jurion (Volt).  Luc Hennart (PS) et David Muongo (Les Engagés) étant excusés ou empêchés. Aux trois candidats présents, Domenico Rossetti demande de répondre à trois questions sur la nécessaire réforme des Traités Européens, la guerre en Europe et dans son voisinage ou encore la justice sociale du Green Deal.

A noter que les trois candidats ont déclaré souscrire (certains l’ont déjà signé, d’autres vont le faire) à l’engagement demandé par l’UEF pour la réforme de l’UE et l’entrée au Groupe Spinelli du Parlement européen.

Conclusions de Catherine Vieilledent qui constate la réelle maturité des jeunes candidats sur les questions européennes. Elle se réjouit, sans être tout à fait surprise, que les candidats aient rappelé le besoin de budget européen et les recommandations de 800 citoyens lors de la Conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe qui sont toujours sur la table. Les jeunes candidats sont pragmatiques et n’opposent pas simplement une source/technologie énergétique à une autre. Ils souhaitent une « sphère publique européenne » dont on parle beaucoup même si l’Europe n’est pas assez présente dans nos sociétés et dans nos écoles. L’éducation à l’Europe fait défaut. L’unanimité bloque dans plusieurs domaines, notamment sur la politique étrangère et il faut réviser les traités. La question de la fiscalité a été mise sur la table par plusieurs participants lors du débat. Non pas parce qu’il faut faire payer à titre punitif, mais parce qu’il y a de l’argent et qu’il faut le mettre à la disposition de l’intérêt commun, notamment européen.

Domenico Rossetti remercie les candidats et le public en constatant que le fédéralisme européen a beaucoup d’avenir, au vu des positions exprimées par les trois candidats présents.

The first edition of the UEF Insider newsletter for 2024 has been launched. In this edition, there is a closer look at the Treaty Reform Now campaign, the work towards the European Elections 2024, upcoming and past events and activities, and all the ways in which one can contribute.

Foreword by the President of the UEF, Domènec Ruiz Devesa

Dear Federalist friends,
Dear Federalist comrades,

We are living through a difficult time in European history, in which the European Union must readjust its institutional framework and its decision-making process to face the dramatic challenges that threaten its resilience. We have commemorated in many cities the second anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine (here our Press Release), which strenuously defends its freedom and with it that of Europeans, and the Middle East with each passing week an increasingly violent and unstable area. Finally, we watch with apprehension what happens in the USA with the risk of Trump’s return to the presidency and the potential consequences for the future of European defence. And looking at Europe, we continue to see the damaging consequences of climate change and thus the need for a serious change of course in European industrial and infrastructure policy.
This scenario makes an institutional reform of Europe even more necessary to tackle the many problems we face. In the past year, some fundamental steps have been taken.
In November 2023, the European Parliament successfully approved the resolution calling for a Convention to reform the Treaties and activate Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). Then, under the Spanish Presidency, the Council of the EU transmitted the European European Parliament’s request for activation of Article 48 TEU to the European Council. Europe now turns to Charles Michel and EU national leaders to immediately include the EP‘s request on the agenda of the March 2024 EUCO meeting. The EUCO Summit is the last one when there would be a possibility to do so before the European Elections.

Since December 2023, we’ve been calling for the inclusion of Treaty reform on the EUCO Agenda. Our quest for institutional reform continues. We had prepared a Memorandum, explaining why a Convention is the only feasible way forward, while simple procedures and accession adjustments to the Treatyare not up to the task . Many events in the past few years have shown that Europe is not ready to tackle the challengeswe face. With the second anniversary of the Invasion of Ukraine, we can just see this more clearly.
Together with the Spinelli Group, European Movement International and Young European Federalists, we’ve been writing letters to the Presidents of the Commission and the Council. We will also be sending letters to the heads of state and governments. We will use all avenues to put pressure on policy makers to take this significant step and we will demostrate in the streets to show its importance.
In this newsletter, you will find many useful tools to take political action at all levels – from the ordinary citizen to the government of a member country – and explain why it is necessary to open a Convention to reform the Treaties.
I strongly encourage all of you to join us in our activities and actions and fight for the next step towards a Federal Europe.
Yes to a more democratic Europe fully capable to act, Yes to a federal Europe.

Federalist regards
Domènec Ruiz Devesa

Here is the newsletter in full: UEF Insider Newsletter 1:2024 | A New Phase of the Federalist Campaign

If you cannot read it, follow this link: Newsletter Feb 2024