EVENTS

2025 Federal Committee of the Union of European Federalists (UEF) event in the Hellenic Parliament

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Greece hosts, for the first time, the meeting of the Union of European Federalists, with a landmark event in the Hellenic Parliament that underscores its upgraded role in shaping the new European agenda.

Under the central theme “For a stronger, more democratic, and inclusive European Union – towards a European federation,” the event highlighted the need for bold institutional reforms and for a renewed European vision capable of responding to the challenges of our time.

The event was organized by the UEF, the Spinelli Group, and the UEF Greece (EEEnOE), marking a key moment for the European debate on the future of the Union and the transition towards a stronger, more democratic, and inclusive European Federation.

A special highlight of the event were the video messages delivered by Sandro Gozi, Member of the European Parliament and Honorary President of the UEF, and Josep Borrell, former High Representative of the EU and former President of the European Parliament, both of whom emphasized the historic significance of European integration and the need for political courage to complete it.

The Federal Committee proceedings continued on 22 and 23 November in Piraeus, at the building housing the Historic Library of the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. The sessions focused on developing concrete proposals and initiatives in preparation for the organization’s future strategy, ahead of the pan-European Congress to be held in early 2026 in Spain.

The meetings in Athens and Piraeus were institutionally supported by the Municipality of Piraeus, represented by Deputy Mayors Mr. Dimitris Karydis and Ms. Andriana Zarakeli, acting on behalf and with the continuous support of the Mayor of Piraeus. The active involvement of the municipal authority underscored the importance the Municipality places on hosting international institutional processes and on strengthening Piraeus’ role as a hub for dialogue and cooperation at the European level.

Find more information on the federalist.eu website: A Stronger, More Democratic Europe: UEF Federal Committee Opens in the Hellenic Parliament – Union of European Federalists

L’UEF.be rencontre la VP du Parlement européen, Sophie Wilmès

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Ce 12 novembre 2025 à Bruxelles, l’UEF Belgique a rencontré Sophie Wilmès, vice-présidente du PE et ancienne Première Ministre de Belgique, avec une vingtaine de jeunes. Cette rencontre a eu lieu après une visite guidée du PE à l’occasion de la session plénière. Après une première visite avec des étudiants d’écoles belges ce 21 Mai 2025, cette fois-ci, des jeunes de l’Ecole Européenne ont pu assister à un débat parlementaire européen.

Les jeunes ont d’abord entendu une brève introduction au Fédéralisme Européen par le Secrétaire Général de l’UEF.be, Domenico Rossetti de Valdalbero. Ils ont ensuite été accueilli par le service de visite du PE dans l’hémicycle où ils ont appris le fonctionnement décisionnel européen et assisté aux débats en cours à la session plénière. Enfin, ils ont pu rencontrer Sophie Wilmès avec qui ils ont notamment parlé de l’Etat de Droit et des principes du fédéralisme européen (Manifeste de Ventotene d’Altiero Spinelli) ainsi que des potentiels futurs élargissements de l’UE, de la réforme des institutions, d’une défense européenne et du Green Deal.

L’UEF.be remercie vivement Giovanni Merlini, Moris Frosio Roncalli et Nicolas Denoiseux pour l’organisation de cette riche après-midi au cœur de l’Europe.

Présentation des « Chroniques européennes » de Renaud Denuit

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Rendez-vous le jeudi 11 septembre 2025 à 18h30 au Château Malou pour la présentation des Chroniques européennesde Renaud Denuit. Merci de confirmer votre présence avant le 6 septembre à renauddenuit@hotmail.com

Infos pratiques
• Lieu : Château Malou (Chaussée de Stockel 45, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert).

Crédit photo : Horst J. Meuter — « Château Malou – Woluwe-Saint-Lambert – Brussels » (2019). Source : Wikimedia Commons

UEF.be general assembly – June 2025

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The General Assembly of UEF.be was held in person on June 7, 2025, at the College of Europe in Bruges.

The meeting was chaired by Mr Ciavarini Azzi, who recalled the memory of Paul Frix and Giuseppe Ciavarini Azzi, as European federalists.

The new UEF.be Bureau for 2025 was elected unanimously:

* Michele Ciavarini Azzi, President
* Domenico Rossetti di Valdalbero, Secretary-General
* Lucian Onisei, Executive Director, in charge with Communication
* Christian De Bruyne, Treasurer

Robert Verschooten, Jean Marsia and François Mennerat are appointed ‘Political Advisers’ to UEF.be.

During this excellent assembly, the members had the opportunity to listen to a clear and realistic presentation by Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe and former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on the major geopolitical challenges facing Europe.

Mogherini emphasized that the European Union is facing a rapidly changing world, with major powers challenging the global system of governance and questioning the effectiveness of multilateralism. She noted that the EU is uniquely positioned to promote cooperation and shared rules, and that its history has shown the value of working together to prevent conflict and promote peace.

The EU’s strengths, including its economic power, normative power, and soft power, were highlighted as key assets in promoting European integration and cooperation. Mogherini also emphasized the importance of the EU’s ability to adapt and innovate, citing the example of the EU’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a demonstration of its capacity to act in times of crisis.

The discussion also touched on the challenges facing the EU, including the need to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world, the threat of rising nationalism, and the importance of leadership in promoting European integration.

The assembly was a great success, and the organizers would like to thank Federica Mogherini for her insightful presentation and the College of Europe for hosting the event. The members of UEF.be left the assembly with a renewed sense of purpose and a commitment to promoting European integration and cooperation in the face of global challenges.

The European Union in a Changing World: Is Europe Ready for Global Challenges?

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Federica Mogherini, the former High Representative of the European Union, recently participated in a debate on the European Union’s role in the global landscape. She emphasized that the EU is a major player on the world stage, and its unique blend of soft and hard power makes it an influential actor.

The event took place in the frame of the UEF.be general assembly on 7 June 2025 at the College of Europe which is not just an academic institution. Its mission is to contribute to European integration, making it unique among universities worldwide. Welcoming guests and holding debates in their auditorium continues the tradition of open discussion and critical thought.

According to Mogherini, the EU’s power stems from its large internal market, regulatory capabilities, and strategic position in global affairs. She highlighted the EU’s ability to set standards and norms, which are often adopted by other countries. Mogherini also noted that the EU’s soft power, including its cultural and educational influence, is increasingly recognized worldwide.

Mogherini acknowledged that the EU faces internal and external challenges, including competitiveness, migration, and security concerns. However, she argued that the EU has the instruments to address these challenges and find solutions. She emphasized the importance of creativity, flexibility, and a willingness to work together to achieve common goals.
One of the key strengths of the EU, according to Mogherini, is its ability to balance different interests and find common ground among its member states. She noted that the EU’s complexity can be an asset in understanding and interacting with external partners, and that the EU’s decision-making process, although complex, is a guarantee that many voices are heard, and decisions are stable and reliable.

During the debate, Mogherini was asked about the EU’s biggest power. She replied that the EU’s largest power is its internal market, which gives it significant regulatory and economic influence. She also mentioned the EU’s soft power and its ability to play a strategic role in global affairs.

A member of the audience asked Mogherini about the EU’s ability to make decisions quickly and effectively. Mogherini replied that while the EU’s decision-making process can be complex, it is also a guarantee that many voices are heard, and decisions are stable and reliable. She emphasized that the EU’s complexity can be an asset in understanding and interacting with external partners.

Finally, Mogherini was asked about the place of the European human in the future world. The questioner expressed concerns about the EU’s competitiveness, particularly in the fields of science, technology, and economics. Mogherini acknowledged these concerns but emphasized the EU’s strengths, including its highly developed education system, research capabilities, and commitment to innovation.

Conclusion: Europe’s Role in a Changing World

The European Union faces a world where the rules-based order is under threat. Yet, Europe has unique strengths—its market, its values, its capacity for consensus, and its influence on global standards. The EU’s complexity can be an asset, ensuring stable and inclusive decisions.
Europe must continue to invest in its people, its institutions, and its capacity for innovation. By doing so, it can remain a key player in shaping a more cooperative and stable world.

About the Speaker: Federica Mogherini

Federica Mogherini served as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from 2014 to 2019. She is currently the Rector of the College of Europe.

Acknowledgement

This article is based on a debate and Q&A session with Federica Mogherini at the College of Europe.

About the Author: Lucian Alexandru Onisei, UEF Belgium

Europe Day on 9 May 2025 in Brussels

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11:00 – 12:00 – Tribute Ceremony to Robert Schuman and the Founding Fathers of a United Europe. Celebration of 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration next to the bust of R. Schuman at the entrance to the Parc du Cinquantenaire, on the Rue de la Loi side, in collaboration with the City of Brussels and the Municipality of Etterbeek (musical contribution). Greeting from the Mayor of Etterbeek, Vincent De Wolf, and the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Esther Lynch. More details on Avenir de l’Europe

17:30 – 19:00: A live panel discussion between Guy Verhofstadt, EMI President, Former MEP and Prime Minister of Belgium, the Mayor of Brussels, and Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament. This will take place in the courtyard of City Hall and be broadcast live on La Première radio. The public event (with prior registration) will gather stakeholders, citizens, and members of the EMI network to engage in a dialogue about the future of Europe. Listeners from home will also be able to participate by sending questions.

20:00 – 22:00:A live concert at Grand Place, with the square illuminated in EU colors. A Belgian DJ will perform, and attendees are encouraged to wear blue. EU flags will be distributed. In order to maintain a visually cohesive event, EMI Secretariat is asking participants not to bring any other banners or flags. Details at: https://europeanmovement.eu/event-list/europe-united/

For more information on the 9 May events: Giovanni Merlini, UEF.be – giovanni.merl1956@gmail.com

General Assembly & Debate Announcement

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Union of European Federalists – Belgium (UEF.be)

📅 Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
🕚 Time: 11:00 – 14:00
📍 Location: College of Europe, Verversdijk 16, Bruges
📝 Registration Deadline: June 2, 2025

🗳️ General Assembly (11:00 – 11:45)

All members of UEF Belgium are invited to the Annual General Assembly to discuss key organizational matters, including:
✔️ Financial report & activity summary
✔️ Election of the new Board of Directors
✔️ Political reflections

🔗 More info & registration: Click here

📜 Convocation: Download in French

🌍 Conference-Debate with Federica Mogherini (11:45 – 13:30)

Topic: Can the European Union become a geopolitical power?

Former EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, now Rector of the College of Europe, will lead a debate on the EU’s future role in global politics.

🔗 Free Entry – Registration Required
📅 Register by June 2: Click here

📄 Event Details:

Une place pour l’Europe

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Save the date and Join us!

Together for Europe
Many cities, one voice

On the 15 March 2025, 3:30 pm in Brussels Place de l’Albertine, the Union of European Federalists, together with other organisations, will join the demonstration for Europe.

This initiative, started with “Una piazza per l’Europa” promoted in Rome from Michele Serra’s appeal and now arrived to Brussels.

“…Yet I do think that a demonstration with only European flags, with the sole goal (doesn’t matter how ambitious — what matters is the vision, the value) of defending the freedom and unity of the European peoples, would have a profound and reassuring meaning for those who take part in it…” – Michele Serra

You can read the full appeal of Michele Serra here: LINK.

We will gather with EU flags to reiterate the urgent need for the United States of Europe.

Currently, we are witnessing the excessive power of imperialism from China, Russia, and now the USA. Trump’s presidency is transforming the leading power of the free world and Europe’s undisputed ally into a nation that disregards democracy. In the name of extreme nationalism, the U.S. now operates solely on the logic of force and oppression.

Only united can we, as Europeans, protect ourselves from the dual threat already underway: against our security, which Trump views as a burden and is willing to sell, along with Ukraine’s; and against democracy, which hinders the rise of a new autocratic and populist international order.

Together, we can keep hope alive and fight for our principles and values. We can promote a different model of state and society, founded on freedom, democracy, justice, and solidarity.

Europe has the potential to embody these values and more, defeating nationalism. However, today’s fragmented and divided Europe is too vulnerable and weak. We need the federal Europe envisioned in the Ventotene Manifesto, one that can channel popular passions into a new mold of supranational democracy.

The dream of the United States of Europe has become a necessity for all. Let’s unite next Saturday to amplify the voices of citizens demanding a future of freedom and the creation of the United States of Europe.

Let’s do it! Everyone in Brussels or close is invited to join us! Saturday 15 March at 3.30 pm in Place de l’Albertine in Brussels.

Bring your European flag! Porta la tua bandiera europea! Amenez votre drapeau européen ! Breng je Europese vlag mee! Φέρτε μαζί σας την Ευρωπαϊκή σημαία! Tuo mukaan Eurooppa-lippusi!

Trump’s return and the need for a European Federation – Lessons learned from the Draghi, Letta and Niinistö reports UEF event, Maison des Associations, Brussels, 27/11/2024

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The year 2024 has been marked by three important reports from Enrico Letta (Much More Than a Market), Mario Draghi (The Future of European Competitiveness) and Sauli Niinistö (Safer together: A path towards a fully prepared Union).

In the context of the return of Donald Trump to the White House, what lessons can be learned from those reports and for the future of Europe?

Domenico Rossetti di Valdalbero from UEF.Be moderated the debate that was introduced by Catherine Vieilledent from UEF Groupe Europe.

Four speakers were intervening: Domenec Ruiz Devesa, former MEP and President of UEF, Eric Phillipart, Sherpa for the Letta Report and Senior Expert at DG GROW, Valeria Ronzitti, Secretary General of the Services of General Interest and Luca Visentini, former Secretary General of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Among the insights on the Letta, Draghi and Niinistö reports that President von der Leyen quoted on 27/11/2024 in Strasbourg before her second Commission being approved by the European Parliament, one can remind:

Europe should be more united to face Russian military threat, Chinese industrial competition and US led by D. Trump from 20 January 2025;
300 billion € of European savings are flying on the other side of the Atlantic (Letta). Why not creating a 28th EU stock-exchange in Europe to attract innovative companies?
800 billion € of EU bonds proposed by Draghi could relaunch the investments and the (cross-border) infrastructures in our Union;
Security and resilience are particularly important in a cyber-threat geopolitical environment (Niinistö).

Some quotes from the UEF event:

Corneille is back in Europe with the ‘CID’, the Clean Industrial Deal!
Let’s be proud of our ‘competitiveness à l’ européenne’;
Some ‘net-contributors to EU budget are great net winners in the Single Market’!
Well-being of European citizens should be the priority of new economic policy;
Efforts should be done in Europe to stimulate innovation and productivity gains.

A European Constitution as proposed by Altieri Spinelli 40 years ago (or at least a major Treaty reform abolishing unanimity as requested by UEF President) would allow the EU to look forward at the next decades. Stronger together!

L’Assemblée Générale de l’UEF.be s’est tenue en présentiel ce samedi 8 juin 2024 au Press Club Brussels Europe

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Président: Michele Ciavarini Azzi; Administrateur Délégué en charge de la communication: Lucian Onisei; Secrétaire Général: Domenico Rossetti di Valdalbero; Trésorier: Christian De Bruyne — From left to right: Christian De Bruyne (Trésorier), Michele Ciavarini Azzi (Président), Domenico Rossetti di Valdalbero (Secrétaire Général), Lucian Alexandru Onisei (Administrateur Délégué)

Après avoir approuvé les comptes pour 2023, élu le nouveau conseil d’administration et fait rapport des activités de l’ASBL, nous avons pu écouter et débattre avec le Ministre d’État et ancien Député européen Gérard Deprez.

En introduction G. Deprez suggère ne de pas faire une guerre de nominalisme et d’estampille sur le ‘fédéralisme européen’. Ce qui est important, ce sont les procédures et les mécanismes qui permettent d’avancer vers le fédéralisme européen, direction indispensable pour éviter un enlisement de l’Europe communautaire.

Il relève ensuite l’environnement extérieur de l’UE qui est imprévisible et dangereux (cf. guerre de la Russie en Ukraine et situation au Moyen-Orient). Cela a aussi des conséquences internes, notamment les Fake News et ingérences de pays tiers qui visent à déstabiliser l’Union européenne.

Gérard Deprez évoque ensuite les autres grands risques pour l’UE :

Le décrochage économique de l’UE vis-à-vis des États-Unis et de la Chine ;
La transition énergétique qui doit être rendue acceptable, en particulier pour le monde agricole et une partie de la classe ouvrière précarisée ;
La poussée de l’extrême droite dans plusieurs pays dont la France (à près de 40%), l’Allemagne, l’Italie, les Pays-Bas et en Flandre ;
La réalité de l’immigration et de l’élargissement avec un corollaire délicat quant à l’acceptation ou non de l’Ukraine et/ou de la Turquie dans l’UE ;
Les agressions physiques du personnel politique (cf. en Slovaquie, au Danemark et ailleurs).

G. Deprez suggère deux pistes d’action vers le fédéralisme européen:

D’abord, il faut en finir avec l’unanimité qui paralyse l’intégration. Pourquoi, à l’instar des « Pouvoirs spéciaux » qui existent en Belgique, ne pas permettre à l’Exécutif européen (la Commission), de prendre des dispositions en cas d’urgence (cf. pandémie), pour une période déterminée et adoptées à la majorité qualifiée ?

Ensuite, comme l’élargissement aura lieu (attention à ceux qui veulent exacerber les frustrations liées aux lenteurs des adhésions), les Fédéralistes européens doivent se battre pour des ressources propres. Il faut revenir à la légitimité originelle des Traités mais en utilisant les outils modernes : part de la TVA, taxe carbone, taxe sur les transactions financières, emprunt européen, assiette commune sur l’impôt des sociétés (ACCIS), etc.

Enfin, G. Deprez insiste sur le besoin d’autonomie stratégique européenne dans les domaines de la santé, la défense et l’énergie.

Les membres de l’UEF.be interviennent ensuite, questionnent et débattent avec G. Deprez sur l’état de droit dans l’UE (cf. Présidence hongroise), sur le rôle des migrants pour l’économie européenne, sur la légitimité démocratique de la Commission, et sur le rôle et impacts démocratiques des médias sociaux.