DEBAT UEF AVEC LES CANDIDATS AUX ELECTIONS EUROPEENNES
25 avril 2024 à 18h00 – Press Club Brussels Europe, 95 Rue Froissart
Participants:
– Ecolo: #3 Léa Charlet
– PS: #5 Luc Hennart
– Volt Europa: #2 Arslan Jurion
– Les Engagés: #4 David Muongo
– MR : #4 Laura Hidalgo
Le débat sera modéré par Domenico Rossetti (UEF.be). Deux introductions sont prévues par Ilaria Caria (UEF) et Catherine Vieilledent (UEF Europe). Giorgio Clarotti (UEF) gèrera les questions Internet (Slido) et sera le time keeper.
Apprès une brève introduction de chaque candidat (Pourquoi voter pour leur liste?), les questions toucheront aux points suivants :
Thème fédéraliste: « La #CoFoE, conférence sur l’avenir de l’Europe, et le Parlement Européen ont demandé que l’UE révise ses traités, vieux de 15 ans, adopte une loi électorale avec des listes transnationales et ouvre la Convention prévue à ce propos par les traités ».
-> Quelle est votre position à ce sujet ? Soutenez-vous le pledge de l’UEF ? Si vous étiez élu(e), rejoindriez-vous le groupe Spinelli de députés fédéralistes ? Quid du Spizenkandidat ?
Thème existentialiste: La guerre d’agression et ses multiples horreurs sont de retour en Ukraine qui a maintenant vocation à rentrer dans l’Union. La situation au Moyen-Orient est explosive.
-> Que pensez-vous que l’UE et le PE plus spécifiquement devraient faire pour réagir à l’invasion Russe en Ukraine ? Et au Moyen-Orient ? Que peut faire un parlementaire européen et comment ?
Economie et société: La transition juste et verte et la compétitivité européenne. Le European Green Deal et les initiatives industrielles récentes (Net Zero Industry Act).
-> Là où le PE a des compétences clés, comment ne pas opposer, sur le Green Deal, les agriculteurs aux politiciens, les citadins et les ruraux, ceux qui peuvent isoler leurs maisons et ceux qui vivent en appartements à bas loyer? Faut-il, par exemple, lancer un nouvel emprunt Européen?
Ensuite viendront les questions du public en présentiel et en ligne.
AVENIR DE L’EUROPE
Bruxelles, jeudi 9 mai 2024
74ème anniversaire de la “Déclaration Schuman”
Cérémonie d’hommage à Jean Monnet, à Robert Schuman et aux autres Pères fondateurs de l’Europe Unie
*****
Jeudi 9 mai 2024 nous célébrerons le 74ème anniversaire de la déclaration Schuman.
La cérémonie se déroulera à Bruxelles, jeudi 9 mai 2024 à 10h00, auprès du buste dédié à Robert Schuman situé à l’entrée du parc du Cinquantenaire, face à la rue de la Loi, côté Rond-Point Schuman.
Dépôt de fleurs par « Avenir de l’Europe » en présence du public et des autorités belges et européennes suivi par allocutions et hymne européen.
*****
La Journée de l’Europe marque l’anniversaire de la Déclaration de Robert Schuman, ministre des affaires étrangères français, le 9 mai 1950. Il y propose la création d’une Communauté européenne du charbon et de l’acier, dont les pays membres mettraient en commun leur production de charbon et d’acier. La CECA (membres fondateurs: France, Allemagne de l’Ouest, Italie, Pays-Bas, Belgique et Luxembourg) est la première des institutions supranationales européennes qui donneront naissance à ce qu’on appelle aujourd’hui «l’Union européenne».
Infatigable défenseur de l’unité européenne, Robert Schuman fut celui qui posa le premier jalon de l’UE telle que nous la connaissons aujourd’hui, une organisation unique au monde réunissant 27 États membres.
Chaque année, la fête de l’Europe est également l’opportunité de se rassembler afin de rendre hommage aux fondateurs de l’Union européenne autour d’une cérémonie organisée par l’association « Avenir de l’Europe » en collaboration avec la Représentation de la Commission européenne en Belgique, la Ville de Bruxelles, la Commune d’Etterbeek et de nombreuses associations européistes. Cette cérémonie sera rythmée par des discours et l’hymne européen. Nous vous donnons rendez-vous le 9 mai de 10h à 10h30 près du Buste de Robert Schuman situé à l’entrée du Parc du Cinquantenaire.
La “Déclaration Schuman” du 9 mai 1950 est l’acte fondateur et révolutionnaire d’un nouveau projet de collaboration entre les peuples et les États européens, qui ne repose plus sur l’hégémonie de l’un sur les autres, mais sur la compréhension, la collaboration pacifique et l’égalité entre eux.
C’est le début d’une nouvelle étape de l’histoire européenne qui a permis la plus longue période de paix de l’histoire européenne.
************ EN translation ************
AVENIR DE L’EUROPE
Brussels, Thursday 9 May 2024
74th anniversary of the “Schuman Declaration”
Ceremony to pay tribute to Jean Monnet, Robert Schuman, and the other founding fathers of a united Europe
*****
On Thursday 9 May 2024 we will celebrate the 74th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration.
The ceremony will take place in Brussels, on Thursday 9 May 2024 at 10.00am, next to the bust dedicated to Robert Schuman located at the entrance to the Cinquantenaire Park, opposite the Rue de la Loi, on the Rond-Point Schuman side.
Laying of flowers by “Avenir de l’Europe” in the presence of the public and Belgian and European authorities followed by speeches and European anthem.
*****
Europe Day marks the anniversary of the Declaration made by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950. In it, he proposed the creation of a European Coal and Steel Community, whose member countries would pool their coal and steel production. The ECSC (founding members: France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg) was the first of the supranational European institutions that would give rise to what is now known as the European Union.
A tireless advocate of European unity, Robert Schuman was the man who laid the foundations of the EU as we know it today, an organisation unique in the world, bringing together 27 Member States.
Each year, Europe Day is also an opportunity to come together to pay tribute to the founders of the European Union at a ceremony organised by the ‘Avenir de l’Europe’ association in collaboration with the European Commission Representation in Belgium, the City of Brussels, the Commune of Etterbeek and numerous Europeanist associations. The ceremony will feature speeches and the European anthem. We look forward to seeing you on 9 May from 10am to 10.30am near the Robert Schuman bust at the entrance to the Parc du Cinquantenaire.
The “Schuman Declaration” of 9 May 1950 is the founding and revolutionary act of a new project of collaboration between the peoples and states of Europe, no longer based on the hegemony of one over the others, but on understanding, peaceful collaboration, and equality between them.
It was the beginning of a new stage in European history that allowed the longest period of peace in European history.
AVENIR DE L’EUROPE,
association indépendante et sans but lucratif, a pour objet:
De contribuer à affirmer une identité commune européenne afin de réaliser le
projet d’intégration européenne
D’approfondir les aspects de l’identité spirituelle et culturelle de l’Europe basés
sur la relance des valeurs et des principes fondant l’Union européenne,
notamment: la liberté, le respect de la dignité humaine, des droits de l’homme et des
peuples, la démocratie, la subsidiarité, la paix et la solidarité.
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à l’Assemblée Générale (AG) annuelle de notre association, la section belge de l’Union des Fédéralistes Européens (UEF.be) qui se tiendra le samedi 7 juin 2025 de 11h00 à 14h00. Exceptionnellement l’AG aura lieu au Collège d’Europe à Bruges, Verversdijk 16.
Au-delà des questions statutaires, nous souhaitons que cette réunion soit aussi un moment de réflexion politique. Nous avons invité à cet effet l’ancienne Haute Représentante de l’Union pour les affaires étrangères et la politique de sécurité, et actuelle Rectrice du Collège d’Europe, Federica Mogherini, à nous parler du thème « Can the EU become a geopolitical power without further federalisation ? And how to get there? ».
En espérant vous voir participer nombreux et nombreuses, merci de vous inscrire sur le site de l’UEF.be https://uef-belgium.be/registration-form/ avant le 2 juin ou confirmer votre présence par courrier électronique, SMS ou WhatsApp (0460.76.01.84). En cas d’empêchement, merci d’avance de nous envoyer une procuration.
Avec nos meilleures salutations,
Domenico Rossetti di Valdalbero Michele Ciavarini Azzi
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
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.
by prof. Marc De Vos (UGhent) – Publisher: Ertsberg, 2023.
A short summary made by Robert Verschooten, political advisor to the Union of European Federalists (UEF-Belgium) – 12/2/2024.
Book’s resumé and convergence with UEF views
I read this book with great interest and have summarized it below. The book is richly illustrated with examples that support the reasoning, but did not get a place in this resumé. The author follows a consistent federal reasoning. Three relevant lines of tension are clearly and comprehensively explained. The logic of that reasoning is complementary to UEF.be’s reasoning. Points of difference and similarity are indicated below.
The author is an example of an elite that is able to spread this logic widely and convincingly. That elite of editorialists should be actively sought out and preferably involved in UEF action (Belgium and fellow travellers). To my knowledge, this book is only available in Dutch. This book, because of its three original and innovative theses, would best also be available in English in order to give it international recognition. I will enquire and I would personally label this book as a ‘must read’.
Points of difference and convergence between prof. De Vos’ reasoning and UEF.be’ reasoning:
De Vos reasoning and main themes:
Three lines in the European Union can be acknowledged. The EU is becoming a closed geostrategical project instead of an open country; a superpower project instead of a post-modern peace project; a State project instead of a free-market one.
End goal: a (renewed) democratic, legitimized and federal state with a superpower strategy
with institutionalized rules of functioning.
For enlargement with very diverse candidates, he promotes gradual integration. UEF.be
reverts to concentric circles.
UEF.be reasoning and main themes:
EU legitimized by a federal constitution (European Parliament mandated to formulate it).
Goal: renewed democracy and legitimacy with citizen participation.
Means: federalism as a governance system.
UEF.be promotes a two-speed integration with different political ambitions.
A system to formulate the objectives of a renewed federal union.
Extracts (translated in English from the Dutch version of the book by Robert Verschooten)
The world order has tilted, so has the mission and position of the European Union. (…) In this book I document a real revolution of the European Union. We witness, in real time, but largely unnoticed in public opinion, the European Union is undergoing a historic transformation. (p.14)
Attribué à Jacques Louis David (1748-1825). “Le Serment du Jeu de Paume, le 20 juin 1789”. Huile sur toile. Paris, musée Carnavalet.
Pour des élections européennes de 2024 plus démocratiques
Une action commune en vue des élections au Parlement européen de 2024 s’impose pour rendre l’Europe plus forte, plus unie et plus démocratique, car en 73 ans, ni les Communautés, ni l’Union européenne (UE) n’ont donné le jour à la Fédération européenne annoncée le 9 mai 1950 par Robert Schuman. Les Européens pâtissent de l’absence de cette Fédération. Les États-nations et l’UE n’ont pu, depuis 2008, faire face aux crises financière, monétaire, migratoire, sanitaire et sécuritaire. Notre écosystème est en péril. La guerre fait rage en Ukraine, parce que l’Europe n’est pas une puissance dissuasive mais pacifique. Nous le payons économiquement et politiquement. Nous devons agir, d’urgence, pour rétablir la paix en Europe, pour redevenir souverains, autonomes, indépendants et respectés.
Un État européen démocratique, fédéral, requiert une constitution et non un traité. C’est évident depuis 1787 et la Convention de Philadelphie, car un traité est d’ordre externe à l’État et multilatéral, tandis qu’une constitution est un acte de droit public interne, unilatéral, qui vise à établir les droits fondamentaux des citoyens, les principes sur lesquels repose la légitimité du pouvoir politique et l’architecture générale des institutions. Une constitution est au sommet de la hiérarchie des normes étatiques.
C’est pourquoi Avenir de l’Europe, Associazione Mazziniana Italiana, Citoyen d’Europe M3E (Europe, éthique, équité), Europe Unie dans sa Diversité, Europa-Union – Kreis Heilbronn, l’Union des Européens fédéralistes (UEF) – Groupe Europe, UEF-Belgium, UEF in the Czech Republic, UEF-Luxembourg, la Société européenne de défense en Europe centrale et orientale (S€DCEE) et la Société européenne de défense AISBL (S€D), vous proposent de joindre vos forces aux nôtres pour concrétiser le présent manifeste. Celui-ci propose ce que devrait faire l’Europe fédérale pour les citoyens européens, le financement de ses politiques, la gouvernance fédérale et la méthode pour rendre le Parlement européen constituant et légitime.
Que ferait l’Europe fédérale pour les citoyens européens ?
Seule une Fédération européenne peut être efficace et efficiente en matière de sécurité extérieure, y compris la défense, de sécurité intérieure, face au terrorisme, de santé publique, face aux pandémies, de sécurité d’approvisionnement en énergie, de protection de l’environnement, de gestion des mouvements migratoires. Elle seule peut développer la culture européenne et garantir le maintien d’une économie sociale de marché. Elle seule peut veiller à l’avenir des nouvelles générations, par la promotion de l’innovation, le soutien à la recherche scientifique et technologique, la réindustrialisation et la maîtrise des technologies émergentes, dont l’intelligence artificielle, l’informatique quantique, les nouvelles solutions énergétiques, les technologies vertes.
Comment ces politiques seraient-elles financées ?
La Fédération européenne devra disposer de ressources propres, fondées sur une fiscalité innovante, égalitaire. Les multinationales, notamment celles du secteur numérique, ne doivent plus échapper à l’impôt. Cela permettrait de financer les politiques précitées et en outre de mener une politique budgétaire qui puisse conforter la politique monétaire menée avec succès par la Banque centrale européenne.
Comment la gouvernance fédérale se définirait-elle ?
Nous voulons un État européen démocratique, transparent, souverain, autonome, indépendant, respecté par ses alliés et par les autres puissances. Ni l’intégration au sein de l’UE, ni la coopération dans le cadre de l’OTAN n’ont pu établir un État européen capable de nous garantir la paix et la sécurité. L’histoire montre que les confédérations soit se transforment en fédérations, soit se dissolvent. Pour peser dans le monde, pour faire face aux menaces et aux défis actuels, il reste à l’Europe la voie de la fédération. L’Assemblée constituante choisira la dénomination de la fédération et définira les domaines de compétences, dans le respect du principe de subsidiarité, pour maintenir la souveraineté du peuple et l’équilibre entre la fédération et les pouvoirs nationaux et régionaux.
Comment le Parlement européen se déclarerait-il constituant ?
Pour fonder un État européen souverain et démocratique, uni dans sa diversité, donc fédéral, la méthode est connue depuis le 7 septembre 1787, à Philadelphie. Les délégués des États américains ont alors adopté la toute première constitution fédérale. Elle commence par les mots « We, the people » (Nous, le Peuple). Elle sépare les pouvoirs législatif, exécutif et judiciaire. Le pouvoir législatif est bicaméral. La chambre basse est élue au suffrage direct, les citoyens de chaque État étant représentés proportionnellement à leur nombre. Au Sénat les États sont à égalité. De ces principes, l’Europe peut s’inspirer, pour nous maintenir en paix et en sécurité, pour garantir nos libertés et nos droits fondamentaux, pour retrouver la place qui lui revient sur la scène internationale eu égard à sa puissance économique et à la civilisation européenne !
Comment le Parlement européen pourrait-il améliorer sa légitimité ?
De préférence avant les élections de 2024, le Parlement européen devrait adopter une loi électorale fixant notamment l’âge auquel tout citoyen européen acquiert le droit de vote, ainsi que le seuil électoral, la manière de voter et un critère assurant une représentation suffisamment égalitaire, démocratique, des citoyens.
The UEF would like to thank the distinguished guests who took the time to participate in the Congress.
For the greetings: Hans-Gert Pöttering (LINK VIDEO) Former President of the European Parliament (2007-2009), President of the House of European History, Petros Fassoulas Secretary General of the European Movement International, Christelle Savall, President of Young European Federalists and Fernando Iglesias President of the World of Federalist Movement. In particular, we thank Josep Borrell High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, that have taken a time to follow the works of the first session of the Congress.
Then during the political debate the interventions of Raúl Santiago Fuentes (Representative of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU), and the MEPs Brando Benifei,Rainer Wieland, Alin Mituta, Cyrus Engerer, Mercedes Bresso, Pietro Bartolo, and Thijs Reuten and the former European Parliament President Enrique Barón Crespo.
The five co-rapporteurs of the Report for the amendment of the treaties sent a pre-recorded video:
The delegates debated the challenges for the future of the European Union and exchanged opinions and ideas on the way forward for the Federalist movement and the European project.
The UEF Secretariat presented its activities for the 2021-2023 period (LINK HERE for report political activities), and Roland Hühn, Treasurer ad interim, presented the financial situation of the association LINK HERE. Giulia Rossolillo introduced the statutory changes required to transform the UEF from a Netherlands-based NGO to a Belgian-based Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif (AISBL). These changes were approved by the Congress. You can find the new statutes here (in English and French).
For more information on the change of seat of the UEF, please refer to the web page of the Congress.
The Secretariat hosted a workshop on the UEF strategy for the 2024 European elections. Here the presentation of the workshop (LINK). Due to time constraints, it was decided to postpone the discussions at a later meeting. Therefore, the UEF invites all the delegates and the representatives of its sections to a meeting on 14 December (link to participate here).
Meena Fernandes, Policy analyst at the European Parliament Research Service, presented the results of the study on the costs of non-Europe. You can find the research paper here and the slide deck here.
Finally, it was announced that an extraordinary Federal Committee meeting (20 January, online) would call for an extraordinary Congress meeting for the Spring 2024 to revise the statutes of the association to draw new rules for the Secretary-General and make it a full-time professional. More information will follow.
Political message by the UEF President, Domènec Ruiz Devesa
Dear Federalist friends,
Just a few words from me before I leave you with this communication on the Congress that has just taken place.
First of all, let me thank you for the trust you have shown me by electing me as UEF President. It is an honour for me, as well as a great responsibility, because I am and feel first and foremost a federalist activist, who is currently in the institutions, but who lives the federalist commitment as his own priority, and in this sense also feels the relationship with the UEF.
These two years ahead of us will be important years to consolidate our organisation and find the right financial and administrative balance. They will be even more important politically, because they can be decisive for our Europe in taking the crucial steps towards a federal Union.
Our congress took place just three days after the approval by the European Parliament of the proposal to reform the treaties, the first one since the adoption of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, the first attempt at reforming the treaty in more than 15 years. We know the process that made it possible to arrive at this vote, through the Conference on the Future of Europe in which we participated directly; and we also know that it is a great opportunity, the only one today, and the first after 40 years since Altiero Spinelli’s Draft Treaty, to realise the federal Europe.
Today, therefore, while we are committed to building a broad and widespread campaign in view of the European elections, we urgently need to mobilise ourselves for the success of the next step, i.e. the decision of the European Council in favour of launching a Convention to elaborate the reform of the Treaties. We have urged the Spanish Presidency to immediately transmit the European Parliament resolution to the European Council and asked to President Charles Michel to put it in the agenda of the European Council of the 15th of December, although resistance from national governments will probably force a postponement. Here it is very important the role of the national sections to involve their national parliaments and urge the governments to be in favour of the opening of the Convention. The letter signed by me as UEF President and Sandro Gozi as Chair of the Spinelli Group has just been sent (LINK), together with the Manifesto we approved in our Congress; and here (LINK) you can find a draft resolution to propose to your national parliaments, to launch the mobilization.
We have a very important job to do. I thank you once more very much for all your work, commitment and dedication in federalism. I am convinced that we will work together with confidence and commitment over the next two years, and that together we can make a positive difference in order to meet the challenge of federal Europe. And since it’s a long process, by definition the best has always yet to come.
Result of the Elections
All bodies of the UEF found their members, all elected unanimously in an open ballot. Congratulations to newly elected and returning members of the following bodies:
Other EB members: Antonio Argenziano, Rafael Bez, François Leray, Daphne Gogou, François Mennerat, Eszter Nagy, Alejandro Peinado Garcia, and Wolfgang Wettach.
ex-officio member of the EB: Christelle Savall, President of the Young European Federalists
For the Arbitration Board: Ugo Ferruta, Daniel Frey, Marianne Huhn, Andreu Iranzo Navarro, Peter Osten, Stefano Spoltore, Daniela White.
For the Federal Committee:
Directly-elected Federal Committee members: Matilde Ceron, Aldecoa Francisco, Nikos Giannis, Angel Landabaso, Eva Lichtenberger, Jean Marsia, Hervè Moritz, Olalla Pastor del Valle, Luis Miguel Periza, Kati Sista, Flavia Gabriela Sandu
Nominated members, the list is in the process of being completed LINK
First ‘Saturday for Europe’ organized by the Belgian section of the Union of European Federalists (UEF.be) on 18 November 2023 in front of the House of European History.
Beautiful to see the youth campaigning for a European Federation!
We also strongly recommend to visit the House of European History in Parc Léopold in Brussels.
Dear FC-Members, Dear Presidents and Secretary Generals of the Sections,
The return of the war in Europe, with Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine, forces us as Europeans to speed up the process of building a true European sovereignty and a strong and democratic European power, directly legitimised by the European citizens. This is necessary in order to build a true European defence, an energy union, a true foreign policy, a migration policy, etc…
As federalists, our best contribution at this stage could be to focus on the Conference on the Future of Europe, so that it includes in its conclusions the need to open a Convention to amend the Treaties, on the basis of the demands that have clearly emerged from the national and European citizens’ panels and from the digital platform. As you know, federalist indications (including our indications as federalist organisations) were predominant; all the more so in such a dramatic moment marked by the return of war, the Conference cannot ignore them.
This is why I propose you an exceptional effort over the next few weeks to collect signatures on this petition below.
It is published on Change.org (LINK), and addressed to the Board of the CoFoE.
Our goal must be to collect between 15.000 and 30.000 signaturesby 20 April. They will be instrumental in putting pressure on the Council (where some governments are trying to block the results of the Conference) and in supporting the European Parliament, which, on the contrary, is trying to fight for the opening of a convention.
Change.org is a platform on which gathering support is very easy. We can upload several language versions, which remain linked, so the signatures add up; it encourages the circulation of the link to the petition, connects well to social networks, highlights partial results, important signatures, and it is really friendly.
I strongly invite you to sign and share the link of the petition. Below, in the communication from the Secretariat, you will find information on how to use social networks as well to spread the link and the invitation to sign. Further info and meetings will follow, to coordinate our engagement on this common action. I would also like to kindly ask you to consider translating the text into your own languages, to further enhance its circulation.
The time to make a federal Europe, sovereign and democratic is now: let us all engage in this battle, trying to live up to our historical responsibilities.
With federalist regards,
Sandro GOZI President
Information about the petition
WHO IS THE PETITION ADDRESSED TO?
Executive Board of the Conference on the Future of Europe
Guy Verhofstadt, Co-chair of the CoFoE, Member of the European Parliament
Dubravka Šuica, Co-chair of the CoFoE, Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography
Clément Beaune, Co-chair of the CoFoE, State Secretary for European Affairs for the French Council Presidency
WHAT WE WANT
To respect the will of the citizens as expressed in the Conference on the Future of Europe, the various citizens’ panels and the future.europa.eu platform.
We ask to highlight in the conclusions of the Conference
the need for concrete institutional reforms to create a federal political union;
the call for a Convention to reform the Treaties.
FOR POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND ACADEMIC REPRESENTATIVES
You can use to disseminate the petition and the various instrument in an easy way.
Share the petition – (ii) Social hashtag
Show your support for the petition! 1. Download the hashtag (VERTICAL or HORIZONTAL) and print it out. 2. Take a selfie. 3. Upload it to your favourite social media and use the hashtag #moreEUROPEnow.
Share the petition – (iii) Message for Whatsapp
Copy and paste this message and send it to your contacts
#𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗘𝗨𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗻𝗼𝘄! – 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲, 𝘀𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 As war returns to Europe, the Conference on the Future of Europe becomes an opportunity to call for the treaty reforms needed to create a federal Union. 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 1) Download the hashtag #moreEUROPEnowhttps://bit.ly/hashtagMOREEUROPENOWeng 2) Take a selfie 3) Upload it to the social network of your choice and ️ use the hashtag #moreEUROPEnow 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼 Go to the link https://bit.ly/ moreEUROPEnowENG 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀. 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨!
Share the petition – (iv) Multilingual versions
Thanks to Change.org we can add a translation of the petition at any time and an image adapted to that language. If you want to distribute the petition in a language other than those proposed, send to secretariat@federalists.eu the translation of the petition and the Secretariat will upload it on Change.org.
Join the Appeal “Our federal Europe: sovereign and democratic”
At the start of CoFoE on 9 May 2021, UEF, together with the Spinelli Group and supported by the European Movement International, launched the Appeal “Our federal Europe: sovereign and democratic”, in which we summarised our ideas for the future of Europe. The appeal is still available on the UEF website. We invite you to circulate it also at local level (mayors, regional presidents, members of the regional and national parliaments) to further disseminate it.
The initial signatories were: Sandro GOZI, Brando BENIFEI, Eva MAYDELL, Esteban GONZÁLEZ PONS, Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, Gabriele BISCHOFF, Pascal DURAND, Daniel FREUND, Damian BOESELAGER, Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, Fabio Massimo CASTALDO.
By the time of the official launch of the CoFoE, more than 450 high-level personalities had joined the appeal. Among them we would like to mention Mario Vargas Llosa, Javier Cercas and Daniel Cohn-Bendit; four former presidents of the European Parliament as José María Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado (1997-1999), Enrique Barón Crespo (1989-1992), Martin Schulz (2012-2017) and Hans-Gert Pöttering (2007-2009). The long list also includes: the former European Commission President Romano Prodi, the first EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Javier Solana de Madariaga, the former Commissioners Joaquín Almunia Amann, Pedro Solbes Mira and Marcelino Oreja y Aguirre; as well as sixteen former prime ministers, including Spain’s Felipe González Màrquez and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero; Italy’s Mario Monti, Matteo Renzi, Enrico Letta and Giuseppe Conte; Greece’s Alexis Tsipras and Belgium’s Guy Verhofstadt, co-chair of the CoFoE’s executive committee. An overview of the list is available here.
Welcome to UEF INSIDER, UEF’s internal newsletter! Learn more about the network’s latest news and activities related to building a federal Europe!
1. EDITORIAL
Dear federalist friends,
Last week, EU Member States gave their political agreement for a package of sanctions against Russia, after Putin’s decision to recognise the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and send troops to these areas. This decision violates the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia is not respecting its international obligations, and it is violating core principles of international law.
UEF welcomes the EU’s package of sanctions. We stand with Ukraine and its citizens and reaffirm unequivocal support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Ukraine is a free and sovereign country and the EU must continue to stand by its side.
This is not only an attack on Ukraine, but also on the security of Europe, the international order, peace and democracy. Therefore, we must act on a triple track:
Firstly, firmness towards Russia, full economic response must be declared. The new package of sanctions already under discussion should be massive and unprecedented. If the EU pursues and increases the sanctions, a compensation mechanism must be created in favour of the affected EU firms;
Secondly, solidarity with Ukraine, we must provide political, financial and material support;
Thirdly, unity in Europe, we must continue to show solidarity. This has been the case since the beginning of the crisis, within and between all European institutions. We must step up our fight against disinformation in all our Member States. And work even harder to build a sovereign and powerful Europe in the framework of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) with military and energetic autonomy, a federal EU whose foreign policy was not subject to individual veto threats.
It is really impressive to see how you, dear federalists friends, have expressed your solidarity in so many ways and with the various actions – from press releases, manifestations to video-statements, etc.. I take this opportunity to thank you for all your initiatives so far and propose to coordinate our actions and to launch a Europe-wide action to achieve an even greater effectiveness and visibility.
Let’s deliver together, with one European voice.
Sandro GOZI
UEF President
2. UEF NEWS
2.1 Federalist proposals achieve a good resonance on CoFoE’s multilingual digital platform
The CoFoE has entered its hot political phase. Being present in a structured and effective way, as well as being recognisable on its Platform with federalists proposals, became a necessary condition both for conveying its political message and for enhancing meetings on the ground at all levels.
During this past year, there has been an enormous growth in the support and visibility of federalist ideas, especially those aimed at strengthening European Democracy. The federalists have been integral to the important advances they have made, particularly promoting a stronger pan-European democracy — real European political parties and movements and proper campaigns for European elections, based on the creation of a pan-European constituency and transnational electoral lists headed by the candidates for President of the European Commission. Moreover, the federalists have also called for the need for a political and fiscal Union that can tackle the great transnational challenges of our time, acting decisively on a wide range of policy areas, from climate change, growing social inequalities, health and migration to foreign affairs and defense.
“Our collective efforts together with JEF and the Spinelli Group, yielded a great outcome for the federalist ideas in the Platform”, wrote the President of UEF in his letter to the Sections. “This was only possible through your commitment of time and effort, which was especially notable during this final rush campaigning together for a more sovereign, democratic and federal Europe.”
The Union of European Federalists (UEF) was represented in the Plenary of the CoFoE with its President and MEP Sandro GOZI, its Vice-President and MEP Domènec RUIZ DEVESA and its UEF Secretary General Anna ECHTERHOFF as part of the EMI Delegation to the CoFoE.
In the European Democracy Working Group (WG) organised in the framework of the 3rd Plenary in late January, Sandro GOZI and Domènec RUIZ DEVESA emphasised the fact that citizens are reopening the debate for a future European Constitution. Citizens requested to build a stronger link between them and the European democracy, and the federalist MEPs explained to them different ways to achieve that goal – by electing directly the president of the European Commission, voting for transnational lists with European parties, giving full powers to the European Parliament and with annual citizens assemblies.
The UEF had been asked by the Chair of the WG, Manfred WEBER (MEP, Chair of EPP Group), to introduce the discussion of the agenda item “Citizens’ participation and youth” with a report. The top priority of the recommendations for reform would need to be the strengthening of European democracy. To achieve this objective, a real step towards a political union is needed. “This will require treaty change, which is already supported by some member states. And in line with the citizens’ recommendations No. 35 agreed in Florence, we should aim at a European Constitution, necessary to adopt some of the reform proposals discussed in our Conference. It is also the chance to simplify the EU’s institutional structure – a request expressed by many citizens. And a new constitutional process is a chance to engage more citizens in European politics”, said the UEF Secretary General, Anna ECHTERHOFF in the WG. She also stressed the importance of giving the European Parliament more powers in shaping EU policy (foreign policy, budget, taxation, …) and overcoming the frequent blockade in the Council.
In the Spinelli Group Caucus meeting, MEPs launched a new push for an EU Constitution, arguing that EU leaders should heed the recommendations of the first citizens’ panel in the Conference on the Future of Europe. “We want a stronger Europe, more democratic, more reflective of daily needs of people, more ready to act and this requires changes to the current treaties,” says their declaration. The MEPs argue that following the French presidential election, there will be “a window of opportunity” for such ambitious reforms.
During the Conference Plenary, our representatives had the opportunity to discuss with the citizens’ on their proposals:
The main goal of this conference is to give voice to European democracy and experience it more directly, explained UEF President and MEP Sandro GOZI. In his speech, encouraged his colleagues to build a real European political public space, directly voting for European political parties. Citizens would like to elect at least half of the members of the European Parliament through transnational lists, and we must follow up on their petition, added him in regards with the citizens recommendation.
“We should ensure politics serve citizens, this is the greatest contribution we can make for a better Europe. A follow up on their demands is the best way to pay homage to a great European and a friend, David Sassoli.”, concluded Sandro GOZI during the Plenary.
“Citizens are asking for transnational political parties with representatives from different member states. In the EP we are working on reforming the European electoral law, guaranteeing geographical and population balance when drawing up the lists.”, mentioned Domènec RUIZ DEVESA.
On 18 February an additional online meeting of the European Democracy WG took place. The debate focused on how to improve the executive power and the subsidiary mechanism of the EU.
During the meeting our Vice-President Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, updated the members of the WG on the status of the electoral law proposal in the AFCO Committee of the European Parliament, trying to find a balance between the different parties’ suggestions. On rule of law, he also strengthened the importance of getting rid of the veto vote in the Council, as it can be used as a tool to hijack dossiers. RUIZ DEVESA explained that treaty changes might be needed to satisfy these demands, but our priority should be focusing on defining the content of the reforms, reaching agreements and following the subsidiarity principle.
UEF President Sandro GOZI, invited members to explore all the possibilities that the treaties currently give, and consider its limitations to change it especially when it comes to the veto vote in the Council, to decide on taxation, or to go beyond the conditionality mechanism on rule of law, and use the budget in a larger way to sanction law violations by Member States.
UEF Secretary General Anna ECHTERHOFF, referred to the meaning of the principle of subsidiarity in a broader not so technical sense as it had been discussed in the group so far. The principle of subsidiarity states that a task of the State should be carried out as far as possible by the lower level. This means: the local level. If a task can not be carried out there, it is brought to the next higher level. If one applies this principle as a template to all policy areas and issues, one comes to the conclusion that not everything can be answered at local, regional or member state level. We will see as a result that the European level is the right level for many policy fields we discuss today. The question that then arises is how the EU institutions need to be equipped so that they can offer solutions and implement their task in these policy fields. Closely linked to this is the question of sovereignty.
2.3 Civil Society Days 2022 – UEF organises the Workshop “A green social market economy for the Future of Europe”: Registration to the online event open!
This year, UEF organises together with Social Economy Europe (SEE) and in cooperation with the EESC section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO) and the Consultative Committee on Industrial Change (CCMI) the workshop nº6 “A green social market economy for the Future of Europe” of the Civil Society Days. We are delighted to announce that Dubravka SUICA, European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, will join together with our President, MEP Sandro GOZI and Vice-President, MEP Markus Ferber, our event among many other high-level speakers. The Chair of PC4, Luca Lionello will be the moderator of the Workshop.
Check the agenda here and don’t forget to register
2.4 Make Europe Bloom: The Time is Now! – Survey Greece
As you already know, the MAKE EUROPE BLOOM: the Time is Now! project is contributing to raising awareness on the CoFoE and setting up the new European Bauhaus by mirroring citizens’ feelings on Europe through art. In order to meet our innovative approach, we count on renown urban artist Antonyo Marest. With your contributions we will be painting murals in different cities across Europe.
In our next stop in Piraeus, Greece, we will be painting a mural based on the idea of “Climate change and the environment”, one of the topics of the CoFoE.
We would like to ask you to answer this survey so that we can paint the future Europe together! #MakeEuropeBloom
Last month, EP President David SASSOLI passed away at age 65.
Born in Florence on 30 May 1956, SASSOLI studied political science before starting work as a newspaper and news agency journalist.
“UEF is deeply saddened by the terrible loss of a great European and an outstanding President of the European Parliament. He has been a member of the Movimiento Federalista Europeo in Rome, since Mr. SASSOLI was a convinced federalist, a champion of European democracy, values and integration. We commend his efforts to build a strong house of European democracy, and express our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. Riposa in pace.”, said UEF President and MEP Sandro GOZI.
2021 has been a year of transition and 2022 will be “a turning point” for Europe. The winds of change blowing from some member states are bringing the EU into a new era.
Germany has just turned the page on Angela MERKEL’s 16 years of leadership, France is bracing itself for an uncertain presidential election in the spring, and in Italy DRAGHI will continue as prime minister. MERKELl’s departure leaves a vacuum that MACRON, SCHOLZ and DRAGHI are trying to fill.
The stars are aligning for real EU reform, we believe that decisive steps will be taken in the federal logic as we understand that there is an agreement between the main political forces, especially between the virtuous triangle that would leave behind years of paralysis and hesitation.
In 1941, while imprisoned on Ventotene island just off the coast of Italy, the intellectuals Altiero Spinelli, Ernesto Rossi and Eugenio Colorni penned ‘For a Free and United Europe’, a founding text urging for the creation of a united Europe built on federalist principles. This document, also known as the Ventotene Manifesto, was distributed among the European resistance thanks to Ursula Hirschmann, a German anti-fascist activist who managed to smuggle it from the island. In January 1944, a mimeographed clandestine edition of the Manifesto appeared in Rome.
UEF President Sandro GOZI: “We must get inspired and revive the spirit of the Ventotene Manifesto to push for a new European democratic transformation.”
EU Member States gave their political agreement for a new package of sanctions against Russia, after Putin’s decision to recognise the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and sending troops to these areas. This decision violates the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Russia is not respecting its international obligations, and it is violating core principles of international law. With this press release UEF welcomed the EU’s package of sanctions and supported Ukraine.
UEF condemned in the strongest possible terms the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, a free and sovereign country in the heart of Europe. This is not only an attack on Ukraine, but also on the security of Europe, the international order, peace and democracy.
3.5 The Spinelli Draft Treaty (14 February 1984 – 2022)
On 14 February, UEF, the Spinelli Group, JEF Europe and Movimento Europeo Italia organised an event to commemorate the Spinelli Draft Treaty’s approval by the European Parliament in 1984. We counted with current MEPs and renowned witnesses to explain the key features of the so-called Spinelli Project and how it can still inspire the future of Europe today.
Find here the full statement and here you can rewatch the discussion.
4. UEF BACKSTAGE
4.1 New team member: Ilaria Caria joins the team
We are delighted to inform you that Ilaria Caria joined the Secretariat on 1 February 2021 as the new Policy and Administration Officer. She graduated in Law at the University of Cagliari and in International Law and Global Justice at the University of Sheffield. Her fields of interest are European external relations law, democracy and political rights. She is an active member of the Movimento Federalista Europeo Federal Committee. Welcome Ilaria!
Would you like to debate with policy makers, learn about European politics or meet countless enthusiastic Europeans? The UEF is looking for a Policy Officer and a Communications Officer to join the Secretariat in Brussels! Apply until 11 March.
