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.