XXIX UEF European Congress

20 - 22 March 2026
Barcelona (Spain)

PROGRAM

 

The Congress is the highest body of the UEF and is the most important event in the life of the organization. It will be a crucial moment to discuss the future of the organization and of Europe.

 

Venue: Palau Reial de Pedralbes, 08002 Barcelona, Spain

 

Friday 20 March

Pre-Congress Activity at 13:00

13:00-14:00 | Barcelona +30: Rethinking Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation

  • Nasser Kamel – Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean.
  • Anna Terrón – Political scientist; former Member of the European Parliament; former Secretary of State for Immigration of the Government of Spain.
  • Senén Florensa – Ambassador of Spain; Executive President of the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed).
  • Daphne Gogou – Member of the Bureau of the Union of European Federalists (UEF); UEF Greece; senior official at the European Commission.
  • Josep-Lluís Salazar-Máñez – Federalistes d’Esquerres – UEF Catalonia; member of the Federal Committees of UEF Spain and UEF Europe; expert in environmental management and law; former official of the European Commission and the European Environment Agency.
  • Moderator: Jordi Xuclà – President of the Catalan Council of the European Movement and Professor of International Relations at Ramon Llull University.

Opening Ceremony at 16:30

16:00-16:30 | Arrival of participants and registration

16:30-17:30 | Welcoming speeches by:

  • Enrique Barón Crespo, Former President of the European Parliament, President of UEF Spain
  • Jaume Collboni Cuadrado, Mayor of Barcelona
  • Salvador Illa, President of Catalunya
  • Javier Lopez, Vice President of the European Parliament
  • Josep Borrell, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Former President of the European Parliament, Former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President European Commission High Representative
  • Lluïsa Moret Sabidó, President of the Diputació de Barcelona (tbc)
  • Domenec Ruiz Devesa, UEF President and MEP 2019-2024
  • José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
  • Moderator: Mireia Esteba, President Federalistas d’Esquerres, UEF Catalunya

17:45-19:30 | Political Debate of the Spinelli Group - Is Draghi's "Pragmatic Federalism" enough to face current challenges?

  • Gabriele Bischoff, Chair of the Spinelli Group, MEP
  • Josep Borrell, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, Former President of the European Parliament, Former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President European Commission High Representative
  • Guy Verhofstadt, President of European Movement International, Former Prime Minister of Belgium, Former MEP, Board Member of the Spinelli Group
  • Nikolaos Farantouris, Board Member of the Spinelli Group, MEP
  • Thijs Reuten, Member of the Spinelli Group, MEP
  • Benedetta Scuderi, Board Member of the Spinelli Group, MEP (Online)
  • Brando Benifei, Board Member of the Spinelli Group, MEP (Online - Chair of EP Delegation to US Congress in mission to the USA)
  • Domenec Devesa, UEF President, MEP 2019-2024
  • Moderator: Mathilde Baudouin, UEF Secretary General

19:30 | Cocktail Reception and celebration for 80th Anniversary of foundation of the Union of European Federalists with Art Exhibition by Lorenzo Epis.

 

Saturday 21 March

08:30-09:00 | Arrival of participants and registration

09:00-09:15 | Opening of the Congress and Formalities 

  • Election of the Tellers 
  • Election of a Credentials Committee 
  • Election of the Resolution Committee 
  • Adoption of the Agenda 
  • Adoption of the Minutes of the Extraordinary Congress on 6 April 2024 in Brussels

09:15-09:45 | Welcome addresses

  • Enrique Barón Crespo, Former President of the European Parliament (1989-1992), President of UEF Spain
  • Mireia Esteva, President UEF Catalunya
  • Moritz Hergl, President of JEF
  • Gabriele Bischoff, Chair of the Spinelli Group, MEP

09:45 - 10:15 | Opening speech and Political report by Domènec Ruiz Devesa, UEF President

10:15 - 11:15 | Activity and Fundraising report by Mathilde Baudouin, UEF Secretary General and Financial Report by Antonio Argenziano, UEF Treasurer

11:15 - 11:30 | Coffee Break

11:30 -13:00 | Q&A and Open Political debate

Discharge of the outgoing Bureau

13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch 

14:00 - 14:15 | Words on the relationship between UEF and the Jean Monnet House by Marti Grau Segu - Head of Service and Curator, Jean Monnet House at European Parliament

14:15 - 15:15 | Vote on Honorary Presidents and Debate among UEF Former Presidents

  • Jo Leinen, UEF President from 1997-2005, former Member of the European Parliament
  • Mercedes Bresso, UEF President from 2005-2008, former Member of the European Parliament
  • Andrew Duff, UEF President from 2008-2013, former Member of the European Parliament
  • Elmar Brok, UEF President from 2013-2018, former Vice President of the European Parliament
  • Sandro Gozi, UEF President from 2018-2023, Member of the European Parliament

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Andrea Wechsler, Member of the European Parliament, President of Europa-Union Deutschland (UEF Germany)

15:15 - 15:30 | Family Picture

15:35 - 16:55 | Political Commissions meetings

16:55 - 17:10 | Coffee Break

17:10 - 18:30 | Strategic Plan Task force meeting

18:30 - 19:30 | Presentation of candidate and election 

19:30 - 19:35 | End of the session 

19:35 - 20:15 | Resolutions Committee Meeting

20:15 - 21:30 | Self-Financed Dinner

Sunday 22 March - Congress and Federal Committee

08:30 - 09:00 | Arrival of participants and registration

09:00 - 09:30 | Opening of the Congress 

  • Election of the Tellers 
  • Election of a Credentials Committee 
  • Election of the Resolution Committee 
  • Adoption of the Agenda 

Announcement of the results of the elections

09:30 - 10:00 | Political Commissions and Task Forces reports

10:00 - 11:00 | Vote on political documents

11:00 - 11:15 | Closing of the Congress

11:15 - 11:45 | Meeting of National delegations to nominate appointed members of the Federal Committee and Coffee Break

11:45 - 12:15 | Constitution of the Federal Committee and opening of the meeting

  • Election of the Tellers 
  • Election of the Presidium
  • Election of a Credentials Committee 
  • Adoption of the Agenda 

12:15 - 12:45 | Presentation of the Candidacy of UEF Netherlands and vote

12:45 - 13:15 | Closing remarks by

Jordi Xucla and Francisco Aldecoa - European Movement Catalunya and Spain

13:15 - 14:00 | Meeting of the new Executive Bureau 

15:00 - 17:00 | Guided tour in Barcelona

POLITICAL DOCUMENTS APPROVED

OTHER DOCUMENTS

  1. Activity Report of the Secretary General 2024-2025
  2. European Federalist Movement Netherlands presentation 
  3. UEF Fundraising Report 2026
  4. UEF Financial Report 2026
  1. Draft minutes of the UEF Extraordinary Congress April 2024
  2. Letter of Presentation of European Federalist Movement Netherlands as candidate section

RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS

Download here the results of the elections

Download the list of NEW FEDERAL COMMITTEE

President

  1. Domenec Ruiz Devesa BY ACCLAMATION

Vice Presidents

Eligible votes: 122

  1. Daphne Gogou: 75
  2. Giulia Rossolillo: 62
  3. Markus Ferber: 56
  4. Alin Mituta: 49

Treasurer

Eligible votes: 123

  1. Antonio Argenziano: 110

Executive Bureau

Eligible votes: 117

  1. Eszter Nagy: 81
  2. Liubba El Hadi Hamed: 75
  3. Roberto Castaldi: 70
  4. Simina Tulbure: 67
  5. Michael Montag: 58
  6. Jose Luis Salazar: 47
  7. Sebastian Camarero: 46
  8. Leray François: 36

FC Directly Elected Members

Eligible Votes: 123

Elected Members

  1. Kati Systä : 83
  2. Christelle Savall : 76
  3. Hervé Moritz : 75
  4. François Mennerat: 63
  5. Alejandro Peinado : 63
  6. Beta Mihai Andrei : 62
  7. Giorgio Clarotti : 59
  8. Xesc Mainzer: 50
  9. Jean Marsia: 49
  10. Francisco Aldecoa Luzarraga: 33
  11. Marovita Nikolaidou : 31
  12. Lucien Onisei : 29

Elected Substitute FC Members

  • Harald Stieber : 27
  • Angel Landabaso : 23

Arbitration Board

  1. Andreu Iranzo Navarro
  2. Peter Osten
  3. Ugo Ferruta
  4. Jacopo Provera
  5. Daniela White
  6. Stamate Eusebiu

BY ACCLAMATION

Greetings and addresses from national, regional and local governments and the associations present

PROGRAM

Download here the program in PDF

Last update 20.03.2026

POLITICAL DOCUMENTS AND DEADLINES

Below, you can find the list of draft resolutions with amendments in word submitted to the European Congress meeting:

Here below the proposal of UEF Manifesto, Strategic Plan 2026-2030, Resolutions:

In view of the UEF European Congress, the UEF Secretariat would like to remind of the deadlines set in analogy with FC Rules of procedure about presentation and management of political documents.

So in analogy with those rules (Article 10.2 of the Federal Committee Rules of Procedure) the political documents must be sent to the Secretariat within three weeks of the UEF European Congress so that they can then be made available to all participants.

In the case of the next meeting:

  • 27 February, midnight (12 p.m.): deadline for submitting political documents (proposal for resolutions, UEF Manifesto, strategic plan, etc..).
  • 4 March: political documents will be circulated and there will be a week to propose amendments using the form provide by UEF Secretariat
  • 14 March, midnight (12 p.m): deadline for submitting amendements

All resolutions and amendments must be sent to the email address of the Secretariat (secretariat@federalists.eu)

Registration form and participation contribution

All those wishing to participate in the XXIX UEF European Congress as Delegates, Observers or Guest must fill in this registration form.

REGISTRATION LINK

PARTICIPATION CONTRIBUTION

50 €: full participation contribution.

25 €: reduce participation contribution for participants under 25 years old, students, and and job seekers.

The participation fee must be transferred to the following bank account:

Union of European Federalists

Bank: BNP PARIBAS FORTIS BANK, Rond-point Robert Schuman 10, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
TO: UNION OF EUROPEAN FEDERALISTS UEF
IBAN: BE69210037609578
BIC: GEBABEBB

Communication: "Congress Barcelona 2026: *First Name* *Last Name*"

Remember that at the Congress there is also the possibility of giving a proxy (a maximum of one per delegate, which means that no delegate may have more than two votes, including their own and any proxy they may receive).

For the Proxy LINK HERE

POLITICAL COMMISSIONS MEETINGS and documents

Task Force on the UEF Manifesto

  • First meeting: 16 December 2025.
  • Deadline for amendments: 21 January 2025, Contributions should be sent to Luca Lionello, Chair of PC1, at lucalion99@gmail.com
  • Second meeting: 21 January 2025 . The contributions receved by the member of the Task Force are added here LINK.
  • The Team can submit comments by 23 February.

Political Commission 3

Recent developments and challenges in international relations are shaping a new structure for the international system.
Within this context, Europe has demonstrated limited effectiveness in addressing the challenges posed by the evolving international environment.
Political unity, as a driving force for deeper military integration, should be prioritised in the policies of European countries and the European Union. PC3 will need to reflect on this issue in the coming weeks.
Therefore, as usual, the PC Chair is preparing a policy document that outlines the current situation and emerging challenges.

To facilitate discussion of the documents and related political issues, two meetings are scheduled:

  • February 26, 2026, 6:15 PM: Presentation and discussion of documents
  • March 11, 2026, 6:15 PM: Discussion on amendments

 

CANDIDACY STATUTORY POSITIONS

Candidacy form  for the following position

  • Executive Bureau
    • President
    • Vice-Presidents
    • Treasurer
    • Executive Bureau Member
  • Directly elected members of the Federal Committee
  • Arbitration Board
  • Auditing Committee (to be elected by the Federal Committee)

is available LINK HERE

The deadline for submitting your candidacy is March 21, 2026.

If you submit your candidacy at March 10, the Secretariat will communicate about all candidates and publish their profiles on the UEF website.

Support for your nomination

According to Article 23 of the UEF Statutes, nominations of candidates shall be valid provided they are signed by 10% of delegates (16 signatures required) or by at least three Sections.

Support for a candidate may be expressed by email or through a signed document submitted by email to secretariat@federalists.eu, or by a signed document submitted to the Credentials Committee at the Congress.

LIST OF CANDIDATES

Last update 16 March 2025 - Click here to read the presentations and motivations for the candidacy

President

    1. Domenec Ruiz Devesa (Unión de Europeístas y Federlistas de España)

Vice Presidents (8/?)

    1. Markus Ferber (Europa-Union Deutschland)
    2. Alin Mituta (Inițiativa pentru Europa Unită)
    3. Giulia Rossolillo (Movimento Federalista Europeo)
    4. Daphne Gogou (Ελληνική Ένωση για την Ομοσπονδία της Ευρώπης -ΕΕνΟΕ)

Treasurer

    • Antonio Argenziano (Movimento Federalista Europeo)

Executive Bureau Members (8/?)

    1. Sebastian Camarero (Europa-Union Deutschland)
    2. Roberto Castaldi (Movimento Federalista Europeo)
    3. Liubba El Hadi Hamed (Unión de Europeístas y Federlistas de España)
    4. Leray François (Groupe Europe)
    5. Michael Montag (Europa-Union Deutschland)
    6. Eszter Nagy (Európai Föderalisták Uniója Magyarország)
    7. Jose Luis Salazar (Unión de Europeístas y Federlistas de España)
    8. Simina Tulbure (Inițiativa pentru Europa Unită)

Directly elected Federal Committee Members (14/12)

    1. Giorgio Clarotti (UEF Groupe Europe)
    2. Angel Landabaso (Unión de Europeístas y Federlistas de España)
    3. Francisco Aldecoa Luzarraga (Unión de Europeístas y Federlistas de España)
    4. Jean Marsia (UEF Belgique)
    5. François Mennerat (UEF Belgique)
    6. Beta Mihai Andrei (Inițiativa pentru Europa Unită)
    7. Xesc Mainzer (JEF Europe)
    8. Hervé Moritz (Union des Fédéralistes européens)
    9. Marovita Nikolaidou (Ελληνική Ένωση για την Ομοσπονδία της Ευρώπης -ΕΕνΟΕ)
    10. Lucien Onisei (UEF Belgique)
    11. Alejandro Peinado (Unión de Europeístas y Federlistas de España)
    12. Christelle Savall (UEF Luxembourg)
    13. Harald Stieber (Groupe Europe)
    14. Kati Systä (JEF Europe)

Members of the Arbitration Board (6/7)

    1. Andreu Iranzo Navarro (Unión de Europeístas y Federlistas de España)
    2. Peter Osten (Europa-Union Deutschland)
    3. Ugo Ferruta (Movimento Federalista Europeo)
    4. Jacopo Provera (Movimento Federalista Europeo)
    5. Daniela White (Europa-Union Deutschland)
    6. Stamate Eusebiu (Inițiativa pentru Europa Unită)

NUMBER OF DELEGATES AND NEW FEDERAL COMMITTEE

Here the list of delegate allocations for the upcoming European Congress, as well as the number of FC members each section is required to nominate

Read here LINK HERE

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