Events for the opening of the new European Parliament
The European Union has been “at a critical junction” time and again since its inception.
The last European elections clearly revealed two things: the growth of Eurosceptic and Europhobic far-right parties in some countries, in particular France and Germany, but also the growing awareness in the mainstream parties that this Europe must be reformed.
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 history of the European Union is one of citizens gathering and calling on elected leaders for more decisive steps towards political unity for the European people: in 1975 in Rome claiming for the direct elections of the European Parliament; in 1979 in Strasbourg asking for a European currency; in 1985 in Milano defending The Spinelli Treaty, in 1991 in Maastricht for European democracy, in 2000 in Nice asking for a European Convention, on 25 March 2017 in Rome calling for a relaunch of political integration, on 8 May 2022 in Strasbourg calling for a Treaty reform at the last day of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
This July 17-19 in Strasbourg, at the opening plenary session of the European Parliament, we will again call on our elected representatives to reform Europe now, wholeheartedly and without reservations.
Our goals:
- mobilise civil society organisations and citizens to demand the new European Parliament to continue its reforming role in the European institutions;
- reconstitute the Spinelli Group, the intergroup of federalist MEPs, and strengthen the link with federalist organisations.
AGENDA
17 July 2024
Afternoon/evening
UEF network arrival in Strasbourg from Belgium, French, Italy and Germany
18 July 2024
7:30-8:30, European Parliament (Main entrance, 11 Rue Lucien Febvre)
A street action in front of the European Parliament with activists from the Union of European Federalists, Young Europeans Federalists and the European Movement. We will distribute flyers to the MEPs to remind them of the importance of continuing the work of reforming the European Union.
19:30-21:00, European Parliamentary Association, Villa Schutzenberger (76 allée de la Robertsau, Strasbourg)
A political debate open to the public, organized by the Spinelli Group, the European Parliamentary Association and the European associations (UEF, JEF, EM) on Thursday evening at the European Parliamentary Association in order to discuss the challenges of the new legislature.
21:00, Apero-Cocktail
19 July 2024
8:00-9:00, European Parliamentary Association, Villa Schutzenberger (76 allée de la Robertsau, Strasbourg)
Spinelli Group breakfast organised with UEF Europe at the European Parliamentary Association. This event is open to the public.
To invite newly elected MEPs who do not know the Spinelli Group to know more about it and join
You can express your interest in which events you'd like to attend here.
FEDERAL BUS BRUSSELS - STRASBOURG (closed)
The bus would leave Brussels on July 17th at noon/early afternoon and would return from Strasbourg on July 19th around late morning/lunchtime. In this case, UEF Secretariat will cover the transport, however the accommodation in Strasbourg for 2 nights will be the participants' expanse. Depending on the number of participants, UEF can check if there are convenient accommodation solutions through a travel agency.
REPORT
In the morning of the 18th of July, we organized a demonstration in front of the European Parliament, to spread the message of federalism to new MEPs, distribute flyers about the Spinelli Group, and call for the new legislature to continue the work on institutional reform.
At lunch time, a first preparatory meeting of the new Spinelli Group took place. Spinelli Group affiliated MEPs who got re-elected, as well as new ones, together with representatives of federalist organizations, discussed the next steps in the process of building the new Spinelli Group, possible future actions, as well as the possible creation of Spinelli Groups in national parliaments.
Afterwards, in the evening of 18th of July, together with our partners, we organized a debate on the challenges of the new legislature with MEPs Sandro Gozi (Renew), Gabriele Bischoff (S&D), Marie Toussaint (Greens/EFA) and Željana Zovko (EPP). The panel was moderated by Hervè Moritz (EM France) and Matteo Angeli (APE). You can watch the full debate here.
In the morning of the 19th of July, we organized a breakfast for newly elected MEPs to learn more about the Spinelli Group.
We would like to offer a big thank you to our activists and partner organizations, without whom these events would not have been possible: The Spinelli Group, The European Parliament Association (APE), UEF France, JEF Europe, JEF Strasbourg, the European Movement France, and the European Movement Alsace.
We also wish to offer a big thanks to our media partners Other Europe and EU Made Simple.
You can watch the EU Made Simple interviews with MEPs regarding federalizing Europe here
