Choose Europe!
Why to join for the opening of the new European Parliament?
The European Union has been “at a critical junction” time and again since its inception. Calls for a renewed commitment to the European project have taken almost a life of their own. Back in 2014, after the Parliament had managed to elect him at the helm of the European Commission by establishing no less than a constitutional precedent, President Juncker declared his would be “the Commission of the last chance”: if it did not deliver, citizens would lose their trust in the EU. After the dismal outcome of the Brexit referendum, EU leaders convened in Bratislava to agree on a supposedly ambitious roadmap “to make a success of the EU with 27 Member States”. Three years on – Leaders’ summit after Leaders’ summit – Brexit still hasn’t happened (thankfully!) and resources, time and energy have been wasted on European Heads of State and Government unable to unite around anything more than generic commitments to the EU.
That there would even be a need to reaffirm European unity is proof that the time of national leaders is far gone. We need European solutions urgently, not least to stop more far-right and illiberal forces from rising to power. The alarms bells have been ringing for years now, but these leaders are too comfortable sitting in their own echo chamber to hear them.
EU national leaders have failed us. European integration by intergovernmental cooperation has the EU stuck in a status quo that could well be its downfall. But the history of the European Union is not only one of disappointing meetings of European leaders. The history of Europe is also one of citizens gathering, demonstrating and protesting; citizens calling on elected leaders for more decisive steps towards the political unity of the European people.
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.
Today, simply celebrating the EU and its achievements is not enough anymore. Our continent is in dire need of common solutions underpinned by genuine European democracy. This July 1-2 in Strasbourg, at the opening plenary session of the European Parliament, we will again call on our elected representatives to choose Europe, wholeheartedly and without reservations. This July, we must take up the challenge of creating a genuine, European democracy - or risk having no democracy at all.
Programme
The programme of the Citizens' gathering for the new European Parliament in Strasbourg includes :
Monday 1st of July
- 14:00 - 18:00: We are Europe - Citizens' Agora: at the European Youth Centre, debates and workshops on civil society expectations from the new European Parliament for European relaunch
- 19:00 - 21:00: "A new Parliament for new Europe": Meet new MEPs - at the European Parliamentary Association, activists from civil society organisations and Strasbourg citizens discuss with the most federalist-minded of the newly elected MEPs on citizens priorities for the new term of the European Parliament. Followed by a reception.
Tuesday 2nd of July
- 08:00 - 10:00: Rally in front of the European Parliament: Citizens gathering for the new European Parliament
Participation Conditions
The event is open to civil society activists officially residents in an EU member state, an EU-candidate country, a country being part of the European Economic Area.
Group participation:
- If you would like to organise a bus or group travel from your country, please contact us at secretariat@federalists.eu. We can provide some financial support and make available accommodation at favorable rates. As availability is limited, we will support groups on a first-come first-served basis, so please contact us as soon as possible.
- If you would like to join group travel by UEF organised bus from Brussels to Strasbourg, please register here. The contribution fee under these conditions of 75€ includes one night accommodation in shared hotel room (double or triple) and round trip Brussels - Strasbourg.
Individual participants:
For individual participants who attend all three events, we can offer accommodation at a discounted rate: 25€ fee for one night (between Monday and Tuesday) or 60€ for two nights (from Sunday to Tuesday).
Accommodation is in double rooms or in triple rooms, with other participants. The fee gives access to the three events, including coffee breaks and the reception on Monday evening.
As availability is limited, you should register as soon as possible. Participants are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. No travel reimbursement is available.
The fee must be transferred in advance - see bank details here:
Union of European Federalists
BNP Paribas Fortis
Agence Quartier Léopold
Place du Luxembourg 14B - 1050 Ixelles
IBAN: BE69 2100 3760 9578
SWIFT CODE: GEBABEBB
"Join the opening of the new EP": *First Name* *Last Name*"
Venue
Monday 1st of July:
We are Europe Citizens' Agora 14:00 - 18:00 at the European Youth Centre, 30 street Pierre de Coubertin, 67000 Strasbourg. Please find map of Strasbourg tram here.
"A New Parliament for new Europe" 19:00 - 21:00 at the European Parliamentary Association, 76 Allée de la Robertsau, 67000 Strasbourg, France
Tuesday 2nd of July:
Rally in front of the European Parliament
Registration
The registration for the event is compulsory by 20th of June but please register as soon as possible by filling the form:
- the general registration form if you are joining the event from 30th of June to 2nd of July or you are not based in Brussels
- the Brussels based participant registration form if you are traveling by UEF organised bus