Declaration “For a Sovereign and Federal European Res Publica”

Declaration of the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and Consiglio Italiano del Movimento Europeo (CIME), signed in Ventotene Island on 30th August 2025

The current dilemma

The red-carpet Trump-Putin Alaska Summit without EU and Ukraine participation embodies current Europe´s irrelevance: with just 5 per cent of global population and a declining economy, Europe, still a fragmented continent, cannot craft its destiny in a world of imperial powers.

In 2025, Europe faces a historic crossroads: unity or vassalage, independence or servitude. With Trump’s presidency, we are witnessing our lack of capacity for self-determination: the Hague Summit of NATO (June 2025) showed our defence dependence, the Turnberry meeting in Scotland (July 2025) encapsulated our trade submission, and the Alaska summit (August 2025) attempted to marginalise Europeans regarding the war of aggression in Ukraine. Europe's Impotency and irrelevance are also clear in the Gaza War, and even in the peace deals signed in the White House, in Africa between Rwanda and DRC, as well as in the Caucasus between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Only the presence of the Commission’s President in the Washington Summit alongside other EU leaders offered some hope of a united European front against Putin's influence over Trump.

Thus, never before the lack of federalisation of Europe has exposed so dramatically our collective weaknesses.

These decisions reflect a capitulation that endangers the European ideal — a power that should be transparent and accountable — and threatens the very essence of the project of political integration.

Recognising clear external threats

Europe must acknowledge the external pressure and antidemocratic context looming over it, with a growing disrespect for international law and commitments:

  • The United States, under its current ‘caesarist’ leadership, have proven to be an unreliable ally, displaying an irrepressible disdain for Europe and its values, and imposing conditions and costly legal obligations on all issues from trade to security and trying to limit our autonomy.
  • On Ukraine, Trump accepts Putin's demands on recognizing territory gained by force and now seeks to enlist European support. Such approach is unacceptable with regard to international law and threatens our security. Without some form of US involvement, and the development of a European defence, no security guarantee to Ukraine could be credible.
  • Russia and China actively seek to destabilise our democracies, including through interference in electoral processes and exploit our institutional weaknesses.

Europe must set up fully-fledged common European diplomatic and defence systems to guarantee its security and self-determination, including a single European command chain and an effective autonomous European intelligence service. An essential need for both is to rely on a democratic overarching political authority that overcomes ‘vetocracy’ and empowers the European Parliament and a legitimate government and endow Europe with the proper institutional heft to play in the major league of world powers.

Our Strategic proposals

  1. Ensure Zelensky’s and his staff’s security for a potential meeting with Putin which shall not take place in Russia and shall include the EU.
  2. Steadfast support to Ukraine, including request for unconditional ceasefire, continued military support, and full mobilisation of Russian frozen assets, among others, to finance the damages of Putin’s war, and ensure a solid reconstruction strategy.
  3. Full mobilisation of current Treaty provisions for the overcoming of the unanimity, and activation of a European Common Defence. The Commission shall have room to mobilise its diverse competences towards ensuring peace on the continent and security for the Europeans (trade, defense, diplomacy).
  4. On the basis of the 2023 Parliament´s reform proposal, full speed on a federal political union through a constitutional Convention or joint interparliamentary assembly.

A vanguard of willing Member States should launch a federal nucleus with full parliamentary control, encompassing the foreign policy, defence, migration, and fiscal dimensions if decisive and prompt action at 27 is not taken.

Citizen mobilisation as a driver of change

The indignation of European citizens in the face of the unpopular decisions taken by the EU in order to appease Trump can be a powerful political catalyst: the key is to transform this moral rejection into effective and coordinated political action for a more united and assertive Europe.

Recent surveys show that Europeans demand more self-determination and more union. They reject submission to external interests and an imperialistic world order. This citizens’ sentiment should foster the emerging continental public opinion and European demos, thus laying a foundation toward real political integration. Political leaders shall meet these expectations and take the decision that can only ensure the peace on the continent and the security of Europeans: a European federation of citizens and states.

Therefore, we commit to:

  1. Promote federal narratives that defend our self-determination, democracy, respect of human rights, justice, equality and freedom.
  2. Build European coalitions among parties, subnational governments and civil society to demand political, fiscal and strategic sovereignty.
  3. Raise the political cost of submission through public debate, independent media and civic mobilisation.
  4. Develop intelligent response capacity to trade or power-based aggression, avoiding diplomatic capitulation.
  5. Foster solidarity and alliances among Member States to build a common resistance against the vassalisation of Europe.

A civilisational choice

Europe stands at a turning point: we can either prolong a trajectory of subordination and decline or take a qualitative leap toward federal self-determination. This option requires vision, coordination and political courage. We calls for the revival of the European spirit, the strengthening of the European demos, and the recovery of the vision of a Europe that decides, acts and advances with sovereignty.

Ventotene, 30 August 2025

SIGNATORIES

  • Domenec Ruiz Devesa, President of the UEF and Former MEP
  • Virgilio Dastoli, President of the Consiglio Italiano del Movimento Europe
  • Guy Verhofstadt, Former Prime Minister of Belgium and Former MEP
  • Mathilde Baudouin, Secretary General of the UEF

ENDORSEMENT

  • Josep Borrell. Former High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
  • Antonio Argenziano, Former President of JEF Europe
  • Luisa Trumellini, President of Movimento Federalista Europeo (MFE)
  • Roberto Castaldi, Secretary General of MFE
  • Sandro Gozi, Member of European Parliament, Honorary President of the MFE

WITNESSES

  • Antonio Santilli, Responsabile Settore Cultura Ventotene
  • Giuseppe Pepe, Vicesindaco Ventotene
  • Mario Leone, Direttore Istituto Spinelli

ORIGINAL VERSION SIGNED IN VENTOTENE ISLAND

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