POLITICAL DECLARATION | UEF – WFM Cooperation

Adopted by the Federal Committee of UEF, Budapest, 16 November 2024

Since 2019 the UEF has launched several initiatives aimed at reinforcing UEF-WFM cooperation considering the importance of regular dialogue and exchanges among both Organizations in order to promote common federalist objectives for a peaceful democratic and sustainable global governance. The successful organization in December 2022 in the European Parliament in Brussels of a joint event celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Montreux Declaration was the result of common efforts by both Organizations supported the Presidents at that time.

In its Congress in November 2023, the UEF reaffirmed its will to reinforce cooperation with WFM and develop common activities focused on peace and conflict prevention, exchange of best practices among regional federalists Organisations, human rights and international justice as well as on global environmental initiatives.

In the past years, UEF co-organised events and webinars promoting the idea of a Global Green Deal and other exchanges on key environmental topics. UEF also supported the participation of representatives from regional federalists organizations in the Spinelli Seminar organised by the Italian Federalists.  

The tragic events following the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, the war in Gaza in October 2023 and more recently the extension of the conflict in Lebanon as well as the continuous deterioration of the conflict in Sudan mark a significant shift towards worldwide insecurity, threats, and economic instability. These events demonstrate the continuation of the massive use of violence and weapons to resolve international conflicts.  Starting with the war in Ukraine, the environmental impact was evaluated by a high-level group lead by Margot Wallstrom to be at 56 billion €, who and calling for accountability for the  reconstruction and environmental recovery.  In fact, instead of using financial resources towards the preservation of biodiversity and social justice projects, States are now obliged to multiply their military budgets and investments in their defence and security sectors.  

In this international framework, the world leaders adopted a Pact for the Future on 22 September 2024 in New York. The Pact is the culmination of an intensive, years-long process which included the active participation of global civil society (millions of contributions from around the world) and aimed at boosting international cooperation to face the realities of today and the challenges of the future. Despite some criticisms, the Pact is an ambitious wide-ranging international political agreement which recalls the Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030 and beyond. It also underlines the importance of peace and security (including detailed new elements for the protection of civilian in conflict areas) and includes new policy developments in areas such as the global governance on the use of new technologies and international digital cooperation, as well as actions for the youth and future generations. The Pact also includes clear commitment towards the transformation of global governance through the promotion of multilateralism as a medium for tackling important challenges for the future. It ambitiously calls to seize the opportunities of today and tomorrow, push for the Security Council Reform as a matter of priority and a new international Global Economic Governance in order to ensure better representation of the Global South.

In order to respond to this historical call for a new international order for the humanity and considering that this represents a unique opportunity for all of us as to promote federalist objectives, UEF and WFM  would like to intensify cooperation and coordination of positions and propose the establishment of an intergroup in charge of developing concrete proposals and actions for the coming years.

Budapest, 16 November 2024