The European Letter is back.
The return of power politics under the new American administration forces Europe into a dramatic awakening: in order to preserve seventy years of European integration, safeguard democracy on the Old Continent, and attempt to avert global destabilization, the Union is compelled to confront emergencies using the limited instruments it already possesses, from the issuance of common debt to the mobilization of multinational forces. However, Europe’s chronic weakness cannot be overcome, nor can its survival be guaranteed, without a decisive political leap: integration must evolve toward the creation of a genuine federation.
The European Letter is published in 7 languages - from the edition 77 - under the auspices of the Luciano Bolis European Foundation in cooperation with the Union of European Federalists.
The European Letter is a periodical publication started in 1997 with the aim of stimulating political debate in national parliaments and governments, and in the European Parliament.
The European Letter 88 entitled "Only Europe Can Save Itself", is sent to parliamentarians in the following legislative bodies:
- European Parliament
- Bundestag
- Parliament of the French Republic
- Parliament of the Italian Republic
- Cortes generales (Spanish Parliament)
- Nationalrat (Austrian Parliament)
- Belgian Federal Parliament
- Hellenic Parliament
- Eduskunta (Parliament of Finland)
Here the version avaiable:
Brussels, February 6, 2026
As Europe is facing existential challenges and a rapidly eroding multilateral order, we, the Spinelli Group, the group of federalist-minded MEPs within the European Parliament, today released a powerful manifesto outlining a vision for a sovereign, deepened, and federal Europe. This document rallies all those who envision a Europe that acts decisively, defends its values, and shapes its own destiny.
The manifesto calls for:
- Addressing our strategic vulnerabilities to turn them into strategic sovereignty, ensuring Europe can protect its values, its democracies, and interests without excessive external dependencies.
- A federal Europe capable of swift, democratic decision-making, rooted in our unique socio-economic model.
- A federalist interpretation of the Lisbon Treaty to overcome the unanimity rule in key areas, enabling ambitious action on defence, foreign policy, and fiscal policy through the use of Passerelle Clauses. At the same time, Treaty reform should remain a near-term objective to consolidate these changes.
“This is Europe’s make-it-or-break-it moment.” the Group declares, “We choose a fully sovereign Union with a high level of autonomy, we choose a Europe that is a geopolitical power.”
The Spinelli Group invites all Members of the European Parliament who share this vision to join forces and help strengthen the group, as a pro-European platform within the Parliament. Together, we can turn this Manifesto into action. The European Moment is now.
Read here the full Manifesto: LINK
Read here the presentation of the Spinelli Group: LINK
If you are a member of the European Parliament, join the Spinelli Group by writing to: secretariat@federalists.eu or gabriele.bischoff@europarl.europa.eu
The Union of European Federalists Secretariat on behalf of the Spinelli Group
This is article on Politico is written by our President Domenec Ruiz Devesa as senior researcher at Barcelona Centre for International Affairs and Emiliano Alessandri is an affiliated researcher at Austrian Institute for International Affairs.
The article argues that Mark Rutte is wrong to claim that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States. According to the authors, such statements risk turning Europe’s dependence on the US into a political doctrine rather than encouraging Europe to strengthen its own defence capabilities.
It highlights that US foreign policy is gradually shifting away from Europe, regardless of who is in the White House. In an increasingly competitive and multipolar world, Europe can no longer rely almost entirely on American military protection.
The authors therefore argue that NATO should evolve toward a more balanced alliance, with a much stronger European pillar. This would require greater European defence investment, deeper military integration, and the development of autonomous European capabilities.
In conclusion, a stronger European defence would not weaken NATO but make it more sustainable, by ensuring that Europe can take greater responsibility for its own security.
Brussels, February 3, 2026
Dear Member of the European Parliament,
Ahead of the upcoming resolution marking the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, the Union of European Federalists urges you to take into consideration some proposals:
1. European responsibility for Ukraine’s defence
Support for Ukraine is a European responsibility. This means it cannot depend on decisions taken in Washington. The European Union must act on the assumption that U.S. policy may be uncertain or transactional.
In light of the continued and devastating Russian air attacks, including the ones suffered in early February 2026, the EU must urgently accelerate the delivery of advanced military hardware. It is no longer enough to provide defensive shields; the Union must ensure the immediate provision of both air and missile defence systems and long-range precision strike capabilities. To effectively protect Ukrainian lives and sovereignty, Europe must empower Ukraine to neutralize not only the “arrows” but also the “archers” by targeting the launch sites of these aggressions.
In addition, we need to achieve a substantial strengthening of European and Ukrainian critical strategic enablers:
– satellite intelligence and secure communications
– strategic airlift and logistics
– cyber defence and electronic warfare
The objective is clear: ensure that Europe and its partners can sustain Ukraine’s defence effort over time, reducing both Ukraine’s and Europe’s structural dependence on U.S. military assets and establishing a genuine autonomous European system of defence.
2. Stricter sanctions to halt Russia's war machine.
We urge the European Parliament to champion a resolution that moves beyond incrementalism toward total strategic decoupling from Russia. We call for a ‘zero-exception’ sanctions regime that enforces the absolute isolation of the aggressor’s financial and energy systems and the total ban on its maritime transport. This is the moment to signal that Ukraine’s security is an indivisible component of European Territorial Integrity, requiring not just support, but a full commitment to a sovereign defence architecture that guarantees peace through unyielding strength
3. Ukraine’s EU accession and institutional reform.
The resolution should firmly support accelerated Ukraine’s accession to the European Union as a strategic priority. However, to overcome the obstacles that make entry controversial, enlargement must go hand in hand with institutional reforms. The Union cannot function effectively with an expanded membership under the current system. Not only would the decision-making process, already paralyzed by vetoes, remain blocked, but the current financing system, which is already completely inadequate, would also be unable to function and need to be reformed. The European Parliament should therefore reaffirm the need for decision-making reforms that limit or overcome unanimity in the Council, especially in foreign, security and fiscal matters, including by reforming the current Treaties. – and to increase the legislative and financial powers of Parliament.
4. Use of frozen Russian assets.
The EU must continue and intensify work on mobilising frozen Russian state assets. This would be a highly significant political act in order to show clearly Europe’s firmness towards Russia. Aggression must carry material consequences. These resources should underpin EU financial assistance to Ukraine, including the EU loan mechanism, and contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction.
5. 24 February as European Day of Resistance.
In light of the ties between the Ukrainian Resistance and the fate of Europe, the European Parliament should proclaim 24 February a European Day of Resistance. This date unites Ukraine and Europe in the shared struggle to defend freedom, sovereignty and international law.
6. Immanuel Kant and the meaning of Europe’s support for Ukraine.
The resolution should also recognise Immanuel Kant as a founding philosophical figure who inspired the vision of a united Europe. Kant’s idea of a federation of free states gruled by law, under a common constitution, to ensure peace, speaks directly to today’s challenges. Supporting Ukraine means for Europe defending an order based on rule of law, rights and democracy against imperial aggression. This is not only geopolitics. It is the defence of the European idea itself.
This anniversary resolution is an opportunity for the European Parliament to show strategic clarity and political leadership. Europe must act as a political actor to secure true peace, justice and freedom.
Many thanks in advance for your interest and support,
Domènec Ruiz Devesa
President of the Union of European Federalists and MEP 2019-2024
Mathilde Baudouin
Secretary General of the Union of European Federalists
Download here the Letter in PDF
The Union of European Federalists (UEF) is proud to announce its XXIX European Congress, to be held in Barcelona, Spain, from 20 to 22 March 2026. This flagship event — the highest decision-making body of our organisation — will bring together delegates, observers and guests from across Europe to debate, decide and shape the future of the European federalist movement.
The Congress will take place at the Auditorium of the Palau de Pedralbes, marking a historic moment for European federalism in the heart of Catalonia. The event was recently highlighted by El Triangle, which reported on the significance of this gathering and its wide participation, including political leaders and eminent speakers from European institutions and member states.
Barcelona’s hosting of the UEF European Congress coincides with the 80th anniversary of UEF’s founding, reaffirming our long-standing commitment to a sovereign, democratic and united Europe.
A decisive moment for European federalism
At the XXIX Congress, UEF members will:
- Elect new leadership including President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Executive Bureau members and members of the Federal Committee.
- Discuss and adopt key political documents that will guide UEF’s strategy in the coming years.
- Advance debates on critical issues for the future of the European Union, such as treaty reform, democratic governance, and a stronger, more effective European political union.
Speakers and participation
As reported by El Triangle, distinguished figures from European political life are expected to contribute to the discussions, including former and current leaders involved in European affairs, reflecting the Congress’s broad outreach and political relevance.
Why this matters
The UEF European Congress is more than an organisational milestone — it is a crucial forum for advancing the federalist vision at a time when Europe faces profound strategic, democratic and geopolitical challenges. Through collective debate, political clarity and democratic decision-making, the Congress will strengthen our movement’s impact across the continent and beyond.
Registration and participation
All interested supporters of European federalism — whether as Delegates, Observers, or Guests — are invited to register and join the Congress. Participation contributions are structured to support broad inclusivity, with reduced fees for young participants, students and jobseekers.
Join us in Barcelona — be part of shaping Europe’s federal future.
European voices call on the EU to act with autonomy amid transatlantic rupture
The Union of European Federalists (UEF) welcomes the publication of its Appeal for Real Strategic Sovereignty, relaunched by the Action Committee for the United States of Europe, on the opinion pages of two major European newspapers: La Repubblica in Italy and El País in Spain.
This landmark appeal, initially addressed to the EU Council and President António Costa, has been signed by prominent European figures — including Josep Borrell, Robert Menasse and Guy Verhofstadt — alongside over forty leading voices from European public life. It calls for a decisive shift in the European Union’s strategic orientation in response to the deepening rupture of the traditional transatlantic relationship under the current U.S. administration.
From trade friction to structural rupture
The appeal highlights a dramatic change in transatlantic relations: what were once isolated disputes have now evolved into systematic policies that challenge Europe’s autonomy. It refers to unilateral U.S. measures — from arbitrary tariffs to diplomatic coercion — and to strategic shifts that signal a departure from mutual alignment and sustained partnership.
In this context, the appeal argues that EU strategic dependence on external actors is no longer sustainable. Europe must assert its sovereignty, not as a retreat from cooperation, but as a necessary foundation for a stable and balanced international order where the Union can defend its interests independently.
Key demands of the appeal
Among the central points of the appeal:
• The European Union must adopt real strategic sovereignty, strengthening its capacity to act autonomously in foreign policy, security and defence.
• The appeal calls on EU institutions to activate robust countermeasures against discriminatory external coercion, including the full implementation of anti-coercion instruments and economic safeguards.
• It urges a profound re-thinking of the security model, moving away from external dependency and towards shared European strategic capabilities.
This public appeal is being disseminated at a time when even EU officials acknowledge the structural shift in Europe’s geopolitical centre of gravity away from Washington, underscoring the urgency of greater European self-reliance.
A milestone for federalist advocacy
The publication of the appeal in La Repubblica and El País marks a significant milestone for the Action Committee for the United States of Europe, amplifying the call for a more strategic, sovereign and democratic Europe in two leading national forums of public debate. It reflects growing concern across European societies about the future of the transatlantic bond and the imperative for the EU to build its own political and defence capacities.
👉 Read the full appeal LINK HERE and add your signature to support LINK HERE
As the Action Committee for a United States of Europe, they addressed a letter to President António Costa ahead of the extraordinary European Council meeting.
Brussels, January 21, 2026
On the eve of the extraordinary European Council Meeting, members, promoters, and allies of the relaunched Monnet’s Action Committee for the United States of Europe addressed a letter to President Antonio Costa, underscoring a moment of existential urgency for the European Union. The letter was published yesterday by Euractiv: LINK
The past year has marked a fundamental shift in the transatlantic relationship. What were once commercial disputes or diplomatic disagreements have, under the current U.S. administration, evolved into a systematic policy of coercion, one that repeatedly violates international law. From threats to the territorial integrity of an Arctic Member State to the unilateral imposition of arbitrary tariffs and the withdrawal of critical defense assets, these actions are not isolated incidents. They signal the collapse of a security model built on external dependency.
In response, the Action Committee has outlined eight concrete steps to forge a sovereign Europe, capable of defending its interests, values, and future.
As the poet Hölderlin wrote: "But where the danger is, also grows the saving power." That power lies in our unity. The current geopolitical moment must serve as Europe’s opportunity to achieve political unity. On security, Europe can no longer remain a fragmented protectorate; it must emerge as a sovereign actor.
The time for hesitation is over. The path forward is clear: Europe must act—now, together, and decisively.
“Ha pasado un año desde que el mundo contuviera el aliento ante la segunda investidura de Donald Trump. Doce meses después, el balance para la Unión Europea no es solo negativo; es existencial”, escribe Domènec Ruiz Devesa, investigador sénior de CIDOB y Presidente del UEF.
“Desde el discurso anti-europeo de Vance en Munich a la renovada e ilegal campaña para la anexión de Groenlandia con nuevos aranceles incluidos, la evidencia es irrefutable: la estrategia de apaciguamiento de la Comisión y el Consejo ha fracasado rotundamente. No ha sido solo un error de cálculo, sino una abdicación de funciones derivada del miedo, la falta de confianza en nosotros mismos, y la nociva influencia de los primeros ministros amigos de Trump. Von der Leyen y la mayoría de los líderes han preferido hasta ahora sacrificar nuestra soberanía comercial y estratégica con tal de no incomodar al inquilino de la Casa Blanca. El resultado es que hoy Europa es mucho menos respetada y más vulnerable que hace un año. El cambio de rumbo no puede esperar más.”
“It has been a year since the world held its breath during Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Twelve months later, the balance for the European Union is not just negative; it is existential,” writes Domènec Ruiz Devesa, Senior Researcher at CIDOB and UEF President.
“From Vance’s anti-European speech in Munich to the renewed and illegal campaign to annex Greenland — including new tariffs — the evidence is undeniable: the strategy of appeasement pursued by the Commission and the Council has failed resoundingly. It has not only been a miscalculation, but an abdication of responsibility driven by fear, a lack of confidence in ourselves, and the harmful influence of prime ministers friendly to Trump. Von der Leyen and most leaders have so far preferred to sacrifice our commercial and strategic sovereignty rather than risk displeasing the occupant of the White House. The result is that today Europe is far less respected and more vulnerable than it was a year ago. A change of course can no longer wait.”
One year after Donald Trump’s second inauguration, it is clear that the strategy of appeasement pursued by Member States and Commission has utterly failed. It has not been just a miscalculation, but an abdication of duty. From false accusations of misinformation and limitation of the freedom of speech, to the arbitrary and unilateral NATO defence spending targets and the predatory "Turnberry Tariffs" (15% vs 0%), to the pressures to alter our digital and environmental regulations, the US National Security Strategy, the sanctions against EU citizens and former officials, blatant violations of international law, and the illegal pressure for Greenland’s annexation, Europe has endured a year of impositions and humiliations. Enough is enough!
The Union of European Federalists calls for an immediate change of course through the following 7-point programmatic roadmap:
I. Immediate Measures
- Rejection of the 2025 Turnberry Tariffs: The European Parliament must refuse to approve this lopsided deal. We cannot sacrifice our sovereignty and economy to avoid upsetting the White House.
- Activation of the Anti-Coercion Instrument: The EU must use its existing tools to counter Washington’s systematic policy of economic pressure to take over Greenland, including in the digital field.
- EU Deployment in Greenland: We must put the current deployment of troops from European countries in Greenland under EU command, including the planning of exercises by the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity. Protecting the territorial integrity of the Arctic is a common European responsibility.
II. Strategic Sovereignty
- Full European Responsibility for Ukraine: We must accept that the defence of Ukraine and of Europe are intertwined, and fall on us. This requires increasing and accelerating current investments to substitute the so-called "irreplaceable" US assets, specifically increasing our satellite capabilities, intelligence feed, strategic airlift, air-to-air refuelling, and high-end electronic warfare.
- Activation of Common Defence (Lisbon Treaty): As recently requested by leaders like Pedro Sánchez, we must activate the common defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty, or by those States willing to proceed, in order to create an EU chain of military command, including the implementation of the Kubilius plan of a 100,000-strong EU multinational force.
- Strengthened promotion of EU models of digital payments: including the digital euro, social networks, software, and artificial intelligence.
III. The Federal Leap
7. Constitutional Reform for the United States of Europe: We must immediately open the process for the reform of the Treaties on the basis of Parliament´s proposal of November 2023 to constitute the United States of Europe. This means an empowered Parliament, an Executive capable of acting, and the general abolition of national vetoes in the Council.
Appeasement only feeds authoritarianism and vassalisation; federal unity is our only way out.
As the poet Hölderlin wrote: "But where the danger is, also grows the saving power."
Brussels, 19th January 2026
Domènec Ruiz Devesa, President of the Union of the European Federalists and MEP 2019-2024
Mathilde Baudouin, Secretary General of the Union of European Federalists