At the European Congress in Vienna, the Union of European Federalists has launched its campaign for the European Parliament elections in May 2019 with the motto “I choose Europe”. In order to facilitate the engagement of our national and local sections in the campaign for the 2019 European Elections, UEF organised a training for campaigners in collaboration with the Young European Federalists (JEF).

The training took place in Brussels from 19 to 20 January 2019. The participants had the opportunity to improve their campaigning and advocacy skills and to share knowledge with other campaigners from all over Europe, as well as to develop new ideas for the promotion of a Strong, Democratic, Social and Federal Europe in the light of the European Elections.

You can see the photos from the I Choose Europe training in Brussels here.

With the 2019 European Elections drawing near, the European Federalists met the candidates to President of the European Commission of the main political parties in public debates in order to discuss the main challenges facing Europe and the view of the candidates on the proposals of the European Federalists for the future of Europe.

The debate took on 24 January 2019 place between Sandro Gozi, the President of the UEF and Jan Zahradil, the Lead candidate for the President European Commission Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe (ACRE) and was moderated by Chris Burns, journalist and multilingual moderator.

You can see photos from the debate between Sandro Gozi and Jan Zahradil here.

On 25 January 2019 UEF President Sandro Gozi met with the French Minister in charge of European Affairs Nathalie Loiseau to discuss about the future of the European project in the light of the emergence of an increasingly sovereignist and nationalist tendency in Europe.

On this occasion, Gozi emphasized the need for a stronger Europe when facing internal and global challenges: “We are for a Europe that must be sovereign and democratic. To regain control over problems that transcend borders, we need a sovereign Europe, which must be legitimate”.

Here the link.

On 27 and 28 February UEF President Sandro Gozi participated in a series of events in as part of our plan to revitalize UEF in Greece. The events started with a meeting with the business community, followed by a conference in the Greek Parliament with representatives of all political families and bilateral meetings with the President of the Greek Parliament Nikos Voutsis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos and the Minister for Digital Policy Telecommunications and Media Nikos Pappas as well as a meeting with local activists. On the occasion, the UEF President was interviewed by the Greek newspaper To Vima presenting our views on Europe.

You can read the interview here.

On Wednesday 21 February in Berlin UEF President Sandro Gozi participated in a public debate with the German State of Secretary for EU affairs organised in cooperation with Europa Union Deutschland. The event has offered the chance for other bilateral meetings of our President with German personalities and organisations.

On the occasion, an interview with Sandro Gozi was published on the German newspaper Tagesspiegel. You can read it here.

The Union of European Federalists launches today the last stage of their campaign for the 2019 European elections by releasing a Manifesto for the European elections (For a Federal Europe : Sovereign, Democratic, Social), a pledge for candidates to the European Parliament, and a pledge for citizens to express their support to federalist proposals.

"We invite candidates to the European Parliament and citizens across Europe to express their support to a Federal Europe, a sovereign, democratic and social Europe. We want citizens to say strongly «I choose Europe» and go and vote at the European elections next 23-26 May, against the project of nationalists and populists to dismantle our Europe, but also against a European status quo that is not sustainable any longer. We call citizens to vote for candidates who clearly express their support for a bold European relaunch and reforms towards a federal Europe" says Sandro Gozi, President of the Union of European Federalists.

UEF sections all over Europe are organising street actions, debates, stands to mobilize citizens to go and vote for a Federal Europe. 

All documents are available on the UEF website, where visibility will be given to candidates to the European Parliament who sign the federalist pledge, and where citizens have the possibility to sign directly online to support the campaign/to express their support to federalist proposals.

Here the campaign page with the Manifesto and here with the Pledge.

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The Union of European Federalists (UEF) is a pan-European, non-governmental political organisation dedicated to the promotion of European political unity. For more than 70 years UEF has been a leading voice in the promotion of European unity and an early campaigner for key milestones in the development of the European Communities and then the European Union. With 25 national sections and over 400 local groups across Europe, UEF promotes a federal Europe among citizens and political representatives at all levels of government. More on: www.federalists.eu


Sandro GOZI is the President of Union of European Federalists, he was the Secretary of State for European Affairs in the Renzi and Gentiloni Governments (2014-2018) and Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (2006-2018). Prior to that, he was a diplomat and then spent more than a decade in the European institutions notably as a European Commission official (1996-2000) and then as member of the Cabinet of European Commission President Romano Prodi (2000-2004) and advisor to European Commission President Jose Barroso.

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The Union of European Federalists launches today the last stage of their campaign for the 2019 European elections by releasing a Manifesto for the European elections (For a Federal Europe : Sovereign, Democratic, Social), a pledge for candidates to the European Parliament, and a pledge for citizens to express their support to federalist proposals.

"We invite candidates to the European Parliament and citizens across Europe to express their support to a Federal Europe, a sovereign, democratic and social Europe. We want citizens to say strongly «I choose Europe» and go and vote at the European elections next 23-26 May, against the project of nationalists and populists to dismantle our Europe, but also against a European status quo that is not sustainable any longer. We call citizens to vote for candidates who clearly express their support for a bold European relaunch and reforms towards a federal Europe" says Sandro Gozi, President of the Union of European Federalists.

UEF sections all over Europe are organizing street actions, debates, stands to mobilize citizens to go and vote for a Federal Europe.

All documents are available on the UEF website, where visibility will be given to candidates to the European Parliament who sign the federalist pledge, and where citizens have the possibility to sign directly online to support the campaign/to express their support to federalist proposals.

EDITOR'S NOTE

The Union of European Federalists (UEF) is a pan-European, non-governmental political organisation dedicated to the promotion of European political unity. For more than 70 years UEF has been a leading voice in the promotion of European unity and an early campaigner for key milestones in the development of the European Communities and then the European Union. With 25 national sections and over 400 local groups across Europe, UEF promotes a federal Europe among citizens and political representatives at all levels of government.

Sandro GOZI is the President of Union of European Federalists, he was the Secretary of State for European Affairs in the Renzi and Gentiloni Governments (2014-2018) and Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (2006-2018). Prior to that, he was a diplomat and then spent more than a decade in the European institutions notably as a European Commission official (1996-2000) and then as member of the Cabinet of European Commission President Romano Prodi (2000-2004) and advisor to European Commission President Jose Barroso.

Press contacts:

Bruxelles: Valentina Presa, valentina.presa@federalists.eu, +32.2.5083030

Rome: Lorena Vetro, vetrolorena@gmail.com, +39.338.7800683

The European Parliament’s leaders endorsed on Thursday (4 March) the blueprint for the much anticipated Conference on the Future of Europe, a day after national governments also backed it. The Conference, which aims to reform the European Union and bring it “closer” to its citizens, is set to start its work on 9 May, Europe Day.

In a statement, the leaders of the Parliament’s political groups said they wanted the reform agenda to “start its work as soon as possible”, adding that it would “contribute significantly to building a citizen’s Union.”

The project has been repeatedly delayed and watered down since French President Emmanuel Macron set out the outline for it in March 2019.

Originally intended to start work last spring, the Conference was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and inter-institutional wrangling over its mandate and governance. In the meantime, Macron appears to have lost interest in leading the project, which is set to last for one year.

With little appetite for a revision of the EU treaties, it is unclear what national governments want to be the final outcome of the Conference process.

EU governments have stripped out the original proposal the idea that an “eminent European personality” would act as the Conference’s “independent and single chair.”

Instead, the process will be overseen by the presidents of the European Commission, European Parliament and the Council, backed by an “executive board” made up of an MEP, a Commissioner and the ambassador from the member state holding the six-month Council presidency, accompanied by four “observers”.

The Joint Declaration on the project describes the arrangement as a “lean governance structure”.

That prompted MEP Sandro Gozi, Italy’s former Europe minister and the chair of the Union of European Federalist’s, a pressure group, to complain that national governments “do not understand” the rationale behind the Conference.

The text drafted by Portuguese government, which currently holds the six-month EU Council presidency, promises that the process will “open a new space with citizens to address Europe’s challenges and priorities” and pledges that “Europeans from all walks of life will be able to participate”.

However, campaigners and politicians argue that the structure and mandate of the Conference point to it being guided by politicians and bureaucrats, instead of civil society groups, detracting from its goal of being a truly democratic exercise.

There are also concerns that since the pandemic remains the dominant issue facing the bloc’s leaders, there is little interest in the project among the EU’s 27 member states.

“I think Macron and also the Euro-federalists generally will be disappointed that the Conference agenda is not more ambitious but it is certainly to be welcomed that it is going ahead,” Roger Casale, president of Europe’s People’s Forum, told EURACTIV.

“Rather than focussing on treaty change as an objective, my view is that the key legacy of the conference should be a permanent mechanism for citizen consultation in Europe between election cycles to the European Parliament – that leaves the door open to institutional reform at a later date,” he added.

The conference will run under the joint presidency of Ursula von der Leyen, David Sassoli and Portuguese premier António Costa, until the end of June, after which Costa will be replaced by the prime minister of Slovenia.

Sandro GOZI, President of the Union of European Federalists, welcomes President Macron’s new initiative for a European renaissance, a direct letter to the citizens of  Europe, published today on a number of European newspapers and invites European citizens to mobilise and support it.

“European Renaissance! With great courage and vision, today French President Emmanuel Macron is relaunching the Europe we want and for which we are fighting: a sovereign Europe, a Europe of citizens, of democracy and popular participation, which multiplies protection, security and freedom for Europeans. 

Guaranteed minimum salary, new industrial policy, common defence, bank for climate, European right of asylum and common control of Europe external border: these are very concrete proposals, we have been proposing them for a long time and they respond to the new needs of European citizens.   

The progressive platform proposed by President Macron can and must be the basis to build a new political majority in the European Parliament after the European elections, as we European Federalists propose in our Manifesto for the European elections.

A European Renaissance without taboos, and therefore including also a revision of the Treaties, with a new and strong popular participation from the beginning. A Conference for Europe, with representatives of the European institutions and the Member States, should be gathered before year-end, to prepare a roadmap for this political project. This is the only way for a real re-foundation of Europe.

We must now mobilise citizens across the continent to make these proposals a reality as soon as possible. We European Federalists are ready and will play our part in all the Member States of the Union”.

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The Union of European Federalists (UEF) is a pan-European, non-governmental political organisation dedicated to the promotion of European political unity. For more than 70 years UEF has been a leading voice in the promotion of European unity and an early campaigner for key milestones in the development of the European Communities and then the European Union. With 25 national sections and over 400 local groups across Europe, UEF promotes a federal Europe among citizens and political representatives at all levels of government. More on: www.federalists.eu


Sandro GOZI is the President of Union of European Federalists, he was the Secretary of State for European Affairs in the Renzi and Gentiloni Governments (2014-2018) and Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (2006-2018). Prior to that, he was a diplomat and then spent more than a decade in the European institutions notably as a European Commission official (1996-2000) and then as member of the Cabinet of European Commission President Romano Prodi (2000-2004) and advisor to European Commission President Jose Barroso.

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Sandro GOZI, President of the Union of European Federalists, welcomes President Macron’s new initiative for a European renaissance, a direct letter to the citizens of Europe, published today on a number of European newspapers and invites European citizens to mobilize and support it.

“European Renaissance! With great courage and vision, today French President Emmanuel Macron is relaunching the Europe we want and for which we are fighting: a sovereign Europe, a Europe of citizens, of democracy and popular participation, which multiplies protection, security and freedom for Europeans.

Guaranteed minimum salary, new industrial policy, common defense, bank for climate, European right of asylum and common control of Europe external border: these are very concrete proposals, we have been proposing them for a long time and they respond to the new needs of European citizens.

The progressive platform proposed by President Macron can and must be the basis to build a new political majority in the European Parliament after the European elections, as we European Federalists propose in our Manifesto for the European elections.

A European Renaissance without taboos, and therefore including also a revision of the Treaties, with a new and strong popular participation from the beginning. A Conference for Europe, with representatives of the European institutions and the Member States, should be gathered before year-end, to prepare a roadmap for this political project. This is the only way for a real re-foundation of Europe.

We must now mobilize citizens across the continent to make these proposals a reality as soon as possible. We European Federalists are ready and will play our part in all the Member States of the Union”.

Read the letter here.

This Press Release is available in the following languages for download:

English: here

French: here

German: here

Italian: here

Spanish: here

UEF Manifesto for European Elections in : here

EDITORN'S NOTE

The Union of European Federalists (UEF) is a pan-European, non-governmental political organisation dedicated to the promotion of European political unity. For more than 70 years UEF has been a leading voice in the promotion of European unity and an early campaigner for key milestones in the development of the European Communities and then the European Union. With 25 national sections and over 400 local groups across Europe, UEF promotes a federal Europe among citizens and political representatives at all levels of government.

Sandro GOZI is the President of Union of European Federalists, he was the Secretary of State for European Affairs in the Renzi and Gentiloni Governments (2014-2018) and Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (2006-2018). Prior to that, he was a diplomat and then spent more than a decade in the European institutions notably as a European Commission official (1996-2000) and then as member of the Cabinet of European Commission President Romano Prodi (2000-2004) and advisor to European Commission President Jose Barroso.

Press contacts:

Bruxelles: Valentina Presa, valentina.presa@federalists.eu, +32.2.5083030

Rome: Lorena Vetro, vetrolorena@gmail.com, +39.338.7800683

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