UEF Appeal for Real Strategic Sovereignty Published in La Repubblica and El País

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