Union of European Federalists (UEF)

#us election: -1 day left Why Europe Needs to Brace Itself According to the latest polls, the US presidential election race sees a substantial head-to-head between the two candidates, Donald #trump and #Kamala #harris , in one of the most polarised election campaign ever. Trump has emerged largely unscathed from numerous judicial affairs thanks to the support of the Supreme Court and is now ready to "save #america ," also bolstered by the "miracle of #butler ," a town in Pennsylvania where he survived an assassination attempt. @europafreund "What is entirely missing in both campaigns is any reference to “Europe,” “allies,” “friends”—or Ukraine. You quickly get the impression here that Democrats are so intensely focused on an authoritarian Donald Trump (out of necessity) that they have lost sight of the transatlantic partnership. Foreign policy is only a side issue. The U.S. will likely focus on itself for the foreseeable future, which will have immediate consequences for us in Europe. The backing from the U.S.—financial support for Ukraine, among other things—could be called into question, leading us in Europe to learn quickly how to stand on our own security policy legs." We sincerely hope that the United States remains our most important democratic partner outside Europe. For this to happen, the U.S. must first remain democratic and not fall into the hands of an autocrat. But #europe cannot wait any longer to become a #federation , like the USA.

A United States of Europe? Here's What Could Happen Next! Could the EU become a true federation, like the USA, with shared powers and a common army? We break down the options the EU faces and what it means for Europe's future. The video is available in: - English (subtitled): https://lnkd.in/ecD-wPkS - Greek: https://lnkd.in/eJWXaGFy - Italian: https://lnkd.in/ey4zwaGg Soon the video will also be avaiable in German, French, Polish, Romanian, Portuguese. Video produced by the EU Made Simple (the YouTube Channel with more 134.000 followers until today) in collaboration with UEF. The Channel also exists in those languages: EU Leicht Germacht, L'UE Simplifiée, Η ΕΕ ΑΠΛΑ, UE in modo semplice, A UE Simplificada, La UE Màs Simple.

UEF PR | Once again Treaty Reforms is missing from the European Council Conclusions Read here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gHzRMwYS The meeting of the European Council on 17 October in Brussels focused mostly on the dramatic international situation including the conflict in Ukraine - highlighted by the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy - and the escalating conflict in the Middle East, in particular the dangerous situation in Lebanon and its potential consequences. However, the Union of European Federalists (UEF) regrets to note that no mention of Treaty Reforms was included in the European Council’s Conclusions. This inaction is particularly troubling given the urgent context of upcoming EU enlargement(s), and the importance of the fourth Copenhagen Criterion, which addresses the EU's preparedness for new member states' accession and the potential need for internal reforms: “Enlargement cannot be unconditional. It must go hand in hand with the deepening of political union” concludes Domènec Ruiz Devesa. The UEF reiterates its call for a real consideration of Treaty Reforms by the European Council and expresses the importance of aligning the Council’s Conclusions with the aspirations of citizens.

UEF PR | Lukas Mandl appointed as President of the Spinelli Group Read here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ee5kg4Uu The President of UEF Austria will take over the rotating Presidency of the parliamentry intergroup. As Lukas Mandl inherited the presidency of the Spinelli Group from Sandro Gozi, MEP Renew, and former President of the UEF, the UEF stands beside his leadership and ensures him the support of all federalists. The Spinelli Group and the UEF warmly thank Sandro Gozi for his chairmanship. Lukas Mandl said: "Since I am heading the European Federalists as a President in Austria in my country, I feel obliged to contribute here. […] It means a lot to me that I can do it but I want to do it jointly with the other board members otherwise it will not work."

The European Letter is back and dedicated to the Draghi Report. Read it here 👉 https://lnkd.in/er9HWhgZ Draghi's report on competitiveness—published on the 9th of September—has come as a cold shower for European governments and institutions. Indeed, in a context where internal and external challenges to stability and citizens' well-being are worsening, the message is clear: Europe is not in crisis but in decline. The Union reform is so urgent that it requires going beyond the existing constitutional framework, even at the cost of proceeding with a group of willing countries. In other words, Europe should be reorganised into multiple levels of integration, with a politically cohesive core capable of competing globally. 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 82 entitled "Draghi's Plan for Europe: To Be Competitive, the Union Must Be Reformed"

UEF PR | EU Must Reform Treaties to Establish Common Foreign and Defense Policy for Middle East Peace Read here: https://lnkd.in/e-SR3ac6 One year has passed since the day Hamas unleashed the most brutal aggression against defenseless Israeli citizens since the Yom Kippur War. On the part of the State of Israel, also on the basis of its legitimate right to self-defense, we are instead witnessing the fall into the demonic trap created by Hamas. The UEF cannot stress enough how weak the EU's voice is at this juncture, and how cacophonous the reaction of European states has been until now. The UEF considers the construction of a strong common foreign and security policy, together with a solid pillar of civil protection capacity, crucial for the future of European unity and global stability. That is why we support the launch of a Convention opening the revision of the Treaties to strengthen the EU and its institutions. 

📝 Participate in the 2024 UEF Annual Survey on European Federalism! The Union of European Federalists counts on you to take part in the 2024 Annual Survey on the perception of the UEF, European federalism and and its’s priorities. This survey has been created in order to evaluate the impact of our work and orientate the future direction of our organisation and actions. By sharing your insights, you will help us better understand how UEF’s mission, priorities, and initiatives are perceived and appreciated. Indeed, we need it for the continuous development of our strategy and activities, ensuring that we stay aligned with the aspirations of our members and supporters. The survey, designed by the UEF Secretariat, covers key topics related to European federalism, our current focus areas, and future priorities. By taking the survey, you already contribute to the development of our movement. 🇪🇺Join us in shaping the future of a resilient, strong, and more united Europe! The link to the survey: https://lnkd.in/ew6tCR8C

Mario Draghi addressed the plenary session of the @europeanparliament today to present the Report on the Future of European #competitiveness . Draghi recalled that the EU economy is experiencing stagnation in the major areas of economic development with respect to the major geopolitical players: the 400-page report precisely describes the lags and deficits. Draghi then reminds at the end that his report indicates what should be done but that the how to act is up to politics and the european institutions: ‘My role, as set by the European Commission, is to present you with a diagnosis or an awareness of how to move forward but it is up to you to turn our agenda into action.’ And he reminds at the end that the choice of action must be found within the institutions, a political choice and not a technocratic solution. ‘Our elected institutions must be at the centre of the debate on Europe's future, and on the actions that will shape it. I trust that we can find consensus, if only because the alternatives look progressively bleaker. Europe faces a choice between paralysis, exit or integration, as observed some time ago. The European federalists agree with this statement as they had already pointed out in their press release: "As federalists, we want to stress that the European Council has the solutions to address these systemic issues, having received last December a request from the European Parliament to open a Convention to democratically discuss how to build this new Europe. The European Council has the possibility and the power to decide by simple majority (14 out of 27 states) to accept this request and create the conditions to start that process of change in the EU, which the Draghi Report shows as absolutely necessary and urgent. We therefore call on the European Parliament to rise to the challenge, demand that the European Commission side with the Parliament and the citizens to overcome the attachment of national governments to their small and inefficient power that is leading Europe to self-destruct. As #draghi reminds us, the moment is dramatic and if Europe does not change, it is over. "

Contrary to what Ursula von der Leyen promised in front of the European Parliament, treaty reform is absent in the mission letters sent to Commissioners-designate JOINT PRESS RELEASE UEF AND SPINELLI GROUP ... “Unfortunately, we regret to notice, that in your mission letters to the Commissioner-designates, no mention is made to institutional reforms or to the preparation of the Treaty change process, nor to the reform of the European electoral law, including the establishment of transnational lists.” As a transpartisan and pro-EU Integration network, the Spinelli Group expresses our deepest concern regarding these missing elements. In the words of the President of the Spinelli Group, Sandro Gozi: "As President of the Spinelli Group, I promoted this letter. We want to say it very clearly to Ursula Von der Leyen: respect your commitment to treaty revisions. Reform the Union to unify Europe!"

Mario Draghi addressed the plenary session of the @europeanparliament today to present the Report on the Future of European #competitiveness . Draghi recalled that the EU economy is experiencing stagnation in the major areas of economic development with respect to the major geopolitical players: the 400-page report precisely describes the lags and deficits. Draghi then reminds at the end that his report indicates what should be done but that the how to act is up to politics and the european institutions: ‘My role, as set by the European Commission, is to present you with a diagnosis or an awareness of how to move forward but it is up to you to turn our agenda into action.’ And he reminds at the end that the choice of action must be found within the institutions, a political choice and not a technocratic solution. ‘Our elected institutions must be at the centre of the debate on Europe's future, and on the actions that will shape it. I trust that we can find consensus, if only because the alternatives look progressively bleaker. Europe faces a choice between paralysis, exit or integration, as observed some time ago. The European federalists agree with this statement as they had already pointed out in their press release: "As federalists, we want to stress that the European Council has the solutions to address these systemic issues, having received last December a request from the European Parliament to open a Convention to democratically discuss how to build this new Europe. The European Council has the possibility and the power to decide by simple majority (14 out of 27 states) to accept this request and create the conditions to start that process of change in the EU, which the Draghi Report shows as absolutely necessary and urgent. We therefore call on the European Parliament to rise to the challenge, demand that the European Commission side with the Parliament and the citizens to overcome the attachment of national governments to their small and inefficient power that is leading Europe to self-destruct. As #draghi reminds us, the moment is dramatic and if Europe does not change, it is over. "