The Union of European Federalists (UEF) is a non-governmental European organization, campaigning for a federal Europe. It consists of 20 constituent organizations and it has been active at the European, national and local levels for more than 50 years. It was founded shortly after World War II with the belief that only a European Federation, based on the idea of unity in diversity, could overcome the division of the European continent that had caused the suffering and destruction of the two World Wars. Federalists believed that only a common effort of European citizens working towards this goal could create a peaceful and democratic Europe guaranteeing freedom and the protection of human rights.
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1. Foundation and Definition of Fundamental
Principles (1946-1949)
The foundation of the UEF goes back to the meeting of federalist
movements from 14 European countries in September 1946 in
Hertenstein, Switzerland. These groups had in common that they
believed that only a European federation based on the idea of unity
in diversity could prevent a repetition of the suffering and
destruction of the two world wars, so they adopted a
declaration-programme which was based on this idea. Federalists
believed that only a common effort of European citizens working
towards this goal could create a peaceful and democratic Europe
guaranteeing freedom and the protection of human rights. At a
second meeting in Luxembourg these groups agreed on establishing a
permanent European secretariat in Paris and another one in New York
for global federalists. But it was in Paris, on December 15 and 16
1946 that UEF was officially brought into life its function being
to co-ordinate and intensifies the activities of the different
movements and to organize them into a federal structure.
2. From the Campaign for the European Federal Pact
to that for the European Political Community
(1950-1954)
After getting a legal status UEF campaigned for the European
Federal Pact. It consisted of an attempt to transform the Advisory
Assembly of the Council of Europe into the
Constituent Assembly of the European Federation. The fundamental
tool was a petition, signed by thousands of citizens of Europe and
a large number of eminent persons in political, intellectual and
scientific life, which asked the Advisory Assembly to draw up a
text for a federal pact, and recommend its ratification to the
member states of the Council of Europe. UEF also campaigned for the
ratification of the European Defence Community
and for the establishment of a political community.
3. The Federalist Split Ahead of the Rome
Treaties (1955-1963)
After rejection of the EDC project the federalists became
increasingly divided as to the strategy to be followed by the
U.E.F. between those who, following Altiero Spinelli (1907-1986), favoured
the constitutional approach, and those who preferred a step-by-step
approach. The former could not be satisfied with a mere common
market; the latter fully supported it. This conflict led to a split
of the UEF in July 1956 and its division into two organizations:
the "Mouvement Fédéraliste Européen" (M.F.E.), formed from
militants of the former constitutional persuasion, and the "Action
Européenne Fédéraliste" (A.E.F.) bringing together those of the
latter.
4. The Struggle for Direct Election to the European
Parliament and the Reconstitution of the UEF
(1964-1973)
But once the customs union had been established, bringing with it
the prospect of developing into an economic and monetary union, the
two federalist organizations came to agree on the desirability of
coming together to relaunch their political activities, built
around the campaign for direct elections to the European
Parliament. This strategic idea, propounded by the Italian
federalists, quickly became the joint platform of all the
federalist organizations that met in April 1973, thus recreating
UEF.
5. Time of demonstrations
(1974-1986)
The next most important activities of UEF were a lot of public
demonstrations attracting thousand of participants. For example the
demonstration in conjunction with the European Council in Rome in December
1975, where it was decided that the European election would be held
even without the participation of Great Britain and Denmark
(although in the end, they did take part), a demonstration with
5,000 participants in Strasbourg on July 17 1979 in front of the
seat of the European Parliament, to coincide
with its first session after its election in June the demonstration
coinciding with the European Council in Fointainebleau on
June 25 1984 and the spectacular demonstration in Milan – its
100,000 participants make it the biggest popular demonstration in
the history of the federalist struggle – in conjunction with the
European Council of June 28 and 29 1985, where the majority decided
to call an Intergovernmental Conference to review to Community
treaties.
6. The Campaign for the European Constitution
(1997-2006)
The fall of the Berlin
Wall, the end of the cold war, the German reunification and the
ratification of the Maastricht Treaty let to the UEF
campaign for European Democracy which included eliminate border
controls between the countries of the European Union, parallelism between
widening and deepening, strengthening of the roles of the European
Parliament and the European Commission, extension of
majority voting and the removal of governmental monopoly over the
constituent function. The most important part of the history of UEF
in the last decade was the Campaign for the Federal European Constitution in Nice in which
10,000 people, including hundreds of local administrators,
participated.
Constituent organisations
UEF consists of constituent organisations that are autonomous
centres of the UEF activities, reaching the EU citizens and
spreading the UEF message to them by organising various activities
in their countries. Constituent organisations are free to take up
any activities within the general political framework of UEF at the
European level.
The UEF Congress
The Congress is the 'general assembly' of UEF. It meets every two
years; it consists of delegates of the UEF constituent
organisations. It determines the policy of UEF, elects the UEF
President, modifies provisions of the Statutes and elects half of
the Federal Committee members.
The UEF Federal Committee
The FC consists of members of whom 50% are elected directly by the
UEF Congress and 50% by the constituent organisations. The members
are elected to serve until the next UEF Congress. The FC determines
the UEF political direction and activities between the Congresses.
It organises the Congress, approves the annual budget and final
account balances, draws up the rules of procedure of UEF, and
elects the UEF Bureau and Treasurer.
The UEF Bureau
Elected by the Federal Committee for a period of two years, the
Bureau carries out the decisions of and is accountable to the
Federal Committee.
Conference of Represantitives
It is convened upon the request of the UEF Bureau or at least two
constituent organisations. The Conference gathers the
representatives of the constituent organisations and of UEF
supranational (namely, the President, Secretary-General and
Treasurer). It presents its proposals to the Federal Committee and
has an advisory and co-ordinating role. The Conference also
determines the rate of the membership fee.
President
The UEF President is elected by the UEF Congress by absolute
majority vote. He is also the President of the Federal Committee
and of the UEF Bureau. Currently the UEF President is Andrew Duff, UK member
of European Parliament.
Treasurer
Elected by the Federal Committee on the nomination of the Bureau,
s/he is responsible for the management of the funds. S/he is
accountable to the Federal Committee. The current UEF Treasurer is
Anders EKBERG.
Secretary-General
The UEF Secretary-General is responsible for running the UEF
secretariat and carrying out the decisions delegated to him/her by
the organs of UEF. S/he participates in the meetings of the organs
of UEF without the right to vote. S/he is appointed by the Federal
Committee on recommendation of the Bureau. Currently the UEF
Secretary-General is Joan-Marc Simon.
Arbitration Board
Consists of seven members elected by the Congress. It ensures the
application of the Statutes and serves as an arbiter in case of
disputes within the organisation.
To raise the awareness of the public about European issues, the UEF is organizing public debates, seminars, info stands, campaign and street actions on key European issues and developments.
To exercise pressure on the like-minded politicians by lobbying actions, establishing Platforms (aiming to spread the understanding of federalism) and initiating debates in the European and national parliaments.
To spread the ideas through a strong communication via press releases, the UEF website and newsletter and other policy statements to the widest European public and actors.
To cooperate with others non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and especially of the European Civil Society like the Young European Federalists (JEF) and the European Movement and finally to put pressure on politicians by organizing public manifestations.
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