Thinking Federalist

Greater European Integration: The way forward

The Young European Federalists (JEF) are aware that the European Union has to cope with a large number of challenges which are constantly growing. However, the EU is not able to deal with it alone, it needs backing of its Member states. Crises like the recent fiscal one might always occur and weaken the European Integration, calling into question the functioning of its institutions and especially Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union.

Friday 25 September 2015

Political Participation: why and how we should address the young generation

Recent trends show that young people increasingly abstain from voting – with the last European Parliament elections reflecting an alarming turnout of only 23 per cent of those aged between 18 and 24. More needs to be done to reach out to the youngest generation, in particular a reform of political education, enhancing electoral processes, and developing innovative tools for non-electoral and non-formal decision-making processes.

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Ventotene Seminar: Speech on Spinelli

The idea of an institutional reform of the Communities towards a federal model through a constituent procedure (i.e. through a directly elected assembly or a European Parliament decision) was not born within Spinelli’s first project. It occurred to him after the Ventotene Manifesto of 1943 and the creation of the MFE Movimento Federalista Europeo (European Federalist Movement), it was then discussed in a Congress at The Hague in 1948, and finally launched by the UEF in November 1950 in Strasbourg, just six months after the Schuman Declaration (9th of May 1950).

Friday 11 September 2015

The European Perspective: Juncker on the State of the European Union

“The EU is not in good condition”: In his first State of the European Union address European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has roundly criticised the manner in which the refugee crisis has been dealt with so far. The Commission chief called on the Member States to take decisive action and outline the framework for a common EU asylum policy. Was Juncker convincing? Here are the positions of the Editors of the German, French, and English editions of TNF.

Thursday 10 September 2015

The European Perspective: Europe and the influx of refugees

Stranded on the Greek island of Kos are thousands of refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. In Macedonia panicked crowds on trains try to jump to the north. The entrance of the Euro tunnel in Calais is the setting for some dramatic scenes. How can the European Union tackle the challenges of the wave of refugees? Here are the positions of editors from Germany, France, Spain and the UK.

Thursday 3 September 2015

Intergovernmental Europe is broken

An incompetent Greek government of left and right populists are leading their country on the brink of disaster. An uncompromising, hard-hearted German government pushing it down. The problems around Europe are increasing: political instability in Europe’s neighbours, Russia’s aggressive foreign politics, non-stop refugee streams. However instead of solving the problems together, the current political class is leading the idea of Europe as absurdum- an inventory.

Thursday 20 August 2015

Migration at the Channel Crossing

2015 has been a year marked by especially xenophobic and nationalist attitudes towards migration. The influx of people from across the Mediterranean has always been treated negatively in the public sphere and seeing the unfolding of events at the Channel crossing between Calais and Dover, we, as Young European Federalists, have decided to react.

Saturday 1 August 2015

A mobility experience for everyone!

In the framework of their ‘Youth call for Europe’, JEF France has called for an experience of mobility for everyone either within the school curriculum or as an extra-curricular activity.

Thursday 9 July 2015

PRESS RELEASE: 10 Years Later Youth Takes Back the European Debate #10yearslater

From May 29th to June 1st, the Jeunes Européens – France (JEF France) & Jonge Europese Federalisten (JEF) Nederland will remember the 10th year anniversary of the referenda in their countries on the European Constitutional Treaty.

Friday 29 May 2015

April in Europe

April 2015, the 41st anniversary of the Carnation Revolution of 1974. This revolution brought down Europe’s longest dictatorship, and the democratic and social values it implemented have since been referred to as ’April Values’.

Wednesday 27 May 2015

The European perspective - Change of power in Poland

Poland has elected a new President: Andrzej Duda belongs to the national conservative Law & Justice Party, led by Jaroslaw Kaczyński. The editors of TNF in German, French and Englich give their views on the Polish election.

Monday 25 May 2015

The outcome of the UK elections: towards a federal UK?

The outcome of the General Elections 2015 gives us the picture of a Disunited Kingdom. A yellow-coloured Scotland is bordering a blue-coloured England, with the exception of most of the urban constituencies, in which Labour prevailed.

Friday 15 May 2015
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