“Simply a generation ahead”, reads the Young European Federalists (JEF) slogan. This perfectly captures the ambition behind the Federalist Peace Forum. As its President, Moritz Hergl, declared on Monday evening while opening the roundtable with policymakers at the European Parliament, the event marked the culmination of a project more than a year in the making with young people of Israeli and Palestinian heritage drawing inspiration from European federalism to build something new.
It all began by thinking about how to create a parallel and connect the dots between Europe and the Middle East, as explained by the spokesperson from Democracy & Federalism Hub Palestine (DFHP). What began as a platform and a political declaration evolved into a movement of two organisations, the other being Federalist Future Israel, marking one of the first youth federalist movements beyond Europe.
With limited resources but considerable enthusiasm, both organisations engaged people by focusing on talking about solutions. The project was rooted in dialogue and direct communication - connecting people across divides, building bridges, and laying the foundations for something lasting. Nitsan from Federalist Future Israel described it as a visionary project aiming to build something that endures. Their message to policy-makers was clear: “we need your help, your connections, and your support”.
The Role Europe Should Play
The reception from MEPs was overwhelmingly positive. “Everyone who dares to think of alternative options is very welcome, especially if it comes from sitting together. We need out-of-the-box ideas,” said Hannah Neumann of the European Greens. In a similar spirit, Hildegard Bentele of the European People’s Party (EPP) highlighted the dangers of targeted information and disinformation in the digital age.
Bentele stressed the importance of meeting in person to foster trust and create new shared spaces, while Alexandre Stutzmann, the EU Representative to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, described the initiative as a particularly creative proposal. He emphasised the importance of bringing together people from societies often driven apart by political forces. “Today’s Federalist Peace Forum has shown that even in the most polarised and painful conflicts, political vision is still possible,” added Parliament Vice-President Pina Picierno of the European Socialists. “The Declaration and ideas presented by young Israeli and Palestinian federalists are not abstract exercises. They are a serious contribution to rethinking peace through equality, shared sovereignty, and democratic institutions.”
Europe’s security is intrinsically linked to that of the Middle East, argued the spokesperson of DFHP. War in the region does not remain contained; it reverberates globally through the actions of the same destabilising actors. Peace in the Middle East, he stressed, is also in Europe’s interest. Human dignity cannot be compartmentalised. For a free and secure Europe, Israelis and Palestinians must remain part of the conversation.
Making Europe’s Voice Louder
Neumann invoked the European Union’s motto, “United in Diversity”, describing it as a beautiful ideal - one that could perhaps one day resonate too in the Middle East. The EU itself was founded on cooperation, reconciliation, and the recognition that shared sovereignty can replace destructive forms of nationalism. Bentele added that Europe’s own history of reconciliation offers valuable lessons for Israelis and Palestinians.
“The EU itself was born from ruins and hatred,” Picierno reflected. “It was built by a generation that chose cooperation over nationalism, law over force, and shared sovereignty over absolute power. It is our responsibility to keep this lesson alive - ensuring that peace is not only something we call for, but something we actively help design, accompany, and defend politically.”
Yet, challenges remain. “The European voice is rarely heard,” noted Dvir Ezra, a member of the Executive Board of JEF. Addressing the MEPs, he noted that “we see a fragmented foreign policy and diminishing global impact” before asking “how do we empower youth voices within European institutions?” The spokesperson of DFHP called on the European Parliament to help make their initiative sustainable. In the past, peacebuilding efforts were heavily dependent on the US. Today, he argued, there is a gap - but also an opportunity for Europe to step up.
For Picierno, continuity is essential. “These ideas must not remain confined to a single event or document. They need structured political follow-up, sustained dialogue with policymakers, and strong engagement with European civil society. The European Parliament must remain a space where voices committed to peace, democracy, and human dignity are heard and protected -especially when they challenge entrenched narratives.”
NGO Funding Remains the Elephant in the Room
In a question to Bentele on behalf of The New Federalist, I pointed to recent initiatives by the centre-right EPP, hand-in-hand with the far-right in the European Parliament, aiming to increase scrutiny on NGOs and reduce their funding. This issue was raised within the context of the broader mission of NGOs, whose core work entails fostering dialogue and bridging divides, goals whose importance Bentele had just highlighted, and the contradiction between supporting these goals while tightening the constraints on organisations which promote them.
Bentele’s response was that she opposes cuts in funding to NGOs, but - at the same time - she defended the “increased scrutiny” placed on their activity on the basis of concerns over security, public trust, and confidence in institutions. She referred to allegations of antisemitism against organisations in her own country of Germany that received European funding.
The event faced significant last-minute logistical challenges, courtesy of Donald Trump’s airstrikes on Iran, with participants’ minds also at home with their families and concerned with how to get back to their home countries. Despite this, the Israeli and Palestinian representatives who travelled to Brussels felt their journey was worthwhile. Nitsan concluded: “I am happy and grateful for the commitment. 5 MEPs were there supporting us and helping us grow for the future”. The Federalist Peace Forum has ended, but their ambitions are only beginning.
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