Young European Federalists ( YEF ), French Young European Federalists ( JEF ) is a political youth organization. MOST Active in European countries and with around 25,000 members [ citation needed ] , it seeks to Promote European integration through the Strengthening and democratization of the European Union (EU). JEF has close ties to the European Movement and the Union of European Federalists and is a full member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ). Former activists of JEF can join the alumni association, Friends of JEF.
History
First founded in the late 1940s, the now existing European level structure of the JEF was founded in the 1970s.
It was the 1950s that the first groups of young federalists appeared in the youth section of the Union of European Federalists. The Young European Federalists organized them into JEF sections, establishing a new European structure with a European office in Paris in 1949. Despite the division in the federalist movement in the 1950s, the various JEF groups with their work on local, regional and national levels even if there is no international JEF organization. In 1967, young people held mock negotiations in Brussels to work out a treaty of accession for the UK to the Community. In March 1969 they organized a demonstration on the benches of the European Parliament, demanding its direct elections by universal suffrage. In many European countries protest demonstrations were organized against the dictatorship in Greece. These activities helped the group of young people to set up their relationship. This collaboration took concrete form in the creation of JEF’s liaison office in 1970. It was there that the international association took the name of ‚Young European Federalists‘ and the founding Congress was held in Luxembourg on 25 and 26 March 1972.Even though JEF was JEF in the 70’s: European Parliament, East Europe, East-West Reunification and Enlargement, Disarmament, Women, the Environment and International Development Issues. In 1985, When Jacques Delors became President of the European Commission and launched the idea of the Single Market, JEF has said that it is becoming more important in the European market. , simply a generation ahead, which is still the JEF motto nowadays. JEF: 1) the return of nationalist wars in Europe; 2) the crisis of legitimacy of the European integration process, highlighted by the Danish referendum in 1992, the lost Norwegian referendum in 1994 and the negative attitude of a majority of EU citizens towards the Euro; 3) the open questions on the enlargement of the European Union. Since the 2000s, JEF-Europe has been working on a European Constitution and a more democratic Europe. Another major area of interest for JEF is the defense of human rights and the respect of the state of law with a yearly Belarus action since 2006.
Goals
According to its statutes, JEF is a non-partisan and non-denominational European NGO . It advocates for a united Europe with a federal structure. At the center of JEF’s political program is the demand for a federal constitution for Europe, whose core element is a two-chamber Parliament . Hereby, JEF insists on the subsidiarity principle of a form of decentralized distribution of powers. Another key element is the demand for a unified foreign and security policy of the European Union. JEF is committed to comprehensive reform of the EU towards more democracy, participation, transparency, efficiency and sustainability. In addition to the policy objectives, the organization tries in particular to promote European awareness among young people and encourages civic activism.
Activities
JEF spreads its ideas by the following means:
- Campaigns to lobby over a period of time for a specific federalist cause.
- Street actions mobilizing the whole network to raise awareness of burning European issues among the general public. (Most notably the annual Free Belarus street action, taking place in numerous cities Europe- and worldwide since 2006) [1]
- International events Such As seminars and workshops were wide-range of topics in different EU and non-EU countries.
- A multilingual, interactive webzine thenew federalist where youth can voice their opinion in articles on current European affairs.
- Projects that have a specific purpose and funding.
- Press releases for the advocacy of JEF’s objectives towards both public and private organizations.
Therefore, the organization encourages debate on European affairs and EU policies while fostering youth mobility and exchanges throughout the continent, thus seeking to involve European Citizens, in particular young people, from all across the continent in the process of European integration .
Organization
JEF has about 25,000 members in 31 national autonomous sections, which are coordinated by a European umbrella organization , JEF-Europe. [2] .
JEF-Europe
JEF-Europe is an International association without lucrative purpose (IVZW / AISBL) under Belgian law. The European Secretariat is based in Brussels .
The European Congress
The highest decision-making body of JEF is the European Congress, which meets every two years in a different city. The delegates are elected by the members of national sections or their representatives in the section of subscribers of each section.
The President and the Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, 4 members of the Executive Board and 16 directly elected members of the Federal Committee.
The Federal Committee
The Federal Committee (FC) is a two-member, two-member, four-member, and four-member, executive-level member of the National Assembly. . The Secretary General participates in the meeting without a voting right.
The Federal Committee is chaired by a presidium of three members and adopts the political and strategic guidelines and oversees the activity of the Executive Bureau.
The Executive Board
The Executive Board (EB) is chaired by the President (Christopher Glück) and includes the Vice Presidents (Leonie Martin & Ophélie Omnes), the Secretary General (Ioan Bucuras), the Treasurer (Simon Devos), and four Board members (Miriam Postiglione, Elisa Tarkiainen, Jacopo Barbati and Kevin Broby Kristiansen). It is responsible for the implementation of the external and internal policies adopted by the Congress and the Federal Committee and the management of the organization.
It meets at least four times every year.
Presidents
Since 2015: Christopher Glück , 2011-2015: Pauline Gessant , 2009-2011 Philippe Adriaenssens, 2007-2009: Samuele Pii, 2005-2007: Jan Seifert , 2003-2005: Jon Worth , 2001-2003: Alison Weston, 1999-2001 : Paolo Vacca , 1997-1999: Philip Savelkoul , 1995-1997: Ugo Ferruta, 1993-1995: Tor Eigil Hodne , 1991-1993: Stephen Woodard , 1989-1991: Giannis Papageorgiou , 1987-1989: Lars Erik Nordgaard , 1985- 87: Manfred Auster , 1983-85: Franco Spoltore , 1981-83: David Grace, 1979-1981: Richard Corbett, 1977-1978: Jean Jacques Anglade, 1976-1977: Flor van de Velde, 1974-1976: Julian Priestley , 1972-74 Peter Osten.
Secretary Generals
Since 2016: Valentin Dupouey, 2014-2016: Ioan Bucuras, 2013-2014: Federico Guerrieri, 2012: Stefan Manevski, 2010-2012: Ruben Loodts, 2008-2010: Peter Matjašič , 2006-2008: Vassilis Stamogiannis, 2004-2006: Joan Marc Simon, 2002-2004: Marianne Bonnard, 2000-2002: Niki Klesl, 1998-2000: Laura Davis, 1996-1998: Tobias Flessenkemper , 1994-1996: Ingo Linsenmann, 1992-1994: Bernd Hüttemann , 1992: Soraya Usmani Martinez, 1989-1991: Irmeli Karhio, 1987-1989: Monica Frassoni , 1985-1987 Giannis Papageorgiou, 1984-1985: Susana Roson, 1982-1984: Tore Nedrebo , 1981-1982: Eva Finzi, 1980-1981: David Grace, 1977-1980: Jacques Vantomme, 1975-1977: Gerda Grootjes
Notable alumni
Several members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including Richard Corbett and Jo Leinen ( PES ), Tom Spencer (Conservative) and Monica Frassoni ( Greens ), and its former Secretary General Sir Julian Priestley served as JEF officers in their teens and twenties. The former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was a Vice President.