Union of European Federalists

History

Following two Conferences, the first one held in Hertenstein (municipality of Weggis near Zürich in Switzerland), gathering 78 representatives of federalist movements from 16 European countries in September 1946, and the second one in Luxembourg in October of the same year, these groups, who shared the common belief 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.

The foundation of the UEF followed the two Conference of Hertenstein (municipality of Weggis near Zürich in Switzerland), gathering 78 representatives of federalist movements from 16 European countries in September 1946, and in Luxembourg in October the same year. These groups held the common belief 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. The federalists decided to found the European Union of Federalists (UEF). Its foundation formally took place in December 1946 in Paris.

At a second meeting in Luxembourg these groups agreed on establishing a permanent European secretariat in Paris and another one in New York City for global federalists. But it was in Paris, on 15 and 16 December 1946 that UEF was officially brought into life, its function being to co-ordinate and intensify the activities of the different movements and to organise them into a federal structure.

The UEF's founding Congress took place in Montreux (Switzerland) from 27 to 31 August 1947. The motions adopted defined the principles of fédéralisme to which the organisation adhered and its objectives for European unification.

Among the association's first leaders were Alexandre Marc, Denis de Rougemont, Altiero Spinelli, Henri Frenay.

Presidents

Presidents of the Executive Board

Hendrik Brugmans 1947–1949

Henry Frenay 1950–1952

Altiero Spinelli 1955–1956

Grigore Gafencu 1956

Alexandre Marc 1957

Raymond Rifflet 1959–1964

Mario Albertini 1966

Presidents (until 1966 of the "Presidents of the Central Committee")

Henri Genet 1947

Henry Frenay 1948–1949

Hendrik Brugmans 1950

Eugen Kogon 1950–1952

Henry Frenay 1955

Grigore Gafencu 1956

Enzo Giacchero 1957

Enzo Giacchero 1959–1962

Etienne Hirsch 1964–1972

Etienne Hirsch – J.H.C Molenaar 1972–1975

Mario Albertini 1975–1982

John Pinder 1984–1987

Francesco Rossolillo 1989–1994

Jo Leinen 1997–2004

Mercedes Bresso 2006–2008

Andrew Duff 2008–2013

Secretaries General

Raymond Silva 1947–1948

Albert Lohest 1949–1950

Guglielmo Usellini 1950–1957

André Delmas 1959–1962

Orio Giarini 1962–1967

Ludo Dierickx 1969

Caterina Chizzola 1972–1989

Gérard Vissels 1992–1994

Bruno Boissière 1997–2004

Friedhelm Frischenschlager 2005–2006

Joan Marc Simon 2007–2010

Christian Wenning 2010–2014

Paolo Vacca 2014–2020

Anna Echterhoff 2020–2023

Luisa Trumellini 2023–2024

Ilaria Caria 2024–present

Henri Koch-Kent 1946. Also active in its founding, at Luxembourg meeting.

Organization

UEF consists of constituent organisations that are autonomous centres of 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.

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.

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.

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 Representatives

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 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 the Spanish Domènec Ruiz Devesa.

Treasurer

Elected by the Federal Committee on the nomination of the Bureau, They are responsible for the management of the funds. They are accountable to the Federal Committee. The current UEF Treasurer is Roland Huhn.

Secretary-General

The UEF Secretary-General is responsible for running the UEF secretariat and carrying out the decisions delegated to them by the organs of UEF. They participate in the meetings of the organs of UEF without the right to vote. They are appointed by the Federal Committee on recommendation of the Bureau.

Currently the UEF Secretary-General is Ilaria Caria.

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.

Member organisations

Europäische Föderalistische Bewegung Österreich (UEF Austria)

U.E.F. België / U.E.F. Belgique (UEF Belgium)

U.E.F. Balgarija (UEF Bulgaria)

Unie evropských federalistů v České republice (U.E.F. Czech Republic)

European Federalist Movement of Cyprus (UEF Cyprus)

Europa-Union Deutschland (UEF Germany)

Eurooppafederalistit (U.E.F. Finland)

European Federalist Movement Greece (UEF Greece)

Union des fédéralistes européens (U.E.F. France)

Európai Föderalisták Uniója (UEF Hungary)

Movimento Federalista Europeo (UEF Italy)

Europos federalistai Lietuvoje (UEF Lithuania)

UEF Luxembourg

UEF Crna Gora (UEF Montenegro)

UEF PortugalArchived 10 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine (UEF Portugal)

UEF Romania

Únia európskych federalistov Archived 30 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine (UEF Slovakia)

Unión de Europeístas y Federalistas de España (UEF Spain)

Mission

The mission of the UEF is the following:

To raise the awareness of the public about European issues, the UEF is organising 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 organisations (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 organising public manifestations.