The XXI European Congress of JEF-Europe took place in Helsinki between 28 and 30 October 2011 gathering more than 120 delegates and guests from all over Europe. The Congress elected Pauline Gessant, active in JEF since 2003, as its new President. Furthermore the Congress elected two Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, four member of the Executive Board and a new Federal Committee.

The delegates discussed the strategic priorities of the organisation for the upcoming two years and adopted a revised political platform formulating JEFs key convictions to move away from the current political deadlock in Europe and progress towards a true Federation.

In Helsinki, JEF-Europe expressed its concern about the current economic, financial and social crisis, as well as the raise of euro-skepticism, nationalism and populism in Europe which may lead to the fragmentation of the EU. Pauline Gessant, the new President of the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe), says, “The current sovereign crisis starts from the incompleteness of European construction and could have been properly encountered if the European project would have already been achieved” and adds “Most of national governments and political leaders accept the paralyzing format of an intergovernmental European Union, which is also reflected in the new framework for the economic governance”. In its new adopted political platform, JEF-Europe reminds that a Federal Europe goes beyond an economic mandate to include common social, energy, climate, immigration and foreign policies, as well a federal budget and a post-national democracy.

The Congress welcomed Andrew Duff, MEP and President of the Union of European Federalists, who shared his views on the federalist project and called for a convention on economic governance in spring 2012.

Pauline Gessant concludes “JEF-Europe calls for a political will for the renewal of the European Union, for a fundamental shift in the national approach of the EU and the adoption of federalist solutions as the only way out of the crisis. JEF-Europe will continue to promote and act for a federal Europe by strengthening its national, regional and local sections, leading grass-roots pan-European activities across Europe as well as lobbying actions for the European Federation”.
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Contact Details

Pauline Gessant, JEF-Europe President, pauline.gessant(at)jef.eu, +33 683 116 009

Ruben Loods, JEF-Europe Secretary General, sg(at)jef.eu, +32 495 501 383