Union of European Federalists | Meetings and debates

The Union of European Federalists (UEF) has been actively prioritizing gender balance and equality in politics. This commitment is reflected in various initiatives, including training sessions, workshops, and high-level political debates planned for 2025, with a particular focus on the role of women in politics and European federalism.

This high-level panel discussion aims to foster an exchange of ideas and experiences among women actively involved in politics and federalism. The event will provide a platform for these women to share their unique perspectives, challenges, and successes. Additionally, the panel will address questions from the audience, encouraging an open dialogue on the central role of women in shaping political landscapes and advocating for federalist principles. By highlighting their contributions and addressing key issues, this discussion is set to inspire and inform on the importance of diverse representation in governance.

Speakers:

• Gabriele Bischoff, MEP S&D Board Member Spinelli Group, VP Europa Union Deutschland
• Anna Strolenberg, MEP Greens/EFA Board Member Spinelli Group
• Kati Systä, JEF Board Member and Spokesperson on diversity and inclusion
• Luisa Trumellini, former MFE & UEF Secretary General
• Brikena Xhomaqi, Director Lifelong Learning Platform - European Civil Society for Education

Moderator:

• Ilaria Caria, Secretary General of the UEF

The year 2024 has been marked by three important reports: in April, Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy, released his report Much More Than a Market, followed in September by The Future of European Competitiveness from Mario Draghi, former Italian Prime Minister and former President of the European Central Bank, and in October by Safer together: A path towards a fully prepared Union from Sauli Niinistö, former President of the Republic of Finland.

In the context of the return of Donald Trump to the White House, what lessons can be learned from those reports?

These significant developments will be central to discussions at the upcoming Brussels Political Debate, addressing their impact on citizens' lives and the future of Europe.

Hybrid event organised by the Union of European Federalists in collaboration with UEF Groupe Europe and UEF Belgium.

WORKING LANGUAGE: English.

Greetings and Introduction

• Catherine Vieilledent, Secretary General of UEF Groupe Europe

Speakers:

• Domenec Ruiz Devesa, President of the UEF, Former MEP
• Eric Philippart, Senior Expert on the Single Market, DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
• Valeria Ronzitti, Vice-President of European Movement International
• Luca Visentini, Labour, economic and social affairs expert, Former ETUC General Secretary

Moderation:

• Domenico Rossetti di Valdalbero, Secretary General of UEF Belgium and EC officer

Conclusion:

• Domenec Ruiz Devesa, President of the UEF, Former MEP

Greek version: LINK HERE Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα - Διεθνής Δικαιοσύνη - Περιβαλλοντική Διακυβέρνηση σε περίοδο πολλαπλών κρίσεων - UEF - Greece

Event organized by the Brussels Regional section of the Union of European Federalists - Greece (UEF Greece).

WORKING LANGUAGE: Greek.

In a period marked by constant shifts, armed conflicts, forced displacements, widespread insecurity, an alarming surge of inequalities, a global climate and ecological crisis, and major technological developments including artificial intelligence, massive violations of individual freedoms and fundamental rights are multiplying, despite significant progress since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

The negative repercussions on human rights are obvious even in countries where democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights had long been consolidated.

Particularly for Europe, the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East, but also in Africa/Sudan and in many other parts of the world, and their consequences (geopolitical instability, adverse economic impact, forced displacement of millions of people, etc.) have contributed to further awareness of the need to strengthen global cooperation, multilateralism, and solidarity, in order to more effectively address the root causes of crises, including new global challenges, which contribute to widespread and massive human rights violations.

Can the existing institutional framework for the promotion and protection of Human Rights, including protection mechanisms, special procedures, etc., respond to today’s challenges within this broadly destabilizing global context? Does International Criminal Justice for war crimes work and in which way? Why must the process towards global environmental governance proceed immediately? Finally, what can the new Pact for the Future and the transformation of global governance, adopted by the United Nations in September this year, contribute to?

AGENDA:

Introduction - welcome: Dimitris Fatouros, Communications Officer for Greece and Cyprus - UN Regional Information Centre in Brussels (UNRIC)

Speakers:

• Dr. Dionyssios Kalamvrezos, Minister Plenipotentiary A’ ad h. : New challenges in the promotion and protection of Human Rights
• Charalambos Apostolidis, Professor of Public International Law, University of Burgundy (Dijon): International Justice against massive crimes
• Dr. Ioanna Koufaki, Lawyer, LL.D Dr. of Law in European Environmental Law - Environmental Protection – the Dialogue between International and European Law

The discussion will be moderated by Daphne Gogou, President of UEF Greece, member of the UEF Executive Board

Concluding remarks: Lampis Kontonis, UEF Greece, Coordinator of the Brussels Chapter of UEF Greece.

Political debate organized by the UEF and the Spinelli Group during the works of the UEF Federal Committee in Budapest, November 2024.

SPEAKERS

▪ CHRISTIAN BECK on behalf of MEP (DE) Daniel Freund, Accredited Assistant of MEP (DE) Daniel Freund and Federal Executive Director EUD

▪ RAQUEL GARCÍA HERMIDA-VAN DER WALLE, MEP (NL) and Spinelli Group Board Member

▪ TAMAS LATTMANN, International Lawyer

Moderator: DOMENEC RUIZ DEVESA, President of the Union of European Federalists and Former MEP (ES) 2019-2024

Before starting the political event, two video messages were shared by the actual Chair of the Spinelli Group Lukas Mandl

Watch here the video by Lukas Mandl

Interview with Sandro Gozi MEP Renew and former President of the Union of European Federalists and the Spinelli Group, conducted by the EU Made Simple member, Elliot Baudeweyns.

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On 16 November, the UEF Federal Committee was held in Budapest (Link).

As is tradition, the Federal Committee began with a political introduction by the President.

The former MEP Domenec Ruiz Devesa gave a speech on the current geopolitical situation (almost 1000 days of the war in Ukraine, the escalation in the Middle East, Trump's victory for the White House, ) to get to what the EU should do to be a solution and what the UEF will do as a civil society oraganisation.

The Union of European Federalists, in collaboration with UEF Hungary, has organised a series of events in Budapest on 15 and 16 November to mark the 20th anniversary of EU enlargement to Eastern Europe.

This panel debate is the english session of the debate 20th Anniversary of the European Eastern Enlargement: the Hungarian EU membership and Current Challenges

This session is titled: 2004 Enlargement and EU membership of Hungary: expectations and missed opportunities, lights and shadows

Speakers:

• András Bíró-Nagy, political scientist, director of Policy Solutions
• Zoltán Fleck, lawyer and social scientist (ELTE university)
• Dóra Győrffy, professor of international and comparative political economy (Corvinus university)
• Daniel Hegedus, Regional Director, Transatlantic Trusts Central Europe at the German Marshall Fund of the US

Moderator: Eszter Nagy, President UEF Hungary, UEF EB Member

The Union of European Federalists, in collaboration with UEF Hungary, has organised a series of events in Budapest on 15 and 16 November to mark the 20th anniversary of EU enlargement to Eastern Europe.

This panel debate is the english session of the debate 20th Anniversary of the European Eastern Enlargement: the Hungarian EU membership and Current Challenges

This session is titled Lessons learned, current challenges and the way forward after the European elections

Speakers:

• Péter Balázs (HU) former Foreign Minister and former EU-Commissioner (CEU)
• Klára Dobrev (HU) MEP S&D/Demokratikus Koalíció
• Giulia Rossolillo (IT) UEF Vice President, Professor EU Law, University of Pavia
• Michał Wawrykiewicz (PL) MEP EPP/Independent

Moderator: Marianne Berecz, member of UEF Hungary

On 18 January 1956, the first meeting of the Action Committee for the #UnitedStatesofEurope is held in Paris. The Committee was founded by Jean #Monnet on 13 October 1955 after he had announced his decision to resign as President of the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in November 1954. Today, 18 January 2024, the #UnionofEuropeanFederalists (#UEF) the #YoungofEuropeanFederalists (#JEF) toghether the Association Jean Monnet commemorate the anniversary first meeting of the action commettee for the United States of Europe and remember the challenges that europeans have to face.

Introduction and moderation by Luisa Trumellini, Secreatry-General of the Union of European Federalists

Domenec Ruiz Devesa, MEP S&D and President of the Union of European Federalists

Miguel Angel Martin Ramos, Vice President of the Associacion Jean Monnet

Christelle Savall, President of the Young of European Federalists

This podcast is the recording of the event co-organised by the UEF and the MFE (Italian section of the UEF) at the Collegio Ghislieri in Pavia.

The conference was entitled "Italy's European interest":

Speakers by:

- Giulio Tremonti, President of the Foreign and Community Affairs Commission of the Chamber of Deputies

- Bruno Tabacci, Member of the Chamber of Deputies, President of the 'Centro Democratico' party

- Luisa Trumellini, National Secretary of the European Federalist Movement and Secretary General of the Union of European Federalists

Moderator:

- Giulia Rossolillo, Director of the magazine "Il Federalista" and Vice-President of the Union of European Federalists

This podcast is part of the activities of the Cerv grant 2023 - Co-Funded by the European Union.