Wars, terrorism, financial markets, migration flows, organised crime, climate change: none stop at national borders. Democracy and politics still do. Democracy and the rule of law are the most cherished achievements of Western civilization and are strenuously defended at national level. But on the international stage, states remain the only actors. Citizens and political parties have little or no say. The rules of power and force are still the norm. Differences in size, power and resources between countries are still the determining factor in any decision. Problems remain unaddressed because effective and democratic political structures are lacking. In the European Union, enormous progress has been made to advance democracy and the rule of law. The European Parliament has increased its powers significantly in the last decade. But in too many important fields it has little or no say, including the way the EU is financed, the governance of the Euro and EU foreign and security policy. The Parliament does not express a true Government. The most important decisions are still in the hands of national governments, each with its own national interest and national constituency. Bodies like the Eurogroup take important decisions affecting millions of European citizens, but they are accountable to no one. European political parties remain a loose collection of diverse national parties. But a collection of twenty-eight democracies does not make a European democracy. It is time to break national barriers to politics and democracy. The European Union should become a full parliamentary democracy, where the parliament legislates on all matters, appoints a real Government, can express a political majority and is autonomous from member states.

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At a time when nationalist, populist and anti-European forces are becoming increasingly loud and dangerous across Europe, it is time for those who believe in a united future for our continent to stand up and work together to make their voices heard. Nationalist and anti-Europeans exploit the weaknesses of today’s Europe. They play with the fears and disappointment of European citizens who suffer from the economic crisis, feel the pressure of migration flows and perceive the European Union as distant and ineffective. But their solutions are just an illusion. They are the voice of a Europe of the past. A Europe of small states divided by borders and competing currencies, fighting each other instead of standing united on the world stage. A Europe of narrow national interests played out in a zero-sum game. A Europe of hate and divisions. A Europe of racism and xenophobia. Ultimately, a Europe of war. The vast majority of Europeans don’t want to go back to that Europe. But too often we stay silent because we forget how much we owe to European integration, or we take for granted the Europe we have. This is no time to stay silent and passive. A united and federal Europe is the only bulwark against the rise of nationalism, against a Europe that regresses only to narrow national interests. Together we can to defend what Europe has achieved so far and promote an even better Europe for the future. A Europe of unity, democracy, solidarity – a federal Europe.

Join the cause for a united and federal Europe. Become a member of the Union of European Federalists!