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Dear Friends,
Europe Day was celebrated all over Europe with an active participation of federalists, committed to spread messages, raise the awareness on the need to have more democratic and united Europe, not only by distributing flyers and participating in various debates, but also through art and music. For me personally it was very motivating to visit the Bulgarian section for the Europe Day and I guess most of you participated at one of the great activities in Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria, Belgium and other sections. I am sure especially the march through the city of Florence with federalist flags and slogans was noticed! UEF NEWSSupport the "European Daily"
Over the past decades Europe has grown ever more interconnected. It is a big part of our daily lives. Yet, strangely, daily news is still largely covered from national perspectives.
Borders no longer prevent us from moving around the continent freely, but they still manage to isolate debates and hold back the free flow of ideas and arguments. The absence of a European public sphere has been discussed for decades. Now, a group of dedicated Europeans has decided to do something about it. On 15 June they published a "preview edition" of the European Daily, a "daily newspaper for Europe". 40 000 copies were distributed in Brussels, London, Paris and Berlin. Launching a pan-European daily newspaper is a daunting project, especially in these difficult times for both Europe and the newspaper industry. However, we hope you agree that this is something Europe needs more now than maybe ever before. The team behind the European Daily aims to launch the daily edition all across Europe by the end of the year. They are now looking for partners and investors to realise this. If you think you can help them in any way, feel free to contact ed@europeandaily.com You can also find more information and a PDF version of the preview edition on their website: europeandaily.com EUROPE DAY 2011What is in your pocket Europe? Festivities in Brussels
On May 7, activists from UEF European Secretariat, UEF Belgium, UEF Groupe Europe and Europa-Union Deutschland in Brussels and JEF gathered at the esplanade next to the European Parliament in Brussels to celebrate Europe Day 2011 and raise the profile of the European Federalists. Read the full report...
Festival of Europe in FlorenceDuring May 6 - 10, Florence hosted the Festival of Europe. Thousands of citizens participated in a number of cultural and political events organised by the European University Institute with the European and local institutions and several NGOs. Italian federalists actively participated in many events to bring our message to the Festival. Read the full report... “Blue night” raises European awareness through art and music
On 7 May, the UEF Italy and JEF Italy in Forli, in collaboration with the Youth Committee for Europe of Possidente and the UEF Bulgaria, celebrated the Europe Day with the event “Blue Night“, aiming to raise young people’s European awareness and encourage their involvement in European issues through art and music. With activities in Forli and Possidente in Italy and Sofia in Bulgaria, federalists managed to reach out to more than 20 000 people. Read the full report... UEF Serbia celebrated the Europe Day in Pancevo
The Union of European Federalists Serbia celebrated the Europe Day in Pancevo by participation in the panel discussion " European path of the Western Balkans ", organized by the Union of students of Coty of Pancevo. Read the full report... Are the European values threatened by the Economic and Financial Crisis?
On 9 May, 2011 on the occasion of Europe Day UEF Bulgaria along with European Movement and JEF Bulgaria organised a public discussion “Are the European Values Threatened by the Economic and Financial Crisis?”, held in the Information Centre of the Ministry of Defence.
The main topics discussed were as follows: - Are the Ideals of the Founding Fathers and the Basic European Values still Valid - The Future of the Economic and Monetary Union - How to strengthen the EU’s Moral Authority and Political Credibility in World Affairs The panellists invited to share their opinion on the topic included the Ambassador of Finland H.E. Tarja Laitiainen, Mr Dobroslav Dimitrov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and Defence, Deputy Minister of Defence Avgustina Tsvetkova and MEP Andrey Kovatchev, Vice President of UEF. The participants received a greeting address from the Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. PAST EVENTSXXV National Congress of UEF Italy
The XXV national Congress of MFE (UEF Italy) was held in Gorizia on 11-13 March, 2011, with the participation of more than 200 delegates from 105 local sections, under the slogans “Yes to the European Federation, to govern European economy, to have a European foreign and security policy, for a fair and sustainable development, to contribute to peace and justice in the world”. Seminar "Federalism and the unity of Europe" reaches out to highschool students
From April 29 to May 1 a regional youth seminar on "Federalism and the unity of Europe", now in its 15th edition, was held in Desenzano del Garda, at the premises of the beautiful “Palazzo del Turismo”. The event was attended by over fifty students mainly from the high-school of Lombardy. The project was promoted by the Lombardy Regional Centres of the European Federalist Movement and the Young European Federalists, the Association of European Teachers (AEDE) of Pavia and Milan, in collaboration with the Mario and Valeria Albertini Foundation, and the Mario Albertini Center for Studies on Federalism. Read the full report... UEF Belgium: "Europe and the world in crisis: a 'core Europe' to pave the way for the European federation?"From April 30 to May 1, the 10th European Seminar on "Europe and the world in crisis: a 'core Europe' to pave the way for the European federation?" was organized by UEF Belgium in cooperation with the Fondazione Mario e Valeria Albertini. The reports on Saturday afternoon "The State of the Union after the Lisbon Treaty" were carried out by Luisa Trumellini (MFE) and François Mennorat (UEF Franche Comte). Paolo Vacca (UEF Bureau Member) and Philip Aghatonos (UEF Vice-President) talked about "The world and Europe in front of the financial and security crisis." Sunday morning Michele Ciavarini Azzi (President of UEF Belgium), Franco Spoltore (MFE Secretary-General) and Pier-Virgilio Dastoli (President of the Italian Council of the International European Movement) developed the theme "Towards the United States of Europe". Italian, French and German members of the UEF and JEF attended the seminar. The debate has been organised in the framework of the European project "Les midis de l'Europe: enjeux europeens et citoyennete".International seminar “Strengthening European Participatory Democracy”
From 1 to 8 May, 2011, UEF Bulgaria along with JEF Bulgaria and the National Student Confederation organised the international seminar “Strengthening European Participatory Democracy” held in Sofia. Participants from 11 countries discussed the active participation of young generation in the democratic life of the Union and gained practical knowledge on how to communicate the EU to the citizens. Read the full report... FUTURE EVENTSMFE Training seminarsTraditionally, several regional centres of MFE organize spring training seminars for students in collaboration with GFE (the Italian branch of Young European Federalists). The following ones are already scheduled:
FEDERALISTS TALKFederalists condemn closure of Danish borders
The Union of European Federalists has expressed their deep concern about the re-imposition by Denmark of border controls. In a statement today (Friday) UEF President Andrew Duff MEP (ALDE/UK) said: "A big step forward for a United European Democracy": Andrew Duff on electoral reform
A European ballot for a truly European election is at the heart of a proposal by Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee to overhaul European Elections, three decades after they were first held in 1979. Acting on an initiative by British Liberal MEP, Andrew Duff, the Committee is proposing setting aside 25 seats for candidates elected through Europe-wide lists presented by the European political parties, starting with the next elections in 2014. Read the full press release... Statement on the 25th Anniversary of the Death of Altiero Spinelli by Andrew Duff M.E.P., President of the Union of European Federalists
On Monday we will recall with great respect the passing of one of the major figures of twentieth century Europe, Altiero Spinelli. European austerity without growth? European growth without European democracy?
Guido Montani
The European project is facing a crisis. Citizens no longer understand what the EU is about. Young people and the new ruling class have forgotten the clear message of the European project launched just after the Second World War “No wars ever again among Europeans.” The founding fathers of the European Union are mentioned in history textbooks, but today Europe is felt as an irritating bureaucracy. In Europe, peace and economic stability are considered as a natural state, a gift from above. Why keep a useless EU alive? Read the full article on Europe's World... UEF IN MEDIA
In June the European Parliament is to vote on a major package of proposals to reform its composition and electoral procedure. Here the Parliament’s rapporteur, UK Liberal Democrat MEP Andrew Duff (ALDE) argues the case for change. CALENDAR |
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