“The reflection period must not go by with pure paperwork or academic discussions”. The conviction that only a stronger and not a weaker EU provides the chance to cope with the most pressing problems of European citizens, has to be in the centre of the relaunch of the constitutional process. A powerful EU has to be a democratic one. Therefore, there is no alternative to a European constitution” declared Mercedes Bresso, President of the UEF. 

“EUROPEAN CITIZENS SHOULD BE FULLY INVOLVED IN THE CONTINUATION OF THE CONSTITUENT PROCESS!”

To the UEF Federal Committee an intergovernmental Europe managed only by the national governments on the basis of the principle of unanimity, has shown its limits preventing the EU from making the necessary choices. This was demonstrated at the last summit, where governments were unable to make the decision for the EU budget. 

Consequently, the UEF strongly supports Commissioner Walströms “Plan D” and demands to carry out a programme of public awareness involving both public meetings at all levels of society including citizens’ juries, the media and the internet. The Federal Committee demands the European Commission to provide the financial resources that are needed to reach out to the EU’s civil society. 

To this aim, Movimento Federalista Europeo (MFE), the Italian section of the UEF, together with UEF supranational organises the first of what is to become a series of Conventions of European citizens. Members of European and national members, regional and local representatives as well as organisations of civil society and the general public will come together in order to establish a real and open dialogue between all European stakeholders. 

Note to editors

The UEF, founded in 1946, is an independent and non-governmental European organisation, campaigning for a federal Europe. Since April 2005, it is presided over by Mrs. Mercedes BRESSO, President of the Italian Region of Piedmont, Member of the EU Committee of the Regions.