This spring we are joined in the UEF office by Laura Bringina from Latvia and in the JEF office by Julia Brink from Germany, that will assist both organisations with our EP campaigns as European Volunteers (EVS).  As a kick off to the campaigning team a training was organized 9-11 February, where federalism, the federalist movement, our campaigns and demands and of course our present EP campaign was introduced and discussed. Also some other stagiaires that will join our work this spring participated in the training. The main idea was for the campaigning team to get to know each other and for the new EVSers to learn more about us, what we do and think and what our plans are for the coming campaign.

The training started off with a introduction made by JEF SG Peter Matjasic to what federalism is and means to us, as well as how JEF works and functions. Joan Marc Simon, SG UEF, followed with an overview of what federalist thought has meant for the development in modern history. The volunteers also had the chance to practice their debating skills, as well as try out the argumentation of the euroscpetics and federalists respectively in a couple of heated mock debates about Europe and the European Parliament. After this background political training it was time to get into the federalist campaigning that will take place this spring. Åsa Gunvén, UEF campaign coordinator, made an introduction to grass root campaigning and shared the experience of JEF/UEF such as the pan European actions, online campaigns like Who is Your Candidate?, and how to make creative campaigning with few financial and human resources. Part of the EVS project will involve working on campaign strategies such as a poster campaign as well as online campaigning – here we jointly had the chance to brainstorm and develop some of the strategies.

Much of campaigning and communication today takes place online. Mana Livardjani introduced the online presence of UEF as well as the strategy to set up a federalist blog under Cafébabels EP election section. Finally Jon Worth, former JEF president and the person behind most federalist online campaigning tools, made an introduction to online campaigning. Strategies in turning visitors of webpages into first reactors, then supporters and finally activists were explored, with a focus on our present campaigning.

And of course the training offered a opportunity to get to know Brussels better with bowling, dinner in town and of course a Belgium beer introduction! Again – warm welcome to the federalist campaigning team Julia and Laura!