Dear friends,

please find here some ideas about the future of JEF, our “amazing community”!

1) A global JEF

We are world citizens born on the European continent. JEF should focus more on world affairs. The reasons for uniting Europe are to be found more in the world than in Europe itself. Why shouldn’t we try to confront our visions with the youth in Jerusalem, Beijing, New York, Moscow, Melbourne, Cape Town, Brasilia…?

We should take new initiatives like inviting extra-EU participants to our seminars as well as promoting the participation of JEFers in the events of the global civil society, international institutions etc.

2) European Referendum Campaign and other “political” issues

We should decide how to update it considering the new political context paying attention to what will be discussed with the other stakeholders of the Referendum Campaign. It’s not necessary to close the web site of the Campaign because our main request – Let the European People decide! – is valid now and so will be in the future. It is not our task to campaign for the ratification of the next Lisbon Treaty (or Reform Treaty). If approved we should denounce the undemocratic method, but also recognize some useful innovations.

The European elections are the main political playground for us in the next two years. JEF should not miss the opportunity to present its proposals to the citizens. We should draft a “federal Agenda” for a European government. We should ask the European parties to nominate their candidates to the presidency of the European Commission and to create transnational lists of candidates. And, in brief, concerning other “political” issues (or bold ideas ☺):

- European policies, proposing some “federal solutions” for the policies of the European Union that would function with the Reform Treaty (if approved), for example about “youth” discussing the idea of European civilian service as the “new Erasmus” not only for students;

- Balkans and Turkey, supporting the perspectives for a permanent peace in the Balkans and their full membership in the EU as soon as possible; open a debate on Turkey and European borders;

- Belarus action, supporting freedom and democracy in Belarus, Lukashenka being our first enemy as the last dictator in Europe;

- European Olympic Team, encouraging the athletes to use European symbols, especially the European flag, during the next Olympic games in Beijing 2008.

3) JEF: some internal reforms

A more transparent and better connected organization at all levels is a very favorable environment for expressing talent and creativity as well as for training new young members. That’s why I’m proposing the following changes:

- open the door of EB meetings and send short reports on the meetings within 12h;

- periodical Skype conferences / chats among sections especially before the FC to collect proposals, ideas, news and prepare the debates and other appointments of the organization;

- for a stronger FC create a Wiki platform among FC (and EB) members using the new Google mail tools for sharing resolutions and drafts;

- concerning the budget, a Treasurer able to fund-raise and a book-keeper as well, in order to have a better management of JEF money.

4) JEF: external communication

Considering the importance of communication we should reinforce our communication tools:

- web site: implement a new one, more dynamic, friendly and smart;

- press releases: send out regularly PR’s also about events that have an impact on the European citizens (e.g. the fires in Greece, the bombs in London etc.);

- seminars and best practices: prepare an Info kit on how to hold seminars at all levels and exchange among the sections the best experience in promoting JEF, to increase the number of new members;

- Le Taurillon – The New Federalist (paper and online versions): support the “federalist papers” with new initiatives, an edition of Le Taurillon in Turkish or in other new languages?;

- YouTube: encourage JEFers to produce videos for YouTube, showing the European symbols everywhere?;

- JEF and Youth organizations, promoting JEF among other Youth (European) organizations.

My personal experience in JEF thought me how to do politics with a spirit of service and how to be a team player. If the Congress allows me to be the next JEF President I’m confident to gather a group of people representing all geographical parts and different political sensibilities of the organization. I intend to dedicate special attention to gender balance, also involving those sections that were not represented in the outgoing EB. In my opinion it is a task of the Congress (or better still, of the new FC elected by the Congress) to select the “best combination” for the team. At the moment, like a “coach”, I’m training to our daily exercise of democracy the other “team members” (all EB candidates) with weekly Skype meetings… Now, let’s debate!

Yours,

Samuele Pii