Dear JEFfers,

we, the Young European Federalists, constitute a diverse team, which plays together to reach a common dream: that of a united and federal Europe. After having been JEF member for five years, I am glad to accept Samuele’s proposal to join his team and run for treasurer. I am now prepared to face a new challenge: by using my experience as JEFfer as well as my educational background in economics and finance I aim to ensure adequate funds for the pursuit of our visions and to keep our budget balanced.

As all JEFfers, I am strongly committed to federalism and I consider that we ought to manage our network according to its following principles.

• Subsidiarity: The European umbrella organization must exclusively take over tasks that cannot be fulfilled more efficiently by local, regional, and national sections. Moreover, it should encourage cooperation within the network. The treasurer should promote the exchange of good financial management practices between sections.

• Transparency: Every single member in every region should feel represented by the European bodies and should be informed about their action. The treasurer could contribute to increase transparency by communicating relevant facts and figures to FC members and national sections as well as on the new website.

• Accountability: The financial resources of JEF Europe are scarce, and they need to be managed in a cost-effective way. My primary commitment would be to put an end to the budget imbalances that threaten the future of our organisation. Moreover, I aim to promote solutions that ensure a levelled playing field between members and that encourage personal accountability rather than blind cuts of expenses.

As treasurer, I would see two major goals to achieve during my office.

• Diversify funding: The European Commission and the Council of Europe are our two main sponsors. However, a large part of the budget is still funded by deficits and contributions of involved JEF members. In a comprehensive strategy to be determined with the new Executive Bureau, it would be committed to attract new sponsors, such as private foundations.

• Ensure a balanced budget: A balanced budget is the guarantee for the financial sustainability of our future. As a consequence, my first commitment is to ensure that expenditures do not exceed income and that resources are affected cost-efficiently to their destinations.

Working with JEFfers has always been a valuable experience for me, and I am certain that thanks to our strong team spirit, we will meet ambitious goals in the upcoming years.

Together we will demonstrate that it is possible to keep balanced European budgets and to provide funding to worthwhile European projects.

Naturally, any eventual proposals, questions, and/or comments on your behalf would be most welcome. I look forward to meet you in Copenhagen and in a united and federal Europe in 2057.

Till

email: till.burckhardt@gmail.com