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Resolution for the Congress of Jef-Europe

- Jef Italy -

The June European Council brought to an end the European constituent process, by approving a new text which, on the one hand, maintains a large part of institutional reforms already included in the “Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe” and, on the other hand, drops the most important part, meaning the constituent intent of the text.

The current situation is quite similar to the one after Nice: a failed treaty which gives no government to Europe. However, at the time everybody was disappointed by the summit results and the failure of the IGC method was clear (the Convention was just round the corner), while today the IGC seems to be satisfying  to everybody but the federalists. Despite some progress, the Reform treaty will not be able to solve the democratic deficit and the political powerlessness of the EU and the unsolved contradictions left on the agenda will have to be solved in the next future together with the lack of a European democratic Constitution. In this sense, it is not coincidence the proposal of some European leaders to convoke a Committee of Wise Men with the aim of reflecting on the shape of Europe in 2020-2030.

It is clear  that the willing to leave the reflection on the future of Europe in the hands of a restricted group of Wise Men or to an IGC wouldn’t be acceptable anymore as this is the method that keeps the distance between the decision makers and the citizens and that strongly discourages the rise of an open and public debate on European issues, keeping the Euroscepticism alive. In this logic, federalists shouldn’t campaign for the ratification of a Treaty that puts an end to the Constitutional process; on the contrary, young federalists should reflect since now on the next solutions needed after either the ratification or the failure of the Reform treaty. Which could be the role of Jef Europe in the next years?

Towards  the European parliamentary elections in 2009, Jef should be active in the political discussion claiming the idea of a Federal government for Europe and supporting some points that could be part of a program for the government of the European Union:

•    An institutional reform that provides a European Federal Constitution ratified through a European referendum;

•    A common political economy able to stimulate economic growth and investments;

•    An ambitious environmental policy to let the European continent be a vanguard in the world in terms of high quality standards of life and environment;

•    A common foreign policy to let the European Union have a strong role in the  peace-keeping worldwide, being able to face more effectively the rising gap between the rich and the poor in the world;

•    A reform of the United Nations aimed at transforming the UN in the organisation representing the World regions and where the European Union could have a single seat in the Security Council

Since now and until the European election in 2009, federalists should express their ideas and ask to the political parties to present a candidate to/for the Presidency of the European Commission on the basis of the program above.

In this framework, the question of the ratification process is still fundamental. The fragmented national ratifications of the Reform Treaty pave the way to instrumentalist debates, leaving more place to Euro scepticism and putting aside the interest of Europeans. In this perspective, any further claim for a European Constitution should be accompanied by the request for a European referendum keeping alive the motto “Let the European people decide”, that is to say: stop to national ratifications and yes to the majority of European citizens.

This line of action is intended to offer political substance to our organisation, with a strong link with the political events and  toward the creation  a European Federal Government . These are unavoidable instruments to speak with political parties in the next European elections as well as to open ourselves to debate with European citizens and the civil society.

Jef Europe hopes that the whole of its statements will be taken into consideration by the UEF during its Federal Committee in Prague (9-11 November, 2007).