Read on Twitter
JEF's roots can go far back as 1949, where several JEF Sections established themselves under an official European structure which had a registered office in #Paris.
Perhaps most notable among the actions carried out in those early days of JEF was the dismantling – and in some cases burning – of border posts, which would become a symbol for the fight for a united Europe.
After the mid-1950s, the Federalist movement split over different visions of steps towards a world federation. As a result, the #European level of JEF essentially disappeared from the political landscape, but the work of its local, regional and national levels continued.
Throughout the 1960s, JEFers held mock negotiations in Brussels to work out an EC accession treaty for the UK, demonstrated on the spectator benches of the European Parliament demanding its direct elections, and organised protests against the dictatorship in Greece.
These activities helped JEFers to tighten their links again, which resulted in the creation of JEF’s liaison office in 1970. The founding Congress of the Young European Federalists was held in Luxembourg between 25-26 March 1972.
In the 1970s, new topics became increasingly important for JEF: direct elections of the European Parliament, East-West reunification, disarmament, women, the environment and international development. Our Political Platform used the term ‘democratic deficit’ for the first time.
When Jacques Delors became President of the European Commission in 1985 and launched the idea of the Single Market, it seemed a real European #Democracy could be established in a short time. JEF said of itself:
"Simply a Generation Ahead", which is still our motto nowadays.
"Simply a Generation Ahead", which is still our motto nowadays.
In the 1990s three main developments influenced JEF’s work:
1) the return of nationalist wars in Europe
2) the open questions on the enlargement
3) the legitimacy crisis of the European integration, after The Maastricht Treaty created an impression the process was ‘complete’.
1) the return of nationalist wars in Europe
2) the open questions on the enlargement
3) the legitimacy crisis of the European integration, after The Maastricht Treaty created an impression the process was ‘complete’.
In the 2000s, JEF Europe advocated intensely for a European federal constitution and a more democratic Europe. It also focused on promoting the rule of law and human rights, launching a ‘Free Belarus’ action in 2006 that later became an annual ‘Democracy under Pressure’ campaign.
And yes, you heard that right, JEF started advocating for a #FreeBelarus 14 YEARS AGO.
That's how #democracyunderpressure began, and why it is still an extremely relevant endeavour today.
That's how #democracyunderpressure began, and why it is still an extremely relevant endeavour today.
The economic and migration crises have threatened the integration process, necessitating the need for a fiscal union and a more coordinated approach to external borders. In 2016, JEF stood against limitations to the freedom of movement with the ‘Don’t Touch my Schengen’ campaign.
The ‘Brexit referendum’ in 2016 showed that European integration was reversible. In response to it, JEF co-organised the March for Europe on the anniversary of the Rome Treaty in March 2017 and protested against Brexit with over 1 million other pro-Europeans in March 2019.
And now, in 2020, the ongoing COVID19 pandemic and its economic fallout, rule of law violations in Europe, international instability and the climate crisis are threatening our future.
Federalism can potentially offer ground-breaking solutions to these global problems.
Federalism can potentially offer ground-breaking solutions to these global problems.
When one looks at pro-EU protests from 1948 and pro-EU demonstrations from 2018 side by side, one will realise that the differences between both aren't as stark as one would initially expect, with the only noticeable difference being the camera quality, not the scope.
#JEFSpirit embodies a 60 year old endeavour for a fairer, more democratic, more united Europe, which is capable of addressing and combating long-standing, transnational issues, whilst simultaneously securing the rights and freedoms of individual citizens.
JEF’s answer to the several international problems that are knocking on our doors in 2020 remains the same as it always has:
a Democratic, Federal Europe.
a Democratic, Federal Europe.
When you #JoinJEF you form part of the seventy old movement who’s ambitions & beliefs were the same in 1948 as they are in 2020
This is why if you #JoinJEF in 2020, or joined in the 1950s, we’re certain, you’ll always have that fiery #JEFSpirit at heart.
Once a JEFer...
This is why if you #JoinJEF in 2020, or joined in the 1950s, we’re certain, you’ll always have that fiery #JEFSpirit at heart.
Once a JEFer...
