A pan-European campaign calling for common defence, Treaty reform and a new phase of political integration for the European Union

 

Brussels, 6 July 2026

 

The Union of European Federalists (UEF), Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) and the Spinelli Group, with the endorsement of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe, are launching the Petition to the European Council for a Union Act, a new pan-European initiative addressed to European, national, regional and local elected representatives, calling for a decisive step forward in European integration.

The petition calls on the European Council to take up its historic responsibility by simultaneously activating two key provisions of the Treaty on European Union: Article 42 TEU, to establish a genuine European common defence, and Article 48 TEU, for a stronger political union based on the Treaty reform adopted by the European Parliament in November 2023. The aim is to make the Union more capable of acting as a geopolitical actor, more democratic and more effective in the face of today’s social, economic and security challenges.

In particular, the petition calls for:

• European common defence — the activation of Article 42 TEU to build a European common defence based on shared capabilities, a common strategic command and effective collective security instruments.
• Federal Political Union — the activation of Article 48 TEU to open the process of Treaty reform aimed at ending the veto, strengthening democratic accountability by further empowering the European Parliament and making the Union more resilient and capable of delivering European public goods, including by reforming the EU budget in a federal direction.

The campaign is addressed to Members of the European Parliament, national and regional parliamentarians, mayors and elected representatives, inviting them to sign the petition, urging their national governments to push the European Council to act.and declare their willingness to participate in an Interparliamentary Assembly (Assises) to relaunch the political integration of Europe.

“Europe can no longer afford to remain suspended between common ambitions and insufficient instruments,” said Domènec Ruiz Devesa, President of the UEF and Member of the European Parliament 2019–2024. “With this petition, we call on elected representatives across Europe to take a clear political initiative: to build a genuine European Defence Union and open Treaty reform for a democratic, effective and solidary European federation. The Union Act is a concrete proposal to turn the will for unity into institutional decisions.”

“Future generations deserve an EU that can protect their freedoms, defend their security and empower them to shape their future. That requires institutions that are fit for today’s challenges. Advancing a European Defence Union and reforming our Treaties means ensuring that our Union can safeguard democracy for decades to come.”

said Hergl Moritz, President of JEF Europe.

 

“The European Union is humanity’s most hopeful project in history.” added Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle, MEP and President of the Spinelli Group “Reforming it will offer Europeans a way of life generations before us could barely imagine. More free, safer and wealthier than ever. That kind of Europe has and will be built by the enthusiasm of its people. So it is time for us to speak up.”

The petition aims to develop a visible civic and parliamentary contribution, building political pressure through a broad coalition of elected signatories across all Member States. Its objective is to bring the Union Act into parliaments, regional councils and local administrations, strengthening the call on national governments to act within the European Council, to join an Interparliamentary Assembly (Assise) to relaunch the political integration of Europe

• Elected representatives (MEPs, national and regional parliamentarians, and mayors) interested in supporting the initiative can sign the petition online at:
  LINK HERE
  • Alternatively, the English text of the petition can be downloaded here:
    LINK HERE
  • The signed form can be sent to: petition@federalists.eu

• The full campaign text is available on the website of the Union of European Federalists: LINK HERE 

 

Press contacts

Mathilde Baudouin, Secretary General of the UEF

secretariat@federalists.eu