At the beginning of March, a delegation of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) visited Kyiv following an invitation from JEF Ukraine and the National Youth Council of Ukraine. The visit centred around a youth simulation as part of the CompletEU project. In the simulation, the Ukrainian participants represented different European countries debating about Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, providing a practical framework for participants to explore the EU accession process. The discussions focused on different policy areas, institutional requirements, and the broader political implications of enlargement.

In the mean time, the JEF Europe delegation consisting of Moritz Hergl (President), Debora Striani (Vice-President), Konstantine Gagnidze (Executive Board Member), as well as Ani Sulikashvili and Visvaldis Bērziņš (Co-Chairs of Political Commission 3), had the opportunity to explore the current context in Ukraine, where daily life continues alongside the ongoing consequences of Russia’s war of aggression. While the security situation remains volatile, the city of Kyiv continues to function, with public life, economic activity, and civic engagement ongoing.

During the visit, the delegation also held meetings with Ukrainian partners, including the Ukrainian Youth Foundation and representatives of pro-European political actors, including the youth wing of the Servant of the People party. These exchanges focused on current priorities in youth policy, democratic participation, and European integration. As part of the visit, JEF Europe shared a Ukrainian translation of the Ventotene Manifesto with JEF Ukraine. While historical contexts differ, references to the manifesto provided an opportunity to connect ongoing debates on enlargement with broader reflections on the development of the European project.

We remain in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, continue to advocate for its full territorial integrity, and urge European leaders to pave the way for Ukraine’s EU membership.

 

If you have any questions on our visit to Ukraine, please reach out to Moritz Hergl.