JEF Europe’s 2023 Congress: Our hope for a Federal Europe is strengthened!

Brussels, 16 November 2023

Key points

• Between the 10th and 12th of November, the 27th European Congress took place in Madrid where a new Board was elected, the EurHope campaign results announced and policy priorities were defined together with the election of new political bodies.
• The newly-elected President Christelle Savall shared her vision for the movement, focusing on striving for peace-building in a time of crisis in Europe and empowering the members of JEF to keep campaigning and building the Europe of the future. 
• Christelle will lead JEF Europe for the next two years together with Vice Presidents Xesc Mainzer Cardell and Martin B. Penov along with the Executive Board Members Kati Systä, Nikos Chircop, Hanna Lein-Mathisen, Alexiane Terrochaire – – Barbançon and the Treasurer, Alexandros Apostolidis.

Between the 10th and 12th of November 2023, the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) organised its 27th Congress in Madrid with the support of its national section JEF Spain and its local team in Madrid. The Congress gathered more than 200 participants from across Europe who are gearing up for the European elections with the goal of being a force for hope for the future.

Christelle Savall was elected President, following her predecessor Antonio Argenziano. After 11 years as an activist for a federal Europe, Christelle has stepped into a new leadership role, having served as Vice President of JEF Europe for the last two years. She sets a vision for the movement based on peace-building in a world torn apart by armed conflicts, focusing on enlargement and treaty change as the basis  for a reformed Europe. As the European elections are approaching, Christelle described the flagship campaign EurHope for the elections as a stepping stone for the movement. 

The newly elected Vice Presidents, Xesc Mainzer Cardell and Martin B. Penov set their path ahead based on building an inclusive and diverse Europe. In addition four members of the Executive Board were elected; Kati Systä, Nikos Chircop, Hanna Lein-Mathisen, Alexiane Terrochaire – – Barbançon and the Treasurer, Alexandros Apostolidis. Judit Lantai remains JEF’s Secretary-General. The Congress also elected members to the other statutory bodies, including the Federal Committee, Arbitration Board and the Auditors Committee.

On the occasion of the Congress, the results of the first phase of the EurHope campaign, the flagship campaign of JEF Europe with Make.org for the European elections, were presented in a high-level event at the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid. The presentation of results was opened by the Vice president of the European Commission Dubravka Šuica and it was then shared and discussed with political representatives, amongst whom Guy Verhofstadt, and relevant representatives of civil society and experts. The proposals emerging from this first phase have shaped the drafting of an Agenda of Hope, set to be shared with European institutions and political actors. 

The Congress welcomed new national sections into JEF Europe’s growing family: JEF Albania, JEF Estonia, JEF Ireland, JEF Luxembourg, JEF Hungary, JEF Serbia and JEF Georgia. In addition, JEF Georgia became a candidate section.

The Congress also adopted  several policy resolutions; a multi-speed Europe towards a federal Europe,  a federal police, freedom of movement, European industry, building a common migration and asylum policy, as well as enlarging towards the Eastern Partnership and Switzerland. Internal resolutions were also passed through an update of the Code of Conduct and setting up concrete actions to keep building a movement that is equal, inclusive and diverse.

The hope for a federal Europe has been strengthened and with a new vision the mission of JEF Europe carries on.

About JEF Europe

The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) is a political youth NGO advocating for the creation of a democratic European federation as a guarantee for peace, the rule of law and human rights. JEF Europe promotes true European citizenship, works for the widening and deepening of the European Union and strives for a more just and integrated society on the European continent. Established in 1972, the organisation has more than 10,000 activists organised in over 300 national, regional and local sections in 37 countries. The ideals and aims of JEF Europe are defined in the Manifesto of Ventotene, the Political Platform and resolutions adopted by its statutory bodies.

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