From 30 October to 1 November 2026, the Young European Federalists gathered in Athens for the Autumn Federal Committee (FC). The delegates adopted key policy resolutions, welcomed a new candidate section and selected the host of the next European Congress.

Hosted by our national section of JEF Greece in the birthplace of democracy, the weekend presented an ideal environment for activists to connect and strengthen the federalist vision for the future.

Opening the Federal Committee at the European Parliament Representation and the German Ambassador’s Residence

The FC was officially opened at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Athens, with welcoming remarks by Dimitris Athanasiadis, Secretary General of JEF Mediterranean, Moritz Hergl, President of JEF Europe, and Philip Kamaris, Public Relations Manager of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Athens who all underlined the importance of civil society Engagement of young people. Our President Moritz Hergl connected the opening to the anniversary of our campaign “Democracy under Pressure”, adding that our freedoms are under attack: “As European federalists, it is our duty to stand alongside our Ukrainian brothers and sisters” as the Russian war of aggression continues to rage. 

Later that evening, participants were welcomed by H.E. Andreas Kindl, German Ambassador to Greece, for a reception at his residence. The evening offered a unique opportunity for JEF members to connect and exchange perspectives with ambassadors from various EU Member States. We sincerely thank Ambassador Kindl and the participating diplomats for this extraordinary opportunity to bring young European federalists into direct dialogue with European diplomatic representatives.

Strengthening Our Political Vision

Throughout the weekend, the three Political Commissions discussed and updated JEF Europe’s political positions. Political Commission 1 adopted an updated resolution “Regarding the European Federal Parliament”, reinforcing JEF Europe’s vision for a fully democratic federal institutional architecture. At the heart of the resolution is the establishment of a bicameral federal parliamentary system, in which:

• The current European Parliament would become the Chamber of European Citizens, directly representing European citizens.
• The current Council of the European Union would be transformed into a Federal Senate, representing the constituent states of the European federation.

Political Commission 2 updated two important resolutions:

• “An Accelerated Transition to the Circular Economy”, reinforcing JEF Europe’s commitment to a sustainable economic model that reduces resource consumption, enhances Europe’s environmental action.
• “For a More Inclusive Europe” reaffirms the need to build a Europe where equal opportunities, fundamental rights and social inclusion are guaranteed for everyone.

Following intense and substantive debates, the FC also decided to re-adopt two important resolutions addressing the future of international peace and governance.

• The resolution “Regarding the Future of the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process” reaffirms JEF Europe’s commitment to exploring federalist, confederal and “two states plus” arrangements for Israel and Palestine. It strongly supports examining proposals for a binational confederation or federation, with constitutional guarantees for equal rights, democratic representation, security, respect for individual and collective rights, national identities and self-determination, the rule of law and subsidiarity.
• The Federal Committee also re-adopted the resolution “Building Democratic International Institutions Towards a World Federation”, which reaffirms JEF Europe’s commitment to global federalism and the democratisation of international institutions.

These decisions underline that federalism is not only a project for Europe, but also a political vision for building peace, democracy and cooperation beyond borders.

Strengthening the JEF Network & expanding to Armenia

An important milestone was the decision to accept JEF Armenia as a candidate section of JEF Europe, following a presentation of the organisation’s recent establishment and activities. This marks a strategic step in expanding the European federalist movement and strengthening connections with young Europeans across the continent. We warmly welcome JEF Armenia into our network and look forward to supporting its development and cooperation with other JEF sections.

The delegates also adopted important internal decisions, such as resolutions addressing sustainability at JEF statutory events and the development of regional cooperation networks. The Federal Committee also co-opted Astrid Euwe Wyss as Co-Chair of Political Commission 3, strengthening the commission’s leadership for the upcoming mandate.

Helsinki to Host the JEF Europe Congress 2027!

Following presentations of the competing bids, the Federal Committee voted in favour of JEF Finland’s proposal to host the Congress in Helsinki. We look forward to bringing together young federalists from across Europe in the Finnish capital for our next Congress in autumn 2027.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to JEF Georgia, which together with JEF Ukraine, brought forward a courageous bid to host the Congress in Tbilisi. 

European Politics Can Be Spooky Sometimes!

Of course, a JEF Federal Committee would not be complete without opportunities to connect beyond the formal political debates. On Saturday evening, participants came together for a Halloween party, proving once again that European politics cannot only be spooky sometimes, but also a lot of fun! 🎃

Thank You, JEF Greece!

The FC was made possible thanks to the extraordinary commitment of our hosts and partners. We extend our gratitude to JEF Greece for the impeccable organisation, warm hospitality and dedication that made the weekend such a success.

We are also grateful to the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance for hosting the Federal Committee’s working sessions, and to the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Athens for its financial contribution towards making this important statutory event possible.

Our thanks also goes to the FC Presidium, led by Francesca Marini and Valentin Petri, who steered us through the many debates and agenda points. From Athens, JEF Europe emerges with renewed political commitments, a growing network and a clear ambition: to continue building a democratic, sustainable and federal Europe, while advancing federalist solutions for peace and democracy across the world.