Resolution submitted by: JEF Political Commission 1 – Institutions and Governance
Re-adopted and amended to its current form by the Federal Committee on 19 April 2026 in Belgrade, Serbia.

JEF Europe,

• Reaffirming that the best and preferred solution to Europe’s persistent problems is a European federation encompassing as many European states as possible, and that this should be the aim of the European Union as a whole;
• Believing that joining the European Union should imply that the country is willing to politically integrate and to participate in a federal project;
• Concerned about European integration having largely stalled since the Lisbon Treaty in 2007 and further integration being made difficult by the requirement of unanimity;
• Considering that differentiated integration, a “multi-speed Europe”, could allow willing states to move forward without being held back by state governments not ready to accept further integration at this time;
• Recalling that differentiated integration has in the past enabled the creation of a closer union, and its application has since gained more importance with the Maastricht treaty and Amsterdam treaty, which introduced the eurozone and enhanced cooperation respectively;
• Noting that unique country-specific opt-outs have often prolonged the differentiation, on the basis of which such exemptions should not be granted in the future;
• Reaffirming that the euro is the single currency of the European Union and that in the long run, all Member States should join the Eurozone;
• Aware of the fact that the EU remains the most important trade partner and provider of support for political and economic stability of neighbouring countries, and that EU membership has been and will continue to be a primary factor of geopolitical stability;
• Bearing in mind the risk that encouraging the use of flexible ways of integration within the EU, if it is not supported by a concrete political vision, could lead to the stagnation or a progressive crumbling of the European project;
• Mindful of the limitations of existing tools for differentiated integration, such as enhanced cooperation. [see Annex]

JEF Europe therefore,

1. Encourages the Member States to actively pursue all forms of enhanced cooperation in those particularly problematic political sectors that have traditionally been exempted by the European integration process;
2. Calls upon the European Council to ensure that any attempt of having differentiated integration within the EU is supported by a clear and concrete political vision for the EU, that foresees the creation of a political institution based on federal aspects;
3. Urges the willing European Union member states to agree on permanent political integration and to set an example for other countries to join, as a way to a multi-speed Europe ensuring it does not cause further fragmentation and divisions within the European Union;
4. Demands that the European Council and the European Commission ensure that any new form of differentiated cooperation is inclusive in nature and open to enlargement candidates, if they wish, providing that they meet the relevant criteria;
5. Calls for a revision of the Treaties to enable the creation of a federal core and establishing a clear judicial system to resolve potential conflict of sovereignty between the federally integrated and non-participating members;
6. In line with the principles stated above, calls upon willing member states to establish a federal core to proceed with political and economic integration, specifically proposing:
   1. All members of this core group should join the Eurozone;
   2. Creating a fiscal capacity with a dedicated budget, the federal right to levy taxes and the authority to borrow on capital markets within the framework of the federal budget;
   3. Consolidating external representation under a single foreign policy;
   4. Transitioning from cooperation to a fully integrated European Defence Union with shared assets and command structures;
   5. Transferring the management of external borders and migration policy from national authorities to the federal core;
   6. Abolishing the requirement for unanimity in all Council decisions regarding the core group;
   7. Institutionalising a governance structure where only representatives from the participating member states hold voting rights on matters exclusive to the federal core;
   8. All member states of this group unambiguously accept the absolute primacy of European Union law;
7. Urges the European Commission to use trade agreements and partnerships, including association agreements, to foster integration of potential member states, with federation as the final goal. 

This resolution was first adopted by the Federal Committee in Turku on 21 October 2018. It was re-adopted by the online Federal Committee on 26 June 2021. Consequently, re-adopted and amended by the Federal Committee on 11 November 2023 in Madrid, Spain; and re-adopted and amended by the Federal Committee on 19 April 2026 in Belgrade, Serbia, in its current form.