The Federal Committee of the Union of European Federalists (UEF),
- having regard to the Ventotene Manifesto of 1941,
- having regard to the Laeken Declaration on the future of Europe of 15 December 2001,
- having regard to the Manifesto Our federal Europe: sovereign and democratic launched on 9 May 2021 by the Spinelli Group, UEF and the European Movement International (EMI),
- having regard to the UEF Resolution adopted by the UEF Congress: Our Federal Europe, Sovereign and Democratic on 4 July 2021,
- having regard to Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),
- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 4 May 2022 on the follow-up to the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe,
- having regard to the report of 9 May 2022 on the final outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe (the Conference),
- having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 9 June 2022 on the call for a convention on the revision of the Treaties,
- having regard to the Proposal of a Manifesto for a Federal Europe: Sovereign, Social and Ecological, adopted in Ventotene on 29th of August 2022 by the Spinelli Group,
A. whereas in 2023 we will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the European Congress celebrated in The Hague in 1948,
B. whereas the current Treaties entered into force on 1 December 2009 and during these years the Union has faced unprecedent transnational challenges as climate change, Brexit, covid pandemic or the blatant war of aggression provoked by Russia in Ukraine,
C. whereas the last Convention on the Future of the European Union, was established by the European Council in December 2001 as a result of the Laeken Declaration more than 20 years ago,
D. whereas on 9 May 2022 the Conference finished its work and presented its conclusions, including legislative proposals and the call for a convention; whereas in addition to legislative proposals, the opening of a process of institutional reforms is needed in order to implement their conclusions and strengthen the mechanisms citizens’ participation;
E. whereas new policies and new provisions in a new federal Treaty are necessary in the interests of all EU citizens, as a way to strengthen the EU capacity to act and its European public sphere;
F. whereas, after the adoption of the European Parliament’s resolutions of 4th of May and 9th of June, the Council has delayed the transmission of the activation of article 48 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) to the European Council until at least spring 2023;
G. Taking into account that even if there is a majority in the European Council for the activation of the article 48 TEU to reform the Treaties it will be very difficult to hold it in a pre-election year.
The Federal Committee of the UEF:
1. Welcomes the achievements and the leadership of the European Parliament in the Conference and the resolutions of 4th May and 9th of June;
2. Calls in a European federal Constitution in order to establish a genuine European democracy, from an institutional point of view by abolishing unanimity in Council and extending co-decision with Parliament in all the policy areas (including more competences developing the right of Initiative and the right of inquiry of the EP);
Therefore, the UEF FC proposes in order to achieve this:
1. A new European Congress in the 75th Anniversary of the Hague Congress alongside the EMI for the European Civil Society,
2. Advocates for the establishment of an interparliamentary Conference in 2023 under the Spanish Council presidency starting in 1st of July 2023 and composed by the European Parliament and the 27 national parliaments;
3. Calls for a Constituent Convention to be organised right after the 2024 European Parliament Elections and for a leading role of the European Parliament on the basis of the Conference conclusions;
4. Firmly believes that based on the Constituent Convention outcome the European Parliament should adopt a constituent role in order to propose a Federal Constitution.
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Dear FC Members,
I hope this message finds you well.
On behalf of Domènec [Ruiz Devesa] and myself in our quality as FC Members, please find attached a draft resolution on the critical issue "Convention versus Constituent role of the EP", in the backdrop of the document circulated by Pier Virgilio Dastoli and Francois Mennerat, for you consideration and comments.
As you can see, we have tried to make a creative synthesis of the two positions, so everyone could eventually feel represented in this paper.
Since the deadline for tabling draft resolutions is on Sat 19 November, please if you are interested in contributing to this draft, kindly send your inputs to it before Thursday 17 eob. Therefore, we have one day to integrate all your comments and contributions, which will be very much welcome in order to have the most inclusive resolution possible.
This means that if you would like to contribute to this text, you have almost one full week to do so.
Looking forward to your comments and observations,
Thank you in advance and kind regards
Alejandro Peinado