Year XXXIX, Number 1, July 2026

Daphne Gogou

Vice president of UEF and member of Executive Board of the World Federalist Movement.

The context

The Union of European Federalists (UEF) held with great success in March 2026 in Barcelona its XXIX European Congress. The Congress reaffirmed the unity of all European Federalists and their determination to work closely for deepening the European integration towards a true Federation. It was also a great opportunity for an in-person reunion of politicians, policymakers and federalist activists from different national sections to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the organization's founding and have intensive political debates concerning the future of the European Union and issues of global governance amid ongoing huge geopolitical shifts.

The political debates

The Congress started on 20th March in the afternoon at the Palau Reial de Perdralbes and was organised by the UEF Spain in close cooperation with the UEF Secretariat.

At the inaugural session, from the Spanish local authorities, the Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni and the Head of government of Catalonia Salvador Illa Governor addressed a strong political message underlining the support of Spain to a strong and independent European Union and the urgent need towards a deepened integration. The Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares recalled the current geopolitical challenges, mentioning the war in Ukraine, the dramatic situation in Gaza and the new conflicts in Iran and Lebanon, underlining the need for a united European position on topline policy topics such as peace, international justice, multilateralism, respect of human rights, rule of law, and sustainability. He called for an active participation of the Union in the ongoing efforts for a new global order based on rules and international law.

The President Domenec Devesa gave an overview of the main achievements of the UEF since November 2023 and his election at the head of the Organisation in the Brussels Congress. He recalled the numerous actions and initiatives taken to deepen the European integration in particular since the adoption, in November 2023, by the European Parliament, of the landmark Resolution for EU treaty changes, pushing the Council for launching a Convention. He referred to the public positions systematically taken by the UEF on the main political events during the past two years and in particular since the Trump re-election in the White House. Since that day, the United States has become at best an unrealisable partner and, at worst, a hostile partner for the European Union. He underlined the key role of the UEF on relaunching in October 2025 the Jean Monnet Action Committee III in close cooperation with the Spinelli Group, Jean Monnet House and other partners. Concerning the internal situation of the Organization, he stressed that, despite the financial difficulties of the last year and the limited resources, the UEF supported the strengthening of national sections, the creation of new sections and promoted regional cooperation among federalist sections in particular in the Balkans.

The Congress confirmed the close and constructive cooperation with the Spinelli Group particularly in the past year during the Presidency of MEP Gabi Bischoff. The active participation during the debates of numerous members of the Spinelli Group (Sandro Gozi, Markus Ferber, Andreas Wechsler, Nicolas Farantouris and Thijs Reuten) was extremely useful for bridging grassroots activists' initiatives and formal policymaking actions in the European Parliament. This essential improvement for the democratic accountability of the European federalist movement has been one of the UEF objectives for many years and is also the result of continuous efforts of the previous Presidents of the Spinelli group (Daniel Freund, Lucas Mandl, Brando Benifei and Sandro Gozi).

Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the organisation, the Congress was a great opportunity to recall that the European project is a peace project and that the Union should continue promoting peace, respect of human rights, multilateralism and conflict resolutions based on international law.

In particular during the political debates, it was obvious that the main political obstacle for an effective action of the European Union globally is linked to the massive use (and abuse in some cases) of veto by Member States on strategic political decisions. Therefore priority should be given to the abolition of the unanimity on key policy areas, in particular on security, enlargement, foreign and fiscal policies.

All participants agree that defence has become now the priority issue for the Union. Europe should start developing a holistic approach on security issues and advance with pragmatism on the creation of a Common Defence and Security Union starting with those of the Member States which have the political will and are ready to take clear commitments.

Reference was also made to the Draghi and Letta reports on competitiveness and innovation and underlining the importance of the finalisation of the internal market by 2028. The need for redefining priorities on energy policy and the acceleration of actions and investments towards renewable energy resources was also stressed linking it to the strategic autonomy of the Union as main political objective for the coming years. The effective implementation of measures taken the past years on green economy, climate change and sustainability should remain a priority. Defending the European social model in a period of global instability and raising of inequalities should also be included among the main priorities for the future with the adoption of additional actions and initiatives starting immediately with housing, the new urgency across big European cities for younger generations in particular.

The issue of the upcoming national elections in several Member States and the potential increasing influence of anti-European and populist movements in many Member States were discussed as well as the need for concrete pan-European coordinated actions fighting fake news, disinformation and influence of third countries. Federalists should push for further concrete actions which guarantee fair election processes, rights to access to information for all and political debates focused on key issues for the European citizens.

In order to respond effectively to the new challenges, the participants in the Congress underlined the need for a strong EU budget and rejected proposals which can be seen as steps back on key Common Policies (such as common agriculture policy and regional coherence). They reaffirmed their support to the initiatives taken by the UEF during the ongoing negotiations for the multilateral Financial framework.

The participation of Guy Verhofstadt and Josep Borrell in the political debate was very much appreciated from all participants. Both well-known for their long commitment for the federalist cause and their straight talk, they referred to the current challenges and recommended a pragmatic way to advance the necessary institutional changes in the coming months.

The panel debate with the former Presidents of the Organisation, Jo Leinen, Mercedes Bresso, Andrew Duff, Elmar Brok and Sandro Gozi was a unique moment of emotion, reinforcing the unity of European federalists despite the different political families and ensuring continuity of the Movement. It was also a moment of deep reflection and exchange of views on important policy issues, as the former presidents shared with the participants their opinions and formulated ideas on future initiatives.

The Congress was also a great opportunity to underline the excellent cooperation between the UEF with JEF. In addition, the UEF reaffirmed its commitments to work closely with World Federalist movement towards the United Nations necessary changes, promoting peace, international justice, global democratic governance and multilateralism.

On the margin of the Congress, with the support of the Spanish section, a debate was organising on "rethinking Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation - the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Process". Due to the current crisis and the conflicts in the East Mediterranean, the debate was a unique opportunity to recall historical links, reaffirm that the Mediterranean region is a priority for the European Union, discuss past achievements, launch ideas for further cooperation among civil society organisations in key policy areas (peace, security, environment, sustainable development, education and justice).

Elections and documents adopted

The Congress renewed the election by acclamation of Domenec Devesa as President for the next two years. This election rewarded Domenec's long-term commitment and engagement to federalist cause and particularly his hard work under difficult financial conditions the past period.

The Congress also elected 4 Vice Presidents, the Treasurer, an enlarged Executive Bureau Members with 8 members, the members of the arbitration board and a new Federal Committee.

The Congress adopted a new Manifesto, the first UEF Strategic Plan and two specific Resolutions on Foreign and Security Policy and on European debt.

The elaboration of the Manifesto was a long and intensive process which started in November 2025 during the Federal Committee meeting in Athens. It was a collective effort, summarizing the key priority objectives of the European federalists for the future European integration process towards a strong, democratic and souverain European Federation which would be actively contributing to peace, justice, social progress, sustainable development in the continent and in the world.

The Congress adopted the first UEF Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, an ambitious initiative of the former Executive Bureau, which reflects the legacy of the Organisation and aims at defining a forward-looking vision for the future.

Based on experience of the past decades, the document listed the strategic objectives of the Organisation for the coming years, developed a clear methodology and specified the means to achieve the main priorities.

The Congress approved the creation of a new Dutch section.

Steps forwards

In Barcelona, in March 2026 the European federalists, in the spirit of responsibility based on their long political activism for peace and prosperity in the continent, sent a strong political message calling for a more united Europe capable of defending itself, investing strategically, and acting with real political power. Because Europe can no longer afford paralysis while history accelerates around it, as said Mario Draghi.

Europe cannot remain fragmented if it wants to compete globally and protect its democratic governance and its social model in an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment. A political Union is needed urgently, a Union able to act as an autonomous geopolitical force, as a true global geopolitical actor. A Europe able to defend freedom, human rights, justice, the rule of law, pluralism, and international cooperation not only through words, but through economic, technological, and strategic strength.