| Young European Federalists | |
|---|---|
Logo of JEF-Europe |
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| Motto | Simply a generation ahead. |
| Formation | 1972 |
| Type | Political Youth NGO |
| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium |
| Location | Europe |
| Membership | 25,000 |
| Official languages | English |
| President | Pauline Gessant |
| Key people | Emilia Machuca, Martin Fischer, Ruben Loodts, Jakob Andkjær Pedersen. |
| Website | jef.eu |
Young European Federalists (JEF, French Jeunes Européens fédéralistes) is a political youth organisation. Active in most European countries and with around 25,000 members, it seeks to promote European integration through the strengthening and democratisation of the European Union (EU). JEF has close ties to the European Movement and the Union of European Federalists and is a full member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ). Former activists of JEF are organised in the Friends of JEF.
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The now existing JEF was founded in the 1970s.
According to its statutes, JEF is a non-partisan and non-denominational European NGO. It advocates for a united Europe with a federal structure. At the centre of JEF's political program is the demand for a federal constitution for Europe, whose core element is a two-chamber Parliament (consisting of a directly elected chamber and a chamber of states). Hereby, JEF insists on the subsidiarity principle as a form of decentralized distribution of powers. Another key element is the demand for a unified foreign and security policy of the European Union. JEF is committed to comprehensive reform of the EU towards more democracy, participation, transparency, efficiency and sustainability. In addition to the policy objectives, the organisation tries in particular to promote European awareness among young people and encourage civic activism.
JEF spreads its ideas by the following means:
Consequently, the organisation encourages debate on European affairs and EU policies while fostering youth mobility and exchanges throughout the continent, thus seeking to involve European Citizens, in particular young people, from all across the continent in the process of European integration.
JEF has about 25,000 members in 31 widely autonomous national sections, which are coordinated by a European umbrella organisation, JEF-Europe.[2].
JEF-Europe is an International association without lucrative purpose (IVZW/AISBL) under Belgian law. The European Secretariat is based in Brussels.
The highest decision-making body of JEF is the European Congress, which meets every two years in a different city. The delegates are elected by the members of national sections or their representatives in proportion to the number of subscribers of each section.
The Congress elects the President and two Vice Presidents as well as 20 directly elected members of the Federal Committee.
The Federal Committee (FC) meets twice a year and is composed by the President, the two Vice Presidents, the 20 members directly elected by the Congress, and a number of national representatives corresponding appointed by each of the national member sections. The Secretary General, the Treasurer, and additional co-opted members participate in the meeting without a voting right.
The Federal Committee is chaired by a presidium of three members and adopts the political and strategical guidelines and oversees the activity of the Executive Bureau. It elects four additional members of the Executive Bureau and ratifies the appointment of the Secretary General and the Treasurer.
The Executive Board (EB) is chaired by the President and includes the two Vice Presidents, the Secretary General, the Treasurer, and at least four elected Federal Committee members. It is responsible for the implementation of the external and internal policy resolutions adopted by the Congress and the Federal Committee and the management of the organisation.
It meets at least four times every year.
Since the 19th European Congress the Executive Bureau is composed by:
Executive Board Members:
Since 2011: Pauline Gessant, 2009-2011 Philippe Adriaenssens, 2007-2009: Samuele Pii, 2005-2007: Jan Seifert, 2003-2005: Jon Worth, 2001-2003: Alison Weston, 1999-2001: Paolo Vacca, 1997-1999: Philip Savelkoul, 1995-1997: Ugo Ferruta, 1993-1995: Tor Eigil Hodne, 1991-1993: Stephen Woodard, 1989-1991: Giannis Papageorgiou, 1987-1989: Lars Erik Nordgaard,1985-87: Manfred Auster, 1983-85: Franco Spoltore, 1981-83: David Grace, 1979-1981: Richard Corbett, 1977-1978: Jean Jacques Anglade, 1976-1977: Flor van de Velde, 1974-1976: Julian Priestley, 1972-74 Peter Osten.
Since 2010: Ruben Loodts, 2008-2010: Peter Matjašič, 2006-2008: Vassilis Stamogiannis, 2004-2006: Joan Marc Simon, 2002-2004: Marianne Bonnard, 2000-2002: Niki Klesl, 1998-2000: Laura Davis, 1996-1998: Tobias Flessenkemper, 1994-1996: Ingo Linsenmann, 1992-1994: Bernd Hüttemann, 1992: Soraya Usmani Martinez, 1989-1991: Irmeli Karhio, 1987-1989: Monica Frassoni, 1985-1987 Giannis Papageorgiou, 1984-1985: Susana Roson, 1982-1984:Tore Nedrebo, 1981-1982: Eva Finzi, 1980-1981: David Grace, 1977-1980: Jacques Vantomme, 1975-1977: Gerda Grootjes
Several current and former influential members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including Richard Corbett and Jo Leinen (PES), Tom Spencer (Conservative) and Monica Frassoni (Greens), and its former Secretary General Sir Julian Priestley served as JEF officers in their teens and twenties.