JEF Europe’s Press release | It’s #TimeToChangeEurope: Join the Strasbourg Summit!

Europe is at the crossroads and it’s now time to act to move it in the right direction. While the Conference on the Future of Europe is nearing its end, the follow-up process still remains undefined. It’s uncertain if the voices of thousands of Europeans engaged in this year-long consultation will be heard by key decision-makers. You are invited to join our Strasbourg Summit between 5-8 May 2022 to demand the implementation of citizens’ proposals made during the Conference in order to bring about a Europe we want and deserve!

The Summit will be a space for civil society organisations from all over Europe to present themselves and share their enthusiasm for a better Europe in a series of workshops and activities organised between Thursday and Sunday. The key moment of the event will be the March for Europe starting at 16:00 CEST on Saturday 7th May from Place Kléber. We hope to meet you there – together, we can seize the historical opportunity for reforming our Union. You can find the full Summit programme on the dedicated website. 

With the official conclusion of the Conference taking place on 9 May, the Strasbourg Summit will be an opportunity to highlight the dedication of European civic society and citizens to the Conference and EU reform at large. We aim to send a signal to the European institutions and national governments that we won’t let the Conference outcomes end up as a mere PDF publication on the EU’s website. 

The scope of the proposals made by citizens so far calls for a genuine EU reform which can be implemented through a European Constituent Assembly developing a new EU treaty or at least comprehensively amending the existing treaties. While the official Conference hashtag is #TheFutureIsYours, it’s far from granted that the future we want becomes a reality – unless we fight for it together!

About JEF France

Les Jeunes Européens – France (JEF France) brings together more than 1,100 young people between the ages of 16 and 35, in 35 cities in France, all committed to carrying out civic action in the general interest and taking an active part in the construction of a European federation. Since 1992, the organisation has asserted itself as a youth force but also as a player in the public debate and in European popular and civic education. Our volunteers work with young people through educational interventions to raise awareness of European issues, but also on the web, in particular with our participative webzine Le Taurillon, and also organise street actions or debates, thus bringing the European public debate to life on a daily basis. JEF France is the French national section of the Young European Federalists, and is also affiliated to the European Movement – France, the National Council of Youth and Popular Education Associations (CNAJEP), Animafac and the French Youth Forum.

About JEF Europe

The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) is a political youth NGO advocating for the creation of a democratic European federation as a guarantee for peace, the rule of law and human rights. JEF Europe promotes true European citizenship, works for the widening and deepening of the European Union and strives for a more just and integrated society on the European continent. Established in 1972, the organisation has more than 10,000 activists organised in over 250 national, regional and local sections in 31 countries. The ideals and aims of JEF Europe are defined in the Manifesto of Ventotene, the Political Platform and resolutions adopted by its statutory bodies.

Previous positions on EU reform

• 2021.11.30 JEF Europe & JEF Germany joint press statement: The new German government has a clear message: Time for a European Federation!
• 2021.09.15 JEF Europe press statement: Many steps but in what direction? Europe needs a fresh vision for an Ever Closer Union
• 2021.06.21 JEF Europe press statement: The Future of Europe belongs to its Citizens!
• JEF Europe CoFoE proposals

Contact information