Key points:
- Between 19-21 November, JEF Europe organised its 26th European Congress (General Assembly), which elected the new leadership of the organisation, chose members of key bodies and adopted several political resolutions.
- The newly-elected President Antonio Argenziano outlined his vision for the movement’s priorities for the next two years, including the Conference on the Future of Europe, a European fiscal union, and other topics.
- He will be supported by Vice Presidents Christelle Savall and Juuso Järviniemi along with the Executive Board Members Knut André Sande, Flavia Sandu, Gergana Blazheva, and Helena Robert i Campos, and Treasurer Robin Mudry.
Between 19-21 November 2021, the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) organised its 26th European Congress which gathered nearly 180 participants in Liège, Belgium. As the first large-scale physical assembly of the organisation in two years, the Congress created a political and emotional momentum for JEF and its members who reiterated their commitment to fighting for a democratic European Federation in the years to come.
Antonio Argenziano was elected JEF’s President, succeeding Leonie Martin. Antonio stresses his commitment to continuing the federalist battle during the next 2 years, leading the movement known for its visionary yet rational approach to European integration. Among the priorities of his presidency are the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) and its follow-up, the future of the Next Generation EU and the development of a fiscal union, a stronger EU’s action in foreign affairs and security, the protection of the EU’s fundamental values, the European Year of Youth 2022 and the upcoming 50th anniversary of JEF next March. Internally, Antonio is committed to further promoting diversity and inclusion in JEF as well as developing capacity-building opportunities for its members.
The newly-elected Vice-Presidents Christelle Savall and Juuso Järviniemi will focus their work on strengthening and uniting the network to improve its advocacy potential, especially ahead of the European elections 2024. They will collaborate with Knut André Sande, Flavia Sandu, Gergana Blazheva and Helena Robert i Campos, elected as Executive Board Members, as well as Robin Mudry who became the organisation’s new Treasurer. Milosh Ristovski remains JEF’s Secretary-General and a member of the Board until Spring 2022.
The Congress welcomed “Tineri Europeni” (JEF Romania) as a full member section. It adopted new political resolutions on global governance and inclusion as well as amended the existing positions on the rule of law, fiscal union, youth unemployment, circular economy and EU-Russia relationships. It also amended JEF’s Statutes and the Rules of Procedure to make them fully aligned with the changed Belgian association law.
The biennial European Congress (General Assembly) is the highest decision-making body of JEF Europe, composed of 100 delegates representing the members of the association. In addition to adopting policy resolutions and internal guidelines for the organisation, the Congress elects JEF’s President, Vice-Presidents, Executive Board Members, Treasurer and members of other bodies, including the directly elected Federal Committee members, the Arbitration Board, and the Auditors Committee.
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.
Contact information
Antonio Argenziano, President
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
Rue d’Arlon 53, 1040 Brussels
president@jef.eu
