This Article is published in the context of JEF Europe’s Democracy Under Pressure (DUP) Action Week
In recent weeks, Europeans have come out in masses to defend their democracy and call upon their governments to choose a pro-European course. The immediate reasons were varied, but in many of these demonstrations, ranging from hundreds to tens of thousands, JEFers and other parts of the federalist movement have been an integral or organizing part of the protests.
TNF has already covered the protests. We have now asked three JEFers from Italy, Germany, and Romania to get their personal perspective on the protests.
Cesare Ceccato from JEF Italy (Gioventù Federalista Europea)
Journalist Michele Serra had given an appointment to anyone who recognised themselves in the values and ideals of the European Union in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo (People’s Square). The invitation was enthusiastically accepted: 50,000 people answered the call, transforming that symbolic place into the beating heart of Europeanist sentiment in Italy. For the entire day of 15 March 2025, the People’s Square became the square of the European People’s square.
The European Union continues to represent a bulwark against hatred and nationalism. Precisely because of its history and founding principles, it has the potential to strengthen and democratise international organisations, contributing to the construction of a more stable and lasting global peace. However, recent discussions on “Rearm Europe” have generated doubts and divisions, prompting some to question the future of continental integration. But Europe does not end with the contingent political decisions of the European Commission: Europe is first and foremost an idea, a project born from the vision outlined in the Ventotene Manifesto.
Europe is not the Commission nor the European Council, Europe is its citizens, “L’Europa siamo noi” (“Europe is us”) as the slogan in the square read.
Europe is a democratic space where the voice of the citizens is sovereign. And a voice rose up, loud and clear, from the packed square; a shout launched by the Gioventù Federalista Europea (Young European Federalists) that soon engulfed those thousands of people, that still emerges in the television recordings of the event and that listening to it gives one goosebumps: United States of Europe, “Federazione Europea Subito!” (“European Federation right now!”)
Melanie Thut from JEF Gemany (Junge Europäische Föderalist:innen Deutschland)
Next to the historical remnants of the former Berlin Wall members of JEF and UEF Germany together with other pro-european organisations gathered on the afternoon of the 15.03.2025 to protest for a united, capable and reformed European Union. The demonstration was led by young federalists. The activists shouted and proclaimed their vision of an open federalist society. ‘We must defend our European way of life against neo-imperialism from Russia, the new Trump administration and the Chinese autocracy.
The world order as we know it is being destroyed and the hour of federalism has struck, I said in the demonstration. In the context of the ongoing coalition negotiations in Germany, the speakers emphasised that the new German government must proactively work towards the further development of Europe into a federal state. The security and future of European citizens is at stake. Ukraine must prevail. European citizens of all generations sang peacefully together and sent a clear signal of solidarity and peace and against hatred, division and rising nationalism. In line with the origins of the federalist movement in the anti-fascist resistance, the demand is clear: Federazione Europea – Subito!
Dan Stănescu from JEF Romania (Tineri Europeni)
I took part in EuroManifest to support the effort to reassert our European identity and commitment to the European future. It is critical that the pro-European movement reclaims public space after the fascists have staged several protests against the annulment of the elections.
EuroManifest provided an opportunity to reconnect with people who share common beliefs, which is the most important thing. Democracy is not a given; it is an ideal that must be fought for and continually protected. That is why these demonstrations are critical to the pro-European camp’s success in the forthcoming presidential elections.
With the closing of the Democracy Under Pressure Campaign, it is evident that federalists are among the first line of defense against the threats to our democracy and freedom. And federalism remains the answer to nationalist hatred, division and government oppression.
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