A: No, the idea of a European Federation predates the EU itself. The original European idea has always, implicitly or explicitly, leaned towards a federal structure.

A. No. The EU at this time, as the new Ventotene Manifesto points out: “remains a hybrid entity that combines intergovernmental and federalist features, thereby posing some fundamental dilemmas in the domains of democratic legitimacy and capacity to act.” While federal elements exist (like the European Parliament), the EU largely operates as a bureaucratic technocracy, lacking fundamental legitimacy.

A. Recently, there has been discussion about EU treaty revisions, driven by pro-federalist MEPs. This culminated in the European Parliament’s November 2023, Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties. These were forwarded to the Council to be discussed in the March 2024 European Summit. The Summit however deferred these discussions to the summer. Despite endorsements from various EU leaders, a roadmap or consensus on federalization is still lacking. Given the opposition from many European parties and the expected success of national sovereignists in the upcoming EU parliamentary elections, federalization remains a challenging and contentious goal.

A: A Federal Structure would enhance transparency and democratization, fostering greater citizen involvement in governance. It would also better coordinate social, scientific, technological, and cultural development, and allow for the pooling of common resources towards democratically agreed-upon strategies.

A. Yes and No. The current proposal for the reform of the treaties mentioned above, suggests the creation of a European Defense Union including military units and a permanent rapid deployment capacity under the auspices of the Union. So a unified European Army can either indeed subsume all national armies, or be a force that is in coordination, but independent of other armies, under the control of the federal executive.

A: To some extent, this has already occurred under current EU governance. A federal structure could enhance sovereignty, especially for smaller and medium-sized members, by clearly defining the boundaries and competences between federal and national governments. The current system allows national governments to hide behind EU decisions made in closed meetings, acting against citizens’ interests. The Rome Manifesto states:

“Vertical separation of powers will be achieved by neatly dividing the competences of the Federal Union and the competences of the member states. Sovereignty will be divided between the Union and its member states according to the principle of subsidiarity.

The Federal Union shall have competence in foreign affairs and immigration, counter-terrorism and defence, the internal market, competition and trade. It will have a common currency and a fiscal policy designed to ensure the proper functioning of the economic and monetary union.

The Federal Union shall not be a super-state. It will refrain from overly intrusive regulation. Any competence which is not explicitly delegated to the Union shall remain with the member states. Moreover, some competences which are currently exercised at EU level can be repatriated to the member states”

A: No. Similar to the US, a basic set of rules and oversight can be provided by the European Court of Justice, but member states would maintain their own justice systems and legal codes, compatible with but not fixed by the Federal Union’s basic laws.

A: Federalization can follow various routes. The proposed Treaty reforms from the European Parliament aim towards a more federal framework, though they face opposition. One possibility is establishing a constituent assembly, directly elected by EU citizens, to draft fundamental institutional documents, followed by national and European referenda to validate the transition. Alternatively, federalization could occur gradually, with a coalition of willing countries embracing the federal structure, allowing others to join at their own pace.

“Vertical separation of powers will be achieved by neatly dividing the competences of the Federal Union and the competences of the member states. Sovereignty will be divided between the Union and its member states according to the principle of subsidiarity.

The Federal Union shall have competence in foreign affairs and immigration, counter-terrorism and defence, the internal market, competition and trade. It will have a common currency and a fiscal policy designed to ensure the proper functioning of the economic and monetary union.

The Federal Union shall not be a super-state. It will refrain from overly intrusive regulation. Any competence which is not explicitly delegated to the Union shall remain with the member states. Moreover, some competences which are currently exercised at EU level can be repatriated to the member states”

A: The upcoming European Parliament elections are crucial. The Parliament, as the only directly elected EU body, is central to any democratization efforts. However, there is a significant threat from far-right populists who may become a dominant force in the Parliament (ECR and ID groups). This could hinder democratization plans and lead to nationalist retrenchment. This at a time when the international situation not only demands coordinated and externalized actions, but also requires a strategy that will allow Europe to navigate through very difficult geopolitical times. Sadly this sort of leadership was lacking and the nationalist wave presents simplistic solutions of a return to an imagined sovereign past, that will exacerbate current problems and lead to an even deeper crisis.

A. There are three primary distinctions:

1. “Together for Europe – Movement for a European Federal Europe” is fundamentally a movement. Its goal is to mobilize European citizens at the grassroots level, transforming them into a cohesive and impactful political force for change.
2. Unlike other organizations that seek to “reform” the European Union’s current structure, “Together for Europe – Movement for a European Federal Europe” aims to establish a totally new federal state. This proposed state could either include the existing EU member countries (and any other European nation that adheres to its principles) or even, if some European countries choose not to join the new federal state, it could be part of a new European Union but as a single, unified state.
3. The movement is guided by the principles outlined in the Rome Manifesto, a document it has endorsed and regards as the foundational framework for the envisioned European Federation.