5th Federalist Convention – Brussels 21-22 November
We are glad to invite you to the 5th European Federalist Convention!
REGISTER NOW: www.efpBrussels2015.eventbrite.com
The eurocrisis and the refugees crisis demonstrated that today’s Europe is not able to tackle key challenges. Selfishness and short-termism have paralysed Europe over the past six years while the world has become increasingly unstable. In the same vein, the Paris attacks of November 13th highlighted once again the failure of our national intelligence services which, by refusing to share effectively crucial information, are proving incapable of protecting our principles and our way of life and, by doing so, are putting in danger our own security.
It is now time for Europeans to realise that only united we can tackle today’s challenges. The European Union has to evolve if it wants to be able to provide future generations with the same quality of life that older generations enjoyed. Pro-Europeans and federalists need to overcome their differences and focus on a common vision, that of a Europe that is both fully democratic and able to keep up with a changing world.
It is paradoxical to think that nationalists and Eurosceptics manage to cooperate more than pro-Europeans: this has to change. The 5th European Federalist Convention will be the first occasion to discuss these challenges and possibly put forward a new shared federalist vision for the years to come.
Please, for updates, check also our Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/events/1173191149362787/ ):
PROGRAMME
| Friday, 20 November 2015 | |
| 20:00 | Dinner (optional – for those arriving earlier in Brussels)
Venue: Rêve d’Asie, Rue Jules Van Praet 19, 1000 Bruxelles (menu: estimated €20 per person) |
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Saturday, 21 November 2015 (1st part – PRE-CONVENTION CONFERENCE: open to the press & the public) (Venue: Press Club Brussels Europe, Rue Froissart 95, 1000 Brussels) |
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| 8:30 – 9:00 | Welcoming of Participants |
| 9:00 – 09:15 | Opening statements
Pietro De Matteis, President, European Federalist Party (10 min) Richard Laub, President, Stand Up for Europe (EFP section in Belgium, 3 min) Bàlint Gyéval, Benjamin de Vanssay, EFP youth representatives (Students for Europe) (2 min) |
| 9:15 – 10:00 | Guest of Honour
Introduction by Sophie Heine, EFP Board member, Stand Up Spokesperson (2 min) “Justifying Europe” by Professor Philippe Van Parijs, philosopher and political economist (30 min) Q&A (13 min) |
| 10:00 – 11:00 |
The refugee / migration challenge Chair: Richard Laub, President, Stand Up for Europe (EFP section in Belgium) Keynote Speaker: Thomas Huddleston, Migration Policy Group (MPG) (20 min) Commentator: Dafni Gogou, Lawyer, Expert on Migration/Fundamental Rights issues, President of European Demos (10 min) Q&A (30 min) |
| 10:45 – 11:00 | Coffee break |
| 11:00-13:00 | Challenge for European Federalists: United We Stand (?)
Chair: Georgios Kostakos, Vice President, European Federalist Party Michele Ciavarini Azzi, UEF Belgium (3 min) Paolo Vacca, Secretary-General, UEF-Europe (3 min) Peter Oomsels, retiring Vice President, JEF-Europe (3 min) Roger Casale, Founder and Director, New Europeans (3 min) Tommy Tomescu, President, Europeans Party (3 min) Philippe Mazuel, President, Party of the Citizens of Europe (PACE) (3 min) Jourdain Vaillant, founder, Nouvelle Donne (3 min) Pietro De Matteis, President, European Federalist Party (3 min) Panel discussion and Q&A |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch break / Light reception |
| 14:00 – 14:45 | The “Cost of non-Europe” or Why Europe would be better off as a Federation
Richard Laub, President, Stand Up for Europe (EFP section in Belgium) and Roland Vaxelaire, Board Member, Stand Up for Europe (20 min in total) Q&A (25 min) |
| 14:45 – 15:00 | Public session closing remarks
Pietro De Matteis/Georgios Kostakos, Richard Laub/Jacques De Ridder |
| 15:00 – 15:30 | Coffee break |
2nd PART – CLOSED SESSION for EFP/Stand Up Members only
EFP General Assembly
Agenda:
- Activity reports by EFP central bodies and sections
- Elections / confirmations and EFP financial management
- Policy proposals and new positions
- Strengthening the EFP
- Key EFP initiatives for the coming year(s)
| Saturday, 21 November 2015
(Venue: Press Club Brussels Europe, Rue Froissart 95, 1000 Brussels) |
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| 15:30 – 16:45
16:45 – 17:30 |
1. Activity reports by EFP central bodies and sections
Chair: Fernanda Neutel and Emmanuel Rodary a. Report of the Federal Board (5 min) b. Report of the Federal Council (5 min) c. Reports from national and regional sections (each coordinator takes the floor for 5 min): Jacques De Ridder/Richard Laub (Belgium), Yves Gernigon/Helene Feo (France), Cedric Suzanne/regional sections representatives (France regional sections), Alfredo Saltiel/Harry Stamelos (Greece), Aron Barabas/Agnes Darabos (Hungary), Stuart Clark/Stephan Nedregaard (UK) , Marco Marazzi/Marco Trebbi (Italy). d. Reports of observer sections (each coordinator takes the floor for 3 min): Bengt Beier (Austria), Mathias Scheele/Thomas Gstettenbauer (Germany), Fernanda Neutel (Portugal). e. Discussion 2. Elections / confirmations and EFP financial management Chair: Pietro De Matteis and Georgios Kostakos a. Confirmation of the two new EFP Board members (Richard Laub, Sophie Heine) b. Clearance of EFP accounts c. Call for assistance with EFP financial management d. Call for new Auditors |
| 17:30 – 19:30 | 3. Policy proposals and new positions
Chair: Pietro De Matteis and Georgios Kostakos a. EFP position on migration: To get the discussion started: Bengt Beier b. EFP position on TTIP: Presentation of position adopted by Federal Council: Fernanda Neutel c. EFP position on Brexit and multi-speed Europe/federal core: To get the discussion started: Stuart Clark and Stephan Nedregaard d. Other proposals / review of the EFP programme, working groups till next convention. |
| 20:00 | Dinner (optional)
Venue: Kafenio, Rue Stevin 134, 1000 Bruxelles (menu: estimate €25 per person) |
| Sunday, 22 November 2015
(Venue: League des Optimistes, Avenue Alfred Solvay 1, 1170 Brussels / Boitsfort) |
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| 9:30 – 11:30
11:30 – 13:45
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4. Strengthening the EFP
a. Reinforcement of EFP structures to improve coordination: To get the discussion started: Fernanda Neutel (Chair, Federal Council), Michel Caillouet (Board Member responsible for Communication), Pietro De Matteis. b. Experience with electoral alliances with other parties: To get the discussion started: Jacques de Ridder, Harry Stamelos / Alfredo Saltiel, Yves Gernigon, Bengt Beier, Marco Marazzi. c. Membership and new sections drive d. Fundraising drive 5. Key EFP initiatives for the coming year(s) a. Common Borders ECI: To get the discussion started: Marco Marazzi and Bengt Beier (Responsible for the Common Borders Campaign) b. The road towards the 2019 EP elections! “Federating the federalists how to move ahead?”: To get the discussion started: Richard Laub and Pietro De Matteis |
| 13:45 – 14:50 | Closing remarks |
| 14:00 – 16:00 |
Lunch (optional) Venue: La Fattoria,Boulevard du Souverain 3, 1170 Watermael-Boitsfort (tbc) |
Nota Bene:
1) Stand Up for Europe is the Belgian section of the European Federalist Party. As such, members of “Stand Up for Europe” are assimilated to the members of the European Federalist Party).
2) The Convention will take place in two separate locations (click on the maps for more info):
- On Saturday it will take place at: Press Club Brussels Europe, rue Froissart 95, Bruxelles 1000 (metro stop: Schuman)
- On Sunday it will take place at: Avenue Alfred Solvay, 1, Bruxelles 1170. (To get there: Take Metro Line 5 direction: Hermann-Debroux. Get off at Hermann-Debroux. Get Tram 94 direction: Louise. Get off at Delleur)
3) If you wish to make a donation to support our activities and cover part of the costs of organising this Convention please visit: http://federalistparty.eu/make-a-donation/
4) You cannot attend but you trust somebody to vote for you? Give your Proxy to a member that will join us for the convention. To do so print and fill in this form.