Federal Committee Member
Below you can find the current published candidacies for the position of directly elected Federal Committee Member of JEF Europe. Sixteen persons can be elected for this position.
Melanie Thut
Contact Melanie
EMAIL: melanie.thut@jef.eu; melaniethut@gmail.com
Hi everyone! My name is Mel, I am 25 years old and have been member of JEF for 5 years now. I started as president of the beautiful German local section Heidelberg/Mannheim, was parallelly delegate of the trinational council of JEF Oberrhein and joined the German executive board later in 2021. Here I was responsible for International Affairs and organized the famous International Berlin Seminar or a study trip to Tirana in 2022 for example. At the FC in Prague in 2022 I was furthermore elected to be the Co-Chair of the JEF Europe Task Force for the European Election Campaign #EurHope together with our president Antonio. It is amazing to see how our campaign evolved, how we have been able to boost the consultation platform together and localize the campaign with events in different national sections. The spirit in the Task Force has been inspirational and productive so far and I am very excited about the hot phase of the campaign that is now laying ahead of us. In my non- JEF life (is there even such a thing?!) I started a Master’s degree at the beautiful College of Europe Natolin Campus in September 2023 after I completed an Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in Political Economy at the universities Glasgow, Barcelona and Göttingen this summer where I was able to conduct a field research in the village of my grandmother in Eastern Romania for my Master’s thesis. I am interested in Feminist Foreign Policy, European Neighborhood Policy and post- communist transformation processes in Europe.
For the next mandate I am delighted to run for member of the Federal Committee to continue my work as Co-Chair of the Task Force European Elections. The upcoming elections of the European Parliament next year are a crucial event in our common European history and I feel the personal urge to get involved in this serious matter. Through the Task Force I see the unique chance to continue using my JEF experience in coordinating superordinate processes, bring the interests of both the national, local and European JEF levels together and contribute to a creative and inclusive environment. Through our campaign we have been able to already establish high level cooperation with institutions all over Europe and gain a great visibility. I believe that we as an organization can seize this framework in the next month to push our vision of a United Federal Europe on various levels and continue the historical work of our predecessor in a time of poly crises where this spirit is oftentimes lost. Not only will we be active on a European level, even more important will be the activities, events and conversations in our local sections. I remember the election campaign in 2019 in my city very vividly, how we organized street stalls to promote the election, panel discussions with candidates of different parties or trainings for young people about the significance of the elections. This time was very inspirational for me and gave me the spark to evolve even more with JEF, our beliefs and visions for the future. I would love to bring this spirit back to the campaign of this year and play my part in a successful 2024 campaign. Therefore, I hope for your trust and I am at your disposal for any questions.
Sofie Rebekka Schlüter Knauer
About Me
Hej! I’m Sofie, a 22-year-old minority-German from Denmark, who is studying Political Science in Copenhagen and is currently on her Erasmus exchange semester in Freiburg. As a dual citizen and pro-European, I’ve been an active member of JEF Denmark since 2019 and have had the pleasure of serving as Vice President of the organization over the past year. Previously, I was a member of the Executive Board and chaired the Communications Committee, where I led several campaigns. The most notable one was around the successful referendum on abolishing the Danish Defense opt-out. Furthermore, I was part of the International Committee and had the opportunity to participate in various JEF events, such as the Congress in Liège, FCs, and several seminars.
Motivation for the Position
Although my tenure with JEF Denmark is nearing its end, my energy and passion for the EU and the vision of a Federal Europe have not dimmed. I’m running for the Federal Committee, where I aim to foster a closer working relationship with the elected Executive Board and influence JEF Europe’s future development. My ambition is to co-chair a Task Force, preferably contributing my expertise in communications and campaigning to develop a comprehensive communications strategy for JEF.
My Vision of the Future of JEF
I envision JEF as an inclusive platform where a spectrum of opinions, ideas, and perspectives coexist. In this future, JEF will stand as a significant voice in European politics. To achieve this, clear and strategic communication is important for the next two years. Internally, fostering open debates to decide the organization’s direction and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard are crucial. Externally, we need a new strategic plan to clearly define our target audience, strategize our outreach, and use effective tools to engage even those unfamiliar with federalism. Our messaging should be provocative, entertaining, and insightful.
My Opinion on the needed Political Commissions and Task Forces / Working Groups
I strongly advocate for the establishment of a dedicated Task Force to refine JEF’s communications strategy. This Task Force entails the systematic conduct of membership surveys and the initiation of broader discussions to determine our long-term strategic direction.
Sorcha Ní Chonghaile
Contact Sorcha
EMAIL: sorchanichonghaile99@gmail.com
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: +32471508207
About Me
My name is Sorcha and I am a member of JEF Ireland. I have been involved in JEF in a variety of ways both on a local level as VP of the Irish section and on a European level via Task Forces and Political Commissions. I am currently a teacher in an international school based in Belgium and have gotten more actively involved in JEF Belgium as a result. My background is in global citizenship education, focused on human rights and climate change. I have also served as National Secretary of another organisation which gave me valuable experience in organisation and drafting of resolutions.
Motivation for the Position
I am dedicated to JEF and value the importance of the Federal Committee. I can be a valuable asset to the team as someone reliable and diligent in tasks. I have been impressed by the level of commitment and dedication from existing FC members, and know I can deliver the same if offered the chance. I enjoy review and writing of policy, and by being involved in the PCs throughout the last term, I have seen some superb progress. I would be keen to be involved with what is currently PC2 as the topics which generally are covered hit my key interest areas, and given my experience in organisation and resolution writing, I think that I could help inject some energy into the PC.
My Opinion on the needed Political Commissions and Task Forces/ Working Groups
I would see the existing remit of PC 2 needing to continue into the next term, as these issues in Internal European Affairs are ones which are complex and rapidly changing. The topics of the climate, work and reality of European citizens’ lives are everlasting as essential to address and these need to be continued to ensure we are up to date. The Empowerment and Diversity Task Force is key to ensuring JEF remains a place we can all thrive, and specific focus into how we can diversify our membership is still as relevant as ever. An area we can address is accessibility of our events, especially the FC, as it can be financially and socially intense accessing an event for members when new.
Elise Magne
Contact Elise
EMAIL: elise.magne@jeunes-europeens.org
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: +33652014166
About Me
I started my involvement in JEF in 2017 during my first year of University, studying political sciences. I began as the Europe at School officer for my local section of JEF Toulouse, south of France. I then took over the presidency of JEF Toulouse for a year, before being asked to join the national office of JEF France, where I stayed for 3 years: 2 years as a local sections officer, and 1 as Vice President & International officer. At the same time, I was doing a double master's degree in European affairs and business. As a fervent federalist, I am also involved in other European civil society organizations, with several current mandates at the European Movement, the Union of European Federalists and Volt Europa. My passion for Europe also translates professionally, as I have completed internships at the European Parliament and the EU Delegation in Morocco and am now in charge of relations with European institutions at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Motivation for the position (Explain why you are running for the position and what you would like to do if elected*) I was able to take part in several JEF Europe events, seminars, FCs and Congresses, but now I'd like to be more committed. After my involvement at local and national level in our incredible association, I think it's yet time for me to get involved at European level in areas where I can add value. I want to be part of the TF Civic Education as I have a very good knowledge of our Europe at School activities, which I don't think are sufficiently valued and promoted at present within JEF Europe, despite the fact that many local and national sections are carrying out innovative and ambitious educational work.
My vision of the future of JEF (What should the priorities of JEF be for the next 2 years?) I'm convinced that for people to love Europe more, they first need to understand it. Education must therefore be a core part of JEF Europe's activities, alongside activism and advocacy. While the end of 2023 and 2024 should be focused on the latter in the run-up to the European elections, I think that from 2024 onwards we will be able to refocus on education, trainings and awareness-raising, particularly for younger people, in order to sharpen the minds of future voters in 2029.
My opinion on the needed Political Commissions and Task Forces/ Working Groups The PCs should be reworked to better distribute the workload, which is currently quite asymmetrical: PC 2 and 3 are very much in touch with current events, while PC 1 is, by its very nature, much more static, as our position on the institutional reforms to be carried out varies little. In addition, I think that the TF currently dedicated to the European elections could be transformed into a TF dedicated to all campaigns, both new and long-standing (e.g. Democracy under pressure).
Antoine Chabal
Contact Antoine
EMAIL: antoine.chabal@jeunes-europeens.org
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: +33 6 66 38 48 86
About Me
My name is Antoine, I am now living in Paris and working as head of the French Red Cross youth. My involvement in JEF started almost 10 years ago, but my first contact with JEF Europe was in 2018 when I was elected board member of JEF France just before the last European elections. I also served as President of JEF France until August 2023. Between street actions, europe@school activities, debates and other projects, I've also had the chance and pleasure of representing JEF France and getting involved in other organizations. Today, I'm an active member of JEF and European Movement - France, but I’m also in charge of the UEF-France campaign for the European elections, and Vice-President of “CNAJEP” (French national youth council) in charge of Europe and International affairs.
Motivation for the Position
I would like to bring my experience by getting more involved in JEF Europe but also enlarge my JEF experience, because you never stop learning. I am therefore running for a place in the Federal Committee and, in particular, I would like to contribute as co-chair of the Task Force Civic education to the relaunch and development of Europe@school and non-formal education in general as a strong activity and a real core value of our organization. I truly believe in the importance of the work done at the local, regional and national levels but also that we can do better by sharing good practices and go further by working together. That is why I would like to offer my help to support and coordinate those working or willing to work on civic education. We can also learn from previous successes, including JEF France “L’Europe Par les Jeunes” civic education program which raised awareness among hundreds of thousands young people since its beginnings and which I am very proud of. I also believe it is necessary to strengthen the place of Europe and democracy in school programs because despite our constant efforts, it is still not enough.
My Vision of the Future of JEF
The priorities of JEF for the next two years are very clear : we need to push our agenda and lead the EurHope campaign until the elections in June but also make sure we keep up the fight in the following months. In order to do that, I believe we need to continue innovating, but also position JEF Europe as a major player in non-formal and informal education and make sure we are as inclusive as possible.
My Opinion on the needed Political Commissions and Task Forces/ Working Groups
In my opinion, we need a Task Force on civic education because it is not just an activity, it is also a genuine and meaningful political approach, an essential aspect of our strategy to build a federal Europe that is truly democratic and closer to its citizens.
Federico Tosi
Contact Federico EMAIL: federicotosi@hotmail.it ADDITIONAL CONTACT: +39 3296343867
I am Federico Tosi, a member of JEF Italy. I started my experience in Jef in 2014, focusing on local groups and communities. Thanks to my activities in the town of Bologna, I could serve as Secretary in the JEF board of the Emilia-Romagna region. There, together with my team, I focused my political activity on sharing the Ventotene Manifesto perspective among civil society organisations and institutions. In particular, we put special efforts on going outside our “bubble”, stressing our actions in the so-called “peripheral” communities. In the meanwhile, we tried to coordinate our seminars in the schools, aimed at activating young generations. Professionally, I dedicated my activity to the Euro- Mediterranean dialogue, serving as research assistant first (at IEMed in Barcelona and ISPI in Milan), and working as migrant officer later. Currently, I am working in Tunis in an Italian NGO for international cooperation.
Given my interests and experience, I would like to run for the position of co-chair at PC 3. If elected, I would focus our work on linking local communities with international phenomena. Too often Foreign Policy (FP) has been faced as an “elite” subject, disconnected by citizens and their every-day life. The complexity of international phenomena risks to push politicians and experts to avoid the public engagement in diplomacy; exceptions are made when FP is used for propaganda. Against this backdrop, the democratisation of the foreign policy is part of the democratisation of the international arena. As JEF Europe, in line with current efforts, I believe we should start assimilating this process, trying to link our local communities to the international agenda on one side, and letting local actors give us inputs to update our political agenda on the other side. Specifically, the PC 3 should continue its job of federalist analysis, merging it to a stronger engagement in debating and building bridges with extra-EU civil society members. In this way, thanks to this bottom-up process, our external strategy could help us to avoid eurocentrism and a self-centred attitude.
The neighbouring countries could represent a good starting point, giving us the opportunity to merge the external action of the EU to other important and relevant topics such as migration, war resolution, democracy and human rights. Firstly, building bridges with the democratic civil society in our neighbour countries, both in the MENA region and in our Eastern borders, should be JEF's priority. Secondly, the return of war in Europe, with the illegal Russian aggression of Ukraine, must push JEF to speak up for peace; and, at the same time, Jef has to prepare an arena for building in the long run new and different relations with Russia, made of democratic coexistence and multilateralism. Thirdly, current and future challenges force us to build stronger ties with Africa. JEF should draw the way and experience it by getting in touch with local organisations.
In conclusion, the future Jef should continue in the existing path towards guiding the European civil society, adding an external aspect of our strategy. In this regard, being ready to build specific working groups to face new challenges (e.i. Migration, Climate Change etc.) in a dynamic way, could be a good example for implementing our connections and political elaboration. Many efforts were made to improve the internal knowledge between local groups, they must continue; to share problems and challenges is a vital opportunity for us. Starting from what I think represents the main problem, being the low presence of diversity in our organisation. In order to break the “bubble”, we need new strategies, even more connected with existing networks, even more ready to embrace a constantly changing society.
Chiara Bertolli
Contact Chiara
EMAIL: CHIARABERTOLLI2000@GMAIL.COM
INSTAGRAM: CHIARA_BERTOLS
Hey Jeffers, I’m Chiara, an Italian girl from a little village in Tuscany, and I’m 23 years old. The fact that I was born in a small town of 3.000 inhabitants has never stopped me from thinking of myself as a citizen of the world. I just started my studies at the University of Padua, I’m attending a Master's degree in Management for sustainable firms within a curriculum in Human Resources. I've been a JEFfer since 2018 when I first entered the JEF section in Lucca, of which I’m currently treasurer. Then I’ve been involved at the national level (JEF ITALY) as a member of the task force managed by the Executive Board "Development and Coordination of local sections'' office, and taking part at the Ventotene’s Seminar as a co-coordinator of the debate groups. I’ve also had experience of the European level when I took part in JEF Europe’s Congress in 2021 and I fully understood the impact on territories and the dissemination of our association when I went in Münster (Germany) for the Erasmus+, and I joined the activity of the local JEF section.
I’m running for the FC position because I strongly believe that the European Federation is the key to ensuring an organisation that can best respond to the challenges of our time, and I would really like to contribute to our internal debate at European level co-coordinating the work of PC1 work. From my Erasmus experience and the studies in Intercultural Management, I have understood the importance of confrontation, and I really believe that each person with their own opinion and ideas can bring a new point of view, which is a resource for everyone. This is what motivates my interest in being a member of the Federal Committee. If I am elected I will also contribute to the development of the EurHope campaign, because I think that 2024 European elections are a crucial moment for the future of our Union. In the very first months of the mandate, I would therefore like to improve the link with the EurHope task force, deepening the debate in PC1 also in the light of the EP vote on the Treaty reform proposal drafted by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO).
When I think of JEF in two years' time, I see an established organisation within European civil society, I see a reference point for many other associations and a driving force among pro-European realities. JEF is already all this now, but I am sure that it will be able to deepen its engagement in civil society even more. At the same time I also see a JEF growing to include new national sections and enhance the smaller ones. I would like JEF to reinforce a way of thinking about federalism that could be called the “intersectional federalism”, i.e. an approach that perceive federalism as a platform in which other struggles (environmental, feminist, for the rights of the LGBT community, for the rights of migrants, for the defence of democracy...) can also recognise themselves, and through which they can take their struggles to a higher level, be it European or global.
In my opinion one important task force should still be about European Elections because it’s the moment where citizens are called to express their view on the future of Europe, while another one should continue the work on the federalist academy, to deepen the reflection on “intersectional federalism”.
Anna van de Moosdijk
Contact Anna
EMAIL: a.vandemoosdijk@jefnetherlands.nl
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: +33636820942
My name is Anna, I am a French and Dutch passionate young professional working at the European Council of Young Farmers in Brussels as Project Officer. My journey with JEF began in 2019 in the Lille section in the North of France. I became a European Federalist before becoming a member of JEF. I grew up in the countryside in Normandy, France, on a dairy farm in a town of just 80 people. When I discovered JEF, I found a place that resonated with my values and beliefs. Since then, I have made every effort to promote our cause among those unfamiliar with the concept of European Federalism, especially outside of our more urban and highly educated circles. My initial involvement with JEF included giving presentations to youth in rural and less privileged urban areas about the functioning of the European Union and their European citizenship. During the pandemic, I became more deeply engaged with JEF Nederland, first as an International Officer, then as President, and most recently as Treasurer. In these roles, I had the opportunity to organize fantastic events with the active participation of our network, which includes many inspiring and talented individuals. Thanks to this engagement, I have learned a lot, sometimes the hard way or through less glamorous tasks. I learned how to keep the section running administratively, build a team, and encourage a new generation of JEFers to take on leadership roles. I'm fortunate to say that all these efforts to preserve my section have paid off, and I'm grateful to my JEF NL team for giving me the opportunity to run for the Federal Committee of JEF Europe.
I am running for the Federal Committee with the aim of becoming co-chair of the task force on capacity-building. Capacity-building is the foundation of our volunteer work, as it's crucial to ensure the stability and continuity of our sections, particularly given the high turnover we experience in youth associations. This situation is especially challenging for smaller national and local sections of JEF. To keep our JEF spirit alive, we need to invest in the leadership skills of our members consistently through a structured program that continues over the years, along with relief programs in case of major issues. I've personally witnessed how a lack of capacity-building and support can, at best, cause members to leave the association and, at worst, lead to volunteer burnout. I believe I have the skills to launch this program, I've had the opportunity to build a strong network among JEFers and identify our strengths.
In the first few months of the mandate leading up to the European elections, my goal will be to identify the immediate needs of JEF's member organizations and set up one-on-one assistance and collective online workshops to address those needs. Over the next year and a half, my focus will be on creating and consolidating JEF's capacity-building program in collaboration with our network, European Board, and Secretariat. JEF has had several successful programs in this domain in the past, such as "Pimp my JEF" in the previous mandate, offers of sub-granting to member organizations in the current mandate, and the twinning program, which contributes to peer-to-peer learning. Building on these experiences will help us design a long-term, forward-looking solution. In our association, it has been increasingly challenging to find individuals willing to take on leadership roles. Nevertheless, this is a key factor in our survival and growth. Investing in our membership will serve our goals of creating a more diverse and inclusive JEF that strives for the well-being of our volunteers. The capacity-building program could also help our members become familiar with the work in our various PCs and Task Forces, which are oriented towards action and could serve as the backbone of recruitment for their activities. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions for me! See you all in Madrid!
Samuel Tammekann
Contact Samuel EMAIL: samuel.tammekann@eurooppanuoret.fi; samuel.tammekann@gmail.com ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Instagram; X; Telegram: @stammekann; BlueSky: stammekann.bsky.social; WhatsApp: +358445506816
I am Samuel Tammekann, a 28-year-old progressive federalist from JEF Finland. This year I have served as the International Officer for JEF Finland, supervising our section’s continuing expansion into a more cross-border and a multilingual organization. The possibilities of the last two years, especially contrasted by the preceding lockdowns, have opened me a new world of shared values, common action and cross- border friendships from my first FC in Luxembourg to the wonderful camp in Norway.
Outside politics and organizations, I have worked for some years in consulting in strategic communications and public affairs – and now I have gone back to finish my bachelor’s thesis in geo-economic statecraft and export policy, also co-authoring in a think tank a civic information project on EU enlargement to potential new members that endure a state of conflict.
Why am I here?
I come from a family that fled the occupation of Estonia in 1940 going through Switzerland and Sweden, before settling in Finland. In these times this personal history has been reawakened in a deeply unsettling way. I am now certain to see federalism as the way to transform borders from barriers to bridges of cooperation, in a climate where mutual respect and co-existence, commonly agreed values and shared objectives guide our path forward.
In 2024, the purpose of JEF could not be more urgent. Still, looking from my experience as a Finn, there is much to do for the federalist cause to make a difference, and play a part in European politics.
The first goal for JEF is to finish the EurHope campaign and go through the European Elections of 2024 with remarkable success. But that doesn’t mean that the work should end there. Many in Europe have long considered only the short-term profits of integration and have forgotten the grim reasons behind the future dreamt by those who started the European project. Therefore, after the European Elections, for the next two years JEF should stand both as a reinforcer of our positions from Brussels to the grassroots – and as the foremost torchbearers of the vision for united Europe.
What do I want to do?
Vice-chairing a prominent youth party, before I moved onto JEF Finland, I have gathered crucial experience in advocacy, politics and especially coordinating and chairing drafting political platforms. Given my primary interest and concurrent projects on foreign policy, I would like to co-chair PC3, but I am also interested in discussing the roles the TFs have in the next term, being available to also take the responsibility, by the role of a co-chair if needed, of any new roles I endorse for the Task Forces.
In the next term it is elementary to establish a selection of Task Forces that both capitalize on the motivation and skills of the Federal Committee members, in a way they get meaningfully engaged, and answer the needs of the JEF community.
Considering the detailed, professional and insightful work done by the Political Commissions we should consider the ways we could make the results more meaningful and visible. Theory will only take you so far – an effective JEF actively takes a stand and enables and provides support for its national sections to easily use the wide policy platform to actively communicate with our surrounding society, often unpredictable and continuous change, to make an impact.
This is why I endorse the TF Elections 2024 to transform into an Elections & Campaigns Task Force, which could also focus on helping the Federalist movement to deal with critical elections and political decisions on national level too – even more important in the times we live in.
Julianne Vella
Contact Julianne
EMAIL: vellajulianne@gmail.com
Who am I?
I’m Julianne, a passionate JEFer from Malta. At 20 years of age, I am currently president of JEF Malta and am currently reading for a degree in Statistics and Computer Science. I have been active in JEF Malta for 4 years and have a varied experience in all things JEF – from leading a team with empathy and determination to creating and implementing educational as well as political projects. Last Spring I had the pleasure of spearheading the organisation of the Malta Spring FC 2023 together with the rest of my team. I am particularly keen on empowerment and participation in activism. Throughout the years, I have had the honour to address the first Women Empowerment seminar taking place in Malta (SIGEF 2023) as well as mentoring young females all across Europe on participating in the digital age.
Why am I running for the Federal Committee?
By bringing in my energy and fresh ideas, I am looking forward to creating further cohesion and stronger connections between sections and the Federal Committee. I look forward to engaging in meaningful conversations on how we can foster further gender equality at representation level, diversifying our membership as well as celebrating best practices. I also aim to co-chair the Empowerment and Diversity taskforce to celebrate the diversities within our beloved JEF as well as work on empowerment strategies to keep alight the flame of our organisation’s efforts during the past 51 years towards a more united and democratic Europe.
During the upcoming mandate, participation in political commissions and task forces must be made easier and more attractive to create further discussions and debates amongst JEFers on the political direction of our organisation. We should ensure our PCs are resilient and adaptable to the realities of our continent and union, sharing a balanced workload amongst them. With regards to the TFs, I would like to see the further development of the Empowerment and Diversity taskforce as well as see the advancement of a TF focussing on campaigning and European citizenship to build upon the work currently being done on EurHope.
What comes to mind when thinking of the future of JEF?
During the upcoming two years I envision a JEF that continues taking an active stance in empowering young people to take an active role within their Europe as well as promoting the importance of participation in the European elections. Throughout the upcoming years, we need to guarantee that we remain ‘Simply a Generation Ahead’ by adapting, innovating and strengthening unity in diversity to benefit all of our members, irrespective of their socio-economic circumstance, gender identity, sexuality or beliefs.
Benedikte Svendsen
Contact Benedikte
EMAIL: benedikte_svendsen@hotmail.com
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Instagram, Whatsapp: +47 412 09 284
About Me
My name is Benedikte and I am 23 years old and come from a small island in Norway called Karmøy. I have been an active member of JEF for the past six years, and have held various positions at a local, regional, national and international level since then. First as Vice-President and then President of JEF Rogaland, then as Board Member in our student section in Bergen, and Vice President of JEF Vestland, before being in the international committee of JEF Norway as well as more recently being the International Officer. I am also Vice President in YENB, which is the Nordic-Baltic network in JEF. Other than that I also have experience from various other political organisations in Norway. I have participated in several international JEF events throughout the years, such as the Congress, FCs and multiple seminars, many of which I have also contributed to plan. I have also been engaged in a twinning project between JEF Vestland and JEF Turin, and am currently in the middle of the planning process of a big twinning event between JEF Haugaland and JEF Aarhus.
Motivation for the position and my vision for the future of JEF
I wish to be a voice for JEFers who are non-EU citizens. Most people in my home town are very anti-EU, which is something I have noticed has a lot to do with the lack of knowledge about the European Union. Though this problem may be more apparent in countries such as my own, which are not (yet) member states, I have also come to discover that this is also a general problem in European countries. My hope and ambition for the next mandate is that JEF as an organisation will do even more to spread awareness about what the European Union actually is, what it does and what we as JEFers want it to be through campaigns across the continent.
JEF is an incredibly large organisation which means that maintaining a high level communication between all parts can be challenging. My wish for the next mandate is to better this area even more and increase the communication across the different sections and levels of the organisation. This I think we could do by for example spreading more knowledge in the different sections about the twinning program, and encouraging the sections to pursue this even more as a way of connecting with other JEFers and thus increasing the communication between them in the process. We should also strive to have every JEFer subscribed to our news letter so that every member can have access to the opportunities and tools that exist in the organisation.
My opinion on the needed PCs and TFs
I have ambitions about creating a task force specifically dedicated to communications, social media and campaigning which are areas I have gathered much personal experience in over the years and am really passionate about. I believe there is much potential here that JEF can expand on from what we already do today and perform even better in. I hope we can be more creative and innovative in the type of campaigns we lead and become an even stronger voice in the European forum. I also hope that we in the next mandate can be more open and reflective over our work, and if we notice that something is not working as efficiently as it should, such as a new TF or other systems, that we change what does not work and find new solutions and ways to do things instead of keeping everything the same throughout the entire mandate. It is important that we don’t limit ourselves and constantly strive to do better and be better.
Jana Gleim
About Me
My name is Jana Gleim and I am a 20 year old European enthusiast. I just finished my Bachelor degree in International Business and work as a digital product manager for the Region Europe. My first contact with JEF was in 2019 when I went to Strasbourg with JEF Baden Württemberg. I was fascinated about this chance to explore the behind the scenes of the important institution of democracy, the European Parliament. I then immediately joined JEF Munich after beginning my studies in 2020. Half a year later, I became a board member and later vice-president of the regional section JEF Bavaria, where I have been responsible for international affairs and political effectiveness. In this way, I was able to establish an international network for JEF Bavaria, in order to bring Europe closer together. At the same time, I got involved in JEF Germany ́s International Berlin Seminar, which I organized for two years in a row.
Motivation for the position
Ever since I became a part of JEF, I participated in multiple activities all over Europe. I got to develop skills on a much greater level than at university or work, while working on something I truly believe in. My friends often ask me where I get all my motivation from to get active. Well, I became part of JEF during the COVID-19 pandemic, where the world was already shaped by uncertainty. We live in times where populism and euroscepticism are rising. I tell my friends I cannot just wait for a better future, when I see European citizens full of frustration, anger and fear. I therefore must stand up for a democratic European federation. Having been involved on different levels within JEF, I want to strengthen the exchange between directly elected FC members and national sections and also between FC and EB. I am convinced it is important to hold the threads together, especially in such difficult times. I am thus looking forward to bring in my energy and sharing my experiences as part of the FC Presidium.
My vision of the future of JEF
My vision for JEF is that our members can all call JEF their political home. I see JEF as a place, where voices are being heard and different perspectives can brought together. I envision JEF as a diverse place with people from yet untypical backgrounds. Therefore, a clear communication across all levels is necessary in order to foster the emergence of new ideas, make everyone ́s voice heard and create a better future for all citizens. With the help of effective tools, information exchange can be increased to push our vision. That requires motivated members that strive for the goal of building a European federation.
My opinion on the needed Political Commissions and Task Forces/ Working Groups
I want to emphasize the importance of all already established PCs or task forces. By being a potential member of the FC presidium, I want to create a consciousness for the intertwining of the different working groups and their topics. In particular, when it comes to civic education and the European elections. The relatively low diversity at JEF calls for action to break through our JEF bubble by a clear targeting and communication strategy. Especially the internal knowledge exchange across levels is vital for our work. My goal is therefore to create a stronger focus on communication and political effectiveness of all activities in order to achieve a holistic output of the PCs and task forces. Especially in times of European elections, it is crucial to make young and federalist voices heard. I am therefore hoping for your trust and please feel free to ask any questions.
Mirko Ondras
About me
Nice to meet you! My name is Mirko, I come from Slovakia and I live in Switzerland. I studied economics and have been involved in political campaigning in Swiss elections. I joined the board of JEF Switzerland in 2021 and I’ve been our international officer since 2022. My priorities on the board have been member outreach through events, deepening our ties with other JEF sections and promoting European federalism. I strongly believe Switzerland should aim to join the EU and have been passionate about European federalism for a long time. I have experience in drafting and advocating pro-European policies within the Swiss political system. My recent pet project in JEF is a European Parliament simulation in Switzerland, a fun manner to reach young people and find new members.
Motivation for the position
At the federal level of JEF, we agree our common policies, we engage directly with all of Europe and we serve as a valuable source of data and experience for the local sections. The Federal Committee is crucial in this process, so I would like to bring in my motivation and experience in order to support our ideals as much as possible. While I have a general interest in the work of the FC, I am most interested in the Political Commissions, and have a preference for PC 1. In addition to ensuring the smooth functioning of my commission, I would like to work with the rest of the JEF Europe team to explore what else could the PCs do to enhance our potential. Involving more people in policy drafting would be a great way to increase membership engagement and to train future dedicated members of JEF. I would also like to try out new things, like doing thematic debates on the topics we work on, or making databases of useful arguments for advocating our positions.
My vision of the future of JEF
JEF is the vanguard of European federalism and as such, I see two main priorities for us. One lies in building a dedicated community of supporters of federalism, by convincing people, by attracting new members and by helping members become more active. The other priority is to be active and visible in the political discourse to come, to offer a radical vision of a better future and influence the political class in the direction of federalism, while also promoting our other goals, such as EU enlargement, democracy, solidarity and inclusive society.
My opinion on the needed PCs and TFs / Working Groups
We should streamline the way the PCs and TFs communicate with members, to make it easier to follow what they are doing and make their work more accessible. A common communication channel and database would help. We could create new ad-hoc Working Groups for specific short-term purposes, and this would be easier to do, if there is a common framework for the various groups.
Mădălin-Cătălin Blidaru
Contact Mădălin
EMAIL: madalin.blidaru@jefromania.eu
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: 0040751838178 (WhatsApp, Signal); Twitter; Instagram; Facebook; LinkedIn
About Me
Dear fellow JEFers, hello from Bucharest! I am Mădălin and I was involved in JEF, since 2021, as delegate from JEF Romania, one of the newest sections in the network. We have started from scratch, with an increasing number of active members, including in the activities under JEF Europe umbrella, and I am happy to see their active participation. As background, linked to the candidacy, I have graduated with a degree in International Relations and European Studies, continuing with research in this field, which may be useful for the debates and discussion we hope to have in proposed PC/TF/WG.
Motivation for the position
I am motivated by the slow pace of positioning on multiple aspects happening in the European neighbourhood. JEF Europe seems to confirm the perception often attributed to the European Union (i.e., moving two steps behind the current events). We have resolutions, but sometimes we fail to affirm them when it is needed. It took seven days after the 7th of October massacre, and a war launched in response, only to have a message on this topic and, even in this case, it was the message of another organisation. We consider, in our political platform, that „the aim of federalism is to ensure peace”, yet no reference to peace can be found in the first six paragraphs of that statement, and no direct call to peace. Without peace as a natural principle, the terms of the strongest will become peace, and that peace will be an unjust peace, with damage inflicted to young people on all sides. There are grassroot JEF activists asking questions on what our vision in such cases is, and the failure to state, even the call for peace, disappoints. Similar on other EU neighbourhood-related matters.
My vision of the future of JEF
A more dynamic JEF that asserts the solutions it has. And let’s have them where we don’t have them.
My opinion on the needed PCs and TFs / Working Groups
The European neighbourhood is more complex than ever before. From the developments in Ukraine to the ones in the United Kingdom, from Moldova to Norway, and from the conflict between Israel and Hamas to the European integration of the Western Balkans, the dynamics in the EU neighbourhood are shaping how the EU project will evolve. The war in Ukraine has shown for example that we need a Europe that can react quicker and able to deter aggression, inviting for further competences and streamlining current processes.
Responsibility
Political Commission 3 (External Affairs and Global Governance) or, if feasible, a Taskforce/Working Group focused on EU neighbourhood
Robin Mudry
About Me
My name is Robin and I have been with JEF almost for a decade. I first joined a JEF student group in 2014 at my university in Eichstätt, Bavaria and, a couple of years later, was elected to the presidency of JEF Bavaria for two consecutive terms. Later, I dedicated a lot of time to the Czech-German relations in JEF and beyond as my life centre had moved to Prague. I am also a student of philosophy and art history, working on the interstices of politics, aesthetics and ethics. In the last two years, it was my honour to serve JEF Europe as a member of its Executive Board with a special attention to finances given my role as treasurer.
Motivation for the position
I am running for the FC with the particular idea to be part of its future collective presidium. In this, I would like to both draw from my experience as an EB member (I am the treasurer in the current mandate) and from my understanding of JEF Europe’s sometimes convoluted internal structures. I would like to put specific effort into creating a positive dynamics within the FC so it is able to work well and make the best of its particular statutory and political position within the organisation.
My vision of the future of JEF
The next two years will be crucial for JEF, both in terms of its internal organisation as well as with regard to the world we inhabit. Internally, JEF Europe will have to make sure it lives up to the high expectations that come with its current size and status. Externally, the 2024 European elections with both their legislative and executive dimension will be decisive for the possibility of a different institutional future of Europe. At the same time, the pressing issues and crises around us will not disappear, but rather aggravate. JEF’s role is to be seen at the interlockings of the two. Without proper institutional reform and a strengthened as well as more democratic EU, Europe will not be able to tackle the climate catastrophe, global migration, AI challenges and, most of all, the question of war and peace. Yet, if Europe remains self-focused and circles only around its provincial(ised) problems, it will equally be overwhelmed by the massive nature of a world order that is increasingly out of control.
My opinion on the needed Political Commissions and Task Forces/ Working Groups
In my opinion, the current three Political Commissions are working well. In terms of Task Forces, I would wish for an active TF Green as the climate crisis keeps imposing itself with great urgency and JEF’s federalist green is not yet reflective of a truly “green” organisation. The abovementioned question of war and peace is equally urgent and might be addressed within a specific FC setting.
Gergana Blazheva
Contact Gergana
EMAIL: gergana.blazheva@jef.eu
About Me
Hello there JEFers!
In case we haven’t had the chance to meet yet, let me tell you a bit about me and my JEF journey. I’m Gergana and I’m from Bulgaria. I joined JEF in 2017 when I started my first year at university. At the time, there was an International Seminar which took place in Sofia. I gladly skipped a few uni classes, just so I could fully participate in the week-long seminar, solely to talk about Europe, European integration, and learn what FEDERAZIONE EUROPEA SU-BI-TO actually means. I instantly felt the contagiously exciting atmosphere that was going around. I then loved the like-minded peers I met, I now love how some of these people are still my close friends, and overall, I loved the fact, that there’s still so much more to learn. I quickly became involved in the activities organized by my national section. I became President of JEF Bulgaria in December 2018, which I was until January 2022. At the Congress in Liège in 2021, I was elected to become the first Bulgarian Member of the Executive Board of JEF Europe. It’s an understatement to say that this has been an absolute honor and privilege for me, but it is correct.
Motivation for the position
My motivation to run for a position in the Federal Committee is rooted in my unwavering commitment to JEF. My decision for this candidacy is a follow-up of my current work in the Executive Board. After spending my last two years as part of the EB, I once again felt like there is so much that can happen, change and improve in the functioning of our organization. I gained a whole new point of view of our organization, how it works, how we make decisions, where we need to refine, be more innovative, adapt and react to the current challenges, but also be visible, and altogether, think and act as if we are a generation ahead. Therefore, I see a pressing necessity in having more people involved in a dedicated Task Force for Communication. If elected, I will be fully dedicated to supporting the newly elected board, as well as the Secretariat members, working on our Communication. I want our work to not only benefit our members, but also contribute to the overall betterment of the JEF community and our societies at large.
My vision of the future of JEF
With the EP elections coming next year, the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Israel-Palestine conflict reaching new peaks every day, the climate crisis and all other phenomenon, I want to help streamline the workload of our employees and Board members. JEF should be an organization, which empowers, motivates and nurtures the growth and development of European youth. I want us to foster a more sustainable environment for everyone. What I’d like to see happen in the future of JEF is to continue fostering positive change, strengthen sections in already existing countries, continue its outreach and offer space for meaningful participation for young people in Europe. I would furthermore like to see our organization prioritize more mental health, by becoming a safe and inclusive space for all. Showcasing accordingly our activities and political advocacy is essential in achieving our vision of a federal Europe, but at the same time, the mental health of everyone involved must not be neglected.
My opinion on the needed Political Commissions and Task Forces/ Working Groups
I strongly think that we should establish a dedicated Task Force for Communication. For that reason, I’m so looking forward to working on the betterment of our communication strategy, the development of a visual guideline and work on the maintenance of the already created events calendar. In order to achieve great results, we need to plan in advance, strain JEF’s communications strategy, and commit to fostering inclusive discussions, ensuring that members from all our sections have a voice and are equally represented to contribute to a meaningful debate, serving our long-term strategic direction and goals.
Dear JEFers, I would be very thankful for your support and would be thrilled to continue shaping JEF Europe together!
See you in Madrid, Gergana
María Martínez López
Contact Maria
EMAIL: vicepresidencia@jefspain.org
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Phone number: +34 629 031 205 Instagram: @starry.mer
About Me
Hello everyone! My name is María, I am 26 years old and I’ve a member of JEF Spain since 2021. Currently, I am working at UCLM on an internship at the International Doctorate School where I coordinate different international projects for university students and combining it with my Ph.D. studies. I have been such an active member in my section, JEF-Castilla Mancha where I have been working as Secretary, Vicepresident and President and after that, as the Vicepresident of Spain. I came from a rural area, Castilla-La Mancha, and I am really in touch with everyday problems that young people can have on accessing to European opportunities, especially as a woman. I have participated in different international projects that put everyone together as young Europeans and help us to grown not only as professionals but also personally. I know that United in Diversity are some words that we use almost daily when it comes to European terms, but, I really believe in their importance and enhancing not only our similarities but what make us diverse to help us grown stronger as a community.
Motivation for the position
Something I am proud about my participation in JEF these last years is the development of the Ursula Hirschmann project, where we put a lot of effort of putting female jefers together to fight against inequality and empowering women to raise their voices against any type of violence or discrimination against women not only in Europe but all around the world. As it is in our values, federalism is the key for keeping us all together, no matter where do we came from but as people. For this reason, I’ve organized different activities at regional and national levels such as political debates, seminars, and the pre-program of Castilla-La Mancha to enhance multiculturality and critical thinking on participants. All these experiences have bring me to applying as a member of the FC, I want to bring these values and experiences to help JEF Europe to grow as much as possible and to create new projects which will enrich all the participants and their sections.
My Vision of the Future of JEF
As I’ve explained before, my compromise with JEF is nothing but clear for me because I really wish that Spain can be an active participant in all the issues regarding JEF Europe. I want to be involved in new projects that help us to reach out different communities and national sections in terms of growing up together through educational projects and cultural exchanges which help us to improve communication all around Europe.
My Opinion on the needed Political Commissions and Task Forces / Working Groups
In my opinion, we really need to focus on educational projects to enhance multiculturality and to strengthen European values in all the sections. We must keep working on spreading the values of democracy, equality, and diversity to bring us together as a European youth plenty of hope for the future.
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