Federalists believe that only a common effort of European citizens working towards this goal could create a peaceful and democratic Europe guaranteeing freedom and the protection of human rights.
During his 16 year's imprisonment on the island of Ventotene by Mussolini’s fascists, Altiero Spinelli and his fellow prisoner Ernesto Rossi wrote a federalist manifesto entitled "Toward a free and united Europe". The Ventotene Manifesto is considered as a founding document for today’s Europe.
A first ‘Conference on European Federation’ was held in Paris with Albert Camus as its opening speaker. The aim was to build a new inter-state system (namely a European federation) in order to preserve the peace after the World War II.
An international group of militant federalists from 14 European countries met in Hertenstein (Switzerland) and worked on the creation of a federalist model for our continent’s future. / in Hertenstein [Switzerland], federalist militants from fourteen European countries, met on the initiative of the Swiss Europa-Union (founded in 1934). The federalist meeting in Hertenstein was held from the 15th to the 22nd of September 1946. Its participants, often originating from the Resistance, had a precise objective: to form a true movement.
Speaking at the University of Zurich, Winston Churchill proclaimed that ‘the safety of the world requires a new unity in Europe’ and he proposed “a kind of United States of Europe”. It is considered one of the firsts steps to the european integration.
On December 15 and 16 in Paris, 1946 UEF was officially brought into life with its function being to co-ordinate and intensify the activities of the different movements and to organize them into a federal structure. The first motto of the organisation: "A united Europe in a united world". The UEF immediately set about coordinating the activities of some 50 national federalist movements already in existence: Europeesche Actie, Europa Union, Federal Union, Movimento federalista europeo, etc. Among the most prominent figures were Henry Frenay, Eugen Kogon, Henri Brugmans, Alexandre Marc and Altiero Spinelli. The UEF quickly attracted almost 100 000 members.
On 27-30 August 1947, federalist ideas, which sought to reduce State sovereignty, were debated at the first Union of European Federalists (UEF) Congress, held in Montreux, Switzerland. The participation of eminent persons and numerous delegations demonstrated the interest in federalist ideas. 16 countries were represented in Montreux, together with some 40 activist groups. The Montreux Congress also served to reaffirm the principle of regional federalism in contrast to the internationalist arguments very fashionable at that time. The general policy motion adopted by the Congress called for the creation of a European federal government. The participants also urged the convening of a mass event involving all the forces active in Europe. Less than a year later, this took the form of The Hague Congress.
At the Congress of Europe, held in The Hague in 1948 and chaired by Winston Churchill, federalists struggled to put over their vision of Europe’s future.
In the Congress of Europe, held in The Hague and chaired by Winston Churchill, federalists struggled to put over their vision of Europe’s future. They agreed to set up the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights.
II UEF Congress in Rome
After being released, Altiero Spinelli established the Movimento Federalista Europeo (MFE) in Milan.
