Young European Federalists - France

Les Jeunes Européens - France (JEF France) is a French association loi de 1901 that serves as the French section of the Young European Federalists (Jeunes Européens fédéralistes, JEF-Europe) and gathers members under 35 of the Mouvement européen - France. It aims to bring together young people who wish to act in favour of European construction in a federalist sense, with action based on political pluralism, tolerance and openness. The association is recognised as being of public utility (reconnue d'utilité publique), is accredited 'Jeunesse et éducation populaire' at national level, and is a member of the Cnajep, Animafac and the Forum Français de la Jeunesse (FFJ). The organisation in its current form results from the rapprochement in 1990-1991 and the merger in 1992 of the Jeunesse européenne fédéraliste (French section of the Young European Federalists), the youth commission of the Mouvement européen France, and student associations, notably the 'Cercles Europe'. The first bureau was designated on 6 March 1992. The association experienced difficulties in its early years, particularly due to a lack of autonomy; its relaunch in 1996 gave it a functioning distinct from that of the Mouvement européen - France, adopting its own policies and a specific action programme. JEF France defends ideas such as a large Europe of peace on the model of a Federation with its own Constitution respecting subsidiarity; renewed, more democratic and efficient institutions allowing greater citizen involvement; a genuine common foreign policy and a European defence policy; a European social model that is supportive and efficient; and a European model of higher education. On the institutional level, it has called for restricting the number of European commissioners and modifying the method of electing the President of the European Commission so that it reflects the result of European elections. It supported the principle of spitzenkandidaten in 2014 and called for transnational lists in 2019. Regular activities include European cafés, conferences, national seminars (summer university, training weekends), international seminars with other national sections or within JEF-Europe, a political commission for debate, awareness-raising actions, the 'L'Europe par les jeunes' programme accredited by the Ministry of National Education, the 'Eurodéputé à l'école' action launched in 2012, the 'Eurotour des campus' programme, and online and paper publications with the euro-citizen media Le Taurillon. The association also runs the 'Label Ville Européenne' project for municipalities since 2020 and the INCLUDE project (2018-2019) in partnership with the City of Paris and the European Civic Forum. It has 26 local sections across France.

Les Jeunes Européens - France is a French association loi de 1901 that constitutes the French section of the Young European Federalists (Jeunes Européens fédéralistes) and gathers members under 35 of the Mouvement européen - France. It aims to bring together young people wishing to act in favour of European construction in a federalist sense, with action founded on political pluralism, tolerance and openness. The Young Europeans act for the defence and promotion of the ideas of the founding fathers of Europe such as Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman, such as the rejection of war and nationalisms. The association campaigns for a united Europe capable of weighing in globalisation to protect and promote European values throughout the world, whether social, democratic or environmental advances. For the Young Europeans, the construction of political Europe must take place in a federal system; European federalism allowing, according to them, a fair distribution of powers at all levels, notably at the level of regions, states and the federal state (the European institutions). The association in its current form is the result of the rapprochement, in 1990-1991, then the merger, in 1992, of the Jeunesse européenne fédéraliste (French section of the Young European Federalists), the youth commission of the 'Mouvement européen France' and student associations, notably the 'Cercles Europe'. On 6 March 1992 the first bureau was designated: President: Markus Schmidt, Treasurer: Olivier Soulié, International Relations: Stéphane Martayan, Internal Communication and Development: Valéry-Xavier Lentz, Research Officer: Marie-José Fleury, Communication: Stéphane Saurel. The association experienced difficulties in its early years, notably due to its lack of autonomy. Its relaunch in 1996 gave it a functioning distinct from that of the Mouvement européen - France. The association now adopts its own policies and a specific action programme. Its successive presidents are Stéphane Saurel, Nathalie Lasnier, Stéphanie Chémery, Vincent Richez, Aurélien Beaujard, Jérôme Gstalter, Jessica Pennet, Pauline Gessant, Nicolas Jean, Pierre-Jean Verrando, Aurélien Caron, Chloé Fabre, Jérôme Quéré, Hervé Moritz, Marie Caillaud, Antoine Chabal, Laure Niclot and Aurore Laloux since August 2025. Territorial network: The association has 26 local sections across France. Its volunteers, united in associations, aim to bring Europe to life in their territories through educational interventions, the organisation of debates, field actions, advice and influence with public decision-makers. Ideas: The ideas defended by the Young Europeans are mainly: a large Europe of peace, on the model of a Federation with its own Constitution respecting subsidiarity; renewed institutions, more democratic and efficient, allowing greater involvement of citizens; a genuine common foreign policy and a European defence policy; a European social model, supportive and efficient; a European model of higher education. 'On the institutional level, Les Jeunes Européens – France call for restricting the number of European commissioners and modifying the methods of electing its President, so that it reflects the result of the European elections' explained in 2007 the president of the association. The association supported in 2014 the principle of spitzenkandidaten and called in 2019 for transnational lists. Activities: Regularly, the Young Europeans organise activities of several types: European cafés (organised by local groups) allowing debate on European subjects in a friendly and informal setting; conferences, colloquia or breakfasts; national seminars: summer university, training weekends; international seminars, organised with other national sections or within JEF-Europe, which regularly bring together several thousand young European activists; the political commission, a place for debates and exchanges of ideas between activists; awareness-raising actions for public opinion, through national or local operations and promotion of the democratic ideal; the programme 'L'Europe par les jeunes', accredited by the Ministry of National Education, which seeks to explain and raise awareness of the issues of the European project and to arouse the desire of young middle and high school students to take part in European construction; the action 'Eurodéputé à l'école', launched in 2012, thanks to the participation of MEPs, aims to bring European elected officials closer to future citizens, thus contributing to civic training and awareness of European elections, particularly for first-time voters; the programme 'Eurotour des campus' for awareness in universities of European and international mobility programmes Erasmus, EVS, etc.; online publications with the euro-citizen media Le Taurillon and paper publications (Taurillon en Flam's on Strasbourg, Taurillon en Seine on Paris, Taurillon dans l'arène on Bordeaux). The INCLUDE project between 2018 and 2019 (New initiatives for local and urban citizenship of Europeans), in partnership with the City of Paris and the European Civic Forum, whose objective is to make Parisians aware of their rights as European citizens and encourage European nationals in Paris to invest more in city life, etc.

• 2025

  Aurore Laloux becomes President in August 2025.

• 2020

  Launch of the 'Label Ville Européenne' project for municipalities.

• 2019

  The association calls for transnational lists for European elections.

• 2018

  Start of the INCLUDE project in partnership with the City of Paris and the European Civic Forum.

• 2014

  The association supports the principle of spitzenkandidaten.

• 2012

  Launch of the 'Eurodéputé à l'école' action.

• 2007

  President explains the association's call to restrict the number of European commissioners and modify the election of the Commission President.

• 1996

  Relaunch gives the association a functioning distinct from the Mouvement européen - France, with its own policies and action programme.

• 1992

  Merger creates Les Jeunes Européens - France; first bureau designated on 6 March 1992 with Markus Schmidt as President.

• 1990

  Rapprochement begins between the Jeunesse européenne fédéraliste, the youth commission of the Mouvement européen France and student associations.

Youth-led federalist advocacy and civic education organisation promoting European integration.

1. 1Les Jeunes Européens - Francejeunes-europeens.org
2. 2JEF France - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Les Jeunes Européens - France - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org