Young European Federalists Germany

Junge Europäische Föderalisten Deutschland e. V. (JEF Deutschland), known in English as Young European Federalists Germany, is the German national section of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe), a supranational, cross-party youth movement that campaigns for a federal Europe. It was founded in 1949 under the name Bund Europäischer Jugend (BEJ) by around 40 young people who gathered at Wachenburg Castle near Weinheim in Baden-Württemberg from 2 to 4 September 1949. The organization is the youth wing of Europa-Union Deutschland, the German section of the Union of European Federalists, and it is open to young people between the ages of 15 and 35. JEF Deutschland is part of JEF Europe, which today counts around 30,000 members across more than 30 countries. Within Germany, the association reports roughly 4,000 members organized into 15 largely autonomous regional branches (Landesverbände). It is an affiliated organization of the Deutscher Bundesjugendring (German Federal Youth Council) and a member of the Netzwerk Europäische Bewegung Deutschland (European Movement Germany network). Its political program, most recently revised at the 2021 federal congress in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, calls for a federal constitution for Europe, a bicameral European parliament with a citizens' chamber and a states' chamber, the principle of subsidiarity, and a stronger Common Foreign and Security Policy. The organization engages in European education work, international youth exchanges, seminars, congresses, street actions, panel discussions, and educational trips. It runs campaigns such as #DontTouchMySchengen, launched in 2016 in response to the reintroduction of internal border controls, and hosts the annual Europawerkstatt in Berlin and the international Berlin Seminar. It also co-maintains the non-commercial events calendar europatermine.de. JEF Deutschland is a non-profit registered association (eingetragener Verein) and is not a commercial enterprise; it is funded in part by its adult organization, Europa-Union Deutschland, and by public and private partners. Since October 2024, Melanie Thut has served as federal chairperson. In October 2022 the association changed its official name to include the gender-inclusive form "Junge Europäische Föderalist:innen Deutschland e. V."

JEF Deutschland was founded from 2 to 4 September 1949 at Wachenburg Castle near Weinheim in Baden-Württemberg, where around 40 young people came together to establish the Bund Europäischer Jugend (BEJ). These young activists were dissatisfied with how the adult federalist organization, Europa-Union Deutschland, operated and wanted to actively advance European unification. Their political orientation was inspired by various post-World War II movements that sought a united Europe as a means of preventing war. A foundational text for the idea of European federalism was the Manifesto of Ventotene (1941), written by Italian anti-fascists Altiero Spinelli, Ernesto Rossi, and Eugenio Colorni. In 1950, a year that began with the announcement of the Schuman Plan (ECSC) in May, the BEJ joined other organizations of the European Movement in actions supporting the Union of European Federalists' demand for a "European Federal Pact." In many border towns, young people sawed through border barriers and erected signs reading "You remain in Europe." As the European Community evolved, so did the content of the youth organization, which was renamed JEF in 1957. Its focus shifted to peacekeeping, strengthening democracy, participation, and European education. Over the decades, JEF Deutschland has organized seminars, congresses, street actions, panel events, and educational trips, often bringing resolutions from discussions to politicians in state parliaments, the Bundestag, or the European Parliament. In 2012, after a two-year process, the Political Program was adopted at the federal congress in Saarbrücken. The current version was adopted at the 2021 federal congress in Lutherstadt Wittenberg. In October 2022, the association changed its name to "Junge Europäische Föderalist:innen Deutschland e. V." to reflect gender-inclusive language. Since October 2024, Melanie Thut has been the federal chairperson. The organization remains the youth wing of Europa-Union Deutschland and part of JEF Europe, which has around 30,000 members across more than 30 countries.

• 2024

  Melanie Thut became federal chairperson in October.

• 2022

  Renamed to "Junge Europäische Föderalist:innen Deutschland e. V." in October.

• 2021

  Current version of the Political Program adopted at the federal congress in Lutherstadt Wittenberg.

• 2016

  #DontTouchMySchengen campaign launched in response to reintroduction of internal border controls.

• 2015

  JEF Deutschland e.V. became a partner of the ASKO-Europastiftung in January.

• 2012

  Political Program adopted at the federal congress in Saarbrücken; Europawerkstatt held annually in Berlin for the first time.

• 2001

  europatermine.de launched as an events calendar for Berlin and Brandenburg.

• 1999

  International Berlin Seminar held annually for the first time.

• 1957

  Renamed to Junge Europäische Föderalisten (JEF).

• 1950

  Participated in actions for a "European Federal Pact," including sawing through border barriers.

• 1949

  Founded as Bund Europäischer Jugend (BEJ) at Wachenburg Castle near Weinheim by around 40 young people.

Cross-party, pro-European youth organization advocating a federal Europe and youth participation in European politics.

• Europawerkstatt

  Annual unconference (BarCamp) in Berlin since 2012, bringing together politically active youth with MEPs and Bundestag members.

• Internationales Berlinseminar

  Annual international seminar in Berlin since 1999, attracting 60–100 young people from around the world.

• Parlamentarisches Forum Europas Zukunft (PFEZ)

  Discussion forum between Bundestag members and young people interested in European politics, held regularly in the Bundestag.

• europatermine.de

  Non-commercial events calendar for European political events, started in March 2001.

• #DontTouchMySchengen

1. 1JEF Deutschland | Junge Europäische Föderalisten e.V.jef.de
2. 2Geschichte | JEF Deutschlandjef.de
3. 3Über uns | JEF Deutschlandjef.de
4. 4Netzwerke und Partner | JEF Deutschlandjef.de
5. 5Junge Europäische Föderalisten Deutschlandwikidata.org
6. 6Junge Europäische Föderalist:innen Deutschlandde.wikipedia.org