European Movement International

The European Movement International is a lobbying association that coordinates the efforts of associations and national councils with the goal of promoting European integration, and disseminating information about it.[2]

European Movement International
FormationJuly 1947
TypeLobbying association
Headquarters2 Place du Luxembourg, Brussels, Belgium
Location
President
Eva Maydell, MEP[1]
Key people
Brando Benifei, Bernd Hüttemann, Nataša Owens, Federica Sabbati, Yves Bertoncini
Websitewww.europeanmovement.eu

History

The origins of the European Movement date to July 1947, when the cause of a united Europe was being promoted by Duncan Sandys in the form of the Anglo-French United European Movement (UEM). The UEM acted as a platform for the co-ordination of the organisations created in the wake of World War II. As a result of their efforts, the congress of The Committee for the Co-ordination of the European Movements took place in Paris on 17 July 1947 incorporating "La Ligue Européenne de Coopération Economique" (LECE), "l'Union Européenne des Fédéralistes" (UEF), "l'Union Parlementaire Européenne" (UPE) and the Anglo-French United European Movements. They met again on 10 November 1947 and changed their name to The Joint International Committee for European Unity. They retained this name until after the 1948 Congress of The Hague.

From 7 to 11 May 1948, 800 delegates from Europe and observers from Canada and the United States gathered in The Hague, the Netherlands for the Congress of Europe. Organised by the International Committee of the Movements for European Unity and presided over by Winston Churchill, the Congress discussed ideas about the development of the European Union. Politicians such as Konrad Adenauer, Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan, Bertrand Russell, François Mitterrand, Paul-Henri Spaak, Albert Coppé and Altiero Spinelli took an active role in the congress and a call was launched for a political, economic and monetary Union of Europe. This conference had a profound influence on the shape of the European Movement, which was created soon afterwards.

The European Movement was formally created on 25 October 1948, when the Joint International Committee for European Unity decided to change its name. Duncan Sandys was elected President and Léon Blum, Winston Churchill, Alcide De Gasperi and Paul-Henri Spaak were elected as Honorary Presidents. The U.S. policy was to promote a United States of Europe, and to this end the American Committee on United Europe committee was used to discreetly funnel CIA funds to such organisations as this.[3]

In May 1949, the European Movement set up the Council of Europe. The European Movement was also responsible for the creation of the College of Europe in Bruges and the European Center of Culture in Geneva. One of its major functions during the 1950s through to the 1990s was the setting up of think-tanks and a network of discussion groups across Europe, in countries both democratic and Communist.

Since 1948, the European Movement has lobbied for further integration, on numerous subjects. It worked in favour of the direct election of the European Parliament by all European citizens, in favour of the Treaty on the European Union (the Maastricht Treaty) and also for a European Constitution.

Presidents
Name Term
Eva Maydell November 2017 to date
Jo Leinen 2011-2017
Pat Cox 2005-2011
José María Gil-Robles 1999-2005
Mário Soares 1997-1999
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing 1989-1997
Enrique Barón Crespo 1987-1989
Giuseppe Petrilli 1981-1987
Georges Berthoin 1978-1981
Jean Rey 1974-1978
Walter Hallstein 1968-1974
Maurice Faure 1961-1968
Robert Schuman 1955-1961
Paul-Henri Spaak 1950-1955
Duncan Sandys 1948-1950

Secretaries General
Name Term
Petros Fassoulas 2015–present
Diogo Pinto 2009-2015
Henrik Kröner 2002-2009
Pier Virgilio Dastoli 1995-2001
Giampiero Orsello 1993-1995
Bob Molenaar 1987-1993
Luigi Vittorio Majocchi 1985-1987
Sjouke Jonker 1984
Thomas Jansen 1981-1983
Robert Van Schendel 1955-1980
Georges Rebattet (London office) 1948-1955
Józef Retinger (Paris office, from 11/1951 Brussel office) 1948-1950

Activities

The Movement's various Councils and Associations, under the co-ordination of the European Movement International (EMI), work to influence European decision-makers - associations, governments, politicians, political parties, enterprises, trade unions and individual lobbyists - to promote European integration.

The EM also works as a study and information group operating through various projects and activities, and publishes information on European affairs and activities.

Organisation

The Movement's central office, located at Place de Luxembourg in Brussels, is headed up by a President and six Vice-Presidents. Honorary Presidents, generally prominent European politicians, are also elected, but hold no executive powers.

The current President of the EMI is Eva Maydell, MEP. The management of the organisation is drawn from across Europe.

International Associations

The EMI has several International Member Associations.[4] These include civil society organisations, business and trade unions, NGOs, political parties, local authorities and academia.

Supporting Members

National Councils

At national level there are National Councils in 39 countries, organized in a very diverse way.[5] In principle national councils of all countries which are members of the Council of Europe can join the European Movement. Only on national level the EM has youth branches.[6]

Board

Policy is formulated by a Board, the chairmanship of which is held by the President. A 'Federal Assembly', made up of delegates from local Movements throughout Europe, foments policies for the EMI and is in charge of the organisation's Auditors. Several specialist committees, devoted to the discussion of individual policies exist as well. The current Political Committees are: More Democracy, Citizens’ Rights and Freedom; Jobs, Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth; and Europe in the World. Day-to-day office-work is performed by the staff, which is led by a Secretary General, who since 2015 has been Petros Fassoulas.

Current Members of the Board are:

President - Eva Maydell; Secretary General - Petros Fassoulas; Vice-presidents - Anna Widegren, Bernd Hüttemann, Brando Benifei, Nataša Owens, Yves Bertoncini; Treasurer - Maria Heider; Board members - Aura Salla, Christine Bosse, Christof-Sebastian Klitz, Ela Taskent, Florian Hauger, Luc Martens, Maja Bobić, Miguel Angel Benedicto, Pier Virgilio Dastoli, Roselyne Lefrançois, Valentin Dupouey, and Valeria Ronzitti.[7]

gollark: I mean, xenowyrms and zyumorphs are roughly the same value, I think. Maybe zyus are a bit more common. Hard to say.
gollark: Still working through my 14-dragon name backlog...
gollark: I got a *chicken* for an aeon once.
gollark: Indeed.
gollark: A CB one? Maaaaybe? I don't think so.

See also

References
  1. "EMI Elects New President". Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  2. International Youth Secretariat (1953). "European+Movement.+International+Youth+Secretariat"&dq=inauthor:"European+Movement.+International+Youth+Secretariat" European Movement. NA: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 22.
  3. telegraph.co.uk: "Euro-federalists financed by US spy chiefs" 19 Sep 2000
  4. Friday 5th Feb 2016. "Greens join pro-European parties' network". Euobserver.com. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  5. some councils are just consisting of individual members while historically the "councils" consisted mainly of associations (e.g. Italy, Germany, Spain)
  6. Such as the Young European Movement UK, which are usually the national sections of the Young European Federalists (JEF). On European level JEF is youth organisation of the Union of European Federalists.
  7. See Homepage EMI
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