 |
 | |
| Formation | July 1947 |
|---|---|
| Type | Lobbying association |
| Headquarters | 2 Place du Luxembourg, Brussels, Belgium |
| Location | |
President | Guy Verhofstadt, MEP[1] |
Key people | Petros Fassoulas, Magdalena Adamowicz, Tobias Köck, Antonio Argenziano, Noelle O’Connell, Valeria Ronzitti, Domènec Ruiz Devesa |
| Website | www.europeanmovement.eu |
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]
History
Initially the European Movement in the 1940s brought together "federalists and European unionists". The federalists, organised mainly in the European Union of Federalists, sought "an abatement of national sovereignty" whilst the unionists aimed "at creating an association of states as close as is compatible with the retention of national sovereign independence."[3]
In May 1949, the European Movement played a significant role in encouraging ten European states to create the Council of Europe, and to begin work on drafting a charter of rights, which eventually became the European Convention on Human Rights.[4]
Presidents
| Name | Term |
|---|---|
| Guy Verhofstadt | 2023–present |
| Eva Maydell | 2017–2023 |
| 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 Brussels 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 Guy Verhofstadt MEP. The management of the organisation is drawn from across Europe.
International associations
The EMI has several International Member Associations.[5] 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.[a] 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.[b]
Board
Policy is formulated by a Board, the chairmanship of which is held by the President. A 'Federal Assembly', made up of delegates from all member organisations 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 - Guy Verhofstadt; Secretary General - Petros Fassoulas; Vice-presidents - Brando Benifei, Yves Bertoncini, Tobias Köck, Noelle O'Connell, Valeria Ronzitti, Frédéric Vallier; Treasurer - Nataša Owens; Board members - Aku Aarva, Francisco Aldecoa Luzárranga, Antonio Argenziano, Veronika Chmelárová, Marco Cilento, Sina Frank, Monica Frassoni, Patrizia Heidegger, Olivier Hinnekens, Zvezdana Kovač, Roselyne Lefrançois, Richard Morris.[6]
See also
- European Integration
- European Movement Belgium
- European Movement Germany
- European Movement Ireland
- European Movement UK
- European Movement in Scotland (EMiS)
- Politics of Europe
- Europeans Without Borders
Notes
- ^ some councils are just consisting of individual members while historically the "councils" consisted mainly of associations (e.g. Italy, Germany, Spain)
- ^ 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.
References
- ^ "EMI Elects New President". europeanmovement.eu. 2 December 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ International Youth Secretariat (1953). European Movement. New York City: Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 22 – via books.google.com.
- ^ European Movement and the Council of Europe. London: Hutchinson (on behalf of the European Movement). 1949. pp. 140–141.
- ^ "The establishment of the European Movement". Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l’Europe. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
- ^ "Greens join pro-European parties' network". Euobserver.com. 5 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ "our team and governace (sic)". www.europeanmovement.eu. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
External links
- Official website
- Historical fonds of European Movement at the Historical Archives of the EU in Florence
