Ventotene Speech 2026

Dear Friends,

First and foremost, on behalf of Philippe Laurette, Chairman of the Jean Monnet Association, and the association itself, I would like to express our deepest gratitude for the remarkable work you have done in drafting and harmonising this proposal. As a founding member, we fully endorse the declaration we are to sign today.

When Jean Monnet established the first Committee for the United States of Europe, he brought together leaders from political parties and trade unions to overcome government reluctance and avoid being confined to intergovernmental cooperation. Yet, as we know, the European Union has largely evolved into an intergovernmental structure, with the European Council playing a dominant role in its institutional architecture and rules requiring unanimity often hindering bold progress.
Following the publication of the Ventotene Declaration, we must work together to engage the current leaders of political parties and trade unions. We all face a challenging task together¹: convincing them to take part in the European People’s Congress and the Citizens’ Demonstration in March 2027.

But let us not forget another of Jean Monnet’s most famous quotes: «We are not forming a coalition of states; we are uniting people.» Perhaps the European institutions have not relied enough on their citizens. One of the greatest strengths of this declaration is that it gives citizens the opportunity to voice their demand for a European federation – a federation that protects them from empires and predators, as Giulio da Empoli recently described in his tribute to Jean Monnet. Citizens can push for progress in the economy, defence, international policy and innovation through a massive demonstration.
At present, the Jean Monnet Association’s strategic focus is on how to organise our joint bodies efficiently so that Europe can once again become a superpower in innovation.

All those who are able to should gather in Rome in 2027 and in The Hague in 2028, as proposed. But perhaps we could also envisage complementary demonstrations in major cities across Member States—and even candidate countries—to ensure that everyone who wishes to take part can do so.

We must rely on the people, particularly mobile and transnational Europeans—those citizens who have settled in another Member State. In France, a union of associations representing European citizens is being set up to amplify their voice. Hopefully, similar initiatives can be launched in other Member States. Such unions could serve as a powerful tool to support our actions at grassroots level.

As our declaration states: «Citizens do not reject Europe; they reject a Europe that cannot make decisions.» We must convince them that change is possible—and that it is up to them to drive it forward.

An exciting mission that we all share lies ahead. Let’s make it happen!

Eric PESTEL