Candidates for Member of Executive Board

Throughout my journey, I have served as a trainer, organiser, and advocate within JEF Europe, contributing to numerous projects that link federalism with youth engagement, reconciliation, and democracy. I have been part of two pools of trainers for JEF Europe, facilitating seminars that encouraged young Europeans to engage in policy debates, understand EU institutions, and act as changemakers in their local communities. This experience has given me a deep understanding of JEF’s internal processes — from project design and implementation to advocacy and communication.

I also co-founded the Federalist Society at the College of Europe in Natolin, together with a fellow JEFer, to promote the spirit of European unity in academic spaces. Through this initiative, we invited inspiring speakers such as Robin Mudry and Antonio Argenziano to discuss the future of Europe and federalism with students from across the continent. This project remains one of the most meaningful experiences I have led, as it merged my academic background in European studies with my activism in JEF.

In the Western Balkans, I have organised numerous youth dialogues and public events, such as Youth Talks and Let’s Talk about the EU, often in cooperation with European embassies. These events explored topics like EU integration, human rights, and reconciliation, while providing young people from Kosovo, Albania, and Serbia a platform to exchange ideas about Europe’s shared future.

Coming from a region that is still outside the EU, I have always sought to act as a bridge — connecting the Western Balkans with the European federalist movement. I believe that the Executive Board of JEF Europe benefits from having a strong voice from this region, to ensure that our advocacy reflects the aspirations of all young Europeans, both inside and outside the Union.

In short, my JEF journey has been one of passion, dialogue, and action — rooted in the belief that Europe’s unity will only be complete when every young person, from Lisbon to Prishtina, feels part of our shared European story.

Coming from Kosovo, a country that still stands outside the European Union, I have experienced firsthand what it means to believe deeply in Europe while being left in its waiting room. This experience drives my determination to make EU enlargement not just a technical process but a real political priority. If elected, I want JEF Europe to take a clearer stance on enlargement — framing it as a project rooted in solidarity, democracy, and European values. The Executive Board should use its voice to remind policymakers that Europe’s story is incomplete without the Western Balkans.

Beyond enlargement, my campaign is built on three main priorities:

Revitalising the federalist vision by positioning JEF as a stronger political voice — one that openly advocates for a truly Federal Europe with a common defence policy capable of protecting its citizens, democratic institutions that are transparent and accountable, and decision-making that reflects the will of all Europeans.

Bringing inclusivity and diversity into our structures — making sure that smaller sections and underrepresented regions have a voice in JEF Europe’s decision-making.

Strengthening our communication and outreach, ensuring that our federalist message reaches beyond our circle, inspiring new generations of activists who might not yet identify as “federalists” but believe in the same values.

In my six years within JEF, I have been a trainer, organiser, and advocate. I’ve led and contributed to projects that promote European values, reconciliation, and civic engagement, and I’ve seen the power of JEF in transforming how young people see themselves as Europeans. I want to bring that same energy, creativity, and sense of purpose to the Executive Board.

I believe the Executive Board needs a strong voice from the Western Balkans — someone who can bring in new perspectives, bridge experiences, and ensure that our federalist message resonates across all parts of Europe. My aim is to strengthen the link between JEF Europe and its sections in the region, while continuing to work closely with our established partners across the EU.

If elected, I will work to make JEF Europe not only an organisation that talks about Europe’s future but one that shapes it — through fresh ideas, inclusion, and real advocacy. I will bring my background in European studies, my experience in civil society and media, and my strong belief in youth participation to help JEF grow as a movement that is both visionary and accessible.

For me, this is more than a candidacy. It’s a continuation of a journey that started years ago with a belief that Europe can be better — fairer, stronger, and truly united. And JEF, with its unique history and spirit, is the best place to make that vision real.

Revitalising the federalist vision with security at its core: JEF should be a bold and confident political actor, advocating clearly for a Federal Europe that is capable of protecting its citizens. A strong common defence, combined with accountable democratic institutions, is essential to ensure stability, safeguard democracy, and respond effectively to internal and external challenges. Federalism should be presented as a concrete solution to issues such as security threats, democratic backsliding, and political fragmentation.

Making EU enlargement in the Western Balkans a real political priority: Young people from the region must feel included in Europe’s story. JEF should actively connect sections in the Western Balkans with peers across the EU, promote dialogue on shared values, and advocate for tangible progress in enlargement.

Supporting small sections: Every JEF section, no matter its size, should feel included and empowered. Small sections must have opportunities to contribute to JEF Europe’s activities, be heard in decision-making processes, and receive support to increase their visibility, membership, and local impact.

Strengthening communication, visibility, and outreach: Our message of democracy, federalism, and unity must reach beyond our immediate circles. This requires a creative, multilingual, digital-first approach, highlighting the work of all JEF sections across Europe, amplifying our positions in public debates, and making campaigns accessible and engaging for all young Europeans.

To achieve these goals, I would focus on:

Encouraging youth participation from underrepresented regions and smaller sections.

Promoting events, campaigns, and training that combine federalism, civic engagement, and practical political advocacy.

Fostering cross-border cooperation and dialogue so that all young Europeans feel connected to both JEF and the broader European project.

In short, JEF should be inclusive, bold, and action-oriented, shaping the European debate while empowering the next generation of federalist leaders and ensuring that every section — large or small — has a voice in Europe’s future.

Security and Common Defence Commission: Security is one of the most pressing concerns for Europe today, from external threats to internal democratic backsliding. This commission would focus on promoting policies for a common European defence, resilience against hybrid threats, and the role of youth in shaping a secure Europe. As a federalist organisation, JEF must articulate how a unified Europe can better protect its citizens.

EU Enlargement and Western Balkans Working Group: The next mandate must prioritise Western Balkans integration. This group would work on strategies to connect youth in the region with their peers across Europe, advocate for tangible progress in enlargement, and ensure that sections from the Western Balkans have a strong voice within JEF.

Political Communication Task Force: Clear, innovative, and inclusive communication is essential for JEF to reach beyond its existing circles. This task force would focus on multilingual campaigns, digital-first strategies, and storytelling that highlights the work of sections across Europe, promotes federalism, and engages young people in meaningful dialogue.

Human Rights, Democracy, and Reconciliation Commission: Reflecting JEF’s values, this commission would focus on human rights advocacy, reconciliation initiatives, and youth-led projects that connect communities across borders. It would build on my experiences with reconciliation projects in the Western Balkans, fostering dialogue and cooperation between young people from diverse backgrounds.

Small Sections Task Force: Every section, regardless of size, must feel included and empowered. This task force would:

Provide guidance and support to strengthen local projects, increase membership, and enhance visibility.

Facilitate cross-border cooperation by connecting small sections with larger, more established sections for mentorship, exchange of best practices, and joint initiatives.

Ensure representation in JEF Europe decision-making, so that the perspectives and needs of small sections are included in policy discussions and advocacy efforts.

Promote inclusivity, ensuring that all sections, large or small, feel part of the European federalist movement and can actively contribute to shaping JEF’s priorities.

Youth Participation and Inclusion Task Force: To make JEF truly representative, this group should focus on empowering underrepresented regions, creating opportunities for young Europeans to participate actively in decision-making, and ensuring that JEF remains diverse, inclusive, and connected to youth across the continent.

These commissions and task forces together would allow JEF Europe to respond to Europe’s most urgent challenges, support all sections — large and small — and ensure our advocacy reflects the needs and aspirations of young Europeans from every region. By connecting security, federalism, enlargement, human rights, small sections, and communication, JEF can become a stronger, more inclusive, and action-oriented movement in the next mandate.

As an EB member I want to focus on the agenda of economic and fiscal integration. The IMF has estimated internal barriers to be equivalent to a 44% tariff. Incomplete integration is what has been driving sluggish growth, what led to the failures of austerity, what is fueling rampant populism. The dichotomy of “social welfare Europe vs competitiveness” is a false dilemma. Both can be achieved, with federalist solutions, and that’s why I want to lead a new campaign, titled “Federalist Bridge”. It will be the first massive attempt to communicate that competitiveness and social welfare are not mutually excludable under a federalist mandate.

I also want to support ongoing work on accession policy. JEF’s role is to mediate between citizens and EU institutions in accession countries. I want to expand the CompletEU project by creating an interactive accession tracker in our website. This will communicate in accessible terminology how enlargement reforms are proceeding, and why they are failing where they are. I also believe our sections in candidate countries should receive special training on EU enlargement.

Finally, I want to promote regionalism, twinning, and decentralisation, through the formalisation of Annual Mediterranean JEF Summits. These will create a platform to allow deliberation on the basis of subsidiarity, and will institutionalize interactions. The goal is to move away from the “personal connections” model of twinning.

We must lead with federalism. With a core ideology, that reflects our movement is simultaneously more than a political organisation and more than an NGO.

We must lead as a symbol of unity, working in a deliberative democracy framework to expand our common positions without losing sight of our diversity. These shared positions will guide our external representation, showing the world that our movement speaks with one coherent, principled voice, rooted in dialogue, inclusivity, and shared responsibility.

And we must lead with courage. To confront the internal contradictions that threaten our union, to propose solutions, and to challenge populism with policies that unite. Now is the time to prove that we truly are “simply a generation ahead”.

I am very fond of the work of the Task Forces, which provide the grease to run the gears of JEF. The work of the capacity building TF should be strengthened with a rejuvenated priority on twinning, and with respect to transmitting financial/grant application literacy to local sections. I am open to and will support incremental changes by fellow candidates to the number and mandate of Task Forces, recognising their long-term character.

1. A United JEF (Internal Efficiency & Cohesion)
– Ensure a smooth transition and be at the table from the start to form the strategic priorities and internal structures of the next mandate, improving on this term’s successes.
– Drive organizational efficiency by streamlining cooperation and accountability mechanisms between the Executive Board, Federal Committee, Secretariat, and the national sections.
– Advocate for a stronger central JEF Europe structure that can effectively consolidate and involve all national and local sections in the broader movement.

2. An Empowered JEF (Organizational Stability & Growth)
– Use my previous experiences to help sections improve their internal structure and capacity, enabling sustainable, long-term growth.
– Ensure the movement’s stability by securing multi-year funding for our core Secretariat staff, protecting JEF’s institutional memory.
– Focus shared financing and resources to the grassroots to strengthen genuine connection and unity across the entire JEF network.

3. An Impactful JEF (Political Ambition & Advocacy)
– Defense & Reform: Lead the dual fight against the far-right while proactively pushing for fundamental Treaty Reform (e.g., abolishing the national veto) to make the EU stronger and more effective.
– Political Engine: Ensure that all politically agreed-upon Federal Committee resolutions are consistently utilized as the formal basis for our high-impact, coordinated advocacy campaigns across Europe.

​A United JEF (Internal Efficiency & Cohesion)

​Ensure a smooth transition and form the strategic priorities and structures of the next mandate.

​Drive organizational efficiency by streamlining cooperation and accountability between the EB, FC, Secretariat, and national sections.

​An Empowered JEF (Organizational Stability & Growth)

​Use my previous experiences to help sections improve their internal structure and capacity, enabling sustainable, long-term growth.

​Ensure stability by securing multi-year funding for our core Secretariat staff, protecting JEF’s institutional memory.

​An Impactful JEF (Political Ambition & Advocacy)

​Defense & Reform: Lead the dual fight against the far-right while proactively pushing for fundamental Treaty Reform (e.g., abolishing the national veto).

​Political Engine: Ensure that all politically agreed-upon Federal Committee resolutions are consistently utilized as the formal basis for high-impact, coordinated advocacy campaigns across Europe.

​The structure must be streamlined to support effective advocacy, maintaining three PCs and consolidating to three TFs.

Political Commissions (PCs):

​PC on Democracy, Governance, and Federalist Reform: The core ideological engine. Mandate: Rule of Law, institutional transparency, and all efforts related to Treaty Reform (e.g., the abolition of the national veto).

​PC on Internal European Affairs, Social Justice, and Sustainability: Focuses on policy delivery (e.g., the European Green Deal, economic cohesion, migration, and social rights). This PC provides the material for constructive, solution-oriented campaigns.

​PC on External Affairs, Enlargement, and Global Security: Addresses the EU’s global role. Focus: EU Enlargement (Western Balkans, Ukraine), the Eastern Partnership, and common defense and security policy.

Task Forces (TFs):

​TF on Advocacy and Campaign Mobilisation: Operational mandate: translating resolutions into transnational campaigns and high-impact actions. This group ensures consistency and rapid political mobilisation when necessary.

​TF on Section Organizational Strengthening: Develops and distributes best-practice toolkits (governance, fundraising) and facilitates knowledge sharing between sections.

​TF on Inclusivity, Civic Education, and Internal Development: Ensures JEF’s events and opportunities are truly accessible (financial, geographic diversity) and manages the development of Civic Education materials for external training and internal ideological alignment.

My journey began at the intersection of law, politics, communication, and civic engagement. With a degree in Politics and Law (with a minor in Business) from the UK, and a Master’s in progress in Public Administration and e-Governance (Erasmus Mundus in Belgium, Germany, and Estonia), I’ve built my path across Europe — always focusing on democracy, digital transformation, and youth empowerment.

I discovered JEF in 2016 during my European Voluntary Service in Berlin — and I’ve been involved in different ways ever since.
In JEF, my journey started from the grassroots: from Communication Officer of JEF Belgium during the pandemic to Founder and President of JEF Estonia, which grew from a Facebook post in my Soviet-looking apartment into a thriving section of 60+ members that hosted the 2024 Federal Committee in Tartu, European Capital of Culture.
I currently serve as Chair of the Capacity Building Task Force, where I’ve helped sections grow stronger, trained members on governance, and supported resilience initiatives — including two missions in Ukraine with the Council of Europe, on wartime resilience and the environmental consequences of war.
I’ve been a youth worker and Erasmus+ trainer, and also through JEF, I’ve delivered political education trainings across Europe — from digital rights to capacity building and federalism — and represented JEF Europe in two Council of Europe missions in Ukraine, focusing on resilience during wartime and the environmental consequences of conflict. My journey in JEF has always been about building structures, empowering volunteers, and showing up where we’re needed most.

To make my vision transparent and accessible, I created a campaign website (https://benedettacandice.wixsite.com/beefortheeb) and even an AI chatbot — Bee4EB AI on Instagram — that answers questions about my candidacy, priorities, and plans for JEF Europe.

Having built a section from scratch, I know how hard it can be to turn passion into structure. As a consultant in AI governance and digital ethics, I also know how to turn ideas into systems that last. I want to use both perspectives to help JEF grow: politically and operationally.

My priorities in a nutshell are:

– Digital Democracy & Ethical Innovation – leading JEF’s reflection on AI, disinformation, and digital rights; establishing a Digital Democracy Lab for youth-led policy dialogue.

– Common Security & Real Solidarity – developing a JEF Security & Resilience Programme to support small, new, and vulnerable sections; while promoting activism in regions under pressure.

– Federalism as Strategy – bring the focus back to the f-word, supporting accessible educational formats, Erasmus+ trainings, and partnerships with UEF and other movements.

– Empowering the Next Generation – strengthening communication and cooperation between the EB and FC; strengthening our Capacity Building in all its forms; ensuring transparency and shared leadership.

JEF should:

– Be politically bolder — taking a clear stance on defence, EU reform, and enlargement.

– Be digitally literate — leading discussions on ethical AI, data governance, and information integrity.

– Be present beyond Brussels — supporting activism in places where civic space is shrinking.

– Be federally connected — work creatively and locally to make federalism accessible and tangible. Mini-Ventotene seminars should be hosted in each region!

– Be sustainable and inclusive — investing in capacity building so every section can thrive.

Peace doesn’t protect itself; democracy doesn’t sustain itself. JEF must stand where it’s needed — from Brussels to the Baltic, from classrooms to shelters.

Proposed Task Forces:

– Keep Capacity Building TF (continuity and proven impact).

– Evolve Advocacy TF into a broader Communications & Advocacy TF (to improve storytelling, campaigns, and digital reach).

– Introduce an Events & Partnerships to connect strategy, visibility, and implementation (bridging EB, FC, and sections).

– Inclusion, Equality and Intersectionality (focused on reviewing the current Code of Conduct and turning the current inefficient mechanism of protection into a proper strategy)

2. JEF enlargement and membership growth
2.1 Personally mentoring new JEF initiatives in Lithuania, Armenia, and Azerbaijan
2.2 Coordinating a new sections incubator program for national, regional and local sections
3 new national sections officially joining at least as candidates or reactivating under JEF Europe, 250+ new members across Eastern Europe and smaller sections.

3. “NEW JEF” campaign
3.1 Leading the “New JEF – Back to Our Roots” campaign: fighting nationalism, disinformation & radicalism
3.2 Promoting federalism education through roleplays, simulations, online content, and local actions
3.3 Organising a JEF Federalism Forum once per year in different European regions
Pan-European “New JEF” campaign rolled out in 20+ countries, Annual Federalism Forum with 50+ participants from across Europe, 10+ new JEF resources on civic resilience, media literacy, and democracy

4. Financial sustainability of the network
4.1 Establishing a JEF Europe fundraising task force
4.2 Working actively with secretariat for increasing budget, applying different operating and other grants
4.3 Supporting development of partnership proposals for private donors and institutions
4.4 ESC volunteers in secretariat
Minimum €150,000 in new grants generated for JEF Europe, 5 new long-term partnerships initiated, increasing JEF Europe’s budget with at least 10%

5. Internal democracy & section inclusion – “A Network That Listens”
Ensure that all national sections are heard, involved, and represented in JEF Europe’s decisions and direction. I will strengthen mechanisms for internal democracy, feedback loops, and collaboration across the network.

Key actions:
1. Launching a “JEF Voice” platform to gather bottom-up ideas and proposals from sections
Ensuring non-EU and smaller sections are visibly and consistently involved in working groups, campaigns, and project teams.
2. Organising quarterly open calls between the EB and national boards to strengthen dialogue.
3. Platform for meeting between presidents and EB and separate platforms for project teams and secretary generals of the national sections.
4. THE ROTATING SECTION ADVISOR TO THE EB
Every 3 months, a different national section is selected to serve as an informal advisor to the EB. The selected section will be invited to EB meetings, consulted on key topics, and spotlighted across JEF’s platforms. This empowers sections to bring their local perspective, raise specific challenges, and propose solutions directly to the leadership.