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Dear JEFers, dear friends,
We proudly deliver you our latest JEF-INFO newsletter Issue 2012-11, right before the summer break! Inside, you will find a report on the JEF Training Days which took place in Dworp and Brussels last week. Moreover, you will find the call for participants for our International Seminar on interreligious dialogue in Croatia in October, jointly organised by JEF-Croatia and JEF-Europe.
We would like to remind you that the European Secretariat of JEF will be closed from 18 until 31 July 2012.
Enjoy your holidays!
The European Secretariat team
JEF News
Office closed from tomorrow!
We would like to inform you that the European Secretariat in Brussels will be closed from 18 to 31 July 2012. This way our team can take a short and well-deserved break before all the upcoming activities of Autumn 2012!
In case of emergency, you can contact JEF-Europe's vice-president Emilia MACHUCA via emilia.machuca@jef.eu.
The Visibility Training Days in Dworp & Brussels are over!
The joint TNF/Visibility Training Days, which took place in Dworp and Brussels between 11 and 15 July, were a big success. Once again we have proven that a training can be an ideal mix of hard work, productivity and fun. Twenty five participants from all over Europe worked together on a better visibility for JEF-Europe and its sections, internal/external communication and pan-European campaigning. One day was also dedicated to our award-winning online magazine thenewfederalist.eu
Visibility Day: The first part of the TDs in Dworp, near Brussels, consisted of internal sessions for members of JEF-sections. We stayed at the very welcoming Destelheide Formation Center. The participants had the occasion to brainstorm and share good practices from their sections. The aim was to improve JEF's visibility and communication... And late in the evening, the tender for the new jef.eu website was being finalised.
TNF Day: The second day was focused on how to strengthen the TNF as a popular online magazine and how to foster synergies between our four language versions. The participants also had the chance to practice their writing skills and express their opinions on TNF's work so far.
The second part was organized in the JEF-Europe Secretariat in Brussels. Europe 3.0: Special Training on "New Media for pan-European campaigning" was open for people from outside JEF. Thanks to their fresh angle, we tackled the issues of successful campaigning from a broader perspective. The workshops were conducted by experts from partner organizations: European Youth Forum, Think Young, P-LUX and Union of European Federalists. During the weekend, we also brainstormed on ideas for the upcoming European elections campaign, we learned about branding Federalism and focused on 'viral' campaigning through online media. The participants were also challenged to create short videos on their own.
Many thanks to all participants and facilitators for their hard work and creativity during the training!
Upcoming activities
JEF International Seminar: Religion in Europe: Believe it or Leave it?
Bol, Croatia, 7-13 October 2012
Co-organised by JEF-Europe and JEF-Croatia and financially supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe, this international seminar will take place in Bol on the island of Brač in Croatia, from 7 until 13 October 2012.
Religion plays an important role in life for many Europeans citizens. Debate on the rights of religious minorities and exploring the dilemmas for the pluralist society we live in are key in the creation of a tolerant European continent.
Objectives of the seminar:
- Raising awareness among young leaders about the challenges of religious divides and the role they play while providing them with tools for building understanding in their communities;
- Promoting active and critical thinking about issues pertaining to the debate between religious rights versus secular state;
- Motivating youth to take an active role in creating an atmosphere of better understanding between divided societies through civil society involvement;
- Producing recommendations for policymakers on the importance of a more effective inter-religious and secular dialogue in Europe.
During the seminar, non-formal education will be key! The participants will actively seek information and process it critically through a variety of methods. They will be provided with background information on the topic beforehand, in order to have time to prepare and be able to contribute to the discussions at the seminar. You will find here all the details about the event!
Interested in participating? Please complete the application form online.
Federalist Campaigns
The Luciano Bolis European Foundation's European Letter 
With the motto “Yes to a European Federal State”, the Luciano Bolis European Foundation publishes several European Letters a year in reaction to the latest European news. Promoted by the UEF, this initiative supports the Framework for Action for a European Federal Union.
The European Letter n°59, where you will read comments on the outcome of the last European Council and Eurozone summit, is now available.
Click here to view all the letters.
Federalist Outing!
During the past few months, many European leaders have made official statements in media stressing that “more Europe” and the “fiscal union” are the right answers for the stable and prosperous future of Europe. The Union of European Federalists has collected these statements and calls upon European politicians to stick to their words and support deepened fiscal integration within the euro area that would lead to the creation of fiscal union and one federal economic government.
You can find the full gallery of Federalist Outings here. For more information on this initiative, please contact secretariat@federalists.eu.
News from the JEF sections
Bringing Federalist Movement to Poland: 4 Summer days in Wroclaw
Wroclaw, 5-9 July 2012
A group of JEFers from Berlin met Young Poles in the beautiful summer-like Wrocław (Breslau) from 5 until 9 July, exchanging on European politics, having fun and talking about a potential creation of JEF-Poland.
After setting up some co-operation with local institutions and applying for funding of the German-Polish Youth foundation (DPJW/PNWM), the Youth Exchange started in the aftermath of the European championships in Wrocław (Breslau) with about 10 youngsters on both sides.
To read the whole report written by Niklas KRAMER, click here.
If you would like to contribute to the establishment of a new JEF section in Poland, don't hesitate to contact us!
The New Federalist
June has been an exciting month for the European project, notably with the Greek elections that have been extensively featured in our online websine, but also with the Summit (an article on which will be published these days) and Council meetings. We also took on the future of the Schengen treaty as well as the institution of European Cultural Capitals.
July is not summer holiday though - with quite a few things going on around the continent. You can find the new 'Call for articles Headline Topics' below.
>> TOP 10 HEADLINE TOPICS – July 2012 <<
1. Bonds, Bank Supervision, Finances: what future for the Union?
2. Safeguarding Schengen and free movement in the EU
3. Cyprus EU presidency - Agenda and promises
4. Rio 20+ : A failed attempt to relaunch?
5. Ukraine's struggle with democracy and the impact of the Euro
6. Serbian elections and the European future of the country
7. The saga of net-neutrality regulation: an EU framework coming up soon?
8. The youth demands for the next EU budget
9. Ukraine's lost democracy match and its effect on Euro 2012
10. Expansion of the EU into Western Balkans: Montenegro and then?
If you are interested in contributing, get in touch with us via tnf@jef.eu.
Partners and other events
UNITED Conference "Wake Up Europe - It's Time to Act! Creative approaches to tackle discrimination": Call for participants
Finland, 12-17 November 2012
UNITED coordinates, supports and strengthens a network of 560 organisations from 46 European countries. They all share values such as intercultural communication, diversity and Human Rights.
All across Europe, the impact of racism and discrimination on our societies today is severe: it affects all of us in various ways - whether we are its subjects or objects - making social cohesion impossible and paving the way for conflict. On the background of these examples and many others, UNITED is organising this upcoming international conference to be held in Finland.
During the conference, the participants will share fresh strategies and best practices for the European anti-discrimination movement. In a time when far-right groups are more and more successful in addressing a large part of the population, our response needs to be visible and creative: It's time to ACT! A variety of working methods will be used: thematic working groups, plenary sessions and workshops.
You will find the draft programme here. If your section is interested to nominate a representative, please return the registration form (deadline 19 September 2012), preferably by email to finland@unitedagainstracism.org.
Jobs and internships
EurActiv is looking for new Marketing Intern!
EurActiv's office has a proposition of a 6 months unpaid internship in Brussels (under Leonardo da Vinci funding) with a possibility to extend internship twice (paid internship).
EurActiv is expecting you to be well-organised and detail-oriented, with fluent English and preferably French or German with relevant University education (European affairs, politics, business management). Find more information here.
How to apply? Send your CV and a short covering letter to selection@euractiv.com The deadline for application is 23 July, job starts August 13th.
Job at Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organizations Secretariat
If you would like to work for an NGO in the Netherlands and you are interested in minority rights, human rights and self-determination, this job would be perfect for you!
UNPO is looking to hire new interns with excellent writing and research skills. Perfect knowledge of English is required, other languages (especially Dutch) would be an asset. To find out more about the job, click here.
To apply you should send your CV, cover letter and writing sample in English to hagueinternship@unpo.org. Deadline for applications: 3rd August.
Interns needed in the German Marshal Fund of the United States in Berlin!
GMF is a non-partisan American public policy and grant-making institution dedicated to promoting better understanding and cooperation between North America and Europe on transatlantic and global issues.
They are looking for an intern, preferably interested in two fields: Immigration and Integration or Development and Partnerships (political economy).
Both positions are paid 400 € per month. For more information, click here. Please note that the deadline for application is 28 July!