Aula A full to the last rows, despite the exams around the corner, and an atmosphere that belies the narrative of a university environment hostage to slogans. On 25 November, the event “Which future for Europe?”, organised by the Universitari Federalisti Europei (UFE) association, was held in Political Science at Sapienza University, with the participation of Action Secretary Carlo Calenda and an introduction by constitutionalist Stefano Ceccanti.

The Roman stage of ‘Calenda on Campus’ is very popular

Two hours of frank and dynamic debate on the main issues of current European and national politics. The voice of the federalist students was brought to the opening by Mark Marianello (UFE), who led the first part of the discussion talking about institutional reforms, Ukraine, Georgia and double standards in foreign policy, without sparing provocations on the outcome of the last European elections. Afterwards, the debate was opened to the audience and a large group of students crowded the left side of the chair, pressing the host with a variety of questions.

But beyond the chronicle, what remains politically of this meeting? Let us review the crucial points that emerged, rereading them through the lens of federalist analysis.

The crisis of the West and the repositioning of Europe

The war in Ukraine and Trump’s new neo-imperialist policy have shattered the certainties of the Old Continent. Europe is now faced with an existential choice: accept irrelevance and vassalage, or win real sovereignty through reform in a federal sense. Only united can Europe defend its values and interests, starting with the urgent need for a true common defence. Only by achieving full strategic autonomy can Europe once again become a decisive international actor, capable of guiding the international order out of anarchy. And as long as the window for a comprehensive reform of the Treaties remains closed, given the urgency there is no other way but to take the path of a ‘two-speed’ Europe.

The decline of liberal democracy in the Age of Empires

Liberal democracies are under siege, threatened by both internal crumbling and external pressures, as autocracies and totalitarianisms gain ground on the global stage. The scale of the fundamental political games leaves no escape for the individual nation state. In this scenario, federalism is not a utopia, but theradical alternative to imperialism and the only viable way to adapt our democracies to the global phenomena they must govern.

Ukraine and the battle for freedom

The defence of Ukraine coincides with the defence of Europe. The hypotheses of an agreement between the US and Russia, made over Kyiv‘s head, risk turning into a humiliation for the Ukrainians and us Europeans. It is urgent that we equip ourselves with an autonomous defence capability and credible deterrence: only in this way can we protect ourselves from Russia’s military and hybrid aggression, and protect our freedom and right to self-determination, fundamental principles that are defended first and foremost on the eastern front, in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova.

Federal Europe as a global power

We can no longer afford the ‘costs of non-Europe’. Following the indications dictated by the Letta and Draghi reports, in order to compete with the great continental powers that dominate the world economy, we must build a complete federal Europe: endowed with an autonomous budget, capable of issuing common debt and founded on a true single capital market. Only then will we achieve the strategic autonomy and economies of scale needed to count in the world.

In conclusion, federalist demands clearly emerged from the debate, not as ideal dreams but as pressing needs that can no longer be postponed at a crucial historical moment, to say the least. Lastly, the value of the initiative’s dialoguing and horizontal climate should be emphasised, belying a ‘noisy’ minority of students who, protesting against Calenda before the event, exclaimed that they wanted ‘liberals out of the university’. The desire for confrontation was stronger, so much so that it continued well after the Faculty’s closing ‘gong’, with a repartee with students that continued for some time in the outdoor space.

As European Federalist University Students (UFE ), in line with the transversality that characterises the work of the European Federalist Youth (GFE), we will continue to discuss the future of Europe with all political forces. Without distinctions and vetoes, but focusing on the issues and the strength of a rational and respectful debate.