Diversity and representation centre-stage at European Free Alliance assembly

This article is part of our special report Women’s rights and gender equality in the EU.

Heralding a manifesto steeped in diversity and regional representation, the European Free Alliance (EFA) General Assembly 2024, held on International Women’s Day in Brussels, also highlighted one of the party’s two spitzenkandidaten, Maylis Roßberg, a young woman articulating values through activism.

During the presentation of EFA’s electoral manifesto by Roßberg and her co-Spitzenkanidat, Raül Romeva, the importance of women’s representation was underlined time and again. Diversity and representation are the cornerstone of the EFA’s ethos and in the past it has been successful in presenting female role models with 3 women MEPs.

Given that the EFA is almost certainly not going to manage to place one of its candidates in the Commission Presidency hot seat, is choosing a Spitzenkanidat – or Spitzenkanidaten – a purely symbolic act?

“It’s not just about symbolism. It’s about activism,” argued Roßberg. “It’s about values.”

The EFA wears its values on its sleeve and democracy and diversity are central to that. The slogan for its campaign is “A Europe for all.” Among its list of desires set out in the manifesto are the introduction of a special status for islands into EU law; establishment of a European ombudsman for minority rights; and recognition of landscape as part of intangible cultural heritage of Europe’s peoples.

Unique needs across Europe

“Every part of Europe has its own unique needs, and a centralising Union will be doomed.

The European Free Alliance is the only European political party that stands for self-determination as its foundational principle,” said Romeva, adding “we are not just a small party of fringe interests.”

The EFA is an alliance of 41 parties representing “stateless nations” regions and minorities across Europe.

Regions and linguistic diversity are also key ingredients of the EFA ‘secret sauce’. A right to use many more languages in the European Parliament, and the right for EU citizens to write to the EU institutions in their mother tongue is another manifesto pledge.

“The EU institutions currently recognise 24 official languages. But the reality is that there are hundreds of languages and dialects spoken across the territory of the EU – several of which have more speakers than some of the recognised EU official languages,” explains the manifesto, adding that the list of EU official languages therefore reflects the interests and identities of the states, not the true linguistic diversity of Europe.

Not a fringe party

The EFA may not see itself as a “fringe party” but it certainly relishes its status as an underdog. “I’ve been to jail,” said Romeva, earning one of the biggest cheers of the day. Romeva spent almost 4 years in prison for sedition related to his participation in the government of Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont.

Another mainstay of the EFA’s identity is its steadfast opposition to the far right.

Romeva was blunt: “We will never accept the far right,” he said to rapturous applause.

But he was also realistic. Asked about how to counter those who advocate a so-called “Fortress Europe,” he said that “strong, reliable institutions free from corruption are the best way to respond to the far right. We believe European democracy should become more assertive and resilient. But It is absolutely normal that people want to come to the EU. It is a wealthy part of the world, that is the reality.”

Friend of the farmers

Nonetheless EFA was eager not to alienate that most vocal and disruptive section of the electorate: farmers. The manifesto pledges “flexible European law allowing for case-by-case pragmatic solutions, supporting farmers, sustainable practices and promoting local markets,” as well as renewable and low carbon energy projects that are “in harmony with the local communities.”

Such pragmatism goes hand in hand with a willingness to address the big issues making the headlines.

EFA says the Qatargate scandal demonstrated that Europe needs more transparency in all the European institutions, they call for zero tolerance for corruption, citing damaged public trust in EU politicians, and the Pegasus revelations which revealed the extent to which states are spying on their political enemies.

Defending Ukraine, supporting Palestine

On Ukraine, EFA condemns the Russian Federation’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, supporting instead Ukraine’s path towards EU accession. However, EFA maintains that their dispute is with the government of the Russian Federation and their political allies, not the people of Russia themselves, many of whom are also suffering under Putin’s dictatorship.

Call for a greater EU role in supporting the people of Palestine, Kurdistan and Western Sahara among others, EFA says it wants “to see the remaining non-self-governing territories of the world take up their right to self determination.”

Unapologetically pro-EU, vehemently anti-far right, EFA’s General Assembly in Brussels was always going to preach to the choir. Whether its message of a “strong, decisive and effective EU, that generates added value, and which is built from the bottom up,” resonates further afield will only become clear after the European elections on 6 June.

[By Jennifer Baker I Edited by Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab ]