History of the European Movement

The origins of the European Movement date back to July 1947, at a time when the cause of a United Europe was being championed by notables such as Winston Churchill and Duncan Sandys in the form of the Anglo-French United European Movement. The UEM acted as a platform for the co-ordination of organizations created in the wake of WWII. As a result of their efforts, the congress of The Committee for the Co-ordination of the European Movements took place in Paris on 17th July 1947 incorporating "La Ligue Européenne de Coopération Economique" (LECE), "l'Union européenne des Fédéralistes" (UEF), "l'Union parlementaire européenne" (UPE) and the Anglo-French United European Movements. They met again on the 10th November 1947 and changed their name to The Joint International Committee for European Unity. They retained this name until after the 1948 Congress of The Hague.

From 7 to 11th May 1948, 800 delegates from around Europe as well as observers from Canada and the United States gathered in The Hague, The Netherlands for the Congress of Europe. Organized by the International Committee of the Movements for European Unity and presided over by Winston Churchill, the Congress brought together representatives from across a broad political spectrum, providing them with the opportunity to discuss ideas about the development of European Union. Important political figures such as Konrad Adenauer, Winston Churchill, Harold Macmillan, François Mitterrand, Paul-Henry Spaak, Albert Coppé and Altiero Spinelli took an active role in the congress and a call was launched for a political, economic and monetary Union of Europe. This landmark conference was to have a profound influence on the shape of the European Movement, which was created soon afterwards.

The European Movement was formally created on the 25th October 1948, when the Joint International Committee for European Unity decided to change its name. Duncan Sandys was elected President and Léon Blum, Winston Churchill, Alcide De Gasperi and Paul-Henri Spaak were elected as Honorary Presidents.

The first major achievement of the European Movement was the creation of the Council of Europe in May 1949. The European Movement was also responsible for the creation of the "College d'Europe" in Bruges and the European Centre of Culture in Geneva.

One of its major functions during the 1950's through to the 1990's was the setting up of think-tanks and a network of mobilization in the democratic countries of Europe and in countries subjected to totalitarian regimes.

Since 1948, the EUROPEAN MOVEMENT has played an essential role in the process of European integration by exercising its influence on European and national institutions. It fought in favour of the direct election of the European Parliament by all European citizens, in favour of the Treaty on the European Union and also for a European Constitution.

Its objective was to transform the relations between the European States and its citizens into a Federal European Union. To achieve this goal, the European Movement always put the citizen at the heart of Community construction.

Currently, the EMI is represented in 41 European countries and regroups 20 international Associations.

The European Movement in Serbia (EMinS) is an independent and voluntary social organization of Serbian citizens. Established in 1992, as an non-governmental, non-party and non-profit organization, the European Movement is an independent institution of democratic public opinion and formal gathering of citizens committed to the peaceful, democratic integration of all Europe as well as to a democratic and modern Serbia as part of Europe. The European Movement in Serbia has more than 1000 individual and 12 corporate members and network of Local Councils established in 24 towns in Serbia with additional 7 Local Councils in registration process. Among collective members are Youth NGO Generation 21 and Association of Business Women. EMinS become a full member of the international European Movement in 1993.

The European Movement in Serbia – LC Nis worked like an initial group in EMinS in Belgrade till January 28th 2003. when is decided on the meeting that LC Nis can outgrow in an independent organization because of special needs of the region of south-east Serbia. LC Nis is officially registered on May 11th 2004.

EMinS-LC Nis has a special role in promotion of European values and processes, implementation of working and necessary strategies for development of the region of south-east Serbia.

EMinS-LC Nis has signed protocols and agreements about cooperation, because of better realization of working goals and more intense comprehension all segments of society in integration processes, with:

• The Regional Chamber of Economy Nis
• University of Nis
• Development Institute Sofia
• Office of the Government of Serbia for European Integration
• International University in Novi Pazar
• French culture center Nis

Cooperation with University of Nis and International University in Novi Pazar had a huge impact in accentuation of vital needs of youth in this part of Serbia and seeing their vision of actual situation and development processes in complex.

EMinS-LC Nis has an extra ordinary cooperation with local communities and districts of south and south-east Serbia as like whole Serbia. Also EMinS-LC Nis has intensive cooperation with other NGOs on collective actions and projects.

Intensive work is focused on regional development and international cooperation which is base for development for whole region. Exchange and implementation of knowledge and experience give a huge contribution to raising capacities and development standards of whole south-east Serbia.

Quintessence of development and progress of whole region are citizens. Their opinion results with clearly defined action and precisely focused projects directional of EMinS-LC Nis.