A federal constitution for the United States of Europe. Why and how ? – 2nd edition (English version)
The European Society for Defence (SD) is publishing the 2nd edition, revised and expanded, of the book written by its president, Colonel military administrator (Ret.) Jean Marsia: A federal constitution for the United States of Europe. Why and how?. With a preface by André Flahaut, Minister of State and former Minister of Defence, this new edition — the author’s third book — was revised and supplemented between February 2022 and 31 July 2026. It now runs to more than 400 pages: the new texts, printed in bold, highlight more clearly what Europe owes to ancient Greece, give a fuller account of Charles de Gaulle’s pan-European thinking, and provide an updated analysis of the world since the high-intensity war in Ukraine.
This book is available in English below, as well as in French version.
Extract
After recalling why Europe needs a federal governance, this book answers two of the questions most frequently asked of the author during the more than 330 talks he has given since 2015: « What will the United States of Europe consist of? » and « How could it be made a reality? ».
The European Union (EU) cannot ensure our security or our defence. It lost 66 million British citizens with Brexit: the Europe of 27 now has only 452 million inhabitants, and its 2024 gross domestic product (GDP) has fallen to €40,000 per capita, compared with $80,000 for an American. It can no longer afford to invest massively to revive its economy, achieve a successful energy transition, and ensure its security and defence — all the more so since the high-intensity war waged by Russia against Ukraine has reshuffled the continent’s strategic cards.
A few small States should urgently mandate their elected European parliamentarians to endow the United States of Europe with a constitution and a basic law. In this way, we could gradually become autonomous, sovereign and independent again, in order to ensure the projection of our values, the protection of our interests and the future of coming generations of Europeans.
See the full document
You can also download the PDF of this 2nd edition.
The author
Jean Marsia is a colonel military administrator (Ret.). In 2015, he became a Doctor of Political Science at the Free University of Brussels (Université libre de Bruxelles) and in Social and Military Sciences at the Royal Military School (RMS).
He is the founding president of the European Society for Defence INPO (S€D) – www.seurod.eu. He advised the Minister of Defence from 1999 to 2003.
Director of Academic Education from 2003 to 2009, he adapted the RMS to the European Higher Education and Research Areas, to the European Security and Defence Policy and to the Erasmus program. He was Defence Adviser to the Prime Minister in 2013 and 2014.
This 2nd edition includes a preface by André Flahaut, Minister of State, Minister of Defence (12/7/1999-21/12/2007), President of the House of Representatives (20/7/2010-30/6/2014) and member of the SD Honorary Committee.