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.
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You can also download the PDF of this 2nd edition.
The author
Jean Marsia holds a degree in social and military sciences from the Royal Military School (RMS), obtained in 1975. He joined the logistics corps of the Land Component. In 1984, he obtained a degree in administrative sciences from the Institut d’enseignement supérieur Lucien Cooremans. In 1988, he obtained the military administrator’s diploma and held various positions on the Defence Staff, before becoming legal and financial adviser to the Commandant of the RMS. In 1998, he was adviser to the cabinet of the Brussels-Capital Region minister Hervé Hasquin and, in 1999, attached to the Administrative and Technical Secretariat of the Minister of Defence André Flahaut, who appointed him colonel in December 2002 and Director of Academic Education of the RMS on 1 July 2003. Retired on 1 December 2010, Jean Marsia began a doctoral thesis, which he interrupted from 21 January 2013 to 11 October 2014, having become Defence Counsellor to Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo. He publicly defended it on 7 September 2015.
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.