Hertensteiner program

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The Hertensteiner program consists of 12 theses that were worked out from September 15 to 19, 1946 in Hertenstein, Switzerland at a conference of the Swiss European Union by 79 federal representatives from fourteen European countries and the USA and adopted on September 21.

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The Hertensteiner Program called for the formation of a European federation to which the participating states should transfer part of their economic, political and military sovereignty rights. As the European Union, the federation should integrate itself into the United Nations and form a regional body within the meaning of Article 52 of the Charter of the United Nations. This was intended to guarantee that disputes between states were resolved non-violently. The federation should provide the appropriate framework for rebuilding and democratizing Europe and for peaceful economic, technical, social and cultural development.

The "12 theses"

  1. A European Community established on a federal basis is a necessary and essential part of any true world union .
  2. In accordance with the federalist principles, which call for a democratic structure from the bottom up, the European international community should itself settle the disputes that might arise between its members.
  3. The European Union is part of the United Nations and forms a regional body within the meaning of Article 52 of the Charter .
  4. The members of the European Union transfer part of their economic, political and military sovereignty rights to the federation they have formed .
  5. The European Union is open to accession to all peoples of a European nature who recognize its principles.
  6. The European Union defines the rights and obligations of its citizens in the Declaration of European Citizens' Rights .
  7. This declaration is based on respect for people and their responsibility towards the various communities to which they belong.
  8. The European Union is responsible for the planned reconstruction and for economic, social and cultural cooperation, as well as ensuring that technological progress is only used in the service of humanity.
  9. The European Union is not directed against anyone and renounces any power politics, but also refuses to be an instrument of any foreign power.
  10. Within the framework of the European Union, regional sub-associations based on free agreement are permissible and even desirable.
  11. Only the European Union will be able to ensure the integrity of the area and the preservation of the individuality of all its peoples, large or small.
  12. By proving that it can solve its own destiny in the spirit of federalism , Europe should make a contribution to reconstruction and a world league of peoples.

Publication and importance

Hertensteiner Cross

The 12 theses were presented to the general public as a declaration on the historical plateau of the Rütli oath (1291) on September 22nd.

The Hertensteiner Program became the basic document for all European divisions and associations of the Union of European Federalists (UEF), founded in Paris in December 1946 , which strives for a federal and democratic unification of the European peoples. It is still one of the foundations of the Europa-Union Deutschland (statute) and the Young European Federalists .

See also

literature

Web links