During World War II a number of anti-fascist members of the Resistance in various European countries, convinced that European union was the only way of guaranteeing peace and economic order among European nations, founded diverse federalist movements.
The meeting between militant federalists from 14 European countries between 15 and 22 September 1946 in Hertenstein on the initiative of Europa-Union Switzerland, and which adopted a declaration-programme, was decisive for the setting up of a European federalist organisation.
On the occasion of a second meeting in Luxembourg, at which the world federalists played an important role, it was agreed that a permanent European secretariat should be established in Paris and that the world secretariat should be installed in New York.
It was in Paris, on 15 and 16 December 1946 that UEF was officially brought into life its function being to co-ordinate and intensify the activities of the different movements and to organise them into a federal structure. The "integral federalist" Alexandre MARC (1904-2000) became the first Secretary-General of the organisation.
