after Spinelli , even though the ‘ revolutionary situation ’ predicted by the Manifesto did not come about and European unification has so far been achieved through a gradualist process that has not yet been concluded - largely inspired by Jean Monnet ’ s ‘ functionalist ’ approach , which has , however , suffered serious setbacks on several occasions , particularly in recent decades .
On the other hand , the Draft Manifesto of 1941 will somehow find its evolution and deepening in the more mature Manifesto of the European Federalists written entirely by Altiero Spinelli and published in 1957 . After the failure of the European Community of Defence in 1954 - a project that had seen a phase of collaboration of the federalists with some governments and in particular of Spinelli with De Gasperi and Monnet - here the democratic method of the Constituent Assembly is formalised , a prospect that still seems to be of urgent relevance in the political struggle for the birth of a European Republic :
“ The European Constituent Assembly , rising from a massive popular vote , and therefore feeling itself to be the legitimate representative of the European people and its aspirations , will have a strong and proud awareness of its mission , will not be willing to give in to national flattery and pressure , and , whatever its composition , will be able to find the necessary agreements and compromises to achieve the approval of the federal Constitution .”
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