The Federalist Movement was founded in 1947 in Montreux (Switzerland). JEF was born as the Youth Section of the Federalist Movement and it began its activity in several European towns in 1948. The failure of the European Defence Community in 1954 caused a major crisis among Federalists, which also affected JEF. Although JEF sections remained active everywhere, no international coordination existed. Several joint actions in the late 1960's, mainly the campaign for the direct election of the European Parliament, led to the re-establishment of JEF Europe with the Congress of Luxembourg in 1972.
In 1983, JEF had about 10,000 members in 17 countries and was the only major youth organisation whose specific purpose was to work for a United Europe.
Presently, the Young European Federalists is a transnational political movement active in most European countries. It participates in the exchange of opinions and experiences with other political movements, while not identifying with any of them. JEF's interlocutors include political parties, European, national and local institutions and associations, as well as the general public. In this sense JEF is a political movement, but not a political party. JEF is not interested in the direct exercise of political power: it concentrates its action on the achievement of international democracy through the establishment of federal systems in Europe and worldwide. The aims of JEF are to work for the creation of a European Federation - first step towards peace and World Federation - and for a freer, more fair and more democratic federal society. JEF works for increased international democracy, primarily, but not exclusively, within the European continent. It seeks to implement the principles of federalism, whose intellectual origins can be found in the writings of Proudhon, Kant, Marx, Spinelli and others. Federalism proposes a decentralised, self-managed society, in which all persons affected by a decision may participate in its making. All decisions should be taken by democratic institutions at the most appropriate level.
Its activities include organising meetings, conferences and seminars, publishing leaflets, journals, newsletters and magazines, as running campaigns and demonstrations.

The Young European Federalists (JEF) is an autonomous, non-partisan youth organisation. It does not have the status of a political party and is not engaged in the pursuit or exercise of political power.

The organisation is independent of any party-political affiliation or commitment. It maintains relations and exchanges with political parties, European, national, and local institutions, as well as with associations and the general public, in accordance with its statutory objectives.

In this capacity, JEF constitutes a political movement within civil society, operating independently from party structures while engaging in public debate on matters related to European and international federalism.