27th nsc resolution booklet

27th NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP GREECE

ATHENS, 20 - 22 APRIL 2013

RESOLUTION BOOKLET

The General Assembly

Programme

Monday, April 22nd 2013

08:30 Arrival of Delegates at ATExcelixi

09.00 - 09.45 Opening Ceremony of the General Assembly

09.45 - 10:30 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs -

AFCO

10:30 - 11:15 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public

Health and Food Safety I - ENVI I

11:15 - 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30- 12:15 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Organised Crime,

Corruption and Money Laundering - CRIM

12:15 - 13:00 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Employment and Social

Affairs - EMPL

13:00 - 13:45 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Budgetary Control -

CONT

13:45 - 14:45 Lunch Break

14:45 - 15:30 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public

Health and Food Safety II - ENVI II

15:30 - 16:15 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Industry, Research and

Energy - ITRE

16:15 - 17:00 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice

and Home Affairs - LIBE


17:15 - 18:00 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on International Trade -

INTA

18:00 - 18:45 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Women's Rights and

Gender Equality - FEMM


19:00 - 20:15 Closing Ceremony

End of Session

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY

THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

‘A small step for Europe, a big step for democracy’: Created in sync with Article

11.4 ofthe Lisbon Treaty, the European Citizens Initiative (ECI) strives for a

more inclusive,participatory democracy on EU level, yet after one year of being

in use, it is still seen by manyas too weak for bringing about real change. What

further steps should the EU take regardingthe ECI and the decrease of

democratic deficit in the Union?

Submitted by: Aggeliki Dimou, Thanos Doukakis, Alexandros Fotiadis, Eleni

Giannnouli, Antonis Kaisaris, Giannis Karagiannis, Andreas

Karipis, Katerina Kaskouti,Alexandros Sideris, Eleni Zeugolatakou,

Alex Nompilakis (Chairperson, GR), Dionysis Theodoropoulos

(Chairperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Alarmed by the fact that the ECI does not function effectively and faces a number

of technical difficulties, such as the prerequisite ofcollecting one million votes

from seven different Member States within one year renders the completion of an

initiative excessively hard to accomplish,

B. Deeply disturbed that the ECI is under the full control of the European

Commission,

C. Noting with deep regret that approximately eleven million EU citizens are being

denied their right to support initiatives due to lack of full citizenship rights,

D. Deeply concerned that voters have to provide excessive personal information and

the online platform of the ECI has proven dysfunctional,

E. Observing that the lack of interest and trust in the political structure of the EU is

both a consequence and a cause of the EU's democratic deficit,

F. Realising that the aforementioned mistrust is extended by a general lack of

information and awareness on European affairs, policy-making and the EU's

legislation and functioning,

G. Taking into account that a main factor contributing to the EU's democratic deficit

is the absence ofotherrelevant democraticpractices such as referenda,

H. Fully alarmed by the fact that the EU's democratic deficit is intensified by its

institutional structure of increased legislative procedure, which, however, is not

directly elected by the European citizens;

1. Supports the following technical reforms in the function of ECI by:

a. extendingan initiative’s time limit to two years,

b. reviewing the minimum number of voters required per Member State,

c. allowing all citizens of a Member State to support initiatives even when not

enjoying full citizenship,

d. withdrawing the requirement to submit one’s sensitive personal data in order

to support an initiative and

e. establishing the collection of votes through a single centralised platform by

the European Commission;

2. Recommends:

a. the promotion of ECI through informational campaigns and cooperation with

NGOs,

b. the establishment of an ECI help desk to assist the organisers of initiatives,

c. the formulation of a legal framework concerning specifically ECI and

d. allowing the undertaking of initiatives that amend treaties;

3. Calls for the raise of public awareness concerning EU affairs, European policy,

legislation and functioning of its institutions by organising promotional campaigns

and providing live broadcasting of sessions and summits of the EU institutions;

4. Urges that the values of the EU should be infused in younger generations through

courses, school curricula, informative sessions and presentations as well as by

further promoting institutions like EYP;

5. Strongly supports the reform of EU’s institutional structure by giving citizens the

right to directly elect the members of the European Commission;

6. Endorses the extension of European Parliament’s power by taking up

responsibilities currently held by European Commission and Council;

7. Urges all Members of the European Parliament to adopt a more interactive and

communicative stance towards the public;

8. Encourages the establishment of additional European Commission’s offices in all

Member States in order to inform and directly communicate with citizens.


THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH

AND FOOD SAFETY I

In the light of the recent horse meat scandal and the raised concerns regarding

food labelling and traceability, how should the EU react to address the issue?

Submitted by: Konstantina Asimakopoulou, Panagiota Chatzi, Vasiliki Chrysi,

Nikiforos Exarchos, Konstantina Maria Karameri, Gavriil Lazarou,

Kalliopi Makri, Sofia Nikolopoulou, Ioanna Pantzou, Anna Maria

Papadea, Dimitris Papadimas, Konstatinos Stasinopoulos, Hanna

Haavisto (Chairperson, FI), Despina Papadopoulou (Chairperson,

GR)


A. Taking into account that the mislabelling of horsemeat has caused consumers to

lose trust in the current labelling system,

B. Noting with regret, that the health risks caused by consumption of horsemeat

acquired from animals not originally intended to be used for human consumption,

are of utmost importance and hazardous essence,

C. Taking into consideration that complexity of food chains, produces

inconsistencies upon systems of control and testing,

D. Having observed a, nonetheless, general improvement of the current control

system,

E. Expecting enterprises to respect the existing regulations concerning food safety,

F. Noting with deep concern that companies are taking advantage of public

unawareness of the origin of food products;

1. Requests that the following information be mentioned on the food product label:

a. list of ingredients,

b. country of origin,

c. results of DNA tests,

d. enzymes and hormones of the product and

e. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certificate;

2. Encourages food companies to ensure the authenticity of the information provided

on the aforementioned labels;

3. Calls for improvement of the control system by:

a. decreasing the amount of mediators in the food chain and

b. better collaboration between food companies, ISO, the European Food Safety

Authority, and the EU;

4. Recommends stricter sanctions for the companies that fail to follow the legislation

in areas, such as:

a. fines,

b. imprisonment of respective actors,

c. deprivation of licenses and

d. closure of the company;

5. Calls for the following actions as a means of raising public awareness:

a. an update of school curricula so as to make possible the organisation of

projects and interactive talks by experts,

b. the promotion of advertisements, TV-shows, and articles concerning food

safety and

c. the launch of seminars and campaigns by national governments;

6. Recommends the creation of a universal checklist so as to:

a. help the experts perform audits on food companies, and

b. to evaluate, amend, and further improve food safety standards.


THE COMMITTEE ON CRIME, CORRUPTION AND

MONEY LAUNDERING

With an estimated 2.5 million people being in forced labour at any given time as

a result of trafficking and 2013 being the last year for the adoption of directive

2011/36 on human trafficking, what immediate solutions can the EU enforce so

as to improve the situation and achieve effective implementation of the directive?

Submitted by: Iris Grigoriadou, Melina Iliopoulou, Magdalini Ioannidou, Stefania

Kafka, Eleni Karabi, Dimitris Panagiotou, Georgia Papathanasiou,

Maria Sacha, Maria-Eleni Samara, Maria-Angeliki Vasilakou,

Despina Dimitrakopoulou (Chaiperson, GR), Achilleas Platanitis

(Chairperson, GR)


A. Acknowledging the limited public awareness that has impaired attitudes towards

non-governmental organisations (NGOs),

B. Alarmed by the shortcomings of the education, which has resulted in a general

lack of awareness of human rights and the violations of them,

C. Recognizing financial crisis as a catalyst of such social issues as prostitution and

sexual exploitation,

D. Deeply concerned by the economic impact of the grey market,

E. Believing that the financial crisis and its social aftermath has provoked the

augmentation of demand in cheap labour,

F. Alarmed by the human traffickers’ abuse and blackmailing of the victims, which

has resulted in their unwillingness to testify,

G. Keeping in mind the lack of cooperation between Member States and the resulting

hindrance of efficient and effective implementation of the 2011/36 Directive,

H. Realising that people in developing countries are victims to human trafficking

more often than they suffer from other on-going adversities, such as domestic

violence, wars and starvation,

I. Bearing in mind that the rate of illegal immigration has increased:

i. the indifference of national police bodies,

ii. the lack of interest and supervision by national governments and

iii. the inadequacy of national security;

1. Supports voluntary organisations and NGOs that fight poverty and

unemployment;

2. Recommends the raising of public awareness through:

a. educational programmes,

b. campaigns promoting human rights,

c. seminars and speeches and

d. promoting polls or questionnaires;

3. Calls for a deeper cooperation between Member States so as to enforce the

2011/36 directive;

4. Authorises the creation of expert-led centres and NGOs in order to assist the

victims of human trafficking by:

a. increasing the number of current victim hotlines and

b. improving witness protection programmes;

5. Endorses the establishment of facilities providing medication, nutrition and

rehabilitation to victims of human trafficking;

6. Encourages all Member States to increase border supervision, both on an internal

and an external level by improving:

a. the security system,

b. the special forces with the help of appropriate training and advanced

technology and

c. the digital surveillance of organised crime and increasing the number of

police officers.


THE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL

AFFAIRS

Skyrocketing youth unemployment, skills mismatch and workforce challenges:

with over four million jobs currently vacant and over 40% of youth indicating an

interest in entrepreneurship and self-employment, how should the EU shape its

relationship with the private sector on moulding quality entry-level jobs ,

creating new job opportunities and supporting entrepreneurial initiatives across

Member States?

Submitted by: Maria Andrikou, Petros Dimitrakopoulos, Andreas Kalfakis,

Kalliopi Lempesi, Vasileia Paralymperi, Aikaterini Papathanasiou,

Christina Sevva, Christina - Anthi Tourkomichali, Nikolaos

Vlachopoulos, Waltter Suominen (Chairperson, FI), Gio

Panagiotaropoulou (Vice President, GR)

The European Youth Parliament

A. Emphasising that the skills and knowledge provided by the educational systems

must meet the demands of the labour market,

B. Bearing in mind that the existing bureaucracy and the insufficient funding has

rendered many young people unable to enter the entrepreneurial world,

C. Fully alarmed by the fact that the rate of highly qualified young people who are

either unable to find occupation in their field of expertise or are underpaid in

entry-level jobs is of staggering levels,

D. Deeply disturbed by the inefficient collaboration between the European Union and

the governing authorities of Member States and the consequential lack of

flexibility of the labour market,

E. Noting with regret that the deep recession in the EU has caused youth

unemployment rates to further escalate, and job conditions for young employees

to further deteriorate,

F. Deeply conscious by the intensified competition in the labour market, partially

caused by the rapidly increasing flow of illegal immigrants;

1. Draws attention to the importance of career guidance seminars and projects both

in the school curriculum and beyond, so that higher and vocational education are

proportionately populated;

2. Calls upon all actors involved to take action towards eliminating obstacles that

hinder cross-border workforce mobility and “flexicurity” by:

a. offering guidance and financial alleviation during transition phase,

b. facilitating degree alignment across Member States and

c. tracking labour demand and surplus in different geographical areas and

various sectors of the economy;

3. Calls upon Member States to provide incentives and proper infrastructure, such as

training centres and observatories for the collection and dissemination of

information about job opportunities and activity in rural areas;

4. Recommends the extension of programs such as Youth on the Move and their

adaptation to the needs of individual Member States;

5. Suggests the intensification of the imposition of sanctions by local authorities, tax

agencies, and other actors of such nature to employers that cannot guarantee for

the legal documents of their employees in order to address the issue of illegal

labour;

6. Emphasizes the importance of protecting young employees from being exploited

by their employers via:

a. the creation of a service operating in a local level, providing assistance and

advice to young employees that have been victimised and

b. adopting new pieces of legislation on EU level;

7. Recommends the simplification and digitisation of processes required to set up

new businesses, thus minimising stalls and the overall bureaucracy;

8. Endorses the further cooperation of the public and the private sector, looking to:

a. attract private investors to fund entrepreneurial initiatives by guaranteeing

partial refunds in case of failure or bankruptcy,

b. provide guidance, and minimise the fixed setup costs of a new enterprise,

through clustering initiatives and incubator services and

c. fund EU-wide schemes that aim to provide young people with an opportunity

to present their innovative ideas to potential investors.


THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETARY CONTROL

Bailouts, currency stability, debt restructuring and the Cypriot financial crisis -

with yet another Member State being faced with difficult financial decisions,

what stance should the EU take to address the social costs brought about by

adoption of the harsh austerity measures in the Member states?

Submitted by: Pavlos Diamantopoulos, Vasiliki Karakosta, Stefanos Mantzarlis,

Sofia Papasparaki, Maria Savvidou, Giannis Skordas, Ismini

Vasileiou, Ioannis Zantiotis, George Zaverdinos, Dominic Degen

(Chaiperson, CH), Evanthia Kasiora (Chaiperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament

A. Bearing in mind that some of the social costs caused by current austerity measures

include, but are not limited to, an increase in unemployment, income inequality

and social aggression,

B. Fully aware of the fact that the current recession is, primarily, caused by the

United States subprime mortgage crisis that begun in 2007,

C. Observing the efforts of Member States to combat the current financial problems

through Memoranda and privatisation of state-owned assets,

D. Noting with deep concern the contribution of money laundering, tax evasion and

corruption to further acceleration of the economic crisis among Member States,

E. Reaffirming the importance of social welfare,

F. Having examined austerity measures as an effective means to overcome financial

crisis;

1. Urges the increase of Value Added Tax (VAT) based on EU resources by one

third;

2. Calls for an adjustment of EU budget percentages, by means of increase and

decrease of the following commitment headings:

a. ‘Market related Expenditure and Direct Aids’,

b. ‘EU as a Global Player’ and

c. ‘Sustainable Growth’;

3. Emphasises the need for thorough accounting and assessment of the usage of EU

funds granted to third parties;

4. Authorises stricter EU surveillance on the public spending of Member States;

5. Encourages the creation of economic incentives for private sector stakeholders in

order for them to take on investments in the economically struggling Member

States.


THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH

AND FOOD SAFETY II

Aiming at a broader waste policy review by 2014, which priorities must be set by

the Union in order to support functional eco-design, environmental innovation

and so as to ensure plastic products are used in a more sustainable manner

throughout their life cycle?

Submitted by: Eleni-Anna Fragoudaki, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, Sofia Iliadi,

Maria Katri, Kyriaki Michailidi, Euthumia Paligianni, Nikoleta

Papadimitriou, Vasiliki Spyrou, Kostis Douligeris (Chairperson,

GR), Ieva Freidenfelde (Chairperson, LV)


A. Taking into account that the restrictions set by the Hazardous Substances

Directive, are not fully implemented,

B. Deeply concerned by the low level of motivation to recycle, caused by:

i. the lack of information concerning the negative impacts of mistreated plastic

waste,

ii. the lack of educational programmes on environmental protection in schools

and

iii. the inability of families to develop an environmentally friendly way of

thinking,

C. Considering that NGO’s and other organisations working towards environmental

protection are not fully supported, neither by government nor by society,

D. Aware of the fact that incineration of plastic, leads to greenhouse gas emissions,

which may severely affect public health,

E. Alarmed by the fact that plastic is the main component of marine waste and

therefore has a negative impact on marine life and ultimately the food chain,

F. Bearing in mind that biodegradable products require separate stages of treatment

(e.g. Oxo-biodegradable plastics do not even fully degrade),

G. Noting with regret that not every Member State fully complies with the

requirements posed by the Waste Framework Directive,

H. Recognising the successful practices by individual MS regarding waste

management being already in place,

I. Having noticed the plastics industry as being an integral part of the economy;

1. Draws attention to raising public awareness within the general public about the

proper management of plastic waste by means such as:

a. educational workshops,

b. campaigns and

c. information websites and blogs;

2. Emphasises on adopting an eco-design policy where industries should decrease

the amount of harmful substances used in production and promote bio-plastic

products;

3. Encourages the industries to adopt a policy that requests to follow the waste

management hierarchy, so as to, amongst others, protect the aforementioned

marine life;

4. Recommends the national governments to regulate the usage of more eco-friendly

materials in the manufacturing and design of plastic in order not to be a burden to

the environment;

5. Invites Member States to adopt programmes that have been proved successful and

efficient in other countries.


THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND

ENERGY

With being well on track to 2020, new goals for the following decades regarding

CO2 emissions and the use of renewables are being contemplated on the EU

level. How should the goals for energy efficiency evolve beyond the 2020 energy

targets to reinforce security of energy supply and energy independence across

Member States whilst remaining respectful to the planet’s resources?

Submitted by: Dimitra Balaska, Theofaneios Korovesis, Giorgos Lympoudis, Iason

Makris, Dimitra Oikonomou, Eugenios Petropoulos, Iro-Christina

Pliaka, Eleni Siozou, Sofia Sotiropoulou, Eleftheria-Irida

Karasmanoglou (Chairperson, GR), Robin Rönneke Belfrage

(Chairperson, SE)


A. Bearing in mind that the energy policies of the Member States differ to a certain

extent,

B. Deeply disturbed by EU’s current dependency on energy imports,

C. Emphasising the need for enhanced distribution of energy between the Member

States,

D. Guided by the ‘Europe 2020’ goals,

E. Recognising the need for a reinforcement of energy security in Europe,

F. Believing in the importance of using Earth’s limited resources in a sustainable

manner,

G. Taking in to account EU’s need for independent energy production;

1. Calls for the re-examination of both EU and national energy policies, so as to

ensure adaptability, flexibility and the satisfaction of needs of Member States;

2. Recommends the creation of a Central Distribution Energy Centre that will

monitor the flow and usage of energy across Member States;

3. Supports the improvement of energy networks within EU in order to facilitate

energy exchange;

4. Has resolved to attract investors in renewable energy by:

a. tax reductions,

b. subsidies and

c. limiting bureaucratic procedures with the help of ‘fast tracking’;

5. Encourages the creation of more sustainable initiatives, such as the production and

use of fuels, namely biodiesel, bioethanol and non-fossil methanol;

6. Further recommends the establishment of ‘smart cities’ together with the

development of already existing projects, such as the refurbishing of public

buildings mentioned in the Energy Efficiency Directive;

7. Emphasises the promotion of concurrent consumption of both renewable energy

sources and fossil energy.


THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND

HOME AFFAIRS

Nationalism on the rise: the increasing number of far right-wing movements

entering into national parliaments indicates a profound change in the political

geography of Europe and a potential paradigm shift in population’s ideological

affiliations. As Europe is faced with a presence of more xenophobic expressions

across a number of Member States, what role, if any, has the EU in tackling the

rise of right-wing populism and nationalism in its Member States?

Submitted by: Alexandros Anthis, Vasiliki Apostolaki, Eleftheria Kapourani,

Konstantinos Koutsantonis, Nikoleta Niforou, Foivos Oikonomidis,

Ilias Pagozidis, Menelaos Samaras, Aikaterini Thomaidi, Christos

Varsamis, Paulos Zoumpouloglou, Dimitris Chapizanis (Vice-

President, GR), Manto Souvatzidaki (Chairperson, GR)


A. Noting that nationalism is a threat to basic human rights, such as freedom of

religion, equal treatment, employment, and education,

B. Bearing in mind that the unemployed native population is in competition with

immigrants and minorities for employment positions, thus leading to lack of

tolerance, prejudice and xenophobia,

C. Aware that prejudice and xenophobia are making immigrants’ integration into the

society of Member States highly complex,

D. Given that far right wing parties are over-shown through the media,

E. Noting with concern that far right-wing movements’ populist and provocative

behaviour attracts media attention and manipulates groups of people,

F. Realising that the Eurozone crisis has led to increased Euroscepticism, ultimately

resulting in a high dependence of individual forces,

G. Deeply concerned that the high rates of immigration have contributed to people

feeling a threat relating to the loss of their own national identity,

H. Recognising that the rise of far right-wing movements is fed by the social

discontent of persons which are presumed to be at a highly challenging position in

society,

I. Noting with deep concern that due to political corruption and lack of clarity,

people are disappointed by mainstream parties and resort to more extreme

ideologies expressed by far right wing parties,

J. Believing that there can be a European Identity without sacrificing national

identities;

1. Considers that the rules and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental

Rights1 and the Stockholm Programme

2 are to serve as base texts which should

guide the Member States in their strategy for fighting discrimination and the rise

of xenophobia;

2. Encourages a closer collaboration between the EU Agency for Fundamental

Rights (FRA)3 and national governments so that more safeguards against the

activity of extremist groups, which act against democratic principles and violate

human rights, could be introduced;

3. Congratulates the work of the European Program on Integration and Migration

(EPIM)4 and further encourages the development of more educational workshops

based on citizens’ rights, social tolerance and respect for difference;

4. Recommends the promotion of a series of actions and events targeted at native

and immigrants of different religion and culture, such as:

a. the establishment of educational programmes, providing language lessons and

b. the implementation of areas of worship, related to various religions;

5. Supports the establishment of closer international cooperation discouraging any

propaganda of far right-wing ideologies, especially through new media

technologies and social networks;

6. Encourages the establishment of exchange programmes for native and immigrant

youngsters in the same city or country;

1 The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union enshrines certain political, social and

economic rights for EU citizens and residents into EU law. 2 The Stockholm Programme sets out the EU’s priorities for the area of justice freedom and security for

the period 2010-2014. 3 FRA assists EU institutions and Member States in understanding and tackling challenges to safeguard

the fundamental rights of everyone in the EU. 4 EPIM was created to influence EU policy developments and advocating for constructive approaches

to migrants in Europe.

7. Suggests that the EU further promotes events which promote a common European

Identity such as Europe Day, 9th

of May.


THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE

With president Barack Obama calling for a further increase of the economic

relationships by negotiating a comprehensive transatlantic trade and investment

partnership with the EU and the commercial world increasingly resembling ‘a

spaghetti bowl of confusing trade deals’, can the transatlantic free trade

agreement be the ‘Holy grail of growth’ for both sides of the Atlantic? What are

the issues for the EU to tackle and what can be done to ensure the agreement

remains in accordance with the standards set by the WTO?

Submitted by: Viktor Markopoulos, Anastasios Nikolakopoulos, Chrisostomos

Nikolaou, Apostolos Papadelis, Adamantios Papadopoulos,

Euangelos Papoutsis, Nikolaos Athanasios Sarridis, Ioannis

Valindras, Ilias Zervas, Mariela Apostolaki (Vice President - GR),

Rucsandra Pintea (Chairperson, RO)


A. Deeply concerned that the transatlantic trade agreement does not fully meet each

of the EU Member States’ current economic, social and political interests,

B. Fully aware of the existing discrepancies between the regulatory systems of the

two negotiating sides and the effect these might have on the negotiations’ final

outcome,

C. Convinced that the new investment prospects brought about by the transatlantic

agreement will positively impact the decrease of unemployment rates all over EU,

D. Acknowledging that the implementation of a transatlantic agreement will lead to

an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on both sides of the Atlantic,

and foster significant financial development in the respective economies,

E. Having examined the on-going negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic and

Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada, and the subsequent

difficulties that the adoption of the transatlantic free trade agreement will create,

F. Alarmed by the fact that the zero-tariff policies imply a double impact in terms of:

i. a positive effect on product prices and

ii. a negative effect on the pharmaceutical industry and consumers’ protection;

1. Supports the creation of a more affluent environment for investments by:

a. reducing bureaucratic procedures and

b. redrafting a common policy within EU to reduce the barriers imposed on the

exports of each Member State;

2. Calls upon the working committee responsible for drafting the text of the

agreement to consider a framework that would set quality standards for products

to reduce the differences between EU’s and United States’ quality directives;

3. Notes that EU is responsible for further negotiations to achieve a maximum GDP

increase;

4. Urges the European Commission to create a secure negotiating environment for

Canada within the transatlantic trade agreement in order to successfully represent

its interests;

5. Suggests the implementation of a directive, which will determine, based on

different factors (i.e., income, job market and health status etc.), whether a person

can benefit from low-priced drugs.


THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND GENDER

EQUALITY

Gender quotas as a stepping stone towards greater gender equality: given that

women still earn 16% less than what men do and only make up 15% of board

members in the EU as a whole, what steps should the EU take to close the gender

pay and power inequality gap?

Submitted by: Chrysanthi Bakatselou, Iliana Bandouna, Panagiotis Chatzistratis,

Niki Georgakopoulou, Despoina Goupou, Eleni Grammenou,

Christina Kapatou, Eleni Kartsonaki, Christina Kattami, Nefeli-Eleni

Konatidou, Theodora Rizou, Louisa-Eleni Zygouraki, Juliette

Maigné (Chairpersom, FR), Alexandros Politis (Chairperson, GR)


A. Alarmed by the fact that women annually earn 16% less than men, leading to the

weakening of career progress, pension rights, and healthcare1,

B. Deeply conscious of the facts provided by the official European Commission

database indicating that:

i. only 3,2% of chairpersons are women,

ii. 34% of the seats of the European Parliament are occupied by women,

iii. women only make up 15% of boards in the EU as a whole,

C. Taking into consideration Articles 21 and 23 of the Charter of Fundamental

Rights of the European Union, indicating that equality between men and women

must be ensured in all domains including employment,

D. Having considered both positive and negative aspects relating to the

implementation of gender quotas,

E. Deeply concerned by the problematic nature of current legislation regarding

maternity leave, family responsibilities, and deficiency of social structures aiding

working mothers,

F. Bearing in mind that, according to the Special Eurobarometer 376, 75% of

Europeans are in favour of legislation regarding gender balance while 88% is in

favour of equal representation in high ranked positions,

1 according to “Women in Economic Decision in the EU” progress report, European Commission.

2010.

G. Emphasizing the beneficial aspects of having women in board positions, such as

their organisational, innovative, and decision-making skills,

H. Recognising that „Women on the Board Pledge for Europe‟, submitted by the

European Commission, was eventually only signed by 24 companies;

1. Revises the gender quotas, proposed by the European Commission, so that the

minimum percentage of women working in the private and public sector reaches

25% in 2013, with a growing ratio of 10% every five years until 2023;

2. Urges the implementation of a quota aiming at increasing the female

representation in executive boards at 10% in three years time reaching 25% by

2023;

3. Recommends the creation of an evaluation system based on the employees'

qualifications and productivity, serving as a prerequisite for the settlement of

gender quotas in a company;

4. Supports the adoption of a new regulation by the European Parliament and the

Council stating that the gender pay gap in a company, concerning the same

employment position, will not by any means exceed 5% by 2020;

5. Proposes the introduction of sanctions such as easy access to law suits, license

removal and annulment of the elected board members in companies, who show no

compliance to the aforementioned quotas;

6. Calls for the removal of gender and marital status from all CVs, taking into

consideration the article 8 of the Charter of the Fundamental Human Rights;

7. Further proposes the financial aid and support of NGOs so as to provide:

a) psychological and professional counseling to persons in the field of education,

as well as parents, in relation to gender equality and

b) students with mixed activities (i.e. traditionally considered male/female sports

or projects aiming at mutual respect and cooperation between the two sexes);

8. Calls on the NGOs to raise public awareness about the gender pay gap, its impact

on society and the measures already taken both on national and European level.

ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΥΠΟΣΤΗΡΙΞΗ ΤΩΝ

27th nsc resolution booklet

Documents

resolution booklet

european affairs

coffee break

eu citizens

regardingthe eci

constitutional affairs

general lack of information

european commission