eypuk autumn nationals 2014 resolution booklet

Programme of General Assembly Jury Criteria Procedure for General Assembly Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Human Rights Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Culture and Education Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on International Trade Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Security and Defence Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs II Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs I

Saturday 13th September 07:00 – 07:30 Wake Up Calls 08:00 – 08:45 Breakfast 08:45 – 10:30 GA Prep 10:30 – 10:50 Coffee Break 10:50 – 11:00 GA Procedure explained 11:00 – 11:45 General Assembly – 1st Debate 11:45 – 12:30 General Assembly- 2nd Debate 12:45 – 13:45 Lunch 13:45 – 14:30 General Assembly – 3rd Debate 14:30 – 15:15 General Assembly- 4th Debate 15:15 – 16.00 General Assembly - 5th Debate 16.00 – 16:30 Coffee Break 16.30 – 17:15 General Assembly – 6th Debate 17:15 – 18:00 General Assembly – 7th Debate 18:00 – 19:00 Free Time 19:00 – 19:45 Dinner 19:45 – 20:30 Free Time/ Prepare for Party 21:00 – 23.00 Party

Sunday 14th September 07:00 - 07:30 Wake Up Calls 08:00 – 08:45 Breakfast 08.45 – 09:30 Vacate Room, check out and head to GA 09:45 -10.30 General Assembly- 8th Debate 10.30 – 11:15 General Assembly – 9th Debate 11:15 – 11:45 Coffee Break 11:45 – 13:00 Closing Ceremony / Adjudication 13:00 - Departures

THE PRINCIPLE OF EYP IS TO OFFER A FORUM FOR CONSTRUCTIVE DEBATE FOR THE YOUTH OF EUROPE ON MATTERS THAT AFFECT THE WHOLE OF EUROPE. THE CRITERIA BELOW GIVE AN INDICATION OF THE SPECIFIC QUALITIES AND ABILITIES SOUGHT FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAMS. INDIVIDUALS MUST BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THESE QUALITIES TO ENSURE THE TEAM AS A WHOLE IS ABLE TO TRULY REPRESENT THE COUNTRY AT AN INTERNATIONAL SESSION.

ABILITY TO REPRESENT EYPUK AT FUTURE EVENTS The jury will be looking for teams who have the potential to be ambassadors for EYPUK. In this manner, the jury will be looking for teams who are comfortable working with people from other backgrounds and are enthusiastic about all aspects of the session.

ATTITUDE OPEN-MINDEDNESS AND FLEXIBILITY Being receptive to new ideas or approaches and being able to cope well with challenges of the session and its different elements is important. Such qualities show the Jury that participants can therefore adapt to the challenges of an international event. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND RESPECTFUL ATTITUDE EYPUK is looking for individuals who are aware of and in control of his/her own emotions, and react appropriately to the emotional sensitivities of others. It is important for participants to respect EYP parliamentary procedure and present their arguments without causing offence or trivialising the debate.

SKILLS INITIATIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH The Jury are looking for a team whose individuals recognise they are part of a broader process, and can take steps to further facilitate this. ACTIVE LISTENING As EYP is based on discussions and debates, we look for individuals who will give space for other delegates to voice their opinions and will seek to understand their position and take them into consideration. The Jury will also look for those who, during General Assembly, listen to other contributions and seek to develop upon them. ABILITY TO PRESENT ONESELF AND ENGAGE THE AUDIENCE Emphasis in EYP is on effective communication. Good structure, diction, and use of humour and passion can help in this, but most important is getting the message across – the jury recognise that there are many different styles of doing this. WORKING AS A TEAM WITH FULL PARTICIPATION BY ALL MEMBERS

Understanding the value of teamwork and being able to function as a team is to be prized. A team’s strength comes from its individuals: the jury firmly believe that every individual has something positive to contribute. Therefore the team’s individuals must be able to work with new individuals, reflecting the demands of other sessions.

DEVELOPING AND LEARNING FROM NEW SITUATIONS A successful team’s individuals will show an ability to learn throughout the session and develop their skills in the fields outlined in these criteria.

TOPIC ENGAGEMENT EYPUK prides itself on academic ability, and delegates must be able to cope with the rigour of an International Session or Forum. The Jury will be looking for those who are sufficiently engaged in each of the session’s topics and have undertaken research to ensure they can actively contribute to discussions.

General rules The wish to speak is indicated by raising the committee placard. The authority of the board is absolute. Procedure and time settings 1. Presentation of the Motion for a Resolution (the Board read out the topic); 2. Points of Information (asked for by any of the Committees and answered

by the Proposing Committee); 3. Defence Speech (maximum 3 minutes); 4. Attack Speech (maximum 3 minutes); 5. 1 minute response to the attack speech 6. Open Debate on the Motion for a Resolution: 7. Summation Speech (maximum 3 minutes); 8. Voting procedure; 9. Announcement of the voting results by the Board. Point of information The committee placard and the ‘Information’ placard may be raised and delegates can ask the proposing committee to clarify specific words and abbreviations. Note that points of information must ask for a factual answer. All other points must wait until the general debate. Point of personal privilege Request for a delegate to repeat a point which was inaudible. Point of order A delegate feels that the board has not properly followed parliamentary procedure. The placard is used by chairpersons after a request from a delegate. Ultimately the authority of the Board is absolute.

Direct response Once per debate, each committee may use the Direct Response sign. Should a committee member raise the Committee Placard and the “Direct Response” sign, the board recognises them immediately. A Direct Response can only be used to refer to and discuss the point made directly beforehand. If two or more Direct Responses are requested at once, the Board will decide which Committee to recognise. In this case, the second Direct Response shall only be held if it can be referred to the first Direct Response, so on and so forth. Defence Speech One member of the Proposing Committee delivers the Defence Speech from the podium. It is used to explain the rationale of the overall lines of the Resolution and to convince the Plenary that the Resolution is worthy of being adopted. This speech can last a maximum of three minutes. Attack Speeches An individual Delegate from a Committee other than that proposing the Resolution at hand delivers an Attack Speech from the podium. It reflects an individual opinion and is used to point out the flaws of the approach taken by the Proposing Committee and should propose alternative solutions. The speech should disagree with the overall direction or aim of a resolution. Oftentimes, an Attack Speech is concluded with an appeal to the Plenary not to adopt the Resolution in their present form. Summation Speech One or two members of the Proposing Committee deliver the Summation Speech from the podium; the microphone can only be passed once. It is used to summarise the Debate, respond to main, selected criticism and to once more explain why the chosen approach is the most sensible. It typically concludes with an appeal to vote in favour of the Resolution. This speech can last a maximum of three minutes.

With such diverse opinions across Member States on the

benefits of fracking, what stance should the EU take bearing in mind the need to achieve the Europe 2020 targets?

Amy Bateman, Alex Burn, Jack Crone, Robert Hilton, Gwern Ifans, Robbie Lyons, Katie MacDonald, Callum Mitchell, Angus Morton, Peter Sequeira, Abbey Shaw, Emily Taylor, Paula Wulff, Simeon Wilton, Ali Amjad (Chairperson, UK)

The European Youth Parliament United Kingdom,

A. Deeply concerned by greenhouse gases, especially methane, and the lack of binding regulations in place regarding their management in light of EU 2020 targets1,

B. Observing that fracking2 necessitates large fresh water withdrawals3, and consequently places additional strain on the water infrastructure of the Member States,

C. Fully aware of the adverse effects that chemicals in the fracking fluid can have on domestic water supplies and agriculture,

D. Alarmed by the absence of regulation regarding the disclosure of use of carcinogenic4 chemicals and harmful substances in fracking fluids, for instance Benzene5,

E. Having examined that fracking is a 24 hour process, which can have detrimental effects on the surrounding population, public health and general well-being,

F. Alarmed by the lack of informed public opinion about the dangers of fracking which is further exacerbated by readily available biased information from media groups, corporations and lobbyists6,

1 EU 2020 Targets- 5 objectives to be reached by 2020, one of which is climate change/ energy. These targets are a 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels, raising the share of EU energy consumption produced. 2 Fracking- hydraulic fracturing is the process of mixing chemicals and water and forcing a pressurised version of the mixture deep into the ground to the layer of shale. Pressure causes to rock to fracture, which causes fissures and gas to be released. The gas flows up the pipe into a well. The gas trapped in the rock is called shale gas. 3 Around 90% of reactants in the fracking process are fresh water. 4 Carcinogenic chemicals- A substance that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. 5 Benzene- A class A carcinogen that can cause severe respiratory and immune system health problems. 6 Mainstream Media Bias Against Fracking Indisputable (Sourced; http://marcellusdrilling.com/2012/07/mainstream-media-bias-against-fracking-indisputable/)

Submitted by:

G. Deeply concerned by a shortage of geographically relevant research on human induced seismic activity7,

H. Recognising the influence energy companies can exert on the energy policy of Member States as well as the lack of accountability among those companies concerning the handling of detrimental effects associated with fracking;

1. Recommends that Member States urge energy companies to reduce greenhouse

gas emissions, especially methane, in the fracking process in accordance with EU guidelines set out by the European Environmental Agency (EEA);

2. Emphasises to Member States the continued need to prioritise agricultural fresh water over its use in fracking in localities where agriculture plays a vital role in the local economy;

3. Requests that Member States force gas companies to fully disclose all information regarding the composition of hydraulic fluid;

4. Further invites Member States to allow the EEA to regularly inspect these companies' fracking operations, with all findings published in a public domain;

5. Urges Member States to collaborate with the EEA to subsidise these companies if they adhere to the EEA's guidelines;

6. Proposes that Member States withhold or withdraw fracking licences from companies in the following circumstances:

a. until all recommendations set out by the EEA concerning the quality control of chemicals, water and soil are met;

b. where the location of fracking sites are too close to urban areas, based on population density;

7. Authorises the launch of an EU-wide media campaign consisting of:

a. accessible online information on fracking;

b. public information advertisements targeted at the general public;

c. targeted information for those who are directly affected by fracking operations in their local area;

8. Designates that fracking should be an imperative issue of discussion at the next European Energy Summit8;

9. Approves the reallocation of funding from the EEA and the European Public Health Association budgets towards the commencement of independent research on making the fracking processes more efficient, safer, and less damaging to the environment;

10. Further encourages research on how to effectively facilitate the transition to renewable sources of energy in the long term.

7 Seismic Activity - the frequency type and size of earthquakes, experienced over a period of time in a given area. 8 European Energy Summit – Event that brings delegates and Industry experts together to discuss the future of energy.

Despite the 2011 Directive on Human Trafficking and the 2012 EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings, human trafficking remains the slavery of our times. How can Member States work together to tackle human

trafficking more effectively in the EU?

Rebecca Dentith, Caitlin Donnachie, Sioned Graves, Lucy Hoade, Andrew Mallon, Beth Mcdade, Alec Moore, Rebecca O’ Toole, Sheetal Ravury, Nikky Reddy, Zach Smith, Daniel Walker, Katherine Wilkes, Lorel Scriven (Chairperson, UK)


A. Taking into account the lack of awareness regarding the issue of human trafficking among:

i. the general public,

ii. government officials, including but not limited to, border control officers and police forces,

iii. potential victims,

iv. employers,

B. Concerned that some regions of the EU are particularly at risk of being affected by trafficking due to varying socio-economic environments in different Member States,

C. Deeply conscious of the extremely high rate of re-trafficking,

D. Alarmed by the lack of trust between victims of trafficking and relevant authorities, resulting in limited transparency surrounding the issue,

E. Aware of the incomplete implementation of the 2011/36/EU Directive9 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings,

F. Disturbed by the decline in the number of traffickers prosecuted10,

G. Noting with regret the lack of comprehensive long-term support for victims,

9 The EU directive on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. It is slightly broader than that contained in the 2005 Council of Europe Convention. 10 Between 2008 and 2010 there was a decrease in the number of traffickers prosecuted from 1534 in 2008 to 1445 in 2009 and 1144 in 2010 (European Commission Report, ‘The EU Strategy towards the Eradication of Trafficking in Human Beings 2012-2016)

Submitted by:

H. Viewing with appreciation priority A, Action 3, of the 2012 EU Strategy11 protecting child victims,

I. Reaffirming the importance of collaboration between Member States to ensure effective sharing and use of data related to trafficking;

1. Urges the EU and the UN to collaborate in order to produce a common definition

of trafficking to ensure consistency of prosecution across borders;

2. Expresses its hope for increased cooperation between Member State governments and the EU to identify areas at a high risk of trafficking and take appropriate action;

3. Calls upon governments to increase the investigation of businesses and their employment supply chains in order to prevent forced labour being used;

4. Supports the creation of EU wide multi-media campaigns concentrating on identifying victims and raising awareness of the impact of human trafficking through:

a. tailored education programmes for schools;

b. social media;

c. television;

d. bill-board advertisements;

5. Encourages the promotion of national helplines for victims of trafficking, such as the Austrian Criminal Police Office (BK), and schemes such as confidential NGO councillors12 in order to encourage victims to come forward;

6. Recommends that Member State governments make use of the newly developed data storage system SIS II13 to:

a. monitor the points of origin and subsequent movements of victims of trafficking;

b. record key locations of organised crime groups affiliated with human trafficking;

c. trace the financial records of organised crime groups in order to produce evidence to aid their prosecution;

d. utilise information regarding newly emerged trends relating to the recruitment and movement of victims of trafficking;

7. Suggests that Member State governments implement:

a. an opt-out rehabilitation and support system for a minimum time frame of one year;

b. access to free healthcare that is appropriate to the needs of the victim;

11 EU strategy regarding the protection of child victims of trafficking including the establishment of inter-agency co-ordination for child victims and the development of a best practice model on the role of guardians/ representatives. 12 Councillors working for various NGOs that can guarantee the victim confidentiality to encourage victims with a distrust of authority to come forward. 13 The Schengen Information System (SIS) is a complex database developed to combat the increased risk of organised crime. It allows police forces and judicial authorities to exchange information between Member States. The new generation, SIS II, has a greater capacity and is able to store more types of data.

c. partnerships with NGOs to promote social integration by means of retraining and offering assistance in seeking employment.

Member States have committed to promoting and protecting minority languages under the European Charter for Regional or

Minority Languages. With languages becoming increasingly important due to globalisation, how should Member States protect minority languages whilst also promoting mobility

through different lingua francas?

Oliver Ainsworth, Ruby Bartholomew, Adam Brookes, Anna Callahan, Jon Evison, Nasra Guleid, Clíodhna Hunt, Morgan Laing, Ted Mackey, Aimee Mejury, Alex Robertson, Isabella Salkeld, Gruffydd Rhys Thomas, Laura Webster, Lāra Niamh Eckert Reinfelds (Chairperson, CH)


A. Noting with concern the lack of cultural awareness and empathy for regional and minority languages across Europe and specifically the EU,

B. Recognising the advantages of bilingualism14,

C. Observing that native speakers of a regional or minority language may not pass this language on to their children,

D. Deeply concerned by the lack of reliable and up to date information on the subject of regional and minority languages in the EU,

E. Emphasising the importance of languages in promoting mobility in the European Job Market, particularly for young people aged 18 to 24,

F. Acknowledging that not all Member States have signed and/or ratified the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages;

1. Encourages all Member States to place greater emphasis on cultural awareness

within education, starting from the age of 5 years;

2. Recommends the introduction and encouragement of bilingual/trilingual schools throughout all Member States in order to:

a. provide a more balanced education than a monolingual education;

14 Research shows that bilingual people have an easier time understanding mathematical concepts and solving word problems more easily (Zelasko and Antunez, 2000), developing strong thinking skills (Kessler and Quinn, 1980), using logic (Bialystok ad Majumder, as cited in Castro, Ayankoya & Kasprzak, 2011), focusing, remembering and making decisions (Bialystok, 2001), thinking about language (Castro et al., 2011), learning other languages (Jessner, 2008) as well as possibly delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (Dreifus, 2011).

Submitted by:

b. help promote, encourage and facilitate bilingualism and trilingualism;

3. Supports an increased focus on conversational skills in language learning throughout education systems in the EU;

4. Encourages Member States to promote and support exchange and education programmes such as Erasmus and other similar bodies;

5. Supports the promotion of cultural awareness and acceptance through cultural events, arts-based programmes on both community, national and international channels;

6. Recommends that Member States make more information available on a national level regarding:

a. the neurological benefits of bilingualism, or language learning of any form, regardless of the prevalence, or perceived importance of the language;

b. advice to native speakers of a regional or minority language concerning fostering bilingualism in their children;

7. Calls upon the European Commission and the European Centre of Modern Languages15 (ECML) to initiate more data collection on regional and minority languages in the EU, in order to make preserving and supporting these languages more effective;

8. Recommends further research to be conducted on the possibility and benefits of using Esperanto16 in the future with the help of the ECML;

9. Supports the use of the European Employment Service (EURES)17;

10. Urges all Member States who have not yet done so to sign and ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

15ECML: The European Centre of Modern Languages is a Council of Europe institution based in Graz, Austria. It aims to help its Member States implement effective language teaching policies. 16 Esperanto is a constructed international auxiliary language and is the most widely spoken constructed language in the world. 17 European Employment Service: EURES is an EU wide network aiming to support mobility in the job market.

Although the deadline for concluding Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) is set for October 2014, few African states

have concluded such agreements with the EU. How should the EU proceed in order to maintain trade links with African states?

Georgina Beavis, Marcel Buchanan, Amy Drysdale, Ben Eggleston, Peter McCartney, Jenn McMenigall, Louis Meyonan, Sam Oliver, Lana Stevenson, Hannah Torrance, Sian Warner, Matt Williams, Nia Williams, Areej Yusuf, Hugo Dürr (Vice-President, SE)


A. Concerned by the fact that the fast approaching deadline to conclude the EPA negotiations have the potential to result in ineffective and counterproductive EPAs,

B. Taking into account allegations that EU- African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)18 negotiations are on unequal footing,

C. Deeply concerned that the current EPAs come into conflict with the fundamental World Trade Organisation (WTO) principles,

D. Noting with regret that there is a level of mistrust towards the EU from governments and citizens of African states,

E. Realising that there is a lack of clarity regarding EPAs as a result of improper communication between the EU and ACP states,

F. Deeply disturbed that the grouping of African states into socially and economically conflicting Bargaining Blocs has led to animosity and division within themselves,

G. Noting with regret that the ACP countries are concerned that EPAs could prohibit future regional trade agreements,

H. Believing that the EU has the responsibility to support emerging and developing ACP countries by amending EPA proposals;

I. Concerned that, although the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause19 assists trade between ACP nations, the EU contradicts its principle of positive discrimination towards LDCs by entering the agreement,

J. Aware of the fact that the EPAs are not unique to individual countries and so do not efficiently cater to their needs,

K. Recognising that a proportionate amount of aid currently provided is only beneficial primarily in the short-term,

18 A group of countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific created by the Georgetown Agreement in 1975. 19 A status applied to one state by another in international trade. The Most Favoured Nation must, nominally, receive equal trade advantages from the country granting the status.

Submitted by:

L. Taking into consideration that there are few appropriate incentives for ACP countries to sign the EPAs, with particular emphasis on the Everything But Arms agreements20,

M. Fully aware that there is a risk that opening the African markets to EU goods could endanger the livelihood of local producers and businesses,

N. Emphasising that the EPAs should not alienate the WTO and global markets;

1. Condemns the blanket approach to EPAs and promotes flexible negotiations which

assist the integration of ACP countries into the global economy;

2. Demands the deadline for ratifying the interim EPAs to be moved to October 2018 in order to allow for the development of additional EPA agreements, conditions and negotiations;

3. Endorses greater incentives for the ACP countries to finalise EPAs in order to achieve the agreed economic development targets, through financial and development aid;

4. Emphasises that a firm stance be taken on the black market, drugs and human rights abuses through sanctions and embargoes in order to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)21 and promote transparency;

5. Calls for the standards of African goods to be regulated, allowing them to improve and establish a competitive edge in European markets;

6. Expresses its hope that EPAs will influence other states to adapt a similar ideology, thus allowing Africa to further establish itself in the global economy;

7. Urges the European Commission (EC) and African states to publish reports on the effects of EPA implementations to all Trading Blocs involved in order to increase the transparency of negotiations;

8. Calls upon the EC to discard the MFN clause which is detrimental to global integration and the eradication of poverty;

9. Advocates greater representation of ACP countries in the coming negotiations to encourage a level playing field;

10. Further request the presence of WTO representatives as adjudicators at all discussions between the EU and the Regional Blocs;

11. Endorses talks at the start of the dialogue between EU and Regional Bloc representatives to approve the commission and re-commission of Bargaining Blocs based on the original Cotonou Agreement22, at the discretion of the aforementioned WTO adjudicator;

12. Recommends that ACP countries safeguard a further 15% of their market thus protecting sensitive industries in the ACP markets.

20 Initiative of the EU under which all imports to the EU from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are duty free and quota free with the exception of armaments. 21 An investment made by a company or entity based in one country, into a country, or entity based in another country. Open economies with skilled workforces and good growth prospects tend to attract larger amounts of FDI than closed, highly regulated economies. 22 The current trade agreement which exists between the EU and ACP countries, that expires in 2020. Its main aim is to tackle and eradicate poverty across the continent of Africa through European aid.

Despite the EU’s Common Policy on Arms Exports and the United Nation’s Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), Member States

continue to export arms to states with poor human rights records, such as China and Saudi Arabia. How can the EU

ensure the Common Policy is better enforced?

Danial Alam, Ceara Bainbridge, Harriet Barrett, Ross Boyd, Rhuari Brannigan, Ryan Cockburn, Alistair Jellinek, Jeremie Juan, Claire Kumesu-Egri, Boaz Levy, Jessie Lipetz-Robic, Christopher Stone, Aaron Taylor, Julia Fahy (Chairperson, IE)


A. Recognising the growing dependency of Member States on the arms trade,

B. Acknowledging that the EU can legally establish a Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP)23,

C. Taking into account that EU punitive measures, such as sanctions, may inadvertently affect the population of a country rather than the government, considering that defence contractors such as BAE Systems, employ a large number of EU citizens,

D. Viewing with appreciation the previous efforts of the UN, the EU and relevant Non-Governmental Organisations concerning the international arms trade, with particular regard to the creation of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (UNATT)24,

E. Conscious of the strong relations Member States have with other nations, both inside and outside of the EU, which could be negatively affected by punitive measures,

F. Affirming that the European Charter of Fundamental Rights is a key pillar of the EU, and can be directly affected by the arms trade,

G. Bearing in mind that there is neither a legal nor an internationally agreed upon definition of terrorism,

H. Noting with deep concern that nations may often prioritise lucrative ends, over the questionable human rights records of the nations with which they are trading,

23 The Common Foreign Security Policy is one of the three pillars constituting the European Union, and “aimed to reinforce existing inter-governmental cooperation on foreign policy” (Oxford Dictionary on Politics: Common Foreign and Security Policy). 24 The United Nations Arms Trade Treaty is a multilateral treaty that was created in order to regulate international trade in conventional arms, and “foster peace and security by thwarting uncontrolled destabilizing arms flows to conflict regions” (United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs).

Submitted by:

I. Regretting that current legislation regarding the international arms trade is ineffective and outdated25,

J. Fully aware that further legal transparency in the arms trading sector is greatly needed,

K. Taking into account that every nation has a different arms licensing body;

1. Urges the 5 remaining Member States, and nations with which other Member States

are affiliated, to secure the final ratifications needed for the Arms Trade Treaty to become fully legally binding under international law;

2. Recalling that TFEU Article 2(4)26, requests the establishment of a revised CFSP to be discussed by the European Commission and then further in the European Parliament;

3. Recommends increasing the severity of punishments, which may include sanctions, on Member States who contravene international arms trade laws or the unilateral bypassing thereof;

4. Strongly supports that any incentives, financial or otherwise, rewarded to nations who comply with the updated CFSP to be decided on a case by case basis;

5. Calls upon the reformation of the European Defence Agency licensing protocols policy in order to strengthen and further promote improved transparency and cooperation between Member States;

6. Expresses its hope that any allegations made against a country in relation to arms trading, will be based solely upon the human rights records of that country and not on its classification as a ‘ terrorist’ organisation or state by any other entity.

25 Wassenaar Arrangement (on Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies). This legislation was established by 41 participating states across the world in July 1996, in the interest of Regional and National security. 26 Article 2(4): The Union shall have competence, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of the EU, to define and implement a common foreign and security policy, including the progressive framing of a common degree policy.

Non-discrimination is a core principle of the European Union, and yet there remains considerable discrimination against the Roma community across Member States. What more can the

EU do to eliminate this discrimination?

Catherine Avery, Katie Birrell, Liam Boyle, Eilidh Dawson Bowman, Katie Grant, Caitlin Hampson, Henry Hart, Darcy Hill, Grant Hutton, Lucy Jackson, Grace Keenan, Matthew Ross, Aileen Toner, Matthew Young, Saga Eriksson (Vice-President, FI)


A. Acknowledging that the Roma community suffer from a lack of institutional representation within Members States and, as a result, there is little communication between the community and authorities,

B. Concerned by the fact that 58% of Roma people do not complete primary education and an even larger proportion do not complete secondary education27,

C. Deeply conscious of the fact that 35% of Roma people who are out of work fit the description of long-term unemployed, contributing to the 90% of the community living in poverty28,

D. Recognising that the frequency with which the Roma relocate, can result in difficulties with social integration,

E. Alarmed by the discrimination and segregation in education within Member States caused by:

i. school admission policies being based on academic achievement,

ii. residential segregation arising from the White Flight phenomenon29,

F. Aware of the prejudice that exists towards the Roma community among the police, the authorities, the media and the general public,

G. Concerned by the lack of awareness amongst the Roma community about the infringement of their own rights,

27 Euopean Commission IP/11/400, Europa Press releases, 5th of April 2011. 28Statistic from the European Roma Rights Center. In 2011 the European Commission together with the UN Development Programme and the European Agency for Fundamental Rights examined living conditions of more than 80,000 Roma people living in 11 EU Member States. 29 Majority residents (non-Roma) leaving areas with an increasing number of minority residents (Roma People).

Submitted by:

H. Supports the decision to increase the percentage of the European Social Fund30 that is allocated for social inclusion from 15 to 20 % by 2020;

1. Requests that the European Commission monitors and implements the Race

Equality Directive 2000/4331, under the European Charter for Fundamental Rights32 more closely;

2. Further requests that all Member States use the Equality Bodies33 called upon under the Race Equality Directive to eradicate police misconduct;

3. Recommends the introduction of regional mediators to act as a liaison between Roma communities and local governments;

4. Supports the introduction of an EU wide database, under the Database Directive34, to monitor the progress of Roma children in schools;

5. Strongly suggests the expansion of citizenship schemes in secondary education to enlighten pupils about other cultures, including the Roma culture, as is already seen in Northern Ireland;

6. Invites Member States to designate selected areas of land for the Roma community if they so choose;

7. Calls for the inclusion of the Roman community in pre-existing cultural celebrations in order to promote a more positive perception;

8. Urges the following measures be implemented to increase the proportion of young Roma people that complete primary and secondary education:

a. introducing night and summer schools;

b. increasing the accessibility of education;

c. introduce youth support systems;

9. Urges the Roma community to integrate into the mainstream labour market and for employers to facilitate this integration by:

a. encouraging employers to sign Diversity Charters35;

b. subsidising vocational training and apprenticeships through the EU Social Fund;

c. raising awareness of organisations such as Helpex36.

30 The European Social fund was set up to improve employment opportunities, raise the standard of living, help people with developing skills and finding better job prospects in the EU. 31 The Race Equality Directive 2000/43/EC is a key piece of EU legislation combating discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin and for giving effect to the principal of equal treatment. 32 The European Charter of Fundamental Rights brings together in a single document the fundamental rights protected in the EU. 33 Equality Bodies are independent organisations assisting victims of discrimination, monitoring and reporting on discrimination issues and promoting equality. 34 The Database Directive 96/9/EC Protects and plays an important role in initiating investment in future databases. 35 Diversity Charters are a short document voluntarily signed by a company or public institution, which outline the measures they will undertake to promote diversity and equal opportunity. 36 Helpex is a scheme throughout Europe providing training and housing in exchange for work.

In 2013 youth unemployment across the EU-28 was 23%, how can the EU effectively support its youth through the transition

from education to employment?


A. Recognising that there are language and cultural barriers for young Europeans seeking employment abroad,

B. Aware of a lack of effective communication and coordination between Member States regarding employment opportunities, the skills required and employment structures,

C. Concerned that internships can be exploitive as they do not necessarily provide the skills required for employment and are, in some cases, unfair prerequisites for employment,

D. Noting with regret that there is a mismatch between the skills needed for employment in the current labour market and those acquired in education,

E. Observing that there is a lack of effective communication and consequent cooperation between educational institutions, companies and governments with regards to employment opportunities,

F. Disturbed by the detrimental effects of NEETs37,

G. Deeply concerned that there are biased opinions towards University degrees as opposed to vocational training programmes and entrepreneurial opportunities;

1. Inviting Member States to actively encourage unemployed young people to enrol

in fast-track language courses at language schools, thus opening up job opportunities in other Member States;

37 NEETs: Those ‘not in employment, education or training’.

Submitted by: Terum Beaton, Michelle Cameron, Sam Campbell, Paige Champken, Michael Dwyet, Alistair Fraser, Saif Gilani, Curran Kumar, Niamh McGuire, Kirsty McKnight, Maddy Rennie, Siân Round, Ashleigh Scott, Jonny Walker, Jana Trifunović (Chairperson, NL)

2. Strongly recommends the introduction of an annual conference between European Commissioners to discuss and share policies proven to be effective in tackling youth unemployment across the EU38;

3. Urges companies throughout the EU not to demand an unpaid internship as a prerequisite to employment;

4. Calls upon the European Commission (EC) to create a fund to support young people who require an income while they participate in unpaid internships;

5. Recommends closer cooperation between educational institutions, companies and governments, through a system in which there is frequent bilateral dialogue in order to more effectively fill job vacancies,

6. Requests the EC to establish a body to research and report on which skills employers seek in employees, so to form a framework which will be upheld through inspections and if completed successfully, rewarded with a certification;

7. Calls upon the EC to create a campaign promoting the value of vocational training and entrepreneurship as well as the encouragement of businesses to express their appreciation for vocational training and endorse it as much as an academic degree;

8. Further recommends the EC’ s involvement in the improvement of the Youth Guarantee39 by:

a. ensuring that the traineeships offered are relevant to the current labour market;

b. encouraging governments to provide tax-break incentives for companies to promote the employment of young job-seekers;

c. suggesting the introduction of part-time internships using the European Social Fund allowing more people to gain the experience necessary to enter the labour market.

38 Policies such as Germany’s dual system that tackles youth unemployment though vocational training (Sourced at http://www.npr.org/2012/04/04/149927290/the-secret-to-germanys-low-youth-unemployment). 39 The Youth Guarantee (2013): a scheme, implemented on national level within EU countries, which ensures that no young person under 25 is left unemployed or inactive for longer than 4 months

http://www.npr.org/2012/04/04/149927290/the-secret-to-germanys-low-youth-unemployment

In light of the Turkish government’s response to the protests in Gezi 2013, how should the EU proceed regarding Turkey’s

accession negotiations?

Gemma Adams, Patrick Dolaghan, Lucas Ferguson, Ellen Forsyth, Niamh Grahame, Charlotte Hughes-Morgan, Harry Knowles, Connie Longmate, Chelsea Morrice, Joseff Reed, Michael Sheerin, Thomas Wilson, Zuzanna Zajaczkowska, Alastair Payne (Vice-President, UK)


A. Noting with concern that the Turkish government has acted in a way which is incompatible with the EU’ s fundamental values as defined in the Treaty of the European Union,

B. Bearing in mind that Turkey does not meet all of the Copenhagen Criteria40 to become a Member State,

C. Disturbed that the protection of human rights in Turkey does not satisfy the standards set by the EU as outlined in the Copenhagen Criteria, specifically:

i. respect for and protection of all minorities,

ii. fair and equal access to a free press,

iii. freedom of speech,

iv. the right to peaceful assembly;

D. Realising that since the Helsinki Summit of 1999 only 1 chapter of the 35 in the aquis41 has been closed

E. Aware of the allegations of corruption against the Turkish government surrounding financial crimes and electoral fraud,

F. Regretting Turkey’ s rank of 61 on the World Democratic Index42, 18 below the lowest EU state,

G. Firmly believing that both the EU and Turkey would benefit economically from Turkey’ s accession,

H. Taking into account the importance of Turkey’ s strategic geographical position to the EU,

40 Rules defining eligibility to join the EU; requiring the state preserve democratic governance and human rights, has a functioning market economy, and accepts the obligations and intent of the EU. 41 EU accession requires that candidates make their National law compatible with the body of EU law (‘aquis’), which is split into 35 Chapters. Over 15 years the only chapter that has been closed by Turkey is Science and Research. 42 Democracy Ranking (Edition 2012) – Campbell, David F.J.; Thorsten D. Barth; Paul Polzbauer; Georg Polzbauer.

Submitted by:

I. Noting with concern the lack of constructive diplomatic dialogue between Turkey and certain Member States such as Germany, France and Cyprus,

J. Deeply concerned by Turkey’ s stance regarding historical events in Armenia and Cyprus, and the need for reconciliation,

K. Concerned by the risk of radicalisation stemming from the Islamic State43 affecting Turkey due to its relationship with Syria,

L. Having studied the model of Privileged Partnership44 between Tunisia and the EU;

1. Reaffirms its desire that Turkey eventually achieve full membership of the EU on

the condition that all Copenhagen Criteria are met;

2. Calls for Turkey to enter into a Privileged Partnership with the EU in the short-term;

3. Requests time limits, circa 5 to 10 years, be imposed regarding progress advancing on Chapters 19, 23, 24 and 2645;

4. Suggests that if the time limit is exceeded and these Chapters remain open the EU re-evaluate Turkey’ s accession bid;

5. Emphasises that freedom of the media, including social media, is a necessary requirement for Turkey to become an EU Member;

6. Supports the introduction and proliferation of European and non-state owned newspapers and media in Turkey;

7. Recommends an external and impartial investigation of the allegations of corruption in the Turkish government;

8. Demands that Turkey’ s electoral process be subject to scrutiny by international observers;

9. Promotes the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission to produce a report on the Armenian genocide and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, to be presented to the Turkish government;

10. Calls upon the G20 to specifically include EU-Turkey relations on its agenda;

11. Advocates the opening of diplomatic talks between Germany, France, Cyprus and Turkey to address the concerns of states wishing to block Turkey’ s accession;

12. Advises stricter border controls between Turkey and Syria to combat the movement of religious extremists;

43 A militant jihadist group accused of human rights abuses. 44 Co-operation between the EU and a non-EU country to advance common goals without using full EU membership. 45 19: Social Policy and Employment; 23: Judiciary and Fundamental Rights; 24: Justice, Freedom and Security; 26: Education and Culture.

With the rise in popularity of extreme right parties in several Member States, how should the EU respond to these parties

whilst continuing to promote freedom of speech and democracy?

Sophie Andrews, Sara El Beshri, David Buchanen, Llion Carbis, Jess Craig, Jessica Davis, Emily Hampshire, Christopher Hogg, Jai Marwaha, Peter McManus, Charlotte Smith, Iona Smith, Dominic Williams, Toby Williams, George Ross (Chairperson, UK)


A. Noting with regret that many EU citizens do not feel sufficiently represented by mainstream political parties and thus turn to the far right,

B. Concerned that EU citizens feel disengaged with EU politics due to a perceived lack of transparency in its policies and functions,

C. Deeply conscious of the fact that far right parties have a legitimate political mandate,

D. Realising that the distinction between political rhetoric and hate speech can be unclear and open to interpretation,

E. Regretting that some far right politicians endorse racism which is in violation of key EU values,

F. Recognising that ineffective media coverage has not effectively educated the EU’ s electorate in regards to European issues including EU politics;

1. Requests that mainstream national political parties in Member States increase the

information they make available to the public concerning their policies and activities;

2. Further encourages political parties to engage voters by informing them in simple terms about the structure of the EU and the consequences of an individual’ s vote;

Submitted by:

3. Expresses its hope for Member States to hold their national and local elections on a different day to the European Parliament elections46 in order to highlight the distinctions between them;

4. Draws attention to the need for far right parties to be subject to the same scrutiny as all other parties allowing for them to be challenged in an open and democratic way;

5. Reaffirms to MEPs the importance of existing legislation, such as the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights47;

6. Recommends that the European Commission ensures Member States and their MEPs act in accordance with the aforementioned legislation;

7. Calls for a clearer definition of hate speech, to be publicised in a pan-EU media campaign;

8. Encourages the expansion of media coverage on EU issues, with a specific focus on digital platforms.

46 Such was the case in Belgium where the Federal elections were held on 25th May 2014 alongside their European Parliament elections. 47 The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU brings together in a single document the fundamental rights protected in the EU. The Charter contains rights and freedoms under six titles: Dignity, Freedoms, Equality, Solidarity, Citizens' Rights, and Justice.

ABOUT EYP The EYP is a non-partisan and independent educational project which is tailored specifically to the needs of the young European citizen. The EYP encourages independent thinking and socio-political initiative in young people and facilitates the learning of crucial social and professional skills. Since its inauguration, many tens of thousands of young people have taken part in regional, national and international sessions, formed friendships and made international contacts across and beyond borders. The EYP has thus made a vital contribution towards uniting Europe. Today the EYP is one of the largest European platforms for political debate, intercultural encounters, political educational work and the exchange of ideas among young people in Europe. The EYP consists of a network of 36 European associations and organisations in which thousands of young people are active in a voluntary capacity. The entire network organises about 200 events every year. ABOUT EYPUK The European Youth Parliament United Kingdom (EYPUK) is the UK’s National Committee of its umbrella organisation, the European Youth Parliament (EYP). The EYP is active in over 33 countries across Europe with local, regional, national and international events. EYPUK is a registered educational charity (no 102943) which is run by committed individuals who are passionate about building on the potential of young people through the strengthening of skills such as communication, teambuilding, trust, understanding and working with others from very different backgrounds. It also seeks to offer young people across Europe the opportunity to become active citizens by participating in various events. In the UK, we run 14 regional debating competitions, 2 national sessions with participants from across the UK, and a series of EurVoice events encouraging young people from state schools to take an interest in Europe and improve their skills in discussion and debate. EYPUK also links up with the wider EYP community for International Sessions.

www.facebook.com/eypuk www.twitter.com/eypuk www.eypuk.co.uk [email protected]

EYPUK would like to say thank you to the following;

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

eypuk autumn nationals 2014 resolution booklet

Documents

general assembly motion

constructive debate

education motion

defence motion

social affairs motion

foreign affairs motion

international trade

food safety motion