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Resolution Booklet 14th National Session Sunday 30 August 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ENVI II
2
DROI
6
ENVI I
10
PECH
14
TRAN
18
ITRE
21
JURI
25
REGI
28
EMPL
32
CULT
36
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY II (ENVI II) A strategy that gives more than it takes away: The European Green Deal is a highly ambitious vision for a climate-neutral EU by 2050. While being heavily under pressure by the current global instability, leading to budget constraints and a shift of priorities, how can the EU ensure that the European Green Deal will still be successfully implemented while recognising the interests of all stakeholders? Submitted by: Ioanna Christodoulides (CY), Aiantas Christofidis (CY), Ruddy (Nicole) Alocha Ebua (CY), Christos Pieri (CY), Ioannis Skordis (CY), Christia Spyrou (CY), Aliosha Bielenberg (Chairperson) The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with regret that the European Emissions Trading System 1 is used by over 11,000 manufacturing and power plants in Europe yet does not include crucial sectors such as transport and manufacturing, B. Concerned that pesticides can cause acute as well as chronic health effects ranging from rashes to skin cancer, C. Further noting that pesticides include harmful chemicals such as 2,4Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, Atrazine, and Chlordane whose use leads to soil pollution and potentially food poisoning, D. Taking into consideration that in 2017 transport was responsible for 27% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, E. Recognizing that the extinction of pollinators 2 could lead to a reduction in the population of plants even if soil, air, nutrients, and other life-sustaining elements remained available,
1 The European ETS is “a cornerstone of the EU's policy to combat climate change and its key tool for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively. It is the world's first major carbon market and remains the biggest one.� 2 A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower.
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F. Deeply concerned that countries that heavily rely on coal and steel such as Poland 3 resist the European Green Deal for fear of putting jobs at risk, G. Keeping in mind that coal is globally responsible for over 800 000 premature deaths per year, H. Alarmed by the many negative consequences of fertilizer use on wildlife, air pollution, and soil acidification, I. Disturbed by the fact that approximately 88 million tonnes of food are wasted in the European Union each year which is the equivalent of 173 kilos per person;
1. Asks the European Commission to decrease carbon emissions produced by firms and further the intent of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) 4 by: a. raising the carbon price and increasing the carbon emission reduction rate to over 50% by 2030, b. providing subsidies to firms that promote the use of clean, reliable, and affordable energy, c. implementing the EU ETS in buildings as well as transport sectors with a view to have climate neutral transport by 2025; 2. Directs the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission to promote organic agriculture until 2030 by: a. placing a legal cap on pesticides and fertilizers so as to reduce their use by 50%, b. incentivizing farmers to switch to sustainable farming by providing tax exemptions or subsidies; 3. Requests the European Commission to improve the energy efficiency of buildings by: a. funding research and development programs for ‘green’ buildings and infrastructure, b. providing subsidies to construction projects that use energy-efficient methods, 3 Poland produces 49.2% of its electricity from coal, employing 41 thousand people.
4 The aim of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is to help EU Member States achieve their
commitments to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way.
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c. promoting builders to construct buildings up to the EU eco-friendly standards, d. making the use of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) 5 mandatory in all EU Member States; 4. Recommends that the European Commission reinforces the Just Transition Mechanism(JMT) 6 to ensure that the transition to a carbon neutral EU is made possible for all carbon and coal intensive regions by: a. offering new employment opportunities to workers that have become unemployed due to the redundancy of their skills in fossil fuel power plants, b. providing a skill acquisition process to train said workers for a potential new job; 5. Invites the EU and its Member States to coordinate and monitor their environmental policies so that the share of renewable energy is increased from 18% to 33% until 2030 by: a. accepting the guidance of the European Environment Agency 7 on policy making, b. supporting the 2021–2030 European Information and Observation Network (Eionet) strategy; 8 6. Further urges the European Commission to fund the development and further use of alternative energy 9 resources and climate-friendly production methods through: a. subsidising the research and innovation of green technology in manufacturing, 10 b. incentivising the construction of nuclear power stations as a substitute for the creation of further fossil fuel plants; 7. Encourages Member States to: a. fund projects around composting and bins in households, b. support the EU platform for food losses and waste prevention by targeting the housing, food service, and retail sectors;
5 Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are a rating scheme to summarise the energy efficiency of
buildings in the European Union. 6 The Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) is part of the European Green Deal effort to create a climateneutral economy in Europe by 2050. The Mechanism will seek to overcome the economic and social costs of the climate transition in the most vulnerable coal and carbon-intensive regions 7 The European Environment Agency (EEA) serves as a crossroad between regulators, policymakers, and the general public. 8 The Eioet strategy shares expertise about sustainable technologies. 9 Alternative energy is any energy source that does not use fossil fuels. 10 Technology whose use is intended to mitigate or reverse the effects of human activity on the environment.
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8. Urges the European Commission to decrease the carbon footprint of the transportation sector by: a. deploying alternative energy sources for transport including but not limited to biofuels, hydrogen, electricity, and synthetic fuels, b. funding public support projects promoting electric vehicles, c. providing incentives to electric car owners including but not limited to free vehicle charging, d. investing in research and development towards electrification; 11 9. Appeals to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to guide the expansion of the EU’s Energy Union by incorporating a variety of strategic partners, including Ukraine, 12 Turkey, 13 Russia, 14 and India; 15 10. Calls upon the European Commission to promote the use of hydrogen fuel throughout Member States by: a. establishing a hydrogen market in cooperation with neighbouring countries, b. forming an organisation of specialists responsible for monitoring the use of hydrogen, c. subsidising research and development in hydrogen-powered vehicles such as cars and trams.
11 Electrification is the
conversion of a machine or system to the use of electrical power.
12 Ukraine is a conventional transit and future energy power surrounding the production, transport and
storage of clean gases in relation to energy efficiency.
13 Turkey demonstrates shared cooperation with the EU surrounding matters such as energy efficiency as
well as renewable energy sources.
14 Russia is a standard-setter in the Eurasian Economic Union, which would be heavily affected by the
EU’s decarbonization and economically supported by the use of renewables and energy efficiency.
15 India is the third-biggest emitter of CO2 and plans to increase the share of its renewable energy
sources to 40 percent, in light of the growing energy demand.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS (DROI) With COVID-19 posing a big challenge for many of Europe's healthcare systems and disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities such as refugees, their access to medical care is further hindered by practical obstacles such as language barriers and improper reception facilities. What measures should be taken by the Member States to safeguard the physical and mental healthcare needs of asylum seekers, and to also ensure unhindered access to other essential services following their arrival in the EU? Submitted by: Dylan Leonard Buiteman (CY), Mikaella Hadjisavva (CY), Feidias Psaras (CY), Tiana Taliotou (CY), Tanya Vinogradova (CY), Athina Stavrou (CY, Chairperson) The European Youth Parliament, A. Taking into account the repeated violations of the rights of asylum seekers' under Articles 18 16 and 35 17 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, B. Noting with regret the lack of healthcare provided to asylum seekers, C. Taking into consideration the lack of a common EU asylum system, D. Alarmed by the fact that more than 61% of asylum seekers in 2015 faced serious mental distress or other mental illnesses, E. Pointing out the lack of knowledge asylum seekers have of their entitled rights, including healthcare rights, F. Bearing in mind the difficulties asylum seekers face due to language barriers, including but not limited to: i. seeking healthcare, ii. adapting to their new lifestyles, 16 Article 18: The right to asylum shall be guaranteed with due respect for the rules of the Geneva
Convention of 28 July 1951 and the Protocol of 31 January 1967 relating to the status of refugees and in accordance with the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 17 Article 35: Everyone has the right of access to preventive health care and the right to benefit from medical treatment under the conditions established by national laws and practices. A high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities.
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G. Gravely concerned with the discrimination asylum seekers face, leading to social stigma and therefore hindering their social integration, H. Noting with regret that the Dublin III Regulation is inadequate 18 in: i. efficiently ensuring a quick and fair access to asylum procedures, ii. reducing the double-handling of asylum claims by different Member States, I. Concerned by the uninhabitable living conditions in certain refugee camps despite the Reception Conditions Directive 19 being in place, J. Aware that all the aforementioned issues have been further exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic;
1. Asks the Directorate General of Migration and Home Affairs 20 (DG HOME) to help inform asylum seekers of their rights and provide orientation information through the: a. implementation of virtual or in-person seminars in reception camps, b. development and distribution of informative leaflets in the native languages of the asylum seekers; 2. Urges the Ministries of Health of Member States to expand their national health systems to cover the provision of healthcare to asylum seekers; 3. Recommends that Member States: a. hire psychologists that will be available at the reception facilities, b. perform a mandatory psychological evaluation of all asylum seekers when they enter the country;
18 The Dublin III Regulation establishes the criteria and mechanisms for determining which Member State
is responsible for examining an asylum claim made in the EU.
19 The Reception Conditions Directive aims at ensuring better as well as more harmonized standards of
reception conditions throughout the Union. HOME works on the development of a balanced and comprehensive EU migration policy, based on solidarity and responsibility in line with the Europe 2020 strategy.
20 DG
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4. Requests the DG HOME to further safeguard the mental health of asylum seekers by organizing weekly focus groups that will provide them with the opportunity to share their feelings and struggles; 5. Calls upon the European Commission to deploy Intercultural Mediators 21 (IMs) to assist healthcare providers in: a. translating, b. offering cultural brokerage 22, c. relieving tension and conflict; 6. Encourages Member States to facilitate the integration of asylum seekers in society by: a. employing translators at refugee camps fluent in the refugees' language of preference, b. offering weekly language lessons in English and the Member State's national language(s), c. educating asylum seekers on the culture of the Member State they have sought protection in; 7. Further encourages the DG HOME to create an awareness campaign about the hardships of refugees and asylum seekers through social media such as Instagram and Facebook, after receiving consent from the individuals involved; 8. Appeals to the European Commission to prioritise the Dublin IV Regulation 23 by: a. further taking the Dublin IV proposal to the European Council with a deadline of enforcement by the end of 2021, b. providing minimum quotas for asylum seeker admission for each Member State according but not limited to population, size, and GDP per capita, c. digitising the refugee's records and transfers through the use of finger ID, d. having a standard time limit for the transfers of asylum seekers and penalty for those who fail to follow it;
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A person who enables intercultural communication, that is helps representatives of two different cultural communities communicate and understand each other. 22 Cultural brokering is the act of bridging, linking, or mediating between groups or persons of different cultural backgrounds for the purpose of reducing conflict or producing change. 23 The Dublin Regulation determines which EU Member State is responsible for the examination of an application for asylum, submitted by persons seeking international protection under the Geneva Convention and the EU Qualification Directive, within the European Union.
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9. Encourages the European Commission to create a task force for the enforcement of the Common European Asylum System (TFCEAS) to monitor the implementation of the changes proposed by the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) 24; 10. Further urges the European Parliament and European Council to accelerate negotiations of the CEAS proposal of a single, unified EU asylum system and its subsequent adoption at a national level by the end of 2021; 11. Urges Member States to collaborate with the newly established task force to improve the EU Reception Conditions Directive by: a. increasing the minimum requirements for acceptable living conditions in reception facilities, b. providing more subsidies to Member States for the provision of improved conditions,housing, increased number of medical staff and supplies, c. ensuring that these changes are adhered to with the implementation of regular yearly quality reports conducted by TFCEAS; 12. Invites Member States to cooperate with the newly established task force to improve healthcare in reception facilities by: a. investing in more sanitation facilities, b. providing hygiene necessities in all refugee camps, c. conducting weekly COVID-19 tests to 15% of the residents.
24 CEAS is an EU agency assisting EU States in fulfilling their European and international obligations in
the field of asylum. Asylum is granted to people who are fleeing persecution or serious harm in their own country and therefore in need of international protection.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY I (ENVI I) Popping pills without restraint: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 490000 people have developed multi-drug resistance, constituting a massive threat to global health. With antimicrobial resistance causing 33000 deaths per year in the EU and amounting for 1,5 billion EUR in healthcare costs and productivity losses, how can the EU protect its citizens and effectively safeguard public health? Submitted by: Ioanna Antoniou (CY), Avgi Economou (CY), Anastasia Georgiou (CY), Anna Nechaeva (CY),Markos Televantos (CY), Madeleine Theodoulou (CY), Polyna Antoniou (CY, Chairperson). The European Youth Parliament, A. Taking into account that antimicrobial resistance (AMR 25 ) has transformed into a serious threat to public health due to the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics, B. Emphasising the lack of proper knowledge among EU citizens regarding AMR, hence increasing the misuse of antibiotics, C. Deeply concerned that between 2015-2050, deaths caused by AMR are estimated to be around 10 million in the EU, D. Bearing in mind that only 23 EU Member States have an implemented national framework for health technology assessments (HTAs) 26, E. Noting that the reduced market value and potential revenue of antibiotic research has limited the possibilities of: i. discovering new ways to tackle AMR, ii. investigating a way to diagnose AMR,
25 AMR
refers to microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites that become resistant to the treatment given to patients in order to treat infectious diseases. 26 Health technology assessment (HTA) is a systematic evaluation of properties, effects and/or impacts of health technology. It is used for the evaluation of social economic, organizational and ethical issues of a health intervention or health technology.
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F. Aware of the fact that 75% of EU countries do not follow the guidelines proposed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding AMR, allowing for the excessive purchasing of antibiotics without prescription, G. Alarmed by the fact that AMR affects the global trade and economy by disrupting productivity, increasing healthcare costs for Member States and resulting in a 2-3.5% annual decrease in global Gross domestic product (GDP) 27, H. Affirming with dissatisfaction that the non-prudent use of antibiotics in animals contributes to the possibility of zoonoses 28, increasing the likelihood of AMR, I. Concerned with the predicted 65% increase in drug concentration in rivers and oceans by 2050, the AMR development and spread on animals and consequently on humans related to it, J. Noting with deep concern the poor infection control practices (IPC measures) 29 in health-care facilities and hospitals, K. Anxious that the overcrowding in hospitals contributes to the accumulation of microbes by increasing the chances of in-hospital microbe transmission;
1. Invites Member States to develop and implement a national framework to increase the knowledge and raise awareness around AMR by: a. incorporating presentations in schools’ curriculum on AMR adapted to specific age groups, b. implementing mandatory seminars held in work places around AMR’s threats and effects, c. encouraging the appointment of existing bodies as sources of information around the issue and as promoters of the proper use of antibiotics;
27 GDP
is the accumulated value of all finished goods and services procured in a country annually. Zoonoses are any diseases or infections that are naturally transmissible from vertebrate animals to humans that can also be transmitted through animal consumption. 29 IPC measures are the measures that are in place in order to protect the people that may be vulnerable to getting an infection in daily life or while receiving medical care when facing health issues. 28
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2. Strongly advises Member States to ensure that the European initiative 30 on HTAs is implemented at a national level; 3. Appeals to the Directorate General for Research and Innovation (RG RTD) 31 to invest in intensified research on the development of diagnostic tests, and AMR treatment; 4. Instructs the European Commission to work with Member States to develop and implement a national healthcare framework within Ministries of Health that focuses on AMR surveillance, which will: a. share information and progress in the field with relevant stakeholders, b. ensure that the amount of antibiotics sold match the amount of prescriptions given, c. update and maintain the record of each patients’ antibiotic consumption, d. follow GDPR patient confidentiality; 5. Calls upon national Ministries of Agriculture to: a. make animal vaccines accessible for the agricultural sector, reducing the need and misuse of antibiotics, b. create guidelines easily accessible to farmers on the necessary quality of hygiene in farms and on how to protect animal welfare; 6. Proposes the European Commission in collaboration with Member States to develop a framework on ensuring that farmers receive an amount of antibiotics directly correlated to their livestock’s needs, with extra antibiotics given only under veterinary provision; 7. Requests the Ministries of Agriculture to improve the existing policies regarding the construction of pharmaceutical factories by: a. reducing the amount of pollution permits 32 distributed to each factory, b. fining the factories exceeding these permits, c. monitoring the pollution levels of various locations and restricting factory practices if they exceed given levels in that area, d. investigating ways to treat chemical waste safely as a replacement of river disposal; 30 The European initiative is ‘strengthening EU cooperation beyond 2020’ that was created with the aim of improving the functioning of the single market for health technologies. 31 The Directorate-General for Research and Innovation is a Directorate-General of the European
Commission, responsible for the European Union's research and innovation policy and coordination of research and innovation activities.
32
Pollution permits are a legal right to pollute a certain amount per fixed time span.
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8. Directs the European Commission to work with Member States to develop and implement certain medical guidelines that will: a. request doctors to justify the reasoning behind every prescription of antibiotics given, b. penalise doctors who violate these guidelines, by either paying a fine or by having their license removed after repeated violations; 9. Encourages Ministries of Health to implement a separate care unit in every hospital, specifically designed for treating serious cases of AMR; 10. Hopes that the newly created care units ensures that the contact of infected patients with the public is restricted; 11. Urges Member States to train the hospital staff assigned to the newly established care units specifically on tackling AMR-related cases.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON FISHERIES (PECH) Fish are friends: Increased nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from human activity negatively impact the biodiversity and resilience of coastal areas vital for fisheries. What course of action can the EU take to maintain, improve and safeguard the health of its coastal ecosystems? Submitted by: Melina Bekiai (CY), Alexia Demetriou (CY), Nikolas Hadjipaschalis (CY) Alexandra Ioannidou (CY), Daniella Kantor (CY), Irene Leonidou (CY), Charilaos Lourandos (CY), Joseph Nasr (Chairperson, CY) The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with deep concern that eutrophication 33 leads to algal blooms 34 and marine animal and plant mortality, B. Conscious that 46% of Europe’s coastal waters are still being subject to intense eutrophication, C. Noting with regret that the toxins 35 produced by harmful algal blooms, commercial fish and shellfish become unsuitable for consumption, D. Alarmed by the fact that 96% of the surface area in the Baltic Sea is below ‘good’ status 36, in regards to eutrophication, and has a dead zone of approximately 70,000 km2, E. Gravely concerned that in 2014, the countries with the highest Gross Nitrogen Balance 37 (GNB) per hectare in Europe were Cyprus, Malta, and the Netherlands with 194 kg N/ha, 147 kg N/ha, and 140 kg N/ha respectively,
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Eutrophication refers to the increase of nitrogen, phosphorus and other plant nutrient concentrations in a still body of water. 34Algal blooms are dense layers of green plants on the surface of lakes and other bodies of water due to eutrophication. 35 Toxins such as microcystins which is a neurotoxin which destroys nerve tissue of mammals. 36 Good Status according to the ‘Good’ Environmental Status(GES) is an adequate level of eutrophication according to the Descriptor 5 of the Marine Strategy Framework. 37 Gross Nitrogen Balance estimates the potential surplus of nitrogen on agricultural land.
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F. Anxious that if eutrophication worsens and commercial fisheries collapse, the fish processing industry would forfeit 4.5 billion euros, losing 50,000 jobs, G. Profoundly concerned that eutrophication affects coastal economic activities in the Baltic sea, resulting in a loss of 3.7- 4.3 billion euros annually, H. Emphasising that small coastal fleets represent 82% of the total EU active vessels and are affected by eutrophication the most, as most of their fishing happens close to shore, I. Referring to the 2019 protest in the Netherlands caused by the stringent limitations on fertilizer aimed to decrease nitrogen emissions, J. Alarmed by the fact that 50% of nitrogen emissions come from agriculture as a result of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 38 subsidies, K. Keeping in mind the European Commission’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive where Descriptor 5 39 is targeted at resolving human-induced eutrophication, L. Appreciating organisations such as the Helsinki Committee (HELCOM) 40 and the European Environmental Agency (EEA) 41 that continuously monitor and research the issue and act as recommenders of action plans for Member States to review and ultimately implement;
1. Highly recommends Member States to utilise nutrient removal in water-treatment plants according to the Urban Waste Water Directive (UWWD) with methods such as the use of relevant bacteria and chemical precipitation in sewage cleaning to remove organic waste and phosphorus before it reaches natural bodies of water;
38
The CAP is a system of subsidies paid to EU farmers. Its main purposes are to guarantee minimum levels of production, so that Europeans have enough food to eat, and to ensure a fair standard of living for those dependent on agriculture. 39 Descriptor 5 of the Marine Strategy Framework is targeted at resolving human-induced eutrophication by aiming for all European waters to have a ‘Good’ Environmental Status(GES) in 2020. 40 HELCOM is an intergovernmental organization (IGO) and a regional sea convention in the Baltic Sea area. 41 The EEA is a European agency that provides objective information on the state of the environment.
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2. Recommends that Member States reinforce the implementation of ‘Pollution Permits’ under the guidelines and supervision of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) regarding excess nitrogen oxide emissions that leach into bodies of water from fossil fuel combustion in industry; 3. Further recommends the European Commission to provide subsidies to Member States through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), to employ ecofriendly agricultural techniques such as a year round cover of cropland, and the use of slow release and organic fertilisers; 4.
Suggests the Ministries of Agriculture with operational and technical assistance from the EMSA to: a. perform spot checks on farms and water treatment plants, b. impose scaled fines to any party that is found disposing of unclean water or waste material into water bodies;
5. Endorses the creation of an interdisciplinary, EU sub-committee under the EEA, called the Eutrophication Relief Committee (ERC), funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), responsible for: a. controlling the mechanical removal of algal blooms, b. providing financial aid, as well as educational and academic, opportunities for fishermen and workers from industries directly affected by eutrophication, c. ensuring that riparian vegetation is planted in the Riparian Zones to prevent excess nutrients from reaching the waterline; 6. Asks the newly created sub-committee to organise a triennial conference compulsory for representatives from all Member States with the aim of: a. presenting a report submitted by the EEA comprising of all updated statistics, b. monitoring progress and discussing sustainable goals for the future, c. allowing researchers to exchange knowledge and introduce new and innovative ideas to tackle the issue; 7. Encourages the EEA to compile research from all relevant experts as well as independent research into a report to be submitted every 3 years and presented at the mandatory ERC Convention; 8. Hopes that the compiled research is used to create a database to: a. quantify marine biodiversity decline, 16
b. identify the causation of the drastic decrease in the frequency of marine organisms.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM (TRAN) Sustaining tourism: Following the surge in globalisation and with travelling becoming more accessible than ever, the tourism industry is flourishing. However, this has not been without its challenges, with overcrowding, littering, and pollution spreading across Europe’s primary touristic sites. How can the EU nurture Member States’ tourism industries while also protecting the environment of the continent’s most popular destinations? Submitted by: Christianna May (CY), Anna Petrides (CY), Anotnis Yermasoyitis (CY), Chara Anastasiadou (Chairperson, CY)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Affirming that tourism constitutes 10% of the EU Gross Domestic Product, 42 B. Keeping in mind that the participation in domestic travel in the EU is only 22.5% compared to 81% of international travel, creating uncertainty especially during the current pandemic for countries such as Cyprus that heavily rely on foreign tourism, C. Acknowledging that in the absence of additional measures to reduce emissions by 2050, international aviation emissions could grow by over a further 300%, D. Concerned that 4.8 million tonnes of solid waste are produced each year solely by tourists through littering, E. Alarmed that in 2017 Barcelona had 32,838kg of sulphur oxide emissions released by cruise ships, F. Noting the rapid growth in tourist arrivals in the EU of 74.3% between 2013 and 2017, subsequently putting pressure on the need for more developed infrastructure, leading to: i. the destruction of a plethora of animal habitats,
42 Gross Domestic Product is the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during
one year.
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ii. irreversible impacts on biodiversity 43, G. Anxious that due to the increase in tourism, locals are being forced to leave their homes, H. Deeply concerned by the significant monetary spending due to the destruction of cultural heritage as observed at the Spanish Steps in Rome 44;
1. Asks Member States with low domestic tourism rates to collaborate in sharing good practices for the establishment of packages for locals in the accommodation sector throughout the year; 2. Calls upon the European Commission to create a task force for the reduction of aviation emissions that will: a. consist of experts from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 45 and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), b. conduct studies on the effectiveness of the EU Emissions Trading System regarding Aviation Emissions and provide suggestions for its amelioration, c. ensure that the national measures developed for the implementation of CORSIA 46 are enforced and compliant with ICAO guidelines 47; 3. Further calls upon the newly established Task Force to oversee research programs in green aviation, such as HORIZON 2020 and eco-innovation; 4. Seeks that Member States hire tourist police responsible for monitoring littering especially along the coastal regions through patrolling and fining inappropriate rubbish disposal;
43 Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of
which is usually considered to be important and desirable.
44 At the Spanish Steps in Rome (Piazza di Spagna) which have been flocked by tourist activity and have
led the local authorities to spending $1.63 million on cleaning up.
45 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It
changes the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. 46 CORSIA is an emission mitigation approach for the global airline industry, developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization and adopted in October 2016. 47 ICAO guidelines limit or reduce the impact of aviation greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate.
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5. Encourages the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) 48 to provide subsidies for cruise ships that utilise greener fuel alternatives such as cleaner natural gas; 6. Further encourages the DG MARE to collaborate with Member States to establish a set of criteria to be met for cruise ships to be granted the aforementioned subsidies; 7. Invites the European Commision to establish a focus group consisting of environmental experts to collaborate with Ministries of Infrastructure Development in Member States to survey the land and grant permissions for construction; 8. Suggests Member States to collaborate with EU-wide cultural initiatives such as ''Culture for Cities and Regions'' to increase exposure of less popular tourist destinations; 9. Further suggests the EUROPA NOSTRA 49 in collaboration with Ministries of Culture to increase the number of tour guides at local monuments aimed to inform and educate tourists on the importance of preserving cultural heritage, and the importance of preventing them from littering.
48 Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) is responsible for EU policy on
maritime affairs and fisheries.
49 EUROPA NOSTRA is a pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, representing citizens’
organisations that work on safeguarding Europe's cultural and natural heritage.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (ITRE) Towards Energy Independence: With more than half of the EU’s energy needs currently being met by net imports, which steps can the EU and its member states take to ensure that the stability of their energy supplies can resist any upcoming changes on the world stage? Submitted by: Eleni Anayiotou (CY), Anna Maria Hadjipanayiotou (CY), Panayiotis Pieri (CY), Georgios Papaconstantinou (CY), Epifanios Evangelou (CY), Nicole Demetriou (CY), Andreas Psaltis (CY), Petros Seiranidis (CY), Antonia Theodora Michael (CY) and Marilena Pavlidou (Chairperson, CY). The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the fact that energy net imports increased from 47.8% in 2000 to 56.8% in 2008 with the highest dependency rate found in smaller or coastal countries 50, B. Stressing that 30% of the EU’s total crude oil comes from areas with high social and political unrest 51 making the supply of energy less secure due to the uncertainty and changes in geopolitical issues, C. Concerned by the political influence of Russia on the EU due to their frayed political relations following the annexation of Crimea given that Russia is the EU's largest exporter of crude oil, coal and natural gas 52, D. Deeply concerned by the fact that 62.7% of EU’s energy comes from fossil fuels 53, E. Concerned by the fact that despite reaching the plan Europe 2020: i.
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only 20% of energy used by the EU is derived from renewable sources,
than 80% of energy imports are petroleum products in Cyprus, Malta, Greece, Sweden and Romania
51 Including countries such as Libya, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
52 Russia currently accounts for 29.8% of the EU’s crude oil imports, 42.3% of coal and 40.1% of natural
gas.
53 Burning fossil fuels emits a number of air pollutants that are harmful to both the environment (global
warming) and public health (air pollution).
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ii.
the EU has failed to reach the goals set by both Renewable Energy Directive II 54 and the Paris Agreement 55,
F. Bearing in mind that countries such as France with highly integrated nuclear energy sources 56 subsequently have a much lower carbon footprint than countries heavily dependent on fossil fuels, G. Seriously concerned by the fact that the land-footprint 57 of renewable energy sources is colossal which makes following the European Green Deal 58 harder for smaller countries and possibly disrupt agricultural economies, plant biodiversity and quantity and the carbon cycle, H. Aware of the fact that infrastructure for transporting energy does exist in the form of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) 59, I. Condemning the fact that the aforementioned PCIs are insufficient and do not encompass the aspect of digitalising the energy sector;
1. Instructs the European Commission to directly deal with energy dependency and subsequently: a. assist the most dependent areas such as Cyprus and Malta by researching and utilising each country's optimal energy sources and forms of energy production, b. establish better cross-border collaboration and investment by creating a new European Energy Network;
54 The Renewable Energy Directive II specifies national renewable energy targets for each country, taking
into account its starting point and overall potential for renewables. It was originally set for 2020, and reset in 2018 for 2030. 55 The Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention, signed in 2016, with a main aim to limit global temperature rise by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 56 France's main energy source, nuclear energy, accounts for 70% of consumption. 57 The scattered nature of renewable sources as well as the large land requirements of renewable energy. 58 European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching aim of making Europe climate neutral in 2050. 59 Projects of common interest (PCIs) are major infrastructure projects.They are an important European tool for accelerating the deployment of energy infrastructure and ensuring the delivery of secure, clean and affordable energy across European Borders.
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2. Urges the European Union to set in place a strategy for Energy Independence of the EU from Middle Eastern countries formulated by field experts until the EU can almost fully transition to internally produced energy by: a. spreading awareness on the social and political unrest in the Middle East and the reasons for shifting away from relying on them, b. lowering taxes to energy producing companies who transport/sell products within the EU, c. setting a minimum limit for the energy produced in each Member State; 3. Calls upon the European Commission to propose legislation for the diversification of energy resources to minimise dependency on Russia by: a. setting a plan to broaden the locations of imports in the EU 60 with a timeline determined by experts, b. slowly decreasing imports from Russia by increasing funding in nuclear and renewable energy sectors; 4. Encourages Member States to research on hydrogen’s large energy content and storability and utilise it to maximise the efficiency of renewable energy 61; 5. Advices the European Commission to invest in renewables by: a. creating a reward system for companies who use green energy including tax cuts based on the size of the company and amount of green energy used, b. supporting farmers who produce energy using biogas by: i. providing funding for machinery and transportation, ii. assisting in the delivery and sale of biogas to neighbouring areas, c. funding campaigns and raising awareness regarding renewable energy resources in: i. schools through debates and workshops, ii. media outlets such as TV infomercials, and social media campaigns; 6. Invites the European Commission with the help of the International Atomic Energy Agency 62 to begin further implementation of nuclear energy around all Member States by: a. creating a European Project which will: 60 For example, increase imports from Egypt and decrease those from Russia.
61 Electricity can be converted into hydrogen by electrolysis. The hydrogen can be then stored and
eventually re-electrified. This method of storing energy has a higher storage capacity compared to batteries. 62 The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organisation that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons established as an autonomous organisation in 1957.
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i. ii.
fund the construction of Nuclear Power Stations in mainland Europe, collaborate with island Member States to supply them with electricity created by Nuclear Power Stations stationed in mainland Europe, b. spread awareness through workshops, seminars and open discussion to diminish the stigma surrounding nuclear energy; 7. Further urges the governments of the Member States to produce their own energy to ensure long term economic stability by: a. giving tax reductions on energy self-sustained products/services and small businesses that produce a large percentage of their energy using renewable energy sources, b. encouraging households to install renewable energy sources by subsidising part of the installation costs, c. advising newly built houses to include renewable energy sources in the design, d. obliging large factories to produce a minimum amount of the energy they consume using renewables as Tesla Gigafactory 63 did, e. encouraging coastal Member States to use coastal wind turbines to reduce landfootprint; 8. Requests that Member States revolutionise the infrastructure and digital aspect of energy by: a. funding additional PCIs through grants, and reform existing ones to fit with said expansion plans, b. supplying governments, companies and households with Smart Grids 64 which can monitor, control and enable the consumer to contribute to grid management and improve physical capacity and flexibility of the EU network to maximise efficiency.
63 Tesla Gigafactory is a factory in Nevada, USA owned by Tesla, designed to operate fully by renewable
energy sources. Its goal is to achieve net zero energy when the building is complete, meaning it will generate and store as much renewable energy as it needs to run the facility. 64 Smart grids are energy networks that can automatically monitor energy flows and adjust to changes in energy supply and demand accordingly. The progressive development of smart grids is shifting the European energy supply industry, from being infrastructure-driven to being more and more servicedriven.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS (JURI) Trust in the future: Keeping in mind that the European Commission’s investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have risen to ₏1.5 billion in the last three years, how can the European Union regulate this new industry in order to ensure the ethical use of AIs and establish public trust in these technologies. Submitted by: Adeli Arian (CY), Demi Asvesta(CY), Anastasia Barker (CY), Georgia Ioannou (CY), Parya Kananni (CY), Yerasimos Poumos (CY), Eleni Protopapa(CY), Nayia Aza (Chairperson, CY), Andreas Tavros (Chairperson, CY) The European Youth Parliament, A. Concerned that bias in AI recruiting programs is furthering the gender and racial inequality gap in employment, especially in STEM related fields, B. Noting that the Machine Risk Assessment exposed systematic racial bias against people of color, highlighting: a. the lack of data entered in the algorithm's database, b. the lack of transparency, C. Acknowledging patient distrust in AI performing medical procedures, D. Deeply concerned by the industrial demands to implement AI systems and take out the human factor in decision-making, E. Alarmed that most of the jobs getting replaced by AI technology are low-paid, F. Anxious that 33% of panel judges of a 2014 Turing Experiment 65 were concerned by ethical complications that may arise through the use of AI systems, G. Noting the lack of emotional intelligence of the AI system on decision-making, and morality situations, H. Referring to the Cambridge Analytica Scandal, where social media companies used the public's personal data without consent to influence global politics and decision-making; 65 The Turing test is a test of a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behaviour equivalent to, or
indistinguishable from, that of a human.
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1. Encourages the European Commision to require that the AI used for the process of job admissions: a. focuses on the qualification or education of a candidate and not data that could result in biases, b. eliminates the need for people to send in pictures, c. allows for exemptions where necessary; 2. Suggests the European AI Alliance 66: a. ensures that AI systems are being tested thoroughly at least twice a year, b. checks that data used to train AI in the employment sector is a representative sample of the population by ensuring that the data sets are large enough and by confirming that there is racial and gender diversity when it comes to data entered; 3. Further asks Member States to provide a more tailored experience for patients in public and private healthcare by giving them the option to be treated by a doctor only or a doctor in conjunction with an algorithm; 4. Urges the European Commission to utilise the Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI)67 programme to ensure employment by: a. providing training to reskill the workers that will be replaced by AI, b. prioritising unemployment benefits to workers who lose their jobs to AI, c. supporting good quality and affordable education, and training in STEM fields, d. providing free training programs around AI technology; 5. Asks Member States wishing to employ AI in their justice systems to establish algorithms prioritising the severity of the crime committed and the accused person’s crime history and not data that could result in further biases; 6. Appeals to the Council of Europe to pass legislation prohibiting governments employing AI in the criminal justice system from accessing a person's gender or ethnicity;
66 The AI Alliance is a multi-stakeholder forum launched in June 2018 in the framework of the European
Strategy on Artificial Intelligence.
67 The Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) programme is a financing instrument at EU level to
promote a high level of quality and sustainable employment, guaranteeing adequate and decent social protection, combating social exclusion and poverty and improving working conditions.
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7. Calls upon the European Commission to support the progress and development of AI by: a. providing financial support through subsidies to companies that develop such technologies, b. making sure that public datasets made available by European Agencies are regularly updated; 8. Recommends Member States to collaborate with the High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (HLEG AI) 68 to improve public perception and awareness by educating the public on the progress of these technologies and how they work to ensure there are no misconceptions around them through TV programs such as Euro-news and school syllabus within IT class; 9. Requires the European Commission to guarantee that any companies using AI clearly state it to the user; 10. Invites the HLEG AI to compile reports highlighting the issues involving non-verbal tasks 69, automated tasks such as self-driving cars, and executive tasks for which user override should be prioritised; 11. Advises Member States to: a. employ a team of cyber security experts, readily available to deploy to companies in order to troubleshoot and address technical flaws with the digital systems in use, b. create cross functional groups of technical experts to assist in assessing and overcoming potential obstacles the public will face in the development of Artificial Intelligence.
68
High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence is a group of scientists, industry stakeholders and civil society representatives set up by the European Commission and was charged with the task of drafting Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI, which was presented in 2019 and provides a basic framework for the implementation of ethical and robust AI. 69 For example, a Google Images algorithm categorised people of colour as Gorillas.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (REGI) Towards a rural integration: With 25% of Europe’s rural population being at risk of poverty and social exclusion, and considering the increasing dependence of rural economies and businesses on information and communication technologies that are often precarious in these regions, how can the EU enhance the accessibility and sustainability of rural economies? Submitted by: Ayla Doga Soydemir (CY), Chloe Kallis (CY), Konstantinos Chrysostomou (CY), Olga Bunina (CY), Orestis Constantinou (CY), Yousef El- Bakri (CY), Constantinos Charalambous (Chairperson, CY) The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising the income inequality between urban and rural areas with the EU average farm income approximating to 40% of total average income, B. Alarmed that the annual GDP 70 is 72% lower in rural areas in comparison with the EU average, C. Taking into consideration that: i. the land of rural areas makes up half of Europe but represents merely 20% of the population, ii. people in these areas are more likely to be financially disadvantaged, D. Noting with concern that decreasing rural populations in EU countries leads to a more expensive labour in fields such as farming and nursing pushing young adults that do not complete tertiary education into the workforce, E. Stressing that schools may not be in close proximity in many rural areas and the level of education may not be satisfactory resulting in a third of rural youth moving to urban areas in search for better education, F. Concerned by the lack of accessibility to higher education as 11.4% of young people in rural areas do not finish high school and only 15% attend tertiary education, 70 Annual Gross Domestic Product, abbreviated as GDP, is the annual total value of goods and services
produced in a country.
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G. Realising that the urban-rural digital divide is further reinforced as a large portion of the rural community is technologically illiterate due to the lack of ICT education, H. Observing with regret that the EU focuses extensively on heavy farm subsidisation through measures such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and less towards investing in rural areas’ social needs, innovation, environmental services and education around modern technological techniques, I. Seriously concerned that the EU’s Climate and energy framework’s requirements can negatively impact many rural businesses and small and medium enterprises 71 that rely on non-renewable resources, by forcing the SMEs to increase costs and lower production, J. Emphasising that rural regions suffer from a lack of infrastructure, transportation and accessible roads, K. Alarmed by large enterprises dominating and harming rural markets due to their low prices and much more efficient labour leading to increasing unemployment in these areas and high barriers of entry in the market for smaller businesses, L. Acknowledges with deep gratitude that the improvements and the inclusion of environmental measures in the CAP has added to the protection of the agricultural sector in the EU;
1. Encourages Member States to apply tax breaks on SMEs to encourage individuals to start their own businesses; 2. Hopes that tax breaks will ensure the protection of SMEs against market barriers until they start experiencing a stable amount of profits; 3. Calls upon the Member States to ensure the establishment of up-to-date public facilities for curricular and extracurricular activities including but not limited to libraries and sports 71 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are non-subsidiary, independent firms which employ
fewer than a given number of employees.
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courts with the aim to develop both the youth and middle aged people academically and socially; 4. Appeals to the European Commission to ensure that the European programs for technological advancement and advanced knowledge for blue-collar workers 72 such as P-IRIS by Interreg Europe and RUMORE are better funded and introduced in all EU countries; 5. Suggests the creation of a new branch of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology 73 tasked with strengthening rural information & technology infrastructure via funding from the European Regional Development Fund; 6. Strongly suggests that the European Commission in cooperation with Ministries of Health utilises the EU Fund of Strategic Investment 74 to provide new medical centres in secluded areas; 7. Urges the European Commission to improve transportation and public road networks in rural areas by subsidising agencies that will comply with European Economic Area guidelines such as those established by the EU Agency of Railways 75, the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency 76 (INEA) and the Trans-European Transport Network 77; 8. Further urges the European Commission to use the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) to fund informational campaigns, disseminated via traditional and social media with messaging about purchasing local/rural products, supporting rural businesses, and the unique character of rural areas;
72 A blue collar worker refers to someone whose profession requires them to perform a good amount of
manual labor.
73 The European Institute of Innovation and Technology is an independent EU Body created by the
European Union in 2008 to strengthen Europe's ability to innovate.
74 The EU Fund of Strategic Investment is an initiative of EIB Group and the European Commission aimed
at boosting the economy through mobilising private financing for strategic investments.
75 The EU Agency for Railways is mandated to issue single safety certificates and vehicle (type)
authorisations valid in multiple European countries.
76 The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency is an executive agency established by the European
Commission in order to run the Connecting Europe Facility and parts of Horizon 2020.
77 The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) policy addresses the implementation and
development of a Europe-wide network of railway lines, roads, inland waterways, maritime shipping routes, ports, airports and railroad terminals. The ultimate objective is to close gaps, remove bottlenecks and technical barriers.
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9. Invites the European Commission to further utilise the funds from the EAFRD and the ERDF to subsidise the purchase of renewable energy infrastructure and energy-efficient machinery; 10. Requests the European Commission to: a. conduct annual supervisory reports on the allocation of specific EU rural development funds in each Member State, the progress of implementing the aforementioned rural development policies, and the mechanisms through which each Member State supports and considers the opinions of their rural communities, b. set out requirements like staff headcount, balance sheet, and business plans which SMEs and startups shall provide as evidence to apply for funding or a loan; 11. Asks the European Commission to further implement the EU Rural Development Policy and re-evaluate the CAP’s policies so as to: a. include support for reconstruction, b. promote various job opportunities to youth residing in rural areas; 12. Further asks the European Commission to: a. request the European Council to create outlined budget plans which would direct the aforementioned funds, b. provide legal assistance in cooperation with organisations such as Your Europe Advice (YEA) to the citizens of rural areas about getting a loan or creating a business plan.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (EMPL) Young and unemployed: In 2018, 16.4% of 20-34-year-old in the EU were neither employed or in education or training. How should the EU further support its youth to partake in education and training, as well as integrate them into modern workplaces to lower youth unemployment?
Submitted by: Edith- Britney Allie Ade (CY), Anna O’ Neill (CY), Elisavet Papaconstantinou (CY), Antigoni Stavrou (CY), Irene Constantinidou (Chairperson, CY), Emily Vrahimi (Chairperson, CY) The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the lack of effort from schools and other educational institutions to provide the necessary tools for a smooth transition to the labour market 78, B. Acknowledging that the technological change has contributed to the increase of structural unemployment 79 and occupational immobility 80 which has created a skills gap as 44% of Europeans between 16 and 74 years do not have basic digital skills, C. Concerned that long-term unemployed 81 workers can be up to 45% less likely to receive interview invitations than newly unemployed or currently employed people,
78 74%
of education providers were confident that their graduates were prepared for work whilst only 38 % of youth and 35% of employers felt that graduates are prepared to enter the workforce. 79 Structural unemployment occurs when the demand for labour is less than its supply in an individual market in an economy. It comes in 3 forms: regional unemployment, sectoral unemployment and technological unemployment. 80 Occupational immobility is when workers lack transferable skills to move from one occupation to another 81 Long-Term Unemployment: refers to the number of people who are out of work and have been actively seeking employment for at least a year.
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D. Further concerned of the high expenditure in unemployment benefits which reached EUR 174 billion, across the EU-27 in 2017, something which could contribute to a budget deficit 82, E. Noting that government expenditure on unemployment benefits provides an opportunity cost to supply side investments which could be more beneficial to the economy, F. Alarmed that in June 2020 the youth unemployment rate in the Euro area was 17%, potentially contributing to a negative output gap 83, G. Conscious that job polarization 84 creates rising inequality of wages while forcing the middle skilled workers to settle for low skilled jobs 85, H. Appreciating the impact of educational programmes, frameworks and fundings such a Youth Guarantee 86 in the process of reducing youth unemployment, I. Profoundly concerned that youth unemployment can potentially cause social issues such as crime, homelessness and vandalism, as empirically one-percentage-point increase in unemployment increases the property crime by nearly 9% on average, due to stigma, J. Deeply regretting that the lower personal incomes and standards of living of young unemployed may lead to depression and anxiety 87, K. Noting with regret that youth brain drain has increased, as in 2017 1/3rd of EU movers were in the 15-34 age bracket, something which is associated with a decrease in GDP and international competitiveness;
82 A budget deficit occurs when government spending is greater than government revenue.
83 A negative output gap occurs when actual output is less than what an economy could produce at full
capacity.
84 Job polarisation occurs when
middle-class jobs—requiring a moderate level of skills, like autoworkers’ jobs—seem to disappear relative to those at the bottom, requiring few skills, and those at the top, requiring greater skill levels. 85 Between 1995 and 2015, middle skilled jobs in Western Europe decreased by 10%. 86 The Youth Guarantee is a commitment by all Member States to ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good quality of education, apprenticeship, traineeship within a period of 4 months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. 87
In Brussels in 2013, 57.14% of the unemployed suffered from mental distress and 35.71% had a possible health disorder.
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1. Asks Member States to: a. give students in schools the opportunity to attend technologically advanced workplaces either through educational trips or placements, b. create programs specifically offering soft skills or technological skills which will smooth the transition between school or university and employment; 2. Further asks each Member States’ Ministry of Education to give bonus-related pay, promotions and/or create a point system for educators that get involved in programmes that prepares and allows them to provide their students with necessary skills that different jobs require aside from academic knowledge; 3. Invites the Member States' Ministry of Education to employ corporate trainers to deliver free online seminars for people in and out of education to provide them with essential workplace skills such as communication skills and organisational skills; 4. Encourages the European Commission to: a. further expand its Youth Guarantee programme by including summer internships where students could have an insight into a workspace in order to help them have a smooth transition from education to the labor market, b. collaborate with different companies across Member States by offering them tax breaks; 5. Calls upon the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) 88 to create more free training programmes for unemployed young adults to learn the required skills to become more occupationally mobile and join growing industries; 6. Suggests that the European Parliament creates a piece of legislation preventing employers from discriminating against long-term unemployed; 7. Further suggests the European Commission to help the long-term unemployed by introducing free one-on-one counselling sessions, offered by government hired career counsellors;
88 The CEDEFOP is an agency that supports the development
Union.
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of vocational training across the European
8. Invites Member States in cooperation with Mental Health Europe 89 to create counselling sessions with the contribution of both counsellors and previously unemployed people who will be sharing their experiences as to how they overcame their mental distress caused by unemployment; 9. Recommends Member States to: a. establish apprenticeship programmes, vocational training or work within governmental institutions for young unemployed citizens, b. reduce unemployment benefits if for a period longer than 4 months young unemployed citizens do not enroll in the aforementioned programmes; 10. Proposes that the European Commission along with the EU budget for the future 90 to offer training programmes where middle skilled workers can gain the appropriate skills to get employed in high skilled jobs; 11. Further proposes that the European Commission invests in the development of rural areas by creating job facilities which will employ young people and improve public transport such as high speed trains or metro.
89 Mental Health Europe is the largest independent network organisation representing mental health
users, professionals and service providers across Europe. is reflecting rapid developments in innovation, the economy, the environment and geopolitics, amongst others.
90 The EU budget for the future
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT) Culture clash: In this age of rapid globalisation, cultural practices and identities are increasingly facing the challenge of sustainability. Globalisation has impacted cultural diversity through the influence of consumerism, appropriation of culture and influence of societal values. How can Member States preserve their culture and heritage whilst also being able to move forward and progress within an ever-expanding global market? Submitted by: Aliandra Ehrhartsmann (CY), Andrea Ahha (CY), Danae Demetriade (CY), Elisaveta Bobrova (CY), Florentia Loizidou (CY), Irene Tatsi (CY), Maria Hadjipaschali (Chairperson, CY) The European Youth Parliament, A.
Deeply concerned by the loss of tangible cultural heritage such as the Sulejman Pasha Mosque in Albania, due to wars and conflicts,
B.
Keeping in mind that the share of full-time employees in the workforce of the cultural sector varies greatly between Member States 91,
C.
Noting with regret that from February 2020, only 0.8% of GDP has been dedicated on cultural services from the total government expenditure in the EU,
D.
Pointing out that the increased rates of immigration and asylum seekers resulted in many foreigners adopting different cultural habits causing them to loose their own cultural identity,
E.
Recognising that the marginalization of less-dominant cultures may lead to cultural convergence or even extinction of a culture such as the case of the Griko dialect 92, 91 In
the Netherlands only 49% of employees in the cultural sector are in full time employment whereas the number rises to 95% in Bulgaria and 98% in Romania. Only four member states (Malta, Cyprus, Finland and Latvia) have a gap of ten percent between cultural employment and total employment. 92 Griko is a near-extinct variant of Greek and other interspersed elements, spoken in a few villages in Salento (the Salentine plain), in Puglie, and in Calabria.
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F.
Considering that the global market and the international community is dominated by the English language while 128 languages are endangered in the EU including the Regional Minority Languages (RMLs) 93,
G.
Aware of the fact that people with tertiary attainment are more than twice as likely to take part in cultural activities than people with a low educational attainment, according to studies,
H.
Congratulating Denmark and Sweden for exceeding 40% of the cultural participation proportion from the adult population with no more than a lower secondary level of education in activities such as but not limited to: i. attending live performances, ii. visiting the cinema, iii. visiting cultural heritage sites,
I.
Alarmed by the connection between decreased income and the decrease of cultural participation 94,
J.
Observing the rising phenomenon of cultural imperialism 95 in Europe and the Eastern world,
K.
Expressing its satisfaction with the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union(TFEU) for its initiation of: i. annually selecting two European Capitals of Culture, ii. dedicating 1.46billion EUR to the EU programme ‘Creative Europe’,
L.
Conscious that the world media are the leading sources of influence on younger generations promoting an americanised way of life;
93 RMLs are languages that are traditionally used within a given territory of a State by nationals of that
State who form a group numerically smaller than the rest of the State's population; and. different from the official language(s) of that State. 94 Citizens in the 5th income quartile have a 82.5% participation proportion in contrast to the 46.3% in the first income quartile. 95 Cambridge dictionary defines this term as a ‘culture of a large and powerful country, organisation, etc. having a great influence on another less powerful country’.
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1. Invites the European Commission to implement and expand directives and initiatives revolving around digital visualisation and 3D scanning of cultural heritage sites such as the Initial Training Network of Digital Heritage (ITN-DCH) 96; 2. Strongly urges the Ministries of Education in collaboration with the educational institutions of every Member State to encourage their students to join educational programs including but not limited to ERASMUS+, allowing for more students to experience different cultures first-hand; 3. Proposes to the Directorate General of Education & Culture (DG EAC) in collaboration with Ministries of Culture and Ministries of Finance to establish an algorithm based on the Member States’ economy and number of cultural sites per capita to calculate how much funding each country should receive annually from the EU to cover the shortage of governmental funding dedicated for cultural purposes; 4. Invites the EU Member States’ Ministries of Culture and Transport to invest in social mediation for individuals to learn to respect theirs and other cultures through: a. providing means of transport for the visitation of different heritage sites and/or places of attraction, b. providing funds and cooperating with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the creation of cultural programs and workshops such as Social Mediation in Practice 97, c. working with UNESCO on developing and implementing national legislations protecting its states cultural rights and sites; 5. Recommends the reformation of the school curricula to include: a. dialects as an elective lesson; b. poetry and literature in the country’s mother tongue, c. a classical appreciation subject to inform pupils about the country’s heritage, d. mandatory starter lessons of the local language;
96
The ITN-DCH is first and one of the largest Marie Curie fellowship projects in the area of the edocumentation / e-preservation and funded by the European Union. 97 Social mediation is a tool which creates and repairs the social infrastructure of communities for purposes of preventing, tackling and/or rehabilitating conflicts that arise due to intolerances and prejudices such as racism and xenophobia.
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6. Urges Member States’ Ministries of Culture to invest in compelling arts for promoting the portrayal of culture by: a. utilising cultural sites like Koureion Amphitheatre in Cyprus to hold outdoor theatre and concerts with local artists, b. translating best selling books into multiple languages in order to encourage engagement in each Member States’ mother-language, c. encouraging radio stations to organise cultural nights where traditional music will be played; 7.
Suggests that Ministries of Education in cooperation with schools should educate students on the country’s culture, customs, traditions and history for further appreciation of local culture by: a. promoting more frequent school trips to cultural heritage sites which are partly funded by the EU, b. providing resources to participate in more cultural activities such as museum Booklets that include appealing activities for children which are renewed every two to three months, and 3D presentation of digitised cultural heritage sites;
8. Urging the implementation of incentives by the Ministries of Culture to increase the number of attendees at cultural locations by: a. providing free or discounted transportation to locals by cooperating with the Ministry of Transportation, b. creating a rewards system aiming to attract children such as free museum booklets or shows, c. establishing a system of discounted tickets for students throughout Europe; 9. Seeks to promote cultural activities such as theatre and local attractions through social media as well as expand technological platforms of the government using e-booklets of museums that should be made accessible online or hard-copies sold at bookshops, free virtual tours of museums and sites for the general public with selected exhibitions requiring a fee, and platforms such as Instagram and Facebook to increase the popularity of cultural activities through sponsored posts; 10. Asks Member States to promote cultural appropriation by subsidising local businesses and those who sell local goods; 11. Urges the DG EAC to co-fund the enhancement and upgrade of museums and cultural sites to be accessible to people with disabilities by: 39
a. b. c. d. e.
adding ramps in entrances and exits, installing elevators in main areas, providing a wall of information in areas that are not easily accessible, installing reading plaques for the blind, ensuring the availability of an audio presentation rather than text in each hall for deaf people;
12. Requests the DG EAC to further provide EU funding to enhance the marketing and promotion of traditional and cultural activities like museums and festivals in Member States on a national level through: a. investing in organisations arranging yearly, cultural festivals for local citizens, b. advertising traditional festivals on billboards and as sponsored social media posts, c. collaborating with various celebrities and local artists, d. cooperating with NGOs to conduct events as well as producing reports on the importance of cultural heritage.
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