31st National Selection Conference European Youth Parliament Greece
Resolution Booklet
Programme of the General Assembly
09:00 - 09:15 – Arrivals 09:30 - 10:00 – Opening of the GA 10:15 - 11:00 – Committee on Employment and Social Affairs 11:00 - 11:15 – Coffee Break 11:20 - 12:05 – Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety I 12:05 - 12:50 – Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs II 12:55 - 13:55 – Lunch 14:00 - 14:45 – Committee on Foreign Affairs 14:45 - 15:30 – Committee on Industry, Research and Energy 15:30 - 16:15 – Committee on Security and Defence 16:20 - 16:40 – Coffee Break 16:45 - 17:30 – Committee on Constitutional Affairs 17:30 - 18:15 – Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety II 18:15 - 18:35 – Coffee Break 18:40 - 19:25 – Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs 19:25 - 20:10 – Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs I 20:10 - 20:30 – Break 20:35 - 21:05 – Closing Ceremony 21:10 - 21:30 – Departures
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E MPLOYMENT AND S OCIAL A FFAIRS Topic: With youth unemployment remaining high, how can the EU ensure the enforcement of the Youth Employment Initiative and Youth Guarantee, given Member Sates’ diverse employment policies and challenges? Submitted by:
Evi Arvaniti, Eirini Kostala, Dionysia Machaira, Eleni Markaki, Christina-Glykeria Markou, Aggeliki Mparmpetaki, Melina Nikolakea, Vasilis Plakoulas, Sofianos Souliotis, Niovi-Katerina Stamatiou, Maria Tsianti, Victor Escuder (Chairperson, ES), Giorgia Giani (Chairperson, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Acknowledges that diverse employment policies and challenges prevent Member States from adhering to a common policy, B. Bearing in mind that the current financial crisis has affected the labour market by limiting the available job positions and creating job insecurity, C. Deeply concerned by the violation of EU labour rights of young employees and interns, through the demanding and long working hours, and unstable contracts, D. Noticing the difficulty in the transition from education to the labour market, due to a mismatch in skills, E. Realising that the imbalance between labour supply and demand, regarding white collar and high paying jobs, is caused by the existing preference towards such jobs at the expense of manual ones, F. Alarmed that young people lack awareness regarding job opportunities deriving from technological progress, G. Noting with regret the high rate of school dropouts, resulting in them lacking labour market skills, H. Concerned by the differences within Member States regarding the recognition of qualifications from one country to another, due to the widely differing education and training systems in Europe, I.
Recognising the lack of cooperation and communication between Member States regarding information sharing on current employment policies,
J. Having considered the ineffective management of external multilateral financial support;
1. Calls upon the European Commission (EC) to guarantee the respect of labour rights throughout the EU;
2. Encourages educational institutions to: a)
provide students with the necessary skills demanded by the labour market by increasing cooperation with companies, b) raise awareness about the advantages of vocational education through seminars, speeches and media campaigns, c) inform students about job opportunities created by the technological progress by improving career guidance; 3. Welcomes education via e-learning programmes as a measure aiming at increasing youngsters’ employability; 4. Recommends that Member States improve the recognition of international qualifications through the further implementation and advertisement of the Bologna Process 1; 5. Invites Member States to improve internships by: a)
increasing their quantity through introducing financial incentives for companies,
b)
enhancing their quality by introducing tests to be taken at the end of each internship;
6. Supports cooperation and information sharing on the progress of the implementation of the Youth Guarantee2 scheme among Member States, through annual meetings of their representatives; 7. Suggests that Member States submit an Annual Growth Report to the EC to ensure that distribution of funds deriving from the Youth Employment Initiative 3 and the European Social Fund4 is in accordance with the previously-agreed priorities; 8. Urges companies to support youth entrepreneurship by increasing the number and size of financial grants offered.
1 The Bologna Process focuses on the introduction of the three cycle system (bachelor/master/doctorate), strengthening quality
assurance and the easier recognition of qualifications and periods of study. 2 The Youth Guarantee seeks to ensure that Member States make a good-quality offer to all young people up to age 25 of a
job, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of leaving formal education or becoming unemployed. 3 The Youth Employment Initiative focuses on the regions where youth unemployment rates are over 25%. The initiative will
provide financial support to the Member States that have youth unemployment rates of more than 25% in 2012 and for Member States where youth unemployment rates have increased by more than 30% in 2012. 4 The European Social Fund is Europe’s main tool for promoting employment and social inclusion – helping people get a job
(or a better job), integrating disadvantaged people into society and ensuring fairer life opportunities for all.
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E NVIRONMENT , P UBLIC H EALTH AND F OOD S AFETY I Topic: GM crops – solution or threat? Bearing in mind the benefits of increased food production and efficiency associated with genetically modified crops, what stance should the EU take to ensure that their use does not have a negative environmental impact?
Submitted by:
Ioanna Efstathiou, Dimitra Evaggelou, Ioanna Karakoulaki, Nikolaos Kosonas, Eirini Maketaki, Sofia Malkogianni, Christina Meinti, Dimitrios Mpourtzis, Sofia Nasopoulou, Christina Thaneli, Markos Merkouris (Chairperson, HU), Dionysios Theodoropoulos (Chairperson, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Disturbed by the controversial and inconclusive scientific data concerning the long-term environmental effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), B. Fully alarmed by the unintended impacts5 of GMOs on ecosystems ultimately leading to the diminishing biodiversity of local flora and fauna, C. Realising that GM gene flow6 occurs through animals, air and cross-pollination, D. Noting with regret the potential repercussions of the widespread use of GMOs, such as gene mutations7 or genome destabilisation8, E. Bearing in mind the probable damage caused by the toxic residues left in the soil by the current generation of GM crops, F. Taking into account that GM crop cultivation is accompanied by pesticide and herbicide resistance in harmful organisms;
5
Such impacts may include gene escape, weediness, gene mutation and interaction with live and native populations.
6
This is the transfer of genes from one population to another.
7
Gene mutation is a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene.
8
This is the dysfuncti
on in gene and cell regulation due to the insertion of foreign genomic material.
1. Encourages further research on the development of new strains of GMOs in order to further mitigate their environmental impact; 2. Designates that GMOs be brought under stricter safety regulations, such as the expansion of the buffer zones between the cultivation areas of GMO and non-GMO crops; 3. Recommends the use of male-sterile plants9 in order to avoid the undesirable dispersion of GM genes; 4. Endorses the combined use of toxin-producing10 and toxin-absorbent plants11 in a yearly rotational cycle to fortify the fertility of the plantation.
9
These are plants engineered to be unable to produce pollen of their own.
10
These plants produce toxins to protect them from natural predators.
These plants are specifically designed to have a high absorbance rate of toxins produced by other GM crops, with the possibility of alternative uses, such as energy production or the production of biofuel. 11
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C IVIL L IBERTIES , J USTICE AND H OME A FFAIRS II Topic: My home is my castle? With increased levels of migration triggering a rise in popularity of extreme far-right parties, how should the EU balance the right to freedom of speech and democracy of all citizens with the need to tackle xenophobia and offer migrants a safe place in society?
Submitted by:
Ifigeneia Antonopoulou, Magdalini Ilia, Tomasz Conrad Juszczyk, Andreas Kaisaris, Paraskevi Kourentzi, Elli-Theodora Mavrokefalou, Myrto Mylona, Maria Paliarouti, Paraskevi Pantazi, Antonia Statherou, Christina Theofilou, Anastasia Tsilivakou, Patrik Bruschek (Chairperson, AT), Evdoxia Tsoukala (Chairperson, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Realising that xenophobia is a threat to contemporary multicultural societies as it causes a lack of respect and physical or verbal aggressive racist outbreaks, B. Keeping in mind that Directives set by the European Union immigration policies result in incoherent and hence ineffective legislations in the Member States, C. Taking into consideration the poor living conditions of immigrants due to the lack of direct aid such as accommodation and job opportunities, D. Alarmed by the fact that ideologies such as Islamophobia promoted by some far-right parties are contradictive to the Articles 21 and 22 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights 12, E. Fully aware that some extreme far-right parties express discrimination and often act violently against ethnic minorities such as immigrants, F. Noting with regret the limited educational programmes promoting cultural diversity in the Member States, G. Bearing in mind that far-right parties may take advantage of the current socio-economic conditions in order to spread fear among voting citizens;
1. Calls for Member States to establish volunteer-run information and support centres funded by national taxes to help ensure good living conditions for immigrants;
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union brings together the fundamental rights protected in the EU. Article 21 relates to non-discrimination and Article 22 relates to cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. 12
2. Encourages Member States to provide all immigrants with temporary accommodation, health care, job opportunities and access to the welfare system; 3. Calls for the European Commission to reinforce laws related to racist actions through financial penalties and imprisonment; 4. Emphasises that Member States need to further educate their citizens on the value of nondiscrimination by organising remembrance projects based on historical facts knowledge; 5. Asks Member States to implement educational school programmes on anti-racist ideology through specialised workshops that encourage life-long learning for both teachers and students; 6. Recommends Member States and non- profit organisations raise awareness on the accurate consequences of the current European socio-economic conditions, through the organisation of non-profitable campaigns carried out by volunteers.
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON F OREIGN A FFAIRS Topic: Trouble in the neighbourhood? Given the varied aspiration of Eastern Partnership countries and increased tensions with Russia, what stance should the EU take ahead of the approaching Riga Summit?
Submitted by:
Anastasia Chaviaropoulou, Michalis Dedes, Vasilis Dedousis, Nikitas Filippidis, Anastasia Karampatsou, Christos Maliachovas, Danny Naar, Nikolaos Papadakis, Christina Tsopela, Sozina Tzepapadaki, Maria Fedoruk (Chairperson, UA), Natalia Vagena (Chairperson, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with regret that the economic crisis and the political instability in the EU has put on hold the discussions between the Member States and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) 13 countries, B. Alarmed by the fact that Russia influences the EaP countries with regards to their European integration by placing extra customs controls, C. Deeply concerned by the dysfunction of democratic institutions and political instability in the EaP countries caused by their conflicting discussions with the EU and Russia, D. Aware of the lack of an EU action plan to deal with territorial disputes leading to destabilisation of the EaP countries, E. Keeping in mind that the sanctions imposed by the EU towards Russia prevent further discussions and agreements between them, F. Bearing in mind the effect that the different political backgrounds of the EaP countries, the Member States and Russia have on negotiations amongst them, G. Noting with concern the EaP citizens’ lack of information regarding their countries’ cooperation with the EU;
13
Post-Vilnius Eastern Partnership can be described as the pro-EU partners (Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia which show
higher standards of democracy than other three countries), pro-Russia ones (Armenia and Belarus which are a part of the Russia-led Eurasian Union) and Azerbaijan which dropped the idea of the Association Agreement and proposed the Strategic Modernization Partnership
1. Supports the role of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy 14 as a mediator between EaP countries and Russia through further political means; 2. Calls upon the European Commission (EC) to adapt the European Neighbourhood Policy 15 to each EaP country’s needs by the end of 2015 in order to achieve cooperation and consolidation amongst Member States and EaP governments; 3. Calls for the EaP countries which have signed Association Agreements (AA) 16 to further cooperate with the EU with regards to political and cultural terms; 4. Invites the EaP countries which have not signed AAs to establish specialised agreements such as Azerbaijan’s Modernization Partnership 17 with the EU; 5. Encourages Member States and countries which have signed the AA to completely implement all terms of the existing agreements such as the visa liberalisation action plan 18; 6. Requests that the EC supports the EaP economies by: a)
establishing electronic trading infrastructure between them and the EU,
b)
strengthening the action plan of the Deep Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement19;
7. Urges Member States to lower taxation and provide expansion opportunities for European businesses active in the EaP countries; 8. Further invites the European Commission to raise awareness of the benefits of European integration through media campaigns and public seminars on the function and the mission of the EU.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs is charged with coordinating and carrying out the EU’s foreign and security policy known as the “Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)” the “Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDF). The High Representative of the Union on Foreign Affairs currently is Federica Mogherini. 15 The European Neighborhood Policy is a foreign relations instrument of the European Union, which seeks to tie those 14
countries to the east and south of the European territory of the EU. A European Union Association Agreement is a treaty between the European Union, its Member States and a non EUcountry that creates a framework of cooperation between them. Areas frequently covered by such agreements include the development of political, trade, social, cultural and security links. The legal base for the conclusion of the association agreements is provided by the article 217 of the Treaty of Lisbon. 16
It’s a partnership between the EU and Azerbaijan aiming to broaden cooperation and deepen the relationship amongst both sides as Azerbaijan is EU’s main trading partner with billateral trade flows worth 17.9 billion euros in 2013 (i.e. more than 42% of Azerbaijan’s trade). 17
18
Visa facilitation is a tool of promotion of the mobility of the citizens of the EU Eastern partner countries. Readmission agreements provide rules for managing the return of irregular migrants. 19
The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) is a part of the EU's broader policy of creating a stable and
prosperous European Neighborhood through closer economic ties. The DCFTA is intended to bring a partner country closer to the EU through the opening of markets for goods and services and reducing barriers to trade, especially so-called 'behind the border' issues, bureaucracy and red tape.
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON I NDUSTRY , R ESEARCH AND E NERGY Topic: In the light of the approaching EU Sustainable Energy Week, what action should the EU take to meet the 2030 energy targets and ensure a sustainable and secure energy market for future generations? Submitted by:
Despina Fyka, Georgios Giatras, Kornilia Kollia, Iakovos-Fanourios Kritikos, Michalis Marselos, Orestis Mempelika, Andreas Mitakidis, Ianna Mpolika, Sotirios Pantazis, Georgia Papalexandri, Theano Rizou, Apostolos Souflis-Rigas, Bartek Kubiak (Chairperson, UK), Despina Papadopoulou (Vice-President, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Aware that the majority of non-renewable energy resources are extracted outside the EU 20, B. Concerned that non-renewable energy resources are being rapidly depleted, C. Noting with satisfaction that the reduction by 18% of greenhouse gases emissions contributed to the 45% rise of the European Gross Domestic Product21 between 1990 and 2012, D. Deeply concerned that the EU’s heavy dependence on external energy suppliers causes instability in the European energy market, E. Keeping in mind the important role that energy sector companies play in both the economy of each Member State and the European economy as a whole, G. Referring to the crucial role citizens play in the configuration of EU’s decisions and its environmental future, H. Emphasising the influence that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have on the European energy market, I.
Aware that the policies of some EU countries, such as the Baltic States or Poland, do not conform with the EU’s energy strategy;
1. Encourages Member States to take advantage of their geographical assets in order to facilitate the implementation of 2030 energy targets 22;
20
According to data from Eurostat, Europe imports 88% of its oil and 66% of its natural gas.
21
Data from the European Commission.
22
There are 3 main 2030 targets (all in relation to 1990 levels): greenhouse gas emissions cut by 40%, 30% increase in renewable energy, and 40% improvement in energy efficiency.
2. Supports the European Commission (EC) in the establishment of an integrated and responsive European energy grid23; 3. Requests that Member States implement financial subsidies for the use of renewable energy sources by energy sector companies; 4. Urges ecological NGOs to organise media campaigns to raise citizens’ awareness of the need for a more eco-friendly lifestyle; 5. Emphasises that each Member State should encourage the development of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan 24 monitored by the European Network of Transmission System Operator for Electricity25; 6. Requests that all Member States adopt a coordinated energy policy which will be adjusted to each country in relation to its energy needs.
23
This redesigning of the energy market to create an energy union was proposed by the EC president on 25 th February 2015.
24
It encompasses over a dozen of different energy initiatives aimed at research and innovation of the low carbon energy market. 25
This works for the benefit of European energy consumers by ensuring more secure energy policy.
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON S ECURITY AND D EFENCE Topic: Given the rising threat of terrorist attacks such as the recent Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, what action can the EU take in response to the heightened risk of security threats linked to religious extremism whilst respecting the fundamental rights of its citizens?
Submitted by:
Manolia Agapiou, Aggeliki Karkasi, Nikolaos-Paulos Kotzias, Evanthia Kourakou, Ioanna Koutsodimou, Tatiana Lampropoulou, Maria-Fanouria Papantonaki, Aggelos Papastathopoulos, Natalia Rompoti, NIkolaos-Michail Savvakis, Melina Sgourou, Artemis Talliou, Panagiotis Orfanakos (Chairperson, GR), Maria Megapanou (Chairperson, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Affirming the rise of terrorist attacks motivated by religious extremism, B. Noting with deep concern that the immigration policy in the EU is not adequately implemented, C. Bearing in mind the rise of political propaganda based on religious beliefs channelled through the media, D. Fully alarmed by the rise of islamophobia and anti-Semitism, causing new internal conflicts, E. Taking into account the lack of cooperation between Member States, as far as external border control with third countries26 is concerned, F. Bearing in mind that the Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme (TFTP) 27 is not sufficiently implemented, G. Realising that Member States’ authorities are ill-equipped to combat terrorist acts, H. Being fully aware of the fact that the rising threat of terrorist organisations in third countries may cause security threats in the EU, I.
26
Declaring that the increasing radicalisation of young people can be conducive to their participation in international terrorist attacks;
A third country is any country of the world that is not one of the 28 EU Member States or a European Economic Area state.
The EU concluded an agreement with the US on the transfer of financial data in the framework of the US Terrorist Finance Tracking Programme ('TFTP Agreement') which has been in force since August 2010. 27
1. Calls upon Member States to organise events and campaigns, involving specialists on religious studies, which inform citizens about the separation between religion and religious extremism; 2. Proposes that the EU Counter Terrorism Coordinator28 collects Passenger Name Records29 data and stores the data for one year; 3. Asks the EC to consider the establishment of a common counter-terrorism policy for all Member States to enforce; 4. Encourages the involvement of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the United Nations in the TFTP; 5. Urges the EC to expand the role of Europol30, by employing more manpower; 6. Requests that the European Union External Action Service 31 establishes a platform, in which third countries share intelligence with INTERPOL 32 and EU Intelligence Analysis Centre (INTCEN); 7. Recommends that Member States’ Cyber Crime departments monitor terrorism-related website and identify their users; 8. Further recommends that Member States prevent the aforementioned users from leaving the EU.
The EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the work of the Council of the EU in combating terrorism and closely monitoring the implementation of the EU counter-terrorism strategy. 28
29
Passenger Name Records (PNR) data is information provided by passengers during the reservation and booking of tickets
and when checking in on flights, and is collected by air carriers for their own commercial purposes. Europol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency whose main goal is to help achieve a safer Europe for the benefit of all EU citizens through the use of its unique information capabilities and the expertise of its staff to identify and track the most dangerous criminal and terrorist networks in Europe. Europol has no direct powers of arrests. 30
The European Union External Action Service (EEAS) is the main diplomatic representation for the EU overseas and manages activities such as peacebuilding, crisis response and neighbourhood policy. 31
32
INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, with 190 member countries.
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C ONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS Topic: How can the European Union reduce its democratic deficit whilst preventing excessive bureaucratic procedures and more intricate decision making processes?
Submitted by:
Vasilis Benopoulos, Chalint El Champasi, Maria-Lida Filippa, Konstantinos Mponis-Lakkas, Aristeidis Paraskevopoulos, Georgios Skountrianos, Konstantina Yfanti, Konstantina Zariou, Ellie Adamoudi (Chairperson, GR), Myrto Apostolidou (Chairperson, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Bearing in mind the mistrust of EU citizens towards the EU’s institutions, which is reinforced by their lack of awareness of its function and the subsequent rise of Euroscepticism33, B. Considering that the rapid rise of Euroscepticism creates divisions within the Member States and constitutes a hurdle to further integration, C. Taking into account the decreased political participation of citizens at the European level, reflected in the low voting turnout of only 42.6% in the recent European Parliament elections of 201434, D. Recognising the demand for procedures that will allow citizens a more direct involvement in the EU’s decision making processes, E. Realising the failure of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI)35 which results from the lack of public interest in the Initiative and the absence of pan-European referenda, F. Aware of the fact that the only EU institution that is directly elected by EU citizens is the European Parliament (EP) currently lacks the power to act as an effective check on the European Commission (EC);
1. Resolves to establish e-democracy36 through introducing steps including, but not limited to: a)
the creation of an accessible system to hold e-referenda,
33
Euroscepticism is the negative attitude and mistrust of citizens towards the EU.
34
Data from the European Parliament.
The ECI is a direct legislative channel for the EU citizens in which they are given the right to initiate legislative action in whichever field they deem necessary. 35
36
E-democracy is the substitution of traditional polling methods by an electronic system.
b)
the introduction of e-voting without abolishing traditional voting systems,
c)
the development of an electronic version of the ECI;
2. Calls upon the European Commission to adopt the “one-in, two-out” rule used by the UK, which requires that every new regulation has half the cost of the regulations it is replacing and the initiation of a process to digitalise paperwork; 3. Proposes that the EC assigns additional roles and powers to the EP, including the right to take legislative initiative and the right to scrutinise the work of the Commission by requiring the Commission’s President and Commissioners to answer questions made by Members of the European Parliament on a more regular basis; 4. Recommends that the European Committee on Culture and Education responds to the rise of Eurosceptiscism by introducing a new lesson in the school curricula of all Member States, called “European history and the function of the Union’s system”; 5. Encourages Member States to reinforce the EU through deeper and wider integration on policy areas such as education, healthcare, pensions, immigration, defence and foreign affairs, in accordance with the mandates of the EU.
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E NVIRONMENT , P UBLIC H EALTH AND F OOD S AFETY II Topic: Striking a balance between medical research and universal access to healthcare: How should the EU promote innovation in the pharmaceutical sector while making existing cures available to those who need them most?
Submitted by:
Athina Alampanou, Anastasios Atzampos, Athanasios Efthymiou, Sofia Kargioti, Eirini Katsa, Georgia Kolokouri, Polyxeni Liakou, Anna Louka, Ilias Mitsigiorgis, Antonis Nikolopoulos, Konstantina Nomikou, Dimitra Skopeliti, Maria Sparaggi, Dennis Patriarcheas (Chairperson, GR), Panagiotis Themelis (Chairperson, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Fully alarmed by the unequal access to healthcare due to discrimination based on gender, age, race, disability, sexual orientation and religion, B. Noting with regret that the lack of funding for healthcare and medical research results in illequipped research departments, C. Aware of the difficulties faced by healthcare institutions in the adoption of new expensive methods, D. Bearing in mind that only a few innovative pharmaceutical products reach the market due to long production pipelines, E. Emphasising that pharmaceutical companies maintain their exclusive rights over newly discovered medications for seven years, leading to the increase of their prices, F. Realising that the European Health Insurance Card37 provides medical coverage only in the case of emergencies;
A free card that gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 28 EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country. 37
1. Calls upon the European Commission’s Directorate General on Health and Food Safety 38 to increase the budget of the European Structural and Investment Fund 39 allocated to the improvement of healthcare facilities, personnel and equipment; 2. Encourages non-governmental organisations to raise public awareness about access to health, as a fundamental human right, through media campaigns consisting of: i) expert talks and interactive discussions at schools, ii) street advertising; 3. Further invites national governments to subsidise low-income citizens to enable their access to expensive, patented medications; 4. Urges national governments to implement the existing Directives on racial discrimination and gender equality aiming for equal access to healthcare systems 40; 5. Proposes that national governments found public pharmaceutical companies in order to research and produce affordable and high quality medications; 6. Calls for the European Research Council (ERC) 41 to incentivise pharmaceutical companies by awarding monetary prizes for the most innovative achievements.
This aims to protect and improve public health, ensure the EU’s food safety and protect the health of forests, animals and crops. 38
This is a funding mechanism that promotes among others research and innovation in health, health promotion and access to healthcare. 40 Racial Equality Directive 2000/43/EC & EU Gender Equality Law 2013 Update 39
41
The main goal of the ERC is to encourage high quality research in EU through competitive funding.
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E CONOMIC AND M ONETARY A FFAIRS Topic: In the midst of an economic and fiscal crisis, the EU is facing a decline in entrepreneurship. How should the European Parliament ensure stability in the banking sector while promoting the development of sustainable businesses?
Submitted by:
Alexandra Balli, Souzanna Bodini, Erika Kaperoni, Antonis Kastrinakis, Marianna Lagkadinou, Sotiris Lytras, Ploutarchos Marinis, Filippos Moutafidis, Eirini Panagopoulou, Anna Spanoudaki, Vasilis Tsenes, Dimitris Krokos (Chairperson, GR), Ilir Kola (Vice-President, AL)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with regret that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) currently lack available funds, thus preventing their sustainable growth, B. Bearing in mind that lack of liquidity in the banking sector results in fewer investments available for SMEs, C. Keeping in mind the negative role that the European Central Bank (ECB) 42 has played in preventing the crisis, in particular: i)
poor supervision of Member States prior to the crisis,
ii)
allowing Member States entrance into the Eurozone despite their non-fulfilment of the Euro Convergence Criteria43,
iii) failure in maintaining competition between Member States, D. Taking into account the lack of information amongst EU citizens about available programmes that support entrepreneurship, such as the Entrepreneurship 2020 Action Plan44 proposed by the European Commission (EC), E. Aware of the extensive bureaucracy which entrepreneurs face, preventing them from creating and developing sustainable businesses; 42
The European Central Bank is the central bank for the Euro and administers monetary policy of the Eurozone. The capital
stock of the bank is owned by the central banks of all 28 EU Member States.
The criteria which the EU Member States are required to meet to enter the third stage of the Economic and Monetary Union and adopt the Euro as their currency. 43
44
The Entrepreneurship Action Plan is a blueprint for decisive action to unleash Europe's entrepreneurial potential through investments in changing the public perception of entrepreneurs, in entrepreneurship education and to support groups that are underrepresented among entrepreneurs.
1. Supports the proposal of the EC for the creation of a Capital Market Union45, as a supporting mechanism of the Investment Plan for Europe46; 2. Calls upon the EC to promote and assist the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) SMEs closer to sources of funding such as investors or public funds;
47
in bringing
3. Recommends the more rigorous the application of Convergence Criteria for a country to join the Eurozone, in order to prevent future potential crises; 4. Requests the EC to offer assistance to the Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME) 48 in efficiently implementing the measures included in the programme for Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME)49; 5. Urges Member States to: a)
implement entrepreneurial education programmes in high schools,
b)
promote the available funds for SMEs through media campaigns,
c)
simplify the bureaucratic procedures for SMEs by including e-government50 (FN) as a means of communication.
The Capital Market Union aims to remove barriers between national capital markets in the EU. This would make more funding available that is provided mainly by the markets. 45
A programme launched by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, aiming at mobilising 315 billion Euros over the next three years, including 75 billion Euros that should go to SMEs. 46
47
The EEN is the largest information and consultancy network in Europe. The aim of the network is to help small business to
make the most of the European marketplace.
48
Agency of the EC which has been set-up to manage several programmes on its behalf.
49
The EU programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) runs from
2014 to 2020 with a planned budget of â‚Ź2.3bn, and helps SMEs to gain easier access to markets.
50
E-government consists of the digital interactions between a citizen or business and their government.
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C IVIL L IBERTIES , J USTICE AND H OME A FFAIRS I Topic: Whilst the events in Turkey have highlighted the need to protect press freedom, in recent years there have also been reports of journalists carrying out illegal and intrusive surveillance on private citizens. How can the EU strike a balance between protecting freedom of the press without encroaching upon the right of citizens?
Submitted by:
Stelios Antonogiannakis, Penny Choravati, Dimitra Kioiloglou, Kalliopi Kritikou, Marso Markesini, Anna Mpimpli, Pantelis Palimetakis, Alexandra Papanastasiou, Emmanouil Papanastasopoulos, Eugenia Sgamato, Vasiliki Simopoulou, Dafni Tsakiri, Vanja Bankovic (Chairperson, RS), Irida Karasmonoglou(Vice-President, GR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Emphasising the importance of the implementation of the right to respect one’s right in private and family life, home and correspondence, as enshrined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights51, B. Noting with regret the violation of the aforementioned Articles by journalists, resulting in the disrespect of fundamental human rights such as the freedom of expression and the freedom of thought, C. Alarmed by the fact that more than 700 journalists in Turkey have been imprisoned since 2007 52, D. Taking into account the current social and economic crisis in Europe with rising incidents of journalists using illicit means of documenting their work, E. Bearing in mind the radical technological advancements and their impact on the protection of personal data, F. Expressing its satisfaction with the work of the Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM) 53 ;
51
ECHR is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe, drafted in 1950.
52
Data from “Turkey’s Jailed Journalists”, The New Yorker, 8th March 2012
This is designed to identify potential risks to media pluralism in Member States, based on a European Commission funded study published in 2009. 53
1. Expresses its hope for the further harmonisation of national laws and the ECHR in order to achieve balance between privacy and freedom of the press; 2. Recommends the rejection of a candidate country to join the EU when methods of imprisonment and harassment of journalists are used, such as accusations of pro terrorism propaganda; 3. Suggests that the European Commission reinforces the role of the European Ombudsman 54 by authorising it to: a)
act in a period shorter than two and a half years,
b)
interfere in cases where journalists are the initiators of illegal acts;
4. Calls upon the Member States not to publish citizens’ personal information; 5. Encourages the full implementation of the MPM, aiming at ensuring freedom of the media; 6. Requests for increased transparency of media ownership, in order to ensure the publishing of realistic news, not affected by private or governmental interests.
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The European Ombudsman investigates complaints against the institutions and bodies of the EU.
The 31st National Selection Conference – Athens 2015 has been organised:
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the Auspices of ____________________________________
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the kind support of __________________________________
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accommodated by ___________________________________
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Co-funded by the European Union