Schengen 2019 - Resolution Booklet by EYP Luxembourg

RESOLUTION BOOKLET

SCHENGEN 2019

6TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP LUXEMBOURG

GENERAL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 08 :30 – 09 :20 : Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs 09 :20 – 10 :10 : Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs 10 :10 – 10 :30 : Coffee Break 10 :30 – 11 :20 : Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy 11 :20 – 12 :10 : Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs II 12 :10 – 13 :00 : Lunch 13 :00 – 13 :50 : Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs 13 :50 – 14 :40 : Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Transport and Tourism II 14 :40 – 15 :00 : Coffee Break 15 :00 – 15 :50 : Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Transport and Tourism I 15 :50 – 16 :40 : Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs I 16 :40 – 17 :00 : Break 17 :00 – 18 :00: Closing Ceremony

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE 1. Board reads the topic formulation 2. Silent reading of the Operative Clauses (everyone to themselves, no reading from the podium) 3. Resolution Debate (30-40 min) a. Proposition Speech (3 min)1 b. Position Speech(es) (2x 2 min)2 c. Response to the Position Speech(es) (90 sec) d. 3 Rounds of open debate (maybe 4) with response from the floor 4. Amendment Time (5min) a. Proposing committee deliberates on received amendment points b. Other committees read over next resolution, Chair actively facilitates preparation of amendment points3 c. Submission of amendment to the Board 5. Debate Summation and Rally Speech (2 x 1.5 min)4 5 6. Voting on proposed Resolution

Proposition Speech: Proposing committee presents the rationale and context of the resolution.

Position Speech: Speech held by any other committee but the proposing. The speech can either agree with the proposed resolution, with a rationale why doing so, or the speech can thoroughly disagree with the proposed resolution, with a rationale why doing so. 2

Amendment point: A point made during the open debate. Such a point entails to follow the structure: (1) Affected OC, (2) Problem identification, (3) Constructive solution presentation arguing for either (a) adjusting the OC, (b) adding to the OC, (c) removing the OC/something from the OC. 3

Debate Summation: A presentation of the conclusive stance of the committee in relation to the debate and the amendment points made. Here, the result of the Amendment Time will be presented by the proposing committee). 4

Rally Speech: A final call for why the resolution should pass.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLACARDS

Committee placard

Direct Response (can be used 1x per debate)

Point of Privilege

Point of Order (can only be used by a Chair)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Voting for the future: Despite efforts made by the European Parliament and other

institutions, the voter turnout has been dropping steadily in the past 40 years. With the next European Elections coming up in May, what further steps could be taken to improve the voting process to make it more appealing to EU citizens? Submitted by: Teanna Buchholz (FR), Maria Costa (PT), Oscar de Clercq (BEL), Sara Gonzalez Dadin (ES), Bryony Kelly (IR), Yousra Mentoni (DE), Elena Serreta Bara (ES), Sergej Stoma (LT), Nina Steffen (Chairperson, CH)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the fact that the voter turnout in the European elections has been dropping steadily from 61.99% in 1979 to 42.61% in 2014, B. Disturbed that only 44% of EU citizens believe that the political parties in the European Parliament represent their interests, C. Deeply concerned by the decreasing trust in the EU by its citizens, reaching only 42% in 2018, D. Regretting the negative impact on voting behaviour caused by the lack of information on different national voting procedures in European elections, E. Aware of the public perception of the European elections as 'side elections' and its adverse implications on the voter turnout,

Further regretting the difficulty internalising voting habits poses amongst EU citizens in the European elections,

G. Fully aware of both the positive and negative implications of introducing mandatory voting, ranging from higher voter turnout to trivialization of procedures, H. Viewing with appreciation Estonia’s installation of e-Voting for the 2019 European elections, I.

Concerned about the disadvantageous aspects that come with e-Voting, specifically in regards to exclusivity and security breaches,

Expressing its appreciation for Luxembourg's practice of mandatory voting, automatically registering all eligible citizens with an option for them to unregister up until the 87th day prior to the European elections,

K. Considering the differences in Member States’ national legislation concerning European elections regarding the minimum voting age, the elections dates, compulsory voting, and rules on voting for citizens living abroad; Education and Information 1.

Calls upon the European Commission to further adhere to campaigns such as “This Time I’m Voting” in order to continue effectively encouraging citizens to vote;

Urges the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) to guarantee both the availability and accessibility of information on the EU, the voting process in the European elections, and candidates/parties;

Calls on the European Commission to further develop the Media Literacy Policy in order to increase support for the EU;

Invites Member States to include information about the EU and the European elections in their educational curriculum;

E-Voting 5.

Encourages Member States to introduce the voting method of e-Voting for the European elections;

Designates the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security (ENISA) to develop a secure and efficient e-Voting system for EU citizens made available to interested Member States;

Institutional and Electoral Procedure 7.

Recommends Member States to consider introducing the mandatory voting following the Luxembourgish model;

Requests the European Commission to initiate the amendment of the Article 223 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) in order to introduce a uniform and simplified procedure of electing Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in all Member States;

Further requests the European Commission to ensure that the procedure includes a harmonised minimum voting age, a possibility to vote in Member States’ diplomatic missions globally, common voting methods, and a common voting day.

FACTSHEET COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS Side Elections: Elections that have less importance to the voter than national elections, such as regional elections or the European elections. Rather than voting in a constructive way that corresponds to their beliefs, citizens might voice their frustration with the government by voting for extreme parties or solutions. Internalisation of Voting Habits: The creation of political habits, or the lack thereof, has a strong influence on voter turnout. In order to internalise the social norm of voting, and thus increasing the voter turnout, it is necessary to participate in three consecutive elections. Mandatory Voting: Some Member States, like Luxemburg, have adopted the method of mandatory voting. This means that a citizen is automatically registered to vote and may be fined if they do not fulfil this right. E-Voting: Estonia, as the only Member State so far, has introduced electronic voting (e-Voting), which allows its citizens to partake in the elections by voting online. “This Time I’m Voting”: It is a project supported by the European Commission that aims to increase the voter turnout in the European elections in 2019 by organising informational events, raising awareness, and educating citizens. Media Literacy: Media Literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media in a variety of forms. Article 223 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU): “The European Parliament shall draw up a proposal to lay down the provisions necessary for the election of its Members by direct universal suffrage in accordance with a uniform procedure in all Member States or in accordance with principles common to all Member States.”

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

We’re all in this together: With the new Work-Life Balance Directive strengthening maternal

and introducing paternal leaves, Member States’ uneven implementation still fails to allow both genders to strike balance between labour market activity and nurturing their offspring. What could the EU and national governments do to further ensure gender equality in this regard? Submitted by: Marie-Amélie Boatwright (LU), Maxine Buchert (FI), Eva Dierickx (BE), Julie Feuvrier (FR), Alec Hansen (LU), Maja Kwasny (LU), Marie Van Poucke (BE), Dominic Resch (LU), Jules Vandendriessche (BE), Anneliis Saarend (Chairperson, EE)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with deep concern that conservative roles for parents are still predominant in the society, encouraging fathers to pursue a professional career and mothers to pursue family life, B. Noting with regret that potential pregnancy can be a hindrance to women’s future employment and a threat to their job security, C. Having studied that the “child penalty” in earnings is around 20% over the course of a mother’s career, D. Contemplating that caring responsibilities are reasons for inactivity for almost 31% of inactive women, while this is only the case for 4.5% of men, E. Having examined that on average 9% of women living in the EU leave their jobs after having children and 16% of women take a part-time job instead of a full-time job after having children, F.

Realising that the current EU legislation does not set minimum standards for paternity leave, leaving fathers in some Member States with fewer possibilities for being involved in the child’s life,

G. Keeping in mind that the proposed Directive 2010/18 (Work-Life Balance Directive) aims to introduce minimum standards for paternity leave, setting it at 10 working days, H. Concerned by the low levels of financially well-compensated parental leave in many Member

States, I.

Deeply conscious that the percentage of fathers who take parental leave ranges from only 0.02% in Greece to 44% in Sweden, with an average of 10% in 23 Member States,

Viewing with appreciation that the implementation of the father’s quota in Iceland and Sweden led to a higher uptake of parental leave among men,

K. Disappointed that in the case of surrogacy in many Member States maternity leave is only given to the woman giving birth to the child, while intended parents can only receive parental leave,

Pointing out that when adopting in many Member States one parent takes the role of the primary carer, allowing for longer adoption leave, while the other parent has more limited rights for paternity- or parental leave;

General legislation 1.

Requests the Member States to set the length of paternity leave to match the time of the postnatal leave;

Directs Member States to provide parents with children up to at least 10 years old with the right to request reduced working hours, flexible working hours and flexibility in the place of work;

Instructs the Member States to set the maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave compensation at 100% of the parent’s previous salary for the first half of the leave, at 80% for the second half, to be covered by a combination of compensation provided by the employer and a flat rate paid by the national government;

Calls upon the Member States to implement a minimum of four months of parental leave per parent, which, except in cases when one parent is unable to nurse the child: a. include two months of mandatory leave, b. are non-transferable between parents;

Non-biological parents 5.

Proposes the Member States provide a postnatal recovery leave of at least eight weeks to the surrogate birth mother;

Urges Member States to introduce policies regarding surrogacy and adoption, in which the intended parents of the child receive adoptive leave equating to maternity and paternity leave allowance;

Raising awareness 7.

Encourages non-governmental organisations (NGOs), postnatal clinics, high schools, and places of employment to launch educational campaigns to inform about the positives of breaking gender roles in parenthood;

Designates the European Commission to launch social media campaigns to promote the positive effects of fathers using paternity and parental leave to be more involved with their child’s development.

FACTSHEET COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Child penalty: The percentage showing how much women’s earnings fall behind men’s due to having children. Father’s quota: A policy that gives the fathers the right to a certain number of weeks of paid parental leave, which can not, in principle, be transferred to the mother. Maternity leave: Leave from work for mothers, including time immediately before giving birth (prenatal leave) and after (postnatal leave). Paternity leave: Leave from work for fathers usually immediately after the birth of the child. Parental leave: Leave from work for either parent in the first years of the child’s life, following maternity and paternity leave. Surrogacy: A form of assisted reproduction in which a woman, the surrogate, agrees to carry and give birth to a child on behalf of the intended parent(s).

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY

Join the green side: Acknowledging the climate commitment made by the EU with the Energy

Union, how can the EU and its Member States further accelerate the decarbonisation of their power consumption, in a way that it leads to a sustainable energy model? Submitted by: Lena Dominicy (LU), Eddy Drouet (LU), Dylan Kelly (IR), Sally Maiga (IT), Iason Papadopoulos (GR), Sander Reyniers (BE), Philip Stoot (NL), Sydney Sturdivant (LU), Christophe Schmit

(Chairperson, LU)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by Member States’ heavy dependence on fossil fuels, accounting for over 72% of the EU’s overall energy consumption, B. Deeply disturbed by the burdensome change that the housing and transport sectors will experience in transitioning to renewable energy, C. Concerned that 54% of the EU’s domestic consumed energy is imported from non-EU states, which exposes the EU to political pressure, D. Deeply alarmed that only 41% of the general public supports the transition towards renewable energy, E. Noting with regret that the transport sector accounts for 27% of the EU’s overall emitted CO2 emissions, F.

Aware that production of electric vehicles is not completely sustainable due to: I.

the environmentally pernicious effects of the mining of battery components,

II.

the lack of a legislative framework regarding second-life treatment of electric batteries,

G. Recognising the differences in financial resources between Member States resulting in their inability to reach the targets set out by the EU in the 2030 Energy Strategy, H. Deeply concerned by the consequent stress on the energy grid caused by the fact that less than 3% of homes in Europe are prosumer households,

Taking into account the inefficient cooperation in distributing energy across Member States due to: I.

the lack of cross-border power grids,

II.

the lack of sharing energy usage statistics,

Seriously concerned about the inadequate centralised electricity grid imposing challenges in the balancing of the electricity flow fluctuations,

K. Noting the fact that renewable energies are intermittent energy sources, which rely on external factors such as weather conditions and geographical location, L.

Congratulates the European Commission for their efforts on improving nuclear safety and for their active engagement in addressing the issue of nuclear waste management;

Aims to establish a sustainable energy system in which the EU's economy and its citizens are protected from the effects of climate change; European energy generation mix

Urges the European Commission to abate fossil fuel consumption by increasing nuclear energy production to 30% by 2030 as a temporary stage before advancing to the sole usage of renewable energy;

Encourages the European Commission to increase the proposed 27% share of renewable energies set out in the 2030 Energy Strategy to 50%;

Suggests that Member States raise awareness on the benefits, the efficiency, and the safety of nuclear and renewable energy among the public by including it in their primary educational curricula; Transport sector

Proposes Member States raise taxes on internal combustion vehicles, according to their energy performance and emission of pollutants;

Encourages Member States to offer financing schemes to consumers upon the acquisition of zero-emission vehicles;

Appeals to the European Commission to establish common guidelines on the recycling of batteries used in electric vehicles by: a. monitoring the ways in which batteries are produced and recycled,

b. making full use of the existing recycling bases to promote sustainable development; European transnational energy grid 8.

Instructs the European Commission to make efforts towards reaching a 50% market share of renewable energies by 2030 through the provision of subsidies for Member States with lower gross national income in line with the European Cohesion Fund (ECF);

Encourages Member States to come up with a national action plan including the construction of 25% of cross-border interconnections and the installation of smart meters in every Member States’ houses by 2030;

10. Recommends the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) to instruct local Distribution System Operators (DSO) to: a. further update the transnational power grid system, b. hold quarterly discussions with all DSOs in order to enrich and share information; Integration and development of renewable energies 11. Advises Member States find inspiration in non-EU Member States, such as Norway and Iceland, whose total energy consumption consists of a renewable energy share of respectively 58% and 77%; 12. Invites Member States to further accelerate the implementation of solar panels through financial subsidies and monitoring of housing projects; 13. Advises Member States to fully utilise their geographical location for the harnessing of suitable renewable energy sources.

FACTSHEET COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY 2030 Energy Strategy: The strategy sets EU-wide targets and policy objectives for the period from 2021 to 2030 such as a cut of 40% on greenhouse(from pre-industrial levels) as well as targeting a 27% market share of renewable energies. Prosumer: An energy prosumer is a person who can be considered at the start and end of the supply chain. They are energy producers and consumers themselves, resulting in a bi-directional flow of energy. Second-life treatment: The method of repurposing electric batteries after falling under a certain efficiency level. European Cohesion Fund: The Cohesion Fund is aimed at Member States whose Gross National Income (GNI) per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average. It aims to reduce economic and social disparities and to promote sustainable development. Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators: ACER is a central institution in the creation of a Single Energy Market. It advises European institutions on issues relating to electricity, natural gas and monitors wholesale energy markets to detect and deter market abuse, in close collaboration with national regulatory authorities. Distribution system operators: DSOs are operating managers in charge of the energy distribution networks, operating at low, medium and, in some member states, high voltage levels the electrical and the maintenance of the electrical grid infrastructure.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS II

Fixing the roof while the sun shines: While the specters of the Great Recession and financial meltdowns still haunt Europe, the European Banking Union remains incomplete. What steps

should the EU take to resolve the weaknesses in its banking sector and protect Member States from another potential financial crisis? Submitted by: Alexandra Beiros (LU), Ethan Cleary (IE), Sophia Siry (LU), Christian Støvring (DK), Juliette Winkelmann (DE), Lea Winzen (LU), Zuzanna Palion (Chairperson, PL)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Realising the limitations in the implementation of effective monetary policy imposed by the zero-lower bound, B. Aware that the slow down of Europe’s economic growth from 2.4% in 2017 to forecasted 1.3% in 2019 suggests that the quantitative easing (QE) era ended prematurely, C. Deeply concerned by the difficulties faced in fully adopting the fiscal union such as Member States’ concerns over sovereignty and the lack of unanimity among Member States regarding tax harmonisation, D. Seeking further strategies approaching the fiscal union to follow the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) in the coordination of fiscal policy, E. Bearing in mind that some countries in the eurozone might need to resort to expansive fiscal policy despite the increase in public debt it entails, F.

Acknowledging that lower corporation taxes in some Member States create an uneven spread of foreign direct investment (FDI) throughout the EU,

G. Deeply disturbed by the reluctance of more stable EU economies regarding further integration of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) through risk-sharing, associated with the rise of populist movements in Europe, H. Noting with regret the failure to implement the European Insurance Deposit Scheme (EIDS) as the last missing pillar to the completion of the European Banking Union,

Alarmed by the minor decrease of 3.8% between 2012 and 2017 in the rate of non-performing loans (NPL) in the EU despite efforts by the national and European institutions such as European Commission’s NPL Action Plan,

Deeply disturbed by the threat to European commercial banks’ credibility posed by unsolved money laundering cases accounting for 2-5% of global GDP;

Monetary policy 1.

Invites the ECB to raise its key interest rates to: a. enable further ease of the monetary policy in the event of another eurozone recession, b. increase its capacity to stimulate future economic growth;

Requests the ECB to re-stimulate the growth of the European economy by reintroducing QE with a time-specific, economic growth dependent plan for the future;

Fiscal policy 3.

Calls upon the Member States to gradually introduce full tax harmonisation by establishing advanced integration and enhanced tax cooperation;

Invites the European Fiscal Board to guide the implementation of fiscal policy, ensuring a cushion for country-specific economic shocks;

Advises the European Commission to relax the 60% threshold for public debt imposed by the SGP for economies demonstrating the potential to grow proportionally through more fiscal stimulus;

Encourages Member States outside the Eurozone to attract foreign investment by offering tax breaks and tax incentives to companies wishing to locate there;

European Banking Union 7.

Reaffirms the benefits of deepening the EMU by contributing to the EIDS fully completing the European Banking Union;

Calls upon the European Parliament and the Council to accept the European Commission’s proposal to establish the EDIS, providing co-insurance cover in eurozone and weakening the link between banks and Member States;

Designates the European Commission to increase efforts towards the reduction of the number of credited NPLs by: a. increasing commercial bank supervision,

b. reforming insolvency and debt recovery frameworks, c. development of secondary market for NPLs; 10. Requests Member States to fully implement Financial Intelligence Units as part of their network of national law enforcement agencies.

FACTSHEET

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS II

European Central Bank (ECB): Central bank for the 19 countries that have adopted the common European currency, the euro. It conducts the monetary policy for the Eurozone with its main objective being price stability - it attempts to ensure that over time you can still buy the same basket of goods for approximately the same amount of money. Fiscal stimulus: Increasing the level of government spending or reducing the taxes undertaken by the government with an aim of fostering country’s economic growth. Zero-lower bound: A situation in which the central bank of a country wishes to lower the interest rates, but faces a barrier when the interest rate approaches or reaches zero, and cannot lower it further, thus new, often complex, methods of economic stimulus must be examined and implemented. Quantitative easing (QE): Form of expansionary monetary policy when the central bank electronically creates a large quantity of bank reserves to buy long-term bonds. It aims to encourage bank lending, investment and therefore help improve the rate of economic growth. Fiscal union: Further European integration that involves passing the power over the budget, i.e. setting government spending and tax rates, from the national to the European level. European Fiscal Board: It is an independent advisory body to the European Commission that evaluates the implementation of the Union fiscal framework and the appropriateness of the actual fiscal stance at euro area and national level and makes suggestions for the future evolution of the Union fiscal framework. Stability and Growth Pact (SGP): A set of rules designed to ensure that countries in the European Union pursue sound public finances and coordinate their fiscal policies. Foreign direct investment (FDI): An investment made by a firm or individual from one country into business located in another country. Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): A step towards financial integration taken in 1992 by all the Member States. It allows them to coordinate economic and fiscal policies, establish a common monetary policy, and a common currency, the euro, which was only adopted by 19 Member States, however, all of them (except for Denmark) are legally binded to lead up to introducing euro. European Banking Union: The initiative of the European Commission to create a deeper and stronger euro area banking system. It applies to all the countries in the euro area, however, non-euro countries can join as well. Its main aim was to prevent national budgets from being used to bail out failing banks. The two main pillars of the European Banking Union are Single Supervisory Mechanism and Single Resolution Mechanism.

Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) - Directive 2014/Q9/EU: It protects depositors’ money in banks up to EUR 100,000 in reimbursement in case of a bank failure and it is entirely funded by the banking sector and not the taxpayers’ money. European Insurance Deposit Scheme (EIDS): It is the missing third pillar of the Banking Union. It is a scheme to protect the deposits in banks that builds upon the Deposit Guarantee Schemes that are regulated at the EU but work at the national level. They guarantee that it is the bank that will pay the deposit and not the taxpayers in the event of a failure.

Non-performing loan (NPL): Bank loans that are subjected to late repayment or are unlikely to be repaid by the borrower. NPL Action Plan: An initiative agreed by Finance Ministers that calls upon various institutions – including the Commission – to take appropriate measures to address the challenges of high NPL ratios in Europe. Insolvency and debt recovering frameworks: Key drivers to improve financial inclusion and increase access to credit, which may lead to the reduction of the cost for obtaining credit. Increased access to finance enhances enterprise growth, which in turn leads to preserving employment, growth and the creation of new job opportunities. Financial Intelligence Unit: National centre for the receipt and analysis of suspicious transaction reports and other information relevant to money laundering and financing of terrorism.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Eyes on the Western Balkans: Considering the EU’s recent announcement of the “Strategy

for the Western Balkans” affirming 2025 as a potential enlargement date, what steps should the EU take in order to accomplish this objective? Submitted by: Sébastien Aubraye (CZ), Hannah Austen (UK), Clara Bunis (BE), Maeve Charles (IE), Mikkel Dahl (DK), Jorden Kent (LU), Jan-Felix Inghelram (LU), Alexandra Laplante (LU), Jeanne Lynch (BE), Alexander Dürr (Chairperson, SE)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Perturbed by the extent of which graft and urgency bolsters the rule of law and democratic principles in the Western Balkans, B. Taking into account that the goal of EU accession by 2025 requires tailored political and economic assistance for each Western Balkan state, C. Regretting that the 2025 deadline of accession abates the possibility for certain Western Balkans to adhere to the Strategy, D. Acknowledging that the 2025 deadline of accession poses an ambitious and lengthy process, abating the possibility for certain Western Balkan states to fulfil its requirements, E. Having considered that certain Western Balkans states will join the EU earlier, having unfavorable consequences on ongoing trade deals such as the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA), F. Further regretting that the thirty-five chapter long Strategy of acquis necessitates ambitious and burdensome reforms, G. Emphasising that not all Member States recognise the sovereignty of the state of Kosovo, H. Deeply concerned with the rigid relations between Kosovo and Serbia,

Different prerequisites and capabilities 1. Recommends the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) to initiate collaboration with the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) to operate as a watchdog insuring transparent administrative and political practices in the Western Balkans; 2. Supports the ongoing measures strengthening economic and political collaboration between the EU and the Western Balkan States such the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP) and the Brdo- Brijuni Process, an initiative taken by Slovenia and Croatia; 3. Requests the Western Balkans Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility (WB EDIF) to continue ongoing investments in the Western Balkans and to increase funding for regional Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s), enabling them to grow and contribute to their native economies as well as the infrastructure to improve the competitiveness of Western Balkan enterprises on the European market; Time restrictions and ambitious goals 4. Appeals to the European Commission to re-evaluate the accession dates for the Western Balkan states and implement the possibility for time extensions depending on progress rates and capabilities of Western Balkan states; 5. Encourages the European Investment Bank (EIB) to increase ongoing funding of public infrastructure, healthcare and education in the Western Balkans; 6. Requests the Directorate General for Trade (DG TRADE) to strengthen economic relationships between the Member States and Western Balkan states; 7. Recommends the European Commission to implement gradual deadlines for required adjustments in accordance with the 35 chapters of acquis; No generic approach within the EU 8. Endorses the European External Action Service (EEAS) alleviation of tensions between Serbia and Kosovo by means of promoting peace-talks and structured dialogues between the afflicted countries; 9. Calls upon the WB EDIF to expand ongoing investment in the Western Balkans for infrastructure, increasing travel routes between the Western Balkans and the neighboring EU countries; 10. Requests the Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) to embrace cultural national holidays of the Western Balkans.

FACTSHEET

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA): The EFTA is the intergovernmental organisation of Iceland,

Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, set up for the promotion of free trade and economic cooperation between its members, within Europe and globally. Thirty-five chapters of acquis: The chapters of the acquis (presently 35) form the basis of the accession negotiations for each candidate country. They correspond to the different areas of the acquis for which reforms are needed in order to meet the accession conditions. The candidate countries are required to adapt their administrative and institutional infrastructures and to bring their national legislation into line with EU legislation in these areas. European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF): Investigates fraud against the EU budget, corruption and serious

misconduct within the European institutions, and develops anti-fraud policy for the European Commission. Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO): The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption monitoring body, created in 1999. GRECO’s objective is to improve the capacity of its members to fight corruption by monitoring their compliance with the the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption standards through a

dynamic process of mutual evaluation and peer pressure. It helps to identify deficiencies in national anti-corruption policies, prompting the necessary legislative, institutional and practical reforms. GRECO also provides a platform for the sharing of best practices in the prevention and detection of corruption. Stabilization and Association Process (SAP): The SAP is the EU's policy towards the Western Balkans, established with the aim of eventual EU membership. Western Balkan countries are involved in a progressive partnership with a view of stabilising the region and establishing a free-trade area. The SAP sets out common political and economic goals although progress evaluation is based on countries' own merits. Brdo-Brijuni Process: The process is an initiative launched in 2010 by the government of Slovenia

and Croatia which aims to strengthen the ties and cooperation between countries in the Western Balkans region. Western Balkans Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility (WB EDIF): The Western Balkans Enterprise Development & Innovation Facility (WB EDIF), funded by the EU, aims at improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Western Balkans. European Investment Bank (EIB): The EIB is the EU's non-profit long-term lending institution established in 1958 under the Treaty of Rome. As a "policy-driven bank" whose shareholders are the

Member States of the EU, the EIB uses its financing operations to bring about European integration and social cohesion. Directorate General for Trade (DG TRADE): European Commission’s department responsible for EU

policy on Trade. DG TRADE works on securing prosperity, solidarity and security in Europe and around the globe. It covers a wide area from manufactured goods to services, intellectual property and investment. Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC): DG EAC is the executive branch of the EU’s policy on education, culture, youth, languages and sport. DG EACC supports a variety of projects and programmes, notably “Creative Europe” and “Erasmus +” European External Action Service (EEAS): The EEAS is the EU's diplomatic service. It helps the EU's foreign affairs chief – the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – carry out the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM II

Sustainable tourism - the monument yet to be built: While tourism represents the EU’s

third-largest socioeconomic activity, there is a long road to make it sustainable for locals, their culture and the environment. How can the EU and national governments further ensure compliance with the EU Tourism Policy, assuring sustainability in the tourism sector among its Member States? Submitted by: Emma Abrahams (BE), Shiza Akhtar (LU), Tinka Bruneau (NL), Elias Lessinger (LU), Jeff Mandres (LU), Jason Tzieras (GR), Mees van der Velden (NL), Victor Verheyden (BE), Leonor Amaral (NL)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by citizens increasingly visiting places at risk of disappearance due to the effects of global warming and rising sea levels, B. Deeply alarmed by the great environmental impact of overseas transportation, mainly caused by tourism, C. Noting with regret that the average cruise ship passenger is responsible for the emission of 0.83 tonnes of carbon dioxide on their trip, D. Noting the impact of the rapidly rising number of flights conducted by budget airlines on mass tourism, E. Realising the importance of the tourism industry, as it accounts for 3.9% of the EU Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 5.1% of the labour force, F. Observing the inexhaustibility of the demand to travel and the rising purchasing power of the middle class, G. Acknowledging the impact of overtourism on housing prices, resulting in locals being forced out of their hometowns, H. Pointing out the corrosion of local amenities and infrastructure caused by over-tourism, I.

Concerned about the loss of the cultural character of cities affected by mass tourism,

J. Deeply concerned about the degradation of natural, historical and architectural sites by mass visitation; Transportation 1. Asks the European Commission to provide financial support to the Member States for them to increase the competitiveness of public railway systems; 2. Trusts the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to invest in research concerning sustainable transportation alternatives, such as public transport networks; 3. Invites the European Commission to fund a media campaign aiming at informing tourists of the negative impact of short trips on the environment and the population; Decentralisation of tourism 1. Calls upon the European Commission to introduce a media campaign in order to encourage citizens to explore their own regions; 2. Requests the European Commission to financially support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) targeted at alternative tourism activities and services in areas with a low number of visitors; 3. Congratulates the European Commission on the initiative of the EU Ecolabel; 4. Designates the UNWTO to conduct further research concerning tourists’ behavioural patterns and maximum capacity of visitors for cities, for later information of potential travelers; Local communities and housing market 5. Invites the Member States to minimise the impact of Airbnbs in the housing market, by: a. banning Airbnbs in the most central and historical districts of cities affected by mass tourism, b. limiting the period of rental per address to 60 days a year, following Amsterdam’s example; 6. Appeals Member States to limit the number of franchises of multinational corporations in central districts of tourist hotspots; 7. Encourages the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to invest in infrastructure in cities that are susceptible to a significant growth in the number of tourists; 8. Instructs Member States to further involve their inhabitants in decision-making on tourism related

issues on a local level; Protection of cultural heritage 9. Appeals the Member States to raise security measures and penalties for harming or destroying cultural heritage, ranging from heightened fines and to exclusion from the Member State for a certain period of time; 10. Directs Member States to implement a time slot system for local tourist attractions with a high amount of visitors; 11. Urges the European Commission to financially support small businesses that represent the regional culture in tourist hotspots.

FACTSHEET COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM II

Tourist hotspot: Area which experiences a high number of tourist arrivals.

Overtourism: Phenomenon witnessed in areas where the amount of visitors negatively affects the setting. Mass tourism: Form of tourism, which involves a great number of individuals in the same period of time. Time slot system: System adopted by some sights, such as museums in Amsterdam, where the institution provides visitors with a time frame in which they are allowed to visit the attraction with the purchased ticket. EU Ecolabel: Voluntary tool available to tourism accommodation services willing to prove and promote their environmental excellence.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM I

Sustainability in deep waters: Waterborne transport accounts for around 90% of all EU external trade, with its emissions expected to nearly double in the next decades. Keeping in mind the

environmental consequences, what measures can the EU take to ensure the sustainability of the shipping industry, without compromising its economic importance? Submitted by: Denis Borek (CZ), Ben Doyle (IE), Naja Dyrn (DK), Kinza Akhtar (LU), Ben Pepin (LU), Lis Siebenaler (LU), Jona Willekens (BE), Sofia Zein Eldeen (LU), Eva Thorshaug (Chairperson, NO)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with regret EU countries’ heavy dependence on the shipping industry as shown by the 200% increase in the number of shipped goods since 1970, B. Fully aware that the heavy reliance of the shipping industry upon energy-dense fuels entails difficulties for its decarbonisation, C. Bearing in mind that 75% of the shipping industry’s CO2 emissions could be reduced with the employment of more efficient technology, D. Noting with regret that maritime transport is responsible for 4% of EU greenhouse gas emissions annually, E. Noting with deep concern that the predicted increase in EU greenhouse gas emissions is incompatible with the internationally agreed-upon goals under the Paris Agreement, F.

Alarmed by the lack of legally binding and insufficient market measures imposed on the shipping industry resulting in a difficulty to regulate companies’ actions,

G. Deeply disturbed by the frequent use of Flags of Convenience (FOC) by shipping companies, H. Noting with concern the lack of transparency of the emissions data from THETIS MRV creates uncertainty amongst companies in regards to service suppliers’ efficiency, I.

Deeply regretting that pollution from ships is a contributing factor to the acidification and eutrophication of over 60% of coastal ecosystems in EU countries,

Taking into consideration that the degradation of marine ecosystems can potentially damage local

communities and businesses, K. Acknowledges that a “green” transition can have negative consequences for the labour market of the shipping sector such as temporary job loss, L.

Having observed how the shipping industry’s negative environmental consequences create spillover effects for other sectors such as the fishing industry;

Expresses its hope for all European countries to participate in a “green” transition for the shipping industry in which the economic damage is minimal;

Research and development of shipping technology 2.

Urges Member States to further invest in the development of new maritime technology powered by biofuels and liquefied gas;

Encourages shipping companies to minimise fuel burnout through the integration of optimised autopilot settings and more efficient propellers;

Designates the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to strengthen the exchange of knowledge through the provision of training centres for ship owners;

Recommends EMSA ensures the accuracy and reliability of the information collected by THETIS-MRV through the development of an algorithm designed to analyse the provided data;

Political will 6.

Further recommends the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) include the shipping industry in the Paris Agreement at the global stocktake in 2023;

Calls upon the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) to subsidise shipping companies actively taking steps towards reaching goals set by the Paris Agreement;

Requests the European Commission to initiate the amendment of Article 2(b) of Directive 2003/4/EC to include all the data gathered by the THETIS-MRV upon the publication of the companies’ emissions reports;

Calls for Member States to establish agencies focused on research and preservation of local ecosystems damaged by marine pollution;

10. Supports Member States in the implementation of requalification courses for displaced employees previously working in the nonrenewable energy-driven shipping sector;

Marine protection 11. Asks the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to expand existing Marine protected areas (MPA) making them unavailable to commercial shipping; 12. Urges the European Commission to impose economic sanctions on companies responsible for marine pollution.

FACTSHEET

COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM I

Ocean acidification: The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Eutrophication: The process where a body of water becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients which induce excessive growth of plants and algae. Monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV): EU regulation which requires ship owners and operators to annually monitor, report and verify CO2 emissions for vessels larger than 5,000 gross tonnages entering or exiting all EU ports as well as staying at EU ports. THETIS-MRV: Web-based application, serving as an official module within the EU information system on port inspection monitored by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) which includes a mandatory and a voluntary module. Optimised autopilot settings: The use of an automatic system to run a vessel in order to reduce fuel consumption. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA): EU decentralised agency providing technical assistance and support to the European Commission and Member States on the implementation of EU legislation on maritime safety. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO): Specialised agency under the United Nations responsible for the safety and security of shipping, as well as the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution. Its main responsibility is to create a regulatory framework for the industry and ensure that it is universally implemented. Article 2(b) of Directive 2003/4/EC: Directive which grants public access to environmental information in written, visual or electronic form on factors such as substances, energy, noise, radiation or waste. Flags of Convenience (FOC): Term which refers to registering a ship in a sovereign state different from that of the ship’s owner in order to reduce operating costs and avoid the regulations of the owner's country. Global stocktake: Five-yearly review during which the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the collective progress will be assessed. The first global stocktake is set to take place in 2023. Marine Protected Areas (MPA): Protected areas of seas, oceans or large lakes where human activity is restricted for the purpose of conservation of natural and cultural resources.

Directorate-General for Transport and Mobility (DG MOVE): Commission department responsible for EU policy on mobility and transport.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS I

Money equals power?: Bearing in mind that despite the existing legal framework regulating

competition on the internal market, the abusive practices of some companies are still present. What can the EU do to ensure the largest corporations active on the internal market abide by the law? Submitted by: Lazar Dejanović (RS), Déborah Gross (FR), Ernest Guisset (LU), Anna Hoogeveen (NL), Evita Maes (BE), Nelleke Peutz(NL), Beatričė Vileikytė (LT), Dwight Winckel (LU), Chenyan Yang (LU) , Dominika Wójcik (PL)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising that illegal proceedings, such as restrictive practices and abuse of dominant position, are prohibited under Articles 101 and 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) respectively, B. Deeply concerned that profit gained from abuse of dominance or restrictive practices exceeds the potential losses caused by potential fines due to the difficulty of discovering the illegal actions, C. Noting with regret that the antitrust laws contained in Articles 101 and 102 of the TFEU allow numerous exceptions, providing the opportunity for the monopoly-seeking corporations to abuse their dominant position without any legal consequences, D. Deeply disturbed by the findings of the research conducted by the Centre for European Economic Research on the effectiveness of the investigation procedure regarding cartels and competences provided to the Commission by the existing legal framework, E. Acknowledging that oligopolies and monopoly-seeking corporations hinder development, research and innovation by creating an anti-competitive environment, F.

Deeply concerned by the fact that startups are often bought out by market leaders which results in limited competition,

G. Deplores the failure of the European Commission to conduct objective investigations under the Directive 2016/1164 (Anti Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD)),

H. Further deplores the European Commission’s deficiency in ascertaining whether the Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) physically exists in terms of premises, staff and equipment, I.

Noticing that the measures included in the ATAD fails to contain numerous of offshore tax loopholes, resulting in companies not paying taxes at all or paying double taxes;

Market dominance and cartels 1.

Urges the European Commission to establish a separate European Competition Authority in order to accelerate the investigation of the illegal proceedings;

Encourages the European Commission to increase the resources dedicated to the intelligence that collects data regarding illegal practices present on the single market;

Calls upon the National Competition Authorities to improve their investigation procedures that determine whether a Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) conducts genuine economic activity or not;

Directs the European Commission to initiate the amendment of the Article 101 (3) TFEU by excluding the possibility for exceptions;

Calls upon the European Commission to initiate the amendment of the Regulation 1/2003 by extending its competences regarding cartel investigation by asserting the right to conduct compulsory interviews with employees and the right to retain original documents;

Supporting entrepreneurship 6.

Recommends the European Commission to financially support startups to cover the patenting costs;

Invites the European Commission to create an independent expert group that will provide new European entrepreneurs with business and legal advice;

Taxation 8.

Urges the European Commission to harmonise a tax-range within which the tax rates in the Member States can vary;

Encourages the European Commission to initiate a proposal for a Regulation resolving cases of potential double-taxation by: a. subjecting company’s taxation to the Member State of initial establishment, b. requiring the company to annually submit tax declarations to the European Commission.

FACTSHEET

COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS I

Monopoly: A market structure in which there is only one firm producing the product, therefore, it dictates the prices of the particular good. Oligopoly: A market structure in which a few firms dominate the industry. Article 101 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU): It prohibits cartels and other practices that could disrupt free competition on the single market. Article 102 TFEU: Is aimed at preventing undertakings who hold a dominant position on the market from abusing it. Resident company: Entity treated by the jurisdiction, in which it is registered or conducts its business, as a resident for exchange control and/or tax purposes. Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD): It aims at laying down rules against tax avoidance practises that directly affect the functioning of the single market. Controlled foreign company (CFC): It is a corporate entity that is registered and conducts business in a different jurisdiction or country than the residency of the controlling owners. Restrictive practices: Illegal practices, including agreements between undertakings, decisions of

associations of undertakings or concerted practices, performed by the companies. They can take shape of directly or indirectly fixing purchase or selling prices or any other trading conditions, limiting or controlling production, markets, technical development, or investment, sharing markets or sources of supply. National Competition Authorities: competition law regulators in the Member States. Regulation 1/2003: Regulation on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 101 and 102 of the TFEU.

Double-taxation: income taxes paid twice on the same source of earned income.

SCHENGEN 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP LUXEMBOURG

Domaine Henri Ruppert CENTRE DE FORMATION ET DE SEMINAIRES REMICH