Lahti 2016 - Resolution Booklet

LAHTI 2016 Through Clean Environment to Social Responsibility National Session of EYP Finland

Resolution Booklet Lahti, Finland 8th - 11th January 2016

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

Programme of the General Assembly 07:45 08:00 09:15 09:30 10:00 10:45 11:30 12:15 13:00 13:45 14:30 15:15 15:45 16:30 17:15

Opening of the General Assembly Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs II Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs Coffee break Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on International Trade Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy II Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs Lunch break Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Transport and Tourism Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs I Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy I Coffee break Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Closing Ceremony

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

Procedure of the General Assembly General rules The wish to speak is indicated by raising the Committee placard. Each committee may use only one Committee placard.

The authority of the Board is absolute.

Procedure and time settings 1. Presenting of the Motion for a Resolution 2. Presenting of the Friendly Amendments 3. Reading of the operative clauses 4. Three minutes to defend the Motion for a Resolution 5. Three minutes to attack the Motion for a Resolution 6. One minute to respond to the Attack Speech 7. General debate 8. Three minutes to sum up the debate 9. Voting procedure 10. Announcing the votes Friendly Amendment A last-minute modification to the Motion for a Resolution by the Proposing Committee. Amendments are to be handed in to the Board at least two Resolutions before the Resolution in question, or as soon as possible for the first Resolutions of the General Assembly.

Point of Personal Privilege Request for a Delegate to repeat a point that was inaudible. Failure to understand the language being spoken does not make for a Point of Personal Privilege.

Direct Response Once per debate, each Committee may use the Direct Response sign. Should a Delegate raise the sign during the open debate, he/she will immediately be recognised by the Board and given the floor as soon as the point being made is concluded. A Direct Response can only be used to refer to and discuss the point made directly beforehand. If two or more Direct Responses are requested at once, the Board

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

will decide which Committee to recognise. In this case, the second Direct Response shall only be held if it can be referred to the first Direct Response, so on and so forth.

Point of Order These can be raised by the Chairperson if a Delegate feels the Board have not properly followed parliamentary procedure. Ultimately, the authority of the Board is absolute.

Defence Speech One member of the Proposing Committee delivers the Defence Speech from the podium. It is used to explain the rationale of the overall lines of the Resolution and convince the Plenary that the Resolution is worthy of being adopted. This speech can last a maximum of three minutes.

Attack Speech An individual Delegate from a Committee other than that proposing the Resolution at hand delivers an Attack Speech from the podium. It reflects an individual opinion and is used to point out the flaws of the approach taken by the Proposing Committee and should propose alternative solutions. This speech can last a maximum of three minutes.

Summation Speech One or two members of the Proposing Committee deliver the Summation Speech from the podium; the microphone can only be passed once. It is used to summarise the debate, respond to main, selected criticism and to once more explain why the chosen approach is the most sensible. This speech can last a maximum of three minutes.

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON E MPLOYMENT AND S OCIAL A FFAIRS II

Staggering youth unemployment rates in stagnating European countries: What should be done to support European youngsters gaining a foothold in an increasingly competitive labour market?

Submitted by:

Megija Anna Cekule (LV), Csenge Forrai (Deutsche Schule Helsinki), Ninni Issakainen (Jyväskylän lyseon lukio), Minerva Juhola (Lahden yhteiskoulun lukio), Elina Jylhä (Tampereen lyseon lukio), Kasperi Koponen (Kannaksen lukio), Mirka Nieminen (Joensuun lyseon lukio), Julia Nikiforova (Turun normaalikoulun lukio), Teresa Njuguna (Kempeleen lukio), Benjamin Nuutinen (Lohjan yhteislyseon lukio), Malin Nyberg (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Paula Närvänen (Turun klassillinen lukio), Tom Wolfskämpf (Chairperson, DE)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the fact that the average youth unemployment rate is more than twice as high as the adult unemployment rate in stagnating European economies such as Greece and Spain, B. Keeping in mind that internships ease the way into long-term employment, C. Concerned by the fact that internships can seem unappealing to potential interns because of their unpredictability regarding quality of the internship and the possibility of exploitation, D. Keeping in mind that two out of every ten young Europeans want to start their own business while nine out of ten entrepreneurship attempts fail within the first three years, E. Noting with deep concern the lack of practical economic studies, particularly at secondary school level, F. Bearing in mind the insufficient financial support from Member States for entrepreneurship, G. Acknowledging with concern the lack of careers advice provided to young Europeans, particularly in regard to employment sectors with a notable shortage of trained professionals available, H. Contemplating the lack of awareness about initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee1 across the Member States;

“The Youth Guarantee is a new approach to tackling youth unemployment which ensures that all young people under 25 – whether registered with employment services or not – get a good-quality, concrete offer within 4 months of them leaving formal education or becoming unemployed.” from http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1079 1

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

1. Suggests the establishment of a website which includes general information about internships, intern rights and availability of internships provided by trusted employers within the EU; 2. Directs Member States to implement adequate labour laws which effectively prevent the exploitation of interns; 3. Recommends the provision of subsidies for SMEs to provide a wage and practical training for interns as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)2; 4. Encourages Member States to provide more accessible guidelines for people planning to start a business; 5. Proposes the establishment of an EU-wide organisation which allocates funds to start-up entrepreneurs and provides academical and practical education to adolescents interested in entrepreneurship in order to lower the entrepreneurship failure rate; 6. Encourages more cooperation between companies and education establishments to facilitate practical business workshops and seminars; 7. Requests the European Commission (EC) to establish a fund from which start-ups can apply for compensation in order to organise seminars on entrepreneurship, allowing adolescents to gain business contacts and transferrable skills; 8. Urges for further improvement of informative platforms regarding professions and areas of employment currently in demand in the EU; 9. Asks the EC to create an online platform detailing all the necessary information about the Youth Guarantee and its distinctive implementations in different Member States.

The ERDF supports Innovation and research, the digital agenda, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the the low-carbon economy.

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Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON C ONSTITUTIONAL A FFAIRS

From stalemate to cooperation: the accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU repeatedly stalling since their initiation in 1999, what should the future of EU - Turkey relations look like?

Submitted by:

Miguel Adan-Marquez (European School of Helsinki), Paula Fritze (Deutsche Schule Helsinki), David Israel (CH), Osmo Jarvi (Turun normaalikoulun lukio), Pietari Kokko (Hyvinkään yhteiskoulun lukio), Katariina Kokkonen (Joensuun lyseon lukio), Kastanja Laurikko (Puolalanmäen lukio), Satu Meronen (Sammon keskuslukio), Elsa Mäki (Turun klassillinen lukio), Joona Mäkinen (Kuopion lyseon lukio), Aleksi Nikkanen (Sammon keskuslukio), Veeti Niskanen (Kempeleen lukio), Salla Räntilä (Lahden yhteiskoulun lukio), Tuukka Rytkönen (Luostarivuoren lukio), Déjà Williams-Lappi (Ressun lukio), Saramaria Kalkku (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Emphasising that the Turkish ruling political party, AK, is affiliated with the extremist party in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, casting doubts on Turkey’s potential membership, B. Acknowledging that Turkey is a fast growing economy, C. Noting that there are several differences between the EU and Turkey that have caused tension in the negotiations, D. Taking into account that Member States disagree over Turkey’s membership as Germany and United Kingdom are in favour whereas Austria, Cyprus and France hold strong opposition, E. Realising that the Turkish government has resorted to violence when losing electoral support, with the aim to gain greater power in the internal politics of Turkey, F. Deeply alarmed by the fact that the Turkish legal system is currently not in accordance with the EU regulations due to the lack of judicial independence in politically motivated prosecutions, G. Deeply concerned of the prosecution of protesters and journalists by the Turkish government that has resulted in violations of the freedom of speech and press, H. Observing wide-spread structural corruption throughout the Turkish political system, I.

Reminding the tension between the Cypriot and Turkish governments, due to the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus,

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

J.

Recognizing that Turkish accession to the EU would result in a significant Turkish representation in the EU Institutions and therefore change the division of power,

K. Reminding that Turkey cannot become a Member State unless it fulfils all of the accession requirements including the 35 EU Chapters and the Copenhagen criteria,

L. Noticing the issue regarding Turkey’s wrongful treatment of women and minorities, M. Acknowledging that Turkey has been in an armed conflict with Kurdish insurgent groups who demand the establishment of the autonomous Kurdish region, N. Contemplating that the overwhelming flow of refugees into Turkey has given it an opportunity to revive the accession talks with the EU, O. Convinced that as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), Turkey has long contributed to the stability and security within the Eastern Mediterranean, having the potential to act in a similar manner for the European Union as a Member State;

1. Recommends Turkey to reduce its support for radical political parties in Middle Eastern countries; 2. Approves the opportunity to upgrade the Customs Union with Turkey to include agriculture, services and public procurement, while reassuring that further merging of the markets efficiently does not necessarily implicate an adhesion to the European Union; 3. Supports cross-cultural interaction between the Islamic and Christian cultures by enhancing educational exchange programs between Turkey and Member States; 4. Strongly urges Turkey to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria if it wishes to become a Member State; 5. Expresses its appreciation and calling upon further progress for the measures to tackle corruption through Turkey’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan; 6. Urges the Turkish authorities to terminate the occupation of Northern Cyprus; 7. Further requests the Cypriot government to hold a referendum in Northern Cyprus, monitored by the EU to define the status of the area after the Turkish withdrawal; 8. Suggests Member States not to perceive Turkey as a danger to European values once it fulfils all the accession criteria within the 35 EU Chapters; 9. Welcomes Turkey’s efforts to meet the accession requirements by: a)

continuing to provide screening and progress reports for Member States to keep track of the process,

b)

offering Turkey knowledge sharing and financial support in areas of where social, economic and political reforms are taking place;

10. Strongly affirms that Turkey needs to fully meet the EU criteria for rightful treatment of minorities and women before being considered eligible for the EU membership; 11. Instructs Turkey to solve the disputes with Kurdish people through diplomatic means instead of resorting to violence;

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

12. Encourages the EU, Member States and Turkey to continue holding diplomatic conferences in order to enable Turkey to react to the objections raised by Member States currently opposed to the Turkish membership; 13. Urges the Commission and Turkey to agree on limiting the refugee influx to the EU area in exchange of the EU’s support with the Turkish efforts to meet the accession criteria; 14. Calls upon Turkey to increase the sharing of its intelligence with Member States to combat terrorism and other global threats.

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON I NTERNATIONAL T RADE

Value versus values: How can the EU ensure that materials and products imported to Europe are in line with European values and sustainability standards?

Submitted by:

Sarah Christina Bliss (Ressun lukio), Pierre Canet (CH), Kairan Fernandes (Turun normaalikoulun lukio), Elias Id (Kempeleen lukio), Lilja Kanerva (Tampereen yhteiskoulun lukio), Daniela Kietz (Mattlidens gymnasium), Josef Khomyak (European School of Helsinki), Sonja Marjanen (Hyvinkään yhteiskoulun lukio), Ronja Rinne (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Anna Sjöblom (Luostarivuoren lukio), Anita Sunila (Lahden yhteiskoulun lukio), Markus Tiula (Helsingin suomalaisen yhteiskoulun lukio), Nea Tuovinen (Kuopion lyseon lukio), Teresa Artjoki (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Acknowledging the influence of foreign relations on the international trade of the EU, B. Bearing in mind the corporate tradition of outsourcing production to low cost countries with lower labour safety standards, C. Noting the common practice of outsourcing amongst European companies which are vital to economic growth, D. Recognising the lack of necessary capital investments and infrastructure in environmentally sustainable manufacturing of the EU’s trading partners that are less economically developed countries (LEDCs), E. Deeply concerned by the trade barriers on sustainably produced everyday consumer goods, F. Concerned by the weak regulations on non-financial reporting1 consequently resulting in the lack of commitment to corporate social responsibility2, G. Deeply regretting the negative effect of agricultural subsidies to European producers on the profitability of sustainable agricultural production in LEDCs, H. Alarmed by the lack of transparency of previous international trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, resulting in induced privatisation and deregulation of essential goods,

1 2

Reporting concearning a company’s positions and practices, including environmental matters and labour standards.

Responsibility over the environmental and social impact of a company’s practices.

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

I.

Taking into account the effect of economic incentives in supply and demand on the international market,

J.

Realising the potential in cooperation between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and labour unions with LEDCs to improve their labour safety such as the Bangladesh Accord3,

K. Fully aware of the limitations of EU legislation beyond its borders; 1. Requests European companies to make the necessary capital investments into their outsourced production plants analogous in their environmental standards to those within the EU; 2. Calls upon the European Commission (EC) to comprehensively define standards of sustainable production for both primary and manufactured goods and recommends import tariff reductions for those defined accordingly; 3. Appeals to the EC to review, specify and reinstate the Non-Financial Reporting Directive4; 4. Instructs NGOs and European companies to cooperate in the technical and practical implementation of corporate social responsibility; 5. Calls upon the EC to review the impact of product specific agricultural subsidies on the market competitiveness of producers in LEDCs; 6. Urges for transparency from all partied involved in future trade negotiations regarding the EU; 7. Encourages the creation of an EU-wide product labelling system in accordance to the environmental and social responsibility; 8. Welcomes a complementary awareness campaign on European companies not abiding to aforementioned values; 9. Invites the EC to initiate cooperation with strategic countries in the uptake of consumer safety tools such as Rapex5.

Legally binding accord on fire and building safety in Bangladesh between global brands and trade unions.

Directive requiring companies to disclose non-financial data on ie. environmental and social issues. The directive was weakened in its effect by the European Parliament.

5 Rapex is a rapid alert system that facilitates the exchange of information on products between Member States and the European Commission on measures taken to prevent or restrict the retail of goods posing risks to consumers.

3 4

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON I NDUSTRY , R ESEARCH AND E NERGY II

Moving towards a single European energy market: What further steps should the EU take to improve Member States’ access to affordable and secure energy supplies?

Submitted by:

Susanna Ailanto (Kaarinan lukio), Ada Ala-Härkönen (Etelä-Tapiolan lukio), Tuomas Alm (Turun normaalikoulun lukio), Solène Hababou (CH), Miina Heikkinen (Helsingin suomalaisen yhteiskoulun lukio), Paulus Inkeroinen (Kannaksen lukio), Markus Lensment (EE), Daniel Okas (Lahden yhteiskoulun lukio), Samir Pietarinen (Tampereen lyseon lukio), Renata Rouvinen (European School of Helsinki), Rene Valta (Kuopion lyseon lukio), Juuli Salonen (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Observing the lack of adequate energy infrastructure required to connect European countries into a single energy market, B. Taking into account that several Member States are highly dependent on imported energy sources from a limited number of external suppliers to the EU leading to high costs and severe risks of supply distributions, C. Deeply convinced that establishing an EU-wide energy policy is not possible without further cooperation between the countries included in the existing regional energy markets, D. Noting with deep concern that permissions for energy projects and infrastructure such as power plants are difficult to acquire E. Profoundly concerned by high greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of fossil fuels, F. Aware of the unpredictable fluctuations in production levels of many renewable energy sources, G. Alarmed by the significant wastage of energy in households in the EU; 1. Calls upon the European Commission to adopt a high priority strategy addressing the need to establish a single European energy market; 2. Proposes that an agreement between the European regions is established in order to integrate the seven already existing regional energy markets into a single market; 3. Urges Member States to dedicate a percentage of their energy taxes towards research and development in clean energy and clean energy technologies;

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

4. Further urges Member States to streamline the process of permission granting powers for new power plants and energy infrastructure by reforming current regulations; 5. Endorses increasing environmentally friendly energy sources in cooperation with the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI)1 in order to achieve the 2030 goals2; 6. Welcomes the use of smart data services such as Opower3 in order to reduce energy usage of consumers, such as providing the estimation of householder’s energy usage in comparison to the area average to service users; 7. Invites further research into the possible implementation of European Super Grid4 project should the European internal energy market be merged.

The EFSI aims to overcome the current investment gap in the European Union (EU) by mobilising private financing for strategic investments which the market cannot finance alone.

2 2030 Framework for climate and energy is a set of EU-wide targets and policy objectives for the period between 2020 and 2030. It aims to a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 and at least a 27% share of renewable energy consumption.

3 Opower is a company in USA that combines a cloud-based platform, big data, and behavioral science to help utilities around the world reduce energy consumption. (https://opower.com/) 4 The European Super Grid is a possible future super grid that would ultimately interconnect the various European countries and the regions around Europe's borders.

1

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON F OREIGN A FFAIRS

Conflict management measured: With numerous states engaged in military activities in the territory of Syria, which measures should the EU take to support the stability in the region?

Submitted by:

Amir Abdelamir (Turun klassillinen lukio), Iida Ahvo (Lahden yhteiskoulun lukio), Éléonore Bleeker (CH), Paula Heikonen (Puolalanmäen lukio), Anni Luoto (F.E. Sillanpään lukio), Meiju Marttila (Tampereen lyseon lukio), Siina Matihaldi (Tampereen yhteiskoulun lukio), Eva Maria Õunapuu (EE), Okeme Oziwo (Mattlidens Gymnasium), Liam Wihuri Redmond (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Isabella Servanto (Katedralskolan i Åbo), Eemeli Vapamaa (Luostarivuoren lukio), Aava Vuojärvi (European School of Helsinki), Sara Hoxhaj (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Profoundly alarmed by: i)

the current state of the education and health care systems in the Middle East,

ii)

the increasing amount of fleeing educated civilians,

iii) the decreasing future generations’ prospects of a good life, B. Noting with deep concern that due to the ongoing civil war in Syria human rights are continuously violated leading to a flow of refugees into the neighbouring countries, C. Alarmed by the lack of sufficient impartial information provided by the media on the living circumstances of the Syrian population, D. Realising the civil war has escalated into a proxy war with many parties carrying different interests being involved in the conflict, E. Recognising the importance of the European Union’s (EU) negotiating position with other countries involved in the conflict such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and the USA, F. Regretting that humanitarian aid is not used to its full potential due to the political instability and substandard infrastructure in the region caused by the ongoing armed conflict, G. Emphasising that the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad and its opposition are both unwilling to cooperate in order to reach a solution on a national level,

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

H. Having observed that civilians are suffering due to the lack of cooperation and communication with the Islamic State (IS), I.

Emphasising that the civilians are the priority while keeping in mind the numerous ethical and religious minorities,

J.

Fully aware that the corruption within al-Assad’s reign is fostering conflict,

K. Noting with concern that the increasing flow of Syrian refugees into the Levant region and the poor conditions in the refugee camps are factors in the increased instability; 1. Endorses European organisations located in refugee camps to utilise Syrian professionals such as teachers and medical workers to strengthen the education and healthcare systems in the Middle East; 2. Proposes that the EU encourages peace negotiations and the establishment of an international treaty1 pledging the non-involvement of signatories in Syria’s domestic political affairs; 3. Calls upon non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to analyse and increase the efficiency of the transportation systems and the distribution of humanitarian aid in the conflict region; 4. Urges the international media to be more transparent when covering local Syrian news, by reviewing the correspondents’ experiences accurately; 5. Encourages the initiation of negotiations seeking peace on a national level between the numerous ethical and religious minorities; 6. Supports the beginning of a political transition into a sustainable democratic state by firstly inviting all parties involved in the civil war to call a cease fire; 7. Calls upon the international community to increase humanitarian and financial aid to the overloaded refugee camps in the Middle East.

1

The treaty is exclusively only to the active parties in the conflict area.

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON T RANSPORT AND T OURISM

Renewable energy in transport: Keeping the balance between cost-effectiveness and environmental impact, how should the EU increase the share of renewable resources in transport to reach its 10% target?

Submitted by:

Camille Bleeker (CH), Sofia Grünwald (Ekenäs gymnasium), Eetu Hyvönen (Kuopion lyseon lukio), Vilma Kallio (Vaasan lyseon lukio), Saara Kiiskinen (Kannaksen lukio), Sofia Laaksonen (Kauniaisten lukio), Ida Lindqvist (Tampereen lyseon lukio), Merike Mauring (Lahden yhteiskoulun lukio), Blue Noah Pfaff (ES), Telma Peura (EteläTapiolan lukio), Anette Turunen (Tampereen yhteiskoulun lukio), Noora Westermarck (Ressun lukio), Linda Turpeinen (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Aware of Member States’ regional and social differences create varying potential to reach the targets set by the National Action Plans1, B. Deeply alarmed that over 96% of the transport sector’s total energy supply originates from petroleum products2, C. Emphasising the existing infrastructure for cooperation mechanisms3 is incapable to handle renewable resources therefore leaving the Member States without a sufficient support system for transferring those, D. Expresses its concern for the lack of awareness regarding clean alternatives in transport, E. Deploring that private vehicles emit two thirds of Europe’s road transportation related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, F. Further recalling that citizens within the periphery have to rely on private vehicles due to the lack of sufficient transportation infrastructure in rural communities, G. Noting with regret that non-renewable energy sources are extensively subsidised therefore making cleaner alternatives less competitive,

EU 2020 targets are divided into country-specific suggestions, which vary depending on Member States’ capability to introduce renewables to transport.

2 European Commission – Statistical Pocketbook 2010 http://ec.europa.eu/transport/strategies/facts-and-figures/allthemes/index_en.htm 3 Mechanisms between Member States, which provide a mean to share and transfer renewable energy resources to meet the 2020 targets.

1

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

H. Recognising that some Member States require extended deadlines for the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive4; 1. Expresses its appreciation over the development towards Europe’s internal energy market in spreading affordable and diversified clean alternatives for transportation; 2. Urges the European Commission to cut back on fossil fuel subsidisation and rather invest in research and development of renewable fuel resources; 3. Seeks cooperation with organisations such as the European Biofuels Technology Platform5 to draw attention to clean transportation options through media campaigns; 4. Requests the European Commission to direct financial aid to support electricity grids and renewable energy sharing in order to allow for: a)

statistical transfers,

b)

joint projects between Member States;

5. Supports the TEN-T –proposal6 by the European Commission to make commuting more widespread form of transportation; 6. Draws attention to carpooling systems such as BlaBlaCar7 and hopes for Member States to support the formation of similar projects; 7. Encourages Member States to introduce competition to national rail networks in order to improve the cost-effectiveness of transportation by trains.

Renewable Energy Directive (RED) specifies that 20% of total gross energy consumption in 2020 should come from renewable resources, of which 10% is in the transport sector.

5 European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP) is a non-governmental organisation that aims to develop sustainable distribution of biofuels in Europe.

6 European Commission’s project to ensure that by 2050, majority of EU citizens and businesses will be less than 30 minutes travel from a core network combining different modes of transport.

7 BlaBlaCar is an internet platform on which users may demand or supply suitable carpool –rides to one’s desired destination.

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Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON E MPLOYMENT AND S OCIAL A FFAIRS I

Europe in search of jobs: How can the EU foster a stronger start up culture to support a new wave of entrepreneurship and stimulate economic growth in Europe?

Submitted by:

Anais Descoutures (European School of Helsinki), Margarida Frango (Deutsche Schule Helsinki), Teemu Hulkko (Lahden yhteiskoulun lukio), Elias Khabbal (Kuopion lyseon lukio), Sara Ketovuori (Turun normaalikoulun lukio), Eemeli Laine (Hyvinkään yhteiskoulun lukio), Henri Lehtonen (Sammon keskuslukio), Lilian Luo (Ressun lukio), Leevi Mäkikalli (Luostarivuoren lukio), Daniel Niklander (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Ella Nyström (Mattlidens gymnasium), Maria Pokkinen (Lohjan yhteislyseon lukio), Robin Bucher (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Aware that European education does not provide enough information on entrepreneurship, this causing uncertainty for potential entrepreneurs starting up new businesses, B. Alarmed by the existing barriers on digital trade within Member States, C. Recognising that a lack of support by the EU and its Member Stated discourages nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) from organising start-up events, hindering networking and promotion between investors and entrepreneurs, D. Observing that governments do not promote local entrepreneurship, causing small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) to fail at early stages, E. Deeply concerned by the unwillingness of banks to provide loans and investments to start-up companies due to the instability caused by the economic crisis, F. Fully alarmed by the disparities in taxation between Member Stated that lead to difficulties with the starting-up and management of businesses, G. Emphasising that the different legislations in Member States result in: i)

an unfair advantage towards companies based in Member States with less strict legislation regarding entrepreneurship,

ii)

difficult and time consuming procedures for entrepreneurs wanting to start new businesses,

H. Noting with deep regret the power and influence larger companies have in markets resulting in SMEs facing greater challenge to thrive and establish themselves,

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

I.

Noting with deep concern the lack of knowledge by the general public on alternative sources on investment;

1. Suggests all Member States improve the general public’s financial knowledge by: a)

establishing more business oriented schools,

b)

increasing the number of financial literacy related courses in school curricula in order to increase the general knowledge level regarding entrepreneurship;

2. Calls upon the EU to assess the Digital Single Market1 policy and modify them to allow for a free movement of goods and services in the digital economy; 3. Recommends the European Commission to support and collaborate with NGOs to organise more start-up events enabling entrepreneurs and investors to network; 4. Further invites the Member States to focus on comparative advantages that could: a)

increase economic growth experienced by that Member State,

b)

further develop the likeliness of successful entrepreneurship;

5. Instructs the European Commission to create a database for entrepreneurs to discover and network with investors; 6. Encourages the promotion of alternative ways to fund start-ups, such as crowdfunding and angel investors2; 7. Calls for the European Commission to encourage the Member States to alleviate heavy taxation in entrepreneurship; 8. Asks the EU to simplify and fasten the legal procedure on company start-up by encouraging Member States to: a)

reform legislations to speed up the process of gaining legal approval of a company,

b)

separating legal procedures into stages that go along with the business management and development in order to make it less difficult;

9. Urges Member States to strengthen and secure the SMEs role in the competitive market by regulative policies aiming to protect SMEs.

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Harmonised European market without barriers hindering free movement of goods and services online.

An affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for debt or equity.

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON I NDUSTRY , R ESEARCH AND E NERGY I

Home made energy: What role should decentralised energy production play in order to contribute to sustainable, reliable and affordable energy supplies in the future?

Submitted by:

Borbala Barna (European School of Helsinki), Valter Enlund (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Jarna Heikkinen (Sammon keskuslukio), Amanda Hertzberg (Mattlidens gymnasium), Teemu Kivinen (Turun klassillinen lukio), Veera Koukka (Savonlinnan Taidelukio), Roosa Laakso (Hyvinkään yhteiskoulun lukio), Susanne Lehti (Kaarinan lukio), Aarne Nykänen (Etelä-Tapiolan lukio), Yen Phan (Kaarinan lukio), Rita Ristimäki (Ressun lukio), Tuusa Eriksson (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with deep concern that sustainable energy alternatives including decentralised power production require substantial start-up capital and short-term investments, making them less attractive in the eyes of producers, B. Recognising the lack of institutions promoting decentralised energy production (DEP), C. Alarmed by the fact that the EU imports 53% of its energy1, resulting in compromised energy security, D. Stressing that long distance transportation of energy results in high wastage, E. Keeping in mind that due to reduced transportation costs, DEP from renewable energy sources is 30% more cost-effective than other alternatives2, F. Conscious of the fact that 40% of the total energy of the EU is used by buildings3 out of which 80% is consumed by heating4, G. Seriously concerned by the lack of knowledge amongst consumers regarding alternative ways to produce energy, H. Realising the incompatibility of current infrastructure with DEP as exemplified by the lack of easy access to energy grids due to the bundling of energy generation and transmission,

https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/energy.pdf https://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/print.cfm?file=/comm/research/energy/nn/nn_rt/nn_rt_dg/article_1159_en.htm 3 https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/buildings 4 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201106/20110629ATT22897/20110629ATT22897EN.pdf 1 2

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

I.

Observing the lack of cohesion between the policies of Member States regarding incentivisation and taxation of different energy forms;

1. Encourages the provision of tax benefits and start-up assistance for companies using DEP in order to make the concept more economically attractive; 2. Calls upon actors such as universities, private companies and Member State governments to cooperate in order to trial DEP and gradually establish it as a primary source of energy; 3. Seeks to establish an institution with economic, political and scientific representatives to promote DEP through organising and attending conferences; 4. Proposes the foundation of an EU programme aimed at raising awareness and educating citizens about the economic and environmental benefits of micro-generation5 through: a)

media campaigns,

b)

trainings,

c)

events;

5. Encourages Member States to offer grants to companies providing technology for microgeneration; 6. Supports further implementation of the Third Energy Package6 into the legislation of Member States; 7. Urges the European Commission to set pan-European targets for: a)

the percentage of DEP in all energy production,

b)

the reduction of energy wastage during transportation;

8. Recommends the gradual increase of tariffs on imported fossil fuels in order to decrease the EU’s dependency on energy imports; 9. Welcomes open discussion between Member States regarding the harmonisation of national incentive schemes for DEP.

Micro-generation is the small-scale generation of heat and electric power by individuals, small businesses and communities to meet their own needs.

6 This package of EU policy consists of directives 2009/73/EC, 2009/72/EC and regulations 714/2009/EC, 715/2009/EC. It aims to separate energy generation from transmission, and promote cross-border cooperation.

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Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON A GRICULTURE AND R URAL D EVELOPMENT

Harvesting a better Europe: With recent reforms aiming to make agriculture in the EU more competitive and sustainable, how should the EU support farmers in the light of increasing global competition?

Submitted by:

Arttu Humalajoki (Kannaksen lukio), Oona Huttunen (Jyväskylän lyseon lukio), Iina Karsikas (Lohjan yhteislyseon lukio), Anastasia Masalova (EE), Mimmi Mertaniemi (Tampereen yhteiskoulun lukio), Roosa Muukkonen (Savonlinnan Taidelukio), Essi Pajari (Etelä-Tapiolan lukio), Vera Saavalainen (Mattlidens gymnasium), Aapo Tanskanen (Kuopion lyseon lukio), Julia Westerholm (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Sara Yrjönmäki (Kallion lukio), Rebecca Kiiski (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Taking into account that the United Nations estimates that an increase of 70% is required in food production to sustain the world’s projected population in 20501, B. Seeking to find a balance between providing enough agricultural goods to meet the demand of the growing population whilst simultaneously safeguarding the use of natural resources, C. Aware of the financial dependence of farmers on the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy’s (CAP) income support and market intervention due to price fluctuation, D. Observing the fact that small and large farms receive the same amount of subsidies per hectare despite large farms often being less dependent on financial aid, E. Pointing out the CAP’s inability to recognise farms’ individual circumstances, such as the loss of crops or an extreme drop in regional price, F. Alarmed by the future of the agricultural profession due to: i)

prejudice and disinterest amongst young people,

ii)

the aging of the farmer community,

G. Noting with deep concern the negative impact of the agricultural industry and the consumption of livestock on the environment, H. Recognising the important role of trade barriers in helping producers within the EU compete against external importers;

1

United Nations report, 2013

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

1. Encourages the EU to increase future food production through funding research and development in areas such as: a)

agricultural technology,

b)

new alternative food sources, such as mariculture and insect farming;

2. Requests the gradual reduction of direct payments2 paid per hectare as the size of the farm increases to improve the competitiveness of small farms; 3. Instructs the establishment of a fund within the CAP budget, from which farmers can apply for a single additional payment to assist them in the case of unexpected circumstances; 4. Calls upon the EU to create a farm internship programme provided financially in a co-operation between farmers and the EU, encouraging young people to enter the agricultural sector; 5. Proposes a future revision of the CAP’s recent ‘greening’3 programme to include an assessment evaluating the long-term effects imposed on the environment; 6. Invites the EU to provide financial incentives such as tax reliefs to plant-based food products as well as organic producers in order to encourage more environmentally friendly lifestyle to consumers.

Paid by hectare, European farmers receive financial support through the CAP in the form of direct payments to help them get a basic income.

3 The ‘greening’ of subsidies in the 2013 reform requires farmers to meet certain environmental requirements to receive full subsidies.

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Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY THE

C OMMITTEE ON E NVIRONMENT , P UBLIC H EALTH AND F OOD S AFETY

Renewable materials and green consumer choices: How can the consumers be encouraged to shift towards more sustainable choices both in their private and professional lives?

Submitted by:

Juulia Jääskeläinen (Kuopion lyseon lukio), Rebecca Kirk (UK), Emilia Koivisto (Deutsche Schule Helsinki), Liina Lohikoski (Savonlinnan Taidelukio), Anni Niemelä (Jyväskylän lyseon lukio), Josefina Nogina (Lahden yhteiskoulun lukio), Eeva Pitkäinen (Sammon keskuslukio), Lassi Savolainen (Porin suomalaisen yhteislyseon lukio), Eevi Siniketo (Sammon keskuslukio), Iida Taskila (Kempeleen lukio), Elias Vaara (Helsingin suomalaisen yhteiskoulun lukio), Ville Valli (Vaasan lyseon lukio), Tommy Mallen (Chairperson, IE)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with concern that: i)

54% have demonstrated that they would buy more green items if they were not as costly1,

ii)

82% of consumers are prepared to give up the environmental or sustainable features of products for the sake of lower prices2,

iii) 58% of Europeans believe that companies pretend to be green in order to charge higher prices3, B. Draws attention to the significance of consumer decisions in tackling unsustainable resource usage in the European Union (EU) through the following statistics: i)

households consume one third of energy use4,

ii)

two thirds of municipal waste is produced by households5,

C. Fully aware that changing consumer habits can be challenging due to the tendency of people not wanting to leave their current familiar and customary practises,

Find the Green in Today’s Shoppers, Deloitte, 2009 Sustainability for the Next Generation, Lenovo, 2010 3 Consumers Want to Make Green Choices, The Guardian, 2009 4 Consumption of Energy, Europa, 2015 5 Consumption of Energy, Europa, 2015 1 2

Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

D. Recognising that consumers rarely have easy access to comprehensive environmental information about products with which to draw a comparison to others, E. Deeply concerned that the vast majority of businesses are modelled to function as part of a linear economy, F. Contemplating the feeling of individual consumers that their sustainable actions cannot have an impact considering the global scale of climate change issues, G. Alarmed by the fact that food wastage is reaching excessive levels in the EU, of which 42% is contributed by households6;

1. Has resolved to lower import tariffs on sustainably produced goods entering the EU; 2. Proclaims the creation of the European Sustainability Standards Agency (ESSA) to monitor the standard of sustainability in the production of imported goods and determine whether they meet required sustainability levels; 3. Urges Member States to include information about green technology, sustainability and the significance of consumer choices in their school curricula; 4. Calls for the further allocation of funding to the EU Eco-Label7 which will: a)

itself be re-designed and promoted to ensure that it is more widely recognised, valued and trusted by consumers,

b)

be employed to remind Member States as to what constitutes a sustainably produced product,

c)

have the long-term goal of implementing a system involving access to a database of sustainability information and ratings via QR-codes8 on products;

5. Encourages Member States to implement a “sustainability index� equivalent to the Dow Jones Industrial Average to give sustainability economics a larger platform and to better monitor the presence of sustainability in the market; 6. Further recommends that Member States offer subsidies for companies employing sustainable production methods and business models operating in the circular economy; 7. Calls upon Member States to invest an increased percentage of their national budgets in research and development around sustainable production technologies; 8. Recommends that Member States investigate implementing different VAT policy to allow for a lower rate of VAT to be applied to sustainably produced products;

Tackling Food Waste, EPRS, 2014 The EU Eco-Label helps to identify products and services that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle, from the extraction of raw material through to production, use and disposal.

8 A QR-code is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about the item to which it is attached.

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Lahti 2016 – National Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 11 January 2016

9. Requests that the European Commission in conjunction with ESSA promote and subsidise businesses who operate on the basis of a circular economy model with regular assessment of their business practises; 10. Confirms that the European Commission will include in its EU Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) an advertising campaign using all social media and prominent public figures or celebrities to promote a sustainable lifestyle; 11. Further endorses start-up and SME9 events which promote the participating companies and educate the event participants on sustainable consumption with these events being organised through the EU SDS; 12. Recommends that Member States implement incentive-based recycling systems such as the Pfand system10 in Germany.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 90% of all businesses in the EU. The Pfand system is a system of remuneration or reward upon the return of plastic water bottles to the shops in which they were bought.

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LAHTI 2016 Through Clean Environment to Social Responsibility National Session of EYP Finland

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