Academic Preparation Kit – Naantali 2016

Preparation Kit for Delegates Naantali 2016 – Regional Session of EYP Finland 28st – 30st October 2016

European Youth Parliament (EYP) The European Youth Parliament represents a non-partisan and independent educational project, which is tailored specifically to the needs of the young European citizens. European Youth Parliament Finland, established in 2001, is the National Committee of the EYP in Finland.

The EYP encourages independent thinking and initiative in young people and facilitates the learning of crucial social and professional skills. Since its inauguration, many tens of thousands of young people have taken part in Regional, National and International Sessions, formed friendships and made international contacts across and beyond borders. The EYP has thus mad a vital contribution towards uniting Europe.

Today the EYP is one of the largest European platforms for political debate, intercultural encounters, political educational work and the exchange of ideas among young people in Europe. The EYP consists of a network of 41 European associations in which thousands of young people are active in a voluntary capacity.

The EYP is a programme of the Schwarzkopf Foundation.

European Union (EU) The European Union is an economic and political union of 28 Member States. The EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 upon the foundations of the European Communities.

The EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of laws, which apply in all Member States, and ensures the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital, including the abolition of passport controls within the Schengen area. It enacts legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. Eighteen Member States have adopted a common currency, the euro.

With a view to its relations with the wider world, the EU has developed a limited role in foreign and defence policy through the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Permanent diplomatic missions have been established around the world and the EU is represented at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the G8 and the G-20.

The EU operates through a hybrid system of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. In certain areas decisions are taken by independent institutions, while in others, they are made through negotiation between Member States.

The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community formed by six countries in the 1950s. Since the, it has grown in size through enlargement, and in power through the addition of policy areas to its remit. The last amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU came into force in 2009 and was the Lisbon Treaty.

1

The Institutions of the European Union The European Council is responsible for defining the general political direction and priorities of the EU. It comprises the heads of state of government of EU Member States, along with its President (currently Donald Tusk from Poland) and the President of the Commission.

The Council of the European Union (commonly referred to as the Council of Ministers) is the institution in the legislature of the EU representing the governments of Member States, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The exact membership depends on the topic: for instance, when discussing agricultural policy the Council is formed by the 28 national ministers whose portfolio includes this policy area.

The European Parliament is directly elected parliamentary institution of the EU. Together with the Council, it forms the bicameral legislative branch of the EU. The Parliament is composed of 751 MEPs. The current president is Martin Schultz from Germany.

The European Commission is the executive body of the EU. It is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union’s treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union. The Commission operates as a cabinet government, with 28 commissioners. The Current President is Jean-Claude Juncker from Luxembourg.

Other important institutions of the EU include the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Central Bank. The EU also has several agencies and other institutions.

2

Committee topics Naantali – Regional Session of EYP Finland 2016 Committee on Constitutional Affairs I (AFCO I): Chairpersons: Tuulia Karvinen (FI) and Luana Maia (PT) Bearing in mind the EU's constitutional strive to equal rights and possibilities, how can the EU foster a similar European Parliament election procedure for all member states whilst bearing in mind varying national legal systems?

Committee on Constitutional Affairs II (AFCO II): Chairpersons: Lucius Miller (CH) & Tuukka Rytkönen (FI) From Brexit to Remainia: Following a wave of regional secessionist movements and the possible withdrawal of further Member States from the EU, how can cooperation be sustained while respecting nations’ right to self-governance and independence?

Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET): Chairpersons: Olivia Melaranta (FI) and Petar Tomíć (RS) Life in the Arctic: With many indigenous languages of Arctic peoples in danger, how can the EU ensure fruitful cooperation with international stakeholders and the preservation of Northern traditions?

Committee on Enviroment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI): Chairpersons: Marcelina Mierzwa (PL) and Rafael Lafaurie (FR) Bearing in mind progressive climate change and the need to provide urban areas with reliable, safe and affordable resources, should decentralised energy production play a role in the energy mix of the future?

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE): Chairpersons: Sara Ketovuori (FI) and Rebekka Ostrop (DE) Reaching out to the stars: With the European Space Policy in place, how can the EU further utilise space research as a means to gain a global lead on scientific and technological research?

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE): Chairpersons: Nadia D´Amico (IT) and Liam Wihuri Redmond (FI) “Je suis Europe.” – In times of the refugee crisis and acts of religious terror, how can the EU safeguard freedom of religion, peaceful multiculturalism and an effective integration of immigrants?

Committee on Regional Development (REGI): Chairpersons: Veronika Reisinger (AT) & Karlis Kreslins (LV) With the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region, how can the EU promote economic cooperation between affected Member States, environmentally-friendly mobility and the preservation of alpine biodiversity?

Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN): Chairpersons: Mikaella Christodoulides (CY) & Joel Juntunen (FI) Taking into account the social and economic impact of mass tourism, how can the EU foster the conservation of Mediterranean coastlands whilst supporting economic growth in such areas?

3

Committee on Constitutional Affairs I (AFCO I) Bearing in mind the EU’s constitutional strive to equal rights and possibilities, how can the EU foster a similar European Parliament election procedure for all Member States whilst bearing in mind varying national legal systems?

by Tuulia Karvinen (FI) and Luana Maia (PT) At a glance The European Parliament elections are held every five years. The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are elected through direct universal elections by means of a proportional representative system. Despite of the European voting procedure legislation, each country can make decisions on many other important aspects about the voting procedure, such as the voting day, the voting age, number of constituencies and campaign systems.

Main Problem The Maastricht Treaty1 states that the elections should be held by using one common unified electoral procedure and that the European Parliament should create a proposal for the Council of the European Union2 in order to set and implement one uniform procedure. The Council has attempted to harmonise the electoral procedure, but it was unable to come to an agreement on the proposals, which led to the Treaty of Amsterdam to propose that “common principles” would be used instead of an one uniform procedure. Thus the Council Decision 2002/772/EC, which sets the regulations and common principles used by the Member States, was created.

Despite the main guidelines being set by the European Union for the Member States concerning the election procedure of the MEPs, a considerable amount of specific aspects vary between the Member States. These include procedural aspects such as the setting of a specific voting day, amount of constituencies within one voting district, sub-types of proportional voting systems (list system or single transferable vote system), requirements as to who may become a candidate, who is allowed to vote and even a difference between allowed age of voting as Austria is the sole Member State allowing 16-year-olds to vote in the European Parliament elections.

Due to these differences the European Parliament elections are not conducted the same way in each Member State thus contributing to the allocations that the elections are not fulfilling the

1

The ‘EU’’ treaty- signed in 1992 it replaced the former European Economic Community for the European Union that we know today.

2 The Council of the European Union- Formed by government ministers from the 28 EU member states. There are no fixed members in this Council, each country sends a minister depending on the policy being discussed in the Council’s configuration (e.g. if the issue being discussed is about agricultural policies, countries will send the ministers of Agriculture to the Council meeting). Along with the Parliament, the Council is the most important decision-making institution of the EU.

4

EU’s constitutional strive to equal rights and possibilities. The Treaty of Lisbon3 has confirmed that the right to vote and stand as a candidate in the EP Elections is a fundamental right (Article 39 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union), meaning that each EU citizen should have the right to vote and stand as a candidate even outside one’s national state.

However, not all Member States have achieved to carry out these fundamental rights as some have implemented restrictions for EU citizens of other countries. The non-national residents of some Member States are not allowed to vote in the country they reside in nor stand as a candidate. This is mostly due to the varying definition of a “resident” and national citizen. The Member States have different requirements for residents obtaining voting rights. For example Germany, France and Poland require the voters to have their domicile within the electoral territory and Belgium requires the voters to be listed in the population register.

The differences in procedures between the Member States do not only harm the EU’s constitutional strive for equal rights and equal possibilities, it also provides a platform for the possibility of double-voting and double-candidacy. This is shown in some Member States where no common requirements on the data of voters are provided. For example France and the UK request different data when registering voters, and due to these different requirements none of the over 13,000 French citizens (EP elections in 2014) could be cross-referenced and found in the UK database and vice-versa. There are even some Member States whose legislation prevents them from publishing the birth dates of the voters when exchanging data between the Member States. This information could be used in the common database for identifying voters and ensuring double-voting does not occur. The lack of common procedures throughout the different Member States in the EU can have an impact on the credibility of the election results.

Media stations all over the EU, have been acting differently. Some countries use a strategy called “Geo-blocking” which is executed during the European Parliament election campaigns, where it prevents other Member States of the EU, and the rest of the world, from watching the news on the elections that is being aired in that specific country. Therefore, those EU citizens that are not residing in their home countries cannot access the electoral campaign procedure that is being conducted in their country in their native tongue. Nevertheless, the European Commission4 has a proposal that is now under discussion in the European Council5, which strives to avoid unnecessary Geo-blocking. However, this proposal has not shown to be directly related to the

3

The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in 2007, amends the previous treaties that are the foundation of the EU, the Treaty of Rome and the Maastricht Treaty (for further information about this treaty check the section “Current Legislation and Policies”).

4 The executive body of the European Union. Composed by one President (currently Jean Claude Juncker), seven Vice-Presidents and twenty commissioners, the main roles of this institution is to propose legislation, enforce the EU law, set goals and priorities for action, manage and implement EU policies and budgets and represent the EU overseas.

5 Do not confuse with the Council of the European Union. Formed by the heads of state or Government of all the 28 member states, the European Council President (Donald Tusk) and the President of the European Commission (Jean Claude Juncker). The European Council forms the common policies for the Member States. It is not a legislative institution.

5

streaming of the EP elections’ campaign. Regardless, the impact of traditional media and social media during elections should not be overlooked.

Actors, Interests and Conflicts • European Union citizens: the fulfillment of their equal rights and possibilities to vote and stand as a candidate in their own original national state and in other EU Member States where they may reside.

• European Union institutions: - the European Council as a legislative institution - the European Parliament as a legislative institution Both institutions are interested in the strict implementation of EU policies and principles as intended in the treaties and strive to ensure that the elections are conducted accordingly.

Election success impacts the credibility of the European Parliament. The European Council has previously attempted to implement a uniform and harmonised legislation for the European Parliament election procedure but has failed to come to an agreement on the matter.

• National Governments of the Member States: Invested in the credibility of the election procedure, however, interested in conducting the elections according to own national traditions and previous practise. They may run into conflict with the EU institutions if the EU attempts to enforce legislations regarding the electoral procedure, which would lead to a decrease of power of national governments.

Current Legislation and Policies Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) - Part Two of this treaty states that European Union citizens shall not be discriminated against inside EU borders, as they carry both the European Union citizenship and their national citizenship (check article 20 specifically).6 Treaty of Lisbon - This treaty introduced the European Parliament and the Council of the EU as equals in terms of legislative power. It also amended the way the European Parliament works with the several institutions and handed more influence to the MEPs on who runs the EU. These changes ensure that the citizens’ vote is more significant (check page 156 Fundamental Rights).

The treaty also introduced a new form of citizens’ legal initiative.7 Council Decision 2002/772/EC - amends the act concerning the election of the representatives of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage.8 Council Directive 2013/1/EU → Amends the Directive 93/109/EC - This amendment allows EU citizen that are not residing in their home country to stand as a candidate in elections of the European Parliament.9

6

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:12012E/TXT http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2007:306:FULL:EN:PDF 8 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32002D0772 7

9

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2013:026:0027:0029:EN:PDF

6

Perspectives Currently, the European Union has three ways to approach the current situation. Firstly, it may choose to continue to maintain the current status quo. However, this option leads to a violation of the fundamental idea of guaranteeing each EU citizen across the Member States with equal rights and possibilities while the current various electoral procedures do not really guarantee this to be carried out.

Secondly, the EU can work towards the goal of a complete and all-inclusive unification of electoral procedures. This means, it would have to create and enforce legislation complying the Member States to harmonise the election procedure for the future European Parliament elections. On the other hand, the political approval of a law that would standardise the EP elections’ voting procedure could cause disagreement between the Member States and the EU, because countries might find this law evasive. However, the differences in the election procedure might have an impact on the results as well, as mentioned above.

Finally, if the EU is not capable of reaching an agreement that covers the entire election procedure, it might have to settle to harmonise only some aspects of it. However, concentrating on only a few factors such as the voting day or voting age might leave the Member States in an unfair position. When aiming towards equal rights and possibilities the option of only changing some of the current legislation on guidelines does not achieve the intended goal. This then might result in a slower transfer period in opposition to a complete and sudden change. The Member States might then be more open to implement a few changes gradually and multiple times instead of implementing all the required changes at once.

Based on these perspectives, which path should the EU take towards the several voting procedures? Which possibility is the best to guarantee that the EU citizens’ equal rights and possibilities are fully accomplished? What kind of impact can these differences have on the election’s outcome? Is a complete harmonisation of procedures possible? And if so, how should the EU proceed? If the EP choses to harmonise the voting procedure legislation gradually, which measures should be carried out first?

Key Words Electoral procedure Equal rights European Union citizenship National legislation Proportional representation system Definitions List system - A system of proportional representation under which a voter chooses between party lists each containing as many names as there are representatives to be chosen and the number of candidates declared elected from each list is determined by the percentage cast for

7

each list out of the total vote (not applicable in Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Hungary and Romania).

Proportional representation system - A system in which the number of seats held by members of a political party in the Parliament is determined by the number of votes its candidates receive in an election.

Single Transferable Vote (STV) system - A system in which each voter has a single vote that is transferable according to their list of preferred candidates or they can also vote in their order of preference during the campaign.

Links A fact sheet on the European Parliament election procedures; http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ftu/pdf/en/FTU_1.3.4.pdf The European elections: EU legislation, national provisions and civic participation explained; http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2014/493047/IPOLAFCO_ET(2014)493047_EN.pdf A Study conducted on the 2014 European Parliament elections; http://ec.europa.eu/justice/citizen/document/files/final_report_2014_ep_elections_study_cs es_10_march_2015.pdf

8

Committee on Constitutional Affairs II (AFCO II) From Brexit to Remania: Following a wave of regional secessionist movements and the possible withdrawal of further Member States from the EU, how can cooperation be sustained while respecting nations’ right to self-governance and independence?

by Lucius Miller (CH) & Tuukka Rytkönen (FI) At a glance The EU is facing political as well as economical challenges. The political situation in Ukraine and the Middle East has frozen cooperation efforts between Russia and the EU. The civil war in Syria is followed by a refugee flow that many EU Member States struggle to process and the desperately needed functioning cooperation between the Member States to tackle the problem is not yet existent. While every Member State is striving to maintain their own sovereignty on such matters, the EU is struggling with the fact that some Member States are trying to maintain their own advantages and are slowly distancing themselves from their EU membership.

Main Problem Is the EU able to keep a cool head whilst maintaining sustainable relations between Member States and what can they do in order for Member States not to lose faith in the union?

Factors behind the issue Refugee crisis Great recession Economic sanctions Brexit: On the 23rd of June 2016, the majority of UK citizens voting in the referendum wanted to leave the EU. Actors, Interests and Conflicts Actors and their roles Council of the European Union: Voice of EU state governments, adopting EU laws and coordinating EU policies.

European Commission: Manages EU policies and treaties and proposes new laws.

European Council: Defines the general direction and priorities of the European Union.

European Parliament: Directly-elected EU body with legislative, supervisory, and budgetary responsibilities.

Member States: following the EU’s treaties and objectives.

Russia and the U.S.: External countries that have an influence on EU.

9

Conflicts Political tensions between Russia and the EU have tightened since the EU set economic sanctions after Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Combined effect of great recession and economic sanctions on Russia has additionally weakened the EU’s financial situation, which has increased economic differences between Member States. In June 2016, a referendum was held in Great Britain with regard to the UK’s membership of the EU, which led to Brexit’s implementation.

Additionally, the refugee crisis that the EU is facing at the moment has divided Member States even further from each other.

Current Legislation and Policies The single most important piece of legislation concerning the withdrawal of Member States from the EU is Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. According to it, a Member State can decide to withdraw from the EU “in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.” Once such a decision has been taken, the European Council is to be notified by the Member State of the planned withdrawal. Starting from that moment, an agreement on the withdrawal, including the future relationship between the EU and the former Member State, has to be negotiated between the EU and the to-be former Member State within two years. If this does not succeed, all treaties between the two, such as the Schengen and Dublin agreements for example, cease to apply after that period.

Models of EU adherence EU Membership This is the full membership of the EU. With this comes the necessity to introduce the Euro, having to work towards “ever closer union,” being part of the Schengen area, providing the Four Freedoms and many more.

EFTA Membership (“Norway-Model”) Such a relationship to the EU is currently practiced by Norway and Iceland. These countries have access to the single market, are however only “consulted” on regulations made by the European Commission. Thus, they have no binding say in any regulatory decisions taken for the single market by the Institutions of the EU, but have to implement these anyway to maintain access to the Single Market. Furthermore, this comes with certain obligations usually reserved for full Member States, such as contributing to the EU budget and accepting the Four Freedoms.10 Bilateral Agreements (“Swiss Model”) This kind of relationship to the EU is unique to Switzerland. After having rejected membership of the European Economic Area (EEA),11 as part of a referendum in 1992, Switzerland pursued

10

Government of the United Kingdom, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/504604/Alternatives_to_ membership_-_possible_models_for_the_UK_outside_the_EU.pdf, last accessed October 5, 2016 11 The precursor organisation out of which later became the European Union. (European Parliament, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourservice/en/displayFtu.html?ftuId=FTU_6.5.3.html, last accessed October 5, 2016)

10

other ways of participating in the Single Market. To achieve this, a row of over 120 agreements between the EU and Switzerland have been signed, that each address a certain area of policy and bring Swiss policy to European standards. However, this framework of agreements is static, having no proper mechanism for adaptation bar singing a new agreement. This means that it is not very adaptable to changes. Furthermore, this doesn’t avoid the obligations that come with the EFTA model, but allow a more selective approach to the parts of EU policy that a state wants to participate in.

“Regular relationship” with the EU This informal title summarises a broad range of different possible ways of trading with the EU, which are available to a “regular” state, that is not part of the EFTA or any other special organisation or agreement with the EU. Possibilities could include accessing the market under the regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU or other smaller solutions.12 Key Words Four Freedoms: The so-called Four Freedoms are the free movement of goods, services, capital and labour between the Member States. The Four Freedoms work together to enable the European Single Market to function. Within this Single Market, it is possible for an European Citizen to live, study, work and provide business anywhere, provided they are a Citizen of the EU. European Single Market: The European Single Market is the biggest free trade area in the world, which allows any citizen of its Member States to live, study, work and do business in any other Member State, thanks to the Four Freedoms.

Definitions Brexit: An outline of different models for the UK to trade with the EU, explaining many terms to a good depth and the approaches outlined are also applicable to other states leaving the EU: http://www.cer.org.uk/sites/default/files/pb_piris_brexit_12jan16.pdf Additional models of relation to the EU, explained by the BBC: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36639261

Links Paper on the development of European democracies and the politicalisation of the European integration process in the shadow of the Great Recession: http://www.eui.eu/Projects/POLCON/Documents/POLCONdescriptionwebsite.pdf

12

Slaughter and May, https://www.slaughterandmay.com/media/2535258/brexit-essentialsalternatives-to-eu-membership.pdf, last accessed October 5, 2016

11

Press release by the European Commission (June 2016) - EU political deal to curb trade in conflict minerals: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-2231_en.htm Paper on European Integration and Political Conflict: http://www.unc.edu/~gwmarks/assets/doc/Marks,%20SteenbergenEuropean%20integration%20and%20political%20conflict.contents.pdf

12

Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) Life in the Arctic: With many indigenous languages of Arctic peoples in danger, how can the EU ensure fruitful cooperation with international stakeholders and the preservation of Northern traditions?

by Olivia Melaranta (FI) and Petar Tomíć (RS) At a Glance/ Executive Summary Population is changing and northern regions are becoming more tightly related economically, politically, and socially to national mainstreams. The future is bleak for the majority of the languages currently spoken in the Arctic. If no action is taken, most are likely to become extinct in the next few generations, since statistics are indicating an increasing rate of language extinction.13 Main Problem The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) defines language as providing the conceptual and cognitive mechanisms via which humans perceive their environment. Hence, understanding language as a culturally embedded system of meaning is an important guide to understanding how humans adapt and act within their environment. Language not only communicates, it defines culture, nature, history, humanity and ancestry.14 Since the 1800s, 21 Arctic indigenous languages have become extinct. Only 10 out of 21 mentioned languages have been extinct since 1990, which indicates an increasing rate of extinction. Currently, 28 languages are classified as critically endangered, and if nothing is done, they too will face extinction in next few years. Over 70% of the northern indigenous languages are spoken only in single countries, and thus are particularly exposed to the policies of a single government. This may bring about more effective conservation of these languages, as no cross border efforts are required. The remaining languages are spread across a number of jurisdictions and are therefore subject to differing approaches when it comes to addressing their revitalisation.15 Climate change due to exploitation of natural resources may cause Arctic indigenous people to emigrate since changing conditions make the areas impossible or unappealing to live in.16 Many Arctic languages suffer from a loss of speakers,17 which can be interpreted to correlate with the loss of Arctic culture, languages in particular.

13

http://arcticbiodiversity.is/index.php/the-report/chapters/linguistics-diversity 2009 UNESCO Framework for Cultural Statistic 15 http://arcticbiodiversity.is/index.php/the-report/chapters/linguistics-diversity 16 https://lisd.princeton.edu/sites/lisd/files/brigham_sept2007.pdf 17 http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/pdf/Indigenous_Arctic_Eng.pdf 14

13

UNESCO states that indigenous languages of the Arctic have been formed and shaped in close contact with their environment. Languages are a valuable source of information, and a wealth of knowledge on human interactions with nature is encoded in languages.18 The preservation of languages is a crucial step in allowing us to benefit from traditional knowledge and form a better understanding of our environment.

Actors, Interests and Conflicts Arctic Council Member States19: The Arctic Council is the leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, Arctic indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues, in particular on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic.

Arctic indigenous people: Many indigenous groups have already begun working on language revitalisation, viewing it as an important component of their identity.20 The European Union: It has three Arctic Council states amongst its members. Moreover, the European Union has an important role to play in supporting successful Arctic cooperation and helping to meet the challenges now facing the region. Many of its policies and regulations therefore have implications for Arctic stakeholders. The EU wants to engage more with Arctic partners to increase its awareness of their concerns and to address shared challenges in a collaborative manner.21 The United Nations’ Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO): UNESCO's aim is "to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information".22 When it comes to endangered languages, UNESCO claims that “With the disappearance of unwritten and undocumented languages, humanity would lose not only cultural wealth but also important ancestral knowledge embedded, especially in indigenous languages”23.

Universities and research institutes in Arctic states24: play an important role in research and innovation related to indigenous languages and culture.

Current Legislation & Policies Alliance for Linguistic Diversity has started a project called The Endangered Languages Project.25

18

UNESCO Education Position Paper Education in Multilingual World, 2003 Member States of Arctic Council 20 http://www.caff.is/indices-and-indicators/linguistics-and-language 21 https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/eu-arctic-policy/418/eu-arctic-policy_en 22 http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/ 23 http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/endangered-languages/ 24 http://arcticcentre.ulapland.fi/institutesdatabase/ 25 The Endangered Languages Project 19

14

Arctic Languages Vitality (An Arctic Council Project)26 The governments of the 8-state Arctic Council agreed that there was such a need and pledged their support to a multi-year, pan-Arctic project called Assessing, Monitoring, and Promoting the Vitality of Arctic Indigenous Languages that is led by the Arctic Council's indigenous peoples.

EU Arctic Policy27 focuses on protecting and preserving the Arctic in cooperation with its inhabitants, promoting sustainable use of resources and international cooperation. Due to accelerating climate change and economic growth in the region, it has been proposed that further development of the Arctic should focus on supporting research and sharing knowledge about climate change, sustainable economic development and constructive engagement and dialogue with Arctic states, indigenous people and other partners.

Perspectives Due to the endangerment of Arctic languages being an issue across state borders, various different actors are active in the matter and multiple routes can be taken. Therefore, it might be a possibility that cooperation is not efficient and does not involve all necessary parties. How can we ensure that all relevant actors are active in solving the issue and guarantee cooperative communication between them?

Furthermore, depending on the path this communication will take, it may be decided that to solve the issue, tailored measures to each respective State or in contrast more collective solutions are required. Which of these options is more profitable and takes into account the wide range of perspectives?

Considering the already existing legislations and policies, new ideas may overlap with them or not work as efficiently as desired. Should these current measures be improved in order to seamlessly incorporate new solutions?

The EU and other external actors have increasing influence on the region. In the future, this influence might extend even more to the issue of language vitality, or alternatively indigenous groups are activated to a greater extent. Are these two mutually exclusive?

The role of education, research and technology may become more important in revitalising indigenous languages since they provide us with innovative ideas and can integrate indigenous knowledge systems to modern ones. How do we define their place in the unfolding of the issue and put their power to practise?

Language vitality can be tied to other issues facing the Arctic, such as climate change. Can anything be done in terms of preventing climate change that would also preserve indigenous languages? Moreover, factors such as tourism may be seen to play a role in the issue.

26 27

About the Arctic Languages Vitality (An Arctic Council Project) https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/eu-arctic-policy/418/eu-arctic-policy_en

15

Key Words Arctic indigenous people Cooperation - mainly political cooperation between the EU and Arctic Council Member States, amongst Arctic Council Member States, and also potentially including other external actors Language revitalisation Definitions Indigenous language - a language that originated in a specified place and was not brought to that place from elsewhere.28 The Arctic - the region lying north of the Arctic Circle or of the northernmost limit of tree growth; the polar area north of the timber line.29 Statistics30

28

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/indigenous%20language http://www.dictionary.com/browse/arctic 30 http://abds.is/publications/view_document/151-aba-2013-appendix-20-1%20-%20excel%20languges 29

16

Links Arctic Council http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/about-us/member-states Arctic indigenous languages status and trends: http://abds.is/publications/view_document/151-aba-2013-appendix-20-1 Article about Arctic indigenous language preservation http://daily.jstor.org/indigenous-arctic-languages/ Assessment of Arctic biodiversity by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)group: http://arcticbiodiversity.is/index.php/the-report/chapters/linguistics-diversity Assessment of the vitality of Arctic indigenous languages by the Inuit Circumpolar Council Canada: http://arcticlanguages.com/old/Arctic-Languages-Research-Development-Workshop-ReportNov-2012.pdf Definition of ‘Arctic’: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/arctic Definition of ‘indigenous language’: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/indigenous%20language

Different scenarios for the warming Arctic:

17

https://lisd.princeton.edu/sites/lisd/files/brigham_sept2007.pdf EU Arctic Policy https://eeas.europa.eu/topics/eu-arctic-policy/418/eu-arctic-policy_en Information about the Arctic Language Vitality-project: http://www.arcticlanguages.com/#self Information about the Endangered Languages Project http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/ Information about UNESCO: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/ Social and economic aspects of climate change in Arctic regions http://www.thearctic.is/PDF/Social%20and%20economic%20aspects%20of%20climate%20c hange%20in%20arctic%20regions.pdf UNESCO framework for cultural statistics: http://www.uis.unesco.org/culture/Documents/framework-cultural-statistics-culture-2009en.pdf UNESCO position paper on multilingual education: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001297/129728e.pdf University of Lapland’s Arctic centre: http://www.arcticcentre.org/EN/communications/arcticregion/Arctic-Indigenous-Peoples UN report on the state of Arctic indigenous people http://www.un.org/en/events/indigenousday/pdf/Indigenous_Arctic_Eng.pdf Additional links Arctic Indigenous Education Conference 2016 https://aiec2016.com/about-aiec-2016/ TEDx Talks about endangered and minority languages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DERu2aAqqWM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPBI8oUXZ8Q https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM3ISST2eg8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSnF3Gx64gk

18

Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Bearing in mind progressive climate change and the need to provide urban areas with reliable, safe and affordable resources, should decentralised energy production play a role in the energy mix of the future?

by Marcelina Mierzwa (PL) and Rafael Lafaurie (FR) Executive Summary The need for an effective energy transition becomes more and more pressing, considering the need for economic growth in European Member States. Microgeneration can play a big role.

However, the market as well as the utility grids may not be ready for this change. What can European institutions do in order to guide European citizens and assist local authorities in converting their cities to smart cities?

Main Problem Global warming refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near the Earth's surface. It is caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is causing climate patterns to change. However, global warming itself represents only one aspect of climate change.

Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. In other words, climate change includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, among other effects, that occur over several decades or longer.

Although decentralised energy production models are believed to be beneficial and promising, not every aspect of this issue is covered enough legally on a national and international level to fully implement it.

First of all, EU Member States have to overcome physical and technological barriers. Increasing the deployment of Renewable Energy (RE) systems requires their integration into existing infrastructure. Decentralised energy faces some of the same challenges as Renewable Energy in its implementation. Europe assesses the physical impact on the power supply system regarding control, efficiency, adequacy and planning at the generation, transmission and distribution levels, that are due to variability, degree of predictability, power plant characteristics and location of the resource with respect to demand affecting network issues.

There are also certain economic aspects that need to be taken into account. In the state of the art, highly decentralised electricity generation is frequently less cost-efficient compared to large, centralised systems.

19

It is estimated DG (Decentralised Generation) technologies may not be as expensive as frequently believed. Currently, the two most competitive RES technologies are first geothermal and then wind power. Over the last few years, while the price of fossil fuels has continued to rise, RES technologies have steadily declined in price and will presumably continue to decline with continued research, development investments and incentives like tax relief or grants donated by the Member States’ governments.

The next core issue concerns Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)31, which are key players for Decentralised Energy Production. Today, there are 23 million companies across Europe. 99% of them are SMEs. Combined, SMEs represent 30% of Europe’s energy consumption. Even though Decentralised Generation and Demand Response are clearly SMEfriendly, they face significant barriers in SMEs. First of all they are burdened by high capital investment requirements. Moreover, there is a general lack of understanding and awareness of energy issues and the potential advantages of DEP. DG and DR projects are also perceived as bringing no short-term financial rewards, while the time-horizon characterising SMEs is primarily short-term. Moreover, such projects often have to compete with other internal projects that are usually granted priority because they are perceived as more necessary in order to retain short-term competitiveness.

Actors, Interests and Conflicts National Governments can grant subsidies, but levels vary. Germany, for example, has invested over £10 billion. Sweden made it easier for people to install heat pumps and other countries like France and the UK do not support private actors generally.

Eurelectric: The association of European electricity producers, is very opposed to the progression of microgeneration as a source of power since it would disrupt energy distribution and the way the power grid works, as well as render their business model obsolete.

NGOs like Greenpeace, are involved in the promotion of these alternative and decentralised energy sources, calling upon governments and public institutions to be more proactive, and on the private sector to be more transparent and invest more in renewables.

European Photo Voltaic (PV) panel manufacturers are in a very intense rivalry against mostly Chinese competitors due to unfair pricing, and social dumping as well as poor health and safety as well as environmental standards of manufacturing. The European Commission recently extended heavy import taxes on Chinese PV32. Chinese solar manufacturers, in part thanks to lower safety and social standards have for a long time been able to benefit from lower prices compared to their European counterparts. However, the Commission’s anti-dumping decisions33 of imposing higher tariffs have been criticised to make the market less competitive

31

http://www.oecd.org/industry/smes/31919286.pdf - SMEs statistics

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/2986598/eunbsprenews_70_solar_tax_on_chinese_pv.ht ml 33 http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/accessing-markets/trade-defence/actions-against-imports-into-theeu/anti-dumping/ - Commission’s anti-dumping decisions 32

20

for consumers and that these hinder the importation of components by European manufacturers.

Consumers of micro generation: The aim set for DEP models is to make the market more competitive for small producers like households and therefore it seems to be the most optimum solution for most of the customers when looking at costs and expenses.3435 Small and Medium Size Enterprises represent almost one third of Europe’s energy consumption. As some lack relevant know-how and are aiming at receiving short time profit, these tend to create significant barriers to the development of a DEP model.

Current legislation and policies The Energy and Climate Package states that while staying sovereign in the definition of their national energy mix, Member States must comply by 2020 with legally-binding commitments on the reduction of carbon gas emissions and the promotion of renewable energy sources (RES).

The Package also creates indirect pressure to improve energy efficiency, even though the goal of increasing the EU’s energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 is not binding.36 The Third Energy Package provides a regulatory framework, which should be favourable to the further deployment of Distributed Generation.37 The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) addresses the energy consumption of buildings, which represents 25-40% of total European energy consumption and is responsible for 40% of all CO2 emissions in the European Union. According to the proposed EPBD, from 2021 on, new buildings must incorporate “very high energy performance”.38 The EU-ETS (Emmissions Trading System) offers few incentives for distributed generation. It focuses primarily on large emitters and promotes emission reductions from highly carbonintensive industrial installations and power plants. Though the EU Effort Sharing Decision requires Members States to reduce emissions in non-ETS sectors and provides flexibility to trade emissions across borders in those sectors, this device does not yet offer sufficient flexibility in the trading of carbon credits.39 The EU SET Plan’s intention is to spend significant additional resources on researching low carbon technologies. Generally speaking the SET Plan aims to foster innovation across a broad range of RES, CCS, Smart Grid, Nuclear and Smart City technologies.40

34

https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/linksdossier/microgeneration-power-to-the-people/ https://cleantechnica.com/2015/08/24/5-reasons-utilities-hating-solar-producing-customers/ 36 http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2020/index_en.htm - Energy and Climate Package 37 https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/markets-and-consumers/market-legislation - The Third Energy Package 38 https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/buildings - The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 39 http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets/index_en.htm - The EU ETS 40

https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/technology-and-innovation/strategic-energy-technology-plan - the EU SET Plan 35

21

Perspectives The price of solar electricity41 is reduced every year, it has even passed the ‘cheaper than coal’ milestone in India and several gulf countries as of this year. In Europe, parallel to that trend, the demand for locally manufactured solar panels is growing. The new economic models build around grassroots movement, direct citizen action and individual empowerment seem to be making microgeneration an unavoidable part of everyone's future.

The ongoing development of power systems will have impact not only on the individual consumers but also on the entire energy value chain, from generators to transition and distribution. So far, the EU recognised the necessity to combat Climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 from the 1990 level and has set itself a goal of achieving a share of 20% of RES in its energy mix by 2020 and to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 202042. Therefore the most relevant issues concerning the future are: How can the EU make sure that every Member State will follow the goal of improving energy efficiency as the directive is not binding?

How can a growing concern over the security of European energy supply due to the increasing share of intermittent power production from RES be agreed to with a rising electricity demand in European countries?

Key Words Decentralised energy is made of relatively small-scale generation capacities connected to the distribution network (medium and low voltage: 110kV and lower). The primary energy source is often renewable (wind, solar, biomass, biogas, hydro, geothermal or ocean-based) and frequently available on a local basis. This definition however is not limiting, as in some cases fossil fuels can also be used as the principal energy source Progressive climate change the ongoing process rising levels of carbon dioxide and other heattrapping gases in the atmosphere have warmed the Earth and are causing wide-ranging impacts, including rising sea levels; melting snow and ice; more extreme heat events, fires and drought; and more extreme storms, rainfall and floods.

Renewable Energy Sources are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as rain, wind, sunlight, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Renewable energy often provides energy in four important areas: electricity generation air and water heating/cooling, transportation and rural energy services.

A smart city is an urban development vision to integrate multiple information and communication technology (ICT) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions in a secure fashion to manage a city’s assets (e.g.schools, libraries, power plants).

41

http://www.solarpowereurope.org/newletter-june-2016/our-news/the-price-of-solar/ - prices of solar energy 42 http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm - EU 2020 Strategy

22

Statistics4344 In 2009, a ‘climate and energy package’ was adopted, with the goal of combating climate change and boosting the EU’s energy security and competitiveness through the development of a more sustainable and low-carbon economy. This package includes a set of binding targets which are referred to as the 20–20–20 targets which commit the EU to the following changes by 2020: a reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of at least 20 % below 1990 levels; at least 20 % of the EU’s gross final energy consumption to come from renewable energy sources; at least 10 % of transport final energy consumption to come from renewable energy sources; a 20 % reduction in energy use compared with projected levels, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.

These are also headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy.

The primary production of renewable energy within EU Member States in 2014 was 196 million tonnes of oil equivalent — a 25.4 % share of total primary energy production from all sources.

The quantity of renewable energy produced within the EU-28 increased overall by 73.1 % between 2004 and 2014, equivalent to an average increase of 5.6 % per year.

Renewable energy sources accounted for a 12.5 % share of the EU-28’s gross inland energy consumption in 2014. The importance of renewables in gross inland consumption was relatively high in Portugal (25.0 %), Denmark (26.2 %), Finland (29.4 %) and Austria (30.0 %) and exceeded one third of inland consumption in Sweden (35.8 %) and Latvia (36.2 %), as was the case in Norway (44.8 %) and Iceland (86.3 %).

The latest information available for 2014 shows that electricity generated from renewable energy sources contributed more than one quarter (27.5 %) of the EUMS gross electricity consumption. In Austria (70.0 %) and Sweden (63.3 %) at least three fifths of all the electricity consumed was generated from renewable energy sources, largely as a result of hydropower and solid biofuels.

At the end of 2008, the EU agreed to set a target for each Member State, such that renewable energy sources (including liquid biofuels, hydrogen or ‘green’ electricity) should account for at least 10 % of all fuel used within the transport sector by 2020. The average share of renewable energy sources in transport fuel consumption across the EU-28 was 5.9 % in 2014, ranging from highs of 21.6 % in Finland and 19.2 % in Sweden (the only Member States with double-digit shares) to less than 1.0 % in Spain and Estonia.

43

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/energy/data/main-tables - Figures about energy https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/26/solar-panel-costs-predicted-to-fall-10-a-year - predictions about the costs 44

23

Sources http://www.lisbon-treaty.org/wcm/the-lisbon-treaty/treaty-on-the-functioning-of-theeuropean-union-and-comments/part-3-union-policies-and-internal-actions/title-xxienergy/485-article-194.html - Article 194 of Lisbon Treaty http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php - Kyoto Protocol https://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/04/solar-panel-cost-trends-10-charts/ http://www.prosun.org/en/media.html - full press coverage on the topic https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2008/jun/02/renewableenergy.alternativeenergy

24

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Reaching out to the stars: With the European Space Policy in place, how can the EU further utilise space research as a means to gain a global lead on scientific and technological research?

by Sara Ketovuori (FI) and Rebekka Ostrop (DE) At a Glance/Executive Summary 20 of 28 EU Member States (MS) currently participate in the European Space Agency (ESA). It has close, constantly increasing ties to the EU but is not part of it. Both the ESA and national space agencies have had limited success in research, exploration and development of new technology in the recent years compared to other world powers. The EU has started developing satellite projects like Galileo (GPS systems) and Copernicus (earth observation).

Partial motivation is the independence from American programmes, which are currently being used by Member States.

Main problem The Space has been an important part on the international political scene ever since. For example during the Cold War, the United States (US) and the Soviet Union were competing on how far their Space research were. Today both remain the most important actors in space research, dominating international rocket launches and the International Space Station (ISS).

Additionally emerging powers such as China and India are also increasing their budgets for Space research.

Even though the EU is economically one of the most important and dominating regions in the world, it is not proportionally leading on the scientific and technological research. For such an important international power it is essential to be competitive and leading in this field.

The EU does have a shared competence for space research, which means that the EU and Member States can both adopt legally binding acts in the area of space research.

Switzerland and Norway are part of the ESA and it is partially funded by Canada, which makes its integration into the European Union difficult. Germany, France and Italy, who have the most funded space programmes in the EU, dedicate however only about a third of their budget to the ESA and choose to give the rest to their national agencies.

Actors, Interests and Conflicts European Defence Agency (EDA)45 supports the Council and Member States in their effort to improve the EU’s defence capabilities for the Common Security and Defence Policy. The EDA is dependent on well-functioning satellites and it has an objective to develop the next

45

European Defence Agency: https://www.eda.europa.eu

25

generation of Govsatcom systems by 2025 in cooperation with the relevant commercial industries, European Commission, European Space Agency and MS governments.

European Space Agency (ESA)46: The ESA has 22 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and cooperation agreements with Bulgaria, Cyprus, Lithuania, Malta, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Canada. It is not an EU institution, but an intergovernmental organisation, with different competences than the EU’s. They work closely together, for example via the Space Council.

European Space Policy Institute47 (ESPI), created in 2002 by the ESA provides independent analyses and advice, with the aim of supporting space as a strategic policy area for Europe. To this effect, it provides recommendations, policy options and forward vision as to how Europe’s engagement in space can bring maximum benefit to society. ESPI’s work also reflects how space can sensibly contribute to Europe’s unique role in global politics as a strong and principled actor. European Commission (EC) does also fund the ESPI. European Union Satellite Center (EUSC, aka SATCEN)48 supports the decision making of the EU in the field of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), in particular the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), including EU’s crisis management missions and operations, by providing products and services resulting from the exploitation of relevant space assets and collateral data, including satellite imagery and aerial imagery, and related services.

Group for Earth Observations (GEO)49 is a voluntary partnership of governments and organisations that envisions “a future wherein decisions and actions for the benefit of humankind are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained Earth observations and information.” GEO Member governments include 102 nations and the EC, and 103 Participating Organisations comprised of international bodies with a mandate in Earth observations. Together, the GEO community is creating a Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) that will link Earth observation resources world-wide across multiple Societal Benefit Areas - Biodiversity and Ecosystem Sustainability, Disaster Resilience, Energy and Mineral Resources Management, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, Infrastructure & Transportation Management, Public Health Surveillance, Sustainable Urban Development, Water Resources Management - and make those resources available for better informed decision-making.

Member States and their national space agencies all have a different amount of resources and different objectives. However, most of the member states participate in the ESA. Canada being a member of the ESA causes controversy as ESA cannot establish closer connection with the EU since it is partly funded by a non-EU state.

46

European Space Agency: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology European Space Policy Institute: http://www.espi.or.at/ 48 European Union Satellite Center: https://www.satcen.europa.eu 49 Group for Earth Observations: http://www.earthobservations.org/index.php 47

26

SME4SPACE50 is a Panel of Space SME51 (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) Associations of the ESA Member States and ESA cooperating States. The aim of SME4SPACE is to voice Space SMEs’ viewpoint in an organised and coordinated way and to facilitate the access of SMEs to space activities in general and to ESA programmes in particular.

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)52 is an independent intergovernmental organisation supported by 34 states. It is both a research institute and a 24/7 operational service, producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to the national meteorological services in Member States. ECMWF is one of the six members of the Co-ordinated Organisations53, which also include the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Council of Europe (CoE), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).

The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)54 is an intergovernmental organisation that supplies weather and climate-related satellite data, images and products – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – to the National Meteorological Services of our Member and Cooperating States in Europe, and other users worldwide. The initiator of project Copernicus, values the importance of satellites high.

The Space Council55 is the joint and concomitant meeting of the EU Council and the ESA Council at ministerial level, it was created in 2004 by the European Council and ESA Framework Agreement and was held seven times ever since.

Current legislation and policies Code of Conduct for Outer Space activities56 has the following main goals: the exploration and use of outer space for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and the recognition of outer space as a province of all mankind, the use of outer space for exclusively peaceful purposes, the promotion of international co-operation in the exploration and use of outer space.

Copernicus57 is a European system for monitoring the Earth coordinated and managed by the European Commission, European Space Agency, European Environment Agency and Member States. It processes data and provides users with reliable and up-to-date information through a set of services related to environmental and security issues.

50 51

SME4SPACE, a panel of space related SME’s: http://www.sme4space.org

On SMEs: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/business-friendly-environment/sme-definition_de Further information on ECMWF: http://www.ecmwf.int/en/about/who-we-are 53 Co-ordinated Organisations: https://www.sirp-isrp.org/index.php?lang=en&Itemid=836 54 The European Orginization for the Exploitation of Metheorological Satellites: http://www.eumetsat.int 55 The Space Council: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/First_ever_Space_Council_paves_the_way_for_a_European_ space_programme http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/Seventh_Space_Council_supports_strong_European_leaders hip_in_space 56 The Code of conduct from 31.03.2014, page 3 General Principles: http://www.eeas.europa.eu/nonproliferation-and-disarmament/pdf/space_code_conduct_draft_vers_31-march-2014_en.pdf 57 Copernicus: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space/copernicus_en 52

27

The services address six thematic areas: land, marine, atmosphere, climate change, emergency management and security. They support a wide range of applications, including environment protection, management of urban areas, regional and local planning, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health, transport, climate change, sustainable development, civil protection and tourism.

The main users of Copernicus services are policymakers and public authorities who need the information to develop environmental legislation and policies or to take critical decisions in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster or a humanitarian crisis.

EGNOS - The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service58 is the first panEuropean satellite navigation system. EGNOS is a joint project of ESA, the EC and Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation. It is Europe’s first activity in the field of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and is a precursor to Galileo, the full global satellite navigation system under development in Europe. EGNOS is currently managed by the EC. European Space Policy: Twenty-nine European countries unveiled a new space policy on 22 May 2007, unifying the approach of ESA with those of individual EU Member States. It is a common political framework for space activities in Europe drafted by the EC and the director of the ESA59.

The space industry contributes to the objectives of the EU's Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth: 3% of the EU's GDP (public and private combined) to be invested in R&D/innovation.

GALILEO60: Europe's global radionavigation satellite system. Joint EU/ESA development composed of a constellation of 30 satellites, that provides users with highly accurate timing and positioning services.

Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES)61 is a joint EU/ ESA initiative combining space and observing systems to support European goals regarding sustainable development and global governance.

Horizon 202062 - An EU wide project aiming at subsidising strategically important sectors of the economy, has a sustained focus also on the space industry.

The Africa-EU partnership63 on Science, Information Society and Space: The Commissioners share the strong conviction that research, innovation and the development of the information society are vital instruments for attaining equitable and sustained economic growth, alleviating poverty, eradicating disease and bridging the digital divide. They are essential to

58

EGNOS satellites and the European economy: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space/egnos_en Brochure on the European Space Policy → P. 32: http://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/publications/BR269/ 60 Galileo: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space/galileo_en 61 Global Monitoring for Environment and Security: http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Ministerial_Council_2012/Global_Monitoring_for_Environment_and_Security_ GMES 62 Horizon 2020: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/h2020-section/space 63 http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/en/areas-cooperation/science-info-society-space/depth 59

28

achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)64. That’s why the EU and Africa work tightly together and scientists from the EU come to Africa and help there to build up scientific and technological research. The EU is also funding research projects in Africa.

Treaty of Lisbon includes the Article 18965 to promote scientific and technical progress and industrial competitiveness.The Treaty of Lisbon therefore confirms the cooperation between the EU and the ESA. This cooperation is based on a framework agreement which entered into force in May 2004. This framework agreement led in particular to the creation of a Space Council bringing together representatives of the Council of the EU and the Council of the ESA. Perspectives The space industry helps the EU to deal with and plan for a number of difficult challenges including: - Social: The citizens' well-being depends on space policy in areas such as the environment, combating climate change, public and civil security, humanitarian and development aid (EU-Africa partnership), transport and information technology. It will continue to provide benefits for future generations; - Economic: Space generates knowledge, new products and new forms of industrial cooperation, it is therefore a driving force for innovation and contributes to competitiveness, growth and job creation. The space sector provides over 320 000 jobs in the EU from manufacturing to space operations and downstream services. It is worth about 52 billion € to the EU economy; - Strategic: Space serves to cement the EU’s position as a major player on the international stage and contributes to the Union's economic and political independence.

Europe needs a solid technological base if it is to have an independent, competitive space industry. It must also develop the necessary resources to meet long-term needs while maintaining basic space research. In this regard, it is vital to develop key generic technologies such as advanced materials and nanotechnology. Seeing the benefits of an efficient Space Policy, how could the EU develop it even further? What challenges does it face, eg.in including Member States and other international actors? How could the Space Policy even be improved?

To strengthen the international cooperation the EU could increase “space dialogues” with its strategic partners i.e. the United States and Russia. In fact these co-operations could lead to a stronger position of Europe in the area of space research and could also serve as a market opener for the promotion of European technology and services in the space field and so help strengthen this strategic industrial sector. To achieve better cooperation, the Space policy

64

Sustainable Development Goals: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 The Lisbon Treaty article 189: Space policy: http://www.lisbon-treaty.org/wcm/the-lisbon-treaty/treaty-onthe-functioning-of-the-european-union-and-comments/part-3-union-policies-and-internal-actions/title-xixresearch-and-technological-development-and-space/477-article-189.html 65

29

could be further integrated in the common European external policy. Furthermore, Emerging space powers, in particular the People's Republic of China have to be taken into consideration as possible partners. How could the EU involve international partners in its Space Policy? How could this cooperation be beneficial for all parties?

Key Words Collaboration with Partners Combating Climate Change Economic Innovation European Space Policy National Security & Defence Scientific Leadership

Definitions SME: Small and medium enterprises Concomitant: Something happening or existing at the same time.

United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: A list of seventeen goals, including decreasing global poverty, world hunger, increasing the use of environmentally friendly energy and developing more sustainable methods of production. The goals were agreed upon in 2015 and they are supposed to be achieved by 2030.

Statistics66

66

All statistics from Eurospace: http://eurospace.org/Data/Sites/1/pdf/eurospacefactsandfigures2016pressrelease.pdf

30

Links European Commission on Space Policy http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52011DC0152 European Space Agency in relation to the EU http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Welcome_to_ESA/ESA_and_the_EU Eurospace data http://eurospace.org/Data/Sites/1/eurospacepositionpaper_spacestrategy.pdf Eurospace’s take on European space strategy - Please take a look! http://eurospace.org/Data/Sites/1/eurospace_brainstormingdialoguedggrow-17june.pdf EU’s Space Policy https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space_en GEO introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z73wJKCP6mc&feature=youtu.be

31

ISS partners and cooperation https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/cooperation/index.h tml Past achievements & assets https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space/exploration_en Space and security https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/space/security_en

32

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) ”Je suis Europe.” – In times of the refugee crisis and acts of religious terror, how can the EU safeguard freedom of religion, peaceful multiculturalism and an effective integration of immigrants?

by Nadia D´Amico (IT) and Liam Wihuri Redmond (FI) At a Glance/ Executive Summary The economic crisis in combination with the high influx of refugees and recent acts of terrorism has created room for growth of far-right parties all across Europe. In addition, Jihadist terrorism has enormously damaged the image of the peacefully lived Muslim faith, resulting in growing Islamophobia. With a deficiency of information, populism and the media exacerbating the problem and the European Union (EU) still not having established a system for the equal distribution of refugees to all Member States, especially Muslims, who are forced to flee from their home countries and seek shelter in Europe, have been the victims of such a complex situation.

Main Problem The segregation and social exclusion of migrant communities remains a serious issue in several European countries. In France, for example, there are 717 ‘sensitive urban zones’, mostly in the suburbs of large cities.67 Even though migrants bring significant economic and cultural benefits, they are often unofficially not given the same rights to the following as native residents: legal rights, education, employment, criminal justice, health, living conditions, and civic participation.

The EU’s response to the refugee crisis has been chaotic and divisive, characterised by squabbling over sharing responsibility, border closures and ‘finger-pointing’. Many Member States’ governments are focused on preventing arrivals and deflecting responsibility to neighbour countries. The possibility that some of those responsible for the horrific attacks in Paris in November 2015 entered the EU posing as refugees has interjected the fear of terrorism.

Fearing more terror attacks, people are quick to brand all refugees, without considering that only a fraction of them are coming to Europe to commit acts of violence, and that they do not represent all immigrants, especially muslim immigrants.68 People start ignoring the variety of benefits brought by multiculturalism, which also leads to a rise in xenophobia.69

67

Immigrant integration in Europe: http://www.debatingeurope.eu/2015/07/02/how-can-europe-betterintegrate-immigrants/#.V_VGxVeO4dW 68 Refugee integration: https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/13/europe-integrating-refugees-next-big-challenge 69 Rise of xenophobia after the EU referendum: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/eu-referendum-brexitimmigration-xenophobia-new-normal-debate-nigel-farage-david-cameron-a7095371.html

33

Actors, Interests and Conflicts European Commission (EC): The Commission's agenda on migration outlines an immediate response to the crisis situation in the Mediterranean and sets out longer term steps to manage migration in all its aspects.

Member States: Every State handles immigrants and refugees in their own way. Every nation state tries to safeguard freedom of religion, peaceful multiculturalism and an effective integration of immigrants, although some of them have a more hostile approach against immigrants.70 71 Refugees/Migrants: Several refugees have given up their lives in their home country to make the dangerous trip to Europe for a better life only to be met by border lockdowns and insufficient aid. Everyday as more and more refugees cross into Europe every refugees’ living standards take a dive downwards. This crisis has hit Europe hard and refugees have not received sufficient aid, therefor as the problem progresses things turn worse.

Terrorists: Their interest is to incite ideologically motivated terror in the form of violence.

Whenever they commit acts of violence for their cause, the public opinion on refugees and immigrants tends to become increasingly negative, which causes more tension.

The European Union (EU): To address the unprecedented emergency situation along the Eastern Mediterranean-Western Balkans route, the EU and the most affected countries in this area agreed on a 17-point plan of action.72 The action plan includes permanent exchange of information; limiting secondary movements; supporting refugees and providing shelter and rest; shared management of migration flows; border management, and tackling smuggling and trafficking.

Current Legislation & Policies The Audiovisual Media Services Directive ensures that Member States prevent audiovisual media services from containing any incitement to hatred.73 A Coordinator for anti-Muslim hatred has been appointed by the EC in order to fight discrimination and coordinate European efforts to combat Islamophobia. For this purpose they will cooperate with Member States, EU institutions, relevant civil society organisations and academia.74 The Council Framework Decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law75 obliges Member States to consider racist or xenophobic motivation behind all crimes as an aggravating circumstance, penalising public

70

Challenges of integration: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/challenges-integration-eu Member States’ response to immigration quotas: http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-homeaffairs/news/many-eu-countries-say-no-to-immigration-quotas/ 72 European Commission and Western Balkans migration route: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-155904_en.htm 73 The EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/audiovisualmedia-services-directive-avmsd 74 A coordinator for anti muslim hatred being appointed by the EU: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/fundamental-rights/news/151201_en.htm 75 The Council Framework Decision on racism as a motivation behind crime: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?qid=1475161851462&uri=CELEX:32008F0913 71

34

incitement to racist violence or hatred. It also refers to the safeguarding of victims of hate crime.

The decision is not yet fully applied, as only 13 Member States have implemented it in national law so far.

An European Agenda on Migration76 was presented by the Commission in 2015, with steps to be taken to better manage migration.

The Global Approach to Migration and Mobility77 adopted by the Commission in 2011 sets the framework for the EU’s relations with third countries in the field of migration. It disciplines their interactions, setting human rights and dialogue as pillars.

The Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted in 2005 helps national as well as international authorities to prevent radicalisation and to support anti-radicalisation programmes.78 Perspectives A quick rise in power of far-right parties, frequently followed by Islamophobia and intolerance has been allowed and fueled by the circumstances of terror and economic instability that have recently been growing in Europe. Politicians, opinion makers, and people with influence on shaping the general perspective of events have used and will keep using these circumstances to turn the cards in their favour; spreading fear through their electoral campaigns, carefully observing and avoiding to take a stand in favour of the attacker’s community. Fear makes us an easy target for such powerful figures and makes others easy targets for blaming. This does not only concern the Muslim community. For example, the Polish community in the UK has also recently been victimised by incidents, following the referendum.79 Immigration and integration laws are also getting stricter, as the Netherlands warns of deporting immigrants who do not pass a now more difficult language test and where segregation of the Muslim community is rising.80 While these phenomena occur in and affect different areas of Europe, and since the EU is still lacking common migration and immigrant integration policies, what are the different impacts?

Europe finds itself split between countries that will probably keep safeguarding their national borders, those overwhelmed by an influx of immigration they cannot handle and those who will hopefully fight criminal organisations and work for the reestablishment of the countries that the migrants are fleeing from, fighting the problem at its core. The safeguarding of multiculturalism and ethnic minorities already present in European states will also depend on the policies adopted by those countries for migration81 and integration.82

76

The Agenda on Migration: https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/main-menu/eus-work/policy-areas The Global Approach to Migration and Mobility of the European Commission: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourservice/en/displayFtu.html?ftuId=FTU_5.12.3.html 78 http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/crisis-and-terrorism/index_en.htm 79 Racist attacks after Brexit: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/27/europe/racist-attacks-post-brexit/index.html 80 The Netherlands’ policy on immigration and deportation: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/12/netherlands-to-immigrants-learn-dutch-or-fear-deportation/ 81 The EU’s strategic guidelines for migration: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/european-unionstrategic-guidelines-migration-uncontentious-consensus-missed-opportunity 82 The future of immigrant integration: 77

35

In light of this situation, what should Member States focus their efforts on and should the EU try to coordinate them? If the EU chooses to guarantee a minimum level of integration, how can the final measures take into account the different situations every Member State is going through?

Furthermore, how can we avoid the segregation of ethnic minorities that sometimes gets included in political agendas of far right parties? Lastly, how can we fight the disinformation that makes people easy targets for propaganda campaigns that feed upon spreading fear and terror?

Key Words Discrimination - the harmful and unequal treatment of people based on factors such as age, sexual orientation and religion. Discrimination is condemned by law, which also grants protection to individuals in environments such as work, public services or education.

Integration - a process in which members work to achieve peaceful relations through dialogue, creating an inclusive environment that draws on different traditions and gives equal opportunities regardless of race and religion.

Social exclusion – the segregation of a group of people because of their different social identity (race, ethnicity, culture, etc). This can result in difficult voicing opinions and lack of recognition, or even exclusion from work opportunities, social services or political representation.

Terrorism - the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.

Xenophobia - fear of what is foreign or of people of foreign origin, usually of a group of people that has recently joined the community. It can cause hostile or violent reactions to the group.

Definitions Exacerbating: making (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.

Islamophobia: the dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, especially as a political force.

http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/future-immigrant-integration-europe-mainstreaming-approachesinclusion

36

Statistics FIRST TIME ASYLUM APPLICANTS, EU. January 2015 - June 201683

Links A coordinator for anti muslim hatred being appointed by the EU: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/fundamental-rights/news/151201_en.htm Challenges of integration: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/challenges-integration-eu European Commission and Western Balkans migration route: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressrelease_IP-15-5904_en.htm First time Asylum applicants in the EU 2015/2016: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statisticsexplained/index.php/Asylum_quarterly_report Immigrant integration in Europe: http://www.debatingeurope.eu/2015/07/02/how-caneurope-better-integrate-immigrants/#.V_VGxVeO4dW Member States’ response to immigration quotas: http://www.euractiv.com/section/justicehome-affairs/news/many-eu-countries-say-no-to-immigration-quotas/ Racist attacks after Brexit: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/27/europe/racist-attacks-postbrexit/index.html

83

First time Asylum applicants in the EU 2015/2016: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statisticsexplained/index.php/Asylum_quarterly_report

37

Refugee integration: https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/13/europe-integrating-refugees-next-big-challenge Rise of xenophobia after the EU referendum: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/eureferendum-brexit-immigration-xenophobia-new-normal-debate-nigel-farage-davidcameron-a7095371.html The Agenda on Migration: https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/main-menu/euswork/policy-areas The Council Framework Decision on racism as a motivation behind crime: http://eurlex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1475161851462&uri=CELEX:32008F0913 The EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-singlemarket/en/audiovisual-media-services-directive-avmsd The EU’s strategic guidelines for migration: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/europeanunion-strategic-guidelines-migration-uncontentious-consensus-missed-opportunity The future of immigrant integration: http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/future-immigrant-integration-europemainstreaming-approaches-inclusion The Global Approach to Migration and Mobility of the European Commission: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourservice/en/displayFtu.html?ftuId=FTU_5.12.3.html The Netherlands’ policy on immigration and deportation: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/12/netherlands-to-immigrants-learn-dutch-or-feardeportation/

38

Committee on Regional Development (REGI) With the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region, how can the EU promote economic cooperation between affected Member States, environmentally friendly mobility and the preservation of alpine biodiversity?

by Veronika Reisinger (AT) & Karlis Kreslins (LV) Summary After the implementation of the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP)84, one of several macro-regional strategies in the EU, many goals have yet to be achieved. The Alpine Region has to remain competitive, also as a tourist destination. Regarding the low population density in the mountain areas and the rural depopulation, the local economy is in danger. In order to make the Alpine livelihood more attractive, the EUSALP wants to promote sustainable public transport systems and focuses on meeting the energy demand with sustainable resources only.

Main Problem While the economic globalisation proceeds all over the globe, smaller regions, such as the Alpine Region, that used to sell their goods and services locally, might suffer from multinational enterprises entering the market. Therefore, the Alpine Region is required to distinguish itself as a competitive and innovative region, defending its market share against multinational enterprises and other more industrial (European) regions. Moreover, the high degree of seasonality of the local tourism forces locals to move to urban areas during the off-season. As the current demographic trends predict, the effects of the (Alpine) society’s ageing process and the rural depopulation in all affected Member States might lead to an extreme reduction of the population density in the Alpine Region. As a matter of fact, fewer workforce would result in a decline of profits and prosperity in the region. It is therefore of great importance to increase the economic power of the Alps, in order for the region to remain an attractive area for residents.

The most difficult challenge, however, is to balance the development and protection process.

The Alps should be a well-functioning living space for people and nature, as well as a field for economic growth and social activities. Another important aspect that is part of the EUSALP is sustainability. The foreseeable effects of climate change on the Alpine environment, its biodiversity and the living conditions of the inhabitants might significantly harm the region as such. Furthermore, the management of energy resources in a sustainable, secure and affordable way pose tremendous trials for all affected Member States. With the Alpine Region’s specific geographical position in Europe as a transit region, the preservation of its unique natural features is of a greater need than elsewhere and due to miscommunication among the Member States cooperation is not yet at its maximum.

84 EU Strategy for the Alpine Region

39

Actors, Interests and Conflicts Alpine inhabitants: Alpine inhabitants face seasonal financial struggles due to the seasonality of Alpine tourism. Apart from that, the new migration models might lead to an even lower population density in the region.

National interests: As the EUSALP combines seven countries, i.e. five Member States (Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia) and two non-EU countries (Liechtenstein, Switzerland), all of them follow specific national interests. For example, in Slovenia different measures might have to be taken in comparison to France.

Promoting European public transport systems: CER - Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies: As the development of environmentally friendly public transport systems across the Alps is part of the EUSALP pillars, CER serves as a representative of the European rail business.

UIC - International Association for Railways: As an international organisation, the UIC is able to compare the situation in the Alps with railway systems outside the EU and help with new ideas and strategies.

Protecting the Alps: CIPRA (Commission International pour la Protection des Alpes): Since 1975, CIPRA serves as an umbrella organisation committed to sustainable development in the Alps. The organisation sits on the Alpine Convention’s committees as an official observer, expressing critical views on a range of positions, strategies and action plans.85 Euromontana (European Association for Mountain Areas): Euromontana is a stakeholder not only focusing on the Alpine Region but on all mountain areas in Europe.

Mountain Partnership: Mountain Partnership, an organisation committed to all mountain ecosystems, specifically supports the conservation of the mountains’ flora and fauna, as well as improving the livelihood of the inhabitants.

WWF European Alpine Programme (EALP): WWF Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland are working together to implement a transboundary conservation strategy in the Alps.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): As outlined in the “Main Problems” section of this overview, SMEs are the companies that are suffering the most from the globalisation of the Alpine area. When MNEs enter the market, SMEs lose customers. They often go bankrupt as relying on export is usually not possible for SMEs. SMEs are represented by the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium enterprises (UEAPME).

Current Legislation & Policies EUSALP: On July 28th, 2015, the EU created a macro-regional Strategy for the Alpine Region (EUSALP). The strategy is based on the Europe 202086 goals and its main target is to achieve

85 86

CIPRA Position Paper on the EUSALP European Commission, Europe 2020 - Europe's growth strategy

40

those ambitious Europe 2020 goals in the Alpine Region. The strategy is endorsed by the European Council and may be supported by European Structural and Investment Funds87.

The objectives of the strategy, tackling the main problem in the area, are: Economic growth and innovation; Mobility and connectivity; Environment and energy.

As the strategy has been implemented, only few of the goals set have been achieved.

Alpine Space Programme: The Alpine Space programme88 is a European transnational cooperation programme for the Alpine region. It provides a framework to facilitate the cooperation between economic, social and environmental key players in the seven Alpine countries, as well as among various institutional levels such as: academia, administration, business and innovation sector, and policy making. The programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)89 and national public and private co-funding of the partner states. In the current period of the programme (2014–2020), the programme is investing ₏139 million in projects through which key actors develop shared solutions for prevalent Alpine issues.

The Alpine Convention: The Alpine Convention90 is an international treaty for sustainable development and protection of the Alps between the seven Alpine countries and the EU. The Alpine Convention is an international territorial treaty for the sustainable development of the Alps. The objective of the treaty is to protect the natural environment of the Alps while promoting its development.

Perspectives As 2020 and therefore also the end of the EU 2020 goals is getting closer, all of the aforementioned strategies are trying to implement as much as possible, because 2020 will be an important measuring point for the further existence of policies like these. The Alpine Region is a unique region and it has the potential to develop even more. How can the Alpine Region achieve all of the ambitious goals set in the EUSALP? How can the communication and cooperation between the affected Member States be improved? How can economic growth and sustainability be fostered and at the same time the Alpine heritage be preserved? How can social and territorial disparities be reduced to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the region? How can the Alpine Region be kept alive because of the decline of the population density?

Key Words Alpine Region: The unique territory with a rich biodiversity serves as the water tower of Europe and is the living and working space for millions of people. It is also the tourist destination for lots of tourists. The EUSALP concerns seven countries, i.e. Austria, France, Germany, Italy,

87

European Commission, European Structural & Investment Funds Alpine Space Programme 89 European Regional Development Fund 90 Alpine Convention 88

41

Slovenia, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and 48 regions, enhancing the co-operation of EU Member States with non-EU countries.

EUSALP - European Union Strategy for the Alpine Region is a macro-regional strategy made to develop the Alpine Region because of its potential. The general objective is to promote sustainable economic and social prosperity of the Alpine Region.

EU 2020 - Europe 2020 is the EU's growth strategy for the coming decade. The Union has set five ambitious objectives - on employment, innovation, education, social inclusion and climate/energy - to be reached by 2020. Each Member State has adopted its own national targets in each of these areas.

Statistics Map of the Migration balance in the Alps 2002-2012: https://rga.revues.org/docannexe/image/2546/img-2.jpg Links for further Research Alps and Tourism: http://alpsknowhow.cipra.org/background_topics/alps_and_tourism/alps_and_tourism_cha pter_2.html Communication concerning a European Union Strategy for the Alpine Region: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/cooperate/alpine/eusalp_communicationtion_e n.pdf Demographic Changes in the Alps - Report on the State of the Alps: http://www.alpconv.org/en/publications/alpine/Documents/RSA5en.pdf EU2020 - Targets: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-anutshell/targets/index_en.htm Mr. Ruiz de Casas speaks about European Alpine Region Strategy: Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y6z7gluY7M Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR-qHscI2y

42

Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN). Taking into account the social and economic impact of mass tourism, how can the EU foster the conservation of Mediterranean coastlands whilst supporting economic growth in such areas?

by Mikaella Christodoulides (CY) & Joel Juntunen (FI) Executive Summary What are the socio-economic and environmental problems of mass tourism in the Mediterranean countries and what actions should the Member States take to achieve sustainable tourism? With an increase in the number of tourists across Europe, there has also been a rise in the level of pollution along Mediterranean coastland and clear signs of a shift towards investing and specialising in the tourism industry. What actions should the EU take to ensure the growth of Mediterranean countries while guaranteeing that the cultural heritage, economy and environment of Mediterranean coastlands are not damaged?

Main Problem The world’s coastlines are currently under enormous and unprecedented pressure from population growth and development. Historically, civilizations have tended to cluster around such areas and coastal cities are focal points for innovation, development and economic growth. Largely due to its combined natural and cultural attractiveness, Europe is the world's primary tourism destination. Tourism also generates 10% of the EU’s GDP91. New types of tourism and increased frequency of holidays have a serious environmental impact on a regional and on a local level. A damaged environment could undermine tourism in the future.

With the immense increase in efficiency and decrease in the cost of traveling, tourism has become a vital economic sector in many countries around the world. The drive to become a more attractive destination can quickly become infectious and result in loss of authenticity of certain vulnerable destinations. Exposure to foreign cultures can be very constructive in terms of supporting innovation. However, with the large majority of tourists travelling for leisure instead of business, there could be a negative social impact on the host country, if certain disagreeable behaviors of tourists are adopted. Commodification, standardisation and ethnical clashes are all examples of the negative social impact tourism can have92.

91

https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/opinion/environmental-protection-could-help-safeguardeu-tourism-sector 92

http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/Business/SectoralActivities/Tourism/FactsandFiguresaboutTourism/I mpactsofTourism/Socio-CulturalImpacts/NegativeSocioCulturalImpactsFromTourism/tabid/78781/Default.aspx

43

Tourism may seem like an advantageous option for investors, but who are the real beneficiaries of this trade? Another main economic issue resulting from mass tourism is that countries that are heavily invested in in the tourism industry divert from developing other expertise. These areas become more susceptible to an economic crisis if there is a general decline in the touristic sector.

Lastly, mass tourism hinders countries on an environmental level as well. In recent years, the Carbon footprint has increased in countries that are heavily involved with tourism and there is an incline of carbon emissions during summer compared to winter periods93. Another growing concern is the damage to marine and coastal ecosystems. As more tourists become attracted to coastlines and beaches, their level of pollution increases resulting in disruption of the marine organisms’ natural habitats and in extreme cases can even lead to extinction of species94. The Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project is targeted towards managing coastlines but it requires the communication and agreement between local, regional and national powers in each area, which is not always sufficient95. Lastly, the changes in transportation, accommodation and lifestyle during holiday periods show an increasing level of tourism-lead pollution, where a “greener” approach must be applied.

Actors, Interests and Conflicts • Member states that receive a high level of tourism Mediterranean countries with a bigger touristic sector receive large amounts of profit from this industry. This way, an increased level of spending on local, small scale businesses as well as local airlines and larger scale corporations is generated96.

Local business owners These are the main beneficiaries of mass-tourism. Many businesses are mainly focused on the tourist industry, which means this is the only way in which they can survive as a business97.

•

Environmental (non-)governmental organisations and bodies (e.g. Mare Nostrum project)

•

93

94

http://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/images/media/7._Carbon_footprint_calculation_guide.pdf

http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/publications/brochures/pdfs/regionalseas_brochure.pdf

95

http://marenostrumproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Mare_Nostrum_Project_Final_Report.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statisticsexplained/index.php/File:Top_10_tourism_destinations_%E2%80%94_nights_spent_at_tourist_accommodatio n_establishments,_2014_(million_nights_spent_in_the_country_by_non-residents)_YB16.png 97

http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/Business/SectoralActivities/Tourism/FactsandFiguresaboutTourism/I mpactsofTourism/EconomicImpactsofTourism/NegativeEconomicImpactsofTourism/tabid/78784/Default.aspx 96

44

Conflict is generated between local business that profit from tourism and environmental organisations that look into more sustainable ways to promote tourism; these ways may put locals in extra costs (through taxation) or limit local businesses and therefore decrease their profits.

Current Legislation & Policies The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas is a practical management tool that enables Protected Areas to develop tourism sustainably.98 Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development and the Barcelona Convention are parts of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), a project of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).99 Overview of EU Tourism Policy Tackling the main problems: security and safety, economic competitiveness, technological, markets and competition100 The Mare Nostrum Project is an EU-funded cross-border project exploring new ways of protecting the Mediterranean coastline. 101 Perspectives Cities have started advocating limits on their tourist flows, many locals are irritated by the fact that visitors can extend the amount of residents by sixfold every year. Modern tourism has started trends where people look for “authentic” or “off the beaten track” experiences. This has diverted some of the tourist flow into the cafes and restaurants previously used mainly by the locals.102 Many events and businesses gather both locals and tourists. Rural areas can benefit from this income greatly and the jobs created by tourism can act as a very important motivation to reduce emigration.103 Key Words Economic Growth Mass Tourism Environmental sustainability Eco-Tourism Authentic culture

98

http://www.europarc.org/nature/european-charter-sustainable-tourism/ http://www.unepmap.org/index.php?module=content2&catid=001001 100 https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/tourism/policy-overview_en 101 http://marenostrumproject.eu/ 102 https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2015-08-14/why-some-cities-don-t-like-tourists and https://www.oyster.com/articles/52019-why-you-may-be-banned-from-visiting-italys-cinque-terre-this-year/ 103

http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Impact_of_tourism_in_coastal_areas:_Need_of_sustainable_tourism_strateg y#Furthur_reading 99

45

Statistics http://media.unwto.org/content/infographics World Tourism Organisation infographics http://www.europarc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Appendix-2-Charter-in-numbersInfographic-WP1.pdf Infographic on the European charter for sustainable tourism in protected areas

Top 10 tourism destinations — nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments, 2014 (million nights spent in the country by non-residents)104 Links http://www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/envi/one.html Explains the main environmental impact on tourism http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284418145 The World Tourism Organizations statistics on tourism http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Tourism_statistics EU specific tourism statistics from Eurostats http://marenostrumproject.eu/ Mare nostrum https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/opinion/environmental-protection-couldhelp-safeguard-eu-tourism-sector “Environmental protection could help safeguard EU tourism sector” The parliament magazines view on the environmental side http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/publications/brochures/pdfs/regionalseas_brochure.pdf UNEP Regional Seas Partnership information on the mediterranean (pages 23-16)

104

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statisticsexplained/index.php/File:Top_10_tourism_destinations_%E2%80%94_nights_spent_at_tourist_accommodatio n_establishments,_2014_(million_nights_spent_in_the_country_by_non-residents)_YB16.png

46

Partners of Naantali 2016 – Regional Session of EYP Finland

Naantali

European Youth Parliament Finland – EYP Finland ry Melkonkatu 24 00210 Helsinki info@eypfinland.org www.eypfinland.org