RZESZÓW 2017 | REGIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP POLAND
Programme of the General Assembly Monday, 27th March 2017 08:30 - 09:00
Opening of the General Assembly
09:00 - 09:45
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY
09:45 - 10:30
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on LEGAL AFFAIRS I
10:30 - 11:00
Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:45
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on HUMAN RIGHTS
11:45 - 12:30
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on LEGAL AFFAIRS II
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch
13:30 - 14:15
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
14:15 - 15:00
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY
15:00 - 15:30
Coffee Break
15:30 - 16:30
Closing Ceremony
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Procedure of the General Assembly General rules The wish to speak is indicated by raising the Committee placard. Each committee may use only one Committee placard. The authority of the Board is absolute. Procedure and time settings 1. Presenting of the Motion for a Resolution 2. Reading of the operative clauses 3. Points of information 4. Three minutes to defend the Motion for a Resolution 5. Three minutes to attack the Motion for a Resolution 6. One minute to respond to the Attack Speech 7. Open debate 8. Three minutes to sum up the debate 9. Voting procedure 10. Announcing the votes Point of Information Request for a brief explanation of the meaning of specific words and abbreviations. Point of Personal Privilege Request for a Delegate to repeat a point that was inaudible. Failure to understand the language being spoken does not make for a Point of Personal Privilege. Direct Response Twice per debate, each Committee may use the Direct Response sign. Should a Delegate raise the sign during the open debate, he/she will immediately be recognised by the Board and given the floor as soon as the point being made is concluded. A Direct Response can only be used to refer to and discuss the point made directly beforehand. If two or more 3
Direct Responses are requested at once; the Board will decide which Committee to recognise. In this case, the second Direct Response shall only be held if it can be referred to the first Direct Response, so on and so forth. Point of Order These can be raised by the Chairperson if a Delegate feels the Board have not properly followed parliamentary procedure. Ultimately, the authority of the Board is absolute.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND
FOOD SAFETY Smog level record: In Horizon 2020 the EU has set million people out of risk of poverty and social exclusion, however, on the contrary, the number increased. How can Europe combat this alarming trend and achieve the target set?
Submitted by:
Aleksander Banaś (PL), Błażej Bęben (PL), Džeina Bīskapa (LV), Aleksandra Cyran (PL), Weronika Gromek (PL), Katarzyna Krupa (PL), Gabriela Musialik (PL), Piotr Najda (PL), Julia Nowak (PL), Anna Rejman (PL), Dominika Żmuda (PL), Edvardas Monstvilas (Chairperson, LT), Gráinne Sexton (Chairperson, IE)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with deep regret that air pollution remains the single largest environmental health hazard in Europe, resulting in1: i)
lower quality of life due to illnesses,
ii) strain on the resources of healthcare systems, iii) over 450 000 premature deaths each year, B. Bearing in mind that the majority of manufacturing industries rely heavily on fossil fuels as a primary source of energy, C. Aware that air pollution results in soil erosion and acidification, leading to crop yield losses and lowered levels of agricultural output, D. Concerned by the lack of investment in and availability of environmentally-friendly technologies across Member States, E. Affirming the need for improved infrastructure and urban planning across Member States, F. Alarmed by the negative consequences of poor air quality on the European labour market, G. Acknowledging the low level of information concerning environmental issues such as air pollution in secondary and higher education institutions; 1
European Environment Agency: Stronger measures needed to tackle harm from air pollution
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1. Endorses the provision of grants to businesses involved in environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and/or the production of technologies intended to reduce air pollution levels; 2. Expresses its appreciation for the EU Emissions Trading System2 as a measure currently in place to reduce the reliance of manufacturing industries on non-renewable energy sources; 3. Proposes the creation of media campaigns across Member States, in partnership with Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working to tackle air pollution; 4. Suggests the establishment of a database by the European Commission containing a ranking of environmental audits submitted voluntarily by manufacturing companies; 5. Recommends that Member States restructure urban areas by including but not limited to improving transport networks, increasing the number of green spaces and introducing tree planting schemes in order to minimise air pollution.
The EU Emissions Trading System – policy whereby a cap is set on the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted by each participating company. The cap is reduced over time so that total emissions fall. Within the cap, companies can receive or buy emission allowances which they can trade with one another as needed. 2
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS I Unlocking e-opportunities: The creation of Digital Single Market could contribute with €415 billion per year to the economy and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. What measures and necessary legislative steps could the EU take to ensure a successful creation of Digital Single Market? Submitted by:
Vladyslava Aleksenko (UA), Palina Andrayuk (BY), Patrycja Jabłońska (PL), Maksymilian Kaszubowski (PL), Konrad Kowalski (PL) , Karolina Kuźniar (PL), Alina Fraga Silva (AT), Ireneusz Sołtykiewicz (PL), Agata Tomaszewska (PL), Jerzy Ulewicz (PL), Lukasz Zając (PL), Wladyslav Korshenko (Chairperson, UA), Âli Okumuşoğlu (Chairperson, TR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Concerned by the prevalence of geo-blocking preventing customers from purchasing products online on the EU-wide basis, B. Keeping in mind that only 83%3 of the EU citizens currently have access to the Internet with 96%4 of individuals aged between 16-24 and 57% of the elderly being regular users, C. Taking into account that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) along with local start-ups may be unable to compete with larger companies having wider range of products and resources, D. Pointing out that gathering of personal data in a single database for the Digital Single Market (DSM) may lead to its misuse, exposing it to potential cyber attacks, E. Recognising that the number of European consumers shopping online have increased by 13% between 2011 and 2016 with only 16% of individuals doing cross-border e-commerce5;
Eurostat: Digital economy and society statistics - households and individuals Eurostat: Internet access and use statistics - households and individuals 5 Science Guide: Digital Europe slows down 3
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1. Urges Member States to subsidise SMEs along with EU-wide start-ups in order to stimulate competition within the e-market; 2. Recommends the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs and Skills6 to invest in IT seminars to increase digital literacy among EU citizens, enabling them to utilise the Digital Single Market efficiently by 2018; 3. Calls for the European Commission to support the e-commerce industry within the DSM by providing technical service, aiming to improve the cyber security of their systems and to enhance customer trust in the e-commerce industry; 4. Considers putting forward contractual guidelines for sales of any physical and/or digital goods by the time the DSM is implemented in order to safeguard the interests of the stakeholders; 5. Encourages Member States to reconsider national laws regarding the elimination of geoblocking in order to support the promotion of cross-border transactions and to allow citizens to fully utilise the DSM; 6. Requests the European Commission to create advertisements and public relations campaigns in order to raise awareness of the benefits that the DSM entails among European citizens, especially targeting countries which fall behind on digital literacy; 7. Instructs the European Commission to closely monitor the e-market in order to identify any possible shortcomings of further advancing the implementation of the DSM.
The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition brings together Member States, companies, social partners, non-profit organisations and education providers who take action to tackle the lack of digital skills in Europe. 6
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS Europe plagued by human trafficking: An alarming number of 30 146 registered victims in the 28 Member States over the three-year period 2010-2012. Taking into account the Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating human trafficking, how can the EU further protect the rights of its citizens?
Submitted by:
Vira Kondratyuk (UA), Inez Brogowska (PL), Julia Wrońska (PL), Paweł Bącal (PL), Weronika Bartoszewska(PL), Wiktoria Mika (PL), Barbara Tumm (PL), Aleksandra Pikuła (PL), Patrycja Furmaniuk (PL), Julia Rabada (PL), Alicja Nawrocka (PL), Małgorzata Braszka (Chairperson, PL) Elodie Estier Dos Santos (Chairperson, CH)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Fully aware of a lack of common framework regulating human trafficking and prostitution among Member States, B. Deeply concerned by the inefficiency of the EU bodies such as the European Police Office (Europol) and European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) in combating criminal organizations proficient in human trafficking, C. Alarmed by the deficient cooperation between Member States and developing countries victims tend to be associated with; D. Bearing in mind the high extent in which human trafficking contributes to international criminal activities, E. Noting with deep concern the lack of comprehension and awareness among EU citizens regarding human trafficking issues, F. Emphasising the high vulnerability of marginalized constituencies exposed to within Member States, G. Recognising the risk of social exclusion and stigmatisation human trafficking victims are exposed to as a result of inept identification mechanisms, H. Taking into consideration that human trafficking is the world's fastest growing crime7;
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Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Issues Comprehensive Report on Transnational Organized Crime in California
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1. Calls upon the European Union’s Anti-Trafficking Coordinator’s Office to distribute accumulated information concerning human trafficking by an annual publication containing methods of detection and reporting human trafficking related activities; 2. Encourages the governments of Member States to strengthen cooperation with nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), by strategic placement of offices allowing easier access to legal and psychological aid for victims; 3. Urges the European Commission to consider increasing their annual budget for structures dealing with human trafficking crimes, such as Europol and Directorate General on Migration and Home Affairs; 4. Requests the European Commission to support media campaigns which aim to introduce victims’ stories and prosecuted traffickers to EU citizens; 5. Calls on the European Commission, the EU anti-trafficking coordinator and Member States governments to: a) create a standardized process of identification and registration of victims, b) establish a shared specialized database with information about traffickers and existing victims by merging currently existing databases; 6. Suggests the inclusion of workshops on human trafficking into the education system in crime susceptible areas; 7. Recommends the European Commission to enlarge the impact of NGOs by establishing digital campaigns targeted at affected individuals.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS II Tapping into digital literacy: According to the Information and Communications technology (ICT) in Schools Survey by the European Commission in 2014, ICT skills and competences of teachers have a direct impact on digital literacy whereas teacher training in ICT is rarely compulsory in Member States. How should the EU revise its Digital Agenda for 2020 to tackle the problem of inefficient ICT training? Submitted by:
Annemarija Apine (LV), Agata Jarmicka (PL), Martin Koller (AT), Kajetan Korszeń (PL), Agnė Laugalytė (LT), Emilia Pochroń (PL), Julia Taracińska (PL), Agnieszka Tumm (PL), Mateusz Komsta (Chairperson, PL) and Valentin Solimeo (Chairperson, FR)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Fully aware of the insufficient and ambiguous usage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)8 in current teaching methods across the Member States, B. Noting with deep concern that teachers’ inept apprehension towards ICT implementation hinders the success of ICT in education, C. Alarmed by the competence deficiency of teachers derived from: D. lack of compulsory training as well as information sources for self-teaching, E. limited competence in utilisation of the equipment, F. Recognizing disparities in the frequency of ICT usage amongst Member States, due to a disproportion in educational policies and accessible infrastructure9, G. Bearing in mind the lack of funds allocated to ICT related equipment in Member States, H. Noting with deep concern the economical disparities between public and private educational institutions, resulting in a discrepancy of quality and quantity of ICT tools used,
Information and Communication Technologies are the technologies and digital tools providing information via telecommunication network. 9 According to a 2013 EU survey, there are 30 students per interactive whiteboard in Denmark compared to up to 1000 students per one in Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia. 8
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I.
Deeply disturbed by the fact that the educational system often does not provide youngsters with ICT skills to enter the labour market while 90%10 of jobs require it,
J. Emphasising that 14 million unemployed and uneducated young people equate a 3 billion EUR11 expense per week while there are about 2.4 million vacant jobs12;
1. Encourages Member States to provide teachers with seminars and interactive lectures in order to develop new teaching methods and update the existing ones; 2. Advises the Education Ministers of Member States to give benefits to the teachers that incorporate ICT in their working methods; 3. Recommends the Member States to review the educational systems in order to fulfil market demand by: a) implementing the ICT methods into every subject by means of projects and assignments, b) increasing the number of IT related subject hours per week in educational programmes, c) highlighting the use of ICT intended for students and teachers through courses and campaigns; 4. Encourages all Member States to make compulsory ICT introductory courses for teachers; 5. Calls upon Member States to provide teachers with opportunities to gain information regarding teaching methods and allow them to self-teach; 6. Advises the European Commission to propose regulations inspecting disproportions between Member States by 2020 as an addition to its Digital Agenda; 7. Endorses the effort of the European Commission to establish guidelines providing key stakeholders with methods of implementation of ICT skills in education; 8. Urges Member States to finance necessary equipment for ICT education proportionate to economic capabilities; 9. Endorses the European Commission to further financially aid Member States that are struggling to reach the Horizon 2020 targets13 regarding ICT in education; 10. Resolves Member States to offer a free basic course on ICT to young unemployed people.
European Union Digital Agenda Scoreboard 2014 European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) 12 Eurostat 13 European Commission 10
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS Poor in actions: Europe 2020 has set the headline target to lift at least 20 million people out of risk of poverty and social exclusion, however, on the contrary, the number increased. How can Europe combat this alarming trend and achieve the target set?
Submitted by:
Julia Babiarz (PL), Zuzanna Bernaczek (PL), Maciek Furmańczyk (PL), Julia Galera (PL), Gosia Grad (PL), Iga Karasińska (PL), Julia Kelsz (PL), Kacper Kosakowski (PL), Katarzyna Kulka (PL), Agata Szwedkowicz (PL), Jacek Wojnarowski (PL), Zofia Sznajder (Chairperson, PL), Ricard Hernandez (Chairperson, ES)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Aware of the need for an effective implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy14 by all Member States, B. Deeply alarmed by the existence of poverty trap15 in the society due to lack of: i)
long-term investment planning in the economies of Member States,
ii) Member States’ commitment to improving the working conditions, C. Noting with deep concern the lack of financial help for start-ups and Small and MediumSized Enterprises (SMEs), D. Noting with concern the escalation of the youth unemployment in the European Union reached 19.6%16, E. Alarmed that the percentage of employed people that are still at risk of poverty settled at 9.5%17, F. Believing junk contracts18 are not providing European citizens with the sufficient earnings to prevent the state of being at risk of poverty,
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Europe 2020 strategy – tackles subjects such as employment, social inclusion and poverty reduction, amongst others. Poverty trap – a mechanism which makes it very difficult for people to escape poverty. Poverty trap happens in developing and under-developed countries, and is caused by a lack of capital and credit to poor people 16 Eurostat: Unemployment statistics 17 Eurostat: Europe 2020 indicators – poverty and social exclusion 18 Junk contract – also called civil law contract, employment contract that does not guarantee a minimum wage for work. 15
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G. Concerned by the fact that the deficiencies in education contribute to unequal opportunities;
1. Recommends Member States to implement career advisory programs, meetings with professionals and compulsory 30 hours work experience for young people between the age of 14 and 19 in the education curricula; 2. Expresses its appreciation for and further invites Member States to subsidise the commuting costs for students in rural and urban areas; 3. Endorses the usage of e-learning platforms such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) for European citizens; 4. Encourages the European Commission to increase the number of student loans and scholarships provided; 5. Strongly urges the Member States to actively monitor the conditions of employees working under junk contracts; 6. Requests the Member States to establish courses that would allow the requalification of citizens that are on the verge of becoming at risk of poverty; 7. Invites local governments to establish a clear-cut system of microloans aimed to support start-ups and small businesses aimed to prevent them from bankruptcy; 8. Endorses raising awareness on poverty-related societal issues by launching media campaigns.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY Transition to “Make, Use, Return”: Circular economy is one of the 10 priorities set by the European Commission. How can the EU and its Member States efficiently transition to resource-efficient production and ensure industrial sustainability?
Submitted by:
Alicja Matusiak (PL), Eglė Lazickaitė (LT), Marcin Mochnacki (PL), Agnieszka Sieczek (PL), Oliwia Kulawska (PL), Anna Plęs (PL), Ewa Obacz (PL), Dominika Szczęch (PL), Anastasiia Zhuzhevych (UA), Mariia Hershova (UA), Jan Równicki (PL), Laura Joël (Chairperson, NL), Julia Kułakowska (Chairperson, PL)
The European Youth Parliament, A. Reaffirming the commitment to the “Circular Economy Action Plan” adopted by the European Commission, B. Emphasising the responsibility of National Governments to promote and facilitate recycling as it aligns with the 12th Sustainable Development Goal, C. Recognising that a shift towards renewable sources of energy is vital for a transition towards the circular economy, D. Keeping in mind the differences in Member States’ approach towards environmental regulations, E. Fully aware of the possible deflation of non-renewable resources sectors leading to loss of jobs; F. Alarmed by the lack of civil engagement in environmental affairs especially among consumers, G. Observing an increasing trend in usage of renewable resources by Member States, H. Deeply disturbed by the lack of apprehension regarding recyclability and reparability among product manufacturers, I.
Stressing the need for further technological advancement in production of recyclable and biodegradable materials,
J. Conscious of the high costs and subsequent high prices of second generation products;
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1. Reaffirming the commitment to Horizon 2020 and 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda; 2. Recommends non-governmental organisations raise awareness by portraying circular economy and industrial sustainability throughout media outlets; 3. Commends the activities of European Structural Investment Funds; 4. Encourages National Governments to introduce tax reductions and subsidies for companies utilising resource-efficient production methods; 5. Further recommends Member States promote waste-efficient manufacturing; 6. Expresses its hope for cooperation between non-renewable resources sectors and labour unions with educational institutions in order to achieve enhanced occupational mobility; 7. Stresses the need for Member States to continue collectively improving private waste management in national accordance.
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Fact Sheet: Circular Economy Action Plan: An action plan put forward by the European Commission which aims at facilitating the transition towards circular economy in order to boost competitiveness, improve sustainability and resource-efficiency in Europe. 12th Sustainable Development Goal: The Sustainable Development Goals are part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development proposed by the United Nations. Goal number 12 states that it is in place to “ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns�. Second generation product: A second-generation product or system is one which has been developed and improved from an earlier form. Horizon 2020: Horizon 2020 is the European Union framework for research and innovation, whose goals include sustainability: greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than those in 1990; 20% of energy from renewable resources; and a 20% increase in energy efficiency, by making the economy more innovative and competitive. European Structural and Investment Fund: Set up by the European Commission, this fund devotes around 110 billion EUR to innovation activities, ICT, SME competitiveness, and the low carbon economy.
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RZESZÓW 2017 R E GION A L SE LE CTION CO N FE R E N CE OF E YP P OL A N D
Supported by:
Initiated by:
The Schwarzkopf Foundation is the international umbrella organisation of the European Youth Parliament (EYP). EYP Poland is a National Committee in the EYP network.