Ljubljana 2019 - Resolution booklet by EYP SI

Ljubljana 2019 5th National Selection Conference of EYP Slovenia

Table of contents Foreword GA Process AFET CULT ENVI I LIBE I JURI ENVI II TRAN LIBE II

Foreword Dear participants of Ljubljana 2019, A er some longer and some shorter trips to Ljubljana, you arrived here to meet this bunch of volunteers, passionate about youth and Europe enough to devote months to create an environment for all of us, but especially you, to thrive, learn, develop and engage! A er a day of getting to know each other through serious and silly activities, two days of serious discussions, the time has come we share with the world the product of your work - ideas and solutions about topics we have taken on board at this session - the Resolution Booklet of the 5th National Selection Conference of EYP Slovenia! Please read and treat this booklet with a sense of appreciation for what your fellow delegates were doing these past days with the same amount of passion and dedication. I invite you to listen, react and engage respectfully, but also critically - challenge whatever anyone believes is either a good or bad proposal with hope to improve and learn. It is my pleasure to introduce to you this document and congratulate primarily all XX delegates for their motivation, research and dedication in all the debates over the past couple of days. Above all, responsible for the content of the Resolution Booklet are Alicja, Alin, Anna, Bill, Eleanor, Hugh, Jarne and Zuza! I could not thank them enough for the eﬀort and love they poured into this topics and work with their committees, but also patience for all of our questions and feedback aimed at making your resolutions as good as possible. The process was most admirably supported by Emily, Milla and Oleg, the session Vice-Presidents. Their knowledge and kindness made this process one of the smoothest I have ever encountered. Many thanks should be given to Daša, Jaša, Kuba, Luc, Mariam, Nia, Nadja and Riccardo for the continuous support over the evening that allowed us in the Board to focus solely on the content of the Resolutions and providing an environment where Chairpersons felt at ease. Their help with editing, proofreading and formatting skills made a significant value to this document! I wish you fruitful, engaging and enjoyable debate. I cannot wait for our General Assembly to start very soon! Kind regards from Ljubljana, Ilija

GA Process Presentation of the topic (3 min) Defense speech (3 min) delivered from the podium by 1 delegate

Position speech (3 min) delivered from the podium by 1 or 2 delegates from opposing committee(s)

Response to the Position speech (1min30) delivered from the floor by 1 delegate

Debate 4 rounds (20 min) every round is responded from the floor

Summation speech (2 min) delivered from the podium by 1 delegate

Voting (5 min) chairpersons collect the votes and announce them in order IN FAVOUR, AGAINST, ABSTAINING, ABSENT

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Aﬀairs (AFET) All roads lead to the EU? Considering the stagnancy of accession negotiations between Western Balkan countries and the EU, caused by concerns over the state of the Union, territorial disputes and the speed of implementation of reforms, how should the new Commission approach Western Balkan integration in its next term?

Submitted by:

Ioannis Alekos (SI), Nira Arapović (BA), Julia Khairova (HR), Bakir Lemeš (DE), Sally Maiga (IT), Jakob Mlakar (SI), Niki Paraskevopoulou (GR), Tea Tešnjak (BA), Anna Beg (Chairperson, HR)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Emphasising the unstable economies of the Western Balkans countries and their slow implementation of reforms needed to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria, B. Acknowledging the importance of goals set out in A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced European Union (EU) engagement with the Western Balkans, such as the rule of law requirements and socio-economic development and the lack of Western Balkans countries’ progress in the aforementioned areas, C. Recognising that the EU was founded on the economic cooperation of Germany and France in order to achieve and preserve peace, D. Alarmed by foreign interference in the Western Balkan region as demonstrated by: i)

the unstable diplomatic relations between Kosovo and Serbia further undermined by Russian influence,

ii) significant Chinese infrastructure investments, E. Concerned by the limitations of the EU budget to financially support Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries in the Western Balkan accession process,

F. Aware of some Member States prioritising reforms inside the current union composition before accepting new Member States,1 G. Noting the ongoing border disputes between Member States and candidate countries, as seen between Croatia and Serbia,2 H. Noting further that the Western Balkan accession process is hindered by troubled relations between Kosovo and Serbia, I.

Fully aware of the details of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Dayton Agreement and political system, which: i)

Links the passive voting right to the candidate’s ethnicity,3

ii) Hinders coordination between diﬀerent levels of government, iii) Creates institutional challenges for its citizens, J. Noting with regret that the Western Balkan countries have poor neighbourly relations and unresolved historical conflicts demonstrated by: i)

Disagreements about motives and the consequences of the Yugoslav Wars,

ii) Not acknowledging the verdicts of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts, K. Taking into consideration that the Western Balkans countries are experiencing decline of media freedom, as shown by World Press Freedom Index,4 resulting in overreaching political influence on the press, L. Recognising that a notable percentage, specifically 51% of the Western Balkans’ residents are not saying that the EU membership is a good thing;5

Criteria Which is to be Met Before the Enlargement

“Mercron’s Balkan breakdown”, Politico Milekić, S., Živanović, M., “Border Disputes Still Bedevil Ex-Yugoslav States”, Balkan Insight 3 Lakić, M., “Bosnia Still Failing to Address Discrimination Verdict”, Balkan Insight 4 “2019 World Press Freedom Index”, Reporters Without Borders 5 “Balkan Barometar 2018”, Regional Cooperation Council 2

1. Compliments the cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which oﬀers financial aid and appoint advisors to the Western Balkan region in cooperation with the respective National Governments to further economic reforms; 2. Encourages the governments of the Western Balkan region to monitor the progress on the EU-Western Balkans Six Flagship Initiatives more frequently and actively; 3. Suggests Western Balkan governments to publish yearly reports based on the progress of the region on six flagships initiative incorporated in A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans; 4. Supports the Central European Free Trade Agreement and its role in promoting the benefits of economic cooperation prior to the accession to the EU;

External actors in the Western Balkans 5. Requests the IMF to appoint financial advisors specialised to assist with the risk management of foreign financing in the Western Balkan region; 6.

Recommends the European Commission to: a)

Emphasise the benefits of Western Balkan accession process to the current Member States,

Encourage investments in the Western Balkans region;

Internal Problems of the Western Balkans’ Countries 7. Calls upon the Western Balkan countries to peacefully resolve border disputes within the region through arbitration and mediation; 8. Urges the national governments of Serbia and Kosovo to normalise their diplomatic and economic relations without requesting de iure6 recognition of Kosovo as a sovereign country; 9. Recommends the international community to support the change of the constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina to become non-discriminatory and to have less diﬀerent layers of government; 6

Permanent and final recognition.

10. Requests the national governments of the Western Balkan region endorse the participation of the youth in programmes which promote reconciliation between the region’s nations, such as the Regional Youth Cooperation Oﬀice; 11. Calls upon the Amnesty International to further supervise public and private media companies in order to ensure that they abide by the Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;7 12. Proposes the European Commission to grant project funding to non-governmental organisations with the aim of increasing the EU's visibility in the countries.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN

Fact Sheet

Western Balkans countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Copenhagen criteria: criteria which a candidate country needs to fulfil in order to join the EU. They consist of political criteria, economic criteria, administrative criteria and the institutional capacity and ability to take on the obligations of membership. A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans: a document issued by the Juncker’s Commission outlining the reforms needed in the Western Balkan region. Yugoslav wars: armed conflicts that took place on the soil of the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 2001. Dayton Agreement: an agreement reached in order to end the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which also established the constitution of the country. It envisions two entities with own bodies, as well as common bodies of the federation as a whole, and a three party Presidency consisting of members of three ethnicities: Bosniak, Croatian and Serbian. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia: a court founded by the United Nations (UN) that was dealing with the certain war crimes committed on the soil of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Courts: a court mandated with functions of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia which stopped working in 2017. The International Monetary Fund: UN organisation that fosters global monetary cooperation, financial stability, promotes international trade, high employment and sustainable economic growth. EU-Western Balkans Six Flagship Initiatives: a part of A credible enlargement perspective for and enhanced EU engagement with the Western Balkans which outlines six main areas in which reforms are needed. They consist of the rule of law, socio - economic development, initiative for a digital agenda, engagement on security and migration, increasing connectivity and support for reconciliation and good neighbourly relations. Central European Free Trade Agreement: free trade agreement in South Eastern Europe.

Regional Youth Cooperation Oﬀice: an institutional mechanism founded by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. It aims to promote cooperation and reconciliation in the region through youth exchange programs. Amnesty International: an NGO whose main interest are human rights and their violations. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) National treasure: Several artistic and cultural artefacts currently in Western European museums were acquired during the colonial era. Given that it might be dangerous for these artefacts to be stored in countries experiencing conflict and economic stagnation, should other Member States follow France's example and return these artefacts to their countries of origin?

Submitted by:

Leonardo D'Antonio (CH), Gianluca Boccia (IT), Miguel A. Caridade (PT), Lara Cerar (SI), Iris Nooren (NL), Giulia Vergai (IT), Paul Virgien (DE), Jarne van der Poel (Chairperson, NL)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising the religious and historical significance of cultural objects and their resulting importance to the cultural identity of communities within countries of origin, B. Aware that European museums view themselves as guardians of world culture and aim to 1 promote broad cultural understanding, 2

C. Noting with deep regret that 90 to 95 % of African art resides outside of the continent with 3 the British Museum alone owning 200,000 pieces of African art, D. Regretting that a portion of lost African national treasures form part of private collections, further complicating the repatriation of such pieces, 4

E. Noting with concern the neglected museum facilities in countries such as Nigeria, due to a lack of investment in cultural institutions, 1

Scher, R. “Back to Where They Once Belonged” Artnews, 2018, http://www.artnews.com/2018/06/26/back- belonged-proponents-repatriation-african-artworks-take-issue-past-present-future/ 2 Sarr, F. and Savoy, B., “The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage: Toward a New Relational Ethics”, Ministère de la Culture, 2018 https://bit.ly/2TJQqCC 3 Savoy, B., “The restitution revolution begins”, The Art Newspaper, 2018, https://www.theartnewspaper.com/ comment/the-restitution-revolution-begins 4 Maclean, R., “Bronzes to Benin, gold to Ghana … museums under fire on looted art,” The Guardian, December 2, 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/dec/02/british-museums-pressure-give- back--looted-african-art-treasures

F. Alarmed by widespread authoritarianism and corruption in the governance of African countries, with Sub-Saharan Africa being the lowest scoring region globally in the 5 Corruption Perception Index, G. Disturbed by war or post-war tensions in African countries, which cause European 6 museums to be hesitant about permanently repatriating cultural objects to these countries, H. Noting that many artworks were obtained through unethical methods such as looting, forgery of documents and forced consent, causing the provenance of such art to be unknown, I.

Concerned that the majority of African artefacts in European collections are not displayed 7 publicly, but remain in storage, as in the case of the British Museum,

J. Affirming the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which affirms their right to restitution of cultural or intellectual property taken without their consent, K. Keeping in mind that the looting of cultural objects during armed conflicts has been prohibited since 1954 by The Hague Convention, L. Bearing in mind the 1995 United Nations Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) Convention, which sets out to fight the illicit trafficking of cultural properties and requires their return to countries of origin, M. Welcoming the efforts of the French government to: i)

return, upon request, 26 cultural artefacts to Benin,

ii) create transparency and awareness around looted artworks in French collections 8 through the 2018 report commissioned by president Macron, N. Noting with approval the eﬀorts of organisations such as the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) and the Benin Dialogue Group to facilitate negotiations about repatriation of cultural objects;

“In Whose Interest? Political Integrity and Corruption in Africa” Transparency International, 2018, https://www.transparency.org/news/feature/political_corruption_and_political_integrity_in_africa 6 Little, B., “Will the British Museum Ever Return These Stolen Artifacts?”, History.com, 2018, https://www.history.com/news/british-museum-stolen-artifacts-nigeria 7 “British Museum Collection”, The British Museum, https://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/fact_sheet_bm _collection.pdf 8 Sarr, F. and Savoy, B., “The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage: Toward a New Relational Ethics”, Ministère de la Culture, 2018 https://bit.ly/2TJQqCC

Working towards repatriation 1. Instructs the European Commission to actively support the dra ing of common guidelines for countries of origin wishing to make repatriation claims, through harmonising existing guidelines; 2. Trusts that African museums will act as intermediaries in returning religious or culturally significant artefacts to indigenous communities; 3. Invites Member States to set their own goals in working towards the return of African artworks unless it can be proven that the objects were obtained legitimately; 4. Suggests that Member States enter negotiations about repatriation with African national governments through ICPRCP; 5. Directs the European Commission to create a fund to financially incentivise private collectors to release works of art that have restitution claims filed against them;

Improving standards in countries of origin 6. Urges Member States to actively support museums in creating partnerships with African museums to facilitate knowledge-sharing and raise standards of security, resources and facilities; 7. Requests that the European Commission’s diplomatic delegations to African states raise the issue of investment in cultural institutions; 8. Proposes that the European Commission ensures the safety of artworks being returned by creating art restitution criteria which: a)

prioritise repatriation claims from countries with low corruption and high democracy index scores,

exclude territories experiencing violent conflicts;

Creating dialogue and awareness 9. Asks the European Commission to organise a conference with experts in order to exchange knowledge between European museums about research on the provenance of their art pieces;

10. Strongly encourages Member States to maintain transparency about looted art currently in European museums by commissioning research and reports, following France’s example; 11. Hopes that Member States raise awareness among the European youth by including the colonial era and its implications in national school curricula.

Fact Sheet Looting: also called pillaging or plundering, “looting” refers to taking of goods by force during an armed conflict. Looting became prohibited by international law during the 20th century. Provenance: the origin and history of an object, including all its previous locations and owners. Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP): a part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which serves as an advisory body and mediator between countries and has a fund to support their eﬀorts. Benin Dialogue Group: a multilateral collaborative working group that brings together European museum representatives with key representatives from Nigeria. 1954 The Hague Convention: A er World War II, looting cultural objects during violent conflict became prohibited when the 133 countries of 1954 The Hague Convention promised to return cultural property a er a conflict.

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI I) An invisible problem. Despite a frequent lack of visible symptoms, 4%1 of all deaths in the EU can be attributed to mental and behavioural disorders. Considering that this issue is still surrounded by stigma and prejudice, what can the EU do to break stereotypes and eﬀectively address the issue of mental health? Submitted by:

Špela Bošnjak (SI), Lorenzo Carbone (IT), Miha Čigon (SI), Hanna Kirmayr (ES), Lučka Koprivnjak (SI), Nastja Orel (SI), Jan Tajnić (SI), Hendrik Vlug (NL), Alicja Matusiak (Chairperson, PL)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Deeply concerned that stigma causes mentally ill individuals to fear confiding in others or seeking treatment, B. Conscious that coping mechanisms such as self-harm are o en falsely perceived as attention-seeking, causing further distress for aﬀected individuals and increasing their likelihood of further harming themselves, C. Deeply disturbed that mental health problems are o en inaccurately portrayed in the media, strengthening harmful and untruthful stereotypes, D. Acknowledging that despite the fact that 50% of mental disorder cases arise before the age of 14,2 children are rarely referred for treatment due to the lack of visible symptoms and parental and teacher awareness of the issue, E. Bearing in mind that the ineﬀectiveness of educational institutions in providing information on mental illness allows stereotypes and stigma to persist,

‘Mental health and related issues statistics,’ Eurostat, July 2018, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Mental_health_and_related_issues_statistics 2 Ranna Parekh, ‘Warning Signs of Mental Illness,’ American Psychiatric Association, last modified July 2018, url: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/warning-signs-of-mental-illness?fbclid=IwAR0iCAfEK1q303jSXNEv8Y4xUvO4S1 gXERenwbwS5xDkhEWJ-61RlNHvz00

F. Observing the increased risk of mental illnesses in groups who experienced trauma of any kind, which is attributed to a lack of appropriate a ercare, G. Alarmed by the increased risk of mental illness, including dementia and depression, among those experiencing loneliness, particularly the elderly,3 H. Noting that stigma within the workplace causes individuals with mental illnesses to fear that disclosing their condition or seeking help may aﬀect their career and social aspects of their professional life, I.

Pointing out the unequal distribution of human resources and funding for mental health care amongst Member States;

Increasing Awareness About Mental Health Among Society 1. Asks the European Commission to set guidelines for individual Member States in raising awareness about mental health by providing free education through public workshops, media campaigns, and interactive lectures; 2. Appeals to Member States to advise media creators in their countries to emphasise the fact that the information related to mental health may not be medically or socially accurate, through the use of advisory labels;

Mental Health in Children and Education 3. Suggests that Member States increase awareness of the importance of mental health among parents by conducting obligatory workshops in local hospitals, carried out a er childbirth; 4. Proposes that Member States enhance positive learning environment in educational institutions by including mandatory outdoor activities in school curricula; 5. Recommends that Member States introduce a set number of school days per year dedicated to eliminating stigma and prejudice of mental disorders to their educational system, including visual presentations, lectures with professionals, and lectures with individuals aﬀected by such issues;

‘Mental Health in Older Adults,’ WHO, last modified December 12, 2017, url: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults?fbclid=IwAR3fz07uXWc1c_5d5NxLjF6oer6G3u 1BgHYYDETXLI-kILxxzf9ye3hKoUc

6. Hopes that Member States will upskill teachers through workshops regarding mental health and recognising its symptoms in children;

Reducing the Risk of Mental Health Problems 7. Encourages collaboration between Member States to further develop and fund post-trauma recovery programmes, following the example of Serbia;4 8. Invites Member States to promote intergenerational interaction of elderly citizens with their communities by: a)

organising collaborative and skill-sharing events, exhibiting the value of the elderly,

encouraging volunteers to organise activities, eﬀectively reducing the feeling of loneliness;

9. Endorses Member States to support workplaces in improving the working conditions by: a)

facilitating counselling sessions for employees,

complying with the WHO’s guidelines;5

10. Requests that the European Commission sets recommendations on the percentage of health care funding allocated to mental health care, considering economic diﬀerences between Member States.

‘Policies and Practices for Mental Health,’ WHO Europe, 2008, 28 url: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/96450/E91732.pdf 5 ‘Mental Health in the Workplace. Information Sheet,’ WHO, last modified May 2019, url: https://www.who.int/mental_health/in_the_workplace/en/?fbclid=IwAR07qXYSILAVrLlfiqnTlm5ufRPoEojsVrHkNoiwbRcBt_i71kX Xh7RGNQo

Fact Sheet

Advisory labels: warning labels used in media, such as disclaimers in movies, alerting about sensitive topics.

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Aﬀairs I (LIBE I) Ageing Continent: As the “old continent” increasingly embraces its nickname, the proportion of Europe’s population aged 65 and over continues increasing. How can the EU best integrate its growing population of senior citizens into society and everyday life? Submitted by:

Simone Bortoli (IT), Tinka Bruneau (NL), Urška Filipič (SI), Francesco Greco (IT), María Hernández (ES), Eric Wildermuth (DE), Vasileios Fragios (Chairperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Profoundly concerned by the extent to which ageism impacts modern societies, B. Deeply alarmed by the fact that some elderly citizens are unable to retire due to legal restrictions regarding age and working hours, C. Taking into consideration the lack of eﬀective measures against ageist behaviour in the 1 workplace and the extensive criticism of existing ones, D. Noting that the increasing number of non-working senior citizens may cause a lack of employees in the future, 2

E. Bearing in mind that many seniors suﬀer from chronic loneliness and depression, F. Taking into consideration the frequent absence of genuine communication between 3 diﬀerent generations, 4

G. Realising that health risk is usually higher in advanced ages,

Morrison, C, "More than a million older workers locked out of work due to age discrimination, MPs’ report says", The Independent, 2018 2 “Mental health of older adults”, World Health Organisation, 2017 3 Clinch, M, “Generation gap: Ageism hurts Europe’s youth”, CNBC, 2013 4 “Risk factors of ill health among older people”, World Health Organisation Europe, 2011

H. Bearing in mind that healthcare studies focus almost exclusively on the younger 5 generations, I.

Emphasising the lack of funds and trained staﬀ in the health care sector of some Member 6 States,

J. Acknowledging the reduced number of social opportunities for the elderly due to low 7 digital literacy levels, K. Appreciating the European Commission’s active eﬀorts in adapting public services and infrastructure to the needs of the elderly, through developing and promoting strategies and seminars on the issue, L. Firmly convinced that European cities are currently physically inaccessible to many seniors;

Creating an Age-friendly Environment 1. Encourages Member States to organise nationally coordinated community events which facilitate the sharing of knowledge from older to younger people and inform the general public about age-based prejudice; 2. Suggests that employers reduce working hours to eﬀectively improve conditions for senior citizens who are unable to retire; 3. Hopes that Member States will continue to invest into existing projects aimed at supporting older workers, such as the Active Assisted Living Programme; 4. Calls upon Member States to assist senior citizens in getting accustomed to contemporary working environments by:

holding expert-led trainings and workshops on areas of interest,

creating mentorship programmes that will focus on knowledge-sharing between young workers and retired people,

providing tax reductions for funds set aside for supporting seniors’ in the workplace;

“Cancers a er the age of 75”, Cancer Society of Finland, 2016 “Report on inequalities in access to healthcare across the EU released”, Europa, 2018 7 “What is the share of the elderly who use the internet at least once a week?”, Eurostat, 2016 6

Promoting Mental and Physical Wellbeing 5. Requests that Member States actively oﬀer emotional support to seniors by: a)

promoting intergenerational centres and their communication activities, following the example of the “TOY Project”,

developing media campaigns that promote co-housing;

6. Calls upon the European Commission to dra a common strategy for health care in all Member States, aiming for a more inclusive and unified system;

Technological Integration 7. Urges the European Commission to launch a European Union-wide project, which will 8 better assess the digital education needs of seniors than existing programs; 8. Invites Information Technology companies to incorporate more assistive technology features in their products;

Adapting the Built Environment 9. Trusts Member States with the responsibility of launching a specialist volunteer-led program, which will conduct surveys door to door, in an eﬀort to forward the agenda on seniors’ needs for accessible urban environments; 10. Calls upon the Council of European Municipalities and Regions to create local councils that shall consist of elderly citizens and present strategies on adapting infrastructure and public services to their needs; 11. Urges Member States to improve seniors’ living conditions in their households by providing financial aid to refurbish their houses and helper services for everyday chores.

“Digital Education Action Plan”, Europa, 2019

Fact Sheet Ageism: any discriminatory behaviour against individuals or groups based on their age, as well as the stereotypes surrounding age. Digital literacy: the ability of an individual to produce and understand content when using information technologies. Active Assisted Living Programme: a funding programme that actively supports initiatives related to improving services and products for older people. TOY project: a programme that is centred around bringing diﬀerent generations together to share their experiences and providing the elderly and younger children with opportunities for active communication. Assistive technology: all forms of technological advancements focusing on improving participation and well-being of technologically underrepresented social groups.

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Legal Aﬀairs (JURI) Despite lobbying attempts by social media giants, the EU has passed an article calling on the hosts of user-generated content to prevent copyright breaches. This has led to concerns about the future of internet culture. How can the EU balance the rights of users with the interests of content creators? Submitted by:

Farah Đuherić (BA), Marco Jacoangeli (SI), Kristina Novak (SI), Jo Politi (GR), Ivan Udovičić (RS), Mette Van Leeuwen (NL), Hugh Gallagher (Chairperson, IE)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising that the introduction of Article 17 of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (DCDSM) can potentially limit the range of information available online thereby compromising users’ right to information, B. Observing that free movement of intellectual property may be limited if the DCDSM is incorrectly implemented, C. Noting that the balance of rights is against consumers and in favour of content creators under DCDSM, D. Draws attention to the current poor functionality of technologies to adequately automatically vet content, E. Taking into consideration that while the EU has clarified its stance on parodies and memes, 1 it has yet to oﬀer a concrete mechanism to protect them, F. Conscious of the possibility that content creators could be discouraged to produce content in fear of legal copyright repercussions,

Kleinman, Z, “Memes exempt as EU backs controversial copyright law”, BBC, 2019

G. Aware of the potential consequences of Article 17 on competition within the Digital Single 2 Market by requiring that content hosting make “best eﬀorts” to ensure no copyrighted content is available on their platforms, H. Keeping in mind the barriers posed by finances and resources for smaller-scale entities pursuing copyright licences and claims, therefore, leaving them vulnerable to intellectual property the , I.

Concerned that jokes, common phrases and everyday words fall within the scope of present copyright legislation,

J. Further noting the diﬀiculties in attributing copyright to anonymous content uploaded by creators;

Protecting Users’ Rights and Freedom of the Internet 1. Calls upon the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights to monitor the Member States’ implementation of the Copyright Directive to ensure the Article 19 of the Declaration of Human Rights is respected; 2. Praises Paragraph 2 of Article 17 for allowing users to use copyrighted content provided they do not benefit commercially; 3. Urges Member States to ensure a neutral third party to resolve copyright disputes is developed in accordance with Paragraph 9 of Article 17; 4. Asks the European Commission to invest in research and development of eﬀective technology that identifies copyrighted content through features such as colour, composition, format and text recognition within Horizon 2020 framework; 5. Strongly suggests that a mechanism dispute decisions made by the aforementioned systems with European Commission or equivalent neutral body functions as decision-makers on the legitimacy of said dispute;

European Commission, Fact Sheet, “How will the new rules tackle the so-called 'value gap' between the creators and the online platforms?”, 2019

Addressing the Potential Economic Impacts of the Copyright Directive 6. Trusts the European Commission, in their role of shaping the Digital Single Market, to foster fair and active competition between content and copyright-related systems of diﬀerent scales through regulating and adjusting costs such as legal fees to the means of individual entities;

Ensuring the aims of the Copyright Directive have practical methods for implementation 7. Requests the European Commission expands on what they mean by “best eﬀorts” within Article 17 and tailor this expansion to the capabilities of content hosting platforms; 8. Proposes the Online Content Sharing Service Provider (OCSSP) and Copyright Agencies to collaborate to identify and contact anonymous users should they share works of intellectual property with the OCSSP acting as a buﬀer between Copyright Agencies and the users; 9. Recommends the European Commission to work together with European Council and OCCSSPs to further develop the DCDSM with the aim of: a) supporting the current protections for the key features of a copyrighted work be they auditory, visual, tactile, or functional, b) establishing clear protection for the central conceptual aspect of the copyrighted work that is a direct product of a creator’s intellect, c) limiting copyright to the above features in addition to trademarked names, logos and slogans thereby excluding jokes, common phrases and everyday words.

Fact Sheet

Article 17: It makes companies liable for content uploaded to their platforms. So if a user uploads a piece of content that infringes copyright, the platform is at risk. OCSSP: Online Content Sharing Service Provider. DCDSM: Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market. Digital Single Market: The European Commission strategy that seeks to digitize the Single Market and transition from 28 national digital markets into a single Union Market. Article 19 of the Declaration of Human Rights: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights: A committee of the World Intellectual Property Organisation made up of representatives from all its member states. Copyright Agency: Not-for-profit organisations charged with common activities including setting royalty rates, administering copyright registration databases, and issuing interpretations of copyright statutes. Common Phrases: Widely used and commonly known expressions established through repeated colloquial use, therefore, belonging to the public domain. Horizon 2020: An EU Research and Innovation programme with an emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges to achieve innovative measures to keep Europe competitive.

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety II (ENVI II) Afraid of the needle: The number of measles cases in Europe has more than doubled in the last year, with low vaccination remaining one of the key causal factors. What measures should the EU take to combat vaccine hesitancy?

Submitted by:

Samo Čigon (SI), Didier Ehlert (NL), Yalın Kumru (TR), Vittoria Lo Nardo (IT), Žana Maruša (SI), Pedro Santiago (PT), Melissa Smovnik (SI), Chairperson (Eleanor Ashton-Williams, UK)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting with concern that despite the eﬀorts of online media platforms, social media and the internet continue to be a driving force in the spreading of anti-vaccine sentiment and misinformation as demonstrated by: i)

The eﬀect of Big Pharma on the public’s distrust of medicines such as vaccines,

ii) The natural immunity movement’s increasing prominence contributing to a surge in vaccine hesitancy, B. Noting with regret that a lack of digital literacy among European Union (EU) citizens contributes to the number of citizens trusting information from unreliable sources, C. Alarmed by the presence of questionable data in fraudulent research papers, studies, and articles on vaccines leading to dangerous misinformation being spread as verified facts, D. Disturbed that a perceived lack of publicly available information being provided regarding vaccinations has led to some citizens turning to unorthodox and unreliable sources, such as celebrities and online forums, for information, E. Acknowledging that a lack of a common policy on vaccinations among Member States has had a negative eﬀect on vaccination rates across the EU,

F. Deeply disturbed that an average of 93.7% of EU citizens are vaccinated against measles, which is less than the 95% recommended for the population to benefit from herd immunity, G. Considering the risk unvaccinated visitors from outside the EU could pose to the aim of herd immunity in Europe;

Navigating the online world 1. Encourages online media platforms to continue their work on eradicating misinformation and promoting verified information on their platforms with the help of fact-checking organisations; 2. Invites Member States to organise seminars to improve citizens’ digital literacy, focussing on the topic of, but not limited to, the vaccine debate;

Improving Understanding 3. Asks the World Health Organisation (WHO) to create an online platform where medical experts can share their knowledge regarding the benefits of vaccination and answer the public’s questions; 4. Recommends that Member States organise visits and workshops by medical professionals in schools informing young people of the benefits of vaccination; 5. Urges Member States to organise meetings and workshops in hospitals and prenatal classes aiming to inform families of credible information and benefits concerning vaccination;

Policy Coordination and Communication 6. Calls upon the European Commission to encourage coordination between Member States to facilitate the establishment of common guidelines about vaccine policies.

The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (2018). The organisation and delivery of vaccination services in the European Union. https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/vaccination/docs/2018_vaccine_services_en.pdf

Fact Sheet Big Pharma: a perception that pharmaceutical companies are operating against public interests. Natural Immunity movement: a movement based on the belief that it is healthier for the body to fight oﬀ disease on its own without the use of vaccines. Herd Immunity: the percentage of vaccinated people required in order to stop the spreading of communicable diseases like measles and influenza. Digital Literacy: a wide-ranging number of skills needed in order to operate successfully online. Skills include the ability to evaluate and analyse information. Misinformation: false or inaccurate information.

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Wish you weren’t here: Mass tourism into European cities is driving natives to relocate to the countryside and putting monuments at risk of decay. As some cities seek to decrease the number of tourists coming in, how can the EU encourage sustainable and respectful use of the right to travel freely? Submitted by:

Tori Beuker (NL), Emanuele Figone (IT), Lia Hakobyan (AM), Iris Kuruca (TR), Joana Moreira (PT), Charilaos Otimos (GR), Maja Toni (SI), Jan Verovšek (SI), Alin-Gheorghe Hampău (Chairperson, RO)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting that five of the top ten most visited countries in the world are in the European Union (EU), demonstrating the EU’s popularity as a tourist destination,1 B. Aware of the importance of the tourism industry in the European economy, considering that: i)

one in five European companies belong to the tourism industry,

ii) 36.7 million European citizens work in this sector,2 C. Fully alarmed that local culture is being commercialised and appropriated for the entertainment of tourists, infringing on the cultural identity of the natives, D. Noting with concern that restructuring the economy to centralise the tourism industry results in the loss of traditional jobs in popular destinations, and high unemployment rates for skilled workers,

Nag, Oishimaya Sen. "The World's Most Visited Countries." WorldAtlas. June 15, 2016. Accessed July 17, 2019. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/10-most-visited-countries-in-the-world.html. 2 "Tourism Statistics." Tourism Statistics - Statistics Explained. Accessed July 17, 2019. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Tourism_statistics.

E. Deeply alarmed that increased demand causes price surges in popular tourist destinations,3 making it more diﬀicult for locals to access basic goods, F. Bearing in mind that multinational companies hinder domestic growth in the tourism sector by transferring earned profits to tax havens abroad, G. Concerned that millions of European citizens are aﬀected by seasonal unemployment,4 which consequently leads to a lack of job security, H. Noting further that the destabilisation of the job market severely impairs the hiring prospects of unemployed youth in popular tourist areas, I.

Alarmed that high demand for real estate in popular tourist areas is increasing housing prices5 and consequently forcing local residents to relocate,

J. Noting with deep concern the safety risks to tourists and locals, in the form of evacuation problems in case of emergency situations and increased crime rates driven by the large traﬀic of people,6 K. Having considered the impact of social media platforms and advertising campaigns on the increased popularity of certain destinations,7 L. Aware of recent cases where shops adapt their oﬀer in accordance with tourist preferences instead of supplying locally sourced products,8 M. Seriously concerned by the hostility between foreigners and locals, displayed during various anti-tourist protests across the European Union,9 N. Deploring the invasion of natural habitats (e.g. coral reefs, forest parks, mountains ranges) caused by the presence of masses of tourists,

Peeters, Paul et al. Research for TRAN Committee - Overtourism: Impact and Possible Policy Responses. Brussels: European Parliament. Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, 2018. 27. 4 Andriotis, Konstantinos. “European Union influence overtourism employment”. Greek Open University and Technological Education Institute of Crete, Greece. January, 2004. 3. 5 Peeters, Paul et al. Research for TRAN Committee - Overtourism: Impact and Possible Policy Responses. Brussels: European Parliament. Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, 2018. 28. 6 Peeters, Paul et al. Research for TRAN Committee - Overtourism: Impact and Possible Policy Responses. Brussels: European Parliament. Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, 2018. 40. 7 Peeters, Paul et al. Research for TRAN Committee - Overtourism: Impact and Possible Policy Responses. Brussels: European Parliament. Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, 2018. 24. 8 "How Mass Tourism Is Threatening Barcelona's Boqueria Market." Roads & Kingdoms. January 15, 2019. Accessed July 17, 2019. https://roadsandkingdoms.com/2018/the-battle-for-the-boqueria/. 9 Coldwell, Will. "First Venice and Barcelona: Now Anti-tourism Marches Spread across Europe." The Guardian. August 10, 2017. Accessed July 17, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/aug/10/anti-tourism-marches-spread-across-europe-venice-barcelona.

O. Further noting that the intensive transit of tourists represents one of the main sources of water and air pollution in the EU,10 P. Concerned by the potential damage inflicted upon local infrastructure (e.g. bridges, passageways, tunnels) and cultural points of interest (e.g. historical monuments, art expositions) due to the impact of over-tourism (e.g. intense traﬀic, litterıng, acid precipıtation);11

Achieving Economic Sustainability 1. Requests the European Commission to direct funding from the European Social Fund, with the purpose of creating support programmes to assist workers aﬀected by seasonal unemployment; 2. Encourages the national governments of the Member States and local authorities to financially support local businesses in popular destinations aﬀected by over-tourism, providing them with tax breaks; 3. Invites multinational companies in the tourism sector to abide by their corporate social responsibility policy and invest in their local communities, as a way to ensure economic sustainability in the domestic market;

Preserving Lifestyle and Tradition 4. Asks national tourism agencies of Member States to stop marketing the most popular destinations in their country in cases of extreme overtourism; 5. Suggests tourism service providers across the European Union to: a) prioritise the advertisement of lesser-known destinations, b) create special oﬀers to stimulate low season trips; 6. Instructs the European Commission to direct funding from the European Regional Development Fund towards countryside infrastructure overhauling projects, with the aim of achieving an equal and diverse distribution of tourism across the Member States; 10

Peeters, Paul et al. Research for TRAN Committee - Overtourism: Impact and Possible Policy Responses. Brussels: European Parliament. Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, 2018. 38. 11 Peeters, Paul et al. Research for TRAN Committee - Overtourism: Impact and Possible Policy Responses. Brussels: European Parliament. Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies, 2018. 38.

7. Proposes local authorities to impose quotas on sharing economy platforms as a way to control the number of inbound tourists; 8. Suggests local authorities of places aﬀected by overtourism to limit the number of tourist establishments (e.g. souvenir shops) and temporarily restrict tourist’s access to overcrowded urban points of interests; 9. Recommends local police authorities to enlarge the number of available oﬀicers in accordance with the number of surplus tourists, as a way to achieve safety and prevent vandalism, violence and protests; 10. Invites municipalities to implement several transportation options for tourists to reach popular destinations, in order to maintain a peaceful and quiet environment in residential areas; 11. Recommends Member States to subsidise the rents of long-established locals in overcrowded areas in accordance with their income in order to prevent forceful relocation;

Countering environmental drawbacks 12. Recommends local authorities to establish quotas aimed at limiting the number of tourists visiting national parks and natural reservations; 13. Authorises environmental agencies across Member States to further create national parks and reservations with the aim of protecting the environment from excessive tourism; 14. Appeals local authorities to provide an increased number of waste disposal points, with the aim of reducing littering and safeguarding the environment; 15. Designates the Directorate-General for Transport and Mobility (DG MOVE) to further promote alternative means of tourist transportation in order to reduce environmental pollution.

Fact Sheet Seasonal unemployment: a phenomenon which implies that people are unemployed at particular times of the year when demand for labour is lower than usual. In this context, the shortage of available jobs when the tourist season comes to an end. European Social Fund: EU’s main tool for promoting employment and social inclusion. Its aim is helping people get a job (or a better job), integrating disadvantaged people into society and ensuring fairer life opportunities for all. European Regional Development Fund: a tool which provides financial support for the development and structural adjustment of regional economies, economic change, enhanced competitiveness as well as territorial cooperation throughout the EU. Sharing economy: an economic model defined as a peer-to-peer (P2P) based activity of acquiring, providing or sharing access to goods and services that is o en facilitated by a community-based online platform. Directorate-General for Transport and Mobility: a Directorate-General of the European Commission responsible for transport within the European Union.

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Aﬀairs II (LIBE II) The right (not) to choose: Since the European Parliament adopted guidelines for gender-neutral language in 2018, some Member States have shown massive progress in the recognition of curricula that take a gender-neutral approach. What can the EU do to foster an environment that is welcoming towards non-binary young people?

Submitted by:

Anna Berti (IT), Dara Golden (IE), Adrian Miadenić Grobelnik (SI), Zenzi Hogenboom (NL), Érica Moreira (PT), Benedetta Stoiculiasa (IT), Adrian Urdea (DE), Zuzanna Łężna (Chairperson, PL)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Aware of the lack of European Court of Human Rights case-law on gender-identity-based discrimination, B. Worried by widespread misinformation and miseducation regarding non-binary issues 1 amongst the general public and within political institutions in Member States, C. Concerned that a total 42% of non-binary people have reported having felt discriminated 2 against, D. Alarmed that 20% of non-binary people have reported being denied equal treatment and/or being mistreated in the healthcare system, E. Keeping in mind the potential for the misgendering of people in gendered languages and the lack of commonly used alternatives for gendered terms, F. Taking into account that most Member States are reluctant to include a non-binary option on legal documents, given the relatively small size of the non-binary community and potential opposition stemming from traditional cultural values, 1

‘’Being Trans in the European Union: Comparative analysis of EU LGBT survey data’’, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2014, p. 10 2 Ibid., p. 24

G. Congratulating Malta on their eﬀorts to integrate a non-binary option for legal documents 3 without overly complex or invasive requirements, H. Deeply concerned that some Member States, such as Germany, Spain and Slovakia, set 4 strict requirements for modifying one’s legal gender status, I.

Fully alarmed by the fact that 80% of non-binary people report having mental health 5 problems,

J. Disturbed by the lack of appropriate training for medical professionals relating to 6 non-binary issues, K. Concerned by the fact that there is little reliable research on the social integration of non-binary people, due to small sample sizes, L. Recognising the lack of thorough medical research regarding the subject of gender fluidity, M. Noting with deep regret that in many Member States there is a partial or total absence of sex education modules that comprehensively cover the diversity of the gender spectrum;

Tackling Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity 1. Strongly encourages the Council of the European Union to amend Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union to include gender identity and gender expression; 2. Suggests that legislative bodies of Member States consult the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup when dra ing laws concerning non-binary people; 3. Encourages the European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup to support non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which provide and fund free legal services to non-binary persons, including assistance in suing their medical staﬀ for discrimination; 4. Directs the European Social Fund (ESF) to establish a consulting group of expert linguists to examine the feasibility of the implementation of gender-neutral pronouns into the primary gendered European languages; 3

Demarco, J., ‘’FIRST: ‘X’ marks the gender’’, The Malta Independent, 2017 ‘’Germany introduces third gender - fails trans people’’, Transgender Europe, 2018 5 Aparicio-Garcia, M. E. et al, ‘’Health and Well-Being of Cisgender, Transgender and Non-Binary Young People’’, Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2018 6 Van der Brink, M., Dunne, P., ‘’Trans and intersex equality rights in Europe - a comparative analysis’’, European Commission, 2018, p. 79 4

5. Recommends that all Member States adopt the guidelines provided by the consulting group established by the ESF; Changes to the Legal Framework for Recognising Non-Binary Genders 6. Encourages Member States to modify the gender options available to citizens for legal documents through: a. including one’s gender identity instead of sex on documents, b. adding a neutral X marker for non-binary genders; 7. Calls upon the European Commission to establish guidelines regarding the implementation of a gender marker change system, drawing on the example of Malta; Making Public Services Accessible to Non-Binary People 8. Encourages the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) to conduct an updated survey regarding living conditions for the transgender community across all Member States; 9. Urges the European Research Council to fund research aiming to improve the understanding of the biological basis of gender fluidity and promote appropriate medical care of non-binary people; 10. Appeals to Medical Councils of Member States to educate medical professionals on appropriate care for non-binary people through: a. implementing workshops regarding non-binary people as a stage of medical training, b. delivering annual revisions of the workshop within the workplace; 11. Further appeals to Ministries of Education of all Member States to include diverse and comprehensive modules on the gender spectrum in schools’ sex education curricula; 12. Invites Transgender Europe to establish a subsection on their website focusing on non-binary genders, and a general non-binary information hotline; 13. Encourages Member States to promote specialisation in gender therapy to counsellors, thus making gender therapists more accessible to non-binary citizens.

Fact Sheet Non-Binary: people are those whose gender identity is neither strictly male nor strictly female. Gender identity: one’s internal sense of their gender. Gender expression: all external manifestations of one’s gender identity. This usually refers to clothing, haircuts and bodily characteristics, but can also encompass one’s pronouns or preferred name. Biological sex: a set of biological factors, such as primary and secondary sex characteristics, which determine one’s gender assigned at birth. A gendered language: a language with commonly used gender-specific terms, through eg. gender-specific terms or pronouns. Transgender people: those whose gender identity diﬀers from the gender they were assigned at birth. Non-binary people may fall under the term but not all transgender people are non-binary. Legal gender status: the gender present in one’s legal documents, such as an ID or a passport. Gender fluidity: refers to cases where gender identity is not fixed. Gender spectrum: describes the number of existing gender identities other than male and female. Gender-neutral pronouns: pronouns that can be used to refer to people regardless of their gender, such as “they” or “them”. Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union: an article prohibiting discrimination on the basis of one’s sex, sexual orientation, religion or race. The European Parliament’s LGBTI Intergroup: a body which monitors and advises the European Union on appropriate measures regarding LGBTI+ citizens, as well as working with civil society. Transgender Europe: one of Europe’s leading non-governmental organisations dealing with the civil rights of transgender people, including non-binary citizens. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA): European-level agency monitoring human rights in the EU through measures such as conducting EU-wide surveys. Gender therapists: counsellors specialising in issues relating to gender identity.

European Social Fund (ESF): a European body promoting social cohesion in Member States through its funding scheme. Medical Councils: regulatory of medical professionals in individual Member States, including authority over medical higher education curricula.

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