Resolution Booklet
19th Estonian National Forum of European Youth Parliament Estonia
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Programme of the General Assembly Thursday, 25th October 2018 08:15 – 08:30 08:30 – 09:15 09:15 – 10:00 10:00 – 10:30 10:30 – 11:15 11:15 – 12:00 12:45 – 12:45 12:45 – 13:30 13:30 – 14:15 14:15 – 14:30 14:30 – 15:15 15:15 – 16:00 16:00 – 17:30 17:45
Opening of the General Assembly Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) Coffee Break Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs II (LIBE II) Lunch Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) Coffee Break Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs I (LIBE I) Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Closing Ceremony Departures
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Procedure of the General Assembly ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Board reads out the topic Committees then will have 2 minutes to read through the resolution, ask points of information from their Chairperson and fellow delegates in their committee Defence speech (3 minutes) one person, from the podium Position speech (3 minutes in total) one person from one committee, from the podium, in case of being ahead of time - 2 people will be able to deliver their position speeches Response to the Position Speech(s) (1 minute) one person, from the floor 1st Round of Open Debate (followed by a response from the proposing committee) 2nd Round of Open Debate (followed by a response from the proposing committee) 3rd Round of Open Debate (followed by a response from the proposing committee) 4th Round of Open Debate (followed by a response from the proposing committee as a part of the summation speech) Summation Speech (3 minutes) two people, from the podium
Defence Speech The Defence Speech is delivered from the podium by one member of the Proposing Committee. It is used to explain the rationale of the overall lines of the Resolution and convince the Plenary that the Resolution is worthy of being adopted. This speech can last a maximum of three (3) minutes. Position Speech Position Speeches are delivered from the podium by individual Delegates from a Committee other than that proposing the Resolution at hand. Furthermore, they reflect individual opinions and are used to point out the flaws of the approach taken by the Proposing Committee and should propose alternative solutions. Oftentimes, Position Speeches are concluded with an appeal to the Plenary not to adopt the Resolutions in their present forms however, they can also come to the conclusion that, overall, the Resolutions are still worthy of adoption. The Board will invite one Position Speech, no longer than three (3) minutes. (in case if the person delivering won't use all 3 minutes we might recognise another attack speech). Response to Position Speech The Proposing Committee has the ch chance to respond to the arguments raised in the Position Speeches. This response is delivered by one Delegate from the floor (not from the podium). It may last no longer than one minute, and so its content should be organised well to cover the most important points.
Summation Speech
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The Summation Speech is delivered from the podium by one or two members of the Proposing Committee - in case of the latter, the microphone can only be passed once. It is used to summarise the Debate, respond to main, selected criticism and to once more explain why the chosen approach is the most sensible. It typically concludes with an appeal to vote in favour of the Resolution. This speech can last a maximum of three (3) minutes.
Placards (explain the meaning of each placard to your delegates) ● Committee Placard ● Direct Response (can be used 2x per debate) ● Point of Personal Privilege ● Point of Order (can only be used by a Chair) Direct Responses Twice per Debate, each Committee may use the ‘Direct Response’ sign. Should a Committee member raise the Committee Placard and the ‘Direct Response’ sign during the Open Debate, he/she will immediately be recognised by the Board and given the floor as soon as the point being made is concluded. A Direct Response can only be used to refer to and discuss the point made directly beforehand. If two or more Direct Responses are requested at once, the Board 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. Points of Personal Privilege These are requests 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. (you can use this placard only if you couldn't hear the delegate not because you weren't listening). Points 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. (e.g. if the board says that after the Defence speech we go to rounds of open debate).
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS Do you have a job offer: A recent study of the European Commission has shown that the Posting of Workers Directive is applied in different ways across the Member States. How can the EU improve its application within its borders and secure fair and equal rights for posted workers in all Member States? Submitted by: Austra Grivina (LV), Laura Hipponen (Ülenurme Secondary School), Jens Leckebusch (CH), Lotta Mändla (Ülenurme Secondary School), Oksana Reshetniak (UA), Iulia Manda (Chairperson, RO), Frank Üksvärav (Chairperson, EE).
The European Youth Parliament, A. Deeply alarmed by posted workers1 working under illegal or non-existent contracts having few to no employment rights and protections such as pensions, holidays or paid overtime, B. Observing that all workers are affected by unfair wage differences during a posting, C. Noting with concern that blue-collar workers are more affected by unfair wage differences and tend to have fewer social protections than high-skilled workers, D. Aware that posted workers are paid up to 50% less2 than the minimum wage of the host country, E. Noting with regret that many countries such as France, are limiting posted workers’ access to their labour markets by unequal treatment provisions, especially those with a high amount of posted workers, F. Keeping in mind that many posted workers work under illegal or non-existent contracts due to a lack of documentation, G. Deeply concerned by the negative impact of social dumping3 on host countries’ native low and medium-skilled workers, H. Keeping in mind the difficulty of maintaining and ensuring equal social protection due to the differences in terms of labour law between Member States,
A posted worker is an employee who is sent by his employer to carry out a service in another EU Member State on a temporary basis. 2 Fact Sheet on the Revision of the PWD, European Commission, March 8th 2016. 3 Social dumping describes a practice of employers to use cheaper labour than what is available locally at the site of their production/selling. 1
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Noting with concern that the measures taken by the European Commission, such as the Posting of Workers Directive (PWD)4, can often be easily circumvented through practices such as the use of mailbox companies5, J. Noting with regret the lack of research and data on the living standards of posted K. Concerned by the employers who take unfair advantage of short term contracts for financial gain, creating low job security among posted workers; Posted workers’ rights 1. Calls upon the European Centre of Social Welfare Policy and Research6 to: a. monitor the proper fulfillment of the PWD by companies and governments, b. produce an informative material in all official EU languages on posted workers’ legal rights, c. develop an EU-wide posted workers’ platform, with the example of the Austrian national posted workers’ platform7; 2. Instructs the European Commission to create a directive requiring employers and companies to complete the following criteria, before signing the contract with a posted worker: a. register all of their posted workers on the aforementioned platform, b. distribute the aforementioned material to every posted worker before signing an employment contract; 3. Urges the European Commission to work more closely with Member States to develop a guideline on stricter enforcement of the PWD, especially in vulnerable sectors such as construction and transportation; Sharing expertise 4. Encourages cooperation between Member States, trade unions and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as, Fair Labor Association8 in order to share experiences and best practices;
Posting of Workers Directive is an EU directive concerned with the free movement of labour within the EU and posted workers’ rights in their host countries. 5 A Mailbox company is an enterprise which exists only on paper and has no office or employees. 6 The European Centre Social Welfare Policy and Research is an intergovernmental organisation affiliated to the United Nations fostering collaboration between governments and organisations in the field of social welfare. 7 Informative Austrian platform on the rights of posted workers and regulations for companies on posting workers. 8 Fair Labour Association is an NGO that works for the protection of workers’ rights worldwide, consisting of universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible companies. 4
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5. Invites the Joint Research Centre9 to provide more legislative and economic research regarding the terms and conditions of employment; Monitoring progress 6. Recommends the European Commission to create a comparative index of living standards and cost of living; 7. Instructs the European Commission to implement a flexible quota on the amount of posted workers in a company dependent on the size of the posting company, the labour market, host country and type of work.
​The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the Commission's science and knowledge service. The JRC employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to EU policy. 9
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS Hey neighbour: Ongoing violations of human rights, provocations against the Western world and no real solution of the Ukrainian crisis - how should the Baltic countries shape its relation towards its neighbour Russia? Submitted by: Joshua Boivin (CH), Sofia Domaratska (UA), Romy Neubüser (DE), Indrek Niinemets (Väike-Maarja Secondary School), Hart Pärnapuu (Miina Härma Secondary School), Ida Eerola (Chairperson, FI) The European Youth Parliament, A. Acknowledging that the Russian speaking minorities in the Baltic Countries are not socially and linguistically integrated due to historical reasons, B. Observing Russia’s continuous intentions to influence ethnic Russians by means of propaganda in the media in its neighbouring countries, C. Concerned about the security on the European Union's (EU) eastern border due to rising tensions between Russia and the Western world seen in cyber attacks, military exercises, airspace violations and increasing militarisation of the Kaliningrad oblast, D. Noting insufficient cooperation between Member States within the Common Foreign and Security Policy10 resulting in the latter not being structured well enough to fit the security and defence needs of the Baltic countries, E. Further noting Baltic countries’ dependency on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s11 (NATO) military assistance, F. Deploring the ongoing conflict in Ukraine which undermines the EU’s eastern border security and might result in future tensions on the border between the Baltic countries and Russia,
Common Foreign and Security Policy is the foreign policy of the EU for defence and security diplomacy and actions. 11 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is a security and defence organisation with members from North America and Europe. 10
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G. Deeply concerned by Russia’s annexation of Crimea despite Russia taking part in activities under the European Neighbourhood Policy12 (ENP), H. Pointing out that the Baltic States are dependent on Russian energy by being connected to the BRELL energy ring13; Russian Minority 1. Advises the European Commission to launch a framework for intercultural communication focusing on removing linguistic, cultural and socioeconomic boundaries; 2. Calls the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament to reduce the influence of Russian propaganda and disinformation in the Baltic countries by promoting credible media sources; Security and Defence 3. Supports the Estonian government in the pursuit of ratification of the Estonian-Russian Border Treaty14; 4. Requests the European Commission to continue its support of the ENP and development of security programmes in the Baltic countries; 5. Calls upon the European Commission to support the course toward further cooperation with NATO and the continuation of the development of Permanent Structured Cooperation15 (PESCO) by: a. suggesting an incremental increase in the defence investments, research and technology expenditure of Member States, b. approving increased efforts in cyber defence cooperation, c. welcoming standardising as well as simplifying of European cross border military transport in the EU, d. encouraging the development of a database of rapidly deployable capabilities to be shared with all Member States, e. supporting Member States in participating in at least one project under PESCO framework, European Neighbourhood Policy is a policy on working with EU’s Southern and Eastern neighbours to foster stabilisation, security and prosperity. 13 BRELL Energy Ring is an energy network from the Soviet Union-era connecting Belarus, Russia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 14 Estonian-Russian Border Treaty is a treaty between Estonia and Russia establishing the exact location of the border between two states that has not been ratified due to tensions in bilateral relations. 15 PESCO is a Treaty-based framework and process to deepen defence cooperation amongst EU Member States who are capable and willing to do so. 12
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supporting the development of interoperability with the forces of the Member States and NATO;
Ukrainian Crisis Resolution 6. Strongly suggests the European Commission to freeze the Nord Stream Two16 project as a response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine; 7. Urges the European Commission to present Russia the options of either fully joining the ENP and taking immediate actions to solve the Ukrainian crisis or withdrawing from the ENP entirely; Other 8. Endorses the Baltic countries’ intention to connect to the European Energy Network17 to reduce the dependency on the BRELL energy ring.
Nord Stream Two is a new export gas pipeline running from Russia to Europe through the Baltic Sea. European Energy Network is a voluntary energy network of European energy agencies that strengthens cooperation between members and key European actors on issues concerning sustainable energy. 16
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY Fly me to the moon: 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? Submitted by: Julia Pressner (CH), Karl Werner (DE), Laura Zviedre (LV), Raul Kröönström (Jüri Secondary School) Marts Ivaskis (Chairperson, LV) The European Youth Parliament, A. Concerned by the fact that not all Member States are members of the European Space Agency18 (ESA), B. Deeply concerned by the European Union’s (EU’s) reliance on foreign resources for rocket manufacturing, C. Alarmed by the lack of media attention given to the European space industry, resulting in citizens not being aware of current findings and ongoing investigations, D. Deeply alarmed by the lack of a sufficient monitoring network system in use by the ESA, E. Noting with regret that the ESA has not developed an independent, efficient human spaceflight program, F. Pointing out that currently all ESA human spaceflight missions fall under the International Space Station (ISS)19 agreements, G. Noting with deep concern that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)20 plans to end the operation of the ISS by mid-2020s, H. Bearing in mind that the ESA is facing a large amount of competition from other prominent space agencies and companies such as SpaceX21, European Space Agency is an intergovernmental organisation of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space. Most of its members are EU Member States, however some other, as well as Canada. 19 International Space Station is a space station, or a habitable artificial satellite, in low Earth orbit. It is owned by NASA. 20 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government responsible for the civilian space programme, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. 21 SpaceX is a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company. 18
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Recognising that a balance between cooperation and competition with other international space organisations and agencies is required to optimise efficiency and the use of resources,
J. Aware of the fact that the EU lacks a cost-effective approach to rocket production such as reusable launch systems22, K. Realising that there are different opinions surrounding the efficiency of reusable launch systems in the ESA; Pan-European solutions 1. Endorses all Member States to sign the ‘Convention for the establishment of an European Space Agency23’; 2. Requests the European Commission to aid in the further development of the European-based rocket manufacturing sector in order to make it independent from foreign manufacturers; 3. Calls upon the ESA to cooperate with Member States’ governments in creating inclusive projects, such as open days or extracurricular activities in schools and universities in order to: a. familiarise the general public with activities that the ESA partakes in, b. inform secondary school and university students about the ability to pursue a professional career in the European space sector; 4. Considers the European Commission to create a new monitoring network for: a. measuring progress and development, b. easing government and the private sector’s access to information; Development programmes 5. Calls the ESA to include self-sufficient European-based human space flight programme within the existing Aurora Programme24; Reusable Launch System is a space launch system which allows for a recovery of all parts of the system for later reuse. 23 Convention for the establishment of a European Space Agency is a convention that establishes conditions for functioning and becoming a member state of the ESA. 24 Aurora Programme is a human spaceflight programme of the ESA established in 2001. 22
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6. Instructs the European Commission to renew the Horizon 202025 programme with amendments to better fit the needs of Small and Medium Enterprises, start-ups and private companies; International cooperation 7. Recommends the ESA to cooperate with international space organisations, such as SpaceX and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency26 following the example of the ‘Network and Operations Cross-support’27 agreement with NASA; 8. Endorses Arianespace28 to adopt existing reusable systems, such as Adeline29 or Callisto30 for the future development of Ariane 631.
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly EUR 80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020). 26 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is the Japanese national aerospace and space agency. 27 Network and Operations Cross-support agreement is an agreement between the ESA and NASA, which covers the provision of services for missions where no other agreement is in place, typically due to the short-term nature or limited scope of the support. 28 Arianespace is a multinational company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial launch service provider. It undertakes the operation and marketing of the Ariane programme, and is the ESA’s biggest contractor. 29 Adeline is a concept for a reusable rocket first-stage that would fly itself back to Earth after a launch using drone technology for horizontal landing on a runway. 30 Callisto is a concept for an entirely separate rocket that would be reusable. 31 Ariane 6 is a launch vehicle developed and manufactured by Arianespace under the authority of the European Space Agency. 25
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS II Vote wanted: With recent election results failing to represent the majority opinion of 18 – 29 year olds despite a significant increase in young voter participation, how can the EU tackle increasing disillusionment with politics among young people and foster young voter engagement? Submitted by: Christina Kiik (Tallinn English College), Anton Korneev (DE), Ervins Roderts (LV), Joel Laanemäe (Chairperson, EE) The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the 20% decrease in voter turnout at European Parliament elections over the last 40 years32, B. Acknowledging the difficulties younger generations face in order to attend elections caused by living in a foreign country or a lack of time, C. Welcoming the European Council’s decision to implement new measures for Parliamentary elections including; i. standardisation of the election process, ii. lowering the voting age to 16; D. Noting with concern that the average age of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is 55 years33, E. Profoundly concerned that 42% of the European Union (EU) citizens do not trust their government34, F. Aware of 60% of young non-voters having been insufficiently informed in political matters35, G. Concerned that 39% of 15-24 year old European citizens are disinterested in politics leading to an underrepresentation of their views36;
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European Parliament - Results of the 2014 European elections. European Parliamentary Research Service Blog - Age Of MEP’s By MS. 34 Spring 2018 Standard Eurobarometer. 35 Flash Eurobarometer 375 European Youth Participation in democratic life. 36 Flash Eurobarometer 375 European Youth Participation in democratic life. 33
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European Parliament elections 1. 2. 3. 4.
Encourages Member States to make voting for the European Parliament mandatory; Suggests Member States to establish an internet voting system following the example of Estonia; Further encourages Member States to consider making voting days a national holiday; Asks Member States to implement an EU-wide postal voting system for European Parliamentary elections following the example of Germany and Luxembourg;
Youth 5. Requests the European Commission to prolong the EU Work Plan for Youth37 until 2022; Informing youth in political matters 6. Proposes the European Commission to implement community centres which offer debates, discussion evenings and general information on EU politics into the Europe for Citizens programme38; 7. Requests the European Parliament to engage social media influencers in the ‘This Time I’m Voting’ media campaign39; Political education 8. Urges the Directorate General for Communication40 to initiate an accessible online education platform explaining EU politics including voting advice applications and videos on how the EU works; 9. Calls upon the Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture41 to create guidelines on political subjects Member States can use to adjust their curricula to.
The EU Work Plan for Youth 2016-2018 outlines the specific priorities of youth policy at the European level. Europe for Citizens aims to contribute to citizens' understanding of the EU, its history and diversity, foster European citizenship and improve conditions for civic and democratic participation at EU level. 39 thistimeimvoting.eu is the European Parliament's institutional, non-partisan communication action, whose objective is to promote democratic engagement in the European elections. 40 The Directorate General for Communication is the Commission department responsible for explaining EU policies to outside audiences. 41 The Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture develops and carries out the European Commission's policies in the fields of culture and media, sport, education and training and youth. 37 38
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY Live(r) longer: Meeting the ever-increasing shortage of organs worldwide: How can the EU improve cross-border organ exchange while ensuring the efficiency and safety of transplantation systems? Submitted by: Kristians Freimanis (Valga Gümnaasium), Paula Lorberga (LV), Joel Raidve (Valga Gümnaasium), Morgane Rüdiger (Tallinn 21st Secondary School), Analiis Veeremaa (Tamsalu Gümnaasium), Mara Ratiu (Chairperson, RO), Roberts Ulpe (Chairperson, LV) The European Youth Parliament, A. Acknowledging the difference in regulation between Member States42 regarding packaging and storage of organs contributes to inefficient transportation between them, B. Noting with concern the lack of transplant efficiency43 caused by insufficient follow up systems and unreliable medical reports, C. Taking into account the various standards hospitals and health professionals in different Member States work with results in significant quality and safety discrepancies44 of organ transplantation, D. Recognising that the shortage of funding and qualified personnel leads to few procurement organisations45 and transplant centres, E. Keeping in mind that Member States such as Romania, Malta and Latvia have yet to establish a compensation system for living donations, leaving both patients and donors in a state of precarity, F. Noting with regret the significant shortage of live donors throughout the European Union (EU), G. Fully alarmed by human trafficking increasing the risk of commercialisation of the human body;
Joint action Directive 2010/53/EU on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation, European Parliament and Council, 7 July 2010 43 Transplant efficiency is determined by the ratio between number of donations per million population (pmp)/year and the number of transplants pmp/year. 44 Summary on Legislation for Public Health, EUR-LEX (official website of the European Union), 2010 45 A procurement organisation is, according to the 3k Article of the 2010/53/EU Directive, “a healthcare establishment, a team or a unit of a hospital, a person, or any other body which undertakes or coordinates the procurement of organs and is authorised to do so by the competent authority under the regulatory framework in the Member State concerned”. 42
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1. Calls upon Member States to join an European Organ Exchange Organisation (EOEO)46 ; 2. Encourages Member States to establish regional EOEOs; 3. Requests Member States to increase funding for procurement organisations and transplant centres; 4. Appeals to Member States to establish a national compensation system for donors; 5. Further Appeals to Member States with an existing national compensation system to improve them by taking into account factors such as daily income, travel costs, medical costs and healthcare benefits; Education and research 6. Invites schools and universities to inform the EU citizens about the shortfall of live donors fueling black market organ exchanges; 7. Expresses its appreciation towards the EU funded research programs such as the Consortium for Organ Preservation in Europe (COPE)47; 8. Further endorses the implementation of organ transplantation techniques recommended by the aforementioned research programs; 9. Further calls upon the European Commission to prioritise organ exchange related action within the Working Group on Access to Healthcare48; 10. Further Requests the European Commission to establish a unique training program for health professionals involved in organ exchange activities;
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An EOEO is a non-profit organisation, whether public or private, dedicated to national and cross-border organ exchange, in which the majority of its member countries are EU Member States. 47 The COPE brings together academic institutions, clinical and scientific experts and small and medium sized enterprises from across Europe to work together on advancing organ preservation techniques, with a focus on clinical trials and experimental work programmes. 48 Working Group on Access to Healthcare is an expert panel receiving a mandate from the European Commission to draft a scientific opinion on access to healthcare.
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General 11. Encourages Member States to implement an opt-out system49 in the following five years; 12. Urges Member States that have yet signed or ratified the Convention Against Trafficking in Human Organs50 to proceed accordingly.
An opt-out system is an organ donation system according to which anyone who has not refused consent to donate is a donor. 50 The Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs, adopted in 2014 by the Council of Europe, is the first international treaty aimed at preventing and combating trafficking in human organs. 49
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION How many languages do I speak: The linguistic diversity is widespread among Member States, but it is also witnessed within the borders of the country itself. What measures should the EU take to ensure a common stance for national governments on second language learning in both formal and informal education? Submitted by: Wiebke Borchert (DE), Noam Chidiosan (CH), Liisgren Lauringson (Gustav Adolf Gymnasium), Matti Max Tautz (DE), Conor Comiskey (Chairperson, IE) The European Youth Parliament, A. Reaffirming the equal importance of all official European Union (EU) languages, B. Observing that Member States have diverse legislation regarding second language learning, C. Deeply alarmed by the fact that economically and socially disadvantaged individuals may not be able to afford to stay in primary and secondary level education in their respective countries, D. Fully aware of the fact that different EU citizens have different attitudes toward second language learning based on differences in geographical location, political orientation and religious beliefs, E. Noting with regret the insufficient amount of bilingual schools in Member States, F. Alarmed by the lack of qualified teachers and updated linguistic curricula in numerous Member States, G. Deeply regretting the late start of linguistic studies in most Member States, given that children develop more enthusiasm for language learning when they are exposed to it at a younger age51, H. Concerned by the lack of recognition in regards to the importance of informal education amongst EU citizens52, I. Deeply disturbed by the inequality in opportunities to learn new languages among EU citizens due to the insufficiency of publicly funded language exchange programmes;
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Learning foreign languages in primary schools: is younger better?, Meits, 21 May 2017. ​Recognition of Informal Learning: challenges and issues, Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 1998.
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Language learning 1. Encourages Member States to update their legislation on second language learning in order to make it more cohesive and transparent; 2. Calls upon Member States to introduce standardised curricula within one country; 3. Appeals to Member States to implement more interactive language learning methods at pre-school and primary school; 4. Calls upon the European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML)53 to introduce an official online language learning forum and digital language courses; 5. Urges each national government to annually allocate a set percentage of their public education budget to second language learning,including the subsidisation of language exams which are on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)54; Promoting linguistic diversity 6. Requests the Council of Europe to expand the European Day of Languages (EDL)55 into a week which will include : a. free introductory workshops for EU languages, b. a week of free public transportation between Member States implemented in conjunction with the Committee on Transport and Tourism; 7. Encourages the creation of a multi-platform media campaign which will aim to: a. promote language learning initiatives such as Erasmus+56 and EDL, b. change the attitudes of EU citizens in regards to the importance of second language learning;
The European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe (ECML) is a unique institution whose mission is to encourage excellence and innovation in language teaching and to help Europeans learn languages more efficiently. 54 The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for describing language ability. It describes language ability on a six-point scale, from A1 for beginners, up to C2 for those who have mastered a language. 55 Celebrated on 26 September, the European Day of Languages (EDL) is a means of promoting awareness among the general public of the importance of language learning and protecting the linguistic heritage. 56 The European Union's Erasmus+ programme is a funding scheme to support activities in the fields of Education, Training, Youth and Sport. 53
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Educational Institutions 8. Recommends that the European Commission works with the ECML to establish a working group of linguistic experts who will: a. examine the effectiveness of national second language learning curricula, b. monitor the ability of educators to teach languages in a contemporary fashion, c. create annual exams which will monitor the progress of second language learning across the EU; 9. Invites Member States to create language teaching training programmes for teachers involving field trips as well as in-country meetings; 10. Advises Member States to increase the number of bilingual schools in primary and secondary education; 11. Further advises Member States to facilitate the creation of exchange programmes between these schools.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS I Where is the truth: The balance between the freedom of expression and high media standards. Bearing in mind the recent events regarding “fake news” and “alternative facts”, how should the EU proceed to ensure effective media checks and strict fact checking whilst respecting the freedom of expression? Submitted by: Orad Chidiosan (CH), Jette Franke (DE), Elika Laur (Pärnu Co-Educational Secondary School), Karoline Poska (Tallinn English College), Karlis Saarna (Käina Secondary School), Roberts Remesis (Chairperson, LV) The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the growing distrust in the mainstream media with only 45%57 of the media consumers trusting it in various countries around the world, B. Bearing in mind the risks and damages disinformation58 causes to sectors such as science, health, education, finances, politics and in other aspects of daily life, C. Firmly convinced that European Union (EU) citizens require accurate information on political matters to successfully exercise their democratic right to vote, D. Convinced that the problems caused by the disinformation are amplified by the sharing of it for instance through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, E. Concerned by the inability of a large percentage of the EU population to distinguish between sources with high standards of professionalism and editorial independence and less reliable sources, F. Regretting the insufficient knowledge of critical and independent thinking as well as lack of media and information literacy amongst citizens, G. Observing that most disinformation and deceptive news fall outside already illegal forms of speech such as defamation, hate speech and incitement to violence, H. Aware of the fact that the freedom of expression being one of the most fundamental values of the EU is not an absolute right and has limitations such as preservation of public safety, protection of morals and the rights of others,
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Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2017, page 21. When focusing on the problems of disinformation, we talk about false, inaccurate, or misleading information designed, presented and promoted to intentionally cause public harm or for profit. 58
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Believing that people are unlikely to change their beliefs when in an echo chamber59 and are likely to be affected by a confirmation bias60 contributing to polarisation of the society;
Media Standards 1. Urges news agencies to be more transparent about their sources taking into account professional codes of conduct; 2. Further appeals to Member States to create or support nonpartisan independent committees for fact-checking; 3. Encourages cooperation between the aforementioned committees and news agencies; 4. Proposes that Member States create legislation, penalising disinformative news sites, 24 hours after a deceiving piece of news was detected by the nonpartisan independent fact-checking committee and was not removed during the 24 hours; Social Media 5. Congratulates Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms for their efforts to detect and remove social bots61 from their servers; 6. Appreciates multiple companies, such as aforementioned Facebook work to stop the sharing of disinformation and mal-information62 on their websites by implementing trust scores63; 7. Urges social media platforms and search engines to adjust their algorithms to suggest and show more equitable results showing different perspectives; 8. Welcomes the social media platforms, such as Facebook that creates a space which enables the discourse of different points of view; Education of citizens
Echo chamber is an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered. 60 Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. 61 Social bot is a particular type of chatbot that is employed in social media networks to automatically generate messages (e.g. tweets) or in general advocate certain ideas, support campaigns, and public relations either by acting as a "follower" or even as a fake account that gathers followers itself. 62 Examples of mal-information: information leaks, harassment and hate speech. 63 The trust scores went into place over the last year and were developed as part of Facebook’s fight against fake and malicious stories. Facebook relies, in part on reports from users to help recognise these stories. If enough people report a story as false, someone on a fact-checking team will look into it. 59
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9. Further encourages Members States to work with Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) doing fact checking, verification and common media literacy trainings to create media literacy, fact-checking campaigns, courses and workshops for people of all ages; 10. Suggests Member States to implement trainings on critical thinking, analysis of sources, data evaluation, media literacy, as essential parts of their curricula for primary and secondary school as well as in higher education; 11. Endorses Member States to facilitate dialogue between different politically affiliated agencies and individuals in the form of social events, podium discussions.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM Look, no hands: With the possibility of autonomous vehicles driving on EU roads approaching rapidly, what should the EU’s stance be on the development and implementation of this emerging technology and the adaptation of existing infrastructure? Submitted by: Oskar Aberut (Jüri Secondary School), Matiss Bukovskis (LV), Tiare Birgit Järvsoo (Rocca al Mare School), Mihkel Kiil (Tartu Tamme Secondary School), Jon Wollenteit (DE), Jaana Sild (Chairperson, EE) The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising the rapidly developing market of autonomous vehicles64 (AVs), with a global economic potential of EUR 120 billion65 revenue per year, B. Concerned about absence of unified regulations concerning the AVs development and implementation across Member States, C. Believing that existing European Union (EU) legislation on liability and insurance for traffic collisions might be inadequate for accidents involving the AVs, D. Aware of legal limitations of the AV market development in the EU due to Article 8 of United Nations’ (UN) Vienna Convention on Road Traffic66, E. Realising that the AV development in the EU is hindered due to the lack of competitiveness, caused by strict regulations, lack of funding and qualified human resources, F. Fully aware of the decrease of public acceptance of autonomous vehicles by 18% from 2016 to 201867, influenced by recents accidents involving semi-autonomous vehicles68;
Legislative aspects
Autonomous vehicle is a vehicles that require little or no human control. Digital Transformation Monitor (E uropean Commission), 2017. 66 Article 8 of Vienna Convention on Road Traffic establishes that every vehicles requires a driver, who is able to control the vehicle at all times. 67 Evolution of Mobility Study: Autonomous Vehicles, (Cox Automotive), 2018. 68 T esla fatal crash: 'autopilot' mode sped up car before driver killed, report finds, (The Guardian), 2018. 64 65
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1. Appreciates actions taken by individual Member States69 regarding AV technology development by introducing relevant legislation and allowing limited testing of the AVs on public streets; 2. Instructs the European Commission to create a common legal framework by establishing standards for AV technology development, usage, safety and software security; 3. Urges the European Commision to improve existing liability and insurance legislation by establishing a workgroup involving relevant stakeholders, such as legal experts, automobile companies and AV developers; 4. Invites the UN to update Article 8 of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic to accommodate development and implementation of AV technology; Financial aspects 5. Calls the European Investment Fund70 to foster the competitiveness of the EU’s AV market by allocating financial support to startups involved in the development of autonomous vehicle technology; 6. Welcomes the European Commission's policy proposals from the third Mobility Package71 to invest EUR 450 billion into AV accessible roads and telecoms networks; Other 7. Calls upon the European Commission to support the advancement of AV technology by creating a database containing traffic regulations of all Member States; 8. Further calls upon the European Commission to raise acceptance of autonomous vehicles by creating an online based informational platform focused on AV technology.
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Such as Germany, Sweden, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The European Investment Fund supports small and medium-sized enterprises across Europe. 71 The Mobility Package is a wide-range set of initiatives within transportation sector set ou by the European Commission. 70
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