11TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP ALBANIA
RESOLUTION BOOKLET
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROCEDURE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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PROGRAMME OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
4
COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
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COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS
8
COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION II
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COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY
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COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY
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COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION I
16
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
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COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
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PROCEDURE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
General rules • The wish to speak is indicated by the respective chairperson raising the committee placard. • The authority of the Board is absolute. Only a member of the Board can recognise a committee and give them the word.
Procedure of the General Assembly • The Board reads out the topic question. • Everyone reads over the resolution. (2’) • One member of the proposing committee holds Defence from the podium, explaining the rationale behind their resolution and defending it. (3’) • Up to two members of two other committees each hold an Attack Speech, constructively criticising the resolution they fundamentally disagree with. (1.5’ per speech) • One member of the proposing committee responds to the Attack Speech(es) from the floor, addressing the points made. (1.5’) • Three rounds of open debate in which multiple short points are presented by members of other committees from the floor. • Each committee may use one Direct Responses per debate. • The three rounds are answered from the floor by 3 members of the proposing committee, addressing the points made after each respective round. • The Summation Speech is delivered by two members of the proposing committee. The first part of the Summation Speech summarises the debate as a whole. The second part convinces the General Assembly to vote in favour of the resolution. The microphone may only be passed once. (3’ in total) • Voting procedure, the Board invites all the chairpersons to collect the votes of their committee members and to submit them. • The Board announces the outcome of the vote.
Explanation of the placards Point of Personal Privilege Request from a committee for a delegate to repeat a point that was inaudible due to a technical issue. Point of Order A committee feels that the Board has not properly followed the General Assembly procedure. Direct Response Once per debate, each committee may use the Direct Response placard. Should a committee member want to directly respond to the very last point made by a fellow delegate, he/she asks the chairperson to raise the Committee Placard and the “Direct Response” sign, after which the Board recognises it. A Direct Response may not be used during speeches, only during rounds of open debate. ARNISA 2018 - 11TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP ALBANIA
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PROGRAMME OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
09:30
OPENING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
10:00
COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
10:45
COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS
12:00
COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION II
12:45
COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY
14:30
COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY
15:15
COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION I
16:30
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
17:15
COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
18:00
CLOSING CEREMONY
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11TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP ALBANIA
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (REGI) With migration becoming an integral aspect of modern European cities, how can local stakeholders prevent cultural division and best account for cultural diversity within urban societies? Submitted by:
Kristian Bozhuri (AL), Gred Braho (AL), Edma Gjata (AL), Elisia Hasanaj (AL), Aiken Kadriaj (AL), Klea Kamberi (AL), Alara Kovaci (AL), Roen Naska (AL), Flavia Osmani (AL), Adela Sejati (AL); Christ Ligori (Chairperson, AL).
The European Youth Parliament, A. B. C. D. E.
F. G. H. I.
Noting with regret the intensification of discriminatory and xenophobic tendencies among European citizens and in political discourse, Regretting the widespread fear of islamisation among European citizens, which has lead to the creation of anti-Islam organisations and parties, such as PEGIDA,1 Realising the substantial underlying differences between cultures as a major barrier for integration, Considering that, according to the Action Plan on the Integration of Third-Country Nationals,2 the costs of non-integration may be higher than the costs of investments in integration policies, Deeply disturbed by the high unemployment rates of immigrants in highly qualified jobs as a consequence of prejudice among employers as well as incompatibilities stemming from different backgrounds, leading to a lower economic status, Noting with deep concern that segregated residential areas, where a high percentage of immigrants often live, prevent access to basic needs, such as decent housing and healthcare, Further noting the increasing popularity of right-wing parties which promote nationalist protests and restrictive immigration policies, such as Alternative für Deutschland (AfD),3 Alarmed by the multiple violations of human rights perpetrated by law enforcement authorities as well as national and local governments towards immigrants, Fully aware that factors such as language barriers, highly different education systems and learning methods heavily interfere with access to higher education, thus further complicating the access to highly qualified jobs;
Integration 1. Requests Member states to further monitor the correct implementation of immigration and integration policies both on a national and local level;
Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West (PEGIDA) is a German nationalist, anti-Islam, right-wing political movement. 2 The Action Plan on the Integration of Third-Country Nationals provides a comprehensive framework to support Member States' efforts in developing and strengthening their integration policies, and describes the concrete measures the Commission will implement in this regard. 3 Alternative for Germany (German: Alternative für Deutschland, AfD) is a far-right-wing political party in Germany. 1
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2.
3.
Calls upon the European Commission to reallocate part of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)4 to the development of infrastructure in segregated areas in European cities in order to provide the necessary services to their residents; Asks the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to take action in order to better protect the immigrants whose rights have been violated;
Employment and education 4. Recommends the Ministries of Labour of all Member States and different NGOs, such as Amnesty International,5 to jointly organise conferences and seminars staged around immigrant success stories in order to combat prejudice among employers; 5. Suggest the Ministries of Education of all Member States: a) update school curricula by adding specialised classes with a focus on foreign cultures, b) make language courses more widely available and easily accessible, c) provide extracurricular activities in order to narrow the education gap between immigrants and Member States nationals; Public relations 6. Encourages NGOs, such as Refugees Welcome International, to: a) organise cultural events such as fairs or sporting events at a local level in order to improve contact between communities, b) support, broaden, and improve exchange programmes such as Erasmus+6 and volunteering initiatives in order to increase cultural empathy; 7. Seeks that national broadcasting services to promote mutual understanding between Member States nationals and immigrants by using outdoor advertising, TV commercials and social media as channels of communication; 8. Invites European citizens to actively participate in elections, seeing as low voter turnout increases the political influence of extremist and radical parties.
The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) was set up for the period 2014-20, with a total of EUR 3.137 billion for the seven years. It will promote the efficient management of migration flows and the implementation, strengthening and development of a common Union approach to asylum and immigration. 5 Amnesty International is a London-based non-governmental organization focused on human rights. 6 Erasmus+ is the EU's programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. 4
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS (JURI) With repeated attacks on legal institutions of liberal democracy by high-ranking state officials, how can the EU ensure respect for the rule of law in Central and Eastern European countries? Submitted by:
Aja Cela, Ela Hoxhaj, Laert Kokona, Klea Muka, Dhimiter Nikolla, Andrea Pango, Paola Papa, Sindi Pepa, Ergys Saliaj, Xhulio Ymeraj; Ioana Diac (Chairperson, UK)
The European Youth Parliament, A.
Alarmed by the actions of certain political leaders in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries1 disrespecting the rule of law to strengthen and maintain their power,
B. Convinced that the EU holds candidate countries to a higher standard on compliance with the rule of law than current Member States, C. Noting with deep concern that attempts by the EU to intervene in Member States accused of disrespecting the rule of law could be negatively perceived as an attempt to interfere with the actions of a democratically elected government, D. Concerned that Member States are reluctant to criticise the governments of other Member States which disrespect the rule of law for fear of disrupting their existing political and economic relations, E. Bearing in mind that certain current CEE governments were elected following an anti-EU election campaign, leading to a rise in euroscepticism amongst their citizens, F. Regretting that citizens of CEE countries with low levels of compliance with the rule of law are pessimistic and have lost trust in their institutions, with only 18% of respondents in the 2013 Flash Eurobarometer on Justice in the EU believing that the law is applied and enforced effectively in Slovenia, for instance, G. Noting with regret that article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU)2: i) is one of the only strict punitive measures in place, which prevents the EU from taking action before triggering it, ii) requires unanimity among the European Council to determine the existence of a breach of rule of law in a Member State, iii) therefore allows CEE countries to veto attempts to implement the sanctions as provided for in Article 7; Central and Eastern European (CEE) Countries refers to the group of countries comprising Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. 2 The Treaty on European Union (TEU) forms the basis of EU law and sets out the general principles of the EU that Member States must follow. 1
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CEE Countries 1. Invites the European Commission to implement a vetting procedure for members of the judiciary in CEE countries, following the example of the International Monitoring Operation (IMO)3 in Albania; 2. Calls upon the European Commission to create a financial reward scheme for candidate countries that show improvements in the rule of law; 3. Requests the European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources to reduce the financial aid beneficiary Member States receive from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)4 if they contravene the rule of law; 4. Asks the European Council to discuss the negative economic and political impacts of certain CEE countries’ actions that go against the rule of law in their next meeting; Civil society 5. Urges the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)5 to establish a project: a) Fact-checking election claims made by political parties in CEE countries, b) publicising results through media campaigns; 6. Encourages the European Civic Forum (ECF)6 to: a) cooperate with national and international media outlets to publicise their presence in the current European countries, b) expand its reach to CEE countries such as Albania and Kosovo; Legal Mechanisms 7. Instructs the European Commission to amend article 7 paragraph 27 of the TEU as follows: “The European Council, acting by supermajority8 on a proposal by one third of the Member States or by the Commission and after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament, may determine the existence of a serious and persistent breach by a Member State of the values referred to in Article 2, after inviting the Member State in question to submit its observations.”
The International Monitoring Operation (IMO) is a monitoring operation that oversees the process of vetting the members of the judiciary in Albania. 4 The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) provides funding in five areas with the purpose of investing in job creation, a healthy European economy and a sustainable environment. 5 The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) is a non-profit organisation that unites media, press organisations and academia in concrete solidarity initiatives to underpin media freedom across the continent. 6 The European Civic Forum (ECF) is a transnational network that brings together over 100 associations and NGOs across 27 countries in Europe who actively work on issues such as citizenship education, defence of Human Rights and the advocacy of Democracy. 7 The current version of Article 7 paragraph 2 of the TEU reads “The European Council, acting by unanimity on a proposal by one third of the Member States or by the Commission and after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament, may determine the existence of a serious and persistent breach by a Member State of the values referred to in Article 2, after inviting the Member State in question to submit its observations.” 8 A supermajority is when the number of votes are greater than a simple majority, in this instance requiring the vote of 16 Member States or more out of 27. 3
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION II (CULT II) European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018: Considering the increasing development of globalisation, what steps can be taken to preserve European folk arts and ensure their longevity? Submitted by:
Megi Berberi, Pamela Cece, Irvi ç ela, Iris Dajti, Fiona Hysi, Kevin Kamberi, Elena Kote, Eda Muça, Bleron Nelaj, Trevor Xhixha; Diori Angjeli (Chairperson, AL)
The European Youth Parliament,
A. Concerned by the worldwide investor scepticism regarding folk arts, B. Noting with regret the loss of cultural traditions due to the assimilation of immigrants to their host countries, C. Fully alarmed by the worker shortage in the folk arts industry due to a lack of financial incentives, D. Deeply conscious of the lack of appeal of folk arts to young people, E. Noting the widespread lack of student exposure to folk arts in the educational system of some Member States, F. Deeply concerned by the loss of cultural heritage and folk arts in some European countries, due to the cultural influence of Western culture as part of the globalisation process, G. Aware of the difficulty of access to folk arts products, due to their high prices, H. Acknowledging with appreciation the essential roles played by UNESCO1 and the European Association for Folklore Festivals (EAFF)2 in preserving folk arts and their heritage, I. Noting with concern the economic dependence of folk art and artists on governing institutions, J. Recognising the potential of cultural tourism for the preservation of folk arts; Economic conditions 1. Asks the European Commission to increase the funding of the Creative Europe3 project 2. Recommends that Member States enact policies which favour the cooperation between investors and folk arts enterprises; 3. Requests Member States to provide subsidies to folk art enterprises in economic difficulty; 4. Supports Member States in advertising folk arts in central transportation hubs; Events
1 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations based in Paris. 2 The European Association of Folklore Festivals has been established in year 2007 and its main purpose is to preserve, develop and make popular the folklore of the different European nations. 3 Creative Europe is a European Union Programme which aims to help the creative and cultural sectors for the years 2014 to 2020.
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5. 6. 7.
Suggests that the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)4 organises events bringing together folk arts and contemporary arts ; Appreciates the EAFF for organising and promoting events that aim to popularise and preserve European Folk Arts; Urges Member States’ embassies to organise cultural and artistic events aiming to preserve the cultural heritage of their citizens;
Political? 8. Calls upon the European Commission to provide technical assistance in extending the number of European folk markets among EU countries; 9. Reminds Member States to encourage the cooperation among folk artists on a national and European level by taking initiatives such as: a. providing folk artists with the necessary tools and training, b. supporting partnerships between artists, c. facilitating mentor programs; 10. Encourages Member States to ensure a wider coverage of folk arts in their educational system while using a practical approach when teaching folk arts; 11. Instructs the European Commission to establish a European Museum of Folk Arts through: a. developing the project, b. providing technical assistance for documenting and recording national folk performances, c. providing technical help to collect significant artifacts, d. funding the project.
The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency is an agency of the European Union which manages parts of the Union's programs in education, culture, and audiovisual fields. 4
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (ITRE) With Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) employing over 3 million Europeans and producing over 3% of the EU's total GDP, how can the EU promote and invest in CCIs, whilst taking into account the constant adjustments required by the digital evolution? Submitted by:
Irina Argjiri, Endi Cenolli, Deivid Cifligu, Deivi Hamzaraj, Juna Hasani, Ajdeli Hysenaj, Anazoi Ikonomi, Samel Metani, Esed Shaba, Atea Zhonga; Leonor Feio (Chairperson, PT)
The European Youth Parliament, A. B. C. D. E. F.
G. H. I. J.
Deeply concerned by the general lack of information on Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), such as a common specific definition of the term, hindering the development of the sector, Noting with regret the scarce competition in the market which prevents CCIs from reaching their full potential, Recognising the lack of knowledge among European citizens regarding CCIs, leading to an insufficient client base, Fully aware that existing policies have failed to efficiently protect CCIs’ creative work, Alarmed by the limited number of economic incentives allocated to start-ups in the cultural sector by Member States, Deeply regretting the large expenses required from Member States in order to adapt to the rapid digital evolution, due to the necessity for further qualification of employees involved in CCIs and modern equipment, Fully alarmed by the currently inefficient preservation and protection of intellectual property, Regretting the lack of support from local institutions and national organisations towards young talents, Concerned that the immobility of artists due to visa requirements, among other factors, precludes artists from promoting and expanding their work, Noting with concern the insufficient representation of CCIs in both traditional and modern forms of advertisement;
Management 1. Invites the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to establish a universal definition for CCI occupations within the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO)1; 2. Calls upon the European Commission to make information regarding CCIs more accessible by: a) organising campaigns or fairs promoting a wider range of cultural activities, b) organising informative seminars in schools or institutions on how CCIs function and the reasons they should be preserved and promoted, c) creating websites with both detailed and general information on CCIs such as their definition, impact on the economy and relevance to society; 3. Recommends Member States to further financially support new enterprises so as to increase the number of enterprises in CCIs; 4. Encourages owners of CCIs companies to consider the possibility of expanding their catchment areas area of work into foreign markets in order to enlarge their client base; The International Standard Classification of Occupations is a tool for organising jobs into a clearly defined set of groups according to the tasks and duties undertaken in the job.
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5.
Urges to the European Commission and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)2 to jointly devise a European agency with the aim of protecting the CCI’s creative work;
Funding 6. Encourages Member States to support CCIs in formulating long term development plans in order to raise their credibility and attract potential sponsors; 7. Suggests to Member States implement policies such as the reduction of interest loans and lower taxes for start-up companies; 8. Asks the European Central Bank (ECB)3 and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)4 to aid the modernisation process by developing and funding up-to-date trainings and modern equipment; Intellectual Property 9. Urges the Ministries of Labour, Education and Culture of all Member States to collaborate with national and international organisations, such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO),5 in order to preserve and promote local talents; 10. Requests the European Commission to decrease visa requirements for artists based outside of the EU, in order for them to easily travel to the EU, following the example of Canada; Digital Evolution 11. Urges representatives of CCIs to provide regular training or online courses on new technologies for new and current employees; 12. Calls upon Member States to compose an index of guidelines for the efficient use of all forms of advertisement, to be revised every two years.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation is the global forum the global forum for intellectual property services, policy, information and cooperation. Its goal is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international intellectual property system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all. 3 The European Central Bank is an institution of the EU that carries out several tasks, such as International and European cooperation. 4 The International Monetary Fund is an organisation of 189 countries that works to, for example, facilitate international trade, foster global monetary cooperation and promote a sustainable economic growth. 5 The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation is the specialised agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalisation and environmental sustainability. 2
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY (FEMM) With the underrepresentation of women in the field of arts, how can the EU and Member States bridge this gender gap and guarantee equal access to such professions? Submitted by:
Hestia Barci, Denir Cela, Santiola Hasanaj, Juna Hoxha, Anja Kazazi, Andrea Kokomeci, Ted Kurtaliaj, Mikela Mezini, Klea Paco, Helga Salepi; Bora Dika (Chairperson, AL)
The European Youth Parliament, A. B. C. D. E. F. G.
H. I.
Gravely concerned by the underrepresentation of women in the art world, despite outnumbering men in art schools, Strongly emphasising the lack of statistical research by Member States, regarding gender inequality in the fields of art, Noting with deep concern that cultural biases have created glass ceilings1 for females in art, making their work perceived as less valuable, Fully concerned by the lack of professional support of women in all fields of art, Deeply disturbed by the labelling of ‘’female artists’’ as a reference to an inferior work position, Stressing the lack of economic independence of females out of undeveloped mentality in the society they are living; Bearing in mind the already existing strategy for 2016-2020 by the European Commission and the absence of concrete provisions on gender equality, more particularly the representation of women in the field of arts, Recognising the lack of a proper strategy that allows women to be recognised and assisted towards equal professional integration, Alarmed by the gender wage gap across multiple sectors, including arts;
Social barriers 1. Requests national governments of Member States to start raising awareness in primary and high schools about the accomplishments of women in art, by incorporating gender equality as a stand-alone chapter in social and arts subjects; 2. Encourages local governments of Member States to hold exhibitions comprised of equally represented artists of both genders, thus motivating by giving artists deserved credit for their contribution; 3. Calls upon the European Commission to stimulate conferences for women in art showcasing their achievements; 4. Encourages Member States to gather statistics systematically about women in art and reporting them yearly; Institutional support
A glass ceiling is an invisible but real barrier through which the next stage or level of advancement can be seen, but cannot be reached due to implicit prejudice on the basis of age, ethnicity, political or religious affiliation, and/or sex. 1
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5.
6. 7.
8.
Calls upon the European Commission to adapt existing leadership and management training to the field of arts to ensure the availability of professionals of both genders in the Member States especially in high ranking positions; Encourages Member States to raise awareness of the gender imbalances in arts by running programmes similar to existing campaigns from independent actors such as Guerilla Girls;2 Expresses its appreciation of private organisations, such as Guerilla Girls or Freemuse, for hosting frequent events exploring issues of representation, disability and identity from the perspective of women artists; Calls upon the European Commission to introduce long term social measures to support the development of women in the fields of art, in order to strengthen them economically, while adapting to the hierarchy of values in the society.
Guerilla Girls is an anonymous group of feminist, female artists devoted to fighting sexism and racism within the art world.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION I (CULT I) With almost 20% of the European population aged 15-29, how can the EU guarantee equal access to culture for young people from all socioeconomic backgrounds? Submitted by:
Geri Gega , Ariel Kaskaviqi, Denisa Kasa, Laert Llaveshi, Klevi Maliqari, Anxhelo Mani, Hermes Muco, Enxhi Shehaj, Alesia Vasku; Nawal Solh (Chairperson, DE)
The European Youth Parliament, A. B.
C. D. E. F. G. H.
I. J.
Bearing in mind that nowadays most of the media and cultural information is written in languages spoken by majorities, to the detriment of minority languages, Recognising that the cultural sector is responsible for the creation of 3% percent of jobs in the EU, while the budget by the European Commission appointed to its support is estimated to be only EUR 1.46 billion, Fully aware that in times of economic downturns culture becomes deprioritised, Viewing with appreciation the existence of digital cultural platforms such as Europeana,1 Deeply concerned by the low level of priority of culture in education policies, Alarmed by the social exclusion of youth of ethnic minority groups, Having examined the effectiveness of the measures taken by the EU, such as language classes to ensure the integration of young refugees youth in Member States, Seriously concerned by the decreasing interest of the european population in culture due to lack of: i) leisure time, ii) information regarding cultural events, iii) choice of cultural activities in peripheral areas, iv) financial means to access cultural events, v) cooperation between citizens and governments, Taking into consideration the budget cuts for culture of certain Member States, Further noting that the lack of infrastructure makes culture unattainable, particularly for: i) people living in rural areas ii) the elderly, iii) people with disabilities;
Creative Europe 1. Asks the European Commission to redesign and implement translation programmes such as the Multilingual Information Society (MLIS);2 Europeana is the EU digital platform for cultural heritage. It gives access to over 53 million items including image, text, sound, video and 3D material. 2 The Multilingual Information Society (MLIS) is a program of the European Commission that aims to support the development of new information society tools and products in all the languages of the European Union 1
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2.
Calls upon the European Commission to collaborate with the European Parliament in its programme Creative Europe in order to translate cultural information in different languages; Urges European Commission to increase the budget of the Creative Europe programme;
3. Education 4. Recommends Member States to grant free access to cultural institutions for citizens under 26, people with disabilities and people on income support; 5. Further recommends Europeana introduces a tool allowing citizens to be updated on cultural events in Europe; 6. Invites Member States to emphasise culture and cultural exchange programmes in their school curricula; Refugees and ethnic minorities 7. Suggests the European Commission creates events in which people from minority groups can express and exchange their cultural values and traditions with one another; 8. Expresses its appreciation for the resolution on the role of intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and education in promoting EU fundamental values adopted by the European Parliament in April 2016, focusing on offering literacy and language courses, intercultural dialogue, professional training, and accomodation for immigrants; Economy 9. Further invites Member States to subsidise businesses and invest in the cultural sector; 10. Further suggests Member States improve: a. transport infrastructure to facilitate regional cultural development, b. cultural institutions to facilitate access for people with disabilities, c. digital infrastructure by funding its expansion; 11. Hopes that the Member States preserve traditional cultural institutions such as museums and cultural centers in parallel to their digitalisation.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (AFET) Bearing in mind their status of potential candidates for EU accession, how can the EU ensure political and social stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the Republic of Kosovo*, while safeguarding the cultural independence of all ethnic and religious groups? Submitted by:
Marvin Bilali, Iris Gjevori, Urtesa Kabashi, Klevi Karafili, Glen Katiaj, Fiona Lutaj, Enejda Myftaraj, Anis Slimani, Sirja Strazimiri, Julia Troka; Realdo Silaj (Chairperson, AL)
The European Youth Parliament, A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I.
Recognising the respect of Human Rights and ethnic cooperation as main indicators of progress, as highlighted in the European Commission’s Progress reports Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo,1 Recognising the inefficiency of the administrative system in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fully alarmed by the fact that citizens of other ethnicities other than the constituent three, Bosniak, Serbian, and Croatian, are not allowed to run for presidency in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Concerned by the discrimination of minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as the Roma and Jewish communities, Deeply concerned by the inefficiency of the institutions that manage cultural activities and national heritage in Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to ethnic divisions and the complex system of governance, Realising the existence of thirteen independent Ministries of Education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, operating with different agendas and curricula, Deeply regretting the failed campaign of Kosovo to be a member of United Nations Education, Social and Culture Organisation (UNESCO),2 Deeply disturbed by the lack of progress towards normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo in the ongoing EU facilitated dialogue,3 Alarmed by the recent corruption scandals and allegations for incapability to complete its mission of the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX);4
Progress Reports on Enlargement are biennial documents of the European Commission on the progress of candidate countries aiming for European integration. 2 The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) aiming to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms. 3 EU facilitated dialogue is a means for the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina by promoting cooperation between the two sides, help them achieve progress on the path to Europe and improve the lives of the people. 4 EULEX is a diplomatic mission deployed by the EU in Kosovo working to further develop and strengthen an independent multi-ethnic justice system and security services. 1
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations’ Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo. ARNISA 18 2018 - 11TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP ALBANIA ARNISA 2018 - 11TH NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP ALBANIA 18
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Bosnia and Herzegovina 1. Suggests the national government of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopts the recommendations of the “Second Class Citizens” study5 carried out by Human Rights Watch on social and political inclusion of the Roma and other minorities by: a) ensuring the adequate representation of minorities in the national census, b) amending the civil registration and healthcare legislations in order for each ethnic group to have full and equal access to public services; 2. Requests the Office of the Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reconstruct the consultancy meetings by including representatives of all ethnic groups as foreseen in the “Strengthening the Human Rights Ombudsman to Fight Discrimination” project;6 3. Calls upon the Ministries of Education of Republika Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Cantons to establish a school curriculum also for other minorities; 4. Urges the national government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to amend the relevant constitutional provisions in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Electoral Law according to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)7 Sejdić – Finci case of 2009;8 5. Appeals to the national government of Bosnia and Herzegovina to reconsider the implementation of the April’s Package of 2006;9 6. Calls upon the government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to extend the role of the Federal Ministry on: a) close cooperation with the National Ministry of Culture, b) managing all cultural activities and heritage in the Federation; 7. Congratulates the Interreligious Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina10 for the “Draft on Law on freedom of religion and legal status of churches and religious communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina”;11 8. Requests the Steering Board Members of the Peace Implementation Council12 in Bosnia and Herzegovina to open a discussion on the need to reform the structure and the role of this institution; Kosovo 13 9. Appeals to the governments of Serbia and Kosovo to sign the Brussels Agreement of April 19th 2013; 10. Invites the government of Kosovo to provide technical and financial support for the re-establishment of the lobbying team for UNESCO membership application; 11. Directs the European Commission to reorganise the structure of EULEX in cooperation with the government of Kosovo regarding: Second Class Citizen is a study conducted by Humans Right Watch that oversees the respectation of human rights of other ethnic groups in BiH. 6 Strengthening the Human Rights Ombudsman to Fight Discrimination is a programme to strengthen the Ombudspersons’ role as the main human rights defender in Bosnia that coordinates with other public bodies and NGOs. 7 European Court of Human Rights is an international court established by the European Convention on Human Rights to judge if a state has breached one or more of the human rights provisioned in the Convention and its protocols. 8 Sejdić - Finci Case is a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on the case of political rights for other minorities in Bosnia, now turned into a prerequisite to continue negotiations. 9 April’ Package was a set of proposals to recreate the structure of the state of BiH and go under constitutional changes and was rejected by both chambers of the legislative. 10 Inter-religious Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina is an organisation established to promote cooperation between religious groups in Bosnia. 11 Draft on Law on freedom of religion and legal status of churches and religious communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the proposal for a new law on religious cohabitation by the Inter-religious Council and is now part of the national legislation. 12 Peace Implementation Council is a body established in 1995 to support the peace process in the after - war period in Bosnia and implement related policies. 13 Brussels Agreement is an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo to normalise their relations, with a main focus on multi-ethnic cohabitation. 5
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a) b)
employment procedures of the structure’s administration, structural cooperation with institutions of Kosovo;
Initiatives 12. Invites the national governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo to support initiatives for peaceful cohabitation and mutual understanding of ethnic and religious groups such as “Culture for All” 14 and “Cultural Heritage Without Borders”.15
14 Culture for All is a project managed by the European Union Office in Kosovo with the general objective to contribute to the cultural and socio-economic development in Kosovo, through the promotion of cultural activities for the different communities. 15 Cultural Heritage without Borders is a non-governmental organisation working for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflicts, natural catastrophes, neglect, poverty or political and social conflicts.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS (AFCO) With low levels of satisfaction with the political system in many European countries, what steps can be taken to establish a culture of debate, encouraging active citizenship and political engagement? Submitted by:
Meg Hoxhvogli (AL), Klea Keqi (AL), Xhon Norra (AL), Bruhilda Panxhi (AL), Egnis Sejfullai (AL), Kejsi Shehu (AL), Spiro Skrami (AL), Sindi Tafalla (AL), Xhoen Tugu (AL), Fjoni Yzeiri (AL); Enis Lalmi (Chairperson, AL)
The European Youth Parliament,
A. Noting with deep concern that the participation in the last European elections of young people aged 18-24 was only 28%, B. Emphasising the lack of educational programmes in schools regarding politics, leading to a significant lack of political engagement among youth aged 18-24, C. Noting with regret the increase in discrimination towards religious, national or cultural minorities, leading to a lack of opportunities and lack of political support for targeted communities, D. Deeply concerned that political programmes presented by government and opposition forces do not address the issues of all population groups, E. Fully aware of the fact that political institutions in Europe have lost legitimacy in the eyes of citizens, F. Observing the more prominent role of media in political life in recent years, often replacing traditional means of communications betweens politicians and citizens, G. Fully alarmed by the shift to a post-materialist society where young people are more focused on their own quality of life, leaving behind important social issues H. Affirming the importance of youth political activities in promoting civic engagement, I. Congratulating the work of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) encouraging political engagement and cultural debate, such as the European Youth Parliament (EYP) or Model United Nations (MUN); Media and Communication 1. Encourages authorities of Member States responsible for audiovisual media regulation to be stricter in the evaluation of news broadcasting scripts and introduce sanctions for those spreading factual inaccuracies; 2. Seeks for authorities of Member States responsible for audiovisual media regulation to introduce equal time slots for political party promotion during political campaigns on national television; Education 3. Suggests Member States improve school curricula by explaining political conceptions in order to encourage critical thinking; 4. Further encourages educational institutions of Member States to organise activities in order to inform students about the fundamental values of democracy; Political Parties, elections and government 5. Invites governments of Member States to adapt existing political programmes, by taking into account the concerns of young people, ethnic minorities, and religious communities;
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6. Urges local and regional governments to organise regular meetings, where people can participate, raise their concerns, and receive immediate responses; 7. Recommends Member States introduce online voting systems, following the success of the Estonian Government regarding e-voting; 8. Proposes governments of Member States to facilitate access to information regarding their budget and upcoming goals; Non-Governmental Organisations and Development 9. Proposes the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)12 to increase financial support to NGOs promoting active citizenship through the Europe for Citizens Programme3; 10. Encourages governments of Member States to work alongside NGOs in undertaking measures and policies to integrate minorities.
The E ducation, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is responsible for the management of certain parts of the EU's funding programmes in the fields of education, culture, audiovisual, sport, citizenship and volunteering. 2 The European Social Fund gives support for the NGOs working in specific fields such as fostering citizenship and civic participation, transport, energy, development and humanitarian aid, research and innovation, culture and media, social inclusion, gender equality and equal opportunities. 3 The Europe for Citizens Programme has two important aims: to help the public understand the EU, its history and diversity, and to foster European citizenship and improve conditions for democratic and civic participation at EU level. 1
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