RESOLUTION BOOKLET
PARDUBICE 2022 24th National Selection Conference of EYP Czech Republic
The European Youth Parliament Czech Republic’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which only reflects the views of the individual participants of the 9th Regional Selection Conference of EYP CZ Liberec 2021 mentioned in the Resolution Booklet. The European Youth Parliament Czech Republic or its partners cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
Procedure of the General Assembly
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Programme
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Committee on Culture and Education
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Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety II
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Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs II
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Committee on Legal Affairs
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Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs I
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Committee on Tax Matters
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Committee on Foreign Affairs
22
Committee on Environment, Public Health and Foodsafety I
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Committee on Regional Development
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PROCEDURE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GENERAL RULES •
Each Committee will be afforded one Direct Responses per Debate.
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A Delegate’s wish to speak should be communicated to their Chairperson.
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The Chairperson has to raise their placard for their Committee to be recognised.
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All Delegates are encouraged to vote and refrain from abstaining unless they have a true moral conflict.
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Resolutions pass if they receive more votes in favour than against, otherwise they fail.
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Delegates should afford equal respect to all Debates as if they were their own.
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The authority of the Board is absolute.
PROCEDURE •
Up to 45 mins per motion for a resolution and up to 9 Delegates involved by the proposing Committee.
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Reading out of the topic question (Board).
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Delegates go through the resolution (2 minutes to silently read through the document).
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Defence speech by proposing committee (up to 3 minutes).
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Position speeches – either in favour or against the debated resolution by other committees (up to 2 x 1.5 minutes).
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Response to position speeches by the proposing committee (up to 1.5 minute).
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Rounds of Debate: •
1st round of Questions,
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2nd round of Debate,
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3rd round of Debate.
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Summation speech by the proposing committee (2 minutes).
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Voting from the floor. 4
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SPEECHES Defence speech This speech is used by the proposing Committee to explain the proposed resolution. It is used to explain the underlying goals and motives of the Committee and to show how the current resolution is an efficient way to reach those goals. It is more factual and logical than emotional. Position speech After the Defence speech, two Committees will be recognised to deliver two Proposition speeches: either in favour or against the proposed resolution. The speeches should support/disagree with the goals of the Committee and/or the general direction of the Resolution. They should not consist of a list of points. Summation speech The Summation speech will be used to convince the Assembly to vote in favour of the proposed Resolution.
ROUNDS OF DEBATE •
There will be three rounds of Debate.
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The Board will recognise a varying number of Committees to ask a question or make a point depending on time before returning to the proposing Committee for a response.
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The Chairperson will raise their Committee placard to indicate that they have a point.
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Committees may use their Direct Responses to jump the queue only in this portion of the Debate.
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The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring the order of speakers within the Committee.
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Delegates are encouraged to propose alternative solutions and enrich the Debate, make it more constructive and help the proposing Committee consider new perspectives rather than simply asking for clarification in the form of a question.
PLACARDS Direct Responses This placard can only be used to directly answer a point of the Open Debate. The Direct Response should refer to the core of the last point made and not just be on the same topic. The Direct Response can only be raised once per Debate per Committee. If a Direct Response is misused, it still counts as used. Point of Personal Privilege This placard is used when a speaker was not audible by the Committee, often due to microphone issues. 5
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Point of Order This placard is used to when the Board of the session commits a fault in the procedure, usually happens when a Committee or a speech is forgotten. Can only be raised by a Chairperson.
VOTING •
The votes will be collected by the Chairpersons.
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The Chairperson will raise their placard to indicate that all of the Committee’s votes have been collected.
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The Board will then call upon the Chairpersons to submit their votes.
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Votes will be submitted in the format: in favour, against, abstaining, absent, e.g., 4, 6, 2, 0.
PROGRAMME Sunday 27th of March 2022 09:30–10:15
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Culture and Education
10:15–11:00
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health
and Food Safety II
11:00–11:45
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home
Affairs II
11:45–12:05
Coffee Break
12:05–12:50
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Legal Affairs
12:50–13:35
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home
Affairs I
13:35–14:05
Lunch
14:05–14:50
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Tax Matters
14:50–15:35
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs
15:35–15:55
Coffee Break
15:55–16:40
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health
and Food Safety I
16:40–17:25
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Regional Development
17:25–19:00
Closing Ceremony
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT) A broken promise: Twenty-two years after the adoption of the Race Equality Directive, Europe’s ethnic and racial minorities still face systemic discrimination within education systems. Keeping in mind its supporting competences in matters of education, how can the EU efficiently ensure the equal treatment of its people? Submitted by: Alex El Tohami (CZ), Adam Kryhut (CZ), Jirka Ledvinka (CZ), Julia Linsi (CZ), Mia Majorská (CZ), Elena Musilová (CZ), Petra Nguyen (VN), Vítek Oprchalský (CZ), Charis Drampa (GR) and Marek Jankovský (Chairperson, CZ) The European Youth Parliament aims to combat and prevent racial and ethnic discrimination in the educational systems of the European Union (EU) Member States. The end goal is to break down cultural barriers in education and ensure the provision of equal chances and opportunities for all students, irrespective of their racial, cultural or ethnic origin. We hope to raise awareness on the issue of racial discrimination in education and encourage individuals to report cases of discriminatory incidents and harassment, because, A. The lack of proper education on racial and ethnic equality often results in societies displaying a general apathy towards different cultures, which hinders the integration of minorities in educational systems and cultivates prejudice, harmful stereotypes and an absence of reporting discriminatory experiences, B. Several Member States fail to acknowledge the importance of tackling the issue of discrimination and cooperating in the area of data collection about discrimination, and thus do not provide their National Equality Bodies (NEBs)1 with sufficient mandates to address this issue, C. Language barriers, learning abilities, and integration for foreign students are often challenging, D. School curricula are ethnocentric and do not place sufficient focus on foreign cultures, ethnicities and religions, 1 National Equality Bodies (NEBs) are special bodies designated by the Member States under Article 13 of the RED in order to promote and ensure equal treatment of all individuals, including equal treatment in education. NEBs provide assistance to victims of discrimination, conduct surveys, publish reports, and make recommendations on issues related to discrimination.
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E. The vast majority of minority students do not have the economic ability to receive private and high quality-education2 and are often specifically allocated to segregated schools3 that only provide limited opportunities and low quality-schooling, F. Prejudicial beliefs about certain religions are often used to justify discrimination against ethnicities who traditionally practice these religions, The European Youth Parliament: 1. Calls upon Member States to include non-eurocentric approaches to subjects, such as history and politics, as well as works from different authors of various heritage and cultural backgrounds in national school curricula; 2. Calls upon Member States to enable NEBs to effectively tackle cases of discrimination and harassment within education by extending their mandate as suggested in the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2018/951 on standards for equality bodies4; 3. Urges Member States to provide young children and pupils from racial and ethnic minorities with language support financed by the EU by: a. extending the length of preschool by one year for children from ethnic minorities who are not proficient in the Member State’s official language, b. introducing a mandatory foundation year for pupils who are not proficient in the Member State’s official language, c. providing students who still struggle with language proficiency after undergoing the foundation year with language assistants at school; 4. Calls upon Member States to provide educators, trainee teachers, and educational staff with training on how to: a. treat all students equally, b. create an inclusive environment in schools, c. prevent prejudices in educational environments; 5. Urges the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) to allocate funds to Member States for data collection on discrimination;
2 https://fra.europa.eu/en/project/2016/child-poverty-and-well-being 3 https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/04/czech-republic-systematic-discrimination-against-romani-children-in-schools/ 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32018H0951
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6. Requests Member States to collect data on discrimination of minorities in education, following the standards set by the EU regarding: a. the frequency and the extent of data collection, b. the methods of data collection, c. and the transparency of the collected data; 7. Requests Member States to collect data on discrimination of minorities in education, following the standards set by the EU regarding: a. allocating airtime on public broadcasters to productions by members of minority groups, b. providing said minority groups with dedicated funding, c. launching social media and television campaigns on the issue, d. organising workshops for the general public.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY II (ENVI II) The carousel never stops turning: The COVID-19 pandemic underlined the significance of new technologies and the aligned importance of digital healthcare. How can the EU assure that Member States embrace and adopt medical data science, such as telehealth, personalised remote consultations, and smart devices, to ensure sufficiency and alertness for potential future medical needs? Submitted by: Alexandra Becker (DE), Axel Hedlund (SE), Julie Hošková (CZ), David Janda (CZ), Šimon Špilar (CZ), Kateřina Tranová (VT), Zuzana Tučková (CZ), Andrea Tvrdíková (CZ), Nella Vagerová (CZ) and Inês Rodrigues (Chairperson, PT) The European Youth Parliament aims to ensure the protection of medical data while encouraging and sustaining investments in promising technologies and practices that enable breakthroughs in the health field and result in adequate treatment of diseases and injuries. We aim to achieve this by supporting a secure international database system for sharing reliable health and medical information, thus contributing to more equal and sufficient access to digital healthcare, because, A. The funding allocated by the European Union (EU) to future healthcare technologies research and regional development is insufficient, B. The reluctance to use machines for healthcare purposes1 prompts medical mistakes, C. The pre-existing disparities in access to healthcare across the EU2 were enhanced by the COVID-19 pandemic, D. The absence of EU-wide safe platforms and databases for personal and non-personal data hinders the process of international cooperation in the healthcare sector, E. The growing imbalances and shortages in the healthcare workforce3 place a significant strain on 1 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/IDAN/2019/638391/IPOL_IDA(2019)638391_EN.pdf 2 https://health-inequalities.eu/ 3 https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Health-systems/health-workforce/data-and-statistics
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hospitals, The European Youth Parliament: 1. Calls upon the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) to ensure reliable and verified data accessibility by supporting the implementation of the European Health Data Space4; 2. Requests Member States to offer medical staff training on the usage of new technologies; 3. Urges Member States to increase and endorse the usage of wearable medical devices, such as pacemakers, by patients; 4. Encourages Member States to allocate funds from the EU4HEALTH5 campaign to regional-level development projects; 5. Further calls upon the DG CNECT and Directorate-General for Informatics (DG DIGIT) to jointly develop and maintain a database that makes patients’ medical records accessible in all official EU languages, health professionals, and patients; 6. Invites Member States’ Ministries of Health to launch media campaigns encouraging the usage of hospital robots for low-level tasks, such as delivering medications; 7. Asks Member States’ Ministries of Health to further implement the use of new medical technologies by showcasing the success rates of technology-assisted surgeries under human supervision.
4 The European Health Data Space aims to promote better exchange and access to health data for healthcare delivery, research, and policy making. 5 The EU4Health provides funding to entities, health organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations to even the COVID-19 impacts on patients, medical and healthcare staff.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS II (LIBE II) Waving through a window: With the aftermath of Brexit highlighting the importance of political borders, how can the EU ensure the preservation of its citizens’ individual identities and cultures while facilitating freedom of movement within European borders? Submitted by: Sophie Victoria Elbs (AT/CZ), Kai Halíř (CZ), Adam Jerhot (CZ), Nikita Jetmarová (CZ), Bianka Mária Milovníková (SK), Gustav Sjöeberg (SE), Ela Sršňová (CZ) and Marta Costa (Chairperson, PT) The European Youth Parliament aims to improve the European Union’s (EU) policies on freedom of movement and create a mutually beneficial financial environment at all times, including those of crisis. While we recognise that the European Single Market is instrumental for the economy of the Member States, we strive to decrease xenophobia, maintain and simultaneously foster each country’s cultural identity, and create a unified society based on diversity, because, A. The freedom of movement has the potential to erode cultural identities, B. Xenophobia has increased1 due to the significant increase of violent incidents, which are often underpinned by racial, ethnic, political and ideological motivations2, C. The exit of the United Kingdom (UK) from the EU led to an increase in custom fees3, disrupting the Single Market and further complicating the trading system, D. Current EU policies have proven to be incapable of responding to and dealing with pressing crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2015 refugee crisis, E. The formalisation of Brexit disrupted the exercise of the right to the freedom of movement between the UK and the EU, which disunited many families and affected social relations4, 1 https://czymara.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Czymara_2021_Attitudes-toward-Refugees-in-Contemporary-Europe.pdf 2 https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/sites/default/files/documents/tesat_2021_0.pdf 3 https://www.uhy-uk.com/insights/jump-customs-duties-uk-businesses-and-consumers-brexit-record-level-22billion-first 4 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3928/f0244bc67d8b9ee1df5a62836baa91683c92.pdf
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The European Youth Parliament: 1. Invites the Member States to endorse individual cultures and connect them by; a. financially supporting events such as festivals and celebrations, focusing both on national and minority traditions, b. expanding the Erasmus+ and similar programmes that encourage diversity, c. funding the restoration and preservation of monuments and elements of national heritage with cultural significance; 2. Calls upon the European Commission to support the migrants’ social integration and ensure their active participation in society by: a. launching a media campaign focused on combating prejudice against migrants, b. supporting charities and NGOs, like Refugee Rights Europe5; 3. Urges Member States to include educational activities and modules concerning migration in their school curricula; 4. Further invites the European Commission to clarify the EU-UK borders’ statute and ensure a mutually beneficial financial and transportation environment by fostering cooperation with the UK; 5. Asks the Directorate-General for Employment and Social Affairs (DG EMPL) to generate an Advisory Committee that would provide guidance to Member States upon freedom of movement in times of crisis; 6. Instructs the European Commission to propose laws specifically adapted to the needs of separated family members, which have been negatively affected by the consequences of Brexit by actions including but not limited to expanding visa access; 7. Emphasises to Member States the importance of basing legislation regarding the freedom of movement on current research and up to date resources, such as the 2017 Policy Memo provided by the European Council on Foreign Relations6.
5 Refugee Rights Europe is an organisation that seeks to create a climate of trust by promoting a culture of openness and communication on the topic of migration, working towards promoting lasting change for refugees and displaced people. 6 https://ecfr.eu/wp-content/uploads/ECFR220_-_DONT_CLOSE_BORDERS_MANAGE_THEM_MATTIA_TOALDO.pdf
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS (JURI) Let’s get digital: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many law firms and legal institutions, such as the European Court of Human Rights, have moved their operations online. How should the EU approach a potential tech-based future of the justice system within the Union? Submitted by: Arleta Alaridová (US), Elin Appehl (SE), Arian Chaloupka (CZ), Jáchym Chaloupka (CZ), Robert Ernest (CZ), Eliška Frimlová (CZ), Jakub Kučera (CZ), Kai Koblížková (CZ) and Raya Giger (Chairperson, CH) The European Youth Parliament aims to to digitalise the judicial system, in order to increase its efficiency and speed. Through this, we hope to build a stronger network between the judiciary system of the EU and its individual Member States. We believe that technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI)1 should assist legal processes but not replace human knowledge and judgement. We want to preserve private data protection, fair trials and equality before the law in the process, because, A. Technological knowledge and advancements in judicial systems are not being sufficiently explored2 in the individual Member States, B. Using technology would increase the efficiency and accelerate the judicial processes in Member States, where court hearings currently take 15 months on average3, C. The legal industry adapts and implements modern procedures slowly4, which could potentially facilitate the misuse of the system, D. IT Departments in legal firms and institutions are being understaffed and overworked5 due to the employers’ unwillingness to add any additional expenses, E. Technology is currently not developed and reliable enough to measure up with human-based oversight and moral judgments6,
1 Artificial Intelligence is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings (humans). 2 https://www.computerweekly.com/opinion/Network-and-system-administrators-must-acquire-new-skills-to-manage-storage-areas 3 https://eucrim.eu/news/cjeu-annual-report-2019/ 4 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/caim.12395 5 https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/06/technology-is-changing-the-legal-profession-and-law-schools.html 6 https://business.blogthinkbig.com/can-artificial-intelligence-understand-emotions/
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The European Youth Parliament: 1. Emphasises that regardless of the use of technology, the human judges should always be the last instance in court cases; 2. Calls upon the Directorate-General Justice and Consumers (DG JUST) to encourage the use of legal assistance, such as ROSS7, by taking advantage of the funds of the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)8; 3. Instructs the European Commission to educate legal institutions around the benefits and shortcomings of digitising the legal system by re-allocating funds from the DIGITAL programme; 4. Invites the DG JUST, in collaboration with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Human Rights, to create media campaigns that would raise the awareness of the general public on: a. hybrid court cases, b. the digitalisation of law, c. the implications and opportunities for citizens; 5. Encourages Member States to set up a hybrid national judicial system; 6. Urges legal institutions to accelerate the judicial cycle by making use of newer technologies such as: a. text to speech, b. automated translation, c. ommunication technologies, d. AI contract analysis; 7. Congratulates the European Commission on the initiative of the European Digital Identity9; 8. Requests the DG JUST to strengthen data protection by implementing the Digital European Identity in the EU judiciary system; 9. Directs the Member States to investigate the introduction of the Digital European Identity in their national judicial systems.
7 Ross: Digital assistance for legal research – https://www.rossintelligence.com/what-is-ai 8 Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is a funding programme of the EU which focuses on bringing technologies to businesses, citizens and public administrations. 9 The European Digital Identity will be available to EU citizens, residents, and businesses who want to identify themselves or provide confirmation of certain personal information.
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS I (LIBE I) The Social Network: Cyberviolence against women and LGBTIQ people is considered to be a continuation of gendered violence offline, while the absence of a common criminal law definition for gender-based cyberviolence makes reality even more complex. In light of the spike of gender-based cyberviolence cases, how can the EU and its Member States invigorate protection and reparation mechanisms for the victims, in line with the standards set out in the Istanbul Convention? Submitted by: Barbora Baňková (CZ), Daniel Klein (CZ), Adam Novák (CZ), Klára Nováková (CZ), Karel Petrikovič (CZ), Robin Plesová (CZ), Anna Salvetová (CZ), Ellenore Schuber (DE) and Daniela Pomyjová (Chairperson, CZ) The European Youth Parliament aims to provide protection and aid to the groups most affected by cyberviolence, such as women and the LGBTQI community. We hope to create a better and safer environment for the victims’ protection and wellbeing. We also strive to raise awareness and expand on the laws regarding cyberviolence, thus further reducing the number of cyberviolence cases, because, A. There is a prevalent lack of education, awareness and prevention mechanisms regarding cyberviolence within the European Union (EU), B. Perpetrators do not face appropriate repercussions1 for cyberviolence incidents against the LGBTQI community and women, C. The aid and access to support mechanisms such as therapists and social workers is insufficient, D. The legal definitions of cyberviolence acts exclude harassment in several Member States2, thus creating a disparity among legal systems and presenting a lack of harmonisation in relevant policies,
1 Susanne Strand – Cyberstalking Presentation, 24th National Selection Conference of EYP Czech Republic. 2 https://www.coe.int/en/web/cyberviolence/types-of-cyberviolence
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The European Youth Parliament: 1. Congratulates the Council of Europe on proposing and establishing the Istanbul Convention3 and the Budapest Convention4; 2. Encourages all remaining Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention and the Budapest Convention by the year 2025; 3. Urges Member States to include harassment and other neglected forms of cyberviolence in their legal definitions of “cyberviolence”, as well as further expand on the repercussions for offenders; 4. Invites Member States to re-assess and increase penalties for violating cybercrime laws and safety by incarcerating perpetrators from between 3 and 10 years; 5. Asks the European Commission to create and promote educational programmes and raise awareness on the matter by: a. encouraging the inclusion of lectures concerning the importance of cyber security in school curricula, b. emphasising the importance of de-stigmatising victimised and vulnerable groups; 6. Trusts existing Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and institutions focusing on cyberviolence, such as GALOP5, to provide help in aid centres for victims; 7. Instructs Member States to support the creation of hotlines and online websites that will supply accessible and trustworthy information on combating cyberviolence; 8. Further invites Member States to provide adequate guidance regarding mental health support for both the victims and the perpetrators of cyberviolence through specialised institutions; 9. Calls upon Social Media Companies to provide factual information warnings on posts that are subject to cyberbullying, particularly when surrounding and focusing on women and the LGBTQI community.
3 The Istanbul Convention is human rights treaty of the Council of Europe against violence against women and domestic violence. 4 The Budapest Convention is the first international treaty seeking to address Internet and computer crimes. 5 https://galop.org.uk/
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON TAX MATTERS (FISC) Go green or go home: With the launch of the “Fit for 55” scheme, which means to adapt EU policies in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, what can the EU do to ensure this policy is upheld and implemented within Member States? Submitted by: Jakub Dutý (CZ), Klára Káclová (CZ), Theodor Kehrer (SE), Matěj Kofroň (CZ), Evheniia Kostevych (UA), Mahtin Neumann (DE), Aneta Pracnová (CZ), Marie Pravdová (CZ), Lina Schumann (DE), Karolína Šlesingerová (CZ), Barbora Vaňhová (CZ) and Alžběta Vítková (Chairperson, CZ) The European Youth Parliament aims to achieve the objectives of the Fit for 55 package while also considering the need for amendments to the regulations. We intend to address Europe’s energy poverty and enable a smooth transition towards affordable green energy sources. We are striving to reduce our reliance on commodities from countries that violate human rights and make efforts on the way to self-sufficiency. Furthermore, we take action while having as a main goal to raise public awareness on the issue under discussion, because, A. The mainstream media’s coverage regarding greenhouse emissions is frequently overshadowed by other current events, resulting in the general public’s lack of knowledge on the matter, B. High greenhouse gas emissions might be the cause of natural disasters1, thus affecting the quality of life of EU residents as well as the European economy if not addressed immediately, C. The use of fossil fuels and non-renewable resources is not a long-term answer to sustainability, as they heavily contribute to climate change and their supplies are finite, D. The system of energy solidarity in the EU, as derived from the Article 194 of the Treaty of Lisbon2 and the new REPowerEU3 aims at self-sufficiency in the field of energy,
1 http://www.usgs.gov/faqs/how-can-climate-change-affect-natural-disasters 2 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/5/the-treaty-of-lisbon 3 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_1511
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The European Youth Parliament: 1. Calls upon Member States to raise awareness when it comes to energy efficiency and current policies by: a. including environmental education in the school curriculum, b. launching an informative media campaign focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the use of renewable resources in public television; 2. Requests that the European Commission establishes a consultation on the Fit for 55 programme, inviting climate activists and decision-makers to public dialogue; 3. Expresses its appreciation towards the European Commission’s Social Climate Fund4; 4. Encourages the European Commission to further enhance the Social Climate Fund and the allocation of additional resources to its disposal to: a. ease the process of increasing energy efficiency of European households, b. develop an infrastructure for alternative-fuel vehicles; 5. Requests the European Commission and Member States to allocate further financial support towards scientific initiatives concerning research on sustainable energy and renewable resources; 6. Asks the European Commission to continue to invest in reducing carbon emissions by focusing on goods transportation via railway infrastructure.
4 https://ec.europa.eu/clima/eu-action/european-green-deal/delivering-european-green-deal/social-climate-fund_en
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (AFET) Dipl-oil-macy: In 2019, 27% of the EU’s oil imports and 41% of its gas imports came from Russia. The latter number was set to rise upon the completion of the – now halted – EU-Russia pipeline, Nord Stream 2. Taking into account Moscow’s increasingly aggressive behaviour on the world stage, how can and should the EU approach its unique trade relationship with Russia? Submitted by: Marek Barbuš (CZ), Barbora Anna Bínová (CZ), Alena Drakselová (CZ), Anita Hausnerová (CZ), Aneta Kloubková (CZ), Mihai Moraru (RO), David Theodor Nimrichtr (CZ), Constanze Sendler (DE), Elsa Sršňová (CZ) and Michele Rivetti (Chairperson, IT) The European Youth Parliament aims to to reduce the European Union’s (EU) ever-growing dependence on Russian oil and gas as a reaction to Russia’s recent aggression on European soil. We aspire to diversify the EU’s energy sources while maintaining the quality of life of EU citizens by continuing to acquire a sufficient amount of oil and gas. Our goal is to gradually establish sustainable and renewable resources as the primary energy source, thus becoming more self-reliant. In that light, Member States will need to improve existing infrastructure and technology regarding energy generation and import, because, A. The Russian military aggression against the sovereignty of Ukraine and the Russian Federation’s prolonged geopolitical assertion over the former Soviet Union countries using military force are considered unacceptable, B. The EU lacks sufficient infrastructure to enable a big scale import of oil and gas from other potential trade partners, C. The realisation of Nord Stream 2 would directly increase the EU’s already extensive dependence on Russia, D. The EU is currently over-reliant on gas as an energy source instead of taking further advantage of renewable energy sources, E. The energy interdependence between the EU and Russia is crucial to both economies, as cutting all ties would result in Russia’s radicalisation, thus threatening global peace and strengthening Russia’s oil trade relationship with China, 20
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The European Youth Parliament: 1. Calls upon the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) to further support research on green energy, especially in terms of blue and green hydrogen, sustainable liquefaction process of Liquified Natural Gas1 (LNG), geothermal energy and energy-efficient buildings, by providing adequate funding; 2. Congratulates the German Federal Network Agency2 (GFNA) on temporarily halting the authorisation process of the Nord Stream 2 (NS2) pipeline; 3. Suggests the GFNA keep the NS2 pipeline ready for future usage by ensuring its maintenance, under the condition that the Russian Federation: a. ceases its aggressive behaviour against Ukraine, b. agrees to maintain working diplomatic relations with the EU and its Member States by keeping diplomatic personnel in EU embassies; 4. Recommends Member States gradually reintegrate the Russian Federation in European trade relations by conducting diplomatic contacts and trade, under the condition that the Russian Federation ceases its military actions in Ukraine and recognises its violations of international law; 5. Further suggests Member States diversify their energy portfolio by funding the construction of green-source power plants, as defined by the European Commission in the European Green Deal3; 6. Appeals the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) to reduce the EU’s dependence on Russian energy import by gradually applying tailored limits to the imports of oil and gas for each Member State over the next ten years; 7. Invites the Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE) to discourage further trading with the Russian Federation by increasing tax on Russian oil-and-gas-imports; 8. Calls upon the Directorate-General for Infrastructure and Logistics to enhance LNG-related infrastructure by building new facilities for its importing, storage and inland transport; 9. Designates the DG TRADE to negotiate the creation of a temporary natural gas source by initiating negotiations for contracts for LNG imports with other exporters, such as the USA, Australia and Qatar.
1 Natural gas that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurised storage or transport. 2 The Federal Network Agency is the German regulatory office for electricity, gas, telecommunications, post and railway markets. 3 https://www.dw.com/en/european-commission-declares-nuclear-and-gas-to-be-green/a-60614990
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PARDUBICE 2022
24th NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY I (ENVI I) A healthy body, a healthy mind: Bereavement, isolation, loss of income, and fear are triggering mental health conditions or exacerbating existing ones. With the public’s vulnerability to mental health concerns during the COVID-19 era being greater than ever, how should the EU and its Member States ensure adequate care for those in need? Submitted by: Adéla Bačkovská (CZ), Michala Častulíková (CZ), Kamila Lešková (SK), Dominik Maška (CZ), Amélie Pasmanns (DE), Mark Salame (UA), Kryštof Sedlecký (CZ), Vanessa Šoffová (CZ), Stella Vivstam (SE), Chrysalina Gouli (Chairperson, GR) and Giacomo Trezzi (Chairperson, IT) The European Youth Parliament aims to assist people who have been mentally affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to raise awareness on mental wellbeing, which will further support the diagnosis of registered conditions. We hope this will allow an environment in which services are available to all who require them while prioritising an open dialogue between patients and professionals, because, A. Teens and adolescents have experienced anxiety due to the lack of social contact within the environment of online education, resulting in a loss of confidence and social skills1, B. The pandemic has aggravated the requirement for increased mental health services for healthcare workers, while the sector already faced shortages, creating excess pressure and stress for those under question2, C. Widespread misinformation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased percentage of people that is currently suffering from health anxiety disorder3, D. With social distancing requirements being imposed, access to therapists has been disrupted in 1 https://highfocuscenters.pyramidhealthcarepa.com/the-effects-of-online-learning-on-a-teens-mental-health/ 2 http://www.efnweb.be/?p=13353 3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34110670/
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PARDUBICE 2022
24th NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE
93% of countries worldwide4, causing the deterioration of the mental health of individuals that were already struggling with mental health issues, E. Cases of anxiety and depression have increased since March 2020, and in some countries, they have even doubled5, The European Youth Parliament: 1. Calls upon the Ministry of Health of each Member State to ensure the destigmatisation of using mental health services by encouraging the creation of mental health check-up systems periodically with local medical professionals; 2. Welcomes the collaboration between Member States and health insurance agencies regarding the inclusion of mental wellbeing services in their healthcare packages; 3. Encourages Member States to implement state-sponsored professional mental health personnel in employment and educational settings, independent of the employers; 4. Invites Member States to fight against disinformation on COVID-19, or so called fake news, by: a. identifying and penalising intentional fake news creators, b. organising campaigns that promote the use of verified news sources; 5. Calls upon the European Commission to incentivise the usage of regulated websites specifically intended for: a. consulting people with mental illnesses through hotlines and resources, b. people sharing their experiences with mental health issues anonymously; 6. Urges Member States to intensify psychological support towards healthcare workers by increasing the frequency of mandatory check-ups on their mental health; 7. Asks the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA)6 to enhance the efficiency of psychologists’ work by providing them with updated educational courses surrounding the impact that COVID-19 has had on people’s lives.
4 https://www.who.int/news/item/05-10-2020-covid-19-disrupting-mental-health-services-in-most-countries-who-survey#:~:text=Bereavement%2C%20isolation%2C%20loss,outcomes%20and%20even%20death 5 https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/tackling-the-mental-health-impact-of-the-covid-19-crisis-an-integrated-whole-of-society-response-0ccafa0b/ 6 The European Federation of Psychologists’ Association (EFPA) is the umbrella organisation in Europe for national psychologists’ associations.
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PARDUBICE 2022
24th NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (REGI) No better place: In the past couple of years, the EU’s rural areas have seen a rapid decline of their population, especially concerning younger cohorts, causing numerous problems including isolation and economic decline. How can the EU support regions in boosting their attractiveness and retaining their population to benefit both rural and urban areas? Submitted by: Linda Duong (VN), Michael Fernandez (CZ/ES), Ema Havrdová (CZ), Tereza Janáčková (CZ), Nicol Mílová (CZ), Henning Sendler (DE), Adam Voženílek (CZ), Patricia Weber (DE/CZ), Ondřej Štáfek (CZ) and Raphael Gross-Chartuni (Chairperson, NL) The European Youth Parliament aims to achieve a demographic balance to ensure the wellbeing and the efficient functioning of both rural and urban European areas. Improved infrastructure will not only induce optimal physical, social, digital connectivity and interconnectivity among smart villages but also secure an improved and flourished job market, which will boost and promote financial activity, because, A. Disproportionate urbanisation among younger generations has caused a demographic shift1, which prompts both social and physical isolation in rural areas, B. Infrastructure in some rural areas is minimally developed and maintained, thereby creating unfavourable conditions for commuting, transportation of goods, and digital communication, C. Despite the growing role of digital interaction and platforms, rural communities are burdened with increased rates of digital illiteracy and lack of internet accessibility2, D. The lack of accessibility to the job market in rural areas, as opposed to urban cities, induces urbanisation rates and populational depletion3, E. A number of rural areas are underdeveloped and offer lower living standards and underprivileged social services, healthcare, and education compared to urban areas, 1 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12062-018-9225-7 2 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/698027/EPRS_BRI(2021)698027_EN.pdf 3 https://www.espon.eu/sites/default/files/attachments/ESPON%20Policy%20Brief%20on%20Shrinking%20Rural%20Regions.pdf
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PARDUBICE 2022
24th NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE
The European Youth Parliament: 1. Calls upon the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)4 to specifically finance the transition from rural areas to smart villages in underdeveloped regions by: a. increasing the availability of public transport in rural areas, b. improving communication through digital services, c. improving and expanding current road infrastructure; 2. Instructs the European Network for Rural Development (ENRD)5 to conduct quarterly research and track rural development and political representation by creating: a. quantitative data, such as income levels, costs of living and urbanisation rates, b. qualitative data, such as public opinion on matters related to regional development and political participation; 3. Urges the European Commission to preserve the cultural heritage of rural areas by financing local events through the promotion and expansion the Creative Europe programme6; 4. Calls upon the European Commission to accommodate for younger demographics and motivate young people to remain based in rural areas by utilising the European Social Fund7 to finance the empowerment and expansion of the cultural and entertainment sector; 5. Asks for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development to finance the expansion of broadband networks in rural areas; 6. Invites the European Commission to expand the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive8 to include the distribution of refurbished electrical devices among rural demographics; 7. Calls upon the European Commission to include a strategy in Horizon Europe9 related to combating digital illiteracy among older generations in rural areas.
4 The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU by correcting imbalances between its regions. 5 The European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) supports the effective implementation of EU Member States‘ Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) by generating and sharing knowledge, as well as through facilitating information exchange and cooperation across rural Europe. 6 https://culture.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe 7 https://ec.europa.eu/european-social-fund-plus/en 8 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02012L0019-20180704 9 Horizon Europe is the EU‘s key funding programme for research and innovation.
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