3rd Youth Forum of EYP Armenia
Yerevan 2014 17 November 2014
RESOLUTION BOOKLET Contents
Procedure of the General Assembly ................................................................................. 3 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs ...................................... 5 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development ... 8 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Home Affairs and Justice ................................................................................................................................ 11 Motion For A Resolution By The Committee On Enviroment, Food Safety And Public Health ................................................................................................................................. 14 Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs........17
â?§ The content of the resolutions do not, by any means, reflect opinions or politics of
the European Youth Parliament Armenia as an organisation. The opinions are limited to the respective authors of the topic overviews only.
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Procedure of the General Assembly General rules The wish to speak is indicated by raising the committee placard. The authority of the board is absolute.
Procedure and time settings 1. Two minutes for reading out the operative clauses 2. Five minutes to defend the motion for a resolution 3. Five minutes to attack the motion for a resolution 4. Points of information 5. 25 minutes of open debate 6. Seven minutes to sum up the debate 7. Voting procedure 8. Announcing the votes
Friendly amendment Friendly amendment is a last-minute modification of a resolution. They are to be handed in on a specific form one resolution before the resolution in question.
Point of information Point of information is a request for a brief explanation of a specific word or an abbreviation.
Point of personal privilege Point of personal privilege is a request to repeat a point that was inaudible.
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Point of order Point of order is used when a delegate feels that the board has not properly followed the parliamentary procedure. A chairperson uses the placard after a request from a delegate.
Direct response Each committee may use the direct response placard once per debate. Should a committee member raise the committee placard and the direct response sign, the board recognises the committee immediately. The direct response sign is used to answer the point made directly beforehand.
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Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs In recent decades various ethnic groups in Europe are seeking greater autonomy or independence with Kosovo, Scotland and Catalonia being the recent examples of exercising the self-determination principle as the path to gaining the independence from the EU or EU candidate state. What should the EU’s stance be towards those ethnic groups within its borders and the borders of its neighborhood countries?
Submitted by:
Elias Leppert (DE), Gaelle Wavre (CH), Lara Cavlek (HR), Masila Lulaj (AL), Mateusz Ciasnocha (PL), Mazza FarajAllah
(SAU), Anahit Madoyan (AM), Anahit Yeghiazaryan (AM),
Arshak Karapetyan (AM), Diana Ghazaryan (AM), Elen Harutyunyan (AM), Gohar Matinyan (AM), Khachatur Vahramyan
(AM), Lusine Hayruni (AM), Margarita Yeghiazaryan (AM),
Marianna Amirkhanyan (AM), Mary Asatryan (AM), Seto Garabedian (AM), Tigran Bazarchyan (AM), Alexandre Ohanian (FR) – Chair, Veronika Aghajanyan (AM) – Chair The European Youth Parliament, A. Recalling that the EU does not claim to command Member States, and therefore is not in the position to interfere with the regulations of these secessionist movements, B. Acknowledging the current lack of: i)
EU legislation concerning internal enlargement of the EU,
ii) a common universal stance on secessionist endeavours, C. Deeply concerned by the possible negative effect of secession on economic and political stability affecting the newly created state, the remaining successor states as well as the EU as a whole, more precisely evoked by: 5
i)
loss of an attractiveness through a lack of safety for investors,
ii) restricted access to the European market in case of the newly created state and loss of a trading partner in case of the EU as well as a division of the economic area of the former state, iii) formal, legal and logistical challenges posed by a reinstating of customs in addition to the creation of new borders, D. Acknowledging the possible chain reaction of separatist movements and, therefore, the need for conducting balanced, dedicate and complementary policy, E. Taking into consideration the possible violation of rights of third minorities and the negligence of their interests, F. Emphasizing the fact that self-determination movements may undermine the EU values, G. Noting with deep concern the tense relations between some ethnic groups and their governments, H. Referring to the importance of a constructive dialogue between the central government of a Member State and ethnic groups, and the preservation of the EU values of solidarity 1. Calls upon the European Commission to amend the Treaties according to Art. 49 TEU in order to avoid the possible negative effects of secession by requiring secessionist movements to negotiate their EU membership simultaneously to the secession process itself, thus resulting in a direct transition into further EU membership as a newly independent state, 2. Solemnly declares that the EU regards secession as a legitimate measure in case if a) all
other
measures
have
been
exhausted
and
the
principle
of
self-
determination cannot be exercised if the region was to remain part of the affected State, or b) a violation of human rights is taking place, 6
3. Encourages newly established states to respect fundamental rights of the third minorities, 4. Affirms that secession from the EU Member State is a complicated and long process, and it can lead to a number of problems both in the seceded state and the EU; and recommends raising awareness of the EU standards that need to be met and the procedures which the entity struggling for the independence has to go through for the accession to the EU (cf. article 49 of the Treaty on European Union stating the official procedure), 5. Recommends to emphasize the key role of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) as the local and regional representative, giving them a direct voice within the European Union, 6. Further requests the Member States to recognize and constructively respond to its citizens needs and demands, 7. Supports fostering educational programs for young generation of different ethnic groups within one state to get acquainted with each other cultures and needs, and to obtain skills on effective communication and conflict transformation.
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Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development While GMO cultivation is recognized to be an issue with strong national or local
dimensions, current EU legislation on GMOs offers limited possibilities to Member State to decide on GMO cultivation on their territory. Given that many Members of the European Parliament are still doubtful about GMO cultivation, how should the
EU move forward to prepare for the consequences to future generations and bear the advantages to GMOs in mind? Submitted by:
Armenui Akopyan (AM), Armenuhi Hovakimyan (AM), Artyom Kosyan (AM), Alina Toporas (RO), Adam Toth-Kasa (HU), Conlin Hilert (DE), Frederik Gniffke (DE), Gabriel Hovhannisyan (AM), Hayarpi Vardanyan (AM), Kaspar Johannes Meyer
(BE), Kira Koethke (DE), Lusine Balayan (AM), Maria Khazarian (AM), Marie-Alice Minassian (AM), Marie Sargsyan (AM), Narek
Sargsyan
(AM),
Ruzanna
Avetisyan
(AM),
Sevak
Davoodian (AM), Shant Kehyeian (AM), Vahagn Babayan
(AM), Vardges Shahmenendyan (AM), Vilija Plungyte (LT), Anna Mamyan (AM) – Chair The European Youth Parliament, A. Fully aware of the potential benefits that GMOs1 have for increasing the agricultural productivity, by i)
creating plants better resistant to weeds, pests and other diseases,
ii)
providing an essential sustainable source to meet the demands of consumers,
1
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic characteristics have been al-
tered using the techniques of genetic engineering.
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B. Bearing in mind the decision process limitations the EU Member States face by having to give scientific reasons in order to ban the cultivation of certain GM products, C. Alarmed by the cross-pollination leading to the spreading of GMOs regardless of the Member States’ decisions on GMO cultivation, D. Fully aware of the fact that toxins and herbicides pass on through biological magnification to higher classes of organisms in the food chain, E. Taking into account the lack of financial and scientific resources in major parts of the Member States for conducting further research, F. Expressing its appreciation to European Food Safety Authority2 for providing a strong foundation for European legislation and policies towards improving the EU food safety, G. Keeping in mind that overregulation by EU Member States might stifle research and development conducted by biotechnology companies, H. Noting with deep concern the risks related to political and economic corruption and lobbyism by companies, I.
Deeply concerned with the dissemination of the information on GM products and biased public opinion,
J. Recognizing the importance of staying competitive in the global market and keeping the competitiveness of non-GMO products against GMO products in the free competitive market,
1. Recommends the EU to give the opportunity to provide other reasons on banning the GMO cultivation besides mandatory scientific reasons, 2. Further requests Member States to have a strict regulation on places and conditions where GMO crops can be cultivated,
2
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is an agency of the European Union that provides inde-
pendent scientific advice and communication on existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain, created by European Regulation 178/2002
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3. Calls the EU to adopt stricter regulations on potentially harmful GMOs in terms of biomagnifications, 4. Encourages providing subsidies to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for growing non-GMO crops in case of necessity, 5. Calls upon the EU Commission to provide grants to universities to conduct research about the effects of GMOs that can be used for EFSA assessment, 6. Urges the European Commission to conduct a transparency campaign, including a) press- releases about authorization of new GMOs, explaining the reasons of its approval, b) labelling and marking QR codes on GM products leading to background information and frequently asked questions, 7. Further recommends Member States to include objective and scientific information on the topic of GMOs into school curricula, 8. Affirms the rights of the companies to patent GMOs for 10 years, 9. Recommends to carefully examine EFSA head members to avoid conflict of interests, 10. Calls the EU to pool the national resources in order to create globally competitive European companies in the form of public- private partnerships.
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Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Home Affairs and Justice According to different sources the total number of Muslims in Europe in the year of
2013 amounted to 56 million people, thus accounting for 8% of the whole popula-
tion within European borders. With the rising fear in the Western European countries (where most of the Muslim population is concentrated) that Muslims are not
integrating into the European society, do not accept Western values and pose a threat to security Italy, Germany and Austria have started exercising the policy to
limit building new mosques in their countries, while Switzerland is doing so directly with “Mosque Ban Act” adopted since 2010. What should the EU’s stance be on
protecting the religious freedoms of its people while ensuring the security measures are in place.
Submitted by:
Alexandra
Banna
(AM),
Alexandra
Fadeev
(CH),
Angela
Kazikian (AM), Ani Babayan (AM), Ani Matevosyan (AM),
Anush Harutyunyan (AM), Ejmin Shahbazyan (AM), Gevorg Khodabakhshian
(AM),
Gopolang
Kgaile
(SA),
Gohar
Ghazaryan (AM), Hovsep Markarian (AM), Ionna Droussiotou
(CY), Julius Sengpiel (DE), Lusine Dashyan (AM), Maryam
Al-Dabbagh (SAU), Nare Shahnazaryan (AM), Silvia Hovnanyan (AM), Vahe Tumanyan (AM), Varazdat Sukiasyan (AM), Yeva Gharibyan (AM), Lilit Gizhlaryan (AM) - Chair The European Youth Parliament, A. Reaffirming the EU’s commitment to upholding religious freedom and minority
rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and
the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as well as the protection of these rights under European national constitutions,
B. Alarmed by the proposed ban on building mosques in some European coun-
tries, which goes against this essential dedication to human rights and reli11
gious freedom, and contradicts mentioned international treaties and documents,
C. Noting with deep concern the increased proliferation of anti-Muslim sentiment
and fear against Muslims (Islamophobia) amongst citizens of European countries, fuelled mainly by political motivations and lack of awareness of Islamic teachings,
D. Deeply concerned with the accompanying rise in anti-Muslim hate speech and crime, and the creation of an insecure environment for members of the Muslim community in European countries,
E. Taking into account the opinion of the European majority who may consider mosques as disturbing to their architectural and cultural environment, and
who are alarmed by the seeming increase in radical Islamic sentiments and terrorist attacks,
F. Deeply disturbed by the manipulation and misinterpretation of Islamic teachings by radicals advocating violence, and with the knowledge that passing this ban would provide a pretext fuelling these radicals’ agenda further,
G. Bearing in mind the necessity to engage the Muslim community, which has
been marginalized in recent years, on solving these issues and integrating fully into European society,
H. Realizing that to pass this ban may jeopardize European political and economic relations with Muslim countries and create a negative image for the EU worldwide,
1. Reaffirms the legal protection provided by the UDHR, ECHR, and European constitutions to all religious liberties,
2. Recommends the adherence to regulations regarding city structures and architecture, such as the enforcement of building codes and public disturbance
laws in order to avail the disruption suffered by European citizens in close proximity to mosques,
3. Proclaims the EU’s commitment to the belief that informed and educated citizens are the basis of a safe and secure civil society, we hereby advocate
for a renewed emphasis on education involving both Muslims and nonMuslims from different walks of life,
4. Recommends the usage of education as a tool for promoting awareness over
issues such as human rights and Western values in a wide spectrum involving different age groups, ethnicities, and religions,
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5. Draws attention to the need for understanding the religious principles and introductory concepts of different religions and cultures, emphasizing the simi-
larities between them, based on both formal and non-formal educational workshops, lectures, seminars, and forums,
6. Encourages assisting the Muslim community in organizing themselves towards
empowerment to resolve the issues faced by their community through the educational tools mentioned above,
7. Endorses the integration of Muslim communities into the wider European society, while maintaining that integration does not necessitate the erosion of
individual religious beliefs and cultural identity; rather, integration should be identified as wholehearted participation within European society in accordance with universal ideals and values,
8. Further reminds of the importance that human rights regulators throughout the EU deal stringently with the hate crimes and hate speech faced by Muslims;
9. Emphasizes the role of NGOs concerned with minority rights to raise awareness surrounding this issue through media and non-formal education,
10. Expresses its appreciation for efforts in the arts to bridge the gaps between
Muslim and non-Muslim communities through cultural appreciation such as literature, cinematography and music,
11. Resolves to establish an organization that will promote education, mediation,
and interreligious dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim communities,
highlighting by proper Islamic teachings the nonconformity of harmful cultural practices,
12. Recommends the organization of seminars for European Islamic leaders to
come together and cooperate on preaching tolerance and leading Muslims towards the accurate interpretation of Islamic beliefs,
13. Further invites the heads of Islamic countries to support the integration of Muslims in Europe through the realization of all these suggested projects aimed at solving this issue,
14. Promotes interfaith and intercultural informal dialogue on the individual level
between all ages through social media, forums, public debates and discussions.
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Motion For A Resolution By The Committee On Enviroment, Food Safety And Public Health It is a well established fact that most of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are brought through illegal prostitution. Nevertheless, prostitution legalization is one
of the points where the EU has been divergent in its approaches over the decades.
Germany, Netherlands, Austria are among those countries where it is legalized and regulated while Nordic countries, France and most of the Eastern Europe countries
deem paying for sex illegal and subject to imprisonment. Given the rising number of
EU citizens suffering from the STDs and the harm caused to the public health what legal framework should the EU set forward to tackle the mentioned issues? Submitted by:
Ani Hayrapetyan (AM), Anita Khachatryan (AM), Avnik Melikian (AM), Dinko Sokol Kvesic (HR), Elen Vardanyan (AM), Gor Piliposyan (AM), Iro Katsantoni (CY), Jonas Krohn (DE), Lia Berberyan (AM), Lilit Simonyan (AM), Marie Seguin (AM), Narek Jilavyan (AM), Nelly Petikyan (AM), Parandzem Mikayelyan (AM), Ragna Emilie Telwest (DE), Rahmad Supriyanto (INA), Sipan Muradyan
(AM),
Hambardzumyan
Smangaliso (AM),
Viktoriya
Musawnkosi Khechumyan
(SA), (AM),
Vahagn Zhizhel
Dermenjyan (AM), Hovsep Patvakanyan (AM) - Chair, Sara Alfriev (HR) - Chair The European Youth Parliament, A. Guided by the recent estimates of 79%3 of prostitutes in the EU states being the outdoor illegal prostitutes,
3
Report on “A mapping of the prostitution scene in 25 European countries� by European
Network for HIV/STI Prevention and Health Promotion among Migrant Sex Workers: http://tampep.eu/documents/TAMPEP%202009%20European%20Mapping%20Report.pdf
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B. Further noting that most of the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are spread through the individual outdoor and indoor illegal prostitutes, C. Noting with deep concern that a huge number of minors are forcibly engaged in the sex industry, D. Recognizing the importance of public awareness about the STDs, E. Deeply concerned that most4 trafficking in Europe is for the purposes of sexual exploitation, principally of women and girls, F. Alarmed by the fact that procurers and pimps are the main source of the sexual exploitation for women and girls with the frequent abuse of their power over prostitutes, G. Emphasizing the limited possibilities for the illegal prostitutes with pimps to exit the system that some prostitutes face when trying to exit the system, H. Keeping in mind the difficulties of addressing and regulating the public health issues in the case of illegal prostitution, I.
Realizing that EU states lose over two5 billion Euros a year in unpaid tax revenue from the sex industry due to illegal prostitution operations,
J. Having considered that existing models have not been successful in resolving spread of the STDs and decreasing the number of EU Citizens suffering from STDs,
4
Study on „Sexual exploitation and prostitution
Directorate
General
for
Internal
Policy,
Policy
and its impact on gender equality“ by Department
C:
Citizens‘
rights
and
constitutional affairs:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/etudes/join/2014/493040/IPOLFEMM_ET(2014)493040_EN.pdf 5
Study on „Prostitution and Trafficking of Women and Children: The Dynamics of
Supply and Demand“:www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/prostitution_spain_july14.pdf
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1. Recommends the prohibition of the outdoor prostitution while decriminalizing the sex work in the regulated brothels, 2. Urges Prostitution Licensing Authorities (PLA) which gives the licenses to the regulated brothels to implement: a) periodical checks upon mandatory condom usage, b) periodical checks upon absence of violence and abuse against the sex workers, c) medical examinations on STD free conditions for the sex workers at the brothels, 3. Further requests PLA to check upon the criminal convictions of the brothel owners as a part of the license issuance procedure, 4. Deplores the clients of outdoor illegal prostitutes, the underage sex workers and brothels hiring an underage sex worker to be legally persecuted, 5. Calls for EU wide media campaigns in order to raise public awareness of sexually transmitted diseases: the ways of transmission and the ways of prevention, 6. Calls upon each European State to promote inter-European cooperation and coordination between authorities in order to prevent, investigate and punish pimping, illegal outdoor prostitution, underage sex work, human sex trafficking, 7. Reaffirms the need of creation the Sex Workers’ Union (SWU) to represent and protect the rights of the prostitutes on the labour market, 8. Encourages a closer examination of the taxation collecting mechanisms from the brothels based on the German Model6 to ensure a smooth transition.
6
Study on „A Coasean Cost-Benefit Analysis of Legalizing Prostitutionhttp“: www.policy-
perspectives.org/article/viewFile/13347/8797
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Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs Industrial development is one of the core elements ensuring the position of EU as a
global economic leader. Which measures should the EU adopt in the long-run to increase its industrial competitiveness and maximize the output potential of its production factors, in particular by exploitation of technology and knowledge? Submitted by:
Alina Gagu (DE), Anush Drampyan (AM), Araksya Yakhanechyan (AM), Arsen Baghdasaryan (AM), Christina Aslanyan
(AM), Eduard Simonyan (AM), Gohar Shaljyan (AM), Gor Sharoyan (AM), Lusine Sargsyan (AM), Mariam Hayrapetyan (AM),
Mariana Denisa Dan (RO), Mher Mkrtchyan (AM), Nelly An-
drade (MX), Olla Shimbereva (NZ), Shade Danielyan (AM), Simon
Rudat
(DE),
Sona
Karakhananian
(AM),
Tamara
Harutyunyan (AM), Tatevik Karapetyan (AM), Varoojan Khoda-
bakhshian (AM), William Heinz (LU), Karapet Gyumjibashyan (AM) - Chair, Harutyun Avagyan (AM) - Chair The European Youth Parliament, K. Fully aware about the dependence of EU on import of energy resources from Russia, L. Deeply concerned that the EU is being replaced as one of the market leaders on a global level by emerging markets, M. Recognizing the advantages of the exchange of knowledge between the US and the EU based on common values, N. Having examined disappointing results related to Research and Development, O. Deeply regretting the US interference in the EU internal affairs which caused a negative impact on the relationship between abovementioned entities,
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P. Noting with deep concern the current high administrative effort and complicated process for setting up a business in the EU, Q. Keeping in mind the differences of financial regulations between Member States which results in the absence of single European market, R. Having examined the inefficient
tax legislation and high cost of maintenance of
businesses (start-ups and innovative enterprises), S. Fully alarmed about the lack of relevant skills among the workforce needed for innovation, T. Bearing in mind the lack of entrepreneurial training and attitude, U. Recognizing the lack of financial incentives (venture funds, angel investors etc.) for starting business in the EU,
1. Urges for the reduction of dependency on imported fossil fuels by focusing on alternative sources of energy (renewable), 2. Recommends the creation of an Europe-wide online platform for connecting the start-ups to the investment sources, 3. Emphasizes the need to promote education through counselling in industryrelated fields, 4. Endorses the cooperation between industry companies and educational institutions, 5. Further recommends the introduction of additional entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurship simulation activities (workshops, trainings and contests), 6. Further requests the creation of governmental organization for connecting funds, businesses and start-ups, 7. Supports the
equal implementation of the EU2020 targets among the member
states, 8. Encourages the creation and development of start-ups by adjusting the tax legislation 18
a)
reduction of taxes to 0% for at least one financial year after the creation of the start-up,
b)
partial refund of corporate tax for R&D investment,
c)
introduction of bonus system as an incentive for tech innovation activities,
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