Resolution Booklet of Kempele – Regional Session of EYP Finland in 2016

Resolution Booklet Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of EYP Finland 11th – 13th November 2016

Programme of the General Assembly 08:00 08:15 09:00 09:45 10:15 11:00 11:45 12:45 13:30 14:15 14:45 15:30 16:15

Opening of the General Assembly Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Transport and Tourism Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Security and Defence Coffee Break Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs I Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs Lunch break Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs II Coffee break Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Closing Ceremony

Procedure of the General Assembly General rules The wish to speak is indicated by raising the Committee placard. Each committee may use only one Committee placard.

The authority of the Board is absolute.

Procedure and time settings 1. Presenting of the Motion for a Resolution 2. Presenting of the Friendly Amendments 3. Reading of the operative clauses 4. Three minutes to defend the Motion for a Resolution 5. Two minutes to attack the Motion for a Resolution 6. One minute to respond to the Attack Speech 7. General debate 8. Three minutes to sum up the debate 9. Voting procedure 10. Announcing the votes Friendly Amendment A last-minute modification to the Motion for a Resolution by the Proposing Committee. Amendments are to be handed in to the Board at least two Resolutions before the Resolution in question, or as soon as possible for the first Resolutions of the General Assembly.

Point of Personal Privilege Request for a Delegate to repeat a point that was inaudible. Failure to understand the language being spoken does not make for a Point of Personal Privilege.

Direct Response Once per debate, each Committee may use the Direct Response sign. Should a Delegate raise the sign during the open debate, he/she will immediately be recognised by the Board and given the floor as soon as the point being made is concluded. A Direct Response can only be used to refer to and discuss the point made directly beforehand. If two or more Direct Responses are requested at once, the Board will decide which Committee to recognise. In this case, the second Direct Response shall only be held if it can be referred to the first Direct Response, so on and so forth.

Point of Order These can be raised by the Chairperson if a Delegate feels the Board have not properly followed parliamentary procedure. Ultimately, the authority of the Board is absolute.

Defence Speech One member of the Proposing Committee delivers the Defence Speech from the podium. It is used to explain the rationale of the overall lines of the Resolution and convince the Plenary that the Resolution is worthy of being adopted. This speech can last a maximum of three minutes.

Attack Speech An individual Delegate from a Committee other than that proposing the Resolution at hand delivers an Attack Speech from the podium. It reflects an individual opinion and is used to point out the flaws of the approach taken by the Proposing Committee and should propose alternative solutions. This speech can last a maximum of three minutes.

Summation Speech One or two members of the Proposing Committee deliver the Summation Speech from the podium; the microphone can only be passed once. It is used to summarise the debate, respond to main, selected criticism and to once more explain why the chosen approach is the most sensible. This speech can last a maximum of three minutes.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM Driving without drivers: As technology has advanced as far as driverless cars and trucks, transportation network has gained a strong boost. What should be the position of EU Member States on this matter, whilst bearing in mind the advantages and dangers of these innovations?

Submitted by:

Siiri Holappa (Utajärven lukio), Ville Honkanen (Joensuun normaalikoulu), Jenni Kiveliö (Vasa övningsskola), Ville Uusitalo (Raudaskylän lukio), Illia Koshytskyi (Chairperson, UA), Avnik Melikian (Chairperson, AM)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Aware of the lack of legislation on the EU level concerning the safety requirements of using driverless vehicles, B. Noting with deep concern that the collection of personal information by the driverless vehicles is violating the privacy of individuals and their human rights, C. Fully alarmed by the fact that hackers can take over driverless vehicles, thus resulting in higher rate of accidents or blackmailing, D. Noting with regret the unclarity in defining the responsibility for causing an accident, E. Deeply concerned that driverless public transportation will increase the unemployment rate in the future, F. Taking into account that driverless vehicles, being smaller and lighter, can reduce energy consumption as well as air pollution; 1. Calls upon the European Commission to propose legislation concerning: a)

minimum standards for manufacturing vehicles,

b)

emergency equipment and their usage,

c)

mandatory monitoring officer in public transportation;

2. Directs car manufacturing companies to program the cars in a way that:

a)

passengers have a choice if their personal information is collected,

b)

no personal data is stored about pedestrians;

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

3. Urges car manufacturing and insurance companies to provide security systems and insurance in case vehicles’ systems are hacked; 4. Encourages companies in Member States to create new jobs in fields of maintenance, monitoring, and manufacturing of driverless vehicles; 5. Calls the European Commission to conduct a research on whether using driverless vehicles will reduce accidents.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND DEFENCE Cooperation in protection: In the light of recent terror attacks in Europe, the EU is calling to establish measures which would decrease threat-levels. While bearing in mind the technological advancements Europe possesses, how can Member States increase their cooperation?

Submitted by:

Fanny Erkkilä (Haukiputaan lukio), Santeri Heikkinen (Ylikylän yhtenäiskoulu), Inka Honkanen (Utajärven koulu), Fiia Liiti (Oulun Lyseon Lukio), Ida Österholm (Vasa övningsskola), Fania Christodoulides (Chairperson, CY), Jarna Heikkinen (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Deeply conscious that there is a lack of cooperation between Member States with regards to the fight against terror, B. Expressing its concern on terrorist groups having advance encryption software and dark web1 networks, C. Deeply disturbed about the recent increase in radicalisation of individuals and certain communities, D. Recognising that lack of education within society leads to ethnic profiling and develops discrimination of certain ethnic and religious groups, E. Believing that certain groups can be target to extremist groups due to their lack of information on the dangers of radicalisation, F. Emphasising the need to legally bind Member States to enact counter-terrorism resolutions during the decision-making process, G. Aware of social media being used as a platform for extremist content,

1

The dark web is part of the internet which is intentionally hidden from regular search engines and is only accessible via a special browser.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

H. Bearing in mind that EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (specifically articles 72,113, 524) applies to each and every citizen;

1. Invites the European Council to compromise their governments disagreements over terrorism by discussing solutions at a Counter-Terrorism Summit; 2. Requests Europol to develop a malware which would route the traffic of users seemingly involved in terrorist networks in the dark web outside of TOR5network; 3. Proposes Europol to set up an investigation using police officers posing as automatic gun sellers on the dark web to: a)

uncover people related to terrorists groups,

b)

receive access to potential terrorist groups’ location;

4. Suggests Member States to engage in prevention of radicalisation by educating and raising awareness of its dangers through: a)

school activities such as talks and seminars,

b)

community outreach activities with expert speakers;

5. Calls upon Member States to engage in rehabilitating radicalised people and people in danger of radicalisation via: a)

constant mentoring and counselling at support and rehabilitation centres,

b)

offering employment at these locations;

6. Urges the European Commission to legally bind Member States to counter terrorism resolutions during the decision-making process; 7. Encourages Member States to educate their citizens in appreciating ethnic and religious diversity in their societies through: a)

workplace training,

Article 7 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: “Respect for private and family life: Everyone has the right to respect for his or her private and family life, home and communications.”

3 Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: “ Freedom of expression and information: 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. 2. The freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected.”

4 Article 52 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: “Scope and interpretation of rights and principles: 1. Any limitation on the exercise of the rights and freedoms recognised by this Charter must be provided for by law and respect the essence of those rights and freedoms. Subject to the principle of proportionality, limitations may be made only if they are necessary and genuinely meet objectives of general interest recognised by the Union or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others.”

5 TOR is a free software which allows users anonymity on the web. It is used to hide a user’s location from network surveillance and traffic analysis.

2

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

b)

formal secondary education,

c)

culture fairs supported by the national municipalities,

d)

media campaigns;

8. Requests Interpol to detect and remove radical content on social media; 9. Hopes the EU recalls that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights applies to every citizen and is a priority to efficiently combat terrorism.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS I Virtual finances: With the introduction of virtual currencies, crime in cyberspace has a new incentive. How can the Member States ensure the safety of consumers who use online markets?

Submitted by:

Sami Aho (Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio), Veera Flygare Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio), Sofia Leinonen (Itä-Suomen koulun lukio), Emma Paavola (Utajärven lukio), Pirkko Talus (Raudaskylän lukio), Siina Matihaldi (Chairperson, FI), Anneliis Saarend (Chairperson, EE)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Fully aware that the most common cybercrimes are: i) hacking, ii) trade of illegal substances and weapons, iii) money laundering, iv) identity and financial thefts, B. Noting with deep concern the consequences hacking can have on personal information when institutions, governments or key digital service providers’ systems get breached, C. Alarmed by the fact that the darknet1 is globally used for illegal purposes which is made possible by anonymity, D. Deeply concerned by the lack of efficient supervision and legislation regarding online consumer protection, E. Further noting that consumers are not educated enough when it comes to the dangers of cybercrime, F. Taking into consideration that virtual currencies are becoming increasingly popular due to their useful global qualities, such as accessibility;

1

Darknet is a computer network with restricted access for anonymous use of internet, which can also be used chiefly for illegal peer-to-peer file sharing.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

1. Requests Member States and the European Banking Authority2 to run a media campaign in order to raise awareness of cybercrime, virtual currencies and their risks; 2. Urges the European Commission to suggest companies to: a) include fingerprint sensors, b) Increase the number of secure platforms, when transmitting finances and personal information; 3. Invites Interpol to have more qualified supervision in the darknet through undercover agents; 4. Instructs the EU Computer Security Incident Response Team3 network to suggest that more resources should be invested in protecting the online consumers from cybercrime; 5. Encourages the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security4 to create a program to educate ICT-students5 to have more advanced white hat hackers6; 6. Strongly affirms the European Commission to review legislation such as the Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems 7 regarding virtual currencies and online consumer protection annually.

2

European Banking Authority (EBA) is an independent EU Authority which works to ensure effective and consistent prudential regulation and supervision across the European banking sector. It also plays an important role in promoting convergence of supervisory practices and is mandated to assess risks and vulnerabilities in the EU banking sector.

3

A Computer Security Incident Response Team is a service organisation that is responsible for receiving, reviewing, and responding to computer security incident reports and activity for defined constituencies such as a government, corporate or paid client.

4

The European Union Agency for Network and Information Security is a centre of expertise for cyber security in Europe.

5 6

ICT-students are university students, who are studying information and communication technologies.

A white hat hacker is a computer security specialist who breaks into protected systems and networks to test and assess their security. White hat hackers use their skills to improve security by exposing vulnerabilities before malicious hackers.

7

Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems provides legal measures to boost the overall level of

cybersecurity in the EU.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS Keeping track: Many lobbying meetings go unregistered regardless of the increased usage of online tracking systems such as the Transparency Register. How can the EU increase its transparency, when it comes to influencing the policy cycle?

Submitted by:

Venla Ala-Rämi (Oulun lyseon lukio), Saana Heikki (Kempeleen lukio), Anna Hirvelä (Svenska Privatskolan i Uleåborg), Saku Kuittinen (Haukiputaan lukio), Noora Posti (Ylikylän yhtenäiskoulu), Yannika Rönnqvist (Vasa övningsskola), Roope Tiihonen (Raudaskylän lukio), Asnāte Neimane (Chairperson, LV), Constance de Walque (Chairperson, BE)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the indifference in resources, when it comes to the influence of public and social interest groups in the policy cycle, B. Taking into consideration that civil servants may be using lobbying benefits for their own personal gain, while disregarding the public interest, C. Having considered that corporations are often known for using their resources in order to produce fraudulent information, D. Aware of the inefficiency of the Transparency Register1, which results in incorrect or insufficient information being submitted to the Transparency Register, E. Keeping in mind that the legislative footprint2 is not mandatory, F. Noting with deep concern that the laws regarding the revolving doors phenomenon3 in the EU are not clear enough; 1. Recommends the European Commission to regulate the lobbying spending threshold for interest groups;

1 The Transparency Register is a register where lobbyists, who work with the European Commission and

European Parliament can indicate who they are, who they work for, the amount their firm spends on lobbying each year, and which legislations they have an interest in.

2 The legislative footprint is a public record of lobbyists, who are having meetings with the decision-makers, which is either annexed to the legislative reports or published “real time” on official websites.

3 The Revolving Doors Phenomenon refers to the employees from the political sector moving into the private sector and thus using their sensitive EU knowledge for their personal gain.

1

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

2. Calls for the European Commission to ensure that the EU civil servants abide by the Code of Conduct, especially regarding the time devoted to meeting different interest groups; 3. Requests lobbyists to provide the politicians with reliable information regarding the academic relevance and origins of the sources for legislation; 4. Calls upon the European Commission to verify the information that is submitted to the Transparency Register; 5. Designates the European Commission to make the legislative footprint mandatory for civil servants of the EU; 6. Encourages the European Commission to initiate legislation regarding the revolving doors phenomenon, notably a cooling-off period4 for people who transfer from the civil service to the private sector.

4 The Cooling off period refers to an interval (18 months) after leaving office during which an MEP or a

Commissioner should not accept job offers which in any way collide with their previous work and/or portfolio.

2

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY

Unequal representation: Regardless of the progress made in the recent years when it comes to gender balance, research shows that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields are still underrepresented by women. Which steps can Member States take to increase gender equality in those fields?

Submitted by:

Shirin Dehghani (Vasa övningsskola), Iida Hekkala (Oulun lyseon lukio), Aleksanteri Kekonen (Oulun lyseon lukio), Amanda Niskanen (Vasa Övningsskola), Rosa Rebekka Nuojua (Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio), Ella Rissanen (Haukiputaan lukio), Sini Paukkeri (Ylikylän yhtenäiskoulu), Simeon Turpeinen (Joensuun normaalikoulun lukio), Filip Jiroušek (Chairperson, CZ)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Emphasising that only 24% of labour force employed in STEM fields are women, B. Expecting an increase of 1.3 million people to be required in the technological field by 2020, C. Alarmed by the ongoing existence of a significant gender pay gap in STEM fields employment, D. Noting with deep regret that girls are not being encouraged enough to study STEM fields subjects at a young age, E. Alarmed by the fact that compared to men, women in STEM subjects are less likely to obtain a Master's degree, F. Noting with satisfaction that unemployment rates in STEM fields are significantly lower than the average unemployment rates in the EU; 1. Authorises the European Commission to conduct a study about the gender pay gap in STEM fields; 2. Suggests that Member States encourage more students to study STEM fields subjects by making education more gender neutral; 3. Asks the European Commission to fund awareness projects regarding the careers available in the STEM fields, especially aimed at lower secondary students; 4. Invites Member States to increase the starting places in technological fields of science in universities to meet the increasing demand for STEM fields professionals;

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

5. Further invites Member States to train primary and secondary school teachers about the need to encourage the students in STEM fields, especially girls.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS II Voting polls: In the light of the close voting results in the British Referendum, almost 30% of the population did not make it to the polls. What measures can the Member States take to increase voter turnout in their referendums and elections, whilst bearing in mind technological advancements?

Submitted by:

Touko Aikioniemi (Ylikylän yhtenäiskoulu), Ronja Borgmästars (Vasa övningsskola), Anna Hekkala (Oulun lyseon lukio), Jessika Kaunisvesi (Raudaskylän lukio), Joni Nieminen (Ounasvaaran lukio), Vertti Peltomäki (Sääksjärven koulu), Oskari Portaankorva (Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio), Anni Routola (Ylikylän yhtenäiskoulu), Miriam Aitken (Chairperson, CH), Elena Marro (Chairperson, IT)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Concerned that non-compulsory voting leads to a lacking feeling of duty and thus unwillingness to vote, B. Observing that security issues have led to: i)

distrust of the voting systems,

ii)

strong skepticism towards online voting systems,

C. Noting with regret the existing limitations that certain Member States have in place regarding voting from abroad, D. Having considered that the digital divide1 has a negative impact on e-voting, E. Pointing out that the lack of political education leads to: i)

lack of interest to participate in voting in the future,

ii)

underestimating the relevance of a single vote,

F. Alarmed by the media’s strong influence on public opinion, which increases the negative image of politics and leads to a low voter turnout,

1

Digital divide is the gap between people, regions, households or businesses regarding their access to and use of the internet as well as information and communication technologies.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

G. Deeply concerned that the lack of communication between youngsters and most politicians lead youths to feel unequally represented; 1. Requests Member States’ governments to launch a social media campaign in order to emphasise the importance of voting; 2. Encourages Member States with an e-voting system to develop a more secure e-voting system by allocating funds to expert groups; 3. Urges Member States to follow the European Commission Recommendation C(2014) 391 Addressing the consequences of disenfranchisement of Union citizens exercising their rights to free movement2 ; 4. Recommends Member States using e-voting systems to offer guidance, educational courses and establish help centres for their citizens; 5. Calls upon Member States to revise their school curricula by: a)

increasing the number of classes on social studies,

b)

endorsing a new way for teachers to approach social studies with a stronger emphasis on the influence of politics on individuals;

6. Further recommends that Member States incorporate media upbringing and critical thinking into their educational systems and assist their citizens in improving their analytical thinking skills; 7. Calls for mass media and politicians from the Member States to bring politics closer to the people by using simpler language and making use of social media; 8. Expresses its hope that non-governmental organisations and institutions offer more activities aimed at increasing active citizenship targeted at young people who have an interest in politics; 9. Supports Member States’ government institutions and agencies in establishing a system that would: a)

allow youth to be better represented in politics

b)

have the right to directly voice their opinion in official events and meetings.

2

Commission Recommendation C(2014) 391 Addressing the consequences of disenfranchisement of Union citizens exercising their rights to free movement is a recommendation issued by the European Commission, which requests Member States to allow their citizens living in other EU countries to continue participating in national politics and recommends making this process as uncomplicated as possible.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY Technology in energy: As fossil fuels continue to be a major contributor in the EU energy production, sustainable methods are less common. How can the Member States expand the usage of other technologically advanced methods to boost the usage of renewable energy?

Submitted by:

Nea Hautakoski (Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio), Niklas Haukipuro (Kempeleen lukio), Maria Hirvelä (Kastellin urheilulukio), Aleksi Holmala (Haukiputaan lukio), Jasmine Kaunisvesi (Raudaskylän lukio), Essi Lievetmursu (Ylikylän yhtenäiskoulu), Ella Pekkala (Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun Lukio), Miko Prykäri (Ylikylän yhtenäiskoulu), Anastasia Martin (Chairperson, CY), Elias Vaara (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Recognising that consumers are not effectively made aware of the use of alternative sustainable technologies, B. Fully aware that renewable energy sources are costlier due to the lack of research and investments, C. Aware of the fact that today’s society is built on an infrastructure which encourages consumers to use non-renewable energy resources, D. Bearing in mind that not every Member State has equal access to specific renewable energy resources due to their geographical location and environmental factors, E. Applauds the Renewable Energy Directive1 for supporting increased sustainability in the Member States, F. Viewing with appreciation the work of KIC InnoEnergy2 and their support for research and innovation in sustainable technology; 1. Calls upon Member States to include more information about sustainable technologies in their school curricula starting from a young age;

1

The Renewable Energy Directive established that a mandatory 20% share of EU energy consumption must come from renewable energy sources by 2020.

2

KIC InnoEnergy is a company promoting innovation in sustainability by offering financial aid, training, and professional support.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

2. Recommends Member States to subsidise phone application companies to develop an application that encourages and evaluates sustainable living; 3. Urges Member States to invest more finances in research and development of alternative technologies; 4. Requests non-governmental organisations dealing with sustainable energy production to create internship programmes for university students; 5. Invites Member States to incentivise companies to be more sustainable through the implementation of a national ranking system that ranks the companies based on their sustainability and energy efficiency levels every 12 months; 6. Calls for the European Commission to form official working groups of Member States that share similar strengths and environmental conditions regarding renewable energy forms; 7. Further calls upon these groups to work together and share resources in order to find the most suitable and efficient ways of producing energy; 8. Hopes that the European Commission further continues to develop legislation such as the Renewable Energy Directive to decrease the share of non-renewable energy sources by setting realistic and ambitious targets beyond 2020; 9. Endorses KIC InnoEnergy for its work and support towards promoting sustainability.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Growing Digital Age: While the digital sector is on the rise, the EU is battling youth unemployment. How could the Member States make the digital sector more appealing to young people and through it increase employment?

Submitted by:

Maria Hjelt (Oulun Suomalaisen Yhteiskoulun lukio), Samuli Karppinen (Kempeleen lukio), Anniina Leskelä (Utajärven koulu), Reetamari Pesonen (Sääksjärven koulu), Santeri Rönty (Vasa övningsskola), Aleksi Suni (Ylikylän yhtenäiskoulu), Viivi Varanka (Haukiputaan lukio), Erik Koeken (Chairperson, NL), Maria Pokkinen (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the fact that the youth unemployment is at a 20% rate in the EU, which has a negative effect on: i)

EU’s gross domestic product,

ii)

living standards,

iii) social budgets, iv) tax income, B. Deeply convinced that insufficient communication between employers and educational institutions leads to negative correlation between the supply and demand of labour, C. Fully aware of the differences in legislations between Member States regarding the digital market, thus making it difficult for digital companies to operate across borders, D. Observing the increased use and improvement of technology, which causes a rise in the demand of knowledgeable Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) specialists, E. Realising that the digital market has a negative social and complex image, which limits the amount of young and educated workers entering the digital sector1,

1

The digital sector refers to any job which is related to working online. From areas like Web Development to less well known specialisms such as Insights, the digital sector is extremely diverse.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

F. Recognising that geo-blocking2 and online barriers decrease the possibilities for European companies to make profit within the EU; 1. Supports the initiative of the European Commission to achieve a fully functioning Digital Single Market3; 2. Urges Member States to fully implement the Europe 20204 plan, removing all the legal barriers regarding the digital market between the Member States; 3. Endorses Member States to increase the use of the Youth Guarantee5 plan; 4. Instructs the European Commission to improve the Open Education of Europe6 by restructuring it into a portal which provides a multitude of up-to-date, free-to-use educational resources; 5. Calls upon Member States to instigate contracts between the educational institutions and employers to ensure that students possess the skills that are required for appropriate job placement; 6. Encourages Member States to add mandatory ICT education into their curricula; 7. Asks Member States to improve the quality of ICT education in order to increase the number of competent ICT specialists.

2

Geo-blocking is the refusal to sell, or automatically re-routing and geo-filtering, based on the location of the consumer.

Companies such as Netflix use this technique to limit their services based on locations.

3

The Digital Single Market is an initiative by the European Commission to ensure the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. The aim is for citizens and businesses to seamlessly and fairly access online goods and services regardless of their nationality and place of residence.

4

The Union has set five ambitious objectives, called Europe 2020, on employment, innovation, education, social inclusion and climate/energy, which are to be reached by 2020.

5

Youth Guarantee is a commitment by all Member States to ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship.

6

Open Education of Europe is a portal which provides many free-to-use educational resources. This portal is still under development. However, in order for this portal to have its maximum amount of impact, the broadband connection through Europe, especially in rural areas, needs to be improved.

Kempele 2016 – Regional Session of European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 13 November 2016

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