Porvoo 2021 - Resolution Booklet by EYP Finland

RESOLUTION BOOKLET

Porvoo 2021 – Regional Session of the European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 14 November 2021

Table of content THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS I (LIBE I)

THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT)

THE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY I (ENVI I)

THE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY II (ENVI II)

THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS II (LIBE II)

THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS (ECON)

THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS (DROI)

THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (ITRE)

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS I (LIBE I) Not so minor minority: Over 100 million EU citizens experience a disability, and face an increased risk of poverty, discrimination, and social exclusion. How can the EU ensure the integration of people with disabilities in society? Submitted by: Emilia Borrusch (Helsingin saksalainen koulu), Sofia Brohez (Helsingin Ranskalais-Suomalainen Koulu), Reeta Nurkkala (Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu), Paulina Roesnex (Tikkurilan lukio), Julia Siven (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Saara Tolvanen (Helsingin Luonnontiedelukio), Ana Stefanović (Chairperson, RS)

The European Youth Parliament aims to create a safe and inclusive environment for European citizens, regardless of their physical or mental abilities. It aims to de-stigmatise disabilities and protect the rights of disabled people by educating the population and creating universal anti-discriminatory laws. In order to improve the public sector, it strives to implement more accessible infrastructure and healthcare services,

because ● Over 135 million people in the EU have some sort of long-term disability, and this number is expected to rise, ● There is no universal definition for disability, which creates stigma and discrimination, and disparity between Member States, ● Disabled people are often not given the appropriate support for their needs in education, causing stagnation in their personal development, ● 17.1% of people with disabilities (aged 20 to 64) are unemployed due to a lack of presented opportunities, causing a higher risk of poverty, ● Certain regions around the EU lack proper physical infrastructure for people with disabilities,

● The lack of research and awareness regarding varying presentations of intellectual and mental disabilities causes late and often wrong diagnoses;

The European Youth Parliament, to achieve these aims, 1. Calls upon the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Europe1 to establish a universal definition for disability; 2. Recommends the European Commission to propose universal laws based on the definition of disability, by ensuring the punishment for discrimination and violence against disabled people; 3. Encourages the European Commission to guarantee the right to vote for disabled people; 4. Requests Member States to provide social welfare payments for people with disabilities; 5. Urges Inclusion Europe2 to educate teachers and students on different types of disabilities and their manifestations by expanding their existing campaigns and events to schools; 6. Invites The European Social Fund (ESF)3 to create more accessible and neurologically stimulating workspaces by funding companies to make their physical workspace more accessible; 7. Suggests the European Disability Forum (EDF)4 to educate staff within the public service sector on proper care of people with disabilities and their supporting equipment by hiring professional educators on this topic; 8. Hopes Ministries of Education ensure supportive assistance is provided to disabled students in schools upon personal request; 9. Asks the European Commission to make a strategy which will make the communal spaces more accessible for people with disabilities; 1

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Europe helps spread knowledge of important health topics through research and publications. 2 Inclusion Europe is a European organisation fighting for the rights and inclusion of intellectually disabled people. They organise projects, campaigns and events. 3 The European Social Fund (ESF) is Europe’s main instrument for supporting jobs, helping people get better jobs and ensuring fairer job opportunities for all EU citizens. It works by investing in citizens, thereby creating a more socially inclusive society. 4 The European Disability Forum (EDF) is an umbrella organisation fighting for the rights of disabled people around Europe. They keep track of the EU policies and advocate for equal rights by working closely with the EU organisations and agencies.

10. Requests The WHO Regional Office for Europe to conduct further research to update diagnostic criteria for both physical and mental disorders to optimise the necessary care for patients.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT) Higher education attendance has positive outcomes on both an individual and national level by boosting employability, but barriers to entry such as limited financial means, caring duties and strict entry requirements make it difficult for many to access. Given that in 2020, only 35.9% of EU citizens aged 25-54 had attained tertiary education, what can the EU do to make higher education more accessible for its citizens? Submitted by: Rebekka Barry (Salon lukio), Ida Berghall (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Elizaveta Bugrova (European School of Helsinki), Keagan Fernandes (Turku International School), Franziska Mertens (Jungmannschule Eckernförde), Fanni Niskala (Ressun lukio), Rebecka Pimenoff (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Miriam Salmenkorva (The English School), Joana Costa (PT, Chairperson)

The European Youth Parliament aims to ensure that all individuals have access to higher education regardless of their socioeconomic background. It further aims to increase the number of enrolments in higher education institutions. Additionally, aims to reduce the number of students that do not complete this level of education. Lastly, it aims to prevent discrimination in higher education institutions and in respective application processes,

because ● In 2020, 9.9 % of 18-24 year olds in the EU had completed lower secondary education at most and were not in further education or training, ● The education path of individuals is directly affected by the socioeconomic status of their parents, perpetuating the generational cycle of poverty, ● The higher education tuition fees are still high in some Member States, ● Students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds have restricted access to resources and information regarding higher education, ● There is a lack of public funding into higher education systems across Member States, ● There is an insufficient number of loans, grants and scholarships in the EU, ● There is a lack of student accommodation, while the existing accommodation is often expensive, 5

● There is a lack of policies against any type of discrimination in higher education institutions, with 29% of students from ethnic backgrounds not having experienced a strategic approach regarding anti-discrimination;

The European Youth Parliament, to achieve these aims, 1. Proposes Member States to further invest in programmes with the goal of raising awareness about the importance of higher education, by including university students visiting high schools with difficult socioeconomic backgrounds; 2. Calls upon Member States to provide lectures and seminars for parents of students regarding higher education and the different types of financial support that are available for their children; 3. Welcomes Member States to provide higher education free of charge, following the example of 16 European countries; 4. Encourages the European Commission to create a common European website with information regarding higher education life, directly provided by other students, researchers and professors; 5. Recommends Member States to expand and increase the offering of online courses, while creating a more flexible syllabus to working-students; 6. Further recommends Member States to provide more loans to higher education students, with longer payback time and accessible fees; 7. Asks the European Commission to support the funding of public student accommodation across Member States; 8. Appeals to the higher education institutions in the EU to review their application processes towards increased inclusivity, by implementing anonymous applications for higher education.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY I (ENVI I) Mind your mind: Eating disorders are the most lethal mental illness due to the increased risk of suicide and physical health complications. Noting that eating disorders highly correlate with other mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, what action can the EU take to promote better body image and positive mental health of its citizens? Submitted by: Chiara Gugino (Uudenkaupungin lukio) Ella Koskinen (Helsingin kielilukio) Anniina Nae (Mikkelin lukio) Thy Nguyen (Mäntän lukio) Karolin Paloots (The English School of Helsinki) Veera Vikman (Perhon lukio) Mikael Willberg (FI, chairperson)

The European Youth Parliament aims to create a healthier and more supportive environment around eating disorders. This would include more detailed education on mental health as well as more accessible mental illness treatment. Additionally, European media should stop promoting unhealthy, unattainable bodies and promote more realistic standards,

because ● Eating disorders affect over 20 million people in the EU alone, ● Eating disorders are difficult to diagnose which leaves them often left untreated and sometimes chronic, ● Mental health problems including eating disorders have only worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns; ● The education systems of Member States often falls short in highlighting the impact and variety of eating disorders, ● Social media is a major contributing actor to eating disorders by promoting an unhealthy and unattainable body image, ● The dieting culture5 present in Member States can contribute to cause of eating disorders, 5

Diet culture sets expectations on thinness and attractiveness over physical health and emotional well-being. This can lead to eating disorders and other mental health issues.

● Eating disorders and other mental illnesses strongly correlate with each other;

The European Youth Parliament, to achieve these aims, 1. Calls upon Mental Health Europe (MHE)6 to launch more support groups for people with eating disorders that would be run by people who have recovered from eating disorders alongside professionals, to create a better environment for recovery; 2. Supports Directorate-General on Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)7 to continue EU-wide research on how Covid-19 has affected the mental health of EU citizens during and after the pandemic; 3. Asks the European Commission to direct more funds towards the provision of mental health services for people from low socio-economic backgrounds; 4. Suggests the European Commission to require social media platforms to have mandatory tags on posts that include content manipulation; 5. Requests Ministries of Education to increase knowledge of mental health by introducing compulsory mental health courses created by mental health professionals in schools; 6. Calls upon Member States to lower the cost of university tuition and provide more spaces on mental health related courses to support those hoping to become a mental health professional. 7. Encourages the Ministries of Health to provide annual free and voluntary mental health check ups for every citizen; 8. Calls upon Member States to provide five mental health days off work or education per year without professional diagnosis; 9. Invites the modeling industry to create more realistic body-images by: a) providing a medical certificate from a registered doctor to their employer regarding the health of the model, and, b) employing more plus sized models.

Mental Health Europe is a non profit organisation striving to promote positive mental health, prevent mental distress and improve care for mental health illnesses in Member States. 7 Directorate-General on Health and Food Safety responsible for EU policy on food safety and health and for monitoring the implementation of related laws.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY II (ENVI II) A man’s world: Given that women are continuously underrepresented and under-researched in medicine and clinical trials, they are often met with dismissal and misdiagnosis when seeking treatment. How can the EU make sure that women in Member States receive effective medical care? Submitted by: Diana Ahmed (Vasa Övningskola) Emilie Huotari (Helsingin Ranskalais-Suomalainen Koulu), Victor Lihr (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Juan Monge (Turun Normaalikoulu), Alice Rougier (Lycée Pierre Gilles de Gennes), Hanna Tonanen (German School of Helsinki), Thomas Wirta (Ressun Lukio), Beatriz Soares (PT, Chairperson)

The European Youth Parliament aims to establish equal representation of both sexes in medical research, as well as provide pharmaceutical companies with the necessary means to conduct inclusive medical trials. It also seeks to spread awareness regarding the underrepresentation of women in medical research,

because ● The process of medical trials becomes more expensive and multifaceted when including women due their complex hormonal system, prompting their exclusion from medical trials, ● There is scarce knowledge regarding the issue, leading to a lack of awareness among EU citizens regarding the risks associated with female misrepresentation, ● Medical education is built upon outdated data regarding how different medicine affects men and women, putting them at higher risk for adverse side effects, ● Medical schools use insufficient data, with little female representation, causing frequent misdiagnosis, ● Research on women’s health is limited as an attempt to protect their fertility, when it in fact only neglects their freedom and human dignity;

The European Youth Parliament, to achieve these aims, 1. Instructs the European Commission to subsidise the pharmaceutical companies who perform gender-balanced medical trials, especially those that include pregnant women; 2. Encourages the European Medicines Agency8 to promote more people taking part in medical trials through informational campaigns in schools and on digital platforms; 3. Invites the European Institute of Women’s Health9 to organise campaigns to inform the general public about the underrepresentation of women in medical research; 4. Calls upon the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)10 to fund medical schools to renew outdated material and make traineeships for teachers; 5. Urges the European Commission to implement a label for medicine to show that it has been tested equally on both men and women; 6. Encourages Member States’ Ministries for Health to alter the procedure regarding participation in medical trials, giving medical professionals an advisory role, ultimately leaving the final decision on participation to the patient.

The European Medicines Agency is the EU body responsible for the scientific evaluation and approval of medicines developed by pharmaceutical companies. 9 The European Institute of Women's Health (EIWH) is a non-governmental organisation that promotes gender equity in public health, research and social policies across Europe. 10 The Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (SANTE) is responsible for EU legislation in the areas of food safety, safety of products and public health.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS II (LIBE II) Once a criminal, always a human: In 2019, there were 112 prisoners per 100 000 people in the EU. Given that released prisoners are at greater risk of criminal recidivism than people who serve non-custodial sentences, what can the Member States do to better prepare prisoners to re-enter society? Submitted by: Ida Greta Aarum (European School of Helsinki), Angjele Comani (Meilahden yläaste), Timofei Makarenko (Business College Helsinki), Matilda Maula (Kulosaaren yhteiskoulu), Talemwa Nanyange Kyambadde (Turku International School), Sofie Savander (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Luis Antón Méndez (ES, Chairperson).

The European Youth Parliament aims to reduce recidivism amongst former prisoners in Member States and to promote successful reintegration of former inmates into society. Furthermore, it looks to reduce factors that hinder reintegration, such as mental health problems, lack of education, discrimination, addictions and diseases,

because ● EU prison density remains at around 90%, leading to an

increase in violence and

gang-forming and a decrease in the quality of prison education, healthcare and mental services, ● Suicide rates among prisoners are 4.4 times higher than those of the average EU population, ● The social stigma around previous conviction reduces the likelihood of success in a recruitment process by 36%, ● The level of basic education among ex-convicts is below average and they lack knowledge of a changing labour market, making it more difficult for them to get a job and fully reintegrate back into society, ● Up to 56% of European prisoners report drug use during their time in prison, ● Drug consumption in prisons increases the spread of diseases such as hepatitis or HIV due to the use of common needles, 11

● Prisons in certain Member States are severely understaffed;

The European Youth Parliament, to achieve these aims, 1. Calls upon Member States to prioritise alternative methods to incarceration, such as probation, community service or house arrest in cases of non-violent crimes; 2. Encourages Member States to provide rehabilitation services instead of incarceration for people with mental disorders; 3. Suggests Member States to implement, increase or maintain social activities, such as family visits, support groups and common work shifts, in prisons to combat isolation; 4. Calls upon non-governmental organisations to increase communication between former convicts and the general public by organising networking events; 5. Asks Member States to ensure that convicts have designated social workers to guide them to the appropriate social services, both during and after their sentence; 6. Urges the Directorate-General in Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion11, in partnership with non-governmental organisations, to provide work opportunities for ex-convicts, following the example created by the EU funded Working Chance project12 in the Czech Republic; 7. Encourages Member States to update their educational programme in prisons to meet the current demands of the labor market; 8. Appeals to Member States to implement Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs)13, following the examples of Germany, Luxembourg, Romania and Spain; 9. Instructs Member States to uphold good hygiene in prisons to reduce the spread of disease; 10. Requests Member States to improve working conditions of prison workers by, but not limited to, increasing salaries to attract new employees; 11

The Directorate General of Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion is a department under the European Commission. It has the task of contributing to the development of a modern, innovative and sustainable European social model with more and better jobs in an inclusive society based on equal opportunities. 12 Working Chance is an EU funded project carried out in the Czech Republic in collaboration with Rubikon Employment Agency that connected participating employers with ex-convicts in an attempt to break down prejudices and offer job opportunities. 58% of attendees secured a job position. 13 Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs) are social services that allow injecting drug users to obtain hypodermic needles and associated paraphernalia at little or no cost looking to reduce the spread of certain diseases.

11. Asks the European Research Council14 to conduct an EU-wide study to determine the ideal ratio of staff members to prisoners, aiming to achieve maximum economic and rehabilitative efficiency.

The European Research Council is a public body dedicated to funding research in all fields conducted within the European Union.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS (ECON) Free Money: As wealth inequality continues to grow globally, heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, universal basic income has been proposed as a potential solution. Noting the need for labour force participation and the costs of rollout, what should the EU stance be on the introduction of universal basic income? Submitted by: Daria Belousova (Vasa Övningsskola), Tobias Fehse (Jungmannschule), Lis Huotari (Helsingin Ranskalais-Suomalainen Koulu), Finn Janssen (Jungmannschule), Alma Jokinen (Puolalanmäen Lukio), Olga Knuth (Ressun Lukio), Saku Leskinen (Kuninkaantien Lukio), Elsa Saario (FI, Chairperson)

The European Youth Parliament aims to increase the standard of living and create equal opportunity regardless of wealth for all EU citizens by supporting the implementation of Universal Basic Income (UBI). Which will prioritize the financial wellbeing and consequently the mental wellbeing of EU citizens. It strives to provide a long-term solution for reducing income inequality while ensuring a stable and sustainable economy,

because ● UBI could ensure basic needs are fulfilled while decreasing financial and mental stress, ● Large income inequality has adverse effects on the equality of opportunity within a country, ● Income inequality has been increasing in recent decades, due to factors such as automatisation and digitalisation, ● Only 7.9% of disposable income went to the bottom quintile of the income distribution in 2019, ● There is a lack of research regarding the effects of UBI, especially considering the planned efforts of Member States to implement pilot UBI projects, ● There is a need for integration of social security policies across the Member States,

● People who need and receive financial support will consume more compared to those who do not need financial support, thus driving demand and boosting economic growth;

The European Youth Parliament, to achieve these aims, 1. Encourages Member States to work towards implementing UBI within their borders depending on their own economic situation; 2. Calls upon the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council Configuration (EPSCO)15 to assist the implementation of UBI in Member States; 3. Encourages Member States to keep existing social welfare payments, such as child support, alongside UBI while removing measures such as unemployment benefits which become redundant; 4. Requests Member States to increasing progressive taxation to further reduce economic inequality and to aid in the funding of Universal Basic Income; 5. Calls upon Eurostat16 to conduct research on UBI and its effects in past and future trials; 6. Asks the European Commission to include UBI in the European Semester17 to support its coordination across Member States; 7. Endorses the Member States to continue abiding by the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP)18 and Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure19; 8. Requests the Development Education and Awareness Raising Programme (DEAR)20 to raise awareness regarding the possible benefits of UBI through media campaigns.

The EPSCO Council brings together ministers responsible for employment, social affairs, health and consumer policy from all EU member states. 16 Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union. 17 The European Semester provides a framework for the coordination of economic policies across the European Union. 18 The Stability and Growth Pact is a set of rules designed to ensure that countries in the European Union pursue sound public finances and coordinate their fiscal policies. 19 The Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure aims to identify, prevent and address the emergence of potentially harmful macroeconomic imbalances in the EU. 20 The DEAR programme promotes active citizenship and critical understanding of sustainable development issues, the interdependent world and people’s roles as change-makers.

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS (DROI) The Human Market: Over 20 million people in the EU are victims of human trafficking for forced labour and sexual exploitation. Following the recent EU Strategy on Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, what measures can the EU put in place to further cut down on this illegal industry? Submitted by: Juho Hupli (Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu), Ida Irz (KP), Laura Kautto (Tampereen lyseon lukio), Frederick Lalu (Kulosaaren Yhteiskoulu), Henry Maula (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Nella Salminen (Ressun lukio), Aino Summa (Ressun lukio), Marta Costa (PT, Chairperson)

The European Youth Parliament aims to raise awareness about the depth and complexity of human trafficking. It further wishes to prevent the smuggling of victims and invest in their future recovery. Furthermore, it wishes to integrate the topic of human trafficking in national curricula in an accessible way,

because ● There is significant stigma surrounding human trafficking, which deters Member States from taking the necessary measures to prevent it, ● Smuggling is commonly recurring phenomenon within human trafficking, the actual number of victims is certainly much higher than reported, ● Human traffickers maximise profits using unethical methods, such as smuggling, to move people across borders, ● Human trafficking victims suffer from different types of abuse, which leads to physical and psychological trauma, ● The demand for prostitution is constantly increasing and was only worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic;

The European Youth Parliament, to achieve these aims, 1. Encourages Member States to include the topic of human trafficking in their social sciences syllabus of their national curricula; 2. Urges the European Committee on Migration and Home Affairs21 to implement strict inspections of vehicles coming from outside the EU when crossing its borders; 3. Welcomes Member States to take into account the testimonies of the survivors of human trafficking when enacting laws and policies regarding the issue; 4. Hopes that Member States ensure access to high quality health care and covers the associated expenses; 5. Invites Europol22 to review the powers of existing human trafficking task-forces to tackle the increase in prostitution.

The European Committee on Migration and Home Affairs is in charge of presenting plans and strategies on all issues regarding Migration and International Security. 22 Europol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency that has a focus on serious and organised crime and terrorism.

MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (ITRE) Going Nuclear: 40% of greenhouse gas emissions come from fossil fuel use, prompting Member States to look elsewhere for sources of energy to achieve the goals set in the 2016 Paris Agreement. Bearing in mind both the growing demand for non-fossil fuel energy, and the risks associated with it, what role should nuclear energy play in the future of the EU? Submitted by: Thomas Curtis (Tampereen Lyseon Lukio), Felix Emmesberger (Deutsche Schule Helsinki), Botond Feher (Turku International School), Henni Juotasniemi (Ressun Lukio), Tove Tiedemann (Gymnasiet Lärkan), Mikko Xu (Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu), Murray Kennedy (AT, Chairperson)

The European Youth Parliament aims to combat climate change by increasing the use of nuclear energy as an efficient, relatively environmentally friendly and viable alternative to fossil fuel energy. The European Parliament also aims to educate its Member States and citizens on the significant role nuclear energy can play in policies of environmental sustainability,

because ● Nuclear energy is both more efficient and reliable than most sustainable energy sources in their current state such as wind and solar, ● Nuclear power is a virtually carbon-free power source, ● Renewable energy sources alone are currently incapable of curbing the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment and tend to be inefficient in their use of the land, ● Fossil fuels are the largest producers of carbon emissions and contributors to global warming, ● Nuclear reactors and the disposal of nuclear waste pose minimal risks under the proper safety procedures, ●

Carbon emissions produced by fossil fuels contribute to adverse health outcomes,

● The EU has a vulnerable position in the energy market as it relies heavily on importing fuel from nations with suboptimal relations with the EU; 18

The European Youth Parliament, to achieve these aims, 1. Directs the European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF)23 to finance research on the enhanced efficiency and reliability of nuclear energy in comparison to renewable energy sources; 2. Calls upon Member States who do not endorse nuclear energy to reconsider its practical usage by undertaking research on the efficiency of nuclear power; 3. Advises the Directorate-General of Energy24 to improve the position of nuclear energy relative to fossil fuels in future energy plans and in alignment with technological advancements in the nuclear industry; 4. Encourages the EEEF to fund the construction of nuclear power plants as the replacement for coal power facilities; 5. Directs the European Environment Agency (EEA)25 to educate the general public about nuclear energy and the very low risk of nuclear warfare by organising workshops, conferences and media campaigns; 6. Requests the European Commission to direct funds towards nuclear waste management to improve the quality of nuclear waste storage; 7. Calls upon the EEA to conduct research on the impact of radioactive waste disposal on human health; 8. Recommends to the European Commission to commit to an EU-wide trade deal to import uranium from countries that the EU maintains strong relationships with to minimise risks in the energy-market.

The European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF) aims to mitigate climate change by combining private and public capital for climate related investments. 24 The Directorate-General for Energy is responsible for promoting and regulating the European Energy Union. 25 The European Environment Agency provides independent information on the environment for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy.