MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS (LIBE)

Ends to Justify the Means: With groups such as Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion performing attention-grabbing demonstrations in museums, art galleries, streets and motorways all across Europe, what stance should the EU take on civil disobedience to influence climate policy?

Submitted by: Ansa Ekman (Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu), Malek Hamdeni (European School of Helsinki), Sofianna Kläusler (Etelä-Tapiolan lukio), Nella Leussu (Kuopion Lyseon lukio), Kaisla Mauno (Sammon keskuslukio), Matilda Ojala (Kuopion Lyseon lukio), Maya Olivieri (IT/BE), Martta Pyykönen (Helsingin Saksalainen koulu), Aino Sainio (Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu), Heta-Maria Uotila (Lauttakylän lukio), Milla Vesa (Töölön Yhteiskoulu), Iivari Mantere (Chairperson, FI)

The European Youth Parliament aims to ensure the access to civil disobedience to all 9 citizens of the EU whenever it is necessary. It furthermore strives to provide a safe environment for citizens to express their opinions and have their opinions heard without feeling afraid of negative repercussions. It also aspires to provide a space for climate activists to fight for the preservation of collapsing ecosystems, because:

A. The EU has not established a concrete stance on the issue of civil disobedience, leading to a large number of discrepancies between the codes of law of Member States,

B. Protests are protected by the freedom of speech and assembly, but the line between legal and illegal acts is not clearly differentiated by the laws of the EU or Member States,

C Violent protests and acts of civil disobedience against climate change can damage private property and thus cause financial damage to third parties,

9 Public, non-violent, and unlawful action that aims to change public policy or opinion and bring publicity

D. Protests against climate change can result in police brutality and injuries to the protestors, resulting in failure to protect the freedom of peaceful assembly,

E. Protests can cause legal, economic, and physical harm to both protesters and other involved parties such as police officers, politicians, and bypassers,

F. Many young people do not feel heard in political decision-making, causing concern about the future amongst youth,

G. Radical actions oen get more publicity than small, peaceful actions, leading to protesters preferring this as the way to solve the problem of not being acknowledged,

H. People are concerned by the significant amount of time needed for the conception and adoption of ecological solutions in the democratic law-making process,

I. Police officers and protesters may face false accusations, claims of misconduct, and abuse,

J. Information about the democratic decision-making processes of Member States can be out of reach for citizens, increasing distress about the lack of action related to climate change;

The European Youth Parliament,

1 Reminds all Member States that the EU does not consider violence to be a response to provocation, whatever the source may be;

2. Urges Member States to tolerate peaceful civil disobedience;

3. Requests Member States to enforce repercussions for authorities who do not respect the fundamental right of peaceful assembly;

4. Suggests Member States to extend and update their legislation regarding the legalities of protesting to clarify the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved;

5. Invites the European Commission to collaborate with Europol to create guidelines for police departments encouraging the implementation of body cameras;

6. Requests the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) to expand the Internal Security Fund to fund police training events across Member States concerning the appropriate use of force in response to protests;

Turku 2023 – National Session of the European Youth Parliament Finland General Assembly, 10 April 2023

7. Calls upon the European Commission to ensure the safety of parties involved in acts of protest or civil disobedience by improving existing laws around protests and police brutality;

8 Encourages Member States to invite youth to partake in decision-making processes and encourage them to be involved in politics by: a. creating multi-platform media campaigns and appropriate workshops in schools, b. inviting Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as Eurodesk, to further spread awareness about political participation;

9 A sks the European Council to launch an international website offering citizens and businesses a place to share small ecological actions;

10. Invites Member States to continue working to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050;

11. Requests Member States to increase transparency in their legislative processes, specifically with regard to climate policy.