27th NSC Resolution Booklet

27th NATIONAL SELECTION CONFERENCE OF EYP GREECE ATHENS, 20 - 22 APRIL 2013

RESOLUTION BOOKLET

The General Assembly Programme Monday, April 22nd 2013 08:30

Arrival of Delegates at ATExcelixi

09.00 - 09.45

Opening Ceremony of the General Assembly

09.45 - 10:30

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs AFCO

10:30 - 11:15

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety I - ENVI I

11:15 - 11:30

Coffee Break

11:30- 12:15

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Organised Crime, Corruption and Money Laundering - CRIM

12:15 - 13:00

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs - EMPL

13:00 - 13:45

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Budgetary Control CONT

13:45 - 14:45

Lunch Break

14:45 - 15:30

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety II - ENVI II

15:30 - 16:15

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy - ITRE

16:15 - 17:00

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs - LIBE

17:00 - 17:15

Coffee Break

17:15 - 18:00

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on International Trade INTA

18:00 - 18:45

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality - FEMM

18:45 - 19:00

Coffee Break

19:00 - 20:15

Closing Ceremony

End of Session

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C ONSTITUTIONAL A FFAIRS ‘A small step for Europe, a big step for democracy’: Created in sync with Article 11.4 ofthe Lisbon Treaty, the European Citizens Initiative (ECI) strives for a more inclusive,participatory democracy on EU level, yet after one year of being in use, it is still seen by manyas too weak for bringing about real change. What further steps should the EU take regardingthe ECI and the decrease of democratic deficit in the Union?

Submitted by:

Aggeliki Dimou, Thanos Doukakis, Alexandros Fotiadis, Eleni Giannnouli, Antonis Kaisaris, Giannis Karagiannis, Andreas Karipis, Katerina Kaskouti,Alexandros Sideris, Eleni Zeugolatakou, Alex Nompilakis (Chairperson, GR), Dionysis Theodoropoulos (Chairperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the fact that the ECI does not function effectively and faces a number of technical difficulties, such as the prerequisite ofcollecting one million votes from seven different Member States within one year renders the completion of an initiative excessively hard to accomplish, B. Deeply disturbed that the ECI is under the full control of the European Commission, C. Noting with deep regret that approximately eleven million EU citizens are being denied their right to support initiatives due to lack of full citizenship rights, D. Deeply concerned that voters have to provide excessive personal information and the online platform of the ECI has proven dysfunctional, E. Observing that the lack of interest and trust in the political structure of the EU is both a consequence and a cause of the EU's democratic deficit, F. Realising that the aforementioned mistrust is extended by a general lack of information and awareness on European affairs, policy-making and the EU's legislation and functioning, G. Taking into account that a main factor contributing to the EU's democratic deficit is the absence ofotherrelevant democraticpractices such as referenda, H.

Fully alarmed by the fact that the EU's democratic deficit is intensified by its institutional structure of increased legislative procedure, which, however, is not directly elected by the European citizens;

1. Supports the following technical reforms in the function of ECI by: a.

extendingan initiative’s time limit to two years,

b.

reviewing the minimum number of voters required per Member State,

c.

allowing all citizens of a Member State to support initiatives even when not enjoying full citizenship,

d.

withdrawing the requirement to submit one’s sensitive personal data in order to support an initiative and

e.

establishing the collection of votes through a single centralised platform by the European Commission;

2. Recommends: a.

the promotion of ECI through informational campaigns and cooperation with NGOs,

b.

the establishment of an ECI help desk to assist the organisers of initiatives,

c.

the formulation of a legal framework concerning specifically ECI and

d.

allowing the undertaking of initiatives that amend treaties;

3. Calls for the raise of public awareness concerning EU affairs, European policy, legislation and functioning of its institutions by organising promotional campaigns and providing live broadcasting of sessions and summits of the EU institutions; 4. Urges that the values of the EU should be infused in younger generations through courses, school curricula, informative sessions and presentations as well as by further promoting institutions like EYP; 5. Strongly supports the reform of EU’s institutional structure by giving citizens the right to directly elect the members of the European Commission; 6. Endorses the extension of European Parliament’s power by taking up responsibilities currently held by European Commission and Council; 7. Urges all Members of the European Parliament to adopt a more interactive and communicative stance towards the public; 8. Encourages the establishment of additional European Commission’s offices in all Member States in order to inform and directly communicate with citizens.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE C OMMITTEE ON E NVIRONMENT , P UBLIC H EALTH AND F OOD S AFETY I In the light of the recent horse meat scandal and the raised concerns regarding food labelling and traceability, how should the EU react to address the issue?

Submitted by:

Konstantina Asimakopoulou, Panagiota Chatzi, Vasiliki Chrysi, Nikiforos Exarchos, Konstantina Maria Karameri, Gavriil Lazarou, Kalliopi Makri, Sofia Nikolopoulou, Ioanna Pantzou, Anna Maria Papadea, Dimitris Papadimas, Konstatinos Stasinopoulos, Hanna Haavisto (Chairperson, FI), Despina Papadopoulou (Chairperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Taking into account that the mislabelling of horsemeat has caused consumers to lose trust in the current labelling system, B. Noting with regret, that the health risks caused by consumption of horsemeat acquired from animals not originally intended to be used for human consumption, are of utmost importance and hazardous essence, C. Taking into consideration that complexity of inconsistencies upon systems of control and testing,

food chains, produces

D. Having observed a, nonetheless, general improvement of the current control system, E. Expecting enterprises to respect the existing regulations concerning food safety, F. Noting with deep concern that companies are taking advantage of public unawareness of the origin of food products;

1. Requests that the following information be mentioned on the food product label: a.

list of ingredients,

b.

country of origin,

c.

results of DNA tests,

d.

enzymes and hormones of the product and

e.

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certificate;

2. Encourages food companies to ensure the authenticity of the information provided on the aforementioned labels; 3. Calls for improvement of the control system by: a.

decreasing the amount of mediators in the food chain and

b.

better collaboration between food companies, ISO, the European Food Safety Authority, and the EU;

4. Recommends stricter sanctions for the companies that fail to follow the legislation in areas, such as: a.

fines,

b.

imprisonment of respective actors,

c.

deprivation of licenses and

d.

closure of the company;

5. Calls for the following actions as a means of raising public awareness: a.

an update of school curricula so as to make possible the organisation of projects and interactive talks by experts,

b.

the promotion of advertisements, TV-shows, and articles concerning food safety and

c.

the launch of seminars and campaigns by national governments;

6. Recommends the creation of a universal checklist so as to: a.

help the experts perform audits on food companies, and

b.

to evaluate, amend, and further improve food safety standards.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C RIME , C ORRUPTION AND M ONEY L AUNDERING With an estimated 2.5 million people being in forced labour at any given time as a result of trafficking and 2013 being the last year for the adoption of directive 2011/36 on human trafficking, what immediate solutions can the EU enforce so as to improve the situation and achieve effective implementation of the directive?

Submitted by:

Iris Grigoriadou, Melina Iliopoulou, Magdalini Ioannidou, Stefania Kafka, Eleni Karabi, Dimitris Panagiotou, Georgia Papathanasiou, Maria Sacha, Maria-Eleni Samara, Maria-Angeliki Vasilakou, Despina Dimitrakopoulou (Chaiperson, GR), Achilleas Platanitis (Chairperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Acknowledging the limited public awareness that has impaired attitudes towards non-governmental organisations (NGOs), B. Alarmed by the shortcomings of the education, which has resulted in a general lack of awareness of human rights and the violations of them, C. Recognizing financial crisis as a catalyst of such social issues as prostitution and sexual exploitation, D. Deeply concerned by the economic impact of the grey market, E. Believing that the financial crisis and its social aftermath has provoked the augmentation of demand in cheap labour, F. Alarmed by the human traffickers’ abuse and blackmailing of the victims, which has resulted in their unwillingness to testify, G. Keeping in mind the lack of cooperation between Member States and the resulting hindrance of efficient and effective implementation of the 2011/36 Directive, H. Realising that people in developing countries are victims to human trafficking more often than they suffer from other on-going adversities, such as domestic violence, wars and starvation, I. Bearing in mind that the rate of illegal immigration has increased: i. the indifference of national police bodies, ii. the lack of interest and supervision by national governments and iii. the inadequacy of national security;

1. Supports voluntary unemployment;

organisations

and

NGOs

that

fight

poverty

and

2. Recommends the raising of public awareness through: a.

educational programmes,

b.

campaigns promoting human rights,

c.

seminars and speeches and

d.

promoting polls or questionnaires;

3. Calls for a deeper cooperation between Member States so as to enforce the 2011/36 directive; 4. Authorises the creation of expert-led centres and NGOs in order to assist the victims of human trafficking by: a.

increasing the number of current victim hotlines and

b.

improving witness protection programmes;

5. Endorses the establishment of facilities providing medication, nutrition and rehabilitation to victims of human trafficking; 6. Encourages all Member States to increase border supervision, both on an internal and an external level by improving: a.

the security system,

b.

the special forces with the help of appropriate training and advanced technology and

c.

the digital surveillance of organised crime and increasing the number of police officers.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E MPLOYMENT AND S OCIAL A FFAIRS Skyrocketing youth unemployment, skills mismatch and workforce challenges: with over four million jobs currently vacant and over 40% of youth indicating an interest in entrepreneurship and self-employment, how should the EU shape its relationship with the private sector on moulding quality entry-level jobs , creating new job opportunities and supporting entrepreneurial initiatives across Member States?

Submitted by:

Maria Andrikou, Petros Dimitrakopoulos, Andreas Kalfakis, Kalliopi Lempesi, Vasileia Paralymperi, Aikaterini Papathanasiou, Christina Sevva, Christina - Anthi Tourkomichali, Nikolaos Vlachopoulos, Waltter Suominen (Chairperson, FI), Gio Panagiotaropoulou (Vice President, GR)

The European Youth Parliament A. Emphasising that the skills and knowledge provided by the educational systems must meet the demands of the labour market, B. Bearing in mind that the existing bureaucracy and the insufficient funding has rendered many young people unable to enter the entrepreneurial world, C. Fully alarmed by the fact that the rate of highly qualified young people who are either unable to find occupation in their field of expertise or are underpaid in entry-level jobs is of staggering levels, D. Deeply disturbed by the inefficient collaboration between the European Union and the governing authorities of Member States and the consequential lack of flexibility of the labour market, E. Noting with regret that the deep recession in the EU has caused youth unemployment rates to further escalate, and job conditions for young employees to further deteriorate, F. Deeply conscious by the intensified competition in the labour market, partially caused by the rapidly increasing flow of illegal immigrants;

1. Draws attention to the importance of career guidance seminars and projects both in the school curriculum and beyond, so that higher and vocational education are proportionately populated;

2. Calls upon all actors involved to take action towards eliminating obstacles that hinder cross-border workforce mobility and “flexicurity� by: a.

offering guidance and financial alleviation during transition phase,

b.

facilitating degree alignment across Member States and

c.

tracking labour demand and surplus in different geographical areas and various sectors of the economy;

3. Calls upon Member States to provide incentives and proper infrastructure, such as training centres and observatories for the collection and dissemination of information about job opportunities and activity in rural areas; 4. Recommends the extension of programs such as Youth on the Move and their adaptation to the needs of individual Member States; 5. Suggests the intensification of the imposition of sanctions by local authorities, tax agencies, and other actors of such nature to employers that cannot guarantee for the legal documents of their employees in order to address the issue of illegal labour; 6. Emphasizes the importance of protecting young employees from being exploited by their employers via: a.

the creation of a service operating in a local level, providing assistance and advice to young employees that have been victimised and

b.

adopting new pieces of legislation on EU level;

7. Recommends the simplification and digitisation of processes required to set up new businesses, thus minimising stalls and the overall bureaucracy; 8. Endorses the further cooperation of the public and the private sector, looking to: a.

attract private investors to fund entrepreneurial initiatives by guaranteeing partial refunds in case of failure or bankruptcy,

b.

provide guidance, and minimise the fixed setup costs of a new enterprise, through clustering initiatives and incubator services and

c.

fund EU-wide schemes that aim to provide young people with an opportunity to present their innovative ideas to potential investors.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON B UDGETARY C ONTROL Bailouts, currency stability, debt restructuring and the Cypriot financial crisis with yet another Member State being faced with difficult financial decisions, what stance should the EU take to address the social costs brought about by adoption of the harsh austerity measures in the Member states?

Submitted by:

Pavlos Diamantopoulos, Vasiliki Karakosta, Stefanos Mantzarlis, Sofia Papasparaki, Maria Savvidou, Giannis Skordas, Ismini Vasileiou, Ioannis Zantiotis, George Zaverdinos, Dominic Degen (Chaiperson, CH), Evanthia Kasiora (Chaiperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament A. Bearing in mind that some of the social costs caused by current austerity measures include, but are not limited to, an increase in unemployment, income inequality and social aggression, B. Fully aware of the fact that the current recession is, primarily, caused by the United States subprime mortgage crisis that begun in 2007, C. Observing the efforts of Member States to combat the current financial problems through Memoranda and privatisation of state-owned assets, D. Noting with deep concern the contribution of money laundering, tax evasion and corruption to further acceleration of the economic crisis among Member States, E. Reaffirming the importance of social welfare, F. Having examined austerity measures as an effective means to overcome financial crisis;

1. Urges the increase of Value Added Tax (VAT) based on EU resources by one third; 2. Calls for an adjustment of EU budget percentages, by means of increase and decrease of the following commitment headings: a.

‘Market related Expenditure and Direct Aids’,

b.

‘EU as a Global Player’ and

c.

‘Sustainable Growth’;

3. Emphasises the need for thorough accounting and assessment of the usage of EU funds granted to third parties; 4. Authorises stricter EU surveillance on the public spending of Member States; 5. Encourages the creation of economic incentives for private sector stakeholders in order for them to take on investments in the economically struggling Member States.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON E NVIRONMENT , P UBLIC H EALTH AND F OOD S AFETY II Aiming at a broader waste policy review by 2014, which priorities must be set by the Union in order to support functional eco-design, environmental innovation and so as to ensure plastic products are used in a more sustainable manner throughout their life cycle?

Submitted by:

Eleni-Anna Fragoudaki, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, Sofia Iliadi, Maria Katri, Kyriaki Michailidi, Euthumia Paligianni, Nikoleta Papadimitriou, Vasiliki Spyrou, Kostis Douligeris (Chairperson, GR), Ieva Freidenfelde (Chairperson, LV)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Taking into account that the restrictions set by the Hazardous Substances Directive, are not fully implemented, B. Deeply concerned by the low level of motivation to recycle, caused by: i.

the lack of information concerning the negative impacts of mistreated plastic waste,

ii. the lack of educational programmes on environmental protection in schools and iii. the inability of families to develop an environmentally friendly way of thinking, C. Considering that NGO’s and other organisations working towards environmental protection are not fully supported, neither by government nor by society, D. Aware of the fact that incineration of plastic, leads to greenhouse gas emissions, which may severely affect public health, E. Alarmed by the fact that plastic is the main component of marine waste and therefore has a negative impact on marine life and ultimately the food chain, F. Bearing in mind that biodegradable products require separate stages of treatment (e.g. Oxo-biodegradable plastics do not even fully degrade), G. Noting with regret that not every Member State fully complies with the requirements posed by the Waste Framework Directive, H. Recognising the successful practices by individual MS regarding waste management being already in place,

I. Having noticed the plastics industry as being an integral part of the economy;

1. Draws attention to raising public awareness within the general public about the proper management of plastic waste by means such as: a.

educational workshops,

b.

campaigns and

c.

information websites and blogs;

2. Emphasises on adopting an eco-design policy where industries should decrease the amount of harmful substances used in production and promote bio-plastic products; 3. Encourages the industries to adopt a policy that requests to follow the waste management hierarchy, so as to, amongst others, protect the aforementioned marine life; 4. Recommends the national governments to regulate the usage of more eco-friendly materials in the manufacturing and design of plastic in order not to be a burden to the environment; 5. Invites Member States to adopt programmes that have been proved successful and efficient in other countries.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON I NDUSTRY , R ESEARCH AND E NERGY With being well on track to 2020, new goals for the following decades regarding CO2 emissions and the use of renewables are being contemplated on the EU level. How should the goals for energy efficiency evolve beyond the 2020 energy targets to reinforce security of energy supply and energy independence across Member States whilst remaining respectful to the planet’s resources?

Submitted by:

Dimitra Balaska, Theofaneios Korovesis, Giorgos Lympoudis, Iason Makris, Dimitra Oikonomou, Eugenios Petropoulos, Iro-Christina Pliaka, Eleni Siozou, Sofia Sotiropoulou, Eleftheria-Irida Karasmanoglou (Chairperson, GR), Robin Rönneke Belfrage (Chairperson, SE)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Bearing in mind that the energy policies of the Member States differ to a certain extent, B. Deeply disturbed by EU’s current dependency on energy imports, C. Emphasising the need for enhanced distribution of energy between the Member States, D. Guided by the ‘Europe 2020’ goals, E. Recognising the need for a reinforcement of energy security in Europe, F. Believing in the importance of using Earth’s limited resources in a sustainable manner, G. Taking in to account EU’s need for independent energy production;

1. Calls for the re-examination of both EU and national energy policies, so as to ensure adaptability, flexibility and the satisfaction of needs of Member States; 2. Recommends the creation of a Central Distribution Energy Centre that will monitor the flow and usage of energy across Member States; 3. Supports the improvement of energy networks within EU in order to facilitate energy exchange;

4. Has resolved to attract investors in renewable energy by: a.

tax reductions,

b.

subsidies and

c.

limiting bureaucratic procedures with the help of ‘fast tracking’;

5. Encourages the creation of more sustainable initiatives, such as the production and use of fuels, namely biodiesel, bioethanol and non-fossil methanol; 6. Further recommends the establishment of ‘smart cities’ together with the development of already existing projects, such as the refurbishing of public buildings mentioned in the Energy Efficiency Directive; 7. Emphasises the promotion of concurrent consumption of both renewable energy sources and fossil energy.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C IVIL L IBERTIES , J USTICE AND H OME A FFAIRS Nationalism on the rise: the increasing number of far right-wing movements entering into national parliaments indicates a profound change in the political geography of Europe and a potential paradigm shift in population’s ideological affiliations. As Europe is faced with a presence of more xenophobic expressions across a number of Member States, what role, if any, has the EU in tackling the rise of right-wing populism and nationalism in its Member States?

Submitted by:

Alexandros Anthis, Vasiliki Apostolaki, Eleftheria Kapourani, Konstantinos Koutsantonis, Nikoleta Niforou, Foivos Oikonomidis, Ilias Pagozidis, Menelaos Samaras, Aikaterini Thomaidi, Christos Varsamis, Paulos Zoumpouloglou, Dimitris Chapizanis (VicePresident, GR), Manto Souvatzidaki (Chairperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Noting that nationalism is a threat to basic human rights, such as freedom of religion, equal treatment, employment, and education, B. Bearing in mind that the unemployed native population is in competition with immigrants and minorities for employment positions, thus leading to lack of tolerance, prejudice and xenophobia, C. Aware that prejudice and xenophobia are making immigrants’ integration into the society of Member States highly complex, D. Given that far right wing parties are over-shown through the media, E. Noting with concern that far right-wing movements’ populist and provocative behaviour attracts media attention and manipulates groups of people, F. Realising that the Eurozone crisis has led to increased Euroscepticism, ultimately resulting in a high dependence of individual forces, G. Deeply concerned that the high rates of immigration have contributed to people feeling a threat relating to the loss of their own national identity, H. Recognising that the rise of far right-wing movements is fed by the social discontent of persons which are presumed to be at a highly challenging position in society,

I. Noting with deep concern that due to political corruption and lack of clarity, people are disappointed by mainstream parties and resort to more extreme ideologies expressed by far right wing parties, J. Believing that there can be a European Identity without sacrificing national identities;

1. Considers that the rules and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights1 and the Stockholm Programme2 are to serve as base texts which should guide the Member States in their strategy for fighting discrimination and the rise of xenophobia; 2. Encourages a closer collaboration between the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)3 and national governments so that more safeguards against the activity of extremist groups, which act against democratic principles and violate human rights, could be introduced; 3. Congratulates the work of the European Program on Integration and Migration (EPIM)4 and further encourages the development of more educational workshops based on citizens’ rights, social tolerance and respect for difference; 4. Recommends the promotion of a series of actions and events targeted at native and immigrants of different religion and culture, such as: a.

the establishment of educational programmes, providing language lessons and

b.

the implementation of areas of worship, related to various religions;

5. Supports the establishment of closer international cooperation discouraging any propaganda of far right-wing ideologies, especially through new media technologies and social networks; 6. Encourages the establishment of exchange programmes for native and immigrant youngsters in the same city or country; 7. Suggests that the EU further promotes events which promote a common European Identity such as Europe Day, 9th of May.

1

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union enshrines certain political, social and economic rights for EU citizens and residents into EU law.

2 The Stockholm Programme sets out the EU’s priorities for the area of justice freedom and security for the period 2010-2014.

3 FRA assists EU institutions and Member States in understanding and tackling challenges to safeguard the fundamental rights of everyone in the EU. 4 EPIM was created to influence EU policy developments and advocating for constructive approaches to migrants in Europe.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON I NTERNATIONAL T RADE With president Barack Obama calling for a further increase of the economic relationships by negotiating a comprehensive transatlantic trade and investment partnership with the EU and the commercial world increasingly resembling ‘a spaghetti bowl of confusing trade deals’, can the transatlantic free trade agreement be the ‘Holy grail of growth’ for both sides of the Atlantic? What are the issues for the EU to tackle and what can be done to ensure the agreement remains in accordance with the standards set by the WTO? Submitted by:

Viktor Markopoulos, Anastasios Nikolakopoulos, Chrisostomos Nikolaou, Apostolos Papadelis, Adamantios Papadopoulos, Euangelos Papoutsis, Nikolaos Athanasios Sarridis, Ioannis Valindras, Ilias Zervas, Mariela Apostolaki (Vice President - GR), Rucsandra Pintea (Chairperson, RO)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Deeply concerned that the transatlantic trade agreement does not fully meet each of the EU Member States’ current economic, social and political interests, B. Fully aware of the existing discrepancies between the regulatory systems of the two negotiating sides and the effect these might have on the negotiations’ final outcome, C. Convinced that the new investment prospects brought about by the transatlantic agreement will positively impact the decrease of unemployment rates all over EU, D. Acknowledging that the implementation of a transatlantic agreement will lead to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on both sides of the Atlantic, and foster significant financial development in the respective economies, E. Having examined the on-going negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada, and the subsequent difficulties that the adoption of the transatlantic free trade agreement will create, F. Alarmed by the fact that the zero-tariff policies imply a double impact in terms of: i. a positive effect on product prices and ii. a negative effect on the pharmaceutical industry and consumers’ protection;

1. Supports the creation of a more affluent environment for investments by: a.

reducing bureaucratic procedures and

b.

redrafting a common policy within EU to reduce the barriers imposed on the exports of each Member State;

2. Calls upon the working committee responsible for drafting the text of the agreement to consider a framework that would set quality standards for products to reduce the differences between EU’s and United States’ quality directives; 3. Notes that EU is responsible for further negotiations to achieve a maximum GDP increase; 4. Urges the European Commission to create a secure negotiating environment for Canada within the transatlantic trade agreement in order to successfully represent its interests; 5. Suggests the implementation of a directive, which will determine, based on different factors (i.e., income, job market and health status etc.), whether a person can benefit from low-priced drugs.

M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON W OMEN ' S R IGHTS AND G ENDER E QUALITY Gender quotas as a stepping stone towards greater gender equality: given that women still earn 16% less than what men do and only make up 15% of board members in the EU as a whole, what steps should the EU take to close the gender pay and power inequality gap?

Submitted by:

Chrysanthi Bakatselou, Iliana Bandouna, Panagiotis Chatzistratis, Niki Georgakopoulou, Despoina Goupou, Eleni Grammenou, Christina Kapatou, Eleni Kartsonaki, Christina Kattami, Nefeli-Eleni Konatidou, Theodora Rizou, Louisa-Eleni Zygouraki, Juliette Maigné (Chairpersom, FR), Alexandros Politis (Chairperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament, A. Alarmed by the fact that women annually earn 16% less than men, leading to the weakening of career progress, pension rights, and healthcare1, B. Deeply conscious of the facts provided by the official European Commission database indicating that: i. only 3,2% of chairpersons are women, ii. 34% of the seats of the European Parliament are occupied by women, iii. women only make up 15% of boards in the EU as a whole, C. Taking into consideration Articles 21 and 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, indicating that equality between men and women must be ensured in all domains including employment, D. Having considered both positive and negative aspects relating to the implementation of gender quotas, E. Deeply concerned by the problematic nature of current legislation regarding maternity leave, family responsibilities, and deficiency of social structures aiding working mothers, F. Bearing in mind that, according to the Special Eurobarometer 376, 75% of Europeans are in favour of legislation regarding gender balance while 88% is in favour of equal representation in high ranked positions,

1

according to “Women in Economic Decision in the EU” progress report, European Commission.

2010.

G. Emphasizing the beneficial aspects of having women in board positions, such as their organisational, innovative, and decision-making skills, H. Recognising that „Women on the Board Pledge for Europeâ€&#x;, submitted by the European Commission, was eventually only signed by 24 companies; 1. Revises the gender quotas, proposed by the European Commission, so that the minimum percentage of women working in the private and public sector reaches 25% in 2013, with a growing ratio of 10% every five years until 2023; 2. Urges the implementation of a quota aiming at increasing the female representation in executive boards at 10% in three years time reaching 25% by 2023; 3. Recommends the creation of an evaluation system based on the employees' qualifications and productivity, serving as a prerequisite for the settlement of gender quotas in a company; 4. Supports the adoption of a new regulation by the European Parliament and the Council stating that the gender pay gap in a company, concerning the same employment position, will not by any means exceed 5% by 2020; 5. Proposes the introduction of sanctions such as easy access to law suits, license removal and annulment of the elected board members in companies, who show no compliance to the aforementioned quotas; 6. Calls for the removal of gender and marital status from all CVs, taking into consideration the article 8 of the Charter of the Fundamental Human Rights; 7. Further proposes the financial aid and support of NGOs so as to provide: a) psychological and professional counseling to persons in the field of education, as well as parents, in relation to gender equality and b) students with mixed activities (i.e. traditionally considered male/female sports or projects aiming at mutual respect and cooperation between the two sexes); 8. Calls on the NGOs to raise public awareness about the gender pay gap, its impact on society and the measures already taken both on national and European level.

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