Â
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Procedure for the General Assembly 2. Motion for a Resolution by (INTA I) 3. Motion for a Resolution by and Home Affairs I (LIBE I) 4. Motion for a Resolution by and Energy (ITRE) 5. Motion for a Resolution by (SEDE II) 6. Motion for a Resolution by (INTA II) 7. Motion for a Resolution by 8. Motion for a Resolution by 9. Motion for a Resolution by Development (AGRI) 10. Motion for a Resolution by and Home Affairs II (LIBE II) 11. Motion for a Resolution by (SEDE I)
Â
the Committee on International Trade I the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice the Committee on Industry, Technology the Committee on Security and Defence II the Committee on International Trade II the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) the Committee on the Committee on Agriculture and Rural the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice the Committee on Security and Defence I
PROCEDURE FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
•
Introduction Speech by Home Committee (2 min.)
•
Discussion of Amendment I o Defence Speech on the Amendment by the sponsor (1,5 min.) o Attack Speech on the Amendment (1,5 min.) o Open Debate on Amendment (5 min.) o Closing Statement by home committee (1 min.)
•
Discussion of Amendment II o Defence Speech on the Amendment by the sponsor (1,5 min.) o Attack Speech on the Amendment (1,5 min.) o Open Debate on Amendment (5 min.) o Closing Statement by home committee (1 min.)
•
Open debate (8 min.)
M OTION
FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE I (INTA I)
Overcoming power imbalances: With Latin America’s growing economies becoming an increasingly profitable market for European exports, how should the EU benefit from mutual trade and political cooperation all the while contributing to the development of human rights and environmental protection in the region? Katie Birell (UK), Carl-Victor Schauman (FI), Lucas Baumann (DE), Fiachra Kelleher (IR), Alice Leone (IT), Weronika Betta (PO), Teresa Melo (PT), Love Hern (SE), Susanna Schmied (CH), Tom Maes (BE), Nathan Peters (NL), Katarina Tica (RS), Juan Estheiman Amaya (ES, Chairperson) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. The priority of Member States’ need for economic growth and strong cooperation with emerging economic markets, B. The need for economic stability in order to maintain citizens’ purchasing power within the EU, C. That environmental sustainability and human rights are key values of the EU, D. The US and China are the EU’s biggest competitors in the Latin American market, E. The importance of securing the market share of large companies in Latin America trade relations, F. In liberalised trade, local SMEs do not have tariffs and nontariff barriers to protect them from external competition, G. The fact that it is difficult for local SMEs and producers to compete with cheaper foreign products, H. That Member States with strong primary sectors might oppose free trade agreements with Latin America, I. Organised crime and drug cartels in the region contribute to: a. political corruption, b. violence and social instability, c. the diversion of resources from the governmental budget that could otherwise be spent on protecting human rights, J. Political corruption promotes an arbitrary distribution of Latin American countries’ wealth and the misuse of development aid, K. Major deficiencies in Latin American countries’ educational systems are a barrier for long term autonomous development, L. Transnational corporations’ sole focus on economic benefits in the region normally result in: a. overexploitation of natural resources, b. water and air pollution, c. disregard for human rights, M. Some Latin American countries’ lack of technological and industrial development lead to: a. economic dependence on their primary sector,
b. overexploitation of the region’s natural resources, c. vulnerability on global food price fluctuations, N. There is a large discrepancy between the development of Latin American countries’ renewable energy industries; Considering the following measures: Public actors 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Believes in the protection of human rights and environmental sustainability in Latin America by strengthening trade relations between both regions; Suggests negotiations of partial liberalisation of trade as well as bilaterally agreed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to attract Latin American countries to trade with the EU; Advocates trading with Latin America to increase their purchasing power so to encourage new imports and therefore a greater variety of products; Recommends a tailored approach to each individual Latin American countries’ needs when forming agreements concerning trade; Supports the creation of jobs through investments in offshoring in Latin America for European citizens and international companies that trade with Latin America;
Private Actors 6. Recommends that European companies which carry out their business activities in Latin America with respect for human rights and the environment be provided with subsidies and tax-incentives by respective Member States; 7. Further recommends Member States to adapt the aforementioned measures in accordance with the companies’ relative size and income; Human rights protection 8. Suggests the European Commission to: a. promote the channelling of a greater amount of aid through private companies and NGOs, b. oblige such companies and organisations to publish reports both to the EU and the public, and are subsequently provided with subsidies based on their performance, c. implement stricter regulations on development aid; 9. Supports the sharing of knowledge and expertise through: a. the establishment of an exchange scheme for European and Latin America teachers, b. encourage internship and scholarship programmes for Europeans with and in Latin America; 10. Suggests offering incentives in the form of tax-breaks to EU corporations who employ a certain percentage of Latin American
 workers who hold tertiary-level qualifications; Environmental sustainability 11. Offshoring companies to educate locals through conferences and exchange of knowledge in order to: a. introduce more sustainable agriculture leading to a more efficient use of land, b. introduce more efficient use of natural non-renewable resources to prevent overexploitation, c. provide added skills and practical knowledge instead of only Foreign Direct Investments (FDI); 12. Fighting the lack of technology and development by providing Latin American countries with technology research opportunities by promoting exchange programmes for university students of European and Latin American countries; 13. Encourages a case-by-case approach to development aid to make sure that every country's needs are respected and assessed correctly.
Â
M OTION
FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C IVIL L IBERTIES , J USTICE AND H OME A FFAIRS I (LIBE I) Europe as a safe harbour: Given the rising number of those fleeing conflicts worldwide, what coherent direction should the EU’s refugee and asylum policy pursue to account for burden-sharing amongst Member States whilst upholding humanitarian principles? Anna Callahan (UK), Katerina Kaloutsou (CY), Eva-Maria Tnson (EE), Nana Kruashvilli (GE), Noah Schppl (DE), Rebecca Jones (IT), Elza Linda Purvinska (LT), Jana Degrott (LU), Jovan Jeromela (RS), Blanca Domnguez (ES), Robin Reimers (SE), Marek Martinovsky (CZ) Jan de Peuter (BE) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. Under Dublin Regulation, asylum seekers can only apply for asylum in the first country they arrive in resulting in Member States which form the external borders of the EU being faced with more applications and thus more problems. B. This restriction further violates asylum seekers’ right to choose their country of destination. C. The principle of non-refoulement1 is being violated by border control in countries that send asylum seekers they find on international waters back to their countries. D. Due to the differences in financial and logistic capacities, Member States are not equally capable of accommodating the same amount of asylum seekers. E. Poor living conditions in reception centres as well as the lack of access to healthcare, legal and social assistance result in asylum seekers feeling isolated and unsafe. F. There are several pending cases in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) concerning the violation of rights of asylum seekers.2 G. There are few safe and legal ways for asylum seekers to reach Europe and in many cases lives have been lost when crossing the Mediterranean.3 H. In the absence of legal and safe ways to enter Europe, those wishing to seek asylum have become victims of criminal activities such as human trafficking, and have to use counterfeit documentation which often goes unnoticed by the police. I. There is a lack of coordination between Member States border control and FRONTEX. 1
Non-refoulement (French for not pushing back) is an international law principle that prohibits returning a victim of persecution to his/her persecutor. 2 Cases such as Sharifi and Others v. Italy and Greece, 2014. 3 In the first three months of 2015, 486 have died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe. Source: International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Considers the following measures: Revising the Asylum Application Procedure 1.
The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) establishes focus groups that would work in collaboration with Member States to provide annual reports. 2. These reports should help with the evaluation of the capacity of Member States to receive asylum seekers according to: a) demographics of the country ; b) economic performance of the country; c) living conditions of refugees; 3. The European Commission sets up European agency that processes the asylum applications in cooperation with Member States, and makes the decision to grant asylum based on the aforementioned reports, as well as evidence provided by the EU-LISA4 database and an interview with the applicant; Ensuring Safe Passage to Europe 4. The budget allocated to the European Refugee Fund (ERF) and FRONTEX should be increased to improve patrolling and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea; 5. Member State border control should be enhanced by increasing the number of rescue teams on each border check point; 6. The funds and personnel allocated to the EASO for the reception centres and asylum offices should be increased to ensure better conditions.
4
European Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
M OTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON I NDUSTRY , R ESEARCH AND E NERGY (ITRE) Balancing the inherent costs of energy: With the EU’s 2030 framework5 for climate and energy policies being criticised as unambitious, what steps should the EU take to ensure the transition to a more secure and sustainable energy system while maintaining overall economic competitiveness? Aegli Athanasiadou (CY), Jamie Caraher (IE), Ann-Sophie Dondyne (BE), Nikoloz Dzneladze (GE), Aleksandar Gigov (RS), Axel Meyer (FI), Leonie Laux (DE), Katie Macdonald (UK), Olesia Mandryka (SE), Martina Salvati (IT), Leonore Zutter (LU), Martin Pichler (AT), Isabelle Kleinveld (NL), Isabel Cantalapiedra (ES, Chairperson) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. Energy is a shared competence, and often national interests clash with those of the EU, which makes it difficult to create a unified energy market, B. Member States are unwilling to abide by the objectives of the Energy Union due to their national interests, C. The creation of an Energy Union is hindered by disparities between Member States in terms of: a. environmental legislation, b. unconventional energy sources (e.g.: nuclear energy), c. energy extraction methods used (e.g.: fracking), D. Member States’ contribution to the European energy system varies greatly due to differences in national GDP and availability of natural resources, E. The inherent differences in the pace at which Member States are achieving the 2020 targets6 might not allow them to complete the 2030 targets on time, F. The lack of national enforcement of the 2030 targets leads to differing involvement between Member States, G. Energy efficiency is prevent by: a. household negligence towards energy use, b. lack of resources to implement measures concerning energy efficiency, c. usage of outdated technologies and extraction techniques, d. companies prioritising short-term profit over energy efficiency, e. insufficient and antiquated infrastructure, H. Despite being the world leader in renewables, Europe has not yet 5
The 2030 strategy proposes a greenhouse gas reduction target of at least 40% compared to 1990 and a target of at least 27% for renewable energy and energy savings by 2030. 6 Binding climate and energy targets for 2020: greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than 1990, 20% of energy from renewables, and 20% increase in energy efficiency
found a suitable alternative to fossil fuels, I. The current energy mixes7 of individual Member States are unsustainable due to the finite nature of fossil fuels on which Europe relies heavily, J. The EU imports the majority of its energy, with some Member States being heavily reliant on a single supplier, thus making the EU vulnerable to political manipulation, K. The EU’s energy storage facilities do not have the capacity to provide an adequate response to a sudden energy shortage; Considering the following measures: Energy in the EU/ Energy Framework 1.
The 2030 targets to be nationally binding, providing a plan for implementation and monitoring of the progress in each country; 2. Endorses the Energy Union project, as it will bring about consistency across Europe and Member States’ energy strategies; Energy security 1.
Create an EU emergency protocol to deal with sudden external supply shortages; 2. Member States should prioritise diversification of suppliers over increased use of renewables in the short-term; Energy efficiency 3. Urges the EU in the further reform of infrastructure, through: a. increased and improved cross-border infrastructure, b. use of smart-grids and subgrids; c. household rewarding energy systems; 4. Proposes an EU-wide campaign, based on the information collected by SETIS8, to inform the public on the benefits of energy efficiency in households; Energy sources 5. Member States will keep the competence on how to manage their energy mix; 6. Until 2030, 8% of EU subsidies afforded to fossil fuels will be reallocated to renewable energies each year; 7. Encourages further research on: 7
The different energy sources that make up the total energy consumption of a certain region. 8 The SET-Plan Information System helps to identify energy technology and RD&D objectives, striving to build consensus around the SET-Plan programme, and assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of the SET-Plan in delivering energy and climate change policy goals.
a. Fracking, b. Nuclear energy, specifically fusion and liquid fluoride thorium reactors; Cooperation 8. 10. Meeting between the European Commission, private sector representatives and the Council of Ministers to ensure that all Member States are fully able to commit to the Energy Union framework; 9. 11. Support projects which address common goals between Member States, such as the Projects of Common Interest9 and the SET-Plan Initiatives10.
9
The PCI list includes 248 initiatives towards the creation of an EU energy market, which will benefit from accelerated licensing procedures, improved regulatory conditions, and access to financial support. 10 The SET-Plan Initiatives bring together EU countries, industry, and researchers in key areas. They promote the market uptake of key energy technologies by pooling funding, skills, and research facilities.
T HE
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY C OMMITTEE S ECURITY AND D EFENCE II (SEDE II)
Unregulated Warfare: With European countries planning to produce drones for military purposes, how can the EU and its allies around the world reap the advantages of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) while safeguarding their compatibility with international law? Stephanie Lemesianou (CY), Carl Maask (EE), Frans Cederlf (FI), Archil Parulava (GE), Rasmus Kriest (DE), Giacomo Angelo Quaia (IT), Joo Paulo Diogo (PT), Lucius Miller (CH), Artem Kravchenko (CZ), James Gowman (UK), Victor Verhaert (BE), Alexander Goldberg (LU), Raphael Bek (Chairperson, AT) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. There are two main types of drones, which are divided into four different control categories ranging from fully man-controlled to fully autonomous creating issues with accountability. B. At the moment the European market for security and defence goods is fragmented and largely nationalised, however there are continued attempts for common approaches. C. Europe as a whole plans on spending US $ 24,3 billion on UAVs between 2013 – 202311. D. Member States are already using drones in military missions abroad, which do not fall under EU action under the Common Security and Defence Policy. E. In 2012 NATO decided to expand the development and use of UAVs, and currently has a standard interface for UAV interoperability. F. The EU and its Member States have not come to a common standpoint regarding the regulation and use of drones. G. The European Commission calls for a more active and common stance amongst Member States regarding military concerns, as well as drone usage. H. International Humanitarian Law does not directly prohibit or even address the use of UAVs however, as with any conflict situation, their use must abide to principles of distinction, proportionality, humanity and military necessity. I. Member States’ military affairs are often classified for national security reasons, yet transparency is also a fundamental pillar of EU values. J. Civilian casualties of drone strikes by the US in the last ten years are estimated to be around 20%12 by US intelligence, with various NGO’s estimating an even higher number. K. Several EU Member States are already part of international nonbinding agreements concerning drones, such as the Wassenaar 11
12
Prnewswire.com, Sept. 2014 motherjones.com „Look at This Visualization of Drone Stike Deaths“
Arrangement13 agreement and the Missile Technology Control Regime14, L. The EU has a limited competence in defence, foreign and military policy. Considering the following measures: Transparency & Accountability 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
The UN, the European Aviation Safety Agency and Member States should implement a vehicle identification system for drones, similar to the ones used with military aircrafts; Drone operation logs should be accessible to non-government actors without mentioning names of operation workers; It is generally recommended that the currently existing military accountability hierarchy apply to drones; The kill decision must remain with humans in the control loop of drones. Surveillance missions can be done by drones that can make automated decisions in cases where human intervention is still possible;
Foreign Action & Strategy 6. Attacks justified based on pre-emptive self-defence is condemned such as the US actions post 9/11. 7. The EU and its Member States should not co-purchase drones; 8. Drones used in peace-keeping missions under the European External Action Service or the UN are endorsed; Internal Market 9. Joint research and development efforts concerning drone technology amongst Member States is urged; 10. The European Commission proposal for the creation of high-level gatherings regarding UAVs is supported. International Organisations 11. An active dialogue about drones should be conducted in international fora, especially with the EU allies in NATO and the UN. 13
The Wassenaar Arrangement has been established in order to contribute to regional and international security and stability, by promoting transparency and greater responsibility in transfers of conventional arms and dual-use goods and technologies, thus preventing destabilising accumulations. 14 The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal and voluntary partnership between 34 countries to prevent the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying a 500 kg payload for at least 300 km.
M OTION
FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON I NTERNATIONAL T RADE II (INTA II)
Finding equitable health regulations: Uncured illnesses and increasing lastline resistance call for both fuelling pharmaceutical R&D and the promotion of fair access to medicine worldwide. How should the EU promote innovation in the pharmaceutical sector while making existing cures available to those who need them most? Connie Longmate (UK), Rafaella Konstantinou (CY), Niklas Schiffers (DE), Gillian Daly (IE), Elena Castagna (IT), Laura Orleane (LV), Alina Khan (LU), Aleksandra Szefer (PL), Beatriz Faneca (PT), Anja Todorovic (RS), Elis Saavedra (CH), Luka Dzagania (GE), Daniel Schneider (NL), Justine Tremerie (BE), Adam Moltoch (CZ), Rebecca Smith (FR, Chairperson) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. The current patent system is flawed and works against fair access to medicine, defined as every individual who needs medicine should have it accessible to them, B. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights15 is often not respected, C. Pharmaceutical research is a long, costly, and risky process, which discourages investment, D. The pharmaceutical industry is dominated by private companies, whose priority is to grow and earn a profit, rather than address those who need medicine the most, E. The majority of the funding for pharmaceutical research and development (R&D) goes to the medicine with the highest market value, while medicine that will not yield profit lacks investment, F. Pharmaceutical companies finance their research and development from previous developments, which they patent and sell at a high price, G. The high price of medicine limits access to healthcare and medicine, which is causing harm to the sick, ignoring the main concepts of medical ethics in the Hippocratic Oath16, H. Non-governmental organisations can channel public funds into the 15
Article 25: (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. 16 The Hippocratic Oath is an oath historically taken by doctors, which requires a new doctor to swear to uphold specific ethical standards
I. J. K. L. M. N.
pharmaceutical industry when there is a lack of available funding, such as in developing countries, There are large uncertainties surrounding the costs of pharmaceutical R&D, in part because of different methods for calculating them, There is evidence17 that some companies avoid going through the entire R&D process thoroughly to speed up and cheapen the process, putting at risk the safety and quality of a drug, There is evidence of missing and unreliable information given by pharmaceutical companies to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Not all results of trials are made available to the EMA or to the public, which leads to unnecessary repetitions of research and potential health risks in drug trials, Drugs that are legal in some countries are illegal in others at the discretion of the government, Innovation is still needed in the pharmaceutical sector to develop treatments to uncured illnesses and last-line resistance,
Considering the following measures: Patents 1.
Innovators have the right to patent their invention, but there are regulations in place to ensure that drugs are affordable to everyone who needs them, such as through the following projects: a) Medicine Patent Pool and other Patent Pools b) The Health Impact Fund
Financing of R&D 2. The co-operation between private companies, universities, and research centers is encouraged, for projects which are more risky and less profitable for private companies; 3. The development of alternative methods of funding of R&D, which allow medicine prices to be lower, is supported, such as: a) grants b) the Medicine Patent Pool c) the Health Impact Fund 4. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is encouraged to implore companies to adopt the previously mentioned alternative methods The Drug Approval Process 5. The EMA, or another appropriate institution, develops a standardised universal process to calculate the cost of R&D of a drug; 6. The EMA, or a corresponding organisation, monitors the R&D process through, for example, random inspections; 7. The EMA requires pharmaceutical companies to submit all trial results, 17
The UK House of Commons Health Committee presents evidence of this in their 2005 report “The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry”
 not only successful ones, when applying for drug approval; 8. Pharmaceutical companies are encouraged to make available their negative trial results; 9. In the EU, only the EMA approves drugs, and national governments no longer have the competence to approve drugs; 10. The World Trade Organisation and the WHO are encouraged to work towards globally unifying drug approval processes; Fuelling Innovation 11. European Commission programmes like Horizon 2020 should be used to establish competitions, funded in collaboration with private actors, between universities and research centres to encourage innovation in tackling diseases with lower market potential, where winners will not be allowed to patent the discovery;
Â
 INTA II Fact sheet MPP Medicines Patent Pool - UN founded organisation that obtains licenses from patent holders and further distributes them to generic manufacturers who sell the cheaper medicine to patients. Patent holders still profit from royalties paid by generic manufacturers/patients. It is focused on combating HIV in developing countries, and distributing vaccines. It is financed from UNITAID, organisation fighting with HIV, Malaria and TBC. To date, MPP has signed agreements for twelve antiretrovirals (ARVs) for countries home to 87-94% of people living with HIV in the developing world.
HIF The Health Impact Fund (HIF) is a pay-for-performance mechanism that uses market forces to create incentives to develop medicines for typically neglected diseases and to distribute these medicines at low prices all over the world. Pharmaceutical patent-holders would receive financial rewards by opting to register their new medicines, or new uses of existing medicines, with the Fund. By registering, a patent-holder agrees to distribute its medicine globally at friendly cost and to cooperate in measuring the health impact of that medicine. In return, the firm receives an annual reward based on its measurable contribution to reducing the global burden of disease. After the reward period, registrants agree to allow generic manufacturing of their medicines, in order to promote competition and prevent price spike.
Â
European Medicines Agency (EMA) European Medicines Agency’s main responsibility is the protection and promotion of public and animal health through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use. Horizon 2020 Horizon 2020 is the name given to the 8th framework programme for EU Research and Innovation. It is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, Europe 2020’s flagship initiative to secure Europe’s competitiveness.
M OTION FOR T HE C OMMITTEE
A R ESOLUTION BY ON F OREIGN A FFAIRS
Europe in the world: As EU Member States have failed to act jointly in foreign conflicts at its borders, how should an effective reform of decisionmaking procedures be implemented within the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)? Valerie Berger (AT), Jessica Craig (UK), Ella Gemnd (DE), Andrea Ceccardi (IT), Katarzyna Goaszewska (PL), Milo Milivojević (RS), Laura Daz Vallespins (ES), Beatrice Semmelweis (SE), Irakli Eliashvili (GE), Liza Bex (NL), Ilse Elpers (BE), Maxmilian Sup (CZ), Nicole Cherniavsky (LU), Louis Wouters (BE, Chairperson) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. The EU’s long term strategy dealing with foreign conflicts applies a one-size-fits-all principle which does not adequately take into consideration: a. the varying impacts of foreign conflicts on the EU, b. discrepancies of the resulting effects of EU actions, B. The decision-making processes in European foreign policy matters are hampered by the complex structure of different inter-related institutions and unnecessary bureaucratic procedures, C. The role of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (High Representative) is not fully recognised, diminishing EU’s capability to act in Foreign Affairs, D. The lack of involvement of the European Court of Justice, and the exclusion of the European Parliament in the decision-making procedure, hinders further integration and democratic legitimacy of EU’s actions, E. Unanimity, the currently used voting procedure in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), is often an ineffective decisionmaking process that fails to take into account the capability and willingness of individual Member States to act, F. All the while unanimity protects the sovereign right for Member States to contribute to the decision-making process, G. In the field of foreign affairs, the EU as one entity lacks voting rights in the United Nations Security Council and has no formal representation in international organisations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), H. As a result of multiple memberships and overlapping engagements of EU Member States in organisations outside the EU, such as in NATO, duplication of structures and responsibilities in foreign affairs are present,
Considering the following measures: 1.
The European Union should strive to be internationally focussed in the field of foreign affairs and emphasise integration whilst promoting key values such as peace, human rights and respect for international law; 2. The EU promotes the importance of the use of diplomatic and strategic measures, especially the EU Early Warning System, as conflict prevention tools; Tools of Foreign Policy 3. The action framework of the CFSP should be flexible and tailored on a case-by-case basis, prioritising soft powers18, and using economic sanctions and embargoes as a secondary measure, with military intervention as a final resort in the form of EU Battlegroups; 4. Before EU withdrawal from regions that have experienced conflict soft powers should be used in order to ensure stability in these regions; Institutional Framework 5. The High Representative should have the right of initiative and together with the European Parliament should decide upon long-term, binding strategies in the field of foreign policy, advised by the Foreign Affairs Council; 6. The Foreign Affairs Council and the High Representative should decide upon short-term actions, bearing in mind Europe’s long-term foreign policy strategy; 7. The role of the High Representative within the consolidated version of the Treaty of the European Union is clearly defined, but must be put into practice with the assistance of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Defence Agency (EDA), the Political and Security Committee (PSC), the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) and the European Union Military Staff (EUMS); 8. Article 24 of the Treaty of the European Union should be amended to give jurisdiction to the European Court of Justice in the matter of the CFSP in order to further stimulate integration between Member States;
18
Soft power refers to the ability to achieve one’s goals in international relations without military force but by persuasion and diplomacy, in contrast to hard power.
Voting Procedure 9. The European Parliament should use Qualified Majority Voting19 (QMV), upon the aforementioned long-term strategy of the CFSP; 10. The Foreign Affairs Council should use QMV, unless: a. hard-power is considered, which will require a unanimous vote, except for imminent short-term threats, defined by the High Representative; b. a Minister of the Foreign Affairs Council uses the power of veto with sufficient reason as determined by the High Representative, leading to unanimous voting; EU’s Role in International Organisations 11. The European Commission should request the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to give the High Representative the role of a permanent observer in the UNSC; 12. The EU should continue working together with NATO on a status quo basis, whilst further developing Battlegroups in order to become more independent from external forces; 13. The Berlin Plus Agreement between the EU and NATO, signed on 16 December 2002, should be revised in order to further prevent duplication of structures and responsibilities.
19
Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) is a voting procedure that sets the required votes needed to adopt a decision, in contrast to unanimity. Since 1 November 2014, this means that at least 55% of the members, representing at least 65% of the European population should vote in favour.
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON I NTERNAL M ARKET AND C ONSUMER P ROTECTION (IMCO) Risk or opportunity: With sharing-economy enterprises such as Uber and Airbnb becoming more popular and common, what regulatory framework best allows the EU and its Member States to prevent new challenges of circumvention of competition, taxation and labour laws whilst profiting from the innovative potential and high accessibility of the sharing-economy? Nikky Reddy (UK), Kea Kruuse (EE), Nelli Katriina Vanninen (FI), Elene Karangozishvili (GE), Christian Prandi (IT), Nora Jēkabsone (LV), Klara Birchley (PL), Carolina Sandeman (PT), Miriam Hamberg (SE), Allegra Margelisch (CH), Tom Cobbenhagen (NL), Catarina Bento Bustorff (BE), Lia Pachler (Chairperson, AT) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. The EU has not set up a regulatory framework yet for how to regulate the sharing-economy, B. Different jurisdictions hinder sharing-economy enterprises from flourishing and being active in multiple jurisdictions, C. Positive effects of the sharing-economy are: a. an easier access to the market for providers, b. more flexible pricing of goods and services, c. a higher level of sustainability, d. a more innovative approach, D. The sharing-economy, as a consequence of the economic crisis and technological progress, has been growing rapidly since 200820, E. Due to its innovative approach, the sharing- economy barely fits the current legislation for incumbents, which leads to the circumvention of competition, taxation and labour laws, F. Sharing- economy enterprises engage in unfair competition with incumbents as they benefit from loopholes in the existing legislation, G. The risks for consumers are high when benefiting from the sharingeconomy due to the lack of adequate background checks and continues supervision of providers as well as quality inspection of goods, H. It is currently unclear, who is liable in the event of damage of the provider’s goods or harm of the consumer, as the categorisation of the provider is still open, I. The sharing- economy relies on rating systems, reputation, and mutual trust between the providers and consumers, which can be easily abused, 20
The Economist, The Rise of the Sharing Economy, 2013: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21573104-internet-everything-hire-risesharing-economy
J. Due to their innovative approach, sharing-economy companies are supported by various EU programs, such as Horizon 2020 or the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe; Considering the following measures: 1. 2.
3. 4. 5. 6.
Member States should be encouraged to cooperate with the aim of creating a fair and innovative common legislation for sharingeconomy enterprises; People using peer-to-peer platforms21 to offer goods and services should be categorised as follows: a. Those whose earnings through these platforms exceed the minimum wage in the specific Member State should be considered as freelancers, b. Those who earn less than the minimum wage should be considered as mere platform users; Member States should encourage providers and consumers to use sharing-economy platforms through a tax-free policy for platform users; It should be mandatory for sharing-economy enterprises to obtain specific confirmation of the quality of provided services and goods; A common EU consent form should be produced for all sharingeconomy enterprise providers to sign, which will allow companies to access sensible data if required; Improving the current review system by: a. introducing the option to upload media, b. ensuring anyone who provides a review has in fact used the service.
21
A platform usually in the form of a website or an app where consumers can offer and buy or rent goods or services directly from a peer, thus without a middle man.
M OTION
FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON A GRICULTURE AND D EVELOPMENT (AGRI)
R URAL
Innovations to feed the world: With global demand for agricultural products such as food, feed and fuel rising, how should the EU expand agricultural knowledge and innovation systems around the world? Emma Chittleburgh (UK), Maria Polycarpou (CY), Hugh Whelan (IR), Nicola Ortu (IT), Kornel Koszela (PL), Joo Machada (PT), Maria del Mar Iglesias I Salvador (ES), Nada Hussein (SE), August Winters (NL) Nino Sakvarelidze (GE), Julian Visser (NL), Sebastian Weisshaar (NL), Anke Coolens (BE), Beth Thayne (UK, Chairperson) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. There is no united approach towards the future of the agricultural sector on a global scale which hinders the coherent development of the sector towards a sustainable future, B. There is a lack of communication regarding the needs and demands of actors in the agricultural sector, particularly between farmers, farmers and consumers, and farmers and decision-makers, C. The widespread use of inefficient agricultural techniques and malpractices on a global scale causes yield gaps22 to exist, and strains the environment and valuable resources, D. Knowledge about sustainable agricultural practices and technological solutions are not easily accessible for farmers around the globe because of: a. financial limitations b. logistic boundaries, c. intellectual property (IP) laws E. Certain farmers are reluctant to adopt new practices due to: a. distrust in available technology b. the high costs of certain new systems c. the tendency to hold on to traditional methods F. In many regions around the globe young people are reluctant to enter the agricultural sector due to the appeal of urbanised societies and poor financial prospects in the sector, G. Agricultural IP owners are often reluctant to share their knowledge and technology because of the limited protection against unauthorised usage and to preserve their competitive advantage,
22
The difference between the potential yield of a crop and the actual yield of the crop in a specific location as a result of a deficiency in technology or practice.
Considering the following measures: 1.
2.
3. 4.
5.
6. 7. 8.
Increasing the accessibility of the agricultural European Innovation Partnership23 (EIP-AGRI) resources for EU farmers through: a) providing practical application guides to accompany existing academic research, b) the establishment of an online forum for knowledge exchange, discussion and feedback; Expanding the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR)24 Collaborative Working Group model25 globally through collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO)26 members network to mobilise local representatives in developing countries in order to exchange agricultural knowledge and research; Facilitating local, national and international dialogue between farmers through the local representatives in the expansion of the SCAR system outlined above; Representation of consumers in the aforementioned network system through further collaboration with the FAO network to collect consumer data which can be transmitted through SCAR to local representatives; Emphasis of the dialogue between the representatives should be on feedback from both parties in the SCAR system in order to aid research into local farming environments to expand beneficial knowledge; Knowledge exchange through the SCAR system must be accurate and relevant thus the local representatives will be selected by SCAR in line with criteria; Encourages the European Patent Office (EPO)27, to offer patent extensions as an incentive to multi-national agricultural innovation companies to share their knowledge widely; The Rural Development Fund should be restructured to provide financial and logistic means to farmers who choose to adopt innovative and sustainable practices within the EU;
23 EIP-AGRI is a European Innovation Partnership which acts across the whole research and innovation chain, bringing together all relevant actors at EU, national and regional levels specifically working towards fostering competitive and sustainable farming and forestry 24 The Standing Committee on Agricultural Research is formed by representatives of Member States, and presided over by a representative of the Commission, who have a mandate to advise the Commission and the Member States on the coordination of agricultural research in Europe 25 The SCAR Working Groups are Strategic Research Groups formed of Member State Representatives and associated countries 26 The Food and Agricultural Organisation is a UN initiative working towards food security. It has 149 Member Nations and the EU is its only Member Organisation 27 The European Patent Office offers inventors and innovators a uniform application process to seek patent protection on their intellectual property
 9. The aforementioned SCAR knowledge-sharing system will ensure targeted farming practices to improve produce and output on a local level, which will ensure greater financial security and interest in the sector; 10. Re-allocating CAP funds to provide larger research grants to stimulate European agricultural innovation projects.
Â
M OTION
FOR A R ESOLUTION BY T HE C OMMITTEE ON C IVIL L IBERTIES , J USTICE AND H OME A FFAIRS II (LIBE II) From protection to possibilities: After the rejected Minority SafePack Citizen’s Initiative in 2013, which common strategy can the EU and its Member States pursue to ensure persons belonging to national and linguistic minorities have equal access to participation and representation in politics, the economy and civil society across Europe? Slavoljub Atanasovski (RS), Rose Cantillon (IE), Henri Haapanala (FI), Joel Haldosn (SE), Laura Libera (DE), Adam Matousek (CZ), Agata Meysner (PL), Jennifer McMenigall (UK), Sofie Schryvers (BE), Teona Sekhniashvili (GE), Catarina Silva (PT), Jeroen Smeulders (NL), Dorothea Weber (DE, chairperson) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. It is difficult for the EU to implement a common strategy when there is such variation among minority groups. B. Since policies related to national and linguistic minorities28 fall under a shared competence between the EU and Member States, there is a great variety in terms of support for minorities in Europe. C. There is a lack of awareness among citizens about existing problems that minorities face, which leads to discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping. D. There are differences between countries’ attitudes towards multicultural influences with countries such as France and Greece still having difficulties accepting that their countries are ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse. E. People belonging to national and linguistic minorities are forced to have a legal identity that they do not identify with. F. Minorities cannot always receive an education in their mother tongue due to the lack of resources therefore fearing the extinction of their language and culture. G. Minorities are discriminated against by the majority in their Member State, which leads to a lack of inclusion. H. Policies implemented by Member States do not currently meet the needs of national and linguistic minorities. I. Secession of areas where national and linguistic minorities are prevalent could bring negative consequences, such as violence. J. Often minorities do not have the same rights as the majority of the country, which takes away their freedom. K. The different priorities between the minorities and the majority lead to 28
Persons belonging to national and linguistic minorities are part of a community within a state, members of which are citizens, yet have different ethnic, linguistic or cultural characteristics than the majority of citizens in that state that they wish to preserve.
L. M. N. O. P. Q.
difficulties in policymaking and implementation. Generally minorities are not effectively politically represented, which leads to them being excluded from EU decision-making. The lack of an international body that regulates Member States policymaking regarding minorities is regrettable. Since policies related to national and linguistic minorities fall under a shared competence between the EU and Member States, there is a great variety in terms of support for minorities in Europe. The Minority SafePack Initiative29 was rejected because it falls outside of the framework of the Commission’s powers to submit a proposal for a legal act. National and linguistic minorities often struggle with economic prosperity, economic underdevelopment of the areas where they live and unemployment in their countries. Unemployment and economic underdevelopment lead to the majority forming a negative image of the minority.
Considering the following measures: Diversity 1.
The expansion of the Open Method of Coordination Programme30 to help countries share information regarding policy-making is suggested.
Civil Society 2. The preparation of educational programmes covering the topic of minorities and diversity in the EU by the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)31 is encouraged. 3. The promotion of national and linguistic minorities by having road signs and TV channels in multiple languages, and by celebrating minorities with a national day is suggested. 4. Providing persons belonging to national and linguistic minorities the possibility of receiving education in their native language with a mandatory module on the national language, and optional extra classes in the minority language is encouraged. Politics 5. The representation of every minority in the Federal Union of European 29
The initiative is a package of measures to protect persons belonging to national and linguistic minorities. 30 The Open Method of Coordination is an intergovernmental method in which the Member States set common goals, evaluate one another and exchange best practices. The existing programme was set up to promote social inclusion of ethnic minorities. 31 The ECMI conducts practice and policy-oriented research, provides information and documentation, and offers advisory services concerning minority-majority relations in Europe.
Nationalities (FUEN)32 is desirable. 6. Giving more autonomy to specific regions on issues concerning national and linguistic minorities by giving more power to already existing regional governments is desired. 7. Having the EU funding the ECMI and encouraging Member States to consult it is suggested. 8. The establishment of common EU guidelines for recognising minorities is recommended. Economy 9. Making it compulsory for applications for jobs in the public sector to be anonymous and having a regulatory body to monitor the reasons for the rejection of applicants is strongly encouraged. 10. Making microcredits33 available for areas with a high minority level is suggested.
32
The FUEN is the European umbrella organisation of national minorities in Europe. A microcredit is a small financial loan made to poverty-stricken people seeking to start their own business. This type of loan typically does not exceed a couple hundred euros, so an individual cannot solely depend on this type of loan to fund their business. 33
T HE
M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY C OMMITTEE S ECURITY AND D EFENCE I (SEDE I)
From defence to stabilisation: With the extremist self-proclaimed ISIS now controlling large parts of Iraq and Syria, which joint steps should the EU Member States take to expand their Counter-Terrorism strategy on the matter and contribute to long-term stability in the region? Teresa Sihler (AT), Claire Kumesu-Egri (UK), Angeliki Vassila (CY), Ester Holmstrm (FI), Gesine Weber (DE), Jane Creech (IE), Pietro Cutaia (IT), Joo Hyung Lee (LU), Antoni Nehring (PL), Adri Castillo (ES), Moa Bostrm (SE), Miriam Aitken (CH), Rebecca Lensink (NL), Louis Toebosch (BE), Nora Wilhelm (CH, Chairperson) Submitted by:
Set to resolve the following issues: A. The extremist self-proclaimed ISIS is a threat to the safety of European citizens and reports of gross and widespread human rights violations and abuses are a matter of serious concern to the EU, B. The EU has condemned the extremist self-proclaimed ISIS and does not recognise it as a State, nor as representative of Islam, C. Through the Counter Terrorism strategy (CTS) and other strategies, important steps have been taken to counter terrorism, but in light of recent events expansion and further measures are necessary, D. The EU remains committed to achieving lasting peace, stability and security in Syria, Iraq and the wider region, as well as to countering the Da’esh threat, E. The EU is determined to ensure respect of Human Rights, in the conflict zone as well as in the measures taken by EU institutions and Member States, F. There is great divergence between the Member States’ stance, as well as no EU wide common approach regarding: a. procedures for the prosecution of suspected terrorists, b. how to deal with EU citizens returning after integrating with a terrorist group, c. identifying and combating problematic behaviour in relation to terrorism, G. Da’esh’s extensive and strategic use of modern communication tools and shocking publications result in an extremely effective propaganda to a wide audience, H. Despite the fact that the CTS places particular emphasis on the use of the internet for terrorist purposes, very little action has been taken and there are no specific EU guidelines to combat pro-terrorist propaganda, I. Whilst the competency for counter terrorism policies lies with the individual Member State, the CTS states that every Member State must have an own counter terrorism policy and offers a framework for its implementation, J. Despite recent improvement, the lacking border control and security amongst others between Turkey and Syria still facilitates:
K.
L. M.
N.
O.
P. Q. R. S.
a. recruitment and travel of new fighters to Da’esh, b. returning of ex-fighters or trained terrorists to the EU, c. illegal transport of weapons and explosives, In order to tackle this complex issue, cooperation and exchange of information are necessary between all involved parties, namely Member States, regional allies of the EU, and international organisations, Despite protection measures, European civilians and strategic targets, such as critical infrastructure, are still vulnerable to terrorist attacks, Porous external borders and the absence of border control within the Schengen zone and in the conflict region facilitate: a. Illegal transport of weapons and explosives, b. Free movement of potential terrorists within the Schengen zone, The delivery of the needed humanitarian aid to which the EU is committed is rendered difficult by the theft of supplies by Da’esh and the illegal limitation of access to the population in need, Terrorist groups, such as the extremist self-proclaimed ISIS, are still able to attain large amount of funds and weapons, by means such as: a. Money laundering organisations, b. Oil and gas distribution, c. Illegal activities such as robbing banks and illicit trade of historic artefacts, d. Ransoms, e. Third party countries, f. Taxes in the territory they administrate, There still is insufficient support for victims of terrorist attacks, The lacking level of integration in European societies, discrimination and Islamophobia contribute to radicalisation, At the same time, terrorist activities lead to an increase of Islamophobia, which is insufficiently tackled within the Member States, Regarding response to terrorist attacks, there is a lack of cooperation and communication between: a. emergency services b. public and private sectors c. military and civilian emergency forces both internationally and domestically.
Considering the following measures: 1.
In order to reach lasting stability in the region, the problem needs to be solved with peaceful means and actions fostering development and political stability; 2. In order to address the current threat and limit the expansion of the self-proclaimed ISIS, the EU supports the Global Counter-Coalition; Prevent 3. Member States must comply with the EU Strategy for Combatting Radicalisation and Recruitment to Terrorism and further implement awareness initiatives concerning: a. the religion of Islam, b. suspect behaviour in communities;
4. Members States should support the development of a joint internal and external security approach and related expert networks to address evolving terrorist communication and propaganda methodologies as recommended in the EU Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the ISIL/Da’esh Threat (2015); 5. The integration pilot project34 presented in the Action Plan of the CTS will be restarted and fully implemented in all Member States should evaluation results be positive, 6. Cooperation between Member States through the European Network of Experts on Radicalisation (ENER) should be encouraged to critically assess knowledge and expertise regarding prevention of terrorist activities; 7. The efforts of the Radicalisation Awareness Network’s efforts to combat Islamophobia and Muslim isolation must be supported and its recommendations taken into account by all Member States;
8. Better cooperation with major media outlets to combat propaganda availability such as laid out in the EU Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the ISIL/Da’esh Threat is necessary; Protect 9. It is imperative to improve security at the external European borders through more severe border control by further involvement of Frontex; 10. The EU must support Turkey in strengthening its Syrian border to prevent the crossing of Jihadi fighters into Syria or returning to Europe; 11. The European programme for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure must be expanded to tackle current security gaps, with measures such as: a. the early warning system for explosive goods. b. additional security measures at airports and train stations, c. insuring the provision of technical equipment and knowledge to Member States who lack it, d. ensuring common standards are established and met; 12. The European Defence Agency (EDA) should develop and implement the following security improvements regarding Cyber methods: a. Visa code b. Biometric system c. Cyber security d. EU-wide Passenger Name Record (PNR)35 13. Further cooperation through the Security Research Conference 34
A project initiated by the Danish Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, which develops tools that can give individual young people long-term support and advice needed to break with and stay out of extremism, through mentoring programmes and preventative talks.
between Member State, public institutions and private partners is key to safeguarding security in Europe; Pursue 14. All necessary measures should be taken to prevent funding from reaching ISIS; 15. There needs to be a more systematic exchange of information to ensure the swift freezing of accounts linked to terrorist groups; 16. Member States should share financial information with counterterrorism intelligence, in order to identify and intercept terrorist activities; 17. In accordance with clause 2.1.2 of the EU Regional Strategy for Syria and Iraq as well as the ISIL/Da’esh Threat (2015), implementation of the EU PNR, previously blocked by LIBE, is encouraged to ensure further security for civilians; 18. All Member States should adopt Resolution 2178 of the UN Security Council, which criminalises travelling to and joining the selfproclaimed ISIS; Respond 19. There should be a common policy concerning the support of victims of terrorist attacks; 20. The EDA should make a comprehensive analysis of the situation and after which the Justice and Home Affairs Council should form a common legislation concerning returning ISIS fighters; 21. EU and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) should work together to coordinate humanitarian aid efforts to make them more effective and efficient; 22. Urges the EU to set up meetings with regional actors to offer diplomatic help, humanitarian and financial aid to help them combat the self-proclaimed ISIS; 23. As the CTS states, the response to terrorist attacks should be coordinated under the principle of solidarity, which is why cooperation between Member States, third party countries and international organisations is essential.