Tbilisi'14 - 8th National Selection Conference of the EYP Georgia Academic Preparation Kit
Committee Topics COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS (AFCO) Considering the low voter turnout of the European Parliament elections this year, what measures should the EU take in order to increase public participation in policymaking and elections in order to ensure the legitimacy of its parliament? COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (AFET) After nearly 40 years, Morocco still occupies the disputed territory of Western Sahara. What measures should the EU take towards finding a peaceful solution to the conflict, which secures the rights of the Saharawi people and maintains good relations with Morocco? COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS (DROI) The Harlem- Shake in Azerbaijan: In light of recent arrests and convictions of human rights activists in Azerbaijan, the EU has officially called for improvements to be made towards ‘…greater respect for human rights, rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan..’ especially as they currently hold the chairmanship of the Council of Europe. What further action can the EU take to ensure human rights in Azerbaijan? COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY (ENVI) With the livestock sector contributing to 14.5 % of the worlds total green house gas emissions, the transportation and production of meat is inevitably taking its toll on the environment. What can the EU do to decrease the meat industry’s harmful impacts on the environment, yet protect the interests of producers and consumers?
COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS (LIBE) Non-discrimination is a core principle of the European Union and yet transgender people face hate crimes, discrimination and legal restrictions on a daily basis. What can the EU do to improve the situation for transgender people across Member States? COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND DEFENCE (SEDE) With hackers outsmarting engineers, corporations and institutions are subject to attack. Concerned over maintaining their reputations, many cyber crimes go unreported. What incentives can the EU foster to ensure cyber-security? COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE (INTA) With Georgia recently signing the EU Association Agreement that should serve as a catalyst for increased trade with EU Member States, current trade relations may get under pressure. How should Georgia position itself to trade with the surrounding countries in the region, whilst meeting EU expectations? COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (EMPL) With staggering youth unemployment, many young people have chosen to start their own enterprises despite financial and bureaucratic challenges. How can the EU support entrepreneurialism for young people in the current economic and political climate? COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT) Equal opportunities for all: While many countries strive to ensure an accessible system of education, minority populations throughout Europe remain underrepresented in universities. What action should the EU take to ensure that young people with a variety of backgrounds have equal access and opportunity to higher education in Europe?
COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS (AFCO) Considering the low voter turnout of the European Parliament elections this year, what measures should the EU take in order to increase public participation in policymaking and elections in order to ensure the legitimacy of its parliament? Topic Overview By: Giorgi Gugenishvili Key Terms
Democratic deficit: Democratic bodies or institutions falling short of fulfilling the principles of democracy. Treaty of Lisbon: An international agreement signed in 2009, replacement of the failed “EU Constitution” which introduced many changes, particularly in the structure of the EU institutions. Euroscepticism: A body of criticism that goes against the European integration and the European Union (EU).
Explanation of the Problem While the EU has more or less succeeded in keeping the peace in Europe and unifying its Member States for common goals, the anti-EU sentiments are as common as ever. The main reasons of dissatisfaction would be the way EU handled the economic crisis and more importantly, how the EU structure and decision-making lack direct involvement from its citizens, thus questioning its democratic legitimacy. The biggest step towards addressing this problem was made in 2009 with the signing of the Lisbon Treaty. It strengthened the position of the only directly-elected EU institution – European Parliament, introduced the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), thus allowing the EU citizens to contribute directly to the European politics and voted in favour of quality majority voting in the Council of European Union. However, the Treaty of Lisbon, while a step in positive direction, still has not reached the peoples’ needs, as evidenced by the European Parliament (EP) elections 2014. Despite the high-level of pre-election preparation, the voter turnout still remained significantly low at 43.9%. While the turn-out had slightly increased by 0.9% since 2009, the experts had speculated that the participation level would be much higher thanks to the changes implemented by the Treaty of Lisbon. Thus, the EP elections shed the light to two problems: firstly, many are unaware of how the EU works, secondly, even more citizens do not feel like their voices will be heard and are generally against the EU. Key Questions
How can the EU fight the ever-growing Euro-scepticism and help increase the voter turnout at next elections? What changes can the EU implement to make its institutions more democratic while maintaining their efficiency? Other than initiating the European Citizens’ Initiative, what other actions can the EU take in order to further involve the citizens in policy-making?
Key Facts and Figures
The voter turnout was at 43.9% increasing the 2009 results just by 0.9%. The highest turnout was evidenced in 1979 at 61.99%. The elections saw euro-sceptic parties take 25% of the seats in the EP which proves the anti-EU sentiments are higher than ever. European Parliament is the only EU institution directly elected by the citizens and none of the three highest positions introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon (President of the European Commission, High Representative and President of the European Council) are elected by the citizens.
Key Actors European Parliament (EU) European Commission (EC) European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) Other EU institutions National Governments Links Voter Turn-out at EP Elections 2014 http://www.results-elections2014.eu/en/turnout.html Video explanation of the EU institutions and their powers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCUF5t1kRlI The Treaty of Lisbon explained http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/institutional_affairs/treaties/lisbon_treaty/ai0033_en.h tm Changes made by the Treaty of Lisbon http://www.eui.eu/Projects/EUDO-Institutions/Documents/EUDOreport922011.pdf European Public Affairs on Euroscepticism http://www.europeanpublicaffairs.eu/eurosceptics-are-not-anti-european-they-are-just-wrong/ European Citizens’ Initiative explained http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/welcomeU The EU’s democratic deficit http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/glossary/democratic_deficit_en.htm The struggle between democracy and efficiency http://ec.europa.eu/governance/docs/doc4_en.pdf
COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (AFET) After nearly 40 years, Morocco still occupies the disputed territory of Western Sahara. What measures should the EU take towards finding a peaceful solution to the conflict, which secures the rights of the Saharawi people and maintains good relations with Morocco? Topic Overview By: Michael Rozhkov and Luka Modebadze Key Terms Settlement Plan: An agreement reached between Sarahawi people and Morocco in 1991, which implied holding of a referendum dealing with status of Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic(SADR). Baker Plan: UN-advocated resolution plan set forth by UN envoy James Baker. The plan envisioned Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic’s independence for five years, followed by status-determining referendum. Buffer Zone/”Liberated Territories”: Internal divisions in SADR spilt the republic in different territories. SADR considers a significant portion of its land as an occupied by Morocco, while latter regards small land as a buffer zone (neutral territory connecting two factions). “Liberated Territories” are lands owned by SADR Explanation of the problem In the beginning of 1975, after Spain lost its control over former colony of Spanish Sahara, the Polisario Front (a socialist, leftist party of Western Saharawi Republic) have begun a nearly two-decade long war of independence. Saharawi Republic, backed by Algeria, simultaneously fought against Mauritania and Morocco, both of them having significant interests in conflicted regions. Three years later, Mauritania withdrew its military forces from occupied territories, resulted in a stalemate in 1980. Since the ceasefire agreement, US & UN proposed several solutions, including Baker & Settlement plans. The basis of each proposal is a democratic referendum in disputed parcels of land, determining territory’s status by a popular vote. However, due to predictable victory of Sahrawi, Morocco rejected these solutions out of hand every single time. At the time, most of the Western Sahara territory remains under Moroccan control, while the Polisario controls 20% of the territory in its capacity as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Exiled Sahrawi people reside in refugee camps in south Algeria. As UN argues by their MINSURO support program for SADR, their right of residence is violated. However, the EU holds an ambivalent position towards the issue of Sahrawi Republic. The European Union frequently oscillates its stance according to financial interests of its members. Consequentially, significant steps should be taken to ensure once-and-for-all resolution of Western Sahara conflict. Key questions How should EU incentivize Morocco to endorse holding of popular referendum proposed by Baker & Settlement plans? What status should Sahrawi Arabic Democratic Republic adopt- should it merge with Morocco as an autonomous region or should it be granted absolute sovereignty?
Besides Morocco, which countries & organizations possess strategic interests in disputed territories?
Key facts and figures
87 states, the United Nations, the non-aligned movement, the African Union and European Union (EU) support "the right of self-determination of the Sahrawi: -
of these, 40 states do not recognize the Sahrawi Republic;
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of these, 37 states recognize the Sahrawi Republic;
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43 states support Moroccan claims on Western Sahara, but do not recognize its sovereignty over it.
Key Actors Morocco Spain (previous owner of a colony) Mauritania ( a country that claimed Western Sahara) Algeria (a supporter of Democratic republic and a host of refugees) Sahrawi Arabic Democratic Republic (SADR) United Nations- MINSURO supporting mission European Union Polisario Front (socialist party of SADR) Links Letter from an occupied Western Sahara http://www.thenation.com/article/176968/letter-western-sahara-land-under-occupation# EU’s unofficial position concerning this issue http://allafrica.com/stories/201312240051.html EU’s official statement http://www.eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_5123_en.htm Independent’s article about EU- SADR relations http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-eu-is-supporting-a-brutal-militaryoccupation-in-western-sahara-9004044.html Vice’s documentary about living in occupied territories http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y8w-ACs7Bw
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS (DROI) The Harlem- Shake in Azerbaijan: In light of recent arrests and convictions of human rights activists in Azerbaijan, the EU has officially called for improvements to be made towards ‘...greater respect for human rights, rule of law and fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan..’ especially as they currently hold the chairmanship of the Council of Europe. What further action can the EU take to ensure human rights in Azerbaijan? Topic Overview By: Koka Kapanadze Key terms
Freedom of Expression: Right to express one's ideas and opinions freely through speech, writing, and other forms of communication but without deliberately causing harm to others' character and/or reputation by false or misleading statements. Freedom of Press: The right to circulate opinions in print without censorship by the government. Council of Europe: EU institution, where EU leaders meet around 4 times a year to discuss the EU’s political priorities , whilst promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation.
Explanation of the problem Azerbaijani authorities severely limit freedom of assembly and use force to disperse any unsanctioned protests. In the past two years, Azerbaijani authorities have brought or threatened unfounded criminal charges against at least 38 political activists, journalists, bloggers, and human rights defenders, most of whom are behind bars. They broke up several peaceful public demonstrations, and adopted legislation that further restricted fundamental freedoms. This crackdown was the backdrop for the October 2013 presidential election, in which incumbent President Ilham Aliyev was re-elected for a third term with 84.5 percent of the vote. A lot of political and social media activists have been arrested since 2013. Azerbaijan has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on May 14, 2014. When Azerbaijan became a Council of Europe member in 2001, one of the commitments to which it agreed was the release of all political prisoners and an end to silencing its critics by prosecuting them on politically motivated charges. A January 2013 resolution adopted by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly highlighted the ongoing problem of politically motivated prosecutions, concluding, “The combination of the restrictive implementation of freedoms with unfair trials and the undue influence of the executive results in the systemic detention of people who may be considered prisoners of conscience.” Key questions What measures should be taken by the European Union to ensure freedom of expression and freedom of press in Azerbaijan? How can the other international organisations, such as United Nations, further improve democracy in this country? What should be Azerbaijan’s position presented by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Mammadyarov, Chairman at Committee of Ministers’?
Key facts and figures
The European Union, United States, and other international and regional actors and institutions expressed concern about the deterioration in Azerbaijan’s human rights record but did not impose any consequences for it.
In its January 2013 resolution, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) expressed concern about “the alleged use of fabricated charges against activists and journalists” and called on Azerbaijan to release prisoners “whose detention gives rise to justified doubts and legitimate concerns.” The PACE voted down a parallel resolution dedicated exclusively to the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
In February 2013, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle jointly urged the authorities to “ensure speedy, fair, transparent, and independent investigation of the charges” against Ilgar Mammadov and Tofig Yagublu. In June, they expressed disappointment regarding legislation expanding the definition of criminal libel. In its March European Neighborhood Policy progress report, the EU noted that Azerbaijan “addressed only a few of the key recommendations” contained in last year’s report.
OSCE Special Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic criticized the Azerbaijani authorities’ failure to respect freedom of expression, including Avaz Zeynalli’s nine-year prison sentence. In July, Azerbaijan successfully pushed to downgrade the OSCE’s presence in Baku from a full-fledged mission to a project coordinator. At time of writing, the OSCE’s new mandate was not made public.
Key actors Azerbaijan’s Government Opposition parties European Union United Nations OSCE Links: http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014/country-chapters/azerbaijan?page=1 http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/05/13/azerbaijan-new-arrests-convictions-critics http://www.europeanforum.net/country/azerbaijan http://www.coe.int/t/cm/News/PACE_23062014_en.asp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNah7Ga9CPY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oea2XGsIbvI
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY (ENVI) With the livestock sector contributing to 14.5 % of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, the transportation and production of meat is inevitably taking its toll on the environment. What can the EU do to decrease the meat industry’s harmful impacts on the environment, yet protect the interests of producers and consumers? Topic Overview By: Nini Gigani Key Terms
GHG (Greenhouse Gases): Gas that absorbs and releases radiation within our atmosphere. While greenhouse gases allow the sun’s energy to enter the atmosphere, instead of letting it re-radiate back into space as infrared radiation, these gasses absorb infrared radiation and trap it in the atmosphere; Indirect/Embedded Energy: Energy or emissions arising as a result of manufacturing farm inputs, such as fertiliser; Enteric Fermentation: A natural part of the digestive process for many ruminant animals where anaerobic microbes, called methanogens, decompose and ferment food present in the digestive tract producing compounds that are then absorbed by the host animal. A resulting byproduct of this process is methane (CH4).
Explanation of the Problem The bulk of GHG emissions originate from four main categories of processes: enteric fermentation, manure management, feed production and energy consumption. First, ruminant animals, such as cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat produce CH4 as part of their digestive process, called enteric fermentation. Methane (CH4) is a by-product of this process. Poorly digestible rations cause higher CH4 emissions per unit of ingested energy. For instance, beef and cattle milk production are accountable for 41% and 20% of the sector’s emissions, while non-ruminant species, such as pigs, also produce CH4 but amounts are much lower by comparison (9%). Second, methane and N2O emissions from manure management also contribute to the deterioration of the state of the environment. Manure contains two chemical components that can lead to GHG emissions during storage and processing: organic matter that can be converted into CH4, and N that leads to nitrous oxide emissions. Methane is released from the decomposition of organic material. This occurs mostly when manure is managed in liquid form, such as in deep lagoons or holding tanks. During storage and processing, nitrogen is mostly released in the atmosphere as ammonia (NH3) that can be later transformed into N2O (indirect emissions). The third factor is the emission of carbon dioxide and N2O from feed production, processing and transport. Carbon dioxide emissions originate from the expansion of feed crops and pasture into natural habitats, causing the oxidation of C in soil and vegetation. They also originate from the use of fossil fuel to manufacture fertilisers and process and transport feed. The emissions of N2O too come from the use of fertilisers for feed production and from the direct deposition of manure on pasture or during the management and application of manure on crop fields. Last but not least, carbon dioxide is emitted from energy consumption as well, which, at feed production level, mostly relates to the production of fertilisers and to the use of machinery for crop management, harvesting, processing and transportation. Energy is also consumed on the animal production site, either directly through mechanized
operations, or indirectly for the construction of buildings and of equipment. Moreover, processing and transportation of animal commodities involve further energy use. Key Questions
What can be done in order to increase the efficacy of manure management, thus decreasing its negative environmental impact? Is there a way to ensure that energy consumption is kept at the minimum? Are there any alternative was of tackling the fertiliser-business?
Key Facts and Figures
The livestock sector is estimated to emit 7,1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) per annum, representing 14,5% of all anthropogenic emissions. The main sources of emissions are: feed production and processing (45% of the total – with 9% attributable to the expansion of pasture and feed crops into forests), enteric fermentation from ruminants (39%), and manure decomposition (10%). The remainder is attributable to the processing and transportation of animal products. Beef and cattle milk production account for the majority of emissions, respectively contributing 41% and 19% of the sector’s emissions. While pig meat and poultry meat and eggs contribute 9% and 8% to the sector's emissions, respectively.
Key Actors The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) European Commission – Joint Research Centre - Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) European Commission – Joint Research Centre - Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) The Livestock, Environment and Development (LEAD) Initiative Links Evaluation of the livestock sector’s contribution to the EU GHG emissions: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/analysis/external/livestock-gas/exec_sum_en.pdf FAO’s article about the livestock’s impact: http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/0612sp1.htm Bryan Walsh’s great piece on the environmental impact of global meat production: http://science.time.com/2013/12/16/the-triple-whopper-environmental-impact-of-global-meatproduction/ Animal Frontiers magazine on defining the livestock problem and specifying solutions: http://animalfrontiers.org/content/1/1/19.full Stanford’s report on the environmental and social impact of the “livestock revolution”: http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/march/livestock-revolution-environment-031610.html Stanford Woods: Instituted for the Environment: https://woods.stanford.edu/environmentalventure-projects/consequences-increased-global-meat-consumption-global-environment
Livestock’s long shadow – environmental issues and options: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/climatechange/doc/FAO%20report%20executive%20summar y.pdf The Agribusiness Accountability Initiative: http://www.ase.tufts.edu/gdae/Pubs/rp/AAI_Issue_Brief_2_1.pdf UNEP Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) on the growing GHG emissions due to meat production: http://www.unep.org/pdf/unep-geas_oct_2012.pdf A Global Assessment of Emissions and Mitigation Opportunities by the FAO: http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3437e/i3437e.pdf
COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS (LIBE) Non-discrimination is a core principle of the European Union and yet transgender people face hate crimes, discrimination and legal restrictions on a daily basis. What can the EU do to improve the situation for transgender people across Member States? Topic Overview By: Tamar Jakeli Key Terms
Gender Identity: While sex refers to the biological difference between men and women, gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, and attributes that are acceptable for men and women. In other words “male” and “female” are sex categories, and “masculine” and “feminine” are gender categories. Gender Identity refers to people’s internal and subjective experience of their own gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex assigned at birth. Transgender person: A person whose gender identity does not match the sex assigned at birth. The term transgender does not exclusively refer to transsexual persons (those who are transitioning or have transitioned from one gender to another); all transsexual persons are transgender, but not all transgender persons are transsexual. Although the term transsexual can be misleading and many assume that it is about sexual orientation; however, transgender issue is in reality the issue of gender identity. Trans-phobia: An emotional disgust, anger, or discomfort felt towards the individuals that do not conform to society’s gender expectations.
Explanation of the Problem It is estimated that there are as many as 1.5 transgender people in the European Union, the majority of which face everyday difficulties in being recognized and respected as individuals. Because of the existing trans-phobic attitudes in many European societies, transgender people are often the target of hate crimes. In European countries alone, 87 transgender people have been murdered since January 2008. Transgender people are one of the minority groups that experience the most violence and harassment. Moreover, many hate crimes against them go unreported because of the mistrust with the police officers, who in turn mistreat and profile them for unfair arrests simply because of their gender identity/expression. For many transgender people, having the possibility of changing one’s sex and one’s first name in identity documents is vital for performing the activities that others take for granted, such as travelling, obtaining driving license, filling out job applications, and taking care of their health needs. In 1992, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) first recognized that a state’s refusal to allow transgender people to change the gender markers on their official documents was a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. In 2014, however, many transgender people in EU still struggle to have their gender legally recognized. Many member states have strict conditions under which individuals can change their legal gender. Transgender people can obtain legal gender recognition only if they are diagnosed with a mental disorder, agree to undergo medical procedures such as hormone treatments and surgeries resulting in sterilization, and prove that they are single or get a divorce. The whole process can take years and violates basic human rights. On the other hand, some EU states simply do not allow a person to change their legal gender, which causes even more
misery in an already disadvantaged group. Many transgender people face a situation in which they have to choose some human rights at the expense of others. This question forces us to consider how to ensure human rights without discrimination on grounds of gender identity and expression. Key Questions
Should Member States decide their positions on transgender rights or should there be a common system enforced by EU? How can transphobia be challenged and overcome? What procedures, if any, should transgender people be required to undergo if they wish to change their legal gender?
Key Facts and Figures
In 2008, Transgender Europe set up Trans Murder Monitoring. Since then, 1374 killings of transgender people worldwide have been reported, 87 of which were in European countries. Only 12 states protect people from transphobic violence. 21 European countries require transgender people to undergo sterilization (using medical techniques that intentionally leave a person unable to reproduce) before their gender identity is recognized.
Key Actors European Union (EU) Member States (MS) European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Transgender Europe (TGEU) Amnesty International Links http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NOTE-20100601-PE425.621Transgender-Persons-Rights-in-the-EU-Member-States.pdf http://www.tgeu.org/sites/default/files/Trans_Map_Index_2014.pdf http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/europe-transgender-people-face-discrimination-andinhuman-and-degrading-treatment-2014-02-04 https://www.es.amnesty.org/uploads/media/The_state_decide_who_I_am._Febrero_2014.pd f
COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND DEFENCE (SEDE) With hackers outsmarting engineers, corporations and institutions are subject to attack. Concerned over maintaining their reputations, many cyber crimes go unreported. What incentives can the EU foster to ensure cyber-security? Topic Overview By: Diana Lace Key Terms
Cybercrime: commonly refers to a broad range of different criminal activities where computers and information systems are involved either as a primary tool or as a primary target. Cybercrime comprises traditional offences (e.g. fraud, forgery, and identity theft), content-related offences (e.g. on-line distribution of child pornography or incitement to racial hatred) and offences unique to computers and information systems (e.g. attacks against information systems, denial of service and malware). Cyber-security: safeguards and actions that can be used to protect the cyber domain, both in the civilian and military fields, from those threats that are associated with or that may harm its interdependent networks and information infrastructure. Snowden’s leaks: leaked documents that uncovered the existence of numerous global surveillance programs, many of them run by the NSA and the Five Eyes with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments.
Explanation of the Problem Daily life, economic prosperity and both international and national security depend on a stable, safe and resilient cyberspace. Everyone relies on this vast array of networks in order run business, provide government services, travel and socialize. Yet cybercrimes and attacks have increased dramatically, exposing sensitive personal and business information, disrupting critical operations, and imposing high costs on the economy. Furthermore, hackers and malicious codes are not the only ones to be apprehensive of. The National Security Agency (NSA) recent leaks also known as Snowden’s leaks) revealed mass surveillance programs undertaken by the Government Communications Headquarters. Particular scandal showed that the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is not strengthened enough when European citizens and leaders are the subject of the violation. Securing information systems and online network is essential to ensure future prosperity. The EU has started to work on a number of fronts to ensure proper cyber-security in Europe. With the EU Cyber Security Strategy being enforced, status quo is about to change. Nevertheless, fast-changing nature of the cyber-world has to be borne in mind, therefore, any future legislation has to be fully flexible and adaptive, other way in may face crucial challenges along the road. Key Questions
What measures under EU Cyber Security Strategy should be undertaken besides the existing Cyber Security Directive? The cornerstone of the cybercrimes is ubiquity of the internet, thus, should EU ensure a united legislation within all of the Member States? How can the EU avoid illegal espionage on its governments and citizens?
Key Facts and Figures
Every second there are 18 cybercrime victims estimated, that is 556million per year. Let alone more than 232million identities exposed (per year) and 600,000 compromised Facebook accounts every day.
92% of Europeans are concerned about web applications collecting their personal data without their consent. 89% say they want to know when the data on their smartphone or tablet is being shared with a third party, but none of it is being monitored or controlled.
The scale of the problem is itself a threat to law enforcement response capability – with more than 150 000 viruses and other types of malicious code in circulation.
Key Actors European Union European Commission Europol Data processing companies Internet users SME (Small and medium enterprises) Government institutions Links Cybercrime http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/organized-crime-and-humantrafficking/cybercrime/index_en.htm EU Cyber Security Strategy – open, safe and secure http://eeas.europa.eu/top_stories/2013/070213_cybersecurity_en.htm Cyber-attackers have multiplied and become far more professional http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21606421-cyber-attackers-have-multipliedand-become-far-more-professional-hackers-inc Infographic: Cyber Crime Statistics and Trends http://www.go-gulf.com/blog/cyber-crime/ TED talk: James Lyne: Everyday cybercrime -- and what you can do about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSErHToV8IU Interactive map: Worldwide spread of European surveillance technology https://no-spyware-for-dictators.eu/
COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE (INTA) With Georgia recently signing the EU Association Agreement that should serve as a catalyst for increased trade with EU Member States, current trade relations may get under pressure. How should Georgia position itself to trade with the surrounding countries in the region, whilst meeting EU expectations? Topic Overview By: Jakob Etzel and Guga Sukhiashvili Key Terms Association Agreement: The EU's main instrument to bring the countries in the Eastern Partnership closer to EU standards and norms. Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have recently signed such an agreement on establishing a deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA). European Investment Bank (EIB): The EU’s non-profit long-term lending institution established in 1958 under the Treaty of Rome as a "policy-driven bank" whose shareholders are the member states of the EU. Free trade agreement: A contract between either two parties (bilaterally) or more (multilaterally) to abolish custom tariffs, trade quotas and to establish common norms and standards. A contract party can either be a country or also a supranational entity as the European Union. Known free trade agreements are the worldwide ones administrated by the World Trade Organisation, or the TTIP currently being negotiated between the EU and the USA. Eastern Partnership: The EU’s neighbourhood policy with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Its intent is the provision of a platform for both bi- and multilateral cooperation regarding trade, economy, strategy, visa regime etc. Explanation of the Problem It is feared that the Georgian market will be flooded with goods from the EU, whereas local products will have little access to the EU market due to high standards and enormous regulations. The Association Agreement can also have a great impact on import and export fluxes within the South Caucasian region. Armenia was initially also supposed to develop an Association Agreement with the EU, but dropped out, Azerbaijan’s economy is heavenly dependant on its energy exports, Russia is currently facing economic struggles due to the Ukraine Crisis. Turkey already enjoys a customs union agreement with the EU, but its chances towards a membership declined substantially in the past years. The situation in the South Caucasus is additionally deeply shaped by different current and past international conflicts as well as diverse cultures. Key Questions How can Georgia convene increased trade with the EU while at the same time not influencing trade with its neighbour countries? How can the price and quality gap between Georgian and EU goods be bridged? What is the ideal import/export situation within Georgia and its neighbouring countries?
Key Facts and Figures On 27 June 2014, the EU and Georgia signed an association agreement, providing for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). At the moment, the European Parliament and EU member states are ratifying the contract. It will take effect after final provisions have been taken. So far EU assistance to Georgia mainly takes the form of annual action programmes under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership. Other funding sources are the thematic assistance programmes, which focus on specific sectors such as human rights or civil society. Georgia is also part of the Eastern Partnership since its launch in 2009. Under this initiative, closer political association and economic integration with the EU is being promoted by encouraging governments to reform and by strengthening civil society's role in the development process. - Total budget for 2007-2010: EUR 117.4 million - Total budget for 2011-2013: EUR 180.7 million In addition to this, extra funding of EUR 22 million was made available for Georgia via the Eastern Partnership Integration and Cooperation programme. Key Actors European Union (EU) National governments (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey) European Investment Bank (EIB) Enterprises of different sizes (small & medium enterprises, mid-caps, multinational corporations) and in different sectors Links European Commission press release: “The EU’s Association Agreement with Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine” http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-430_en.htm European External Action Service: “Relations between EU and Georgia” http://eeas.europa.eu/georgia/index_en.htm European External Action Service: “The Eastern Partnership” http://eeas.europa.eu/eastern/docs/eap_vilnius_ppt_201113_en.pdf
COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (EMPL) With staggering youth unemployment, many young people have chosen to start their own enterprises despite financial and bureaucratic challenges. How can the EU support entrepreneurialism for young people in the current economic and political climate? Topic Overview By: Nanuka Gurgenidze Key Terms
Entrepreneurship: The process of starting and running a business or other organization. ‘Europe 2020’ – is a strategy aimed to create smart and effective growth through investments in education, research and innovation; the strategy plans to achieve this goal by moving towards a low-carbon economy, with strong emphasis on job creation and poverty reduction.
Explanation of the Problem Unemployment has risen dramatically across Europe over the last three years and youth face even tougher conditions in entering the labour market. They have typically faced unemployment rates of double the adult level for more than a decade. In January 2014, 23.4% of young Europeans were without a job (Eurostats). Entrepreneurship has long been an exceptional form of employment, as well as a remarkable way of fostering innovation across the business spectrum and reinforcing social and environmental values, even though Entrepreneurship alone will not be enough to eradicate the problem of youth unemployment, it is considered to be the step towards the right direction. The lack of finances and resources available, as well as an unfortunate and devastating lack of educational and governmental support means that young people often find entrepreneurship a sector simply too difficult or even impossible to break into. The European Union (EU) has acknowledged the importance of promoting entrepreneurship within the youth population, and continues to draw legislations and youth programs in order to facilitate the problems in this regard. The European Union, via the Europe 2020 and its flagship initiatives on “New skills and jobs”, “Digital Agenda for Europe”, “Innovation Union”, “Youth on the move” promotes entrepreneurship, by fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and related knowledge, skills and competences that can boost competitiveness and growth that will be smart, sustainable and inclusive. Despite the efforts of EU, there is still long way to go. There is still an unbalance of youth employment via entrepreneurship throughout the European Union countries. Youth unemployment in Europe for the 15-29 age cohort is 17.7% reaching staggering levels of 44% in Greece, 40% in Spain, and 32% in Croatia (Eurostat). Key Questions
What steps should European Union take in order to promote the entrepreneurship within the youth? What kind of legislation should be adopted to encourage youngsters to get involved with the entrepreneurship? What kind of programs should schools, with the help of the EU, implement to grow skilful and confident entrepreneurs?
Key Facts and Figures
66% of the young self-employed say entrepreneurial skills need to be specifically taught, 73% say access to funding remains difficult, and 49% believe innovative funding platforms will accelerate entrepreneurship. 51 percent of young Europeans (aged 15-24) say that self-employment is desirable, against only 18 percent of the age group 55+. A quarter of young Europeans thinks about starting their own company, while only 3 percent of the older Europeans considers this step
Key Actors: European Union European Commission National Governments Links: General information about Entrepreneurship in Europe: http://epthinktank.eu/2014/03/22/young-entrepreneurs/ http://ec.europa.eu/youth/policy/youth_strategy/empl_entrepreneurship_en.htm http://www.euwatcher.eu/blog/youth-entrepreneurship-can-save-europe/ European Commission “Young People and Entrepreneurship”: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/youth/tools/documents/youth-entrepreneurship.pdf “Policy brief on Entrepreneurship”: http://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/Youth%20entrepreneurship%20policy%20brief%20EN_FINAL.p df Erasmus Program for young entrepreneurs: http://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/ Clauses adopted by Council of European Union: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/educ/142702.pdf “Youth Entrepreneurship, 2013”: http://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/youth_bp_finalt.pdf The European Union, via the Europe 2020: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/index_en.htm http://europeanactiongroup.eu/what%E2%80%99s-missing-in-the-eu-entrepreneurship-drive
COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT) As minority populations throughout Europe remain underrepresented in universities. What actions should EU take to ensure that young people with variety of backgrounds have equal access and opportunity to higher education in Europe? Topic overview By: Vladimer Utmelidze Key terms Minority population: Language, race, ethnicity, religion etc. can form a minority population. Strong minorities within Europe are for example Russians and Roma. Positive Discrimination is a process that seeks to temporarily redress a specific inequality by focusing on the rights of the discriminated individuals or groups in society, in a particular setting and in an enforceable way. Meritocracy: A system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement. Education and Training 2020 (ET2020): An EU wide strategy to improve education throughout Member States. Explanation of the problem Many European Countries have initiated significant development of their higher education systems. However the advantages of these processes have not been universally experienced. Students from minority backgrounds continue to be under-represented in colleges and universities. This effect is particularly visible in most of the prestigious educational institutions. Many young people, for example those belonging to minority groups such as the Roma community in Europe, are not given the support or opportunity to attend higher education. On one hand governments and educational institutions aim to be inclusive to people of many different backgrounds and cultures. On the other hand most institutions aim to be competitive and continuously raise the academic quality. Some universities have chosen to use positive discrimination to ensure wider participation, and others have chosen a purely meritocratic approach. The difficulty is to find a balance between accessibility and inclusivity in education to all people AND/OR to develop higher education based on merit and academic achievements. This topic requires delegates to look at economic, social and cultural reasons behind why minorities are not well represented at universities. Scrutinizing the agency of the individual versus that of the state, EU and educational institutions, will be key. As the EU strives for equal opportunity and education, addressing the absence of many communities throughout universities therefore becomes vital. Key questions How should the EU increase the participation of under-represented communities and disadvantaged groups in higher education?
Which types of higher education funding increase fairness in relation to accessibility and financial burden?
How can educational institutions manage both an inclusive and a competitive structure?
Key actors ESU – The European Student’s Union European Parliament European Commission National governments and ministries of education Private education institutions Links http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/higher-education/index_en.htm http://www.nesetweb.eu/policy-priorities/policy-themes-outlines/widening-participation-inhigher-education#_ftnref1 http://www.esu-online.org/news/article/6064/77/ http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/13/equal-opportunities-studentscharlotte-leslie