PODIUM 6

ISSUE #6

PODIUM

A POLICY HANDBOOK EDITION TIRANA, FEB 2013

SWITCHING ON THE LIGHT IN EUROPE ENERGY EEZ GREEN ECONOMY RESOURCES

Youth of the European People’s Party

Podium is a publication of the Youth of the European People’s Party.

The purpose of this publication is to summarize all the adopted policy documents by the YEPP Council and focus on the most important and innovative proposals of the organization.

Edition: Council Meeting, Tirana, February 2013

PODIUM A POLICY HANDBOOK

C O N T R I B U T O R S

Maria Kristine Göthner Unge Høyre, Norway

Dimitris Zacharias ONNED, Greece

R E S O L U T I O N S

ENERGY SECURITY GREECE: EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE WATER USE IN GREEN ECONOMIES EUROPEAN AIR QUALITY ERASMUS VOTE ENLARGING RIGHT TO VOTE AGAINST EP SECRET BALLOT EUROPEAN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE LGBT RIGHTS AGAINST QUOTAS ARMS EXPORTS INTERNATIONAL LAW

presented by Junge Union, Germany

Advancing Europe’s Energy Security Europe, as a large importer of energy, is a highly dependent on stability and peace in the Balkans and the Caspian regions. This is especially important in the continued search for energy security in Europe. The long-term goal for the European Union, to fully integrate the states of the Balkan into the European structures, is still on-going. The ultimate aim is that of a common Europe, committed to the freedom of all states.

At the same time, YEPP stress the number of still unresolved conflicts in the Balkans and the Caspian Region. One example is the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia about Nagorno-Karabakh. It is urgent that we find political solutions to these frozen regional conflicts, and develop safe structures for energy supply.

This is in in the interest of both producing countries, transit countries and countries of importation.

Furthermore, alongside the debate about energy security, the interest of European countries to reduce their energy dependence from main Eurasian energy suppliers by developing relations with alternative gas-supply sources both within and outside the EU, is growing. The role of alternative sources, such as unconventional (shale) gas obtained via safe environmental friendly technologies will become increasingly important.

The Youth of the European People’s Party calls on the EU member states to implement strategies for the diversification of energy supply routes, especially by developing alternatives to the North- and South Stream pipelines and support the investment in green energy. The latter is important in order to diversify energy supply within the EU. Further, we call upon support of energy diversification in the Balkans via construction of gas interconnectors between Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and Serbia.

YEPP calls for The Youth of European Peoples Party calls upon the EU member states to strengthen alternative European energy projects, like the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) running through Azerbaijan and Turkey; the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) running through Greece, Albania and Italy and the Nabucco pipeline project that runs through Turkey, Bulgaria und Hungary.

Lastly, we call upon the Armenian government to end the occupation of Nagorno- Karabakh and the parts of Azerbaijani territory. Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan and the inviolability of its borders and the security of its population must be fully ensured without delay.

Unfortunately, the negotiations of the OSCE in the context of the so-called “Minsk group” have not been successful so far.

It is therefore time to finally enforce Azerbaijan’s claim to its own territory, which is legitimate under international law.

presented by MHDZ, Croatia Junge OVP, Austria

Efficient use of water in Green Economies Due to resource scarcity, there is a need for efficient and sustainable use of water. The Commissions Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Water Resources has outlined a strategy for ensuring that sufficient good quality water is available to meet the needs of people, the economy and the environment.

The demand for water resources will increase due to population growth, expanding cities and accelerating economic activity. Water is of prime importance for the industrial sector, as it is used in a variety of ways for transport, cooling and heating, cleaning, washing and also as raw material. Only a wise and strategic management of the supply and disposal of clean water can ensure its’ continued availability to future generations, at an affordable cost.

Water has been an important topic on the agenda for many years. Recently there has been the UN- Water Annual Conference, meeting of the EP Water group and a statement by UN-Water for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012 (Rio+20 Summit). YEPP has also debated the topic earlier in the resolution “Europe and renewable energy” adopted at the YEPP Seminar in Budapest, Hungary.

YEPP calls for YEPP calls on the EU and its member states to promote innovation and market driven solutions to develop new technologies in the European water sector, to increase the efficiency in water management; To help farmers increase water efficiency in agriculture, by giving infrastructural and technological support, within the existing CAP budget, for innovation and new technologies.

YEPP calls upon the EU and its member states to make water recycling to an integral part of sustainable management of resources.

presented by CDJA, The Netherlands

The Future of European Air Quality The European Union is globally recognized as a proponent of environmental sustainability and ecological preservation. The future of European environmental quality rests on the hands of today’s policy-makers who are urging Member States and their respective stakeholders to converge to centrally-monitored environmental policy. YEPP has also taken action with regards to environmental sustainability by adopting “Europe and renewable energy” (2012, Budapest) and “Renewable Energy” (2010, Sofia); both resolutions are aimed at fostering development alongside environmental objectives.

Bearing in mind that the objectives of the European Union regarding environmental stability and ecological preservation are the most ambitious internationally and that EU should incentivize non-EU trade partners to pursue green economy-related profitability, YEPP has endorsed a resolution on the Future of European Air Quality according to which the EU will provide incentives to its trading partners to become more environmentally-friendly. The return of investment on such an incentive scheme will be multiplied; YEPP has recognized that environmental change is necessary and can be achieved through exploitation of synergies with partners of the EU. The resolution adopted by YEPP, if implemented in reality, is focusing on convincing trade partners such as the United States, China and other emerging economies that environmental quality need not be sacrificed for operational profit; a combination of the two is realizable and YEPP’s “Resolution on the Future of European Air Quality” offers policy innovation and quality.

YEPP calls on The European Union to stimulate the reduction of trading barriers (direct and indirect) for the Green industry and stimulate trade between Europe’s green industry and the rest of the world.

The responsible EU actors to include step by step measures to be taken by non-EU countries towards green economy stimulation in their negotiation requirements. The EU should focus on issues including: a. stimulation of appropriate renewable energy sources; b. strengthening joint research and development in clean energies; c. encouraging the setting up of Emission Trading Schemes.

The European Union to focus on these diplomatic and trade negotiation methods particularly in its relations with the United States, China, Russia and emerging economies.

presented by ONNED, Greece NEDISY, Cyprus

YEPP supports the right of Greece to claim its Exclusive Economic Zone As the future of European energy independence is shared among both Member States' national governments and official institutions, so should the efforts for providing support to the Republic of Greece's right to declare its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Turbulence in the energy market and discouraging projections relating to increased imports of gas (reaching - by 2050 - up to 70% of total energy consumption within the Community) issued by the Commission in its "Green Paper, 2000". Bearing in mind EU's objectives for a cleaner and brighter future with regards to energy sufficiency and competitiveness potential of European projects, the Youth of the European Peoples Party believes that energy sufficiency in the EU over the next decades is crucial to the European Union’s competitiveness, as well as international economic and political presence and influence, in an ever developing, challenging and shifting globe.

YEPP acknowledges that the Studies of the Norwegian company TGS-Nor in 2012 showed the presence of a recoverable gas reserve off the coast of the island of Crete, Greece and note the possibility of extracting 600$ billion worth of gas, enough to fully supply the entire Union for 15 years. Moreover, other International searches estimate the possible recovery of 22 billion barrels of oil in the northern Aegean Sea, Greece and 6 billion barrels of oil in the Ionian Sea, Western Greece. Additionally, YEPP supports the claim of an EEZ by Cyprus in 2004, a process which was carried out after an international dialogue with its neighboring states and greets the commission of an energy exploitation program by the Cypriot Government, a decision that was backed and publicly supported by EPP leaders in 2011.

YEPP supports the right of the Republic of Greece to claim its right for an Exclusive Economic Zone which will multiply the positive spillovers for the EU as a whole and allow for development in the regions that are currently facing challenges in benefiting from opportunities.

Call on EU Member States to pledge their moral and diplomatic support to the claim of an Exclusive Economic Zone by the Republic of Greece, in a way that is respective to the international law of the sea.

Invites the High Representative of the Union and EU Member States to pledge their moral and diplomatic support to the claim of an Exclusive Economic Zone by the Republic of Greece, in a way that is respective to the international law of the sea.

YEPP affirms the written and customary right of every state to claim and exploit an Exclusive Economic Zone, in accordance to the UNCLOS of 1982 rules and methods of marking.

presented by Giovani per la Liberta , Italy

YEPP supports the Erasmus vote In most of the EU Member States, students are not allowed to vote in the parliamentary and presidential elections of their own country while participating in the Erasmus project abroad. At the moment 200 000 students at higher education institutions spend a period of study in of the 4000 universities. This is a strong evidence of the freedom of movement within Europe. The right to vote and participate in democracy should not be hindered by studying abroad.

The situation in Italy has previously been discussed, and Mina Andreeva, speaker of the EU Commission, claimed the European Union supports all the efforts that are made in Italy to allow Erasmus students to vote and to cease this discrimination against them.

YEPP underlines that students should be able to express their votes without any discrimination. A number of European Member states already provide their citizens, who are living abroad, the opportunity to vote by mail or at the consulate.

The Erasmus project is an important contribution to the creation of a common European identity. Equally, a European identity is dependent on students who participate in the democracy and in the public debates. As a result, students participating in the Erasmus project should have the opportunity to vote.

YEPP calls on EU member states to recognize the citizenship of Erasmus students residing abroad and allow Erasmus students to express their vote in national elections by mail or by travelling to the consulate of their respective country, conditioned on them having previously informed their member state of origin about their situation.

YEPP also welcomes the European Institutions to embrace the possibility for Erasmus participants to vote.

presented by Jeunes CdH, Belgium

Enlarging the right to vote for EU citizens 2013 is the European Year of Citizens. This is a year dedicated to celebrate the rights that follow a EU citizenship, while simultaneously encouraging stakeholders to discuss and build a vision of how the EU should be in 2020.

YEPP used this opportunity to determne the need for some member countries to grant legitimate democratic electoral rights to their inhabitants, without necessarily granting them citizenship. This right should be granted to those who have contributed to the welfare of their country of residence and accepted its basic values.

Also, the EU member states can at their discretion and on the basis of independently set conditions, extend this right to vote to non-EU citizens.

However, as a result of the fact that competences of local authorities vary among the EU member States, YEPP is aware that European citizens do enjoy de facto dierent electoral rights in each State.

In the context of the European Year of Citizens, The Youth of the European Peoples Party calls on the EU and it’s Member States to expand the scope of its current debates.

Furthermore, the EU and its Member States should encourage laws giving EU citizens residing in another member state the right to vote in national election.

This should be encouraged in accordance with the restrictions and conditions to be set independently by Member states.

Conditions may, among others, refer to the duration of legal residence in the country of residence.

presented by CDJA, The Netherlands

Against the secret ballot voting in the European Parliament Secret ballot voting is a decision making procedure that is used within the European Parliament regarding decisions that need swift resolution. The use of secret ballot voting may improve the efficiency of parliamentary voting and produces effective decisions on political matters that call for immediate action. Nevertheless, the use of secret ballot voting adds to the existing democratic deficit of decision making at the European level; the democratic deficit which renders the ability of European citizens to track voting procedures and decisions made at the European Parliament, a fundamental political right of citizens, improbable. Secret ballot voting has been used in the past for highly controversial decisions such as that for Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and for functional appointment of persons.

European institutions need to respond to the demand of European citizens for increased transparency and democratic legitimacy. YEPP urges the stakeholders of the European Parliament, and the EPP Group specifically, to pledge for the abolition of secret ballot voting in an effort to restore democratic participation and transparency of decision making. Moreover, YEPP advocates for the removal of secret ballot voting in order to minimize the influence of special-interest lobby organizations that manipulate decisions made at the European level, in complete disregard of the interests of European citizens.

YEPP understands the need of European citizens for a transparent and legitimate decision making European instrument and calls for the transformation of the established norm of secret ballot voting.

YEPP calls on the European Parliament in general and the EPP Group specifically to pledge for a removal of secret ballot voting from the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, with a single exception for voting on the appointment of persons;

presented by IRLY, Estonia ONNED, Greece

A common European Electronic Signature In December 1999, a directive establishing a community framework for electronic signatures was already adopted. Today, the Youth of the EPP calls for an update of this directive. Needless to say in today’s digital society how a framework for the legal use of eSignatures makes business significantly easier, eventually leading to more economic growth for us all. Aside from that, legal recognition of eSignatures can help towards boosting the development of EU wide eGovernment services that bring people closer to decision making processes. In the view of the Youth of the EPP, recognizing eSignatures would mean an important step towards a full European digital single market, while potentially helping in solving cyber security issues. Eventually, it could serve the discussion on the implementation of electronic voting in EU member states.

YEPP calls on the European Commission to update the Directive 1999/93/EC, following the technological advents of the last decade, and taking into consideration the already existing national frameworks on electronic signatures.

For YEPP, it is the European Parliament’s responsibility to ensure the proper functioning of the Internal Market by setting a harmonized legal framework for the use of electronic signatures.

Finally, the European Commission is called upon to establish without delay a legal framework for the European digital single market before 2015 when the issue is originally planned to be processed.

a necessary step towards the digital single market

presented by NEDISY, Cyprus MUF, Sweden

Equality for all.

While living in the year of 2013 some might say that the notion of equal rights for all within Europe is already established. However, this global and continually relevant debate is by no means characterized by a consensus. In fact, while the issue of discrimination within civil society has been debated in many arenas the last years, it remains important. It is about time it becomes a topic for debate in YEPP. Within Europe for instance, there are still disagreements between countries about the way in which one should approach the debate of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) rights. The Youth of the Europeans People’s Party strive for a Europe, where people are respected and human rights globally adopted, regardless of sexual orientation.

We share this vision with the European Parliament and the UN. Recently the European Parliament adopted a statement to reject anti-discrimination laws globally. The U.N. Human Rights Council adopted a statement, supported by 85 countries, on LGBT rights called "Ending Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

YEPP calls on The European Commission to support and enable LGBT rights and encourage the member states to accept all people, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity in civil society.

presented by KDU, Sweden MUF, Sweden

We can do it Without Quotas!

The European Commission will put forward a proposal introducing legal gender quotas by giving sanctions and fines to state-owned or publicly listed companies whose supervisory boards are composed of less than 40 percent women by 2020.

The proposal is in fact aimed at less than one percent of all companies in the EU. Nevertheless, the principle is important for the Youth of the EPP: owners should have the right to compose the boards according their own preferences and to determine what is in the best interest of the company. It should not be a struggle for statistics and percentage levels. The amount of women in supervisory boards is already increasing. Moreover, gender quotas tend to undermine the legitimacy of women that are elected to different boards. Fundamentally, the Youth of the EPP thinks that a regulation focusing on an outcome fails to tackle the main reasons behind the lack of women in top positions in the private enterprise – differences in attitudes and priorities.

The Youth of the EPP therefore calls on the EPP group to obstruct EU regulations on gender quotas in state-owned companies, publicly-listed companies and private companies.

EU member states are called upon to obstruct the European Commission putting forward this proposal.

The EPP is called upon to object all forms of gender quotas enforced by law.

presented by Jong CD&V

Reviewing the EU Common Position on Arms Exports Events in the Arab Spring have shown that we should not dismiss the potential consequences of our weapon export policies. The defence industry is remains an important economic player, and employer, in the European Union. Also, the R&D in the field has important spill-overs to civilian applications. Since the defence budget cuts in EU member states, the industry has become more dependent on exports. To export weapons, companies are nevertheless often found to bypass existing bans by going through transit countries. The Youth of the EPP also found that international defence companies increasingly apply for an export license in a European country that is more flexible on its arms export criteria. The Intra Community Trade perversely enhances this development. The Youth of the EPP therefore calls for an urgent review of the EU Common Position on Arms Exports.

YEPP calls on member states to draft a list of ‘sensitive countries’, to which member states should be more restrained in granting arms export licences. Such a list should include countries which had been recently subjected to an arms embargo or that are suspected to violate human rights.

presented by CDJA, The Netherlands

Committing to International Law The European Union has always been a dedicated, international advocate of human rights. It is engraved in the core of the European ethic to uphold human rights both domestically and internationally. The EU recognizes the importance and relevance of UN tribunals in the effort to establish international law practices in countries that are in conflict. The European Union, through its institutions and international affairs’ policies, is striving for international law to become the prominent legal compass in countries where conflicts have taken a toll on the citizens. Bearing in mind that the past years have brought major political and social change in several countries, YEPP has adopted a resolution according to which, the implementation of international law in post-conflict countries is imperative for safeguarding that no human rights’ violations are in place. YEPP’s resolution defends the need of the international community to take action with relation to international justice; post conflict regions and countries that have been severely affected by civil war situations are in need of international assistance so as for international legal frameworks safeguarding human rights to be put in place.

YEPP calls on the EU Member States to contribute actively through the UN context to the continuity of the work of courts and tribunals; YEPP calls on the EPP and the European Parliament to continue their efforts to position the European Union as the guardian of international peace and justice.

youthepp.eu/library

PODIUM A POLICY HANDBOOK