MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY
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SEDE
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND DEFENCE
European security shrewdness: As worldwide economic, geopolitical and military competition increases and new security alliances are taking shape, Member States are increasingly isolated, but their military spending continues to break records. Given the reluctance of some Member States to establish a common defence union, how can the EU adapt its security policy to these unprecedented geopolitical developments?
Submitted by: Ischa van Bemmel (NL), Felix Crawford (NL), Boet Heijmerink (NL), Daantje van Hout (NL), Willem Knibbe (NL), Nicole Lahmer (CH), Hélène Mulder (NL), Marcus van Strier (NL), Ivor Meštrović (Chairperson, HR)
The European Youth Parliament
- Points out the fact that Member States have conflicting approaches and interests which makes it difficult to reach necessary political consensus on the EU’s security and defence policies, resulting in:
- imperfect cooperation between Member States regarding their security and defence, especially in terms of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)1 The Permanent Structured Cooperation is a coordinating body within the EU with which Member States freely join to further strengthen their security and defence policy through various projects, trainings, researches, initiatives, and similar activities. , and European Union Military Staff (EUMS),
- frictions and inefficiencies in cooperation between Member States’ defence and security structures and the EU agencies responsible for security and defence, such as the European Defence Agency (EDA)2 The European Defence Agency is an intergovernmental agency of the Council of the European Union. Its mission is to support Member States and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the security and defence policies., and the European External Action Service (EEAS),
- deficient development and insufficient execution of such policies, especially in terms of cooperation and coordination,
- Deeply concerned with the lacking cooperation and ineffective communication between the European Union agencies and Member State counterparts on common security and defence policies,
- Realises a lack of a common approach to the protection of EU external borders while welcoming the supportive work of Frontex3 Frontex is an EU agency designated to support Member States’ border security forces on the external borders of the EU. on the matter,
- Welcomes the harmonising, peace-seeking and security-enhancing work done through PESCO, EDA, and several projects financed by the European Defence Fund (EDF),
- Recognises the EU’s dependence on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) for its security and defence following the Berlin Plus Agreement4 The Berlin Plus Agreement is a comprehensive set of agreements made between NATO and the EU to strengthen the Union’s security and defence, specifically against external threats.,
- Fully aware of the impact of recently formed alliances (e.g. AUKUS), rising geo-political tensions (e.g. Russia-Ukraine), as well as assertive foreign policy approaches of other States such as the People’s Republic of China on the European continent, notes:
- increasing public demand for a common defence union,
- polarisation of public and political opinion in Member States, in relation to both domestic and foreign policy,
- varying levels of Member States’ dependence on non-EU states on matters critical to national security and defence, predominantly energy and infrastructure,
- further enhancement of Member State cooperation through joint bilateral pacts and purchases of military equipment,
- Alarmed by the lack of a long-term EU security and defence strategy,
- Acknowledges the importance of civilian aspects of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP),
- Aware of the lack of protection from ever-expanding hybrid threats, leading to an unsafe digital environment for EU citizens,
- Regrets excessive military expenditure across Member States due to:
- decentralised military production and conduct of research,
- lacking Member State and EU institutional cooperation,
- Considers EU citizens’ distress that the incumbent EU security and defence policy is insufficient for keeping up with other global powers and challenges, and in turn requires increased development,
- Acknowledges the increased calls for a common defence union,
- Takes into consideration the possibility of Member States not joining the common defence union due to their specific values, interests, and political leanings,
- Understands that Member States grouping together on defence could be considered as a geopolitical provocation outside of the EU;
- Urges the EDA and Member States to give preference to trade with other Member States and their allies regarding defence critical goods5 Defence critical goods are all items and objects considered to be of essential importance for the national security of a particular State. over States which do not align with the set of common EU values;
- Calls upon the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats to cooperate with the EDA to better prepare and protect against external cyber threats across the entire EU, by:
- further providing trainings and exercises for hybrid threats,
- further providing and participating in research and analysis on hybrid and cyber threats,
- coordinating and considering different needs and liabilities of Member States,
- advising Member States’ governments, as well as the EDA on potential threats,
- bringing together different stakeholders when it comes to hybrid threats;
- Disapproves of the individualised security alliances between Member States which weaken the CSDP;
- Appeals to Member States’ intelligence agencies to stimulate cooperation on a more substantial and common basis by setting up frequent meetings to discuss shared interests and goals;
- Suggests the European Council to make the defence and security policies of the EU less dependent on NATO;
- Emphasises and strongly encourages the importance of civilian aspects of the CSDP in education, mediation, aiding border security agencies, and diplomacy;
- Requests the SEDE Committee of the European Parliament to promote transparency through a variety of social platforms, for example, newspapers and TV shows;
- Directs the European Council and EEAS to centre the EU’s approach to security and defence around conflict de-escalation and peacekeeping to maintain the EU’s neutral position in the world;
- Appeals to PESCO to restructure their policies and projects regarding EU security and defence so that their guidelines are more in line with those of the CSDP, thus stimulating the two to work together more closely and in turn better aid Member States and the EU’s defence and security goals;
- Welcomes the common approach to the protection of EU external borders done by Frontex;
- Requests the European Commission to propose a restructuring of the EDA into an executive agency with its direction being decided by Member States’ heads of government and defence and security ministries, with:
- the leadership consisting of chosen 27 Member States’ government’s representatives,
- monthly meetings with all relevant members from all Member States,
- establishing far-reaching common values and principles in terms of security and defence in the form an explicit declaration of the Union itself and its 27 Member States,
- harmonising Member States’ stances on external threats,
- drafting, discussing, creating, and publishing medium- and long-term security and defence priorities and strategies of the EU,
- further integrating armed forces of Member States while allowing them to opt out of such shared EU forces, should they consider it to be onerous,
- Urges the EDF to structure opportunities for unified EU-wide military equipment purchases in order to:
- encourage the signing of only short- and medium-term contracts to create healthy market competition in the defence sector,
- increase overall product quality;
- Calls upon the EDA to enhance communication between the security and defence institutions in regard to situational developments, with the main goal being to be able to compete with the other global powers.
ENVI
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY (ENVI)
Turning waste into opportunity: The EU is adopting measures to accelerate the transition to a circular economy whilst each EU citizen produces nearly half a tonne of municipal waste in a single year. In light of the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) of the European Commission, how should the EU further support Member States in their transition to a circular economy?
Submitted by: Miriam Dragosits (CH), Roemer Declercq (NL), Lusan Haan (NL), Nailah Zafira Hofstetter (NL), Dewran Murad (NL), Mika Christina Schukken (NL), Evanti ten Voorde (NL), Daryna Hoch (Chairperson, UA)
The European Youth Parliament,
- Noting with dissatisfaction that certain Member States are not adhering to current waste management legislation, such as the Waste Framework Directive1The Waste Framework Directive establishes the principles of waste management and waste hierarchy. and the Landfill Directive2The Landfill Directive introduces basic requirements of landfilling and waste treatment.,
- Pointing out that particular Member States are financially incapable of transitioning to a circular economy,
- Expressing appreciation toward the Member States for developing National Action Plans harmonised with the the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP),
- Concerned with the lack of sufficient governmental incentives for businesses to adopt circular economy business model,
- Disturbed by the fact that NGOs do not have any influence over the decision-making process on a governmental level,
- Deeply concerned by the recent rise of mass consumption and mass production trends,
- Alarmed by consumers’ lack of awareness on circular economy, its benefits and ways of implementing it,
- Deploring businesses implementing greenwashing3Greenwashing is a form of marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organisation’s products, aims and policies are environmentally friendly. practises,
- Expressing regret about the lack of sufficient EU funding for the practical implementation of circular economy initiatives by the general public,
- Regretting the lack of investments, possible consumer loss due to higher prices, and lack of governmental support and general knowledge on circular economy for businesses,
- Further acknowledging the reluctance of businesses towards changing into circular economy business,
- Recognising the difficulties the EU faces when trading with non-EU based companies which do not adhere to the EU standards for the production;
- Calls upon the European Commision to establish a new annual Intergovernmental Conference on Circular Economy (ICCE), which will:
- be a focal point for tracking the progress and sharing short-term plans of Member States on their transition to circular economy,
- serve as a knowledge-sharing platform on legislation and practical implementations of circular economy;
- Requests the European Environment Agency (EEA) to create a specific Circular Economy Task Force (CETF), consisting of interdisciplinary experts and NGO representatives, which will:
- analyse Member States’ reports on their short-term progress in transitioning into circular economy models,
- identify the source of the problems for Member States not adhering to the the circular economy legislation,
- visit specific Member States to consult with local environmental NGOs and governmental structures;
- Calls upon the European Investment Bank to reallocate existing funds to the Member States in need based on the consultations with the CETF;
- Further calls upon the Member States to use the reallocated funds as an incentive for local businesses transitioning to circular economy business models;
- Urges national governments to raise direct taxes if the companies are using non-recyclable materials for the production, selling non-recyclable products, or using unsustainable transportation;
- Instructs the European Commission to increase the authority of NGOs specialising in circular economy by:
- inviting NGOs to the ICCE,
- giving the consulting position in the EU governmental bodies;
- Encourages the European Commission to further support and prolong the LIFE program4The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. to 2050, specifically in the sphere of circular economy;
- Encourages the EEA to provide experts in the field of circular economy upon Member States requests;
- Encourages the Member States to provide public education on circular economy to the general public through:
- governmental advertisements,
- public debates,
- courses for all levels educational levels;
- Calls upon the European Commission to improve on the current CEAP greenwashing regulations by:
- making the ecolabelling system5Ecolabeling system is a voluntary system that identifies products that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. obligatory,
- setting up a publicly available database rating companies and their products on a sustainability scale using the Product Environmental Footprint Methodology6Product Environmental Footprint Methodology is a methodology created to provide a common way of measuring environmental performance for companies within the EU wishing to market their product.;
- Instructs the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN) to introduce a quota on the European internal market, limiting the amount of products from manufacturers that do not adhere to the standard of sustainability scale,
- Recommends the European Commission to revise the “Monitoring progress towards a circular economy” section of the CEAP by taking The Science for Environment Policy7The Science for Environment Policy study has analysed how to reduce the environmental footprint of EU trade by preferentially importing goods from countries that have greener production processes. into account.
Alumni Weekend Spring 2022
EYP NL is thrilled to be organising a physical Alumni Weekend again! See your EYP friends again and make many new ones! It will take place from Friday the 8th of April 17:00 until Sunday the 10th of April 14:00, at the Paasheuvelgroep in Austerlitz (Woudenbergseweg 47, 3711 AA). Read more details about the program, packing essentials and travel on this webpage.
Impression of previous editions
Schedule
Friday the 8th of April
17:00 Arrival & Registration
18:00 General Teambuilding
19:30 Dinner
20:30 Theatre game
21:30 Pub Quiz night
Saturday the 9th of April
10:00 Wake-up and Breakfast
11:00 Scavenger Hunt
12:00 Transfer to the secret saturday activity
18:00 Dinner at the accommodation
19:00 Evening programme by the new Board of EYPNL
Sunday the 10th of April
09:30 Wake-up and Breakfast
10:30 NC Board handover ceremony
11:30 Living Stratego
12:30 Modules on opportunities in EYP
14:00 Cleanup and departure
Packing list
Secondly, a handy packing list with all the things you may need at the Alumni Weekend:
– Sleeping bag or bedlinen & blanket- Pillowcase
– Toiletries
– Warm clothes
– Charged OV-Chipkaart
– Debit card (so you can buy the new & improved EYPNL hoodie!!)
Location & travel
If you have not done so already, we highly recommend you download the 9292 app which will provide you with all the travel information and timetables you need.
If you are arriving on Friday, we recommend you travel to Utrecht Centraal, where you can take streekbus 381 in the direction of Driebergen via Austerlitz. Exit the bus at bus stop Austerlitz, KNVB Campus. From there it is a short 900 metres, 10 minute walk to the Accommodation. Walk back towards the large road, take a left on to that large road and then take the first turn right. Continue straight on that road for 600 metres until you reach the accommodation.
If you are arriving on Saturday, please travel to the train station Driebergen-Zeist. Please text your exact arrival time to +31 6 39233395 and call once you’ve arrived, so we can pick you up by car and drive you to the accommodation.
If you need help finding your way to the accommodation, please call +31 6 39233395.
Covid-19 & health
In order to guarantee a safe environment for all participants, EYP the Netherlands will ask you to take into account the safety and health of your fellow participants. Due to the relaxed guidelines, a Covid QR-code is no longer necessary to participate in this event. However, if you have any medical complaints before the event, such as but not limited to, a fever, dry cough, tiredness, aches and pains or loss of taste or smell, please remain home to protect the health of other participants. If you develop any of these symptoms and test positive during the event you are required to inform the Board and leave the event.
If you have any further questions or concerns about this event you can contact the HR Coordinator at [email protected] or +31 6 39233395.
Important links to continue your journey in EYP
Questions?
Contact Tim for inquiries about the Alumni Weekend, other events or EYP in general!
Tim van Woezik
HR Coordinator
Resolution by the Committee on Sustainabily Mobility (TRANS)
“Sustainable mobility refers to the development and subsidisation by states of modes of transportation that are less harmful to the environment, such as public transportation and cycling. Sustainable Mobility is considered one of the cornerstones of the European energy transition, and the EU recommends all cities develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) in order to achieve this goal. Considering its 2020 declaration on the role of bicycles as a safe alternative in urban mobility, what should the Benelux Union do to continue supporting Sustainable Mobility?”
Topic statement
De Assemblee
Vaststellende dat:
- Reizen per trein in de Benelux duurder is dan reizen per auto,
- Vrachtvervoer in de Benelux en de EU voornamelijk bestaat uit koolstof-intensieve vervoersmiddelen zoals vrachtwagens en boten, waar maar 7% van het vrachtvervoer bestaat uit treinen,
- Fietsveiligheid een obstakel vormt voor fietsen als vorm van transport in delen van de Benelux,
- Openbaar vervoer in de Benelux regelmatig logistieke problemen zoals vertragingen en storingen ervaart, waar gebruiksgemak een belangrijke factor is voor reizigers;
Vraagt daartoe de regeringen:
- Infrastructuur bouwprojecten op te zetten in steden in de Benelux, waaronder het aanleggen van autovrije wegen, fietspaden en zebrapaden;
- Het treinnetwerk tussen Antwerpen en Rotterdam te verbeteren, en aantrekkelijker te maken voor vrachtvervoer;
- Op stations in de Benelux meer informatievoorziening over internationaal treinverkeer aan te bieden;
- Communicatie tussen verschillende vervoerders te bevorderen.
Resolution by the Committee on Just Transition (CLIM)
De Assemblee,
Vaststellende dat:
- De overconsumptie van grijze energie (*1) in onze maatschappij drastische gevolgen heeft voor klimaatverandering,
- De fossiele brandstoffen sector negatief getroffen wordt door een overgang naar duurzame energie (*2),
- Het gebruik van openbaar vervoer in België en Nederland duur is, terwijl het openbaar vervoer in Groothertogdom Luxemburg sinds februari 2020 gratis is,
- Communicatie van energieleveranciers ontransparant is, wat bijdraagt aan fluctuatie van energieprijzen in de Benelux,
- De bevolking onvoldoende geïnformeerd is over de vooruitgang op vlak van, de maatschappelijke en financiële voordelen van, en eventueel foutieve opvattingen over groene energie (*3),
- Er een gebrek is aan communicatie en samenwerking tussen beleidsmakers en universiteiten over ontwikkelingen in duurzame technologie;
Vraagt daartoe de regeringen:
- Meer budget toe te wijzen aan duurzame infrastructuur met efficiënt energiegebruik;
- Omscholingsprogramma’s op te stellen en te subsidiëren voor werknemers in de fossiele brandstoffen sector;
- De belasting op het gebruik van auto’s en de subsidies voor openbaar vervoer geleidelijk te verhogen, met het streven naar gratis openbaar vervoer in de gehele Benelux;
- In dialoog met energieleveranciers te adviseren om consumenten te voorzien in een gedetailleerde kostenberekening;
- Een mediacampagne in te voeren over de voordelen van duurzame energie, die uitgezonden wordt op onder andere nationale televisie- en radiozenders, kranten en sociale media;
- Bijeenkomsten te organiseren waar beleidsmakers en academici informatie uitwisselen over onderzoek naar duurzame technologie.
*1: Grijze energie is energie die gewonnen wordt uit uitputbare bronnen, waaronder fossiele brandstoffen als gas en steenkool. Dit proces veroorzaakt ook het ontstaan van broeikasgassen.
*2: Bollen, A., Van Humbeeck, P., & Lamote, A. (2011). Energie voor een groene economie: hernieuwbare energie: hoe en waarom?
*3: Groene energie is hernieuwbare energie die niet vervuilend noch belastend is voor het milieu
Resolution by the Committee on Energy Market (ENVI)
De Assemblee,
Vaststellende dat:
- In de Benelux minder dan 20% van het energieverbruik hernieuwbaar is,
- Slechts 2% van de opgewekte energie in Europa gewonnen wordt uit waterstof,
- Waterstof tot nu toe voornamelijk gebruikt wordt in de industriële sector,
- 96% van het bestaande waterstof grijze waterstof (*1) is dat geproduceerd wordt met aardgas, wat leidt tot hogere CO2 uitstoot,
- Groene waterstof (*2) tot vijf keer duurder is dan aardgas, als gevolg van het complexe elektrolyseproces,
- Waterstoftransport een lage laadcapaciteit heeft vanwege de vereiste hoge druk;
Vraagt daartoe de regeringen:
- Belasting op groene energie af te schaffen;
- Meer budget toe te wijzen aan onderzoek naar en productie van bestaande en toekomstige groene energiebronnen;
- Belastingvoordelen te bieden aan consumenten die overstappen van grijze naar groene energie;
- Wetmatige restricties op import van groene waterstof te versoepelen;
- Een keurmerk op te zetten voor bedrijven die gebruik maken van groene waterstof;
- Meer budget toe te wijzen aan onderzoek naar efficiënte vormen van waterstoftransport;
- Pijplijnen die zijn aangelegd voor transport van gas om te vormen naar pijplijnen voor waterstoftransport.
*1: Grijze waterstof is waterstof die geproduceerd is uit fossiele brandstoffen.
*2: Groene waterstof is waterstof die geproduceerd is uit hernieuwbare bronnen, en is niet vervuilend noch belastend voor het milieu.
Committee Topic 1
Thios is an example