EUROPEAN FORUM PILSEN 2015

RESOLUTION BOOKLET

TABLE OF C ONTENT

Procedure of the General Assembly

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on International Trade
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Culture and Education
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Human Rights

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

PROCEDURE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

General Rules
The Board will recognise committees to speak when and only when their committee placard has been raised. The Board will
recognise all committees fairly and attempt to give each committee the same number of points, where possible. When
speaking during the open debate, delegates should refrain from making multiple points.
All points will be allocated at the Boards absolute discretion.

Procedure and time settings

Presentation of the Motion for a Resolution (by the Board)
Reading of the Operative Clauses
Defence Speech (3 minutes)
Attack Speech (3 minutes)
Response to the Attack Speech
Open Debate
Summation Speech (3 minutes)
Voting Procedure
Announcement of voting results by the Board.

Explanation of the placards

Point of Personal Privilege
Request for a delegate to repeat a point which was inaudible, for instance due to microphone failure.
Point of Order
If a delegate feels the Board has not followed the correct procedures of the General Assembly, they may request their Chair
to raise this placard.
Direct Response
Twice per debate, each committee may use their Direct Response placard to ensure they will be awarded the next point by
the Board. A Direct Response can only be used to refer to and discuss the point made directly beforehand. If there are multiple
committees wishing to make a Direct Response, the point will be awarded at the Boards discretion.

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

Explanation of Speeches
Defence Speech
One member of the Proposing Committee delivers the Defence Speech from the podium. It is used to explain the rationale
of the overall lines of the Resolution and to convince the Plenary that the Resolution is worthy of being adopted. This speech
can last a maximum of three minutes.
Attack Speeches
An individual Delegate from a Committee other than that proposing the Resolution at hand delivers an Attack Speech from
the podium. It reflects an individual opinion and is used to point out the flaws of the approach taken by the Proposing
Committee and should propose alternative solutions. The speech should disagree with the overall direction or aim of a
resolution.
Summation Speech
One or two members of the Proposing Committee deliver the Summation Speech from the podium; the microphone can
only be passed once. It is used to summarise the Debate and must contain both a summary and response to all the main points
raised.

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY

T HE C OMMITTEE ON I NTERNATIONAL T RADE
Considering the controversy surrounding the Transatlantic Trade and
Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the USA, how should the EU proceed with
these talks to ensure a set of measures, which benefit EU citizens as well as the
EUs economy?
Submitted by:

Paul GESLAIN (FR), Simon GUTSCHLHOFER (AT), Vclav MALINA (CZ),

Magali MEDINGER (LU), Luong NGUYEN (CZ), Sofie SCHRYVERS (BE), Kemal
SOMDAS (TR), Julia WODZISKA (PL), Milana Yandieva (Chairperson, CZ).

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Fully aware that the TTIP could boost the EUs economy by:
i.

creating an estimated 400,000 additional jobs,1

ii.

increasing the EUs overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 0.5%, 2

iii.

fostering international trade,

B. Having examined similar free trade agreements (FTAs), such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 3
and the USKorea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS),4 the outcome of which was less beneficial than initially
calculated,
C. Observing the lack of transparency of the negotiations, causing controversy and distrust of the TTIP,
D. Alarmed by the possibility of US companies taking advantage of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS),5
E. Deeply regretting the ongoing lobbying of enterprises during TTIP negotiations, potentially leading to the
prioritisation of firms interests over the interests of EU citizens;

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership The Economic Analysis Explained, European Commission, September 2013
ibid.
3
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a free trade agreement between the USA, Canada, and Mexico. (Office of the
United States Trade Representative)
4
USKorea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) is a free trade agreement between the USA and South Korea. (ibid.)
5
The Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a mechanism included in international investment agreements to ensure that
commitments to protect mutual investments are respected by involved countries. (European Commission)
2

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

F. Noting with regret the sparse involvement of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in TTIP negotiations,
G. Deeply conscious of the differences between EU and US legal classifications of:
i.

chemicals,

ii.

genetically modified organisms (GMOs),

iii.

hormonal growth promotants (HGPs),6

iv.

animal cloning,

v.

animal feed additives,

H. Bearing in mind the potential losses for EU companies caused by US companies occupying the newly opened market in
case of privatisation of public services in the EU,
I.

Concerned that EU workers rights and data protection standards would be jeopardised by a harmonisation of EU and
US standards,

J.

Recognising that the entrance of fracking products to the EU markets through TTIP, as well as potential fracking
activity of both EU and US enterprises, can result in damage to the environment;

1.

Recommends the European Commission to assign a team of experts to conduct further research on the potential
aftermath of TTIP by examining similar prior FTAs;

2.

Urges the European Commission to publish officially confirmed drafts of the TTIP mandate;

3.

Encourages leaders of trade unions and the Committee of Regions7 to register to attend the rounds of TTIP
negotiations;

4.

Further requests that in the case that an ISDS lawsuit is ruled in favour of a private US company, the compensation paid
by the EU Member States governments is:
a)

not higher than the initial financial value of investment,

b)

determined according to the importance of an investment for a concrete firm;

5.

Calls for ensuring the obligatory enlistment of TTIP lobbyists in the EU Transparency Register 8 by the European
Commission;

6.

Calls upon the European Commission to ensure that SME representatives from all Member States are present at each
round of negotiations;

7.

Emphasises that EU product standards should not be negotiated on unless US product standards are higher than those of
the EU;

8.

Trusts the set guidelines of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) 9 to determine the safety of US imported goods;

9.

Requests Member States to ensure only EU companies have the right to provide services in respective sectors in case of
privatisation of specific public services and during public procurement proceedings;

Hormonal Growth Promotant (HGP) is a supplement of natural hormones of oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone stimulating
growth. (Meat & Livestock Australia)
7
Committee of Regions (COR) is the EUs assembly of regional and local representatives.
8
EU Transparency Register is a list of EU companies and their respective lobbying interests. (European Commission)
9
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides independent scientific advice to member national authorities on existing and
emerging risks in food safety.
General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

10. Endorses that data protection and workers rights should not be included in TTIP negotiations;
11. Approves of the Member States freedom to decide on their own fracking policies, as well as the amount of shale gas
imports and exports.

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY

T HE C OMMITTEE ON I NTERNAL M ARKET AND C ONSUMER
P ROTECTION
New industry: The Sharing Economy is a modern phenomenon where
consumer choice has outpaced consumer protection legislation. How should the
EU respond to call for increased regulation on services such as Uber and AirBnB,
and should protections be put in place for incumbent businesses being displaced?
Submitted by:

Serena DIBARI (IT), Silvia GROTHE (ES), Nadja KANKARE (FI), Valentine Szita
MARSHALL (NL), Marketa OVECKOVA (CZ), Ben van de RUIT (NL), Ivan
SYSOEV (CY), Aline VERBEKE (BE), Adam WESTLAKE (CZ), Darya
Savishchava (Chairperson, BY).

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Bearing in mind that the sharing economy is beneficial for consumers as it enables access to goods and services at a
decreased cost and increased convenience compared to more traditional purchasing models,
B. Noting with satisfaction the reduced impact on the environment associated with reusing and recycling materials in this
way,
C. Believing that the explosive growth of business models based on the principles of the sharing economy are caused by:
i) the financial and economic crisis in 2008,
ii) digitalisation,
iii) decrease of consumer trust in large corporations,
D. Realising that regulatory differences for consumer-to-consumer (C2C)10 platforms in Member States make consumer
protection standards difficult to maintain,

E. Noting with concern that some activities of C2C businesses are not covered by current regulations imposed on
incumbents11 leading to unfair competition,
F. Keeping in mind that incumbents lobby for protection against the increased competition they face from C2C platforms,

10

Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) - a business model where two individuals transact or conduct business with each other directly and
privately.
11
Incumbent firms a company which is already in position in a market with an established market share
General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

G. Deeply concerned by the lack of clarity regarding provider and consumer liability in the event of harm or damage
arising during a C2C transaction,
H. Taking into account that the shared economy is based on trust, which can leave consumers vulnerable if online review
systems are abused;

1.

Suggests the European Shared Economy Coalition (ESEC) conducts research and provides a report on current
legislative frameworks in Member States to assess potential loopholes, best practices and possible issues for sharing
economy business models;

2.

Encourages the European Commission to cooperate with ESEC in creation of a common legislative framework for the
regulation of shared economy business models concerning:
a)

provider and consumer liability and safety,

b)

quality of the provided goods and services;

3.

Further appeals to the operators of sharing economy platforms to clarify provider and consumer liabilities in case of
damage or harm in the terms and conditions for the service;

4.

Urges the European Commission to initiate legislation that would legally define C2C service providers whose annual
income from the usage of C2C platforms exceeds the national minimum wage as sole traders 12;

5.

Calls upon Member States to impose the same tax and labour legislation applied to incumbents on users of shared
economy platforms;

6.

Advises operators of C2C platforms to implement more reliable online ranking systems for provided goods and services,
with provisions for:

12

a)

reviews for transactions that can be verified;

b)

official ratings by accredited state agencies.

Sole traders are individuals who are considered self-employed and responsible for all aspects of their business.

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY

T HE C OMMITTEE ON I NDUSTRY, R ESEARCH AND E NERGY
Topic: From Fracking to Fission: What energy mix should the EU and Member
States aim for in order to best meet the demand for energy security, whilst also
respecting environmental and economic concerns?
Submitted by:

Flore CORNU (BE), Ioanna DROUSSIOTOU (CY), Tamara Happ (NL), Filippo
LINZI (IT), Hoang NGUYEN (CZ), Ana REIS (PT), Michal SKLEN (CZ), Jul
Van den BROECK (BE), Francesco M. Delorenzi (Chairperson, BE).

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Alarmed by the current unsustainable energy mix in Europe and the impact it has on the environment,
B. Viewing with appreciation the EU taking a global leading role in the switch to cleaner energy resources,
C. Believing that converting to greener energy offers great potential to foster economic growth and create new jobs,
D. Noting with regret that the surge of energy subsidies is distorting the energy market and has caused increased
consumption responsible for 36%13 of the carbon emissions between 1980 and 2010,
E. Being aware of insufficient use of existing interconnecting technologies 14 which have a potential to provide a more
efficient access to energy,
F. Noting with deep concern the 15% decrease in energy production and 30% increase in energy import between 1990
and 2013 resulting in energy dependency and therefore forcing the EU to spend more than 1,000,000,000 per day on
energy supply15,
G. Disturbed by the fact that Russian state-owned energy corporations abuse their dominant market position and charge
the more energy-dependent Member States unjustifiable prices,
H. Concerned by a subjective lack of trust among EU citizens towards the safety of nuclear energy,
I.

Keeping in mind that extraction of shale gas through fracking has been forbidden in 5 Member States due to
environmental concerns;

13

The Economist January 2015

Interconnectors allow Member States with an energy surplus to channel their extra power to countries dealing with shortages.
15
EU28 Data Sheets 2015
14

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

1.

2.

Calls upon the European Commission to create a long-term plan on the EUs energy mix with the following criteria to
be included in the 2050 Energy Strategy:
a)

a minimum of 75% of the energy mix generated through renewable resources and nuclear power,

b)

a shift in the nuclear power generation from fission to fusion,

c)

a maximum of a 7.5% share of solid fuels such as coal,

d)

obligatory reporting of Member States on their progress towards indicated goals provided every 5 years;

Expresses its hope for the EU to take a strong position at the Paris Climate Change Conference in December 2015 with
a focus on:
a)

increasing household energy efficiency,

b)

reducing greenhouse gas emissions,

c)

encouraging the rest of the world to follow a similar framework;

3.

Recommends the European Commission to enforce a 5% annual decrease of energy subsidies;

4.

Encourages the European Commission to include the following components in the Energy Union strategy:

5.

6.

7.

a)

smart energy grids which comprise of high-tech interconnectors and upgraded storage facilities,

b)

a centralised coordination working group under the auspices of the Directorate General for Energy (DG
ENER);

Emphasises the importance of energy consumption sustainability achieved by:

a)

diversifying energy imports in order to reduce the EUs dependency on Russian gas suppliers,

b)

establishing further trade relations with other partners such the U.S., Norway and North-African countries,

c)

sufficient usage of domestic renewable resources;

Recommends that deficits in energy production could be met by the reintroduction of previously phased-out nuclear
power plants, while:
a)

stimulating further development of existing renewable resources,

b)

strongly focussing on further research of nuclear fusion,

c)

raising awareness about the beneficial nature and safety of nuclear energy;

Accepts the independent choice of Member States towards exploitation of fracking in their energy, but recommends
that where fracking is permitted, experts appointed by the European Commissions DG ENER should monitor the
process.

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY

T HE C OMMITTEE ON C IVI L L IBERTIES, J USTICE AND H OME
A FFAIRS
With the threat of mass surveillance, censorship and cybercrime looming, how
should the EU reform its legislation concerning the Internet, digital media and
digital communications, in order to protect the rights and liberties of its citizens,
whilst ensuring national security and continuing to foster economic growth and
innovation?
Submitted by:

Maria COSSI (IT), Hannah DELAHUNTY (FR), Michaela FRIOV (CZ),

Ceddrich GORDENNE (BE), Erik KOEKEN (NL), Aleksander ARSKI (PL),
Victoria Gil MARTINEZ (ES), Utkan Dora NCL (TR), Ada PAVEL (RO), Dennis
Patriarcheas (Chairperson, GR)

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Convinced that mass surveillance violates citizens' right to privacy, despite its contribution to national security,
B. Noting with deep concern the failure of legislation to keep pace with technology, in particular:
i)

the General Data Protection Regulation16,

ii) the Framework decision combating Fraud and Counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment 17,
iii) the ePrivacy directive18,
C. Fully aware of that differing national interests pose a barrier to creating a common policy on cyber security,
D. Fully supporting the implementation of EU citizens right to be forgotten19,

16

The General Data Protection Regulation is a single law unifying data protection within the European Union.

17

The aim of this framework decision is to supplement the measures already taken by the Council to combat fraud involving non-cash
means of payment. In particular, it defines the types of fraudulent behaviour that can be considered criminal offences punishable in all EU
Member States.
18

A directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications dealing with confidentiality of information, treatment of traffic data, spam and
cookies.
19
A right to have personal information deleted from a second party's databases.
General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

E. Deeply concerned by the amount of personal data and private information held by large corporations,
F. Bearing in mind that only a third of Europeans are aware of the existence of National Public Authority responsible for
protecting their rights regarding their personal data, 20
G. Noting with regret the low number of shoppers who feel safe making online transactions due to insecurities caused by
cybercrime21,
H. Contemplating the current technological inaccuracy to identify and target specific content to block, resulting in underor over-blocking,
I.

Expressing its dissatisfaction towards the potential abuse of personal data by large corporations who exploit data for the
purposes of advertisements and increasing prices for certain customers through the use of cookies22,

J.

Recognising the lack of sufficient information, awareness, and tools regarding the risks of using the Internet,

K. Deeply disturbed by the fact that net neutrality and the right to use the Internet are not implemented in the legislations
of all Member States,

1.

Calls upon the European Commission to initiate legislation harmonising data retention rules between all Member
States, prioritising the right to respect private life and the protection of personal data;

2.

Further encourages the enforcement of the aforementioned law by a brigade within Europol23 composed of agents
dispatched in all National Data Protection Authorities, imposing financial penalties for unjustified breaches of the law;

3.

Emphasises the importance of the creation of an EU Internet Charter by the European Commission, clearly stating EU
citizens rights regarding the Internet including:
a)

the right to be forgotten,

b)

the right to use the Internet,

c)

net neutrality,

d)

protection from cyber-crime;

4.

Urges the establishment of a multilateral Intelligence Codex for intelligence services by the Council of Ministers,
which would lay down rules concerning cooperation in order to fight terrorism and organised crime;

5.

Further requests that the Intelligence Codex data is used only for the purposes for which they were collected, in order
to ensure the citizens right to privacy;

6.

Recommends granting an authorisation to assemble a permanent team composed of legal specialists by the European
Commission, which would focus on adjusting the aforementioned law as the technology advances;

7.

Expresses its hope to achieve a single common legislation regarding cyber security in Horizon 2020;

8.

Encourages the enlargement of the European Consumer Centres 24 (ECC) scope of action by allowing citizens to
report any cyber-attack or privacy violation they are victims of;

20

Special Eurobarometer 359, Attitudes on Data Protection and Electronic Identity in the EU
Digital Agenda for Europe: Pillar III
22
A message given to a Web browser by a Web server, stored in a text file. The message is then sent back to the server each time the
browser requests a page from the server.
23
The Police Office of the EU.
24
The European Consumer Centres promote the understanding of EU consumers' rights and assists in resolving complaints about
purchases made in another country of the network, when travelling or shopping online.
21

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

9.

Further recommends the ECC to incorporate an assistance team that would assist victims and inform them about their
rights, the relevant authorities, and basic guidelines for safe use of the Internet;

10. Calls upon the European Commission to encourage the reinforcement of security measures during online transactions,
encouraging widespread adoption of PIN transaction security devices by banks25 and further development of two factor
authentication technology26;
11. Supports the inclusion of a research programme in the EU budget, which would improve the website-blocking
technology;
12. Recommends the Directorate General on Justice and Consumers to advocate the banning of cookies which are used to
increase prices of products;
13. Endorses the development the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA)27 initiative of European
Cyber Security Month (ECSM)28 by holding:
a)

workshops in Internet safety for all age groups,

b)

conferences for students;

14. Emphasises the need for the implementation of the ECSM at a local level and its long-term continuation with:
a)

EU-subsidised training sessions for web-users on cyber security,

b)

EU-organised seminars for enterprises;

15. Calls for the creation of sub-organisation within ENISA assisting victims of online crime and making citizens aware of
the importance and implications of cyber criminality;
16. Calls upon the ENISA to financially award online retailers with a high degree of cyber security, and allow the retailers
to promote this certification on their website;
17. Suggests the inclusion of a cyber-safety module in each Member States secondary school IT programmes.

25

Devices made available by banks to provide two-factor authentication when making transactions.
Two-factor authentication is a technology that provides identification of users by means of the combination of two different
components.
27
European Network and Information Security Agency works for the improvement of network and information security; its experts also
publish reports on the status quo and points for improvement and encourage cooperation between Member States.
28
European Cyber Security Month is a European Union advocacy campaign, which aims to promote cyber security among citizens,
change their perception of cyber-threats and provide up to date security information, through education and sharing good practices.
26

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY

T HE C OMMITTEE ON E CONOMIC AND M ONETARY A FFAIRS
In the aftermath of the Greek default and with rising tensions in the Eurozone,
how can the EU reform the legislation around the Euro, and what measures
should be taken in order to secure the future of the shared currency?
Submitted by:

Benjamin BIENERT (FR), Ana CHARLO (ES), Tor FRYER PETERSSON (SE),
Cansu KOLAY (TR), Michal KYTNAR (CZ), Marilena PAPACHRISTODOULOU
(GR), Roberta PISCITELLI (IT), Nicole TLASKAL (AT), Isaac VAARZON MOREL
(NL), Nicklas Kvamees (Chairperson, SE).

The European Youth Parliament,

Fiscal policy coordination and enforcement
A. Bearing in mind that fiscal integration in Europe through increased EU influence over fiscal policy 29 would:
i) increase coordination between fiscal and monetary policy30 within the eurozone, thereby increasing economic
stability,
ii) reduce an individual eurozone countrys ability to conduct unsustainable fiscal policy,
iii) further economic integration between Member States,
iv) stabilise the euro by dampening the effects of supply or demand shocks 31,
B. Further bearing in mind that fiscal integration, is problematic as:
i) Member States do not necessarily have the same political objectives, necessitating different fiscal policies,

Fiscal policy is a set of government spending policies typically conducted through altering spending or taxation. It aims to affect
unemployment and growth as well as stabilise the economy over a business cycle, by directly affecting the overall demand in the
economy, the distribution of income, and levels of investment and saving. Within the EU, fiscal policy is conducted individually by each
Member State though some coordinating agreements exist, such as the Stability and Growth Pact and the European Fiscal Compact.
30
Monetary policy controls the supply of money in the economy, primarily by setting interest rates and setting reserve requirements for
banks. Its aims are to maintain price stability maintaining low, stable inflation and stabilise the economy over a business cycle in terms
of growth and unemployment. Within the eurozone, monetary policy is conducted by the European Central Bank.
31
Supply or demand shocks are sudden, unpredictable increases or decreases in the demand or supply for a good or a service, and can
cause macroeconomic imbalances and instabilities.
29

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

ii) Member States ability to adapt fiscal policy to their country-specific problems is reduced, potentially breeching
the EUs principle of subsidiarity32,
iii) increasing EU influence over fiscal policy potentially threatens national sovereignty,
C. Having concluded that the inefficiency of the present-day form of European fiscal coordination is a result of the
insufficient enforcement of common fiscal provisions,
D. Further concluding that the reluctance to impose sanctions upon the 18 out of 28 Member States 33 which violate the
fiscal provisions set forth by the Stability and Growth Pact 34 (SGP) and the European Fiscal Compact35 (EFC) results in
widespread disregard for these provisions,
E. Fully aware that the EU undermines its authority on enforcing fiscal policy coordination by providing bailouts to
countries which violate provisions in the SGP and the EFC,
F. Concerned that some Member States prioritise short-term political goals over long-term economic stability, which in
many cases has lead to unsustainable public finances,
Assistance to distressed economies
G. Affirming the need to assess possible sovereign bailouts of Member States which already have received bailouts against a
different set of criteria than for Member States who have not,
H. Appreciating the founding of the European Stability Mechanism 36 (ESM), even though eurozone countries expose
themselves to a high financial risk when giving bailouts to distressed countries,
I.

Deeply concerned by the risk that bailing out countries with distressed economic situations might cause moral hazard 37,

Monetary policy
J.

Realising that the monetary policy of the European Central Bank cannot be sufficiently adapted to every individual
eurozone countrys macroeconomic situation,

K. Emphasising that successful fiscal integration can lessen the negative effects of the difficulties with adapting monetary
policy to suit each eurozone countrys specific macroeconomic situation,
Exclusion from the eurozone
L. Having considered the negative effects of excluding a country under severe economic stress from the eurozone,
including diminished trust in the monetary union,
M. Guided by the positive effects of excluding a distressed country from the eurozone, such as:

The principle of subsidiarity, as is defined by article 5(3) of the TEU, states that the EU shall only act if the objectives of the proposed
action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States [] but can rather [] be better achieved at Union level.
33
As of 2014, 18 out of 28 Member States were in violation of either the debt or deficit limits set forth by the SGP and the EFC.
34
The Stability and Growth Pact (SGP) is an agreement aiming to coordinate Member States fiscal policies, and includes provisions
limiting sovereign debt to 60 % of GDP and budget deficit to 3 % of GDP. The SGP has three main components: the preventive arm, the
corrective arm, and enforcement. Under enforcement, eurozone countries found not to comply with the preventive and corrective arms
of the SGP can be fined up to 0.5 % of GDP
35
The European Fiscal Compact (EFC) is largely a stricter version of the SGP signed by Member States except the United Kingdom,
Croatia and the Czech republic. Unlike the SGP, it binds only eurozone countries. In addition to the provisions in the SGP, the EFC also
requires its signatories to implement budget deficit correction mechanisms into national law
36
The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is a permanent emergency fund for lending money from capital markets in order to assist
countries with lending difficulties. Its capital is partly sourced from the eurozone countries and primarily from capital markets, and has a
maximum lending capacity of EUR 500 billion. It replaces the previous, temporary crisis resolution mechanisms the European Financial
Stability Facility and the European Financial Stability Mechanism.
37
Moral hazard arises whenever a party to an agreement has an incentive to act against the interests of others. For example a country, if
sufficiently convinced it will receive a bailout should it encounter fiscal problems, could be prompted to undertake excessive risks.
32

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

i) short-term devaluation of the countrys new currency, making the countrys export more competitive and in
the medium term boost its competitiveness,
ii) strengthening, unifying and stabilising the countries remaining in the monetary union;

Fiscal policy coordination and enforcement

1.

Declares fiscal integration through a European fiscal union not to be desirable;

2.

Expresses its conviction that the present-day form of fiscal coordination would be sufficient, if properly enforced;

3.

Affirms that Member States in strained economic situations should be subject to sanctions when not taking proper
measures towards achieving sustainable public finances as required by the SGP and the EFC;

4.

Supports the amendment of the SGP so that any country with an on-going Excessive Deficit Procedure may not take
part in a vote in the Council of the EU about imposing sanctions upon a Member State under the SGP;

5.

Stresses that Member States who apply for or receive sovereign bailouts ought to conduct comprehensive structural
reforms;

6.

Encourages Member States who breach the fiscal soundness criteria of the SGP and the EFC 38, to have representatives
from the European Commission observe and provide advice at national budget negotiations;

Assistance to distressed economies

7.

Reaffirms sovereign bailouts as a measure only to be considered when all other options have been exhausted;

8.

Calls upon the Board of Governors of the ESM not to grant ESM bailout funds to Member States who already received
bailouts but refused to implement agreed upon reforms;

9.

Urges the Board of Governors of the ESM to enter provisions into any future bailout agreements as to make bailout
funds paid out over an extended period of time, with later payments conditional upon the countrys successful
implementation of agreed upon reforms;

Exclusion from the eurozone

10. Further calls upon the European Council to initiate a treaty change amending the Treaty on the European Union
(TEU) in order to allow for a eurozone country, to be excluded from the eurozone via unanimous decision by the Euro
Summit, the country in question not taking part in the decision;
11. Affirms that a country that is excluded from the eurozone through the aforementioned procedure should be allowed to
re-join the eurozone only once it again meets the convergence criteria 39.

The fiscal soundness criteria of the SGP and the EFC requires all Member States to have a government budget deficit of no more than
3 % of GDP, and a government debt-to-GDP ratio of no more than 60 %.
39
The convergence criteria are the set of criteria that a country has to meet in order to be eligible to join the eurozone. The criteria are:
(i) price stability, (ii) soundness of public finances (budget deficit), (iii) sustainability of public finances (government debt-to-GDP), (iv)
exchange-rate stability, and (v) interest rate levels.
38

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY

T HE C OMMITTEE ON C ULTURE AND E DUCATION
How can the EU influence the education and training of its citizens, as well as
their job mobility, in order to ensure a balanced workforce that meets the
changing skill demands of the labour market?
Submitted by:

Beatrice GILUI (IT), Lukas ISCHLSTGER (AT), Stella Celine KIM (DE), Arnaud
LAUREYS (BE), Ji PALOUNEK (CZ), Pedro ROLO (PT), Ayla SENTURK (TR),
Bo van DAELE (BE), Anna WILK (PL), Margot Sulvic (Chairperson, FR)

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Alarmed by the lack of communication between educational institutions and employers leading to:
i)

a mismatch between competencies required by employers and those taught to the future workforce,

ii)

ineffective career guidance for students,

B. Keeping in mind that both geographical and occupational job mobility 40 are limited for workers by language
proficiency and issues concerning recognition of qualifications,
C. Deeply concerned by the reluctance of European citizens, notably Vocational Education and Training (VET) graduates,
to accept low-skilled jobs due to low wages and unsatisfying working conditions,
D. Aware of the increasing number41 of young Europeans Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEETs),
E. Noting with regret the lack of quality apprenticeships and internships in national educational systems,
F. Expressing its appreciation of dual educational systems, combining both theoretical and practical education,
G. Observing the lack of information on already existing European initiatives, aiming to encourage both job mobility and
alternatives to traditional education, such as the European Employment Services (EURES) and the European Alliance
for Apprenticeships (EAfA);

1.

40
41

Calls upon Member States to implement a minimum wage for low-skilled jobs to increase their attractiveness for EU
citizens;

Ability to work in another country or in a different position.

Eurostat December 2014

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

2.

Strongly encourages educational institutions and companies to improve their collaborative effort to anticipate the needs
of the labour market through improved communication and partnerships;

3.

Encourages Member States to implement specific programmes targeting the reintegration of NEETs into the labour
market by offering them additional education and providing help with job research;

4.

Strongly encourages the standardisation of university curricula throughout the EU in order to allow a systematic
implementation of the Bologna Process 42;

5.

Further recommends the implementation of dual educational systems in every EU Member State;

6.

Stresses the importance of increasing the number of internships in order to enable students to gain working experience
and increase their chances to find a job after graduation;

7.

Strongly recommends Member States to encourage additional education and training for already qualified people in
order to enable them to increase their range of competency and occupational mobility;

8.

Suggests the implementation of compulsory Information Technology (IT) classes for students to meet the changing IT
skill demand;

9.

Calls upon Member States to support the integration of workers from other EU countries through:
a)

language and culture courses,

b)

child and health care support,

c)

support in finding accommodation;

10. Draws attention to the importance of the promotion of EU initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee 43 through social
media, press, and other forms of advertisement.

42

Aiming to ensure compatibility between similar diploma in participating Member States.

Plan to ensure access to job, apprenticeship, traineeship or education for people under 25 years old, within four months of formally
leaving education or being unemployed.
43

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

M OTION FOR A R ESOLUTION BY

T HE C OMMITTEE ON H UMAN R IGHTS
With current migration mechanisms failing both for the vulnerable seeking
refuge and the Member States attempting to accommodate them, how should the
EU and Member States adjust their stance on refugees and asylum seekers in
order to fulfil their humanitarian duty to the people fleeing their home countries?
Submitted by:

Claire ANGELOPODOU (GR), Ins FRANA (PT), Alec LAMBERTS (BE), Ricarda
PFINGSTL (AT), Nikola RADULOVI (RS), Martina Doria SENDIL (ES), Eleonora
VILLA (IT), Luc VORSTEVELT (NL), Lena Strehmann (Chairperson, AT).

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Deeply disturbed by the circumstances which force hundreds of thousands 44 of people to leave their countries to seek
refuge, such as abuses of fundamental human rights, civil war, and extensive poverty in the refugees countries of origin,
B. Concerned by the high number of fatalities incurred by asylum seekers attempting to reach Europe by boat,
C. Taking note of the Council Directive 2001/51/EC45, which states that airlines have to pay for the journey back to the
illegal immigrants countries of origin if they are not given refugee status once they arrive in the EU,
D. Aware that this forces the use of dangerous and illegal transportation by boat, the cost of which is up to three times
higher46 than the cost of a journey to Europe by airplane,
E. Further noting with concern that due to the Council Directive 2001/51/EC, airlines do not risk transporting illegal
immigrants without a visa,
F. Noting with regret that the material reception conditions 47, as agreed upon in the Council Directive 2003/9/EC48, are
only provided in the reception centres and therefore not available for every refugee arriving in the EU,
G. Fully aware of the unequal distribution of refugees in the EU,

44

Al Jazeera News 2015.

The Council Directive 2001/51/EC supplements the provisions of Article 26 of the Convention implementing the Schengen
Agreement of 14 June 1985.
46
Foundation for Economic Education 2015.
47
Member States must guarantee certain material reception conditions, in particular accommodation, food, and clothing; in kind or in the
form of a financial allowance.
48
The Council Directive 2003/9/EC lays down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers.
45

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

H. Alarmed by the Member States failure to implement the agreements made in the Common European Asylum System
due to:
i)

the fear of the loss of national cultural values caused by the refugees influence,

ii) poor social integration of the refugees,

iii) citizens anticipating decreased job prospects as a result of the refugees becoming employed,
iv) the high costs of providing shelters and basic needs for the refugee incurred by Member States,
I.

Recognising the heavy administrative burden and the long processing time for asylum applications,

J.

Noting with concern the rise of anti-immigration political parties in some Member States;

1.

Calls upon the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to further engage in
the improvement of the political situation in the refugees countries of origin by developing diplomatic relationships
with the EU and these countries;

2.

Calls for increased patrolling by Frontex49 at the European coast of the Mediterranean to tackle human trafficking by
arresting smugglers;

3.

Further suggests the establishment of a database storing detailed information on every illegal immigrant, which is
collected by case workers at the airport of departure, in order to assess their eligibility for asylum once in the EU;

4.

Urges Member States and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to increase the number of reception centres at the
coastal areas and thereby provide basic needs and necessary material for more refugees as agreed upon in the Council
Directive 2003/9/EC;

5.

Further requests that Member States provide accommodation for refugees by repurposing empty buildings and
equipping them with electricity and water;

6.

Invites the European Commission to encourage the equal distribution of refugees among the Member States in
accordance with the criteria agreed upon in the European Agenda on Migration;

7.

Encourages Member States to provide educational programmes for refugees aiming to improve their social integration;

8.

Further recommends that Member States and NGOs establish a sensitisation campaign aimed at ameliorating the rise of
anti-immigration political parties, consisting of:
a)

seminars,

b)

school projects,

c)

an audio-visual media campaign.

49

Frontex promotes, coordinates and develops European border management in line with the EU Fundamental Rights Charter; applying
the concept of Integrated Border Management.
General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

General Assembly of the European Forum Pilsen 2015, 16. 8. 2015, Magistrt msta Plzn

THE EUROPEAN FORUM PILSEN 2015 IS ORGANISED UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF MARTIN ZRZAVECK, LORD MAYOR OF PILSEN
General Sponsor

Main Sponsors

Official Sponsors

Long-term Sponsors of EYP CZ

European Forum Pilsen 2015 is a project of European Youth Parliament Czech Republic