16th NSC Strakonice - Resolution Booklet

General Assembly of the XVI National Selection Conference, 23 March 2014, House of Culture Strakonice

PROCEDURE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

General rules: - The wish to speak is indicated by rwewaising the committee placard. - The authority of the board is absolute.

Procedure and time settings 1. Reading out the Operative Clauses 2. Defence speech (3 minutes) 3. Points of Information 4. Attack speech (3 minutes) 5. Response to the attack speech (1 minute) 6. Open debate 7. Summation speech (3 minutes) 8. Voting procedure 9. Announcing the votes

Point of information Point of information is a request for a brief explanation of the meaning of a specific word or an abbreviation.

Point of personal privilege Point of personal privilege is a request to repeat a preceding point that was inaudible due to technical reasons.

Point of order Point of order is used when the board has not properly followed the parliamentary procedure. The placard can be used by a chairperson only.

Direct response Each committee may use the direct response placard once per debate. Should a committee member raise the committee placard and the direct response sign, the board recognises the committee immediately. The direct response sign is used to express an opinion on the point made directly beforehand.


MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES,

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

With its recently adopted Recommendation for Roma inclusion in December 2013, the European Union seems more determined than ever to end the deep-

rooted social exclusion and human rights violations of its largest ethnic minority. What measures should the EU take in the future to ensure that Member States

would pursue the aims of this non-binding legal instrument?

Submitted by: Marek GERLE (Gymnázium Omská), Magdaléna HRABĚTOVÁ (Gymnázium Budějovická), Filip JIROUŠEK (Gymnázium Christiana Dopplera), Anna KREMLÁČKOVÁ (Gymnázium Brno-Řečkovice), Jana KUDĚJOVÁ (Gymnázium Písek), Kira LANGE (DE), Maxmilián SUP (Gymnázium Nad Kavalírkou), Anna ŠVECOVÁ (Akademické Gymnázium Štěpánská), Tereza TŘICÁTNÍKOVÁ (Gymnázium Pierra de Coubertina), Tereza VOŽENÍLKOVÁ (Gymnázium Dašická, Pardubice), Milana YANDIEVA (Chairperson, CZ), Maria KÖPPING (Chairperson, AT).

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Bearing in mind that the Roma’s situation is different in every Member State, resulting in varying problems and needs throughout the European Union (EU),

B. Welcoming the efforts of the EU Framework for National Roma integration strategies (NRIS)1 and the Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in the Member States2,

C. Deeply regretting the lack of political willingness to implement the Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in many Member States,

D. Deeply concerned about the negative attitudes and prejudices against Roma amongst European citizens,

E. Disturbed by the fact that Romanies continue to be victims of human rights violations and hate crimes and often face difficulties in reporting these criminal acts to the police,

F. Observing that Roma often live below national poverty lines and on the margins of society in their countries of residence,

1 The EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies (NRIS) was adopted by the European Commission in 2011 to set goals for Roma inclusion 2 The Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in the EU countries was adopted in December 2013 and gives guidance to help EU countries strengthen and accelerate their efforts. It is the first ever EU-level legal instrument, yet not a legally binding one, for Roma inclusion and focuses on the improvement in four areas: access to education, employment, healthcare and housing.


G. Alarmed by the high unemployment rate of Roma in Member States and the associated prevalence of informal employment,

H. Deploring the disadvantages that Roma children face in Member States’ educational institutions, such as:

i) segregation into special classes or schools,

ii) discrimination by teachers and peers;

1. Invites Member States to cooperate at an intergovernmental level in order to share their experiences with Roma integration and effectively solve problems;

2. Encourages the swift implementation of the Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in all Member States;

3. Recommends the European Commission to provide incentives for reforms in the field of Roma integration by refunding investments made by Member States where the Progress Report3 discloses improvements to the Roma’s situation;

4. Supports PROGRESS4 in its commitment to anti-discrimination and diversity and its efforts to raise public awareness;

5. Emphasises the importance of educating secondary school students about the advantages of a multicultural society by:

a) training programmes for teachers who would then pass on this knowledge to their students,

b) expert talks with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) officials;

6. Requests improving the visibility and accessibility of social assistance for Roma by establishing centres in Romani-majority districts, providing them with:

a) help with bureaucratic and legal issues in their country of residence,

b) assistance in reporting human rights violations and hate crimes to the police,

c) information about their rights on the labour market;

7. Expresses its hope for non-discriminatory allocation of social housing in Member States in order to eliminate segregation and increase Roma’s standards of living;

8. Proposes that Member States offer subsidies for companies employing Roma;

9. Further recommends that Member States employ more Roma in the public sector;

10. Endorses the provision of special assistance in schools for students in need of support;

11. Calls upon the Member States to eliminate segregation of Roma into special schools and classes.

3 The European Commission assesses national Roma strategies on an annual basis and reports on their implementation. 4 The Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS) is devoted to employment and social inclusion and runs in tandem with the European Social Fund. The programme covers five areas: employment, social protection and inclusion, working conditions, anti-discrimination and diversity and gender equality.


MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS

On January 1st 2014 Latvia became the 18th European Union Member State to join the Eurozone. Despite speculations against the common European currency and frictions between the oldest Euro area member states, newer EU Member States continue to press for membership. Should the Eurozone enlargement process be promoted or stopped? Which measures could the Member States take in order to

prevent another Greece?

Submitted by: Pavlína CHOŇÁKOVÁ (Gymnázium Písek), Jan ČAMAJ (Masarykovo gymnázium Plzeň), Nina DJUKANOVIČ (Gymnázium Jiřího Gutha-Jarkovského), Giovanni FANIN (Prague British School), Štěpán KOŠAN (Gymnázium Jaroslava Vrchlického Klatovy), Ariane LUESSEN (DE), Jonathan-Antonín MACHANDER (Gymnázium U Balvanu Jablonec nad Nisou), Adam MOTLOCH (Gymnázium Omská), Jakub PTÁČEK (První soukromé gymnázium Hradec Králové), Kryštof STUPKA (Gymnázium Duhovka), Bao TRAN THAI (Gymnázium Jiřího Gutha-Jarkovského), Willem KOELEWIJN (Chairperson, NL), Kateřina TLACHOVÁ (Chairperson, CZ)


A. Emphasising the benefits of the single currency for the economies of the Eurozone Member States, such as low inflation and a more competitive position within the global economy,

B. Aware that under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) all Member States, except Denmark and the United Kingdom, are obliged to adopt the Euro as their currency,

C. Reaffirming that Member States must meet the Euro convergence criteria1, commonly referred to as the Maastricht Criteria, as laid out in the TFEU, before adopting the Euro,

D. Fully aware of the suboptimal financial situation in which many countries wishing to adopt the Euro currently find themselves,

E. Convinced that during the process of accession into the Eurozone the long-term financial and economic stability of future Euro countries needs to be guaranteed,

F. Regretting the legal loophole in the TFEU that allows non-Eurozone EU Member States to refuse to adopt the Euro, originating from the fact that application to the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM-II)2 by Member States can only take place on a voluntary basis,

1 The convergence criteria, defined in Article 140(1) of the TFEU, constitute requirements of Member States with regards to price stability, government finances, exchange rates and long-term interest rates.. 2 The Exchange Rate Mechanism ensures that Exchange rate fluctuations between the Euro and other EU currencies are minimised to guarantee stability within the single market.


G. Further emphasising the importance of fiscal discipline of individual Member States for the overall economic stability of the Eurozone,

H. Believing that high government debts and deficits across the Eurozone were the result of poor governance at the national level, as well as fundamental flaws in the structure of the Eurozone,

I. Recognising that the Treaty on Stability, Cooperation and Governance (TSCG) authorises the European Commission (EC) to review Member States’ budgets, as well as to impose sanctions on Member States in the event of them not complying with the Euro convergence criteria or displaying an inadequate commitment to doing so,

J. Emphasising the need for a country-specific approach in the EC’s budget review process, due to the large deviation in the financial situations of governments across the Eurozone,

K. Observing that the Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP)3 is an essential means for the EC to influence long-term economic policies of Member States,

L. Convinced that a pan-European scheme for banking supervision is required to secure the long-term economic stability of the Eurozone;

1. Suggests a change to Article 140(1) of the TFEU that is to constitute the addition of a fifth criterion to the convergence criteria that is to require Member States to submit long-term economic policy strategies and long-term budgets for consideration to the EC and European Central Bank (ECB);

2. Calls upon the EC and the ECB to monitor the compliance with this additional criterion;

3. Proposes to give the Member States that are not in the Eurozone the one-off opportunity of opting out of the third stage of the Economic and Monetary Union, in which the single currency is to be adopted;

4. Endorses a change to the TFEU that will subsequently oblige all Member States of the European Union to join the ERM-II and therefore join the Eurozone;

5. Encourages the Eurogroup4 to negotiate long-term plans for stability and growth with prospective Eurozone countries in return for financial support, with the aim of accelerating the accession process;

6. Supports the measures agreed upon in the TSCG with the aim of ensuring fiscal discipline among Eurozone countries;

7. Encourages the EC to be lenient in disciplining those Eurozone countries not complying with the Euro convergence criteria who are suffering from major macroeconomic imbalances5;

8. Urges the EC to in return demand these Member States to formally commit to taking the recommended measures to reduce their debt and deficit;

9. Expresses its hope for reallocation of funds in future EU budgets to Member States that have recently joined the Eurozone;

10. Expresses its appreciation for the introduction of the Single Supervisory Mechanism.

3 The Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure is a mechanism that aims to identify and correct potential harmful macroeconomic imbalances. 4 The Eurogroup is the main forum for the management of the single currency, and constitutes of all finance ministers of the Eurozone. 5 Significant deviations from the normal values of the main macroeconomic indicators, such as current accounts, difference in labour cost, employment rate, public and private debt.


MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION

In January 2014 the new European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport, "Erasmus+", was launched, and one of the aims of the

programme is to increase the learning mobility of students. Is it time for the EU to call upon Member States to start a more determined harmonisation process of

their schools curricula? If so, which measure should be taken?

Submitted by: Anna DIDYK (Akademické Gymnázium Štěpánská), Jakub HAMEL (Prague British School), Tomáš HUBKA (První soukromé jazykové gymnázium Hradec Králové), Kateřina HŮLOVÁ (Gymnázium Budějovická), Petra KUBOVÁ (Gymnázium Omská), Jakub MRAKAVA (Gymnázium Voděradská), Tomáš PAUKNER (Gymnázium Christiana Dopplera), Jan ŠUBRT (Duhovka Gymnázium), Pavel TOMÁŠEK (Gymnázium Pierra de Coubertina Tábor), Kim Viktoria VAGEDES (DE), Zuzana VANÝSKOVÁ (Gymnázium Dašická, Pardubice), Zuzana HOLAKOVSKÁ (Chairperson, CZ), Erblin HOXHA (Chairperson, *KS).


A. Keeping in mind that educational policy in the European Union (EU) distinctively belongs to the domain of the Member States, which the EU can only support and supplement1,

B. Fully aware that attitudes towards the potential harmonisation of EU-wide educational policies differ vastly among Member States,

C. Observing that the harmonisation of educational policy is resisted on a national level by stakeholders, such as religious institutions and teachers’ unions,

D. Reaffirming that as a result of the cultural diversity amongst Member States certain educational subjects cannot be harmonised,

E. Aware of the wide discrepancies in educational systems across the EU including, but not limited to:

i) the mandatory duration of education,

ii) the accessibility of educational opportunities,

iii) teaching practices,

1 Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: ‘The Union shall contribute to the development of quality education by encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary, by supporting and supplementing their action, while fully respecting the responsibility of the Member States for the content of teaching and the organisation of education systems and their cultural and linguistic diversity’. Concrete examples of possible actions can be found in the text of the Article.


iv) the inclusion of vocational trainings, internships and other work experience in curricula,

F. Taking into consideration that students’ learning mobility, access to higher education and to the labour market is mainly impeded by:

i) the aforementioned discrepancies in the functioning and standards of Member States’ educational systems,

ii) the inadequate accessibility and standards of language education,

G. Deeply concerned that educational institutions and employers might not recognise graduation certificates from other Member States as a result of incomparable education standards across the EU,

H. Deeply regretting the unawareness of European students and schools of the educational opportunities offered by the EU through the Erasmus+2 Programme;

1. Recommends the Member States to revise the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union through the inclusion of educational policy in the shared competences of the EU3;

2. Encourages the European Commission to launch a directive, upon ratification of the treaty change, setting a common European educational framework to minimise the gap between the education systems among Member States;

3. Emphasises the necessity of the inclusion of vocational training, internships and other work experience in the secondary education curricula;

4. Encourages schools to designate time for students to do mandatory internships;

5. Expresses its hope for an increase in the number of native speakers teaching language courses;

6. Calls for the gradual harmonisation of teaching practices across the EU through the organisation of European education seminars, funded by the Erasmus+ programme;

7. Invites the European Commission to establish an additional EU-wide voluntary standardised graduation exam to provide a more objective method of assessment;

8. Calls upon European educational institutions to offer preparatory courses for the voluntary standardised graduation exam as a part of their curriculum to ensure the equality of students’ prospects;

9. Calls for further efforts in the promotion of the Erasmus+ Programme by:

i) broadening the scope of activities of national and local EU representatives4 in the field of education to organise seminars and provide schools with information packages;

ii) appointing one teacher per school as the point of reference for the Programme.

2 As an integrated programme, Erasmus+ offers more opportunities for cooperation across the Education, Training, Youth and Sport sectors and is easier to access than its predecessors, with simplified funding rules. 3 Shared competences are policy areas in which the EU has legislative authority. Member States can only act if the EU choses not to. 4 The European Parliament has an Information office in every Member State. Their role is to raise awareness of the European Parliament and the European Union and to encourage people to vote in European parliamentary elections. The offices also work closely with teachers and academic organisations and provide educational resources.


MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS II

The biggest man-made disaster of a generation: in light of the recent Geneva II Conference and the number of Syrian refugees registered or awaiting

registration eclipsing the 2.2 million with no end in sight, how can the EU facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people both in Syria and

abroad?

Submitted by: Maro ADAMOVIČ (Akademické Gymnázium Štěpánská), Fassih AHMAD (Gymnázium Voděradská), Radvan HAJ ABDO (Gymnázium Pierra de Coubertina Tábor), Růžena JIRSOVÁ (Gymnázium Strakonice), Carolina KÄLLNER (DE), Jan KOUTNÝ (Gymnázium Christiana Dopplera), Artem KRAVCHENKO (Gymnázium Omská), Tereza KRBCOVÁ (Gymnázium Jiřího Gutha-Jarkovského), Martina PLESNÍKOVÁ (Gymnázium Nad Kavalírkou), Anežka SECHOVCOVÁ (Gymnázium Jaroslava Vrchlického Klatovy), Ruslan YANDIEV (Prague British School), Anna HAGAROVÁ (Chairperson, CZ), Anna Clara ÖRTENDAHL (Chairperson, SE).


A. Alarmed by the serious impact of the conflict on the population of Syria,

B. Bearing in mind that the al-Assad regime is not in favour of finding common consensus by negotiations,

C. Emphasising that various states are providing financial and military support to the opposite sides of the conflict,

D. Noting with deep concern that the scale of the conflict has led to overcrowded refugee camps in neighbouring countries,

E. Fully aware that refugee camps filled beyond capacity leads to poor living standards among the refugees,

F. Noting with regret the lack of willingness among European Union (EU) Member States to accept the Syrian refugees,

G. Considering the danger faced by humanitarian aid organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) working in Syria;

1. Strongly condemns the violation of International Humanitarian Law by the Syrian government and the opposition;


2. Urges the European External Action Service1 (EEAS) to encourage negotiations between al-Assad and the opposition with the help of their respective allies;

3. Considers it crucial for the Member States of the EU to present a united and neutral response to the conflict;

4. Calls upon all the states associated with the Syrian crisis to cease providing military supplies to either side of the conflict;

5. Requests the NGOs to improve the situation in refugee camps by:

a) sourcing additional investment in order to increase the number of refugee camps,

b) maintaining the set standards in the already established refugee camps;

6. Recommends the European Commission to amend the Policy Plan on Asylum2 to:

a) simplify the bureaucratic system for acceptance of refugees and asylum seekers,

b) provide funding to hosting EU countries based on their economic situation,

c) implement measures targeting the unwillingness of some Member States to accept refugees;

7. Encourages NGOs to plan in the short term to relocate their workers from inside Syria to along and past the Syrian border;

8. Requests the holding of a conference concerning only the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people and the safety of the NGOs’ workers:

a) endorsed by the EU and held in a neutral location,

b) inviting all groups directly involved in the conflict.

1 The EU diplomatic corps working on behalf the EU and representing it as a whole. 2 Policy plan providing one of the road-maps for the Common European Asylum System, the set of EU asylum policies.


MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

The 2014 European elections represent a step towards ending the democratic deficit of the EU, given that political parties will nominate their candidates to the

post of European Commission President, who will be elected by the European Parliament. What other steps should the EU take to increase the role of its

Parliament and to eliminate the democratic deficit?

Submitted by: Iana CULIC (Gymnázium Jana Nerudy), Jakub ČEŠKA (Gymnázium Písek), Stanislaw GACKOWSKI (Gymnázium Christinana Dopplera), Tomáš JANČOŠEK (Gymnázium Duhovka), Tadeáš JINDRA (Gymnázium Dašická, Pardubice), Michaela KADLECOVÁ (Gymnázium Nad Kavalírkou), Martin KARIM (Gymnázium Jiřího Gutha-Jarkovského), Marek MARTINOVSKÝ (Gymnázium Omská), Michal PETROV (Gymnázium Voděradská), Simon RUDAT (DE), Martin ŠIMÁČEK (Prague British School), Tim BACKHAUS (Chairperson, FI), Dirk HOFLAND (Vice-President, NL).


A. Noting with regret that the European Union (EU) has a significant democratic deficit1,

B. Fully believing that democratic accountability is essential for the prevention of power abuse and corruption,

C. Convinced that the degree of the EU’s democratic legitimacy and accountability is dependent on both the EU’s constitutional set-up and the interest voters take in the EU and its legislative process,

D. Observing that the European Parliament (EP) is the EU’s only democratically elected institution,

E. Alarmed by the lack of transparency in the EU,

F. Recognising that the Ordinary Legislative Procedure2 is complex, inaccessible and difficult for citizens to comprehend,

G. Noting with regret that the EP is the least influential of the two institutions involved in the Ordinary Legislative Procedure,

H. Further noting that the European Commission (EC) is the only EU body that has the right of initiative3,

I. Taking into account that the EC has no obligation to propose legislation submitted by an European Citizens Initiative4 (ECI),

1 A term to indicate that an organisation or institution lacks democratic legitimacy and accountability to the citizens in the policy making process. 2 The legislative procedure of the EU, in which legislation proposed by the European Commission has to be passed by both the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. 3 The right to propose legislation.


J. Fully believing that the democratic legitimacy of the EU’s institutions is further reduced by voters’ general lack of interest in the EU and in the Ordinary Legislative Procedure;

1. Calls upon the European Council to amend the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in order to grant the right of initiative to the EP;

2. Urges the Council of the EU to publish elaborate minutes of its meetings in order to make its decision making process more transparent;

3. Further requests the European Council to amend the Treaty on European Union in order to allow the EC to dismiss one of its members by means of a vote of no confidence, subsequently to be ratified by the EP, so as to make them more democratically accountable;

4. Calls upon the European Council to amend the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU in order to oblige the EC to initiate the Ordinary Legislative Procedure when presented with an ECI;

5. Emphasises that in the Ordinary Legislative Procedure, all involved institutions have the right to amend proposed legislation, including in the event of a proposed ECI;

6. Recommends Member States to increase awareness on the EU through improvements of their national educational curricula;

7. Emphasises the importance of the upcoming European elections in May 2014.

4 A legislative proposal that requires at least a million signatures from European Citizens representing at least a quarter of the EU’s Member States before being considered by the European Commission, which is then obliged to give a response, but does not necessarily have to propose the legislation to Parliament and Council.


MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS

The digital sphere offers great potential for a new era in which creative and expressive activities will be at the heart of our societies, but it also calls for new

means of regulation of intellectual property. In light of the European Parliament's rejection of the ACTA Treaty in 2012, how should the EU act in

shaping a Copyright Reform that balances the cultural rights of the public, the protection of authors and the interests of publishing and production houses of all

sizes?

Submitted by: Bjarne PFITZNER (DE), Oldřich ŠUBRT (Gymnázium Duhovka), Sergej KURBANOV (Gymnázium Christiana Dopplera), Anna-Marie STEJSKALOVÁ (Gymnázium Jiřího Gutha-Jarkovského), Ondřej ŠTOGL (Gymnázium Nad Kavalírkou), Daniel MEDOVÝ (Gymnázium Omská), Jakub ČAPEK (Gymnázium Písek), Ivana MADEJOVÁ (Gymnázium Voděradská), Renáta CHALUPSKÁ (Masarykovo gymnázium Plzeň), Valeriya BOYKO (Chairperson, UA), Andreia-Gemma MORARU (Vice-President, RO).


A. Bearing in mind that internet surveillance is infringing upon human rights such as the freedom of expression and the right to privacy,

B. Observing that the decline in the profits of publishing and production companies is not exclusively caused by illegal downloading,

C. Convinced that most internet users are illegally downloading, instead of legally purchasing, digital products,

D. Aware of the difficulty of balancing the cultural rights of the public with the intellectual property rights of the publishing and production houses,

E. Noting with deep concern that the EU Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society contains provisions that are too ambiguous and incomplete with regards to:

i) peer-to-peer file sharing1,

ii) adequate and unified penalties for those violating the national copyright legislation,

iii) obligations of the internet service providers to the privacy of their customers,

F. Deeply concerned by the fact that illegal downloading is widely considered morally acceptable behaviour,

1 Eliminates the need for central servers, allowing all computers to communicate and share resources as equals. Music file sharing, instant messaging and other popular network applications rely on P2P technology.


G. Desiring the European Union to ensure that its copyright legislations is regularly amended to reflect and adapt to new developments in techonology;

1. Congratulates the European Commission (EC) for prioritising the reform of the copyright legislation in the digital sphere;

2. Calls upon the EC to submit a proposal for an EU Regulation on copyright in the digital sphere which would introduce:

a) the right of the creator to demand the removal of their copyrighted digital product from the individual websites within the EU jurisdiction,

b) the right of the creator to receive compensation from the those who illegally shared their work, proportional to the market price of the creation and the number of uploads and downloads;

3. Reaffirms that internet service providers are not allowed to disclose data of internet users, unless an investigation into the violation of copyright legislation is taking place;

4. Trusts the EC to establish a grant fund for the benefit of organisations that provide free access to information to the public, such as free online magazines, free Internet encyclopaedias and free online libraries;

5. Urges the European Network and Information Security Agency to ensure the creation and implementation of a quality label reserved for websites only using content for which they have the rights of use.


MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND

FOOD SAFETY

The human toll for poor air quality is worse than for road traffic accidents, making it the number one environmental cause of premature death in the

European Union. So far, many Member States are failing to enforce existing EU air quality standards, even though the rules are less rigorous than those set by the

World Health Organization. How can the new Clean Air Policy Package be implemented in the most effective way, in order to achieve the desired level of air

quality?

Submitted by: Dan AGER (Gymnázium Omská), Markéta BALÍKOVÁ (Masarykovo gymnázium Plzeň), Lucie BRICHOVÁ (První soukromé gymnázium Hradec Králové), Pascale CHEHADEH (DE), Kembe CHONA (Gymnázium Jiřího Gutha-Jarkovského), Marek GAWLIK (Gymnázium Christinana Dopplera), Nina KUBÁTOVÁ (Gymnázium Písek), Kristýna NĚMCOVÁ (Gymnázium Jaroslava Vrchlického Klatovy), Anna ŘÍDKÁ (Akademické gymnázium Štěpánská), Martin SLAVÍK (Gymnázium Pierra de Coubertina Tábor), Zdeněk VÖLFL (Gymnázium Budějovická), Václav HUK (Chairperson, CZ), Alastair PAYNE (Chairperson, UK).


A. Concerned with the current insufficient progress by Member States in implementing the Clean Air Policy Package1,

B. Realising the deficiency of international co-operation in addressing the threat of transboundary air pollution2,

C. Realising globalisation has lead to a huge increase in the commercial transportation infrastructure,

D. Keeping in mind the differences between Member States’ scale and nature of industry and agriculture, and their specific geographical conditions,

E. Deeply conscious of the disproportionate impact of further regulation on less economically developed Member States,

F. Fully aware of Member States’ heavy dependence on fossil fuels3,

G. Recognising the need for economic incentives to reduce emissions from the industrial sector,

H. Noting with regret the lack of media coverage and public awareness on ground-level air pollution in comparison to other environmental concerns;

1 The Clean Air Policy Package is a package of measures designed to improve air quality in the European Union 2 Transboundary air pollution is a particular problem for pollutants that are not easily destroyed, or react in the atmosphere to form secondary pollutant. These are cross boundary pollutants that can be generated in one country and felt in others. 3 Fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, that have been formed from the organic remains of prehistoric plants and animals.


1. Calls for the establishment of a new international protocol to be signed by Member States and introducing an emission trading scheme4 for ground level air pollutants and a framework for sharing and developing environmentally friendly technology;

2. Invites the European Commission to direct Member States to provide incentives for companies and organisations using less polluting resources and processes where such alternatives exist;

3. Requests the European Commission to set a target for improving access to and the promotion of existing funds designated for development of non-polluting technology;

4. Further invites the European Environment Agency5 to propose the introduction of an EU-wide standard brand awarded to businesses and organisations which reduce their emissions to a certain target to inform consumer choice;

5. Recommends Member States prioritise efforts to encourage their industrial and agricultural sectors into using fuels which do not contribute to ground level air pollution, and to improve the efficiency of existing processes where change is not currently feasible;

6. Encourages Member States to organise media campaigns to increase the exposure of ground level air pollutants in popular media and academic programs.

4 System for trading greenhouse gas emission allowances. 5 The European Environment Agency is a body of the European Union whose task develop, adopt, implement and evaluate environmental policies.


MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS I

Following the approval of President Yanukovich’s destitution by the Ukrainian parliament, Ukraine is now facing a difficult democratic challenge. Taking into

consideration the particularly strong Russian influence and interests in the country’s internal affairs, what should the EU’s stance be towards this new

Ukraine?

Submitted by: Petr HLADÍK (Masarykovo gymnázium), Tomáš FARNÍK (Gymnázium Pierra de Coubertina), Adam MATOUŠEK (Gymnázium Omská), Barbora HŮRKOVÁ (Akademické gymnázium Štěpánská), Helena NOBILE (Gymnázium Budějovická), Aneta ŠERÁKOVÁ (Gymnázium Voděradská), Kateřina KYNCLOVÁ (Gymnázium Jiřího Gutha-Jarkovského), Kristýna LESNÁ (Gymnázium Jaroslava Vrchlického), Alina GAGU (Gymnasium Oberalster, DE), Dominik NĚMEC (Gymnázium Pardubice Dašická), Petr PROCHÁZKA (Chairperson, CZ), Henok GHEBRENIGUS (Chairperson, NL).


A. Alarmed by the illegitimate annexation of the southern Ukrainian region of Crimea by the Russian Federation,

B. Fully believing the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation to be a violation of international law and treaties, the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances1 in particular,

C. Observing that perceived threats to ethnic Russians in Crimea and other parts of Ukraine have been used to legitimise this annexation,

D. Noting with deep concern that the presence of sizeable ethnic Russian minorities in other parts of Ukraine might lead to similar territorial expansions of the Russian Federation,

E. Realising that the rights and interests of all minorities in Ukraine, including ethnic Russians, should be respected,

F. Reaffirming its commitment to a sovereign and democratic Ukraine in which the wishes of the entire population are respected,

G. Declaring that any solution to this crisis must unquestionably guarantee the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,

H. Fully alarmed by the propaganda spread by Russian media, which has significantly deepened the crisis,

1 The Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances is a political agreement signed in 1994 by the United States of America, the United Kingdom and the Russian Federation. According to the memorandum, these three nuclear powers assured that they would, amongst other things, refrain from the use of force against Ukraine and respect its sovereignty within its borders, in recognition for Ukraine signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty and giving up its stockpile of nuclear weapons.


I. Bearing in mind that the EU’s political influence in the region might be severely diminished through an increase in Russian expansionist aggression,

J. Deeply regretting the growing disappointment amongst the Ukrainian population about the lack of support from the European Union (EU),

K. Emphasising the potential economic benefits of closer ties with Ukraine for EU Member States;

1. Recommends all diplomatic ties between Member States and the Russian Federation to be severed;

2. Declares accordingly that the diplomatic ties between Member States and the Russian Federation will be reinstated once the Russian Federation has expressed its commitment to a peaceful and acceptable solution;

3. Strongly confirms that only a solution which unquestionably guarantees the sovereignty of Crimea and the opportunity for the region to decide its own future would be satisfactory;

4. Considers decisive military action by Member States a necessity when confronted with further escalation of the conflict through increased Russian military expansion;

5. Requests the Member States to implement severe economic sanctions against the Russian Federation including, but not limited to:

a) restrictions on the import of Russian oil and gas,

b) restrictions on the issuing of visas and travel permits to all Russian nationals,

c) the implementation of travel bans and asset freezes for Russian officials vital to the political establishment,

d) restrictions on the economic opportunities for Russian state-owned companies;

6. Accepts the economic harm that will result from these sanctions as a necessity;

7. Recommends the rights and safety of Ukraine’s minorities, including ethnic Russians, to be guaranteed by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe2 (OSCE);

8. Trusts the Ukrainian government to hold parliamentary elections as soon as possible to ensure its democratic legitimacy;

9. Calls for the OSCE to continue its attempts to provide an impartial perspective on the situation in Crimea and determine the validity of the claims by the Russian Federation on the conflict;

10. Supports the deepening of economic and diplomatic ties between Member States and Ukraine, including the newly signed Association Agreement3;

11. Expresses its appreciation of the loans offered to Ukraine by both the EU and its Member States.

2 Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe has originated in 1975 and has been struggling for mutual cooperation and promotion of democracy in Europe ever since. 3 Association Agreement is one of the steps of integration in the European Community and has been signed by Ukraine on 21 March 2014.

The 16th National Selection Conference Strakonice is organised under the auspices of Mgr. Jiří Zimola, the Regional Council President of the South Bohemian

Region and in cooperation with the Town of Strakonice and the Cultural Centre of Strakonice.

ŘEPICESTRAKONICE

Projekt je podpořen Zdravým městem Strakonice na základě rozhodnutí občanů na VII. Fóru zdravého města

Documents

16th NSC Strakonice - Resolution Booklet