TABLE OF

CONTENTS
01
INTRODUCTION

02
HOW TO USE THIS APK

03
THE EUROPEAN UNION AND
OTHER
INTERNATIONAL BODIES

04
TOPIC OVERVIEWS

05
RESOLUTIONS
1.
 Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
With the recent lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing an exponential growth of people
experiencing anxiety and other mental illnesses, the number of people suffering from eating disorders
has ascended due to resorting to ways of coping such as excessive exercising and restrictive diets.
What can the EU do to ensure proper medical assistance and legislation?

The Present
Introduction
Eating disorders (EDs) present a behaviour characterised by unhealthy eating patterns which are
associated with various cognitive disorders such as anxiety, depression, or body dysmorphia. There are
many factors responsible for developing an ED, many of which include genetics, psychological, or
cultural influence. Even though there are numerous types of eating disorders, the most prevalent are
anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder (BED). Anorexia is the most frequent eating disorder,
defined by abnormally low body weight, which often comes as a result of bulimia, which is seen as a
vicious cycle of uncontrollable binge eating, followed by purging. BED presents an unhealthy coping
mechanism described as eating enormous amounts of food in short periods of time. Eating disorders
are usually developed and diagnosed at a very young age, globally affecting around 70 million people,
with women and transgender people being the most affected. It has been stated that eating disorders
haveincreased globally by 4.4 per cent between 2000 and 2018. This number has risen during the COVID-
19 lockdown. France was especially affected, by an increase of 30 per cent. Isolation, loneliness, and
emotional regulations tend to trigger ED symptoms, while lockdown conditions even worsen it.
Considering the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic, ED patients were usually denied treatment, except
for severe cases. While hospitals have tried to adapt to this situation and started offering online therapy,
patients are still sceptical of this method. People started exercising as a way to distract themselves,
which resulted in the rise of exercise hours to 7.5 hours per week. However, these numbers are not
certain considering the stigma and lack of information on the topic of eating disorders.

Stakeholders
● The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest non-profit organisation dedicated to
helping people who struggle with eating disorders. With prevention and support programs, they aim to
educate people on EDs, help them while seeking professional help and raise awareness of this issue.
Unfortunately, NEDA is currently located only in the United States, however, they do provide eating
disorder statistics for Europe.
● Ellern Mede is a group of specialists that offers treatments to young people suffering from eating
disorders. Ever since 2000, Ellern Mede has collaborated with dietitians and psychologists to provide
the best therapies for its patients. They also have schools inside the hospitals to supply their patients
with education in line with their treatment. Unfortunately, at present Ellern Mede hospitals are located
only in the UK and have a set age limit of 25 years old for its patients.
● The World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe (WHO) is the leading authority on medical
and health advice and is responsible for international and public health. The WHO has developed a
European Food and Nutrition Action Plan 2015–2020 to dramatically reduce the negative impacts of
preventable diet-related non-communicable diseases and malnutrition in every form, such as obesity
and starvation. Other significant research that the WHO conducted on Gender in Mental Health
emphasises the difference between the genders and the fact that widely available medical resources
are predominantly inadequate, and provide inaccurate information.
● The International Association Of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation (IAEDP) is a widely
recognised association, known for its high-quality education and training standards on an international
multidisciplinary level for professionals who treat the full spectrum of eating disorders. The association
hosts events such as annual conferences, online webinars, and virtual exhibits held by certified
specialists from the department.
● Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) is an academy formed to help physicians, psychiatrists,
psychologists,nutritionists, academic researchers, students, and experts through live experience and
collaboration with each other. The biggest event AED hosts is their annual International Conference on
Eating Disorders, which is a scientific conference that focuses on research and education from basic
science to forefront research in the field.

Measures already in place

The European Parliament’s earlier efforts
In early 2021, the European Parliament issued a Motion for a Resolution on the implementation of a
European strategy for the prevention of eating disorders among young people in the EU. The aims of
the resolution are focused on adopting new projects as a way of supporting the implementation of new
treatments for eating disorders caused or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and hoping for more
reliable information to be collected and provided to be able to implement more effective measures
regarding this problem.

Smartphone applications
In the past few years to a decade, multiple smartphone applications have been launched. Some of the
applications are exclusively focusing on those eating disorder patients, while some are also dealing with
mental health and wellbeing in general. In 2011, an application called ‘Recovery Record’ was launched.
It offers easy access to psychologists, therapists, counselors, as well as dietitians, and nutritionists. The
creators have stated that they were building the platform on decades of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
and self-monitoring research, and that the goal was making the application as accessible as possible
and helping those who need it the most. Another application described as ‘perfect addition to
professional treatment’ is ‘Rise Up + Recover’. It carries the ability of logging meals, tracking behavior
and emotions, as well as setting inspirational reminders. Furthermore, it is designed to help patients
find proper support and suitable professional treatment nearby.

French legislation
As France has always been one of the countries with the highest percentage of people enduring eating
disorders, the government introduced new legislation in 2017. As the Ministry of Health recognised one
of the biggest contributors to the problem is the modelling industry, lawmakers attempted to restrict
fake and unhealthy portrayals of people’s bodies and combat eating disorders. Some of the laws
required models to present a doctor’s certificate to employers that say they are healthy enough to work
based on a Body Mass Index measurement and demanded retouched photographs to be marked as
such. These laws were implemented to avoid false expectations, as well as to fine, and potentially
sentence those who administer pro-anorexia sites. The legislation was first suggested in 2015, but
accepted and put into action two years later in 2017. However, even despite their legislation, France
still had one of the biggest influxes of cases of EDs, which has been described as ‘critical’.

The Future
Key conflicts
Stigma and stereotypes around eating disorders Eating disorders can be manifested in numerous
ways. Refusal to eat certain foods, preoccupation with diets, and even frequent checking in the mirror
are some of the early signs of an ED. These actions are normalised in our society which leads to eating
disorders being neglected and mistreated. This kind of behaviour is followed by ignorance and stigma.
A shockingly substantial number of people still believe that eating disorders are of physical nature and
can be cured with ‘just eating’. One of the most common stereotypes around EDs is that they only affect
underweight women, completely denying the fact that 10 to 15 per cent of anorexia or bulimia patients
are in fact male. These harmful stereotypes also have a strong impact on the LGBTQIA+ and BAME
(Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) population, as research provided by ED charity Beat states that
minorities are hesitant to seek help. Considering the fact that over 50 per cent of ED patients have
anxiety disorders and over 20 per cent are prone to self-harm, these stereotypes are more harmful than
ever.

Expenses of therapy
Like any other mental health disorder, EDs are treated by therapy. There are various hospitals around
Europe dedicated to treating eating disorders, which offer different versions of therapy according to
one’s needs. The longevity of therapy depends on the patient and the type of disorder, but it can last
from a couple of months to several years. Because of this uncertainty of the treatment’s length, the
overall price of the therapy is under a question mark. While some hospitals offer treatments that are
fully or partially covered by health insurance, others require private payment. Research showed that in
Germany the average cost of an ED treatment can cost anywhere between EUR 1,300 and 5,300, while
the hospitalisation is around EUR 12,000. Research showed that people tend to think that EDs only
affect wealthy people, thus making the impoverished less likely to reach out for help.

Food for thought

● Considering the growing frequent usage of technology in healthcare, how can the EU improve and
popularise
already existing ED applications?
● What kind of legislation can the European Commission propose to prevent the rise of ED patients?
● Do you think therapy of any kind should be funded by the state?
● How can the EU make information about eating disorders more accessible to its citizens?

Essential Reading
Is Europe fighting against anorexia? - RoosterGNN (approx. 3 min read):
https://archives.rgnn.org/2015/12/21/is-europe-fighting-against-anorexia/

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

 Even though fair trials are fundamental to democracy, underfunded judicial systems limit access to
this right. What steps can the EU take to support Member States' judicial systems and ease access to
this right?

The Present
Introduction
When analysing key components of a democracy, the right to a fair trial stands out as one of the most
impactful ones. As set out in Article 6 and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the
right to a fair trial undoubtedly safeguards the freedom of the individual and paves the way for all
fundamental human rights to be enforced. The ability of courts and judges to perform their duties free
of influence or control by other actors results in a fair and adequate delivery of justice.
Conditions in which courts work are a crucial factor that affects the results of these institutions. While
the wages and salaries of judges and court staff represent the biggest share of the budget in most
Member States, investment into fixed assets such as court buildings and infrastructure is generally very
low, and even absent in some Member States1. Case backlogs remain a pressing issue in most
judiciaries throughout the EU, where despite many improvements being made since 20122, there are
big discrepancies between Member States with comparatively few pending cases and those with a high
number of pending cases. Backlogs and delays impair a citizen’s right to a fair trial.
“Justice delayed is justice denied”
- William E. Gladstone

Stakeholders
● The European Commission, in its role as the executive branch of the European Union, is tasked with
proposing legislation and ensuring the implementation of decisions. One of their primary principles is
human rights protection through political dialogue, economic diplomacy, and campaigns.
● Fundamental rights are a primary protected principle by the Council of Europe (CoE). Throughout
their daily tasks, they monitor and observe the implementation of the ECHR and the protection of
human rights in Europe and beyond.
● National Governments of EU Member States are one of the key stakeholders when upkeeping the right
to a fair and effective trial. Member States set the course for their national judicial systems by legislating
their structure, controlling the amount of funding provided to their budget and ensuring judicial
independence and impartiality.
● The European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) brings together the national institutions
in Member States of the European Union, in dependent of the executive and legislative branches. The
latter are responsible for supporting the judiciaries in the independent delivery of justice.
1

1
The 2020 EU Justice Scoreboard, Page 38
2The 2020 EU Justice Scoreboard, Page 19
The European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) is the principal platform and promoter for the training
and exchange of knowledge of the European judiciary. The EJTN represents the interests of over
120,000 European judges, prosecutors, and judicial trainers across Europe.
● The European Commission for the efficiency of justice (CEPEJ) aims to improve the efficiency and
functioning of justice in Member States, and the development of the implementation of the instruments
adopted by the Council of Europe to this end.

Key terms
● A judicial system is the entirety of courts and judicial authorities of a country or international
organisation.
● The right to a fair trial is a fundamental human right guaranteeing that any legal dispute shall be tried
openly and fairly in an independent and impartial court.
● The freedom of the individual is the absence of restraint on one’s ability to think and act for
themselves.
● Judicial independence is the ability of courts and judges to perform their duties free of influence or
control by other actors, whether governmental or private.
● Backlog is the number of cases pending to be heard before a court or judicial body.

Measures already in place

● The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms /European
Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is a legally binding European document that ensures the
protection of Human Rights and fundamental liberties in Europe. Article 6, Article 7, and Article 10 of
the ECHR set a solid legal framework to ensure a fair delivery of justice.
● The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is a legally binding charter that enshrines political and
economic rights into EU law. In particular, Article 47 of the Charter ensures the right to an effective and
fair trial.
● The EU Justice Scoreboard is an information tool that helps the EU achieve more effective justice
byevaluating the state and performance of justice systems all over the EU and keeping them
accountable.
● The Directive 2008/52/EC / European Mediation Directive is an EU legal document that contains
substantive rules to promoting mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism within the
EU. The Mediation Directive applies to disputes of a civil or commercial nature.

The Future
Conflicts
Independent judiciaries are a vital part of an effective, efficient, and fair justice system. Adequate
funding of the judiciary is a key factor in the performance of the judiciary and judges because it
determines the possibilities provided and the conditions in which the courts perform their functions. It
is a wide issue that includes fund allocation, but also the local and national management of resources.
This could worsen in times of an economic crisis, but a proper amount of funding should always be
available. In 2018, expenses related to the maintenance and the functioning of court buildings
represented on average only 8 per cent of the court budget.3

Understaffed judiciaries are also a permanent problem, even the European Public Prosecutors Office
(EPPO) is dealing with it. Having only four staff members to sift through three thousand cases, and with
around two thousand new cases expected this year, it is facing an insurmountable task.

The 2020 Justice Scoreboard has shown that the efficiency of the justice system has improved or
remained stable in11 Member States, while it decreased, often only marginally, in eight Member States.
A study carried out by the European Commission for the efficiency of justice in 2018 showed that on
average, Member States spend only 3 per cent of the court budget on equipment in the field of new
information and communication technologies.4

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, such as mediation, provide an adequate and legal
alternative to faltering judicial systems. Mediation can be defined as a structured process whereby two
or more parties to a dispute attempt by themselves, on a voluntary basis, to reach an agreement on the
settlement of their dispute with the assistance of a neutral and qualified third party (“mediator”).
Mediation is in most cases faster and less expensive than an ordinary judicial process and can provide
the same legal results.

Measures ahead
The European judicial training strategy for 2021-2024, a new strategy document of the EJTN, is built
upon 4 standards: addressing broad areas of EU law, providing a flexible response to existing and
emerging EU law training needs; This strategy includes:
● broad range of justice professionals enlarging geographical coverage and boosting judicial training
for young practitioners;
● using modern and digital training methods to guarantee high quality and effectiveness;
● judicial training between Member States, training providers, national and European justice
professions' organisations, and the EU.

What now?
● How can the EU most efficiently allocate its funding to judicial systems?
● What more action can the EU take to ensure that judiciaries throughout the EU have the proper
conditions to
perform their duties?
● Should Member States promote Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms instead of judicial
processes?
● What are some primary issues that independent judiciaries face?
Essential Reading
“Imagine a world without fair trials” - Fair Trials (1:30 minutes):
https://youtu.be/PgRq2LzJjxc
Justice in Europe, the problem with the judicial system in Europe - Fair Trials (approx. 1 page):
https://www.fairtrials.org/campaign/justice-europe
Right to a fair trial and what it looks like - Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights (approx.
half a page +
1-minute-long video):
https://www.coe.int/en/web/impact-convention-human-rights/right-to-a-fair-trial
Why The Right To A Fair Trial Is Important For Everyone - EachOther (approx. 1 page):
https://eachother.org.uk/article-6-why-the-right-to-a-fair-trial-is-important-for-everyone/
What makes a fair trial? - Tearfund (approx. 2 pages):
https://learn.tearfund.org/en/resources/footsteps/footsteps-101-110/footsteps-104/what-makes-a-
fair-trial
Article 6 and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights:
https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/convention_eng.pdf
 Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
Education as the foundation of equality: Despite the fact that education is considered as one of the
best tools for fighting inequality, the education system within a country can oftentimes be the very
reason for the persistence of social disparity. What measures should the EU take to contribute to the
improvement of school systems and thus creating more inclusive and equal societies in its Member
States?

The Present
Topic at glance
Education is the very basis of one’s intellect and it plays a fundamental role in creating a progressive
and prospering global society. All students ought to be provided with equitable and inclusive education
opportunities. However, reports made by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
have shown that schools can contribute to the already developed inequalities and even create new
ones. Research has proven that there is a persistent performance gap between wealthier and poorer
students across Europe. This results in not only disadvantaging already unprivileged students, but it
also fosters an unequal society, affecting long-term economic growth as well as social cohesion.

Stakeholders
Member States are responsible for building their own national curricula.
The Council of Europe issues non-binding recommendations to Member States on educational policies
that should offer guidance in the implementation.
The European Social Charter guarantees fundamental social and economic rights including human
rights related to education. It serves as a point of reference in EU law and is seen as the Social
Constitution of Europe, representing an essential component of the continent’s human rights
architecture.
The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) exams are a widely applicable indicator of
students’ academic performance, providing the general public with insightful data on education in
countries part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). They are
performed every three years and they measure 15-year-old students’ reading, mathematics, and
science knowledge.
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive
Education, together with the ministries of education of Member States, aim to improve educational
policies and develop education systems which would ensure that every student has the right to
inclusive and equitable educational opportunities. Students are the main social group of concern,
affected by the educational policies. Parents and teachers both influence the education environment
as well as the chances and opportunities of the students.

Measures already in place

According to the European Pillar of Social Rights as well as the European Convention on Human Rights,
‘all Europeans have an integral right to quality and inclusive education’. Furthermore, Article 14 in the
Charter of fundamental rights of the EU, which has to be respected by Member States when enacting
EU laws domestically, protects the right to equal access to education.
The EU cannot harmonise law in the area of education as it only has suggesting and supporting
competence in matters of education, for example through the Council of Europe. Every Member State
has its own national curriculum, a set of subjects and standards used for primary and secondary
education, which aims to ensure that all students of the country have the same knowledge when
concluding the course of education. Additionally, Member States are supported by the ET 2020
framework which intends to advance educational policy reforms at national and regional levels.

The Future
Key conflicts
While in theory school systems offer equality for all students, several factors play into educational
systems not being purely based on meritocracy. Studies have shown that students from lower
socioeconomic classes are more likely to suffer from educational poverty. The parents’ occupation also
heavily influences the prior knowledge as well as ambitions of their children. Furthermore, the SES also
affects the students’ learning environment due to bullying of students from lower income
Families. Social School Segregation: Students from similar SES attend the same schools, creating a
physical barrier between wealthier and poorer students. This influences the learning environment in
several ways:
• As most students have a similar background, there is no sharing of prior knowledge, which in turn
influences the students’ attitude and motivation towards education. School segregation also leads to
low education mobility, which impacts the trust students have in other socioeconomic classes and
increased tensions in the society of the country.
• The average socioeconomic composition of the students in a school affects the quality of teachers as
well as the interaction of the teachers with the students, who are likely to see socioeconomically
disadvantaged students as ‘less teachable’.
• Unequal funding on education depending on the school area leads to a gap of resources in schools,
influencing the performance of the students. Social School segregation creates a vicious circle, where
worse education leads to a lower income, which in turn leads to a lower SES, and therefore, less quality
education. To avoid this, families decide to move to another region to increase the chance of their
children attending schools with students of high SES and decreasing their educationalPoverty.

National Curriculum: While it aims to ensure that every student has the same knowledge, it leaves the
teachers little freedom to adapt the teaching to the learning needs of their classes.

Choice vs. Equality: Studies have shown that the more choices the students face on their educational
path, the lessequality there is among the education of the students. Nevertheless, many educational
systems highlight the importance of offering students a wide variety of choice, as it allows the students
to follow their fields of interest.

Measures ahead
On a European level, the European Education Area (EEA) is aiming for increased cooperation between
theEU and Member States to further enrich the quality and inclusiveness of national education and
training systems by 2025. Looking at individual Member States, Scandinavian countries have shown
smaller differences between socioeconomic groups than Mediterranean countries. Finland’s education
system is seen as the primary example of educational equality in Europe; all schools are equally funded
and the teachers, who all have a master’s degree, have the freedom to decide how they want to teach
the curriculum. However, the Finnish system is based not only on high taxes but also on a homogenous
society, meaning that most students have a similar environment and thus comparable prior knowledge
either way. Estonia, a country with a more diverse population, had the highest PISA scores of Europe in
2018. They go even further than Finland, making preschool for children of low-income families free,
whilst charging families that are financially more sustainable. They aim to make primary education
more accessible to everyone, by providing most resources as well as lunches. With the Tiger Leap
Project, they increased the digital mediums available, giving every student internet access. When
looking into solutions for educational inequality, one must keep in mind that education is historically
and culturally tied to a country, which is the reason that a solution that might work for one country is
not accessible to another.

Food for thought

● In which aspects can education be equalising?
● Would having a unified EU education system be a blessing or a curse?
● How can the educational system be led towards equality while maintaining choice for the students?

Further Reading
Education & training in Europe: inequality remains a challenge - European Commission (approx. 1.5
pages):
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_17_4261
Shared challenges in education and training (2020) - European Commission (approx. 2 pages):
https://ec.europa.eu/info/education/policy-educational-issues/shared-challenges-education-and-
training_en
Educational inequalities in Europe and physical school closures during Covid-19 (April 2020)- FAIRNESS
POLICY BRIEF
SERIES (approx. 5 pages):
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/sites/jrcsh/files/fairness_pb2020_wave04_covid_education_jrc_i1_1
9jun2020.pdf
PISA 2018: How are students doing? (approx. 5 minutes): https://youtu.be/btPwIxLiPV8
 Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET I)
"Democracy first?": After concluding a trade agreement last December, the relations between the EU
and China have diminished over serious violations of human rights of Chinese citizens. How should
the EU approach trading relations with its second biggest partner, while promoting fundamental
human rights for Chinese citizens?
The Present
Introduction
The European Union and China are two of the world's largest traders. China is the EU's second-largest
trading partner, and the EU is China's largest. As they trade more than €1 billion daily, this partnership
presents endless opportunities for the EU. Nevertheless, as the EU is concerned about China's political
and social developments, Chinese actions in these fields reflect the economic relations. Ever since they
joined the World Trade Organisation, China agreed to reform and liberalise its market. However, China
is still criticised for some matters, such as a lack of transparency and discrimination towards foreign
companies. In order to ensure better chances for its companies and investors, the EU started
negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) with China in 2013. By imposing
explicit obligations on Chinese state-owned businesses, the agreement would provide considerably
more just treatment to EU companies in the Chinese market.
The EU and China concluded in principle the negotiations last December. Nonetheless, the European
Parliament froze ratification of the agreement this May in response to tensions between the EU and
China over human rights.
In March 2021, the EU sanctioned China for their treatment of the Uyghurs minority5 and reports on
human rights violations, which some countries, such as the Netherlands, classify as “genocide”. In
response, China imposed counter-sanctions, stating that the EU’s actions “are based on nothing but
lies and disinformation” and “grossly interfere in China's internal affairs”. While the CAI is now on hold,
it may be approved if geopolitical difficulties are overcome. But where does the future lie for both
suppressed Chinese citizens and this trade partnership?

Stakeholders
● The External action service (EEAS) acts as the EU's diplomatic service. It is a network of over 140
delegations
and offices around the world that promotes and protects the EU’s values and interests.
● However, the European Council, which consists of EU member heads of state and governments, is the
EU's highest decision-making body in foreign policy. It determines the EU's overall policy goals and
direction, but it is not a part of the EU's legislative branch, meaning it cannot adopt EU laws.
● The European Commission (EC) is the European Union's executive body, which is in charge of
proposing legislation, enforcing EU laws, and overseeing the union's administrative activities. Its
Directorate-General for Trade is responsible for developing and enforcing EU trade and investment
policy.
● The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organisation, which sets out and executes
rules for
trade between nations. It offers a forum for negotiations, and it facilitates the implementation,
administration, and operation of Multilateral Trade Agreements. The EU joined the organisation in 1995
and China in 2001.
● In the United Nations and other multilateral fora, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's
Republic of China is the primary Chinese entity in charge of global and regional security, economic,
human rights, and other diplomatic issues. It concludes bilateral and multilateral treaties, manages
international judicial cooperation, and supervises or participates in significant foreign-related legal
matters involving China.
● When it comes to human rights, there are many non-governmental organisations, such as Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch and others, that report, advocate, lobby, and campaign on these
matters. Their reports are often cited and used by government officials.

Milestones of the EU-China relations

● 1975: The EU and China establish formal diplomatic ties.
● 1998: The first EU and China Summit takes place. The two sides agreed that stronger economic and
trade tiesbetween China and the EU are an important foundation for the continued development of
their relations.
Summits have been held annually since then.
● 2007: China becomes the EU’s second biggest trading partner.
● 2013: Negotiations start on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment. The EU investors that are
operating in China do not enjoy equal opportunities for transparency and fair competition as Chinese
companies operating in the EU. Additionally, to address this problem, the CAI aims for sustainable
development, including commitments by China to enforce the Paris Agreement obligations on climate
change.
● 2016: The EU adopts a new strategy on China for the next five years. The strategy calls on reciprocity,
fair competition across all areas of cooperation and China’s compliance with its international legal and
human rights obligations.
● 2019: The EU and China sign the Memorandum of Understanding on a dialogue in the area of the State
Aid Control and the Fair Competition Review. It aims to establish a forum of consultations and
transparency between the EU and China. One of the goals is to achieve a fair competition market.
● 2020: The EU and China concluded the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement on Investment.
However, an agreement is yet to be submitted for approval by the EU Council and the European
Parliament.
● March 2021: The EU sanctions China on the mistreatment of the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang
region.
● March 2021: China countersanctions several EU officials. The Chair of the Delegation for relations with
the People's Republic of China Reinhard Bütikofer says that China “sanctions the criticisms of human
rights violations” and that Chinese officials are of the opinion that “they should export the oppression
of free speech”.
● May 2021: The European Parliament passed a resolution to freeze ratification of the EU-China
Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) in response to Chinese sanctions on European human
rights advocates. The agreement requires ratification from the European Parliament before it could be
enforced.

The Future
Key conflicts
The United Nations said they had credible reports that 1 million Uyghurs are imprisoned in massive
internment and re-education camps. It is reported that Uyghurs have been exploited as forced labour
and that women have been sterilised forcibly. This comes with the fact that, based on the China
Statistical Yearbook 2020, the birth-rate in Xinjiang was just 8.14 births per 1,000 inhabitants last year.
These statistics show a drop of nearly 50 per cent from 2017, when the birth-rate was 15.88 per 1,000
people. People who escaped the camps additionally reported physical, mental, and sexual torture,
while women also claimed a mass rape and sexual abuse. Numerous nations and human rights
organisations have accused China of genocide against the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang autonomous
area. This resulted in the EU's first sanctions against China since 1989.
However, China has denied these accusations. CGTN, the Chinese state-owned media, reports that
“Xinjiang enjoys social stability, with the people living and working in peace and contentment”.
Moreover, China claims that Xinjiang camps are not detention camps, but education and training
centres, that are following international counterterrorism and deradicalisation standards. Their
Ministry of Foreign Affairs assures that the Uyghur issue is just a strategic conspiracy with an attempt to
disrupt China from within and contain China. However, EU officials are still not allowed to visit Xinjiang
province and see the truth. Furthermore, China has been accused of interfering with Hong Kong's
affairs. China and Hong Kong operate under ‘one country, two systems’, with Hong Kong having certain
autonomy and a more democratic system. However, China approved a national security law in 2020,
which aims at weakening the freedom of expression and other political and civil liberties in Hong Kong.
Thus, making anyone opposed to the Beijing authorities easier to arrest. In turn, hundreds of pro-
democracy activists and politicians have already been arrested. However, the EU failed to tackle the
situation, as Hungary vetoed a statement criticising China's new security law in Hong Kong.

Measures ahead
Despite these concerns, the CAI ratification is still possible. By this agreement, the European companies
would be granted better access to the Chinese large and fast-growing domestic market of 1.4 billion
consumers. The European Council president Charles Michel stated this June that the deal is a “huge
step in the right direction”. No matter, the question still remains, under what conditions should the EU
continue the talks with China on the agreement?
This June, Belgium became the latest of 4 EU Member States to have passed a motion which recognises
genocide against Uyghurs in Xinjiang region. However, the EU as a whole has not condemned the
Chinese actions as genocide. Could this be a path the EU and other Member States will follow?
Food for thought
● How should the situation in Xinjiang region reflect on the EU-China trade partnerships
What steps should the EU take to effectively support the Chinese citizens’ fundamental rights?
● How should the EU tackle the situation in Hong Kong, as its Member States are not united on the
matter?
● Should the EU exceed the sanctions against China?
● What does the future of the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment look like?

Essential Reading
The EU, China, and human rights in Xinjiang: Time for a new approach - European Council on Foreign
Relations (7
minutes read):
https://ecfr.eu/article/commentary_the_eu_china_and_human_rights_in_xinjiang_time_for_a_new_
approac/
The EU-China Investment Agreement - Into Europe (8:20)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtMIn9XzGqM
What is happening with the Uyghurs in China - PBS News Hours (approx. 3 minutes read)
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/features/uighurs/
Why are people protesting in Hong Kong? - Sky News (approx. 5 minutes read)
https://news.sky.com/story/why-are-people-protesting-in-hong-kong-117786

Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age (AIDA)

 "Solving the Trolley Problem": As self-driving cars become more widespread through research by
major technologicaland automotive companies, how should the European Union approach the ethical
dilemmas and possible humanrights consequences caused by this technology?

The Present
Introduction
On the 21st of April 2021, the European Union proposed a number of regulations regarding Artificial
Intelligence (AI). These directly opposed the common Silicon Valley view that emerging technologies
should be left alone by law. With this controversial legislation bringing forward both sides of the
argument on the regulation of AI, it poses the question: “Should Artificial Intelligence be regulated?”.
One of the biggest and most fascinating uses of Artificial Intelligence in today’s climate is the
introduction of selfdriving cars. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has stated that he is “highly confident that
the [self-driving] car will be able to drive itself with reliability in excess of humans this year”. With Tesla
being the pioneers of fully autonomous vehicles, questioning the ethics of a self-driving car seems more
paramount in today's climate. The “Trolley Problem”, first dubbed with this name by Judith Jarvis
Thomson in 1976, is a thought experiment involving hypothetical ethical dilemmas of whether to
sacrifice one life to save nothing, or do nothing instead. In this dilemma, a runaway train is speeding
down the railway tracks. There is a lever beside you. If you pull the lever, the trolley switches to a
different set of tracks. On the first track, there are five people tied up, unable to move. There is a
single person tied up on the other track. Your two options are either to do nothing and allow the train
to kill five people, or to pull the lever and be responsible for the death of one person. While this ethical
dilemma may make sense to a human, the same cannot be said for Artificial Intelligence. How can a
computer have ethics? And how can they decide in a situation such as this, who survives and who does
not?

Stakeholders
● The European AI Alliance is a multi-agency co-operative which holds open discussions on Artificial
Intelligence development and its impact on the economy and society. Their pro-AI stance allows them
to liaison with the European Commission in its work and assist in policy making.
● The European Commission is highly involved in the introduction and regulation of self-driving cars,
or Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM), which refers to autonomous cars. The European
Commission is supporting through developing policy, co-funding research and development projects
into self-driving vehicles, and creating legislation at an EU wide level, such as the proposal mentioned
above.
The High Level Group GEAR 2030 launched in January 2020, in an effort to ensure a coherent EU Policy
on
vehicles. The group made recommendations to ensure that the relevant legal framework is in place for
the rollout
of automated vehicles.
● The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) is an independent body that
advises the Commission on policies which include new technologies along with ethical and
fundamental human rights.
● The Fundamental Rights Agency is the agency responsible for providing advice to the institutions of
the European Union on issues which may affect the fundamental human rights of people in the EU.
● The Technical Committee on Motor Vehicles is a committee of the European Parliament which deals
with EU legislation pertaining to motor vehicles. This committee has been vocal in supporting the
introduction of legislation on self-driving cars.
● Industry leaders, such as Tesla and Hitachi have lobbied for the use of driverless cars in Europe for
many years. Large automotive companies have been trailing autonomous cars in California since 2017,
and have been vocal in continuing these trials in Europe.

Measures already in place

The aforementioned regulations regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence were the first steps taken by
the European Union on the regulation of AI and were the first pieces of legal framework seen globally
on this subject. It addresses the risks of AI and how Member States and the institutions can play a part
in developing safe infrastructure around distinct types of AI, including autonomous vehicles. Prior to
this, the European Commission published the EU strategy on connected and automated mobility on the
17th of May 2018. These guidelines consolidated legislation from individual Member States on self-
driving vehicles, and also aimed to “clarify to manufacturers what they can expect from regulators,
harmonise regulation with international partners and start a discussion on the necessary adaptation of
some national legislation for these vehicles (e.g., traffic rules)”.
The Letter of Intent signed in 2017 by 29 EU and EEA countries agreed to designate 5G cross-border
corridors across countries, where automated vehicles can move freely across borders in order to test
and demonstrate cross-border road safety and data access. This was first tested between France and
Germany in late 2016, where the two neighbouring regions of Lorraine and Saarland were connected
through a 5G partnership to test connected and automated driving. This first step indicated that current
automated driving technologies can prove to be successful under certain conditions and in safe areas.
The European Commission hopes to expand these corridors by 2030, while strengthening cybersecurity,
privacy, and the Internet of Things (IoT)6 technologies through future automated driving projects. There
are three more projects which are establishing 5G corridors over more than 1000km of highway across
six different countries.

The Future
Key conflicts
One of the biggest conflicts harbouring the widespread use of automated vehicles is the lack of
sufficient technologies in the car itself. The sensors seen in most current self-driving cars have no
visibility in bad weather conditions, bad roads, or damaged signs. The sensors are in one way the “eyes”
of the vehicle, and detect any
pedestrians, other vehicles, and obstacles on the road. Adverse weather conditions can disrupt these
sensors, leaving an automated car “blind”. For truly autonomous cars, these sensors would have to
work in all weather conditions. In July 2020, Tesla came under fire after a series of accidents involving
their self-driving cars. These accidents fortunately did not injure anyone, but without technologies that
are functional and can operate in all weather, selfdriving cars cannot be used in a widespread way. The
way in which this technology continues to learn is through machine learning 7. This means that as the
cars drive, they become more familiar with their surroundings and will learn where the obstacles and
disturbances are. This works in short safe journeys but may become more troubling
when travelling on roads which have not been ventured on before. As the system learns, it constantly
updates itself, and remains subject to software updates. In most cases, this would be safe, but a small
glitch or a bug could mean a major accident if not properly checked and regulated.

Although artificial intelligence has come a long way since its beginnings in 1956, it regretfully has
learned some of our worst impulses in recent times. Normally AI should sift through enormous amounts
of data and find the best outcome, but it is instead learning patterns relating to racism and inequality
from our past and present. When the data we put into the machine reflects the history of our own
society, we are also asking the program to learn our biases. This may affect the use of autonomous cars
through gender inequalities, such as a LinkedIn advertising program showing a preference for male
names in searches, or cases where image recognition has labelled certain Black and minority
demographics as those more likely to reoffend in AI-based risk assessment programs. If this translates
over into autonomous cars, it could cause huge damage to the public view of these vehicles, and more
importantly, cause human rights violations for those who feel oppressed by the bias these vehicles
have. Computers do not become biased without help from a human, and therefore, we need to find a
solution to stop the racial and unequal biases in these forms of Artificial Intelligence.

Due to the high number of cases where automated vehicles have crashed or injured someone, it will
take a long time for people to become accepting of fully autonomous vehicles. Social acceptability is
not only a problem for those buying a self-driving car, but also for those sharing the road with them.
Without public support for these cars, they will not be easily used on a widespread basis. Collaboration
with safety groups, regulatory groups and industry must take place in order to create safe conditions
for automated vehicles to travel on roads without problems. By 2030, it is predicted that one in every
ten vehicles on the road will be autonomous. With technology continuing to develop as major
technological companies race to be the first creator of a consumer automated car, the widespread use
of self-driving vehicles is becoming more likely. Without proper regulation, this is not an option, as the
safety of the road users and pedestrians is paramount in this argument. Widespread use of driverless
vehicles will lead to a reduction in carbon emissions, less traffic, and a new wide range of driverless taxi
options.

With this, comes the concern of safety. The “Trolley Problem'' is an ethical and moral challenge which
has been approached by many philosophers since its induction. Yet, no intellectual has been able to
produce a comprehensive and concrete solution to the problem. It has baffled many for years, yet in
some cases, a driver has made a decision such as this in a split second. The worry that comes with it is,
can a computer do the same? How can a computer think morally or ethically, and not in ones and zeros?
This, unfortunately, may become the biggest ethical and moral challenge of our generation.
Furthermore, what will it take to get public support for self-driving cars? With constant reports of
mistakes and glitches causing major damage by autonomous cars, what will turn the public view into
something more positive?

Essential Reading
Connected and Automated Mobility Policies - The European Commission (approx. 2.5 pages):
https://digitalstrategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/connected-and-automated-mobility
Self-driving cars in the EU: From science to reality - The European Parliament (approx. 3 pages):
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20190110STO23102/self-driving-cars-
in-the-eu-fromscience-fiction-to-reality
The ethical dilemma of self-driving cars - Patrick Lin/TED-Ed (4:15):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixIoDYVfKA0
The Pros and Cons of Self-Driving Cars - GCFLearnFree (approx. 3 mins):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2OU_lzsMdE&ab_channel=GCFLearnFree.orgGCFLearnFree.org
 Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
Going Green: Aware of the disbalance between European countries regarding green energy
development, what measures does the EU need to implement in order to ensure the equal level of
sustainable infrastructure among its Member States and accession states?

The Present
Introduction
It is safe to say that sustainable development is constantly growing in significance and being
implemented into every segment of our lives. In order to sustain the lifestyle that is considered normal
in modern society, making changes everywhere regardless of the borders is inevitable. In 2015, the
United Nations defined 17 Sustainable Development Goals that every country should strive towards
achieving an equal level of development everywhere. This is also known as the 2030 Agenda since the
original idea was to achieve all goals in the following 15 years. Renewable energy sources include wind
power, solar power (thermal, photovoltaic, and concentrated), hydro power, tidal power, geothermal
energy, ambient heat captured by heat pumps, biofuels, and the renewable part of waste. The use of
renewable energy has many potential benefits, including a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the
diversification of energy supplies and a reduced dependency on fossil fuel markets (in particular oil and
gas). In 2019, renewable energy represented 19,7 per cent of energy consumed in the EU-27, only 0.3
per cent short of the 2020 target of 20 per cent. Renewable energy will play a fundamental role in
achieving the EU’s energy and climate objectives. Not only is it abundantly available within the EU, but
it is also cost-competitive with fossil fuels. As such, it can help make our energy systems more affordable
and reduce the EU’s dependency on imported fossil fuels. It also has the potential to provide a range of
new jobs, create new industrial opportunities, and contribute to economic growth. The five EU
countries with the largest share of energy coming from renewable energy sources are Sweden, Finland,
Latvia, Denmark, and Austria.

Key actors
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has the role of
supporting stakeholders in delivering the European Green Deal through high-quality programme
management that helps to implement projects contributing to decarbonisation and sustainable
growth. Consisting of different departments, it covers areas of green research and innovation, clean
energy, sustainable economy, and networks, while also having one department for coordination,
evaluation, communication, legal affairs, external audits, administrative and operational finance, HR,
IT, and logistics. The European Commission aims to ensure coherence between industrial,
environmental, climate, and energy policy to create an optimal business environment for sustainable
growth, job creation, and innovation. To support this, the Commission has established an ambitious
agenda to transform the European Union economy into a circular one, where the value of products and
materials is maintained for as long as possible, bringing major economic benefits.
The Commission also supports the European industry in the move to a climate-neutral economy and
renewable energy systems, and improves the energy efficiency of products through eco-design
legislation. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to strengthen economic and social
cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between its regions. The ERDF focuses its
investments on several key priority areas, few of them being Innovation and research, support for small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the low-carbon economy. The International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries
in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international
co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource, and financial
knowledge on renewable energy. The IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of
all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar, and wind
energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security, and low-carbon
economic growth and prosperity.
The European Investment Bank helps finance energy projects by providing companies with loans and
other financial instruments. The EIB, together with the European Commission, launched the European
Investment Advisory Hub as part of the Investment Plan for Europe. The hub acts as a single access
point that provides advice and expertise on administration and project development across the EU. In
November 2019, the EIB adopted a new and more ambitious energy lending policy that aims to phase
out traditional fossil fuel energy projects by 2021.

Measures already in place

The European Green Deal is a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching
aim of making Europe climate neutral in 2050.
LIFE: Clean Energy Transition continues providing support to the delivery of EU policies in the field of
sustainable energy. The LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme has a budget of nearly EUR 1
billion over the period of 2021- 2027 and aims at facilitating the transition towards an energy-efficient,
renewable energy-based, climate-neutral andresilient economy by funding coordination and
supporting actions (Other Action Grants) across Europe. These are targeted at breaking market barriers
that hamper the socio-economic transition to sustainable energy, and typically engage multiple small
and medium-sized stakeholders, multiple actors including local and regional public authorities and
non-profit organisations, as well as consumers.
The European Climate Law is one of the key elements of the European Green Deal. The European
Climate Law enshrines the EU's commitment to the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas
emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is a key EU funding instrument that supports the development of
high performing, sustainable, and efficiently interconnected trans-European networks in the fields of
transport, energy, and digital services. The CEF enhances Europe’s energy security while enabling wider
use of renewables, and it facilitates cross-border interaction between public administrations,
businesses, and citizens.
The Future
Key conflicts
Although sustainable development is something that should concern everyone, it is understandable for
developing countries to be focused on fixing their economic and governmental problems. Something
else that poses a threat are mini hydropower plants, especially in the Balkans. Hydropower is only
renewable and sustainable at first glance, but not necessarily when it comes to endangering associated
natural resources. The influence of small hydro on the environment is not negligible, in fact, it is often
profound, and can cause permanent damage to watercourses.
Furthermore, surrounding habitats are destroyed during the construction process, and by directly
connecting several small hydro plants, the total effect on the environment is increased. Even the local
water supply is threatened. Not only are resources the local population depends on destroyed, but
locals don’t stand to benefit at all since profits are funnelled to investors, and the number of jobs
created is negligible. In late September 2018, the first European Summit on Rivers was held in Sarajevo,
where a declaration was adopted which entailed a list of demands to protect the last free rivers in
Europe, as well as to restore ecologically significant rivers. “Hydroelectric power plants are one of the
main threats to rivers”, states the Declaration’s introduction which, among other things, calls on the
European Commission, the European Parliament, the Energy Community, and European heads of state
and government to “stop promoting and financing small hydropower projects as sustainable energy
sources, and tighten environmental regulations”.
Another challenge for sustainable development especially in Eastern Europe is the lack of awareness
on the topic. Along with the lack of awareness comes lack of legislation, with little to no regulation
regarding construction standards, waste management, usage of renewable resources, and recycling.
Southeast Europe (SEE) has substantial, largely untapped renewable energy potential. Some countries
in the region have begun to exploit these resources, but the renewable energy sector in southeast
Europe is still in its infancy. Another challenge is constituted by popular opposition, especially from
those people that see the energy transition and consequent economic and industrial transformation as
a potential threat to their well-being and jobs. One of the key challenges to a successful energy
transition is the political commitment and will in Member States. European institutions and national
governments share competences on topics related to energy. Indeed, Member States were not keen to
leave such a strategic topic exclusively to the EU’s responsibility. Therefore, despite the
announcements and declarations, it can be said that there are different speeds of the EU energy
transition among Member States and hence different results. Italy and the United Kingdom (UK), for
instance, have seen an increased trend towards renewable energy transition with two different
approaches (Italy’s is more state-driven through feed-in schemes, while the UK’s is more market-
driven), while Germany and Poland have failed in the implementation (Germany despite its targets and
commitment, and Poland while expressing its opposition to the European goal of climate-neutrality).
Renewables that reach their end of life can be reused (through parts extraction or refurbishment),
recycled, disposed of in a landfill, or incinerated. In a circular economy, the preference is reuse and
recycling. While recycling is
commercially available, most products in developing countries are slated for landfill disposal because
recycling is challenging in both the complexity of extracting the valuable materials and the cost to do
so. Many renewable energy technologies are built to withstand the elements for decades, and they were
not built to come apart easily. This is a design problem: one that has been well covered with respect to
other types of electronic materials (e.g., laptops, smart phones) and one that has yet to be solved.
Regardless of these great challenges, the future of Europe, its societies and its external relations will
also be defined by the ongoing energy transition.

What now? / Food for thought

Even though Slovenia is a post-socialist country, it is doing incredibly well in the sustainable
development index, ranking 7th place in the EU according to the Europe Sustainable Development
Report 2020. What is Slovenia doing differently than its neighbouring countries and what could they
learn from it? Even though zero and low-waste movements are growing and significance all over
Europe, the government is not doing enough to meet the citizens’ needs and adapt to sustainability.
What can the people do to further implement these sustainable ways of living in the lives of those that
are not particularly inclined to do so?
Considering all problems mentioned above, with the main ones being pollution, lack of waste
management,legislation, and lack of awareness, what could the institutions and individuals do to
tackle these issues?

Essential Reading
A TEDx talk on Sustainable Business by Frank Wijen - Sustainable Business | Frank Wijen |
TEDxErasmusUniversityRotterdam
An article about Ljubljana becoming a zero-waste city https://zerowastecities.eu/bestpractice/best-
practiceljubljana/
The Good, Bad, and Ugly about Renewable Energy in Developing Countries
https://www.rti.org/insights/renewable-energy-developing-countries
In focus: Renewable energy in Europe
https://ec.europa.eu/info/news/focus-renewable-energy-europe-2020-mar-18_en
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Practicalities and Procedure .................................................................................................

Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)..
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Age (AIDA)...........
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET I)............................................
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) ........
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).
Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on culture and education (CULT) ..................................
 GENERAL PRACTICALITIES AND PROCEDURE
1. The Board is aware that delegates feel under a great deal of pressure during GAs, and willuse their
position to support and encourage them. Their focus lies on providing participants an
educational experience, discussing together, and exchanging ideas to facilitate different ways
to achieve an aim.
2. Any participant wishing to speak during the GA may only do so after having been
recognised by the Board.
3. The content of the points made by the participants must be related to the resolution under
consideration and must be brought in a respectful manner.
4. Any points made by the participants are delivered from the floor, unless stated otherwise.
5. Each committee is provided with a set of placards (abbreviation of the committee name, direct
response, personal privilege, order). When raising a placard, the placard should be upheld until
the recognised speaker is done speaking.
6. The committee name placard is raised when a member of the committee would like to
address the assembly.
7. The direct response placard is raised together with the committee name placard when the
committee would like to exercise their right to use the direct response. The use of direct
responses is not allowed to reply to an answer from the proposing committee after a round of
debate.
8. The personal privilege placard is raised to indicate that a member of the committee
cannot hear or comprehend what is being said.
9. The order placard is raised together with the committee name placard when the Board
violates this procedure. Only chairpersons can raise the placard.

Extended Procedural Explanation

1. At the beginning of each debate, a member of the board announces the name of the proposing
committee and the topic of the motion for the resolution. The Board might also give guidelines of
behaviour for certain debates.
2. The Board gives the Assembly two minutes to refresh their memory as to the resolution about
to be debated.
3. On behalf of the proposing committee, one or two speakers deliver the defence speechfrom
the speaking platform. The speech may last no longer than three minutes.
4. The Board grants the opportunity for the delivery of two position speeches. The board assigns
two minutes to each speaker to deliver a speech from the speaking platform. Position
speeches can either represent agreement or disagreement with the overall position/direction
that the motion for the resolution proposes. The speakers should approach these speeches
constructively, and, in the case of speeches in disagreement, explain their reasoning for the
disagreement and suggest alternative options that would have been more suitable, and why.
5. The proposing committee has the possibility to respond to these position speeches. One or two
speakers may use 90 seconds to respond on behalf of the proposing committee.
6. The board opens up the discussion on the motion for the resolution to the entire
Assembly. Any delegate can voice their opinion on the motion for the resolution.
a. Only one point at a time may be voiced.
b. Delegates express their personal opinion on the motion under consideration
 c. Every committee has the right to appoint a direct response to a delegate once or twice
per debate. The appointed delegate will be recognised by the board immediately as the
next speaker. The speaker has to directly address the last pointmade by the preceding
speaker.
7. A speaker of the proposing committee responds to the points made during rounds of debate.
The speaker has a minimum of two minutes to respond. The speaking time can beextended
relative to the number of points made or the complexity of the topics in discussion.
8. A member of the GA that is not part of the proposing committee is allowed to give a
reflection speech. With this speech, the speaker sums up what they learned from the
discussions and reflects back on what has generally been said.
9. On behalf of the proposing committee, one or two speakers conclude the debate with a
summation speech from the speaking platform. The speech may last a maximum of three
minutes.
10. The motion for a resolution is submitted to a vote by the Assembly. Each delegate has one vote
and votes in line with their personal opinion. A majority is required for a motion to pass. The
motion for a resolution is adopted when there are more votes in favour than votes against. In the
event of a tie, the motion fails.

Procedure

1. Announcement of and Guidelines on the Topic by the Board

2. Two minutes for the General Assembly to read through the Motion
3. Defence Speech by the Proposing Committee (three minutes, one or two speakers)
4. Position speeches (two times two minutes)
5. Response to the Position Speeches (two minutes, one speaker)
6. Two to three Round of Debate
7. Reflection Speech
8. Summation Speech
9. Voting procedure
 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT,PUBLIC
HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY (ENVI)

With the recent lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing an exponential growth of people experiencing anxiety and
other mental illnesses, the number of people suffering from eating disorders has ascended due to resorting to ways of coping such
as excessive exercising and restrictive diets. What can the EU do to ensure proper medical assistance and legislation?

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Bearing in mind the lack of awareness and stigma surrounding eating disorders (ED),
B. Deeply conscious of the disregard of mental health in schools1,
C. Deeply concerned about the scarcity of specialised hospitals,
D. Aware of the excessive costs2 of ED treatments and therapy in a considerable number of
specialised hospitals,
E. Noting with regret the distrust in the in-person medical system3 by potential and current ED
patients,
F. Further noting that a large number of ED treatments are not covered by health insurance4,
G. Taking into consideration the rising number of eating disorders5 during the Covid-19
pandemic, caused by isolation and excessive exercising,

1
A mental health crisis in the European Schools community. (n.d.). NewEurope.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/a-mental-health-crisis-in-the-european-schools-community/
2
Krauth, Buser, C. K. K. B. (n.d.). How high are the costs of eating disorders—Anorexia nervosa and bulimianervosa—For
German society? ResearchGate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8121212_How_high_are_the_costs_of_eating_disorders-
Anorexia_nervosa_and_bulimia_nervosa-For_German_society
3
Barriers and attitudes health professionals working in eating disorders experience. (n.d.).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6646967/
4
Blabanić Mavrović, J. B. M. (n.d.). Eating Disorders’ Treatment in EU & USA. Centarbea.
https://www.centarbea.hr/sites/default/files/ED%20treatment%20EU%20%26%20USA_2018_0.pdf
5
Brackley, P. (2021). Lockdowns may be linked to rise in eating disorder symptoms, ARU research finds. Cambridge
Independent. https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/lockdowns-may-be-linked- to-rise-in-eating-
disorder-symptoms-9191606/
H. Fully alarmed by the high mortality rates caused by EDs6, where one in five are suicides,
I. Supporting the initiative of Ellern Mede hospitals7,
J. Recognising the problem of set age limits8 for ED patients in Ellern Mede hospitals,
K. Realising the damaging body image interpreted in the media and modelling industry, as well as
harmful impacts of dietary supplements,
L. Emphasising the shortage of research9 on EDs in comparison to other cognitive disorders, such as
anxiety and depression;

1. Proposes to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to:

a) continue forming global campaigns,
b) incorporate the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) 10 in expanding their
services to minority groups;
2. Invites Member States to collaborate with schools to establish interactive workshops for both
students and teachers regarding mental health;
3. Endorses Member States to invest in more specialised hospitals for treating EDs, such as Ellern
Mede;
4. Asks the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG
SANTE)11 to cover ED therapy and treatments with health insurance;
5. Seeks non-governmental organisations such as but not limited to the International
Association Of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation (IAEDP) 12 to involve professionals as
volunteers for online therapy sessions during quarantine periods;

6
Single Care. (2021). Eating disorder statistics 2021. https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/eating-disorder-
statistics/
7
Ellern Mede. (2021). Eating Disorder Treatment Clinics | London Centres. https://ellernmede.org/
8
Ellern Mede corporate brochure. (n.d.). Ellern Mede. https://ellernmede.org/wp-
content/uploads/2019/12/Ellern-Mede-corporate-brochure-sept-19.pdf
9
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Spotlight on Eating Disorders.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/directors/thomas-insel/blog/2012/spotlight-on-eating-disorders
10
National Eating Disorder Association. (n.d.-a). National Eating Disorder Association.https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
11
Health and food safety. (n.d.). European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/health- and-food-
safety_en
12
International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals. (n.d.). Welcome to the International Association of
6. Further seeks for the IAEDP to fund training for nutritionists and include them in public
hospitals in all Member States;
7. Instructs the Academy for Eating Disorders13 to motivate Ellern Mede in further diversifyingtheir
treatments by offering services without age limitations;
8. Urges the WHO to examine deceitful dietary supplements on the market;

9. Suggests Member States to implement regulations following the example of France banning
malnourished models from the fashion industry14;
10. Requests DG SANTE to provide funding for further research regarding EDs

13
Academy for Eating Disorders. (n.d.). Academy for Eating Disorders. https://www.aedweb.org/home
14
National Eating Disorder Association. (n.d.). The Pros & Cons of France’s New Eating Disorder Legislation.
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/blog/pros-cons-frances-new-eating-disorder-legislation
 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY
THE COMMITTEE ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE DIGITAL AGE(AIDA)

"Solving the Trolley Problem": As self-driving cars become more widespread through research by major technological and
automotive companies, how should the European Union approach the ethical dilemmas and possible human rights
consequences caused by this technology?

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Bearing in mind the lack of testing and regulations regarding self-driving vehicles,
B. Aware that the implementation of self-driving cars will:
i. improve fuel efficiency by 73 per cent

ii. reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent

iii. save commute time by 50 per cent15,

C. Keeping in mind that 95 per cent of road traffic accidents in the EU are caused by humanerror16,
D. Concerned about the ability of Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM)17 upon being faced with
moral dilemmas in certain situations,
E. Recognises the need for legislation outlining:
i. the balance of accountability in accidents involving fully automated vehicles

ii. the legal consequences for the responsible body and retribution for the victims,

15
Robotics Business Review. (2019). Consumer Acceptance of Self-Driving Cars Soars, study says.
https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/unmanned/consumer-acceptance-of-self-driving-cars-soars- study-
says/
16
European Parliament. (2019). Self-driving cars in the EU: from science fiction to reality.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20190110STO23102/self-driving-cars-in-the- eu-from-
science-fiction-to-reality
17
Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) is a term which refers to self-driving cars.
 F. Conscious of the potential loss of jobs in transport caused by an increase in fully
autonomous vehicles,
G. Fully aware of the fact that there is a lack of trust18 towards fully autonomous vehicles;
H. Deeply alarmed by the possibility of fully autonomous vehicles developing prejudice against
certain groups and individuals,
I. Strongly supports the need for cooperation between governments and investors in
developing self-driving vehicles;

1. Urges the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies to further research on how
self-driving cars should act when faced with a moral dilemma;
2. Requests the European Commission to propose new legislation outlining:
a. the distribution of responsibility in case of accidents,
b. the legal consequences and remedies for those involved;
3. Calls upon the European Commission advised by the Technical Committee on Motor
Vehicles to set guidelines for testing and criteria that fully autonomous vehicles must meetbefore
being implemented by industry leaders;
4. Encourages Member States to ensure proper support, such as financial support and
upskilling, will be provided to individuals who lost their jobs due to the implementation of fully
autonomous vehicles;
5. Further encourages Member States to organise education courses for introducing the
digitally illiterate to new jobs regarding new age technology;
6. Affirms the need for industry leaders to oversee and prevent discrimination towards
minorities and at-risk groups by fully autonomous vehicles;
7. Invites Member States to support industry leaders on the research and implementation of self-
driving vehicles in order to prioritise safety and human rights over material gain;
8. Asks Member States to alleviate public concerns and reservations by organising educational
campaigns regarding fully autonomous vehicles.

18
World Economic Forum. (2019). Look no hands: Self-driving vehicles’ public trust problem.https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/08/self-
driving-vehicles-public-trust/
 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY
THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (AFET I)

"Democracy first?": After concluding a trade agreement last December, the relations between the EU and China have diminished
over serious violations of human rights of Chinese citizens. How should the EU approach trading relations with its second biggest
partner, while promoting fundamental humanrights for Chinese citizens?

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Taking into consideration that China is the EU’s second biggest trading partner19,
B. Aware of the fact that further sanctions between the EU and China could threaten the future of the
Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI)20,
C. Reaffirming the obligations that China as a World Trade Organisation (WTO) Member hasagreed
on, such as but not limited to fair treatment for all businesses and transparent trade21,
D. Deeply concerned by the reports that people in the Xinjiang region are subjects of mental,
physical, and sexual abuse, including mass rape22,
E. Alarmed by the mass sterilisation23 of the Uyghur population carried out by Chinese
authorities causing a drop of 50 per cent in birth rates since 2017,
F. Deeply disturbed by the islamophobic and xenophobic regulations24 of the Chinese
government which:

19
Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com). (n.d.). EU-China investment pact in jeopardy. DW.COM.
https://www.dw.com/en/chinese-sanctions-threaten-eu-investment-pact/a-56995389
20
The CAI is a proposed investment deal between China and the EU which would significantly open upChina’s internal
market to EU companies.
21
Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com). (n.d.-a). EU firms worried about China’s tough business environment.
DW.COM.https://www.dw.com/en/eu-firms-worried-about-chinas-tough-business-environment-trade-
tensions/a-44329737
22
BBC News. (n.d.). Who are the Uyghurs and why is China being accused of genocide?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037
23
China cuts Uighur births with IUDs, abortion, sterilization. (n.d.). AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/article/ap- top-news-
international-news-weekend-reads-china-health-269b3de1af34e17c1941a514f78d764c
24
Serhan, Y. (n.d.). China’s War on Uighur Culture. The Atlantic. Retrieved July 24, 2021, from
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/10/chinas-war-on-uighur-culture/616513/
 i) ban the Uyghur language in Xinjiang schools
ii) discourage practicing Islam
iii) destroy religious sites;

1. Invites the WTO to moderate trade agreement negotiations between the EU and China;
2. Further invites the WTO to report on China’s progress of implementing trade rules on
transparency and just treatment of foreign companies in their internal market;
3. Urges the European Council to assess and ensure a healthy partnership with China by
organising monthly meetings;
4. Asks the European Commission to not reopen talks about the CAI with China until the
demolition of the so-called ‘re-education camps’ has begun in the Xinjiang region;
5. Requests the World Health Organisation (WHO) to provide medical attention and free
healthcare to all Uyghur refugees in need;
6. Appeals the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) to
conduct reports on mass sterilisation in China,
7. Further appeals the UN Women to request access to information and entrance to Xinjiang
region;
8. Encourages the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to
increase awareness about the current situation in Xinjiang region by launching more media
campaigns.
 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY
THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS(LIBE)

Even though fair trials are fundamental to democracy, underfunded judicial systems limit access to this right. What steps can
the EU take to support Member States' judicial systems and ease access to this right?

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Reaffirming the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time set out by Article 6 of the
European Convention on Human Rights,
B. Deeply concerned by the inappropriate political interference in the distribution of judiciary
funding25,
C. Regretting the lack of transparency and guidelines on the distribution of funds within
judicial administrations,
D. Expressing its concern over the understaffing of courts and judicial administrations in
Member States26,
E. Aware of the lack of investment by Member States in court infrastructure and technology27,
F. Pointing out the discrepancies 28 between Member States’ judicial backlogs29,
G. Fully alarmed by the lack of accessibility to legal advice and sufficient information on
fundamental rights,

25
ENCJ - European Networks of Councils for the Judiciary. (n.d.). Funding of the Judiciary. ENCJ.https://www.encj.eu/index.php/node/254
26
European Commission. (2019). The 2019 EU Justice Scoreboard. Publications Office of the European Union.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/justice_scoreboard_2019_en.pdf
27
European Commission. (2018). The 2018 EU Justice Scoreboard, page 46. Publications Office of theEuropean
Union. https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/justice_scoreboard_2018_en.pdf
28
European Commission. (2020). The 2020 EU Justice Scoreboard, page 19. Publications Office of theEuropean Union.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/justice_scoreboard_2020_en.pdf
29
Backlog refers to the number of cases pending to be heard before a court or judicial body.
 H. Viewing with appreciation the advantages of utilising Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
mechanisms30;

1. Supports the further enforcement of the fundamental rights set out by the European
Convention on Human Rights;
2. Recommends Member States establish an impartial commission to
a) oversee the distribution of funding within the judicial system following the
Recommendation of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary31,
b) conduct expenditure reports of judicial funding;
3. Encourages Member States to create internship programmes for law students in courts and
judicial bodies;
4. Invites Member States to allocate more funding for court in both areas to improve efficiency;
5. Proposes the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary (ENCJ) to facilitate best
practices exchange on resolving backlogs;
6. Calls upon National Judiciaries to enforce judicial procedures that inform citizens of their
fundamental rights;
7. Further invites Member States to expand the school curricula to educate youth on their
fundamental rights during a judicial process;
8. Calls upon the European Judicial Training Network to extend their training and workshops to legal
aid workers throughout national judiciaries;
9. Suggests to the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) to examine
possibilities of expanding the usage of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.

30
European Union. (n.d.). Mediation in Member States. European E-Justice Portal. https://e-
justice.europa.eu/content_mediation_in_member_states-64-en.do
31
European Network of Councils for the Judiciary. (2016). Funding of the Judiciary - ENCJ Report. ENCJ.
 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY
THE COMMITTEE ON COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND
ENERGY (ITRE)

Going Green: Aware of the disbalance between European countries regarding green energy development, what measures
does the EU need to implement in order to ensure the equal level of sustainable infrastructure among its Member States and
accession states?

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Aware of the low accessibility32 of renewable energy units to lower-income citizens,

B. Noting with deep regret the lack of funding in the energy sector, resulting in
underdeveloped energy units,
C. Conscious of the lack of awareness about the importance of sustainable energy, caused by
inadequate education,
D. Deeply disturbed by death cases and injuries33 caused by malfunctioning components of
energy units,
E. Fully alarmed by the poorly executed hydro plant infrastructure significantly endangering
freshwater ecosystems and their surroundings34,
F. Bearing in mind the lower resistance of green energy units to extreme weather and their
proneness to malfunctions,
G. Deeply concerned by the negative environmental impacts of the weak waste managementand
disposal of renewables,

32
CEB, (2019), Energy Poverty in Europe: How Energy Efficiency and Renewables Can Help-
https://coebank.org/media/documents/CEB_Study_Energy_Poverty_in_Europe.pdf
33
Forbes, (2013), Forget Eagle Deaths, Wind Turbines Kill Humans -
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2013/09/29/forget-eagle-deaths-wind-turbines-kill-
humans/?sh=3d90ec555467
34
Heinrich Böll Stiftung Belgrade, (2018), Small Hydro: Harmful to everyone - except investors,
https://rs.boell.org/en/2018/11/08/small-hydro-harmful-everyone-except-investors
 H. Considering the examples of companies35 admitting to preferring paying a fine, rather than
implementing requested measures due to lower costs;

1. Suggests the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) 36 to financially support

developing countries and lower-income citizens by providing grants on green energy units
establishment;
2. Invites Member States’ Ministries of Infrastructure and Energy to promote solar panels as one of
the most profitable sources of renewable energy;
3. Encourages Europe Regional Development Fund (ERDF)37 to provide subventions for
research and development in the renewable energy sector;
4. Asks Member States’ Ministries of Education to introduce sustainable development into their
curricula;
5. Further suggests IRENA to organise workshops and events for additional education on
sustainability;
6. Recommends Member States to implement proper safety regulations and construction
standards following the example of the Buildings Performance Institute Europe Guide38;
7. Urges the European Commission to invest in less harmful, wildlife-friendly, hydro
infrastructure that needs to be kept away from agricultural produce and households;
8. Requests European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) to
conduct more research in the performance of the units;
9. Appeals to manufacturers to use more durable materials by reducing the number of
unsuitable ones, thus, overall reducing costs;
10. Suggests Members States’ Ministers of Environment to set higher fines for lack of
compliance with regulations.

35
The Guardian, (2017), ERM Power criticised for choosing $123m fine over renewable energy certificates -
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/25/erm-power-criticised-for-choosing-123m-fine- over-
renewable-energy-certificates
36
The IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable
energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a
repository of policy, technology, resource, and financial knowledge on renewable energy.
37
The ERDF is one of the main financial instruments of the EUʼ s cohesion policy. Its purpose is to contribute to
reducing disparities between the levels of development of European regions and to improve living standards in the
least-favoured region
 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY
THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT)

Education as the foundation of equality: Despite the fact that education is deemed as one of the best tools for fighting inequality,
the education system within a country can oftentimes be the very reason for the persistence of social disparity. What measures
should the EU take to contribute to the improvement of school systems and thus creating more inclusive and equal societies in its
Member States?

The European Youth Parliament,

A. Deeply concerned by the persistent performance gap between the top and bottom socio-
economic quintiles,
B. Taking into account that social school segregation causes further division between students from
lower and higher socio-economic backgrounds,
C. Taking into consideration that the students’ socio-economic backgrounds impact their
relationship to both other students and teachers,
D. Expressing its appreciation to Finland and Estonia’s successful efforts in bridging the gap
between students from different socio-economic backgrounds,
E. Observing that current education systems are oftentimes based on comparison leading to
division amongst students based on their academic performance,
F. Deeply regretting that national school curricula are less inclusive of students from lowersocio-
economic backgrounds,
G. Fully alarmed that teachers often do not have the resources nor qualifications to support
disadvantaged students,
H. Aware of the fact that unequal funding of schools is present primarily in the more socio-
economically disadvantaged areas of Member States;

1. Invites national ministries of education to introduce socio-economically diverse classes by

incorporating the socio-economic status as a criterion in the school registration system;
2. Recommends Member States to further implement more cooperative methods, such as butnot
limited to group projects in schools, for measuring students’ academic performance
3. Encourages Member States to take inspiration from the Finnish and Estonian education
system and match to the own countries’ situation;
4. Suggests the national ministries of education to reinforce a grading system in which exam grades
are accessible only to the student and the respective teacher;
5. Further invites the national ministries of education to implement a monthly class dynamics
workshop for primary and secondary students together with their head teacher;
6. Welcomes non-governmental organisations such as but not limited to the European Agency for
Special Needs and Inclusive Education and national ministries of education to raise awareness
about the education situation of disadvantaged students through media campaigns;
7. Further suggests national ministries of education to facilitate representation of minorities by
offering non-compulsory elective subjects, such as history and culture of said groups;
8. Urges Member States to incorporate mandatory seminars in teacher trainings on how to
support disadvantaged students in educative processes;
9. Appeals to Member States to direct their share of the European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF) towards their educational system with an emphasis on equal school funding.
CONTACT
INFO@EYPALBANIA.ORG
EYPALBANIA
EUROPEAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT ALBANIA