Issues Model European Parliament Boekarest 2022 - Hoofdinhoud

DEVE-Committee on Development

The question of the European enlargement policy for the Western Balkans.

The European Commission set a target of 2025 for Western Balkan EU accession. With negotiations underway with the candidate countries, however, ‘enlargement fatigue’ among member states has led to unnecessary delays. In the light of Russian, Chinese and Saudi Arabian infrastructure investments and ideological and political interference, how can the EU continue to foster economic and political stability as well as sustainable development towards meeting the accession target date?

ITRE - Committee on Industry, Energy, and Research

The question of the EU’s energy autonomy and conversion to alternative energy sources.

The European Union is still dependent on energy imports from non-EU countries. In the face of threats upon the global climate, the European Union is seeking means to counter this crisis, whilst aspiring to secure the demand for energy within the borders of the union. How can the EU attain self-sufficiency in the energy sector? How can the EU further the development of alternative energy sources and encourage the definitive transition throughout member states?

SEDE - Committee on Security and Defence

The question of defence autonomy and the establishment of PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation).

The European Commission has announced its initiative to consolidate its own military capabilities and raise cooperation on defence among the participating EU Member States to a new level. The objective is to jointly arrive at a coherent full spectrum of defence capabilities available to Member States for national and multinational (EU, NATO, UN, etc.) missions and operations. This will enhance the EU’s capacity as an international security actor, contribute to the protection of the EU citizens and maximise the effectiveness of defence spending. How can the EU develop interoperability of its forces with other international military organizations? What does PESCO mean to the foreign policy of the EU?

AFET/DROI - Committee on Human Rights

The question of homelessness.

Social exclusion across the European Union is following a declining trend, whereas inequalities persist, exposing less advantaged residents to various economic and social risks. Over the last two decades, several initiatives at the European Union level have helped include homelessness as an important topic in the EU agenda. How can the European countries work together in order to further solve this alarming issue? Moreover, what measures should be taken in order to eradicate this problem/matter? How can homeless people be helped from a social and financial point of view?

AFCO - Committee on Constitutional Affairs

The question of youth voting.

Considering that youth (18-25 years old) hold the lowest turnout at voting, the elected political class does not represent the new generation’s choice. For this reason, the phenomenon of youth electoral abstention awakens justified concern. Therefore, the matter at hand deserves to be examined in order to discover the causes and find ways to rectify it. With that being said, should adolescents be educated since young age of the importance of voting? Furthermore, should the voting age limit be lowered to 16 in order for the youth voting percent to be higher?

ENVI - Committee on Environment, Health, Public Safety

The question of the mental health during the Coronavirus.

As the coronavirus pandemic rapidly sweeps across the world, it is inducing a considerable degree of fear, worry and concern in the population at large and among certain groups. As new measures and impacts are introduced – especially quarantine and its effects on many people’s usual activities, routines or livelihoods – levels of loneliness, depression are expected to rise. How should the EU countries face this increasing problem? What measures should be taken in order to help all the age groups overcome anxiety and depression during these times?

CULT - Committee on Culture and Education

The question of higher education costs.

The share of the tertiary economic sector is increasing fast. Equally so is the growing demand for a growing well-educated workforce. With students from disadvantaged backgrounds half as likely to attend university or college, what can the EU and EU Member states do to increase the accessibility of tertiary education?

ECON - Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

The question of Digital Technology.

With more complex and intricate digital technological advancements, it falls upon the European Union to not only regulate any negative impacts to the Single Digital Market, but also to find a way to benefit fully from this digital transformation. How can the EU utilise new and future technologies to their utmost potential? How can it guarantee that the Single Market is fit for the digital age?

EMPL - Committee on Employment

The question of a rising shared economy and youth employment.

The growth of the collaborative economy has resulted in labour, union and pay protests. How should European countries regulate or accommodate shared economy business models such as Airbnb or UBER. Is there an opening for youth employment opportunities?

INTA - Committee on International Trade

The question of CAI’s impact upon the world trade dynamic (Comprehensive Agreement on Investments).

The EU and China have concluded negotiations and agree to the essential principles that both parties want reflected in the CAI. Such alignment sets the foundation for a strong development of international cooperation and for the increase of bilateral investments and may also boost EU economic growth, especially in the post-COVID-19 recovery period. However, China’s credibility in regard to upholding its commitments to human rights has been seen as a threat to the longevity of the CAI. What does the CAI mean to the world trade dynamic and to EU’s other trade partners? What measures should the European take in the light of vivid human rights violations perpetrated by its trade partners?