Category: Wageningen Regional Conference 2023

  • TRAN

    Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Transport and Tourism

    Staying on track: Cross-continent railway travel is an important goal in the European Commission’s mobility strategy, but European national railway companies are not yet a fully integrated network. Given the importance of climate-friendly travel, how can the EU create a reliable and integrated European railway network to make cross-continent railway travel more attractive?

    Submitted by: Amir Al-Badie (NL), Ernst van Iterson (NL), Pieke Jongejan (NL), Lisa Lubberman (NL), Aline Rudin (CH), Ahzahito Setyawan (NL), Laura Tudor (NL), Arthur Westerman (NL), Wobbe van der Woude (NL), Berre Wiels (Chairperson, BE)

    The European Youth Parliament

    1. Noting with deep concern that only 5,4% of all transportation is done using railways,
    2. Stressing the problem of variety in railways throughout the European Union (EU), by:
      1. having three main types of track gauges,
      2. using different voltages for each Member State,
    3. Referring to the difference of subsidisation in each Member State,
    4. Aiming to reach a positive effect through alternative approaches to rail liberalisation as in the aviation sector,
    5. Taking into account that the European Commission on mobility and transport have already set out a step-by-step strategy in the European Green deal to cut its emissions,
    6. Further noting the action plan set out by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) with the goal to make long-distance cross-border rail travel more attractive,
    7. Taking note of Germany’s successful implementation of the Deutschlandticket;
    1. Instructs Member States to improve their railway networks by:
      1. expanding the railroad infrastructure,
      2. increasing the capacity of freight and passenger trains,
      3. enhancing the direct connections between highly populated areas;
    2. Requests Member States to promote positive sides of rail transport by launching media campaigns;
    3. Calls upon Member States to adopt the Magrail system1 upon its availability in Europe;
    4. Instructs the European Commission to expand the mandate of the ERA to act as a connection and information hub, enabling the EU to divide its railway subsidies accurately across all Member States;
    5. Advises Member States to make train travel more accessible by:
      1. making train transportation cheaper through a removal of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on train tickets, 
      2. reaching an agreement allowing train companies to participate in cross-country travel within the EU to make it an integrated network;
    6. Urges the European Commission to execute the plans outlined in the European Green Deal2;
    7. Strongly encourages the European Commission to set minimum taxes for aviation fuels in order to make plane travel less attractive and decrease its environmental impact; 
    8. Invites Member States to encourage railway companies to offer a variety of memberships like the Deutschlandticket to keep these companies economically competitive while offering affordable prices to passengers.

  • LIBE II

    Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on
    Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs II

    Refugees (un)welcome: With the Council of Europe criticising the Netherlands over the treatment of migrants at the Ter Apel asylum seekers’ centre, the low and inadequate standards of refugee centres in Europe were again brought to light. How can the EU ensure conditions in such facilities uphold human rights and protect the dignity of refugees and asylum seekers?

    Submitted by: Sophie Baars (NL), Jente Goossens (NL), Farzan Jafari (NL), Mehrzad Joussefi (NL), Maria Nersisyan (NL), Leticia Torres (NL), Juliette van der Wal (NL), Rep van Venrooij (NL), Lisanne van Woudenberg (NL), Giada Chiassi (Chairperson, IT)

    The European Youth Parliament

    1. Acknowledging that the right to seek refuge from serious threats to life or freedom in a foreign country is granted by article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
    2. Deeply alarmed by the living conditions of asylum seekers in refugee centres across Member States,
    3. Pointing out that  life quality in refugee centres may worsen due to the rise of the migration flow as a result of events of various nature as:
      1. the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan,
      2. the revocation of Covid-19 prevention measures that had lowered the possibility of  cross the EU boards
      3. the ongoing war in Syria,
    4. Noting with regret the lack of international cooperation between Member States on the process of reception and resettlement of refugees in the European territory,
    5. Alarmed by the widespread of anti-migrant racism and discrimination linked to the rise of far-right parties and groups in Member States, 
    6. Disturbed that asylum seekers are more likely to experience serious mental distress due to their personal background and living conditions in the facilities, but less likely to receive psychological support, 
    7. Appreciating the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive to allow Ukrainians refugee to benefit the rights granted by the national social welfare,
    8. Appreciating the Cohesion’s Action for Refugees established by the European Commission to help Member States providing Ukrainian asylum seekers with emergency support;
    1. Emphasises to Member States the importance of Art. 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1;
    2. Requests the European Commision to advance life quality in asylum seekers’ facilities in order to improve refugees’ living conditions by:
      1. building more reception centres,
      2. ensuring reception centres are adequately staffed,
      3. decreasing the number of refugees per facility,
      4. increasing the care and attention to the individual;
    3. Recommends the European Commission to allocate funds from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund 2 to Member States for the creation of emergency shelters to provide basic needs and immediate accommodation in case of future sudden inflows of refugees;
    4. Calls upon the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) to reallocate asylum seekers between Member States based on criterias of proportionality between size, economic stability, and population, repealing the Dublin Regulation3;
    5. Encourages Member States to create regional forums to strengthen cooperation between neighbouring nations in the reception of refugees, following the example of the European Parliament’s European Migration Forum4;
    6. Invites Member States to raise awareness among their citizens on the reception crisis and asylum seekers’ living conditions through media campaigns and in schools’ curricula;
    7. Urges Member States to safeguard refugees’ mental health by ensuring asylum seekers’ centres provide psychological help to refugees hosted there; 
    8. Advises Member States to fund long-term projects to help refugees in the transition from refugee centres to independent housing with the support of social counsellors; 
    9. Asks DG HOME to enlarge the Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe5to transform it into a long-term project.

  • LIBE I

    Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on
    Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs I

    Rainbow families: this year, Slovenia became the 14th EU Member State to allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt. However, obstacles to full equality remain in other EU countries. How should the EU act to further the fundamental right of its LGBTQIA+ citizens to marry and start a family?

    Submitted by: Wessel Adelaar (NL), Marcel Herbert (NL), Nikkie Hollander (NL), Hilde Jansen (NL), Evy Jiang (NL), Emily Laur (NL), Evy Minnaar (NL), Cas Sprock (NL), Maresa Uenk (NL), Alice Maffoni (Chairperson, IT)

    The European Youth Parliament

    1. Emphasising Article 12 and Article 14 of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which protect the right to marry and found family for all EU citizens without discrimination, 
    2. Noting with deep concern that only 21 out of 27 EU Member States provide a legal framework for same-sex couples,
    3. Alarmed by the difference of the LGBTQ+  family rights’ recognition between the Member States, 
    4. Keeping in mind that the Member States have jurisdiction over the civil rights granted to their citizens such as the right to adoption and the use of assisted reproductive treatments, 
    5. Deeply concerned that 9 EU Member States prohibit adoption for same-sex couples,
    6. Recognising the work done by the European Court of Justice which recognised
      1. the gender-neutral recognition of the word “spouse” in the EU legislation,
      2. the freedom of movement for same-sex couples throughout the EU,
      3. the legal validity of birth certificates of same-sex couples’ children in each Member State, 
    7. Aware that the ECHR ruled that where adoption is available for single parents, same-sex parents cannot be discriminated against, 
    8. Having examined the fragile process for same-sex couples adoption which shows multiple discrepancies between the states’ requirements for parenthood and international adoption;
    1. Calls upon the Council of Europe’s members to introduce an amendment to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) expanding the right to marry provided by Article 12 explicitly to every citizen; 
    2. Strongly urges Member States to align their legal framework on marriage and adoption to extend these rights to same-sex couples; 
    3. Directs the European Commission to use the gender-neutral word spouse1 in all EU official documents to include every married individual;
    4. Invites Member States to advance the normalisation of rainbow families by ensuring families in all their diversity are represented in educational material; 
    5. Reminds states to respect the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling to ensure the right to adopt for same-sex couples in the Member States where this already exists for opposite-sex couples;
    6. Encourages the European Commission to increase funding towards LGBTQIA+ advocacy organisations such as ILGA or Equinet;
    7. Requests the European Commission to withhold EU funds from Member States not complying with EU regulations combatting discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community;
    8. Demands the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST) for gathering data and information about violations of LGBTQIA+ civil rights to combat misinformation and discrimination in all Member States. 

  • FEMM

    Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

    Error 404 – Women not Found: With the lack of gender-specific data creating gender discrepancies in healthcare, industry, and technology, how can the EU increase the collection and inclusion of this data in its policies in a sustainable, and future thinking manner?

    Submitted by: Belle Boswijk, Wessel de Keijzer, Reza Evers, Joel Spezacatena (CH), Gijs Susijn, Sara Swaanen, Julia van der Schaar, Yara van Hoek, Xenia Liebscher (Chairperson, ES)

    The European Youth Parliament

    1. Stressing that the data gap is creating gender-based obstacles in various sectors such as health, technology and industry, which can lead to dire circumstances,
    2. Recognising that on a European Level, no clear policy has been created to combat the gender data gap,
    3. Emphasising that the rise in Artifical Intelligence (AI) Technology will increase data bias, 
    4. Noting with regret that only 15% of countries worldwide have legislations in place that order specialised gender-based data,
    5. Deeply concerned that currently 80% of the indicators for gender equality of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have data gaps,
    6. Alarmed by the fact that women only make up 22% of representation in health trials globally,
    7. Deeply conscious that lack of representation in research, policy and in the media further perpetuates the gender data gap,
    8. Bearing in mind that Member States’ governments are free to develop their own data regulations;
    1. Appeals to the European Institute for Gender Equality to identify gender-specific gaps in existing bodies of research in sectors such as health and safety certification, healthcare, and technology;
    2. Hopes that the European Commission combats gender bias within the Artificial Intelligence sector by including the recognition of gender-biased content in the upcoming update of the European Union Artificial Intelligence act1;
    3. Reaffirms the United Nations Women Count Strategy, which aims to incorporate more sex-disaggregated data when attaining the Sustainable Development Goals2;
    4. Invites the European Commission to create a guideline for human-based research to aid the collection of more sex-disaggregated data;
    5. Further asks the European Commission to aid the creation of a gender-inclusive database in European healthcare by allocating funding to projects that aim to fill the gender data gap in healthcare;
    6. Encourages Member States to raise awareness among the general public about the gender data gap through:
      1. launching governmental campaigns highlighting the social impacts of the data gap,
      2. including modules about the benefits of sex-disaggregated data in their respective curricula across secondary education levels;
    7. Calls upon the European Commission to expand on the CE marking3 to include a stamp of certification for products which have undergone sufficient gender-specific testing; 
    8. Suggests the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion to create an action plan for the EU to include more female perspectives in the process of policy design and decision-making.

  • DEVE

    Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Development

    This time for Africa: The Global Gateway is Europe’s ambitious new project for worldwide investments, promising to invest 150 billion in Africa. But EU engagement in African countries carries significant historical baggage. How can European policymakers demonstrate that they are truly listening to African counterparts and that investments are led by local demand?

    Submitted by: Rania Boujghagh (NL), Joost Clous (NL), Elise Fanoy (NL), Aniek Meijdam (NL), Mirte van Oorschot (NL), Anna van der Stouwe (NL), Daniëla de Vries (NL), Linus Schmidt (Chairperson, DE)

    The European Youth Parliament,

    1. Pointing out that the EUR 150 billion will not only be provided by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+), but Member States and private investors are included as well,
    2. Acknowledging that the European Union will have to play a key role in mediating between Member States and African countries,
    3. Noting that the EU faces a plethora of reputational issues including the notions that past partnerships have been unequal and development aid is mainly distributed in pursuit of the EU’s own interests,
    4. Affirming the importance of sustainable development but acknowledging the injustice experienced by African countries being denied use of their natural resources,
    5. Reiterating that hard and soft infrastructure are both imperative for long-term development and require coordinated, but entirely different approaches,
    6. Reminding that the EU has developed individual regional security strategies in the past,
    7. Convinced that investments can only be lead by local demand if local players and NGOs are included in the process;
    1. Request the European Commission to closely monitor investments made by private investors under the Global Gateway scheme to safeguard sustainability standards and close collaboration with regional actors;
    2. Calls upon the European Commission to mediate between Member States and members of the African Union to ensure fair and equal negotiations for investments;
    3. Asks Member States’ to acknowledge past mistakes in the context of development aid, including policies solely tailored towards European interests and to assure the forbearance of such in the future;
    4. Urges the European Commission to continue its strict commitment to sustainable development aid within the Global Gateway project;
    5. Accepts that African countries make use of their great supply of natural resources due to the prospect of fast economic growth;
    6. Emphasises the importance of collaboration of the EU with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), such as Education for Africa, and local government agencies to promote teacher’s education, with the aim of establishing a self-sustaining education system;
    7. Reaffirms the importance of establishing hard and soft infrastructure1 based on the African counterpart’s needs, rather than based on European standards and preferences;
    8. Suggests that the European Union-African Union summit initiates the establishment of regional committees dedicated to assessing needs for development aid, gathering representatives of the European Union, the African Union, local grass-root initiatives, NGOs and independent experts;
    9. Further suggests that above-mentioned committees provide a semiannual report on both the socioeconomic situation and the development of the dedicated regions;
    10. Instructs the European Commission to establish a system that identifies and penalises the initiators of development projects which do not use EU development aid in a sustainable and people-oriented way.

  • AFET

    Motion for a Resolution by the Committee on Foreign Affairs

    Once bitten, twice shy: now that the war in Ukraine has made Europe painfully aware of its reliance on Russia for energy, the EU is keen not to fall into the same trap twice. With the continent still depending on third states such as China for raw materials and technologies, how can the EU increase its strategic autonomy and stay true to its values?

    Submitted by: Sofia Boll (NL), Robert Bunt (NL), Sam Donker (NL), Gabriel Füllhaas (CH), Ruben den Hamer (NL), Evelien Korving (NL), Sydney van der Sar (NL), Shivani Sharma (NL), Felix Crawford (Chairperson, NL)

    The European Youth Parliament,

    1. Alarmed by the increased instrumentalization of trade by certain third countries as a way to influence the political decisions of the European Union and its Member States,
    2. Realising that the EU’s reluctance to implement the Human Rights Clause is linked to promoting political dialogue,
    3. Affirming the need for consistency between trade partners regarding the implementation of the Human Rights Clause,
    4. Aware the EU faces a large trade deficit and many external dependencies,
    5. Recognising that business owners and national economies are put at risk when drastically and immediately shifting trade policies,
    6. Reaffirming the previously established trade policy of the European Council;
    1. Instructs the Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE) to reevaluate foreign investments based upon reliability and ethics;
    2. Further instructs the DG TRADE to pursue more diversified international partnerships to spread risk;
    3. Requests Eurostat to create a database about companies working in the EU which details:
      1. a grading system for reliability1 that is applicable throughout the EU,
      2. a label for those enterprises that appear favourably in the grading system,
      3. a yearly report on the transparency of companies and nations that trade with the EU;
    4. Directs the European Parliamentary Research Service to expand the Strategic Autonomy Monitor (SAM)2 to include trustworthiness of companies and businesses;
    5. Suggests that Member States incentivise companies to hold themselves to a higher ethical standard by:
      1. harmonising their national tax systems to subject unreliable companies to a higher tax rate,
      2. redirecting these additional tax revenues to reliable companies and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs);
    6. Proposes that the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) exempts Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in EU border regions deemed ethical and beneficial to the EU from an appropriate percentage of import duties3;
    7. Invites the European Commission to investigate abnormal or suspicious behaviour from enterprises judged to be unreliable by the SAM;
    8. Encourages the United Nations Human Rights Council to continue their work on the global protection of workers’ rights through international treaties;
    9. Strongly encourages the European Commission to add a sub-clause to the Human Rights Clause4 in future agreements which enables sanctions as a first step in case of human rights violations;
    10. Recommends the European Court of Justice to establish a mediation program for smaller disagreements between Member States on trade policy to avoid litigation;
    11. Urges Member States to further align foreign policies, including sanctions, to enhance a united approach;
    12. Suggests the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) to foster larger joint strategic reserves5 for products with volatile markets;
    13. Asks the European Environmental Agency to spearhead research on recycling critical raw materials.

  • Katie Thacker (UK)

    Katie Thacker (UK)

    After the event, we will be able to provide feedback on this, and you may be invited to be a delegate at future EYP the Netherlands events. Whilst this is an exciting prospect, it is by no means the be all and end all of the weekend and we hope that throughout the weekend you throw yourself into the event, learn something new and broaden your perspectives and understanding of current topical issues.

    It can be a bit unnerving to enter such an unfamiliar environment, and I remember being terrified before my first EYP event in 2018! Looking back, my advice for you is to enter the process with an open mind, the bravery to step outside of your comfort zone, and an eagerness to listen to and learn from others. It is likely you will encounter new perspectives and differences of opinions this weekend and I encourage you to see this as an opportunity to consider topics from new angles; it’s not always about speaking the most or having the loudest voice in a room. I encourage you to express your opinions and engage in discussions with a focus on respect, tolerance, and kindness. Listen to each other and approach issues from the basis of our shared values of non-discrimination, tolerance, solidarity, pluralism, justice and equality. It is these skills which we value in EYP, and which will hopefully enable you to take the experiences of the weekend into your own personal life. 

    Whilst the jury team are often perceived as the ‘judgers’ at EYP events, it is perhaps more important that you place our organisation on trial and decide if EYP is something you would like to be a part of. Regardless of selection, our organisation welcomes you with open arms. I think I speak for us all when I say we hope you enjoy what you experience this weekend and choose to remain involved. Even if you decide this is perhaps not for you, we hope you take something away from the experience, and the best way to do so is to fully immerse yourself in the weekend, and the unique (and at times odd!) elements of EYP;  as the saying goes ‘a closed mouth doesn’t get fed’. 

    I can’t wait to see you in Wageningen! 

    Katie 

  • Théophane Gauthier (FR)

    Théophane Gauthier (FR)

    The Media Team is here to capture the best moments of this session, and to create wonderful projects that will make everyone’s memories count. We will be taking pictures and videos of you all and promote the reflections and solutions to the most pressing European issues. 

    These memories will be the living testimony of your engagement by which you will finish empowered as nowhere else.

    Please participate in the projects our Media Team Members have constructed for you : without the participation of delegates and officials, these projects can’t reflect what really matters about this event – you!  

    The Media Team is also here to help you, to talk to you and make the session more dynamic as ever, so please don’t hesitate to come, talk to us and make jokes with us! 

    Can’t wait to see you,

    Cheers,

    Théophane

  • Jarne van der Poel (NL)

    Jarne van der Poel (NL)

    EYP is not organised by teachers or professionals, but by a team of young people like yourself, from all across Europe. We are ready to welcome you with open arms. Rest assured that we are here to guide you through this programme every step of the way! 

    The European Youth Parliament is a bit different from similar programmes you may know. First of all, it is not really a debating competition. Instead of competing, it asks you to work together with your peers from other schools, to find the best solutions for the issues facing Europe. EYP is about expanding your horizon: you will discover issues in European society that you may have never heard about before and listen to the views of other young people you have never met before! I encourage you to allow EYP and the people in it to challenge you and broaden your horizons.

    EYP is also not a simulation – where you have to represent the position of a certain country – but instead encourages you to share your own opinions about current social and political issues. Try to grab this opportunity with both hands to let your ideas for the future of Europe be clearly heard!

    I cannot wait to hear from you,

    Kind regards,

    Jarne

  • Mara van Hermon (NL) & Anna van Pouderooijen (NL)

    Mara van Hermon (NL) & Anna van Pouderooijen (NL)

    Additionally, Wageningen is very green, in both senses of the word. Surrounded by the beautiful Binnenveldse Hooilanden, de Uiterwaarden with the river Rhine and de Wageningse Berg with its forest and arboretum, among other things, you are really immersed in nature. Therefore, there is a big focus on sustainability with an abundance of second-hand stores and small businesses selling local products. We want this theme to be palpable throughout our session and to highlight local entrepreneurs and creatives.

    Our goal is to challenge and be challenged. We want to learn from more experienced EYPers, but also from you: our delegates. By the end of our session we hope to have helped you become more independent and curious young people, which are two qualities that we value deeply. ‘Exploring’ and ‘broadening your horizon’ are some of the key words of our session. We feel it is important to keep growing and dare to look outside your bubble even though that might be uncomfortable.

    Us both being first-time (Head-)Organisers, we were unsure of what this journey would bring and if we were even qualified enough to take on a project this big. What we have learned is that, with the help of others, you grow into the role you were convinced was too challenging for you. A regional selection conference is often the first step in the EYP career of many delegates and officials and we want you to feel comfortable to explore these new sides of yourself, because it is crucial to keep expanding your knowledge and skills in this ever-changing world. 

    Lastly, we want to challenge and be challenged, spark your creativity, encourage you to make mistakes, ask questions and most of all believe in yourself, because we will be learning and growing alongside you. A quote that resonated with us very much is:

    I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that!

    Pippi Longstocking

    With that we hope to have sparked your enthusiasm and we are looking forward to seeing you in Wageningen!

    Love,

    Anna and Mara