PREPARATION KIT ACADEMIC - EYP Member Platform
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ACADEMIC PREPARATION KIT
PAGE | 02
Words of welcome....................................... 03
C Research tips.............................................. 04
Institutions and stakeholders....................... 06
O AFCO ......................................................... 11
DROI.......................................................... 20
N ECON..........................................................28
ITRE........................................................... 37
T FEMM......................................................... 46
LIBE........................................................... 54
E EMPL I........................................................ 63
EMPL II....................................................... 72
N ENVI I......................................................... 79
ENVI II........................................................ 87
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Dear reader,
W I am very happy to present to you the Academic Preparation Kit of the 94th
International Session of the European Youth Parliament!
O In this booklet, you will find information about the different topics we’ll be
R discussing at the session, as well as information about some of the
international actors that reappear throughout multiple or all different
D topics. This booklet is the result of the hard work of your chairs, who will be
your guides at the conference and help you with any other questions you
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might have either before or during the conference.
For many of you, this will be the first time attending an International
Session organised by the European Youth Parliament, and I hope that you
will have a wonderful time. As the chairs team we will try to facilitate you
O with everything that you need in order to have an enjoyable time and
fruitful discussions with us this summer.
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As part of this, over the past months our team has toiled away at this
booklet, which serves as your introduction to the various topics. We’ve
aimed to provide an accessible, easy-to-read starting document for you to
W read and use in your further preparation for this conference. With this
document, we hope to be able to give you some insight into all the topics
E we will be discussing at the conference, and to give you a basis to do further
research.
L You’ll be hearing more from us the coming days and weeks, but for now
C grab a cup of tea, find a comfortable sofa and enjoy reading the Academic
Preparation Kit.
O I’m looking forward to meeting you all in August!
M Adriaan,
E Also on behalf of Aarni, Alara, Amar, Anastasia, Constance, Giko, Karl,
Lazaros, Maria, Rita, Sander, Sude and Thetis.
PAGE | 04
Why research?
R In Ljubljana, you will have the exciting opportunity to share your
opinions on the pressing topics that face our generation and the
E world. It is not only about discussing, it also about coming up with the
solutions to the key questions in your topics together. To make
S discussions more interesting, allow you to fully take part in it, and
make sure your ideas for solving the problem are feasible, you need to
have a good understanding of the current state of affairs and what has
E been already attempted, what has worked and what has not.
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What to research?
R Start from the Topic Overview in this booklet. Make sure you
C understand the concepts and phenomena revolving around your
topic. The topic overview should offer concrete leads for you to
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follow, providing you with a platform for understanding the basics
and forming the starting point for further research, be it by exploring
the hyperlinks in text, considering the food for thought in the ‘What
now?’ section, or working your way through the essential reading.
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*Adapted from the Trondheim & Røros IS 2017 by Maria
Manolescu, Alastair Payne, Fahad Saher and Alex Proctor.
PAGE | 05
How to research?
R Have a system - write down things you want to look into. Do it one at a
time. There is so much information, it’s easy to get distracted and lose
E focus.
‘There is nothing new under the sun’ - chances are, whatever you are
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wondering about has already been asked, and potentially even
answered. If you are unable to find what you are looking for at the first
go, it might be worth rephrasing your search terms.
E If you cannot find it on Google, try Google Books and Google Scholar.
Make sure to distinguish facts from opinions (even if of
experts/academics).
A Your sources are crucial. Is the information confirmed by other sources?
Are they reliable, trustworthy? Have you ever heard of the website
R before? Do they make wild claims you cannot find elsewhere? What
potential bias should be taken into account (could the source be
pushing for a certain side to a story)?
C Check the date of the source - if it is from 2002, chances are more things
have happened since then.
H
Keep track - that website you found an idea you thought was interesting
but not essential to the topic? The idea that you realised later on was
actually crucial? Write it down - keep track. You can add a bookmark
folder for the session where you bookmark websites you come across as
interesting. Or you can use a word document where you list the links
with a few quick words on what you found there. You will thank yourself
T later
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PAGE | 06
In the search for the best solutions to your topic’s key question, you have
I the liberty of identifying the right actor for a specific action.
N
There is no strict rule that resolutions must be implemented only through
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European Union organs. The main stakeholders are the United Nations
T (global level - 193 states out of approx. 195 in the world), the Council of
I Europe (European states - 47), European Union (28 members), individual
T states, civil society and individuals.
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Several other international organisations exist that might be of relevance
T to specific topics. Keep in mind that coordinated actions are often needed,
I and while on the ‘smallest’ scale, actions that individuals can take in their
O own communities can have a great impact.
N
You are invited to reflect on the scope needed for your action to be feasible:
S who is best to implement it? Who will be most successful in doing so?
A In doing so, the next pages offer brief descriptions of the main
N stakeholders, topics covered and powers.
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*Adapted from the Trondheim & Røros IS 2017 by Maria
Manolescu, Alastair Payne, Fahad Saher and Alex Proctor.
PAGE | 07
The United Nations (UN)
I
N The UN is an international organisation comprising 193 member states. It
S aims to: maintain international peace and security; develop friendly
relations among nations, achieve international cooperation in solving
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problems of concern to the entire world
I
T It has 6 main organs, among which the following two are the most relevant:
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The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and
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representative organ of the UN, where all members are represented. Its
I resolutions may not be binding on states, but they are useful in
O understanding the position of states and carry significant soft power.
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The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of
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international peace and security. Its decisions are binding on UN
member states. It is formed of 15 members, including 10 rotating and 5
A permanent members (USA, UK, France, Russia and China). The UN
N system consists of numerous specialised agencies, programmes, funds,
D as well as subsidiary organs of the main ones.
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PAGE | 08
The Council of Europe
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N The Council of Europe is an international organisation, comprising of 47
S member states, including non-EU states such as Russia. It promotes and
protects human rights, democracy, the rule of law and European culture
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through international cooperation in the areas of human rights and
I democracy and is not part of the European Union.
T
U The general aims of the Council of Europe are to:
Protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in all member
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states;
I Promote awareness of and encourage Europe’s cultural identity and
O diversity;
N Seek solutions to (social) problems facing European society;
Consolidate democratic stability in Europe;
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Promote social cohesion and social rights; and
Promote and develop a European cultural identity with an emphasis on
A education.
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D The Council of Europe:
Is an international organisation;
Is not a part of the European Union;
S Does not have legislative power - its member states cooperate on a
T voluntary basis.
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The European Union
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N The European Union has 28 Member States. It is a supranational
S organisation with the ability to create legislation which all members must
obey. It is the primary platform for European cooperation. Knowledge of the
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specific detail of how the EU functions is not directly relevant for most of
I our topics; instead in this section we will cover the actions the main EU
T institutions can take.
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European Council - Setting the strategy
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I Role: Defines the EU’s general political direction and priorities.
O Members: Heads of State or government from each Member State, the
N President of the European Council and the President of the European
Commission.
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European Parliament - Representing the people
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N Role: Directly elected legislative arm of the EU.
D Members: 751 directly elected members.
European Commission - Promoting the common interests
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T Role: Executive arm of the EU that proposes laws, policies agreements
A and promotes the Union’s general interests; it is the political leadership
of the Union.
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Members: College of Commissioners, one from each Member State -
E each commissioner is assigned a specific policy area.
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O Council of the European Union - Representing Member State
governments
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D Role: Deciding on policies and adopting legislation, coordinating actions
E in Member States.
R Members: Government representatives on a ministerial level from each
Member State.
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PAGE | 10
Competences of the European Union
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N In some policy areas, the EU has exclusive competence, which means that
decisions are taken at EU level. In other policy areas, there is shared
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competence between the Union and the Member States. This means that if
T legislation is passed at EU level, then these laws have priority. If no
I legislation is adopted at EU level, then the individual Member States may
T legislate at national level.
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Note that there is often a nuance in the overlap between these. For
T example, although fisheries is a shared competence, the conservation of
I fisheries is an exclusive competence. In all other policy areas, the decisions
O remain with the Member States.
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SCOMMITTEE ON
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
AFCO
The future of Europe: The European project began seventy years ago,
and since then the ambitions and scope of this project have gradually
evolved. Looking to the future, what should the aims of the EU be for
the medium- and long term, and what steps can be taken today in
order to achieve those aims?
Chaired By: Giko Gozalishvili (GE)PAGE | 12
Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
The future of Europe: The European project began seventy years ago, and since
then the ambitions and scope of this project have gradually evolved. Looking to the
A
future, what should the aims of the EU be for the medium- and long term, and what
steps can be taken today in order to achieve those aims?
By: Giko Gozalishvili (GE)
“There is no future for the people of Europe
other than in union”
Jean Monnet
F
Explanation & Relevance
The history of the European project began in the middle of the 20th century, and has
been in constant development ever since. In the aftermath of World War II, the affected
countries on the European continent expressed a shared interest to prevent future
conflicts. With this goal in mind, six countries, namely Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,
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the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, founded the European Coal and Steel Community
(ECSC), which was the first step in the process of European integration. As decades
passed, this organisation kept growing, gathering more members and expanding in
various fields. Eventually, what was once the 'European Communities' would become
what is known today as the European Union (EU), which brings together 27 European
countries with a common market, foreign and security policy, legislative processes,
currency and monetary policy for some, as well as free movement among many other
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freedoms and shared responsibilities.
Originally, the goal of European integration was to promote peace among its members
through cooperation, and the European project has been successful in this. Over the
years, however, the scope of the Union’s activities have expanded, and the EU has
evolved into a supranational organisation whose policies have an impact on the daily
lives of millions of citizens.
The modern world poses many challenges, ranging from global warming to armed
conflicts and economic deprivation. There are significant advantages to facing these
problems together, yet it can also be difficult to align the interests of all 27 Member
States. Recent years have seen the rise of euroscepticism, which culminated in the
United Kingdom leaving the EU in January 2020. This makes it all the more important to
reflect on the EU’s aims, and to ensure that the direction of the EU is broadly supported.PAGE | 13
Stakeholders
The future of Europe is a matter which concerns EU citizens on a grassroots level. They
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contribute to the issue as they are the main recipients of the advantages and
disadvantages of what the European project has to offer. They can further contribute to
the issue by maintaining active citizenship - voting in European elections and voicing
their opinions.
Additionally, different political parties often reflect the citizens' opinions in local
politics. On the one hand, there are pro-European parties often pushing for European
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integration, with Eurosceptic parties criticising the EU for all its flaws and fostering a
negative attitude towards the European project as a whole.
National governments and institutions act as the main decision-making bodies in
Member States. Their relation to the EU is two-fold. Firstly, they are responsible for
implementing EU-wide policies and suggestions on the national level. Secondly, they
also have an important role in the decisions that are made on the European level
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through their contributions to the European Council.
On an international level, the main stakeholders can be categorised in two - internal
and external.
Internally, EU institutions contribute to decision-making processes, shaping the overall
vision, mission, aim, and objectives of the EU both in the short- and long-term. The
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European Commission (EC) is pivotal in shaping the EU's future. The EC is one of the
main actors behind driving legislative processes and monitoring their implementation
across Member States.
The European Parliament (EP) and the Council of the European Union (CoEU) play an
important part in turning the proposals of the EC into specific policies and actions,
which shape the overall political landscape and direction of the EU. The EP is the only
EU institution with directly elected members, but both of these institutions are key
arenas where EU citizens are able to make their voices heard, through electing their
representatives.PAGE | 14
The European Central Bank (ECB), which regulates the monetary policy of Eurozone
countries, plays a crucial role in shaping the financial and economic landscape of
many Member States. That has shown to be especially crucial during crises that have
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arisen in the past and left some Member States with financial problems.
Additionally, countries that fit into the frame of the European Neighborhood Policy
benefit from their partnership with the EU on an annual basis, are impacted largely by
the directions and aims that the EU sets. The Union for the Mediterranean in the south
and the Eastern Partnership, are targets for the EU’s overall plan to have a safe and
stable neighbourhood surrounding it.
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On a more global level, the United Nations, which sets aims, standards and objectives
for organisations and countries around the world, such as the United Nations’ 2030
Agenda play a key part when it comes to the EU setting its own goals and objectives for
how it should develop and direct its work in the long run.
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OPAGE | 15
Key Conflicts
To understand how the EU should develop moving forward, it is important to first
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analyse the various crises that the EU has encountered in the past.
One of the most significant challenges the EU faced in recent years was the European
debt crisis. This was an economic crisis that took place in 2009 and is believed to have
been caused by investors becoming wary of high sovereign debt levels, as well as
potential irregularities in accounting systems in Member States, namely Greece,
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Spain, Italy, Portugal and Ireland. A solution that was offered at the time was a large
rescue package agreed upon by members of the Eurozone. However, this measure was
met with criticism from the countries receiving the funds, as they were forced to take
strict austerity measures as a stipulation. The affected countries argued that it would
hinder their economic growth. The Eurozone crisis was the first major instance that
exposed an important problem in the EU - the lack of political consensus between
Member States on the correct approach to policy-making.
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In 2015, nearly one million people crossed the European border, resulting in Europe’s
biggest humanitarian crisis since World War II, known as the European migrant crisis
(also known as the refugee crisis). Though the refugee crisis itself was not unforeseen,
the EU had struggled to respond to it in a uniform manner. Countries with generally well-
developed immigration policies, such as the UK, responded relatively well, while others
that did not have an established practice of welcoming large numbers of migrants, such
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as the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania, struggled. Aside from the logistical
difficulty of the large migration influx, there was an added ideological element to the
crisis - many Member States and their citizens began to show violent sentiments towards
the idea of hosting and integrating refugees into their homeland, on which right-wing
parties and extremist politicians further capitalised on.PAGE | 16
Furthermore, the issue of illiberalism has been constantly reappearing in the EU. After
past crises and the chaotic response to the problems they caused, criticism of the EU
increased. Especially in the fallout of the refugee crisis, when a sentiment spread that
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the EU’s refugee relocation policy was violating the sovereignty and liberty of Member
States to decide on their own means of handling the crisis.
In part, this is precisely what led to Brexit. In 2016, a majority of British citizens voted
for the United Kingdom to leave the EU. The proponents of Brexit had argued that the
EU was threatening British sovereignty and was ineffective in handling most crises.
This event was the culmination of decades-long rhetoric of Euroscepticism from the UK
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and was the first instance of a member state leaving the EU. Many other Member States
were left with a feeling that it would not be the last exit from the EU, should it not take
specific steps to change, such as reducing bureaucracy, becoming more transparent in
decision-making processes, and coming up with more mechanisms to stabilise the Euro.
Additionally, democratic backsliding in some Member States, such as Poland and
Hungary, has contributed to the issue. In recent years, there has been a deterioration of
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the rule of law. Prominent examples include Hungary's government sanctioning a
closing of the Central European University and actively cracking down on local media, as
well as Poland's government cracking down on the country's judicial system and making
the overall legal system dependent and prone to corruption. Though concerns have
been expressed from the EU’s part, the national governments of these Member States
remain resistant. This tug of war between the EU and the two Member States
culminated in 2020, when the Commission invoked Article 7, which could lead to the
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suspension of some of the rights of EU Member States. Many experts wonder how the
problem of the growing anti-EU rhetoric in Eastern and Central Europe can be resolved.PAGE | 17
Fueling the criticisms of the EU are claims from Eurosceptics of the lack of democracy
and transparency within the EU institutions and concerns that they do not reflect the
views and positions of the European citizens, an issue which has been visible through a
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consistently low voter turnout in European elections.
Looking to the future of the EU, it is important to not only look at challenges in the past,
but also those that are likely to play a more significant role in the future.
One of the biggest and most urgent problems is climate change. Problems with a scale
as large as Climate Change require international cooperation, as well as substantial
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structural and systemic changes to make institutions, as well as Member States more
sustainable, things the EU should focus on going forward. The EU’s efforts in solving
climate change are seen through the European Green Deal. With technological
development being in the foreground in the 21st century, one of the EU’s biggest and
most ambitious objectives, which is also a part of the European Green Deal, is to transfer
its activities to the digital world, something that is deemed as a challenge by some
experts, as according to a study by Eurostat conducted in 2019, 30% of individuals in the
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EU have very low or no digital skills.
Transferring activities to the digital world, other than logistical difficulty, feeds into
ideological problems tied to it as well, which further support the problem of rising
illiberalism. In particular, there has been a growth of misinformation and “fake news”
on the internet that has been seen in recent years, a lot of it being tied to various
political purposes and interests. Though the EU has been taking measures, such as
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mandating social networks to incorporate fact-checking systems to filter their content,
misinformation still remains a big threat to democracy within the EU and its means may
continue to grow in the upcoming years.PAGE | 18
Additionally, the novel coronavirus pandemic, posed a great challenge to the EU, as it
did to the rest of the world. The pandemic especially affected the EU, especially in its
beginning phase, as a lot of the countries’ whose health systems were overloaded were
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EU Member States, such as Italy and Spain. Though the pandemic seems to slowly be at
its end stage, as vaccines are being produced and distributed and countries are easing
their restrictions, a lot of questions remain on how the EU will move forward with the
residue of the pandemic - both in terms of how vaccine distribution and vaccination
policies can be made more efficient, as well as how can the EU recover economically
from the fallout of the pandemic.
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Measures in Place
The primary legislation that concerns the functioning and work of the EU is laid out in
the treaties of the EU, which have slowly changed over the years.
The Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957, established the European Economic Community,
reducing customs regulations between its members, and set a single market for goods
and a collection of policies on how they would be transported. This Treaty was amended
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several times over the years, most significantly in 1992, when the Treaty of Maastricht
formally established the EU. The most recent treaty change was the 2007 Treaty of
Lisbon, which gave the European Parliament co-decision powers on most policy areas,
and introduced a procedure for how to leave the EU, should countries wish to do so.
Other than the foundational treaties, during the different crises the EU has faced, it
established multiple supporting mechanisms to navigate through adversity. One such
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example is the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), which was set up to provide
financial aid in the form of loans to Member States which belong to the Eurozone in
times of financial difficulty, as seen with the example of Greece during the Eurozone
crisis.
A more recent example is the European Green Deal which not only sets a framework on
how the EU can pursue a greener and sustainable future, with the penultimate aim of
achieving climate neutrality by 2050, but also sets a mechanism on post-COVID 19
recovery for Member States in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.PAGE | 19
Summary & Key Questions
Overall, the world of today is much different to the world in which the EU was founded.
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Over the years, the EU has developed from a set of agreements between six countries to
the world’s largest economic bloc. The functioning, geographical scope and goals of the
EU have gradually changed, and will likely continue to do so in the coming years as well.
It is important, however, to steer this development in a direction that can count on
broad popular support, and can face the challenges of the 21st century. Climate change,
digitalisation and changing global power relations all provide opportunities for the EU,
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but can also have seriously detrimental effects if not properly managed.
This raises the question how the EU can be best equipped to face the different
challenges that it will encounter the coming years. It is important to consider what the
goals of the EU should be, and what steps can be taken to reach those.
What are the primary challenges that the EU will have to deal with the coming years?
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What can be done today to ensure those challenges are properly addressed?
Food for Thought
The EU in brief - https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/eu-in-brief_en
European Union Celebrates its 70th Anniversary amid an Existential Crisis -
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https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/european-union-celebrates-its-70th-
anniversary-amid-an-existential-crisis/
The future of the European project - https://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/european-
issues/0393-the-future-of-the-european-project
The European Project in Crisis: Myths and Realities -
https://carnegieeurope.eu/2017/11/17/european-project-in-crisis-myths-and-
realities-pub-74770COMMITTEE ON
HHUMAN RIGHTS
DROI
A new refugee policy: Europe’s response to the 2015 refugee crisis
has had mixed results, and has faced persistent criticism from certain
Member States and civil society. Bearing in mind that similar crises
could arise again, what workable policies should Europe implement
that protect the rights of refugees?
Chaired By: Alara Özdarendeli (TR)PAGE | 21
Committee on Human Rights (DROI)
A new refugee policy: Europe’s response to the 2015 refugee crisis has had mixed
results, and has faced persistent criticism from certain Member States and civil
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society. Bearing in mind that similar crises could arise again, what workable
policies should Europe implement that protect the rights of refugees?
By: Alara Özdarendeli (TR)
“No one puts their children in a boat unless the
water is safer than the land.”
Warsan Shire
Explanation & Relevance
R On the 2nd of September 2015 a photo of Alan Kurdi made global headlines. Alan was a
Syrian three-year old child whose body washed up on a beach in Bodrum, Turkey as he
attempted to enter the Greek island Kos illegally via the service of migrant smugglers
with his family. The boat had double the number of people that it was designed for and
no life vests, taking advantage of passengers’ hopes of starting new lives in another
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country. Alan was one of the 3,771 immigrants who died while trying to immigrate by sea
since the beginning of 2015. Cases such as Alan’s highlight the struggle of refugees, and
the human cost of failures in refugee policy.
I Figure 1: Alan Kurdi’s dead body laying down on a beach in Bodrum, Turkey
The EU has always been a favoured destination for refugees who have been forced from
their home, but the amount of people seeking refuge in Europe increased in the years
following the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. Faced with increased numbers of
drownings in the Mediterrean Sea and the increasing number of refugees trying to
migrate to the EU, Member States entered negotiations on how to tackle the issue. There
has been heated debate on the status of the borders and the implementation of quota
systems for the settlement of refugees in different parts of the world. Despite these
attempts, EU citizens still perceive immigration as one of the major challenges the EU is
facing. As 86% of refugees took shelter in developing countries, the discussion on the
EU’s approach to asylum and immigration still remains open.PAGE | 22
With Turkey being the top hosting country accommodating more than 3 million refugees,
Johannes Zutt, the World Bank Country Director for Turkey says, “It has increasingly
become clear that humanitarian assistance must be paired with development
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interventions that can begin to respond to the scope, long-term nature, and socio-
economic impacts of the refugee crisis, which is now a serious global matter.”
Stakeholders
One important stakeholder is the European Union (EU), which seeks to promote
internal freedom of movement, as well as a common asylum and refugee policy.
R The Schengen Area of the EU enables European individuals to travel freely without being
subjected to border controls around 21 Member States and four non-EU Member States
(Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway). This means an individual, including
EU citizens and immigrants, has to show documents when entering the Schengen Area
and can then enter another Schengen country without showing any legal
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documentation. It is in the EU’s competences to decide on the conditions governing
entry into and legal residence in a Member State and ensure that all Member States
follow fair and effective procedures. This also means that the applicant would receive
the same outcome regardless of which Member State they sent their asylum application
to.
The Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA) is composed of the Ministers of Justice
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and/or Home Affairs of Member States, and it works towards developing common
policies on cross-border issues in order to establish an “EU-wide area of freedom,
security and justice” as one of the configurations of the Council of the European Union.
The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) is an EU agency that contributes to the
implementation and development of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS),
reinforcing practical cooperation between Member States on asylum and providing
operational support to Member States on their asylum and reception systems.
UNHCR (The UN High Commissioner for Refugees) is a global organisation that aims to
protect millions of refugees and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to seek
asylum and find a safe refuge in another state. The UNHCR cooperated with other UN
humanitarian agencies to appeal for a US $8 billion funding to help millions of Syrians.
This appeal includes the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP).PAGE | 23
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) also play an important role in the refugee
crisis. These NGOs range from small local organisations to large international ones such
as the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The IRC is a global non-governmental
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organisation (NGO) founded in 1993 that aims to provide aid as a response to the world’s
humanitarian crises, such as through providing medical care to refugees worldwide.
Although Member States have a shared responsibility to host asylum seekers in a
welcoming and fair manner, with the emergence of the refugee crisis, most Member
States have opted to strengthen their borders. In fact, Germany decided to close its
borders with Austria in 2015 in order to slow down the influx of refugees into the
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country.
The main hosting countries for refugees, like Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, give shelter
to the majority of the world’s refugees, making them important stakeholders in any
discussion about refugees as well. Turkey, for example, has been hosting more than 3
million refugees since 2011 due to its “Open Door Policy'' towards asylum seekers.
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Key Conflicts
Although the EU strives to ensure fair treatment to all asylum applications and sets
the criteria for all Member States, the number of asylum seekers entering the EU is not
evenly distributed among its Member States. In fact, 90% of all asylum claims were
made for 10 countries, including France and Germany. The main factors determining
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the demand for a specific country are its location, wealth level and national asylum
policies. Similarly, the process of granting or withdrawing a refugee status differs in
each Member State. Therefore, cooperation and solidarity within the EU on sharing this
humanitarian responsibility while providing fair procedures to everyone is crucial.PAGE | 24
As 86% of all refugees seek shelter in developing countries like Turkey, Jordan, and
Lebanon, these countries also carry a heavy responsibility of ensuring their protection,
safety and access to essential needs. This can cause local resentment towards
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refugees, but can also mean that the resources of countries taking in significant
numbers of refugees are stretched thin. In countries such as Jordan, for example,
despite efforts by the government to support them, refugees often lack essential
services.
Friction and resentment towards refugees can be further exacerbated by xenophobic
rhetoric from politicians. In recent years, different European leaders have for example
R
described refugees as “slaves” and accused migrants of bringing “parasites and
protozoa”, which contributes to the dehumanisation of large groups of people.
Often, refugees end up working in low-skilled and low-paid jobs in their new countries,
regardless of what their previous educational or professional background is. This can
occur through negative perceptions and a reluctance to hire refugees, but also through
administrative burdens such as difficulties in acquiring work permits. On the flipside,
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refugees are also vulnerable to exploitation, such as being paid below minimum wage or
having to work in unsafe conditions. This is not only harmful to the refugees themselves,
but also a waste of human potential as refugees are not always able to contribute as
much as they otherwise could.
IPAGE | 25
Measures in Place
D
Adopted in 1951, the Refugee Convention forms the basis of refugee rights combined
with its 1967 Protocol. With 149 signing parties, it defines the term “refugee” and
outlines refugee rights as well as touches upon the legal obligations of States to protect
them. The Convention states that refugees should be exempted from immigration laws
and receive protection from the country they entered. UNHCR serves as the guardian of
the Convention and the Protocol while States are required to cooperate with UNHCR
according to the Convention.
R
Established in 1999, Common European Asylum System (CEAS) sets common
standards and works towards ensuring that asylum seekers are getting equal treatment.
The system has five legislative instruments and one agency. In 2020, the EC proposed to
rectify the system on three main pillars: efficient asylum and return procedures,
solidarity and fair share of responsibility and strengthened partnerships with third
countries.
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In 2020, the EC proposed the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which includes various
elements required for a more elaborate European approach to migration. It also
presents improved and faster procedures for the asylum and migration system in
addition to balancing the principles of fair sharing of responsibility and solidarity. This
Pact has proved to be crucial to rebuild trust between Member States.
I
In 2015, the EC presented a new European Agenda on Migration aimed at guiding the
EU’s response to the immediate challenges and assisting the EU in pursuance of a better
migration management in the areas of irregular migration, borders asylum and legal
migration. The Agenda nowadays works towards equipping Europe with long-term
solutions in the aforementioned areas.PAGE | 26
Agreed upon in 2016, the EU-Turkey Deal is an agreement between Member States and
the Turkish government for a more effective response to the refugee crisis. It intends to
control the influx of migrants from Turkey to Greek islands and restrain the substantial
D
number of refugee deaths as they try to enter Europe illegally. Although this deal marks
a milestone between the EU and Turkey about refugee settlements, it has led to friction
between Turkey and the EU, and has had a mixed outcome for the refugees impacted by
it.
Summary & Key Questions
R The humanitarian crisis on refugee rights has shown that solidarity and cooperation is
of essence to tackle this issue. Refugees are often put in a difficult spot, having to
choose between staying in unsafe places or making dangerous and sometimes illegal
journeys to safer havens. In this, they are often hindered by the policies of countries that
seek to keep them away. Refugees are distributed unevenly between different countries,
both within the EU as well as globally. Refugees risk their lives in search of a new home,
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convinced that a new country is their sole remedy. However, due to limited financial
support or opportunities provided, they often live their lives in inadequate conditions
and challenging environments. Once refugees have found a temporary or permanent
new home, the linguistic and administrative barriers they face often lead to them
gaining employment in low-skilled jobs, which can additionally lead to a waste of human
potential.
I
How can Member States and non-EU countries like Turkey work together to achieve
fair and effective asylum procedures?
What steps can be further taken to ensure a better integration of refugees into
society?
What are the lessons from the refugee crisis of the early 2010s, and how can the EU
best prepare for possible future crises?
What steps can be taken to improve the living conditions of refugees?PAGE | 27
Food For Thought
D
“Common Asylum System at a Turning Point: Refugees Caught in Europe’s Solidarity
Crisis”, a report on the implementation of the EU’s Common Asylum and
Immigration Policy by Asylum Information Database (AIDA), 2015
“The Syrian Community in Turkey” a report discussing the integration of Syrian
refugees into the Turkish society by Dr. Fulya Memişoğlu
“What Does It Mean to Be A Refugee?”, a video elaborating on the hardships of being
a refugee by Benedetta Berti and Evelien Borgman, 2016
R
“What if We Helped Refugees to Help Themselves” a TED talk introducing different
perspectives into the refugee crisis by Alexander Betts, 2015
“Asylum Seekers in the European Union” an infographic illustrating key statistics on
asylum in the EU by Eurostat, 2018
“Mediterranean Refugee Crisis: Agenda for Action”, article and infographic touching
upon the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean Sea by Islamic Relief Worldwide
“Syrian Refugee Crisis: 1 Year After Alan Kurdi”, an infographic summarising the first
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year of the Syrian refugee crisis by Immigrants Working Centre
“Timeline - EU Migration Policy”, an article outlining the steps that are taken so far
regarding the EU migration policy by the European Council and the Council of the
European Union
“Migration and Asylum”, a report explaining the EU’s competences in different policy
areas by the European Commission, 2014
“Asylum Policy” a fact sheet concerning the EU’s asylum policy by the European
I
ParliamentCOMMITTEE ON
ECONOMIC AND MONETARY
AFFAIRS
ECON
Towards a green economy: In 2020, the European Commission
adopted the second Circular Economy Action Plan, which included the
goal to reduce the premature obsolescence of consumer products in
Europe. What concrete measures can be taken at the national and
European level to reduce planned obsolescence?
Chaired By: Anastasia Zhuchkova (ES)PAGE | 29
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)
Towards a green economy: In 2020, the European Commission adopted the second
Circular Economy Action Plan, which included the goal to reduce the premature
E
obsolescence of consumer products in Europe. What concrete measures can be
taken at the national and European level to reduce planned obsolescence?
By: Anastasia Zhuchkova (ES)
“Starving the future to feed the present is a mistake - it leads to
obsolescence and stagnation.”
Burton Richter, Nobel Prize Winner
C Explanation & Relevance
Mobile phones, printers, dishwashers, or coffee machines are all appliances that people
replace every few years. Be it because they break down or become outdated after a
while, these products often end up getting thrown away, creating vast amounts of
O
waste that can be hard to recycle. Not only does this increase expenses for consumers,
but it also puts a strain on limited natural resources and contributes to the pollution
of the environment. One key element stands at the core of all of this: premature or
planned product obsolescence.
Planned obsolescence refers to products being designed so that they become obsolete
more quickly, increasing consumption and, in turn, turnover for companies. And while it
N
has certainly fostered innovation and brought an immense amount of profit to
companies and corporations, planned obsolescence also fosters a linear pattern of
production and consumption. This clashes with the European Union’s plans to achieve
a shift to a circular economy model, outlined in the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan.
Taking into account that in 2016 2.5 billion tonnes of waste were produced in the EU and
in 2020 only 11.2% material resources in the EU came from recycled products, it
becomes apparent that the current “take-make-dispose” model is unsustainable in the
long run. The ambitious circular economy model that the EU has chosen to strive for
implies it is now time to rethink how we produce, use, reuse and recycle our
products.PAGE | 30
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C Stakeholders
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs
can propose legislation relating to planned obsolescence that promotes the green
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transition, economic growth and recovery. So far the Commission has put forward a
broad set of measures to tackle premature obsolescence ranging from multiple
Directives to extensive Action Plans.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is an EU Advisory body that
represents workers’ and employers’ civil society organisations, giving them a say on EU
legislative proposals. Apart from being consulted by EU bodies, it also issues opinions on
its own initiative. In recent years the committee has been at the forefront of combating
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planned obsolescence: in 2013 it was the first EU institution to recommend banning
built-in defects and restricting planned obsolescence.
National Governments are also adopting an increasing array of measures to tackle
premature obsolescence and National Consumer Groups have played a key role in it.
One of the most notable consumer groups is the French Halte à l’Obsolescence
Programmée (HOP), which pushed for the 2015 adoption of the French Law on the
Energy Transition that completely banned planned obsolescence. This direct
criminalisation of planned obsolescence was unprecedented in the EU and most
definitely sparked debates on whether this was the way forward.PAGE | 31
With the vast amount of waste that is generated, treated and collected everyday in
Europe, waste management companies also play a key role in the general circular
economy scheme: by handling waste correctly, obsolete products can be given a second
E
life by being turned into secondary products or materials. The EU is home to two of the
largest waste management companies worldwide: Suez and Veolia. At a national level,
Germany is currently the leader in waste management through recycling, while countries
such as Greece and Italy fall far behind on implementing a successful recycling system.
In representation of individual businesses and manufacturers, business associations
will most likely play a key role in the future of planned obsolescence. To ensure the shift
C
to a circular economy model, many manufacturers will have to rethink the design and
production cycles for their products to make them more durable, re-usable or easier to
recycle. This can entail additional manufacturing costs that not all businesses can bear.
Some of the most important EU associations include the Association of European
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (EUROCHAMBRES) and BusinessEurope.
Finally, the ones being directly harmed by planned obsolescence are consumers, who
O
pay unnecessary additional costs for the repair or replacement of products. However,
there have been studies that point out that product functionality is more important to
consumers than product durability. On that basis, some argue that a product’s lifespan
has a limited influence on consumers’ choices and therefore premature obsolescence
goes in accordance with consumer preferences.
NPAGE | 32
Key Conflicts
If a lightbulb manufacturer creates light bulbs that last indefinitely, the consumers will
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not need to replace them and, eventually, sales will go down. However, if the lightbulb is
designed so that it burns out after a certain amount of hours, the consumer will have to
go back to the manufacturer for a new one. This is an example of classic ‘planned
obsolescence’, where failure is programmed to happen after a certain number of uses.
There is currently no concrete EU legislation directly prohibiting planned
obsolescence, but there are different types of legislation that are employed to deal with
C
it indirectly, such as the Ecodesign Directive and the Waste Framework Directive.
There are also other techniques that can render products prematurely obsolete. For
instance, ‘incompatibility obsolescence’ refers to newer software updates becoming
incompatible for older hardware and ‘indirect obsolescence’ consists in using less
reliable parts in a product and making them difficult to repair, therefore forcing the
consumer to buy a new product5. A recent study carried out by the European
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Commission showed that 77% of EU citizens would rather repair their product than buy a
new one. In addition, 79% believe manufacturers should make their products more
easily repairable, with easy access to all its parts.
Another key issue is the misinformation given to consumers by manufacturers that
engage in premature product obsolescence, as these producers have information on
the product’s life span that is most times not made available to consumers. While
the EU does recognise the ‘Right to Repair’ for consumers in its Circular Economy Action
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Plan, it does not impose stricter rules on manufacturers with regards to specifying the
repair potential and durability of their products, and no specific proposal to tackle this
has been published yet.
‘Style obsolescence’ is also deeply embedded into Europe’s consumerist society. It
refers to consumers abandoning products sooner than necessary to keep up with the
latest designs5. The electronics market is especially competitive in this regard, with
most manufacturers being responsible for pushing consumers to purchase new devices
for only a few minor updates and more aesthetic design even if their old device is still
fully functional. Consequently, not only does this generate unnecessary costs for
consumers but also additional waste.PAGE | 33
The Circular Economy Action Plan sets out to not only explore ways to manage the
resulting waste from these practices, but also how to avoid generating so much waste in
the first place. However, although the plan includes an extensive list of possible
E
measures, in practice waste prevention varies greatly between Member States. Some
countries, such as Germany, put a greater focus on recycling while others, such as Italy
and France, still prioritise waste disposal over prevention programmes. Moreover, only a
few national waste prevention programmes place their focus on ensuring product
durability at the design stage, where 80% of the product’s environmental impact is
determined.
C
Measures in Place
In 2019 the European Commission put forward the European Green Deal, a policy
document that outlines measures for Europe to become more sustainable and carbon
neutral by 2050. The explicit aims to achieve one of its main objectives - a circular
economy - are listed in the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), which stresses
O
the need for more sustainable products to become the norm. The plan foresees
legislative and non-legislative measures that will provide consumers with more reliable
information about products, tackle planned obsolescence and restrict single-use
products.
During a public consultation on the new CEAP, some respondents from business
associations noted that there was a lack of concrete measures and incentives
N
fostering repair and reuse. NGOs also pointed out that the regulatory framework
should take into account the technical limits of recycling some materials on a non-
industrial scale.
The new Action Plan also puts a significant focus on ecodesign to ensure that products
can be given a life after losing their appeal or functionality. The Ecodesign Directive,
last updated in 2012, does not present specific product design criteria but through its
Ecodesign Implementing Directives it creates a mechanism by which such criteria
could be created and adopted. Their product-by-product approach greatly differs from
all the other broader, flexible measures as they propose specific, concrete actions for
each group of products. Although the Commission has indicated they want to expand
the range of product categories covered by the Directives, at present most of them
continue to be limited to energy-related products.PAGE | 34
The 2019 Consumer Sales Directive (CSD), which will be applied from January 1st 2022,
and ensures that if a product does not comply with the contract of sale, the consumer
gains the right to repair or replacement by the seller. The seller can also request
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compensation from the manufacturer if the lack of conformity is caused in the
production phase. While this is helpful on an individual case by case basis, it fails to
encourage companies to lengthen their products’ durability since compensating
individual clients is often more cost-efficient than redesigning products.
As a way to reduce planned obsolescence, some countries have also decided to expand
mandatory product warranties. Norway enacted the longest warranties, which can last
for up to 5 years. Another recent trend in circular economy is businesses shifting from a
C
product-based model to a service-based one. For instance, Philips introduced Light as a
Service (LaaS) where customers only have to pay for the amount of light they consume,
while the set-up, optimisation and maintenance of light sources is managed by the
company. This can reduce light energy consumption by up to 80% .
Finally, while the Waste Framework Directive, last updated in 2018, does not provide
what exact steps Member States should take, it does present a list of criteria for national
waste prevention programmes. Several of these criteria relate to planned obsolescence,
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as it mentions encouraging the reuse of products and increasing products’ durability as
direct waste prevention methods.
NPAGE | 35
Summary & Key Questions
To a certain extent, it is safe to admit that premature product obsolescence is key to
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many successful businesses being able to provide consumers with what they desire. On
the one hand, it allows sellers to increase their profits through larger product turnover
while, on the other, it provides them with an incentive to create new, innovative
products for their clients to consume. While consumers can be hindered by the
additional costs planned obsolescence can cause them, they also benefit from getting
newer versions of products. However, this also further fuels the highly consumerist
C
nature of European society, causing more pollution and resource depletion. Planned
obsolescence’s biggest drawback is its unsustainability from an environmental, social
and economic perspective as it generates massive amounts of waste, uses unnecessary
extra amounts of energy resources and reduces consumer purchasing power. Would
banning planned obsolescence completely be the best way forward? The answer could
possibly lie in assessing how a new circular economic model can compensate for the
losses such a ban would propose for businesses that depend on large product turnover.
O
It is important to ensure that the transition to this new circular model is made in the
smoothest way possible so that customers and businesses can benefit from its
environmental and social profits with minimal repercussions on financial profits and
consumer satisfaction.
How can the EU help businesses transition to a circular business model?
How can innovation and progress become independent of continued consumption in
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the field of electronics (i.e. smartphones, computers, printers, etc.)?
With the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on most businesses’
revenues, do you think now is the best time to take action in this field?PAGE | 36
Food for Thought
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toIFN8eR0ro: Brief explanatory video by the
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European Parliament on what is planned obsolescence and how it relates to circular
economy.
https://www-arch.polsl.pl/wydzialy/ROZ/ZN/Documents/zeszyt%20134/Sielska.pdf:
Scientific paper from the University of Glasgow that not only illustrates the losses
planned obsolescence poses to consumers, but also explores what benefits it can
entail.
C
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-topic/sustainable-product-policy: A list of
other European sustainable product policies, such as The European Ecolabel
Regulation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFNxyDjrpNE: Video by Right to Repair Europe
on the negative impact of planned obsolescence on product repairability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2KLyYKJGk0 Explanatory video by “The true
story of stuff” on planned obsolescence and perceived or style obsolescence.
O
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf2QXj465Rw Video by “Market Stories” that
illustrates what consumers can do about planned obsolescence and some of its
advantages.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/CRE-9-2020-11-23_EN.html
Record of a European Parliament plenary debate where points about product
durability, repairability and labelling are discussed. See Dita Charanzová’s
intervention.
NCOMMITTEE ON
INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND
ENERGY
ITRE
Energy in Europe: In 2019, the EU adopted the European Green Deal,
a set of measures with the overarching goal of making Europe climate-
neutral by 2050. At the same time, significant amounts are still being
invested by national governments and private investors in non-
renewable energy sources. Are additional measures necessary to
stimulate green investment in Europe?
Chaired By: Constance de Walque (BE)PAGE | 38
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
Energy in Europe: In 2019, the EU adopted the European Green Deal, a set of
measures with the overarching goal of making Europe climate-neutral by 2050. At
I
the same time, significant amounts are still being invested by national
governments and private investors in non-renewable energy sources. Are
additional measures necessary to stimulate green investment in Europe?
By: Constance de Walque (BE)
“As pressure grows, we must continue to resist the temptation to throw money at a carbon economy
T
that will soon peter out. Backsliding into business as usual because it is faster, it is easier, and it is
what we know, just isn't an option. Of course it is more difficult to do something we don't know yet,
but it would be wrong and a disservice to the next generations if we just did what we knew out of
convenience.”
Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission
Explanation & Relevance
R
With the impetus of the Von der Leyen Commission, the European Union (EU) has put
the climate crisis at the forefront of its agenda, focusing on twin priorities: facilitating
both the green and digital transitions. This commitment encompasses all areas of EU
work, with a specific focus on key sectors like energy. In order to achieve climate
neutrality, the EU must change its energy sources and abandon fossil fuels in favour of
renewable energy, like wind and solar. This preoccupation is also what drove the
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Commission to put forward the Green Deal. The Commission aims to reach an energy
supply made up of 80% of renewables by 2050, to fulfill the climate neutrality target,
against less than 30% currently.
The Covid-19 crisis and its economic and social consequences have created a window
of opportunity for society to boost its work towards those transitions. The Commission
has already started to take advantage of this by putting a clear emphasis on green and
digital in its recovery packages. By allocating funds to projects that are either
sustainable or helping digitise society, the EU is confirming its political commitments.
However the EU has made similar commitments in the past, like for the Kyoto Protocol
in 1995 and the Paris Agreement in 2015, and fallen short of actual results. Fossil fuels
still heavily benefit from systems like the Emissions Trading Scheme, that allows to pay
for the right to pollute. Investment in renewable energy has been pushed to the side for
a long time.You can also read
