Bern 2015 Prep Kit & Welcome Booklet [Delegates]

Bern 2015Welcome Booklet and Preparation Kit

Words of WelcomeThe Session President

Dear delegates of Bern 2015

Congratulations on making it to the 19th NSC of the European Youth Parliament Switzerland and thank you for letting yourselves experience the uniqueness that our organisation offers.Thank you for saying ’yes’ as this ’yes’ might just as well be the beginning of a new page, chapter, book filled with stories about having met people from an assortment of backgrounds, having laughed and learned and shared with them your opinions about things that matter not only to people in Europe, but to peo-ple around the world.The global paradigm is further emphasised by the session theme ’Europe in a globalising world’ which aims to look at how European actors can engage the region and the global world, what kind of internal and external commitments are needed for global improvement. The topics have been formulated to cover environmental, economic and social aspects of human development, ranging from the current immigration crisis to child obesity.The chairpersons have been working hard to bring you well-researched and informative overviews of these topics. Take this opportunity to build on their research and get even more acquainted with what defines the problems in your topics and what has been done to alleviate them.Bern 2015 comprises of a diverse group of people, each having their respective roles. Next to the chairpersons, you will meet the organisers, the media team and the jury. In the five days you spend at the session you will become part of this diverse group of people.

It is a great honour to welcome you on board!

Karin-Liis Lahtmäe (EE)President of Bern 2015

The Head Organisers

Dear delegates of Bern 2015,

The stage is set. From the 2nd to the 6th of September 2015, the Swiss capital will provide the setting of the 19th National Selection Conference Bern 2015 of EYP Switzerland. Arguments will be constructed and criticised, thoughts and ideas will be shared, speeches will be written and improvised, laughter and debates will resound in halls and corridors. During five days, democracy will come alive.

It is with utmost pleasure and excitement that we welcome you to Bern 2015 on behalf of the Organising Committee and EYP Switzerland. Owing to the most generous support of our sponsors and our patronage committee, we are pleased to offer a wide array of exciting venues, fascinating events and delicious meals to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Some of our most prestigious venues include the Gymnasium Bern-Kirchenfeld for the Opening Ceremony and teambuilding activities, the University of Bern for Committee work as well as the international headquarters of the Universal Postal Union for the General Assembly – capital facilities for a session in the capital. More-over, we are honoured to announce leading Swiss intellectuals, artists, politi-cians and academics as keynote speakers for the session.

The 19th National Selection Conference Bern 2015 is integral to EYP Switzer-land. Many participants go on to represent EYP Switzerland in international events and promote EYP activities in the cities and cantons. Therefore, we invite you to enjoy the work, the fun and the many opportunities to exchange ideas and thoughts that Bern 2015 will provide. We invite you to enjoy democ-racy coming alive.

On behalf of the Organising Committee

Manon Lynn Schürch Moritz Emanuel Bondeli

The City of Bern

Point of information

“Bern connects urban life with mountains in an impressive way”, the Bernese tourism organisation says on its website. Indeed, the city is the gate to the marvellous Swiss Alps, and with a bit of luck, one can see them yet when arriving by train.

Bern is located on both sides of the river Aare. The city was originally founded in 1191 by Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen. The origin of the city’s name has never been proven. According to the most famous myth about it, Berchtold V hunted down a bear and therefore named the city Bern. The bear has always been symbolically connected to Bern and constitutes the main motive of the Bernese coat of arms.

The session is going to be the 19th National Selection Conference and the very first one to take place in the political centre of Switzerland. The selected delegates will represent the Swiss National Committee at International Sessions and other events in 2015 and 2016. 130 delegates mainly from Switzerland, but as well from Swe-den, France and Portugal, will be divided into 11 committees. They will elaborate resolutions about their specific topics, led by the session theme ‘Europe in a globalising world’.

Facts box Bern

Area 51,62 km2Population 139’321 (Feb. 2015)Elevation 542 mLanguage GermanGovernment Gemeinderat with 5 membersMayor Alexander Tschäppät (Social Democratic Party)

Arrival in Bern

Getting to Bern is fairly easy. The city is very well connected to the rest of the country. We advise to travel here by train. Just check www.sbb.ch. All delegates are expected to be in Bern by 11:00 a.m. on the 2nd of Sep-tember 2015. An organiser will be waiting for you at the Train Station (at the main meeting point, with placards) and will show you the way to the Youth Hostel Bern, where you will go through check-in and registration.

Please keep in mind that lunch won’t be provided on Arrival Day and you won’t be allowed to leave the venue after your registration.

You must also fill out a form and provide us with information about your arrival time, the food and beverages you will bring for Swiss Village and details about your delegation presentation. The form is available at http://bit.ly/1MlkfCj

Information for foreign delegates:

With the Swiss Federal Railways SBB, Bern is easily and swiftly reachable by train. Two of the three international airports in Switzerland provide a direct service to Bern. The journey by train takes 1h 15mins from Zurich Airport and 1h 50mins from Geneva Airport. If you fly to Basel, you need to take a bus first (short trip of 15mins) to Basel railway station. From there, you reach Bern in one hour.

Seat reservations are not necessary in Switzerland. During daytime, there are regularly two trains per hour from the above mentioned air-ports to Bern. You can check the SBB timetable on www.sbb.ch. If you travel only by train, the web-site is very reliable for international train connections, too.

DAY TIME EVENT

Wednesday, Sep 2nd by 11:00 a.m. Delegates ArrivalAfternoon Teambuilding (TB)Evening Opening Ceremony

Thursday, Sep 3rd Morning TB / Committee WorkAfternoon Committee WorkEvening Swiss Village

Friday, Sep 4th All day Committee WorkEvening Apéro

Workshops

Saturday, Sep 5th Morning GA preparationGeneral Assembly

Afternoon General AssemblyEvening Committee Dinner

Farewell Party

Sunday, Sep 6th All-day General AssemblyAfternoon Closing Ceremony

Departures (no later than 6pm)

Session Overview

VenuesAccommodation

The delegates will stay at the Youth Hostel Bern. It is located right below the Federal Palace of Switzerland and less than a hundred metres away from the river Aare. Additionally, Swiss Village will take place at the Youth Hostel.

The address is the following:Jugendherberge BernWeihergasse 4CH-3005 Bern

Gymnasium Bern-Kirchenfeld

The Gymnasium Kirchenfeld has collaborated with the National Committee for several Regional Sessions in the last four years and will host Teambuilding, the prestigious Opening Ceremony as well as the workshops held by the Media Team. It is located at Kirchenfeldstrasse 25, CH-3005 Bern.

Universal Postal Union - Head Quarters

Finally, the prestigious Weltpostverein’s headquarters (Uni-versal Postal Union) is our location for the General Assembly as well as for the Closing Ceremony. The UPU is the second oldest international organisation worldwide. It is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players.

University of Bern - Von Roll Areal

Founded in 1834, the University of Bern is one of Switzerland’s largest universities with more than 17’000 students. Commit-tee Work will take place in the very modern Von Roll building which has been opened only in 2013.

Events

The first activity you will take part in is Teambuilding. This part of the session is essential to get to know the members of your committee and learn to work together. You will spend the day outside and experience all sorts of group dynamic games. Dress Code: Casual (comfortable)

Teambuilding

Committee Work represents the academic side of the session. You will work with your committee to find solutions relevant to your topic. Therefore, make sure to research your topic and prepare accordingly. You should have an overview of the other topics, too.Dress Code: Smart Casual (informal, neat)

Committee Work

During this formal event you will hear many inspiring speeches that will guide you through your EYP experience. At the end of the ceremony, the President will open the session.Dress Code: Formal (Suit, Dress)

Opening Ceremony

General Assembly marks the final part of the session. During this event every committee will present their solutions dis-cussed during Committee Work in form of a resolution. You will get the chance to make points from the floor towards other resolutions or hold speeches from the podium.Dress Code: Formal (Suit, Dress)

General Assembly

During Swiss Village you will present your region to the other participants. You will have to bring your local food and bev-erages and the event will constitute dinner on Thursday. Be careful, though, it is not permitted to bring hard liquors or anything above 15% Vol.

Swiss Village

During the workshops held by the Media Team on Friday night before GA you will get the chance to improve your knowledge and understanding of other topics by visiting workshops each on another committee topic.Dress Code: Smart Casual

Workshops

At this event you will have to present your delegation. Use your creativity to come up with sketches, videos, songs or something else that could entertain everyone. Your presenta-tion does not have to be long and you are supposed to plan it beforehand. Every delegation will have to perform something.

Delegation Presentation

Committee dinner is a good chance to spend more time with your committee. During the Farewell Party you will get to have some fun with your new friends before the last day of the ses-sion. Make sure to bring enough money to pay for your dinner and your drinks at the party.

Party theme: “Grease”, dress up accordingly.

Committee Dinner and Party

Code of Conduct

Dear delegates, parents and teachers,

EYP Switzerland’s code of conduct outlines the basic guide for conduct during the National Selection Conference, Bern 2015, for the protection of the participants and the organisation throughout the duration of the event.

By taking part in an event organised by EYP Switzerland, participants agree to adhere to the code of conduct provided here and upon arrival at the event.

We would like to make your EYP experience a fantastic one, and to achieve this goal, we trust you to cooperate with us by respect-ing the rules mentioned here.

At the check-in, all delegates will be asked to sign this code of conduct. For your information find the code of conduct below. Please print out the code of conduct, sign it and bring it along to the session. It can be found here: http://bit.ly/1MYdjer

Participants’ presence

Participation in session events

All of the events in the session programme are compulso-ry for all delegates, including the evening programme(s). Active participation in all of the activities is encouraged. Should participants need to abstain from any part of the programme, exceptions may be made on a case-to-case basis if so agreed by the Head Organisers and Board of EYP Switzerland.

Leaving session venues

During the session, participants are under the joint re-sponsibility of EYP Switzerland and delegates’ schools, represented by the respective teachers. To ensure that the organising team is aware of the whereabouts of all session participants (particularly in case of emergencies), it is not permitted to leave the venue of any session element or the accommodation at any time without explicit permission from the Head Organisers and Board of EYP Switzerland, least of all at night. Exceptions may be made in individual cases but failure to respect this rule will be taken extremely seriously.

Medical emergencies

EYP Switzerland provides a session medic throughout the session. Before leaving a session activity for health or emer-gency reasons, he or she needs to be contacted.

Drugs

The possession and consumption of illegal drugs is prohibited from the ses-sion. Infringement will result in immediate expulsion from the session.

Smoking

Smoking is only permitted for those legally allowed to do so. Smokers may do so during official breaks only and are expected to respect the individual regulations at each venue.

Alcohol

According to Swiss federal law, the sale of beer and wine to persons aged less than 16 is prohibited and the sale of other spirituous beverages is prohibited to persons under 18. EYP Switzerland takes these regulations very seriously. While alcohol may only be allowed for people of a legal drinking age, drinking will only be allowed at the farewell party, and exceptionally at events specifically indicated by the session Head Organisers. Therefore, delegates are not to bring any alcohol to the session. Moreover, the maximum amount of alcohol contained in any alcoholic beverage consumed during the session cannot be superior to 15% alc/vol. Over-indulgence in alcohol may result in expulsion from the session.

Failure to respect these rules may, corresponding to the graveness of the breach, result in expulsion from the session. Parents and teachers may be informed accordingly.

General Preparation

Essentials

- ID Card (or Passport, if needed)- Health Insurance information- Cash (~50 CHF) or a credit/debit card- Mobile Phone

What to Bring

- Enough clothing for 5 days (mind the dress codes indicated in the “Events” sec-tion of this booklet)- Towels- Everything needed for personal hygiene- Hair dryer (if needed) - Shower slippers- Umbrella- Tablet/Laptop/Note pad/pen

Teambuilding

- Comfortable clothing and shoes for sports/outdoor activities- Waterproof jacket- Waterproof shoes

Committee Work

- Smart Casual clothing (shirt, blouse, trousers, no flip-flops)- Preparation kit, position paper, others (no printer available during the session)- notebook and pen

General Assembly/Opening Ceremony

- Formal clothing (shirt, suit, blouse, for-mal dress, tie, bowtie, foulard,...)

Swiss Concert/Delegation Presentation

- Musical Instrument(s) (if needed)- Music bases (on a USB stick or similar)- Powerpoint presentation (if needed)- Anything you need to perform

Swiss Village

- local Food and Beverages (a fridge is available for you to store the food over-night)- Mind the alcohol policy (cf. max. 15% alc/vol)

Emergency Sheet

You must download, fill out, print and sign the Emergency Sheet. You will then have to bring it along during registration and only the session medic will have ac-cess to it. Further information is available on the first page of the form.

You can download the form at http://bit.ly/1MYcLFj

Also, don’t forget about filling out the Travel Form until 26 August 2015: http://bit.ly/1MlkfCj

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Academic Preparation

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Session Theme

Europe in a globalising world

Today’s rapid globalisation is challenging stakehold-ers of all backgrounds. The increasing mobility of capital, firms and means of production puts pres-sure on national leeway; and with phenomena such as outsourcing, labour standards face a downwards spiral, increasing the wage gap even further. Thus, in the wake of tension between national interests, de-mocracy and globalisation, calls for new mechanisms of global governance are increasing. Notably, in the European Year for Development, how can Europe both defend its interests and values and encourage fair conditions for developing nations? How can a fair distribution of wealth be insured in the process of development and globalisation?

A special focus will be given to the place of young people in this rapidly evolving background. Thus, the participants are encouraged to reflect on challenges such as youth unemployment, political participation, drug abuse and psychological pressures regarding the younger generations. How can the stakes young people hold in societies be raised?

AGRI Urbanisation in conjunction with desertification and salinisation leads to the destruction of arable land. Taking into consideration the growing rates of consumption worldwide, how can European states collectively ensure and promote sustainable land use?

DROIAccess to clean water, declared a human right by the UN in 2010, remains re-stricted by economic and political barriers. Bearing in mind that more than 750 million people worldwide still do not have access to clean drinking water, what steps can the EU take to ensure this right is adequately respected?

ECONWith tax fraud and evasion costing the EU approximately a trillion euro per year, the EU has been pressuring tax havens such as Switzerland, Monaco and Liechtenstein to disclose information on the financial assets of EU citizens. In a world of international capital flows and ownership of assets, how can tax fraud and evasion be tackled more efficiently throughout Europe?

EMPLWith the Quality Framework for Traineeships increasing transparency on traineeship conditions and facilitating a smoother transitions from school to work life, unpaid internships still offer leeway for exploitation. In light of the non-binding nature of internship-related initiatives, how can the interests and rights of young interns be safeguarded?

ENVIRecycling and waste-to-energy programmes are instrumental in the fight to divert waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. How should the EU incentivise the wider adoption of such programmes geared towards more sustainable waste management, and their use for energy production?

Tommy Mallen (IE)

Tuusa Eriksson (FI)

Paula Villalba (ES) & Laure Steinville (FR)

Joana Cavaco (PT)

Morgan McDonagh (IE)

Committee Topics

INTA IEfforts to harmonise the system of intellectual property rights, such as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), have received much criticism, particularly from developing countries, NGOs and academia. How can the global dissemination of innovation be ensured whilst also respecting IPRs?

INTA IIAs the EU has set comprehensive sustainable development as a main goal of its trade policy, European countries’ FTAs with China and other countries have fuelled a debate on human and labour rights. How can the EU ensure that the social dimension of development is not undermined by economy-driven trade policy?

ITREWith the increasing demand for energy and threats to its security, the need for energy diversification has grown. Weighing the environmental, economic and social aspects, which alternatives should European states introduce and pro-mote to reach a more sustainable energy supply?

LIBE IThe increasing number of refugees coming from the Mediterranean has brought to the forefront issues of solidarity between and social integration within Member States. Given the lack of a comprehensive Schengen migration policy, how can the EU collectively tackle the immigration crisis?

LIBE IIIn the light of far right parties gaining a majority vote in several European states, how should the EU address the rise of xenophobia and far- right parties without compromising its democratic principles?

Gustaf Westin (SE)

Olivier Rostang Rejdvik (FR)

Lourenço Cruz (PT)

François Heusser (CH) & Anthony McKee (UK)

Despina Dimitrikapoulou (GR)

James Bradfield (IE) IMCOIn Europe one in every three children under the age of 11 is either overweight or obese. With the 2014 Action Plan on Child Obesity restricting marketing and advertising of unhealthy food products to children, how can the protection of vulnerable consumers be ensured?

AGRIUrbanisation in conjunction with desertification and salinisation leads to the destruction of arable land. Taking into consideration the growing rates of con-sumption worldwide, how can European states collectively ensure and pro-mote sustainable land use?

Chairperson: Tommy Mallen (IE)

Introduction It is projected that by the year 2020, around 90% of Europeans will be living in urban areas1. Without appropriate measures taken to re-alistically and sustainably provide the resources and living space for the increasing population, there will be no more usable agricultural space to feed and fuel its needs, as well as no more space to build on. Since most people now live in urban areas, agricultural land use has developed to ensure that city populations can be fed, their vehicles can be fueled, and their structures and their functions can be maintained. Coastal areas are being urbanised at an astonishing rate – urbanisation of the coast grew about 30% faster than inland areas2. Cities are growing rapidly, and the population’s demand is constantly increasing. The people who supply the resources for the population are finding it hard to keep up with the growing demand. Over the past 50 years, European cities have expanded on average by 78%, whereas the population has grown by only 33%. This expan-sion is occurring in a scattered, unplanned manner, with the resulting development referred to as urban sprawl.3 This growth reduces the area of productive and valuable soil (arable land), hindering agricultural and forestry production which we need in order to feed and fuel the growing consumption of these resources. Unsustainable land management practices, unsuitable agricultural practices and overexploitation of soil and water resources can cause the destruction of usable arable land, leading to desertification and the loss of use of that land. In the face of the growing population and the need for a place to put it, can Europe afford to lose any more land and jeopardise being able to feed its future population? Stakeholders: European Union: The European Environment Agency (EEA) regularly releases reports on urbanisation and urban sprawl. Considerable budgetary allowances are being given from the European Cohesion and Structural Funds to provide the ability for macro-economic change. The coordination of land use policy and these investments is key to the efficient, rapid response of Europe. The European Com-mission also has a Regional Policy branch, which sets out the causes of European urbanisation and also provides potential solutions to it.4 Local Councils: At present, local councils are developing land with their only aim being to house the current population. There are very rarely policies which have focused primarily on sustainability, prioritising it, but instead the local councils focus on solving the immediate problem. Lack of communication and cooperation amongst local councils can lead to inefficient, unorganised and most importantly un-sustainable consequent land development. Farmers: The increased demand on farmers to produce agricultural and forestry resources is resulting in unsustainable bad practice, as farmers attempt to maximise their output in damaging, destructive ways. With the increase in city size, farmers begin to have less and less land with which to produce more and more resources, essentially crippling their ability to develop crops in a safe, sustainable way. Addi-tionally, bad practice amongst farmers may be the direct cause of the destruction and loss of arable land, but it is a consequence of the loss of that land to urban sprawl and the increased demand for resources.5 Civic society: The public are at the heart of every issue in the EU. The wish by the population of Europe to have large houses with large gardens as well as all of the benefits that come from being in or near a city is causing a huge demand for the land surrounding city bounds. The city continues to expand as more and more people move there and houses are built. Without a sustainable, planned ap-proach, urban sprawl will continue to be a problem as the people who move to the cities only aid in the long run in the destruction of the arable land they themselves depend on. United Nations: organisations like the United Nations Convention on Combatting Desertification (UNCCD) work to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity and to mitigate the effects of drought. The UNCCD has a bottom-up approach, meaning it encourages the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. Reports like the UN World Urbanisation Prospects are providing more and more information and insight into urbanisation in our growing world.6

1 Speech by Mr Ronan Uhel, Head of Spatial Analysis, European Environment Agency, at the 44th International Planning Congress, 20th September 2008, Dalian, China.

2 Retrieved from http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/urbanisation

3 Speech by Mr Ronan Uhel, Head of Spatial Analysis, European Environment Agency, at the 44th International Planning Congress, 20th September 2008, Dalian, China.

4 Retrieved from www.eea.europa.eu

5 Retrieved from www.momagri.org

6 “About the Convention”. Retrieved from http://www.unccd.int/en/about-the-convention/Pages/About-the-Convention.aspx

Key Conflicts: Land Use Policy: Urban sprawl is accelerating in response to the improvements in transportation links and private transport, which makes it possible to live increasingly far from city centres, while retaining all the domestic advantages of living in a city, or even to allow a citizen to live in one city and work in another. However, local councils are not planning this development with sustainability in mind, and where unplanned, decentralised development dominates, sprawl will occur. In today’s Europe, cities have grown so large that many cross munici-pal boundaries, which divides the responsibility for land use management between different administrations, and this leads to incoherent, uncoordinated and often inefficient land use management. Desertification: It is that which farmers are forced to do to cope with the increased demand from a high-consumption society, which causes the destruction and loss of that land. The reduction in the amount of arable land available leads to farmers needing to attempt to compen-sate with their use of their remaining land. This leads to overstocking, poor crop management, increased soil disturbance and the inappro-priate use of heavy machinery (tractors, forestry machines), which are all the main human-induced driving forces of desertification and land degradation. When the land is no longer usable, the farmer can sell the land to someone looking to live near the city, and then that land has lost its use agriculturally and instead becomes part of the urban sprawl problem. Salinisation: Salinisation can be associated with the over-exploitation of groundwater caused by the demands of growing urbanisation, industry and agriculture. Soil salinity is a major cause of desertification. The increased pressure from an ever-consuming and growing pop-ulation leads the farmers to struggle with providing the needed resources, as they try to maximise the use of their land, but poor practice instead leads to the eventual loss of that land. The human factors which lead to salinisation are chiefly the following: improper irrigation practices (uneven distribution of irrigation water, improper drainage; irrigation with salt-rich water); the use of fertilisers, especially where land under intensive agriculture has low permea-bility; and limited possibilities for drainage due to its previous overuse1. Measures in Place: The European Commission (EU) has adopted a Soil Thematic Strategy2 in order to provide a comprehensive common framework for pro-tecting soils across the European Union from soil degradation, salinisation and other harms. The Strategy consist of a proposed legislative framework for the protection and sustainable use of soil, in order to integrate soil protection into national and EU policies; measures to im-prove knowledge of soil functions; and measures to increase public awareness. The proposed EU soil framework, designed so that Member States may adopt measures tailored to local needs, establishes common principles, objectives, and actions to guide land use planning and management and requires that Member States adopt a systematic approach to identifying and combating soil degradation. Member States also must integrate soil protection into other policies - especially with respect to agriculture, regional development, transport, and research. The Strategy reports great success in the Netherlands, Germany and Scotland. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements. The Committee on Science and Technology (CST) identifies the priorities for research, and recommends ways of strength-ening cooperation amongst researchers. It also promotes cooperation in the field of combating desertification and mitigating the effects of salinisation and drought through appropriate sub-regional, regional and national institutions. The UNCCD has had marked success in its implementation, particularly in the Sahel desert region, but also in Italy and other areas of Europe. Key Words: urban sprawl, and degradation, land use policy, urban planning policy, irrigation, sustainable development, arable land Useful Links: http://www.eea.europa.eu/media/speeches/urbanisation-in-europe-limits-to-spatial-growth https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-topic/desertification-and-drought http://www.ewp.eu/activities/desiras/desertification-in-europe http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/projects/SOCO/FactSheets/ENFactSheet-04.pdf www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report.../eea_report_10_2006.pdf http://www.mdba.gov.au/about-basin/basin-environment/challenges-issues/salinity This last one is an article about salinisation in the Murray-Darling Basin in Australia, but gives a great explanation of the issues surrounding it and some possible measures to take against it. 1 “Fact Sheet” (May 2009) Sustainable Agricultural and Soil Conservation 2007-2009. Retrieved from

http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/projects/SOCO/FactSheets/ENFactSheet-04.pdf

2 “The implementation of the Soil Thematic Strategy and ongoing activities.” (COM(2012) 46) Retrieved from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52012DC0046

DROIAccess to clean water, declared a human right by the UN in 2010, remains re-stricted by economic and political barriers. Bearing in mind that more than 750 million people worldwide still do not have access to clean drinking water, what steps can the EU take to ensure this right is adequately respected?

Chairperson: Tuusa Eriksson (FI)

Introduction

Without water, life would not exist. Without clean water, problems arise in meeting many other fundamental human needs. Education suffers – time spent gathering water could be spent in the classroom – especially affecting the educational possibilities of girls.1 Health is also affected – many lethal illnesses are contracted from dirty water. With safe water, time (and life) lost to illness is reduced and people can spend more time working and lifting themselves out of poverty. Additionally, with access to clean water there is less crop loss. This means that hunger can be reduced and food security improved. Overall, access to water can break the cycle of poverty. In 2010, the UN recognised the right of every human being to sufficient water for personal and domestic uses, which must be safe, acceptable and affordable, as well as physically accessible. Yet still today, 750 million people do not have access to clean water globally. This figure includes 9 million people in developed countries, 2 million of which are Europeans. More than 840 000 people die every year from a water-related disease; lack of water access kills more people than all forms of violence, including war, combined. It affects disproportionately those most vulnerable in society: people in developing countries, specifically children. In addition to human loss, lack of access to water also results in vast economic loss. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates gaining universal access to adequate water and sanitation would result in an estimated $18.5 billion in economic benefits per year globally from deaths avoided and a further $32 billion from reductions in health care costs and increased productivity from reduced illness.2 Lack of access to clean water is a large issue: the World Economic Forum announced in January 2015 that the water crisis is the number one global risk based on impact to society.3 Stakeholders The World Bank Group - the largest funder of water management in the developing world, with loans and financing channelled through the group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC). The World Bank can push for privatisation of state-owned industries and resources through Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs), which take the form of loans to countries experiencing economic crises. These loans include conditionality clauses designed to allow the economies of these countries to become more market oriented. The European Commission – Liberalisation of the water sector within the EU is a prominent goal of the Commission. Its repeated attempts to liberalise public water have been faced with resistance by civil society organisations, towns and municipalities; and the European Parliament. As a consequence, the European Commission has never managed to table a general water privatisation legislative proposal. NGOs such as WaterAid – Charitable trusts who work towards bringing water, sanitation and hygiene education to where it is needed most. The UN – Monitors water supply and sanitation together with WHO and is responsible for the UN water decade and World Water Day. Member States – Member States have the right to decide on the water services in their own country. For example France and the United Kingdom have privatised their water services and are actively seeking improved market access for their companies in other countries.

Key Conflicts Expanding drinking water and sanitation coverage to achieve universal access is expensive. Including the costs of also maintaining the existing water and sanitation infrastructure, it would cost approximately $2 trillion. Despite the high costs, for example in 2011, only 6 % of international aid went towards investments in water and sanitation.4 The major conflict lies in whether or not to privatise water sales. Many international bodies, such as The World Bank Group, push for privatisation as a key solution to the water crisis. The World Bank serves the interests of water companies through its loan programmes to governments, which often come with conditions that require the privatisation of water services, and through its private sector arm, the IFC, which invests in privatisation projects and makes loans to companies carrying them out. The European Commission has also favoured privatisation as an answer to the water crisis. This is part of a general trend of liberalising public services in the EU, which is justified to guarantee fair competition and free circulation of goods and services according to the Commission. The EU, for example, has often imposed water privatisation as a condition for development aid or bailout deals, as was the case with Portugal and Greece. It has also included water privatisation as a condition to sign trade agreements with a number of developing countries. However, the Committee on the Environment of the European Parliament voted on the 25th of June to confirm their strong support for the human right to water.

1 Nauges, C. & Strand, J. (2011) ”Water Hauling and Girls’ School Attendance: Some New Evidence from Ghana.” Retrieved from http://water.care2share.wikispaces.net/file/view/Water+hauling+and+-

Girls+school+attendance_Ghana_2011.pdf

2 World Health Organization (2012) “Global costs and benefits of drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage” Retrieved from http://www.who.

int/water_sanitation_health/publications/2012/globalcosts.pdf

3 World Economic Forum (2015) “Global Risks 2015” Retrieved from http://reports.weforum.org/global-risks-2015/

4 OECD Brochure (2013) “Financing water and sanitation in developing countries: the contribution of external aid” Retrieved from: http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/Brochure_water_2013.pdf

Opponents of water privatisation argue that handing over water services to profit-seeking private companies leads to price rises, leaving the poorest excluded from water services they are no longer able to afford. Another concern is the lack of investment in infrastructure. The general concern is that private corporations have no social or developmental mission and unlike governments, they are not accountable to people. However, proponents claim that these things are the price to pay for better efficiency and service quality. They also argue it is essential to get the private sector involved due to its huge spending power and the knock-on effect on other corporate investors, which would help bring jobs and prosperity as well as basic infrastructure to deprived regions. Another aspect of the water crisis is to do with water sustainability. Water is a finite resource that is only renewable if it is managed well. With current levels of water consumption, an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed countries by 2025. The problem takes on a new dimension; not only is it a matter of ensuring water access for all, but making sure that this water access is sustainable.

Measures in place Not many legal measures exist concerning water access. The most important measures on a global level are those adopted by the UN. The most fundamental one of these is the UN resolution recognising access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. The Resolution calls upon States and international organisations to provide financial resources and aid capacity-building and technology transfer in order to help countries, in particular developing countries, to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all. It recognises the access to clean water as a prerequisite to the realisation of all other human rights. 1 To enable these goals to become a reality, in 1992 the UN launched the World Water Day, which takes place every year on the 22nd of March to help generate interest in global water problems and raise cash for new projects,2 as well as the Water For Life Decade, taking place from 2005 to 2015 with the goal of the promoting efforts to fulfil international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015.3 On the European level, the EU Citizens’ Initiative “Right2water” has been very influential. It gathered 1.8 million signatures against privatisation of water services in the EU. Right2water encourages the European Commission to “propose legislation implementing the human right to water and sanitation as recognised by the United Nations, and promoting the provision of water and sanitation as essential public services for all. The EU legislation should require governments to ensure and to provide all citizens with sufficient and clean drinking water and sanitation.”4 The European Parliament voted to support Right2water and for example calls on the Commission to permanently exclude water, sanitation and wastewater disposal from internal market rules.

Key words Privatisation, water access, water crisis, human right, water sustainability

Useful links General information on importance of access to water Homepage of Water.org – a non-profit organisation working towards safe water and sanitation: http://water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/water/ Homepage of UN water: http://www.unwater.org/ UN Infographic “Water for a Sustainable World”: http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/images/Infographic_light_01.jpg Opinion articles on the privatisation of water services Barlow, M & Clarke, T. (2004) “Water Privatization” Global Policy Forum: https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/209/43398.html Dearn, M. & Karunananthan (2015) “Privatising public services is no way to fund sustainable development” The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/may/21/privatisation-public-services-sustainable-development-investor-state-dispute-settlement

Lappé, A. (2014) “World Bank wants water privatized, despite risks” Al Jazeera America: http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/4/water-managementprivatizationworldbankgroupifc.html Vidal, J. (2015) “Water privatisation: a worldwide failure?” The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2015/jan/30/water-privatisation-worldwide-failure-lagos-world-bank Water privatisation in the EU Fahsi, M. (2012) “EU Commission’s insistence on privatization of water services reveals double standards” Mint Press News: http://www.mintpressnews.com/eu-commissions-insistence-on-privatization-of-water-services-reveals-double-standards/39321/ “European Parliament committee supports human right to water” (2015) Website of European Water Movement: http://europeanwater.org/news/press-releases/573-european-parliament-committee-supports-the-human-right-to-water “European Union uses eurocrisis as alibi to push privatisation of water services” (2012) Corporate Europe Observatory: http://corporateeurope.org/2012/05/european-union-uses-eurocrisis-alibi-push-privatisation-water-services

Information about current policies in the EU Website of ECI “Right2water”: http://www.right2water.eu European Parliament Briefing Paper on the Right to Water and Sanitation in Development Cooperation (2012): http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/note/join/2012/457118/EXPO-DROI_NT(2012)457118_EN.pdf

1 Resolution 64/292 on 28.7.2010. “The human right to water and sanitation” Retrieved from http://www.un.org/es/comun/docs/?symbol=A/RES/64/292&lang=E

2 A/RES/47/193 on 22.12.1992. ”Observance of World Day for Water” Retrieved from http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/47/a47r193.htm

3 A/RES/58/217 on 9.2.2004. ”International Decade for Action, ’Water for Life’, 2005-2015” Retrieved from http://www.un.org/es/comun/docs/?symbol=A/RES/58/217&lang=E

4 ECI(2012)000003 on 10.5.2012. “Water and sanitation are a human right! Water is a public good, not a commodity!” Retrieved from

http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/initiatives/finalised/details/2012/000003

ECONWith tax fraud and evasion costing the EU approximately a trillion euro per year, the EU has been pressuring tax havens such as Switzerland, Monaco and Liechtenstein to disclose information on the financial assets of EU citizens. In a world of international capital flows and ownership of assets, how can tax fraud and evasion be tackled more efficiently throughout Europe?

Chairpersons: Paula Villalba (ES) & Laure Steinville (FR)

Introduction

Certain countries both outside and within the EU1 have classically been known as “tax havens”, places where companies and wealthy individuals invest and withhold their money in order to avoid more rigid tax systems in their own nations. Many companies search for loopholes in the law, such as the Double Irish with a Dutch Sandwich, in order to steer clear of their national taxation laws, which are notably more strict and unfavourable.

In recent years, much has been done to try and solve this issue, which has become extremely pertinent to EU Member States due to the enormous amounts of money lost on a national level. Estimates predict a loss of at least a trillion euros per year2 due to extreme tax evasion, aggressive taxation and in some cases, fraud.

All of these activities create an unfair burden amongst taxpayers, unfair competition between businesses and a situation of unfair play between Member States.

Stakeholders

The EU is undeniably a main stakeholder in the fight against tax fraud. Tax regulation is a shared competence between the EU and Member States, implying that the EU only has limited capacity of adapting national tax laws, thus giving Member States leeway to implement their own taxation schemes. The incoherency of the taxation laws between Member States inherently implies an easy route for tax-scammers to find loopholes in the system.

Many wealthy EU nationals decide to invest their money in EU Member States that conserve their bank secrecy laws (such as Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands), meaning that their countries of origin are oblivious to the amount of money that is not being taxed.

EU countries without bank secrecy laws are also important stakeholders, seeing as they suffer from enormous economic losses due to their own citizens and companies investing elsewhere in the EU. By doing this, they avoid domestic tax, committing tax fraud that cannot be legally addressed due to secrecy laws.

EU/ non-EU companies have been finding ways to pay as little money as possible as tax. All companies have economic and financial assessors that weigh between the different methods whereby they can avoid paying certain taxes and thus save the company vast sums of money, nevertheless, as will be explored later on, many of these methods do not completely adhere to the law.

Third countries are non-EU member states that serve as “tax havens”. These countries benefit from the current system and little can be done by the EU to encourage them to change their bank secrecy laws. Banks in third countries earn vast amounts of money from handling external investments. An example of a third country is Switzerland.

Key Conflicts

It is extremely important to differentiate the terms tax evasion/avoidance and tax fraud. Tax avoidance normally falls within the limits of the law. However, many forms of tax avoidance go against the spirit of the law, stretching the interpretation of what is “legal” as far as possible to minimise a company’s overall tax contribution3. By using aggressive tax planning techniques4, some companies exploit legal loopholes in tax systems and mismatches between national tax legislation to avoid paying their share of taxes. Moreover, tax regimes in many countries allow companies to artificially shift profits to their jurisdictions, with the effect of encouraging this aggressive tax planning. Until very recently, the Double Irish with a Dutch sandwich loophole was exploited by multinational corporations that made use of the tax laws in both Ireland and the Netherlands.

1 examples of tax havens within the EU: Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco etc. Examples of tax havens outside of the EU: Cayman Islands, Switzerland (these are all classic tax havens, some are no longer

existent)

2 Taxation and Customs Union.(2015). European Commission. Retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/tax_fraud_evasion/a_huge_problem/index_en.html

3 Anup Shah. (2013). Global Issues. Retrieved from: http://www.globalissues.org/print/article/54

4 Jonathan Arnott.(2015). Huffington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jonathan-arnott/tax-avoidance_b_6691056.html

Perhaps the most important point to be highlighted is that information is openly available within the European Union on individual accounts in foreign countries in light of increasing transparency and preventing tax havens. There is little room left for non-EU and EU citizens to “hide” their fortunes inside the EU seeing as measures have been taken to revert bank secrecy laws. Notwithstanding, companies many still continue to find refuge in “lax” taxation laws1. It is therefore evident that efforts can still be made to improve the situation further.

Despite the strict control of money entering and leaving countries and the implementation of several measures, companies from around the world, such as Apple 2, continue to find loopholes in the tax system that permit them to save vast amounts of money on their corporation tax. The reason for this is mainly the incongruence in Member States’ tax laws. Multinational corporations employ skilled analysts who examine ways to take advantage of the somewhat ambiguous tax legislation. The schemes put in place to increase transparency are completely ineffective in solving this main issue seeing as they do not prevent tax evasion, which remains “legal”. Large companies create franchises or base themselves in countries that offer lower corporation tax, for example.

There still remains a lot of room for improvement. Is it possible to reach a complete transparency that all EU countries can agree upon? What steps can be taken by EU Member States to ensure that their tax legislation is not taken advantage of?

Measures in Place

Communication from the commission to the European Parliament and the Council on tax transparency to fight tax evasion and avoidance3. The EU commission presents a tax transparency package that envisages to ameliorate the situation.

During 2014, Austria, Luxembourg and Belgium agree to end bank secrecy laws 4. This means an increase in transparency within the EU.

Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs)5 provide for the exchange of information on request relating to a specific criminal or civil tax investigation or civil tax matters under investigation.

European Union withholding tax6 has been set up to ensure that citizens of one member state do not evade taxation by depositing funds outside the jurisdiction of residence and so distort the single market. The tax is withheld at source and passed on to the EU country of residence.

EU-switzerland tax agreement7. From March of this year, Switzerland, a gigantic tax haven within the borders of the European continent, signed an agreement with the EU whereby they promise to reveal all financial information on EU nationals’ accounts.

The Automatic Information exchange pack8 is a vital transparency tool that could help developing countries tackle illicit financial flows worth trillions of dollars that end up hidden in the financial centres of many OECD countries and other tax havens.

Key Words

third countries, tax havens, shell corporation, tax evasion, tax fraud, bank secrecy, competences, double taxation, retroactive taxation, aggressive taxation

Useful Links:

Interesting article on how multinational corporations create loopholes in tax systems: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/business/apples-tax-strategy-aims-at-low-tax-states-and-nations.html?_r=0 Double Irish with a Dutch sandwich: http://www.economist.com/news/business-and-finance/21625444-irish-government-has-announced-plans-alter-one-its-more-controversial-tax-policies http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/tax_fraud_evasion/role_of_the_eu/index_en.htm http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/17/europe-tax-commissioners-evasion-fraud-companies http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-8297-2015-INIT/en/pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/vat/control_anti-fraud/reports/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/tax_fraud_evasion/index_en.htm

1 Simon Bowers and Arthur Neslen. (2015). The Guardian. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/17/luxembourg-tax-haven-blacklist-brussels-european-commission

2 Lee Sheppard. (2013). Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/leesheppard/2013/05/28/how-does-apple-avoid-taxes/

3 European Commission. (2015). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Retrieved from:

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/taxation/company_tax/transparency/com_2015_136_en.pdf

4 Peter Spiegel. (2015). Financial Times. Retrieved from: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0ca39924-53b3-11e4-929b-00144feab7de.html#axzz3eqaLoO2N

5 OECD. (2015). Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs). Retrieved from: http://www.oecd.org/tax/exchange-of-tax-information/taxinformationexchangeagreementstieas.htm

6 Taxation and Customs Union.(2015). European Commission. Retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/personal_tax/savings_tax/rules_applicable/index_en.htm

7 Press Release Database. (2015). European Commission. Retrieved from: http://europa.eu/rapid/midday-express-19-03-2015.htm

8 Andres Knobel, Markus Meinzer. (2015). Tax Justice Network. Retrieved from: http://www.taxjustice.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/AIE-An-opportunity-for-developing-countries.pdf

EMPLWith the Quality Framework for Traineeships increasing transparency on traineeship conditions and facilitating a smoother transition from school to work life, unpaid internships still offer leeway for exploitation. In light of the non-binding nature of intern-ship-related initiatives, how can the interests and rights of young interns be safe-guarded?

Introduction In August 2013, Moritz Erhardt, a 21-year-old German student, was found dead at his London accommodation after allegedly working for 72 hours without sleep during a summer internship with the U.S. bank’s investment banking division. The death of this young student revealed to Europe the extreme consequences of the current internship market, where the desperation of young people trying to find jobs, passes the point where it becomes destructive for their health and wellbeing. Despite the company’s legal obligations to ensure employees, including interns, are not exposed to health and safety risks, and who are regularly warned that failing to meet those obligations could leave them open to criminal prosecution and hefty fines, current social and economic conditions still often lead young professionals to accept appalling work conditions for the sake of entering the labour market. Both the European Union (EU) and the Member States have been trying to overturn this shameful tendency, however the lack of active policing of internships conditions has not improved the long term solution. Stakeholders Member States Member States hold the legal competence and jurisdiction on national policies regarding employment and social affairs. The EU’s role in these areas is confined to support and complement the rulings of national governments1. Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) The EPSCO Council is currently one of the formations of the Council of the European Union. Besides being actively responsible for the ap-proval of the ‘Council Recommendation on Quality Framework for Traineeships’ in 20132, the EPSCO Council aims to increase employment levels and also improve living and working conditions. Employers Companies and other institutions offering traineeships are directly influenced by regulations introduced on traineeship agreements and conditions. Recently, they have come under increasing pressure to raise the standards of traineeships offered. Nevertheless, taking on trainees can often be time-consuming and resource-demanding. Even though employers who don’t rise to the minimal work standards are open to criminal prosecution and hefty fines, traineeship working conditions are yet to be under strong control and regulation, as companies exist that still fail to guarantee positive working conditions for trainees. The European Commission (EC) The EC has taken measures, such as the ‘Youth on the Move’3 initiative, to help young people find employment, while also aiming to com-bat relevant challenges such as youth unemployment, negative working conditions and exploitation of youth labour. Key conflicts Competition in the labour market and youth unemployment have dramatically increased over the last years, thus becoming one of the main concerns of both the European youth4 and of the European Union (EU) itself. To increase the chances of finding a job, many youngsters opt for an internship or traineeship, aimed at facilitating their transition from the university into the workplace. However, according to a survey coordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM) in November 20135 one in three traineeships is substandard with regard to working conditions or learning content. 1 ‘The European Union Explained: Employment and social affairs’, 2013: ISBN 978-92-79-24020-1;

2 ‘Proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on a Quality Framework for Traineeships’ 2013: {SWD(2013) 495 final} {SWD(2013) 496 final};

3 Youth on the move- A Europe 2020 initiative: ec.europa.eu/youthonthemove/;

4 “Youth” is best understood as a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s independence and awareness of our interdependence as members of a community.

Youth is a more fluid category than a fixed age-group.The UN, for statistical consistency across regions, defines ‘youth’, as those persons between the ages of 15 and 35 years, without prejudice

to other definitions by Member States.

5 ‘THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAINEESHIPS IN THE EU’ requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and co-ordinated by the

Directorate-General for Communication. Flash Eurobarometer 378 - TNS Political & Social: ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/flash/fl_378_sum_en.pdf;

As a consequence, while some consider traineeships to be beneficial for young people, others fear that unpaid internships and trainee-ships represent nothing more than a modern form of slavery in the labour market1. One of the main issues identified is the lack of payment for interns. According to comprehensive data from November 2013, nearly six out of ten trainees (59% of the young people between the ages of 18 and 35) say they have not received any monetary compensation during their last internship period. Yet, those who received payment for their work complained that it was insufficient to cover the living costs for the period during which the internship took place. Many young people who would be interested in available internship positions are unable to afford to work for free and therefore the sec-tor becomes limited to those who are not necessarily the most qualified to undertake such a position. Besides the fact that four out of ten trainees did not have a written traineeship agreement or contract2 with the host organisation or com-pany, one in four people also complained that the working conditions were visibly different than the ones of the other employees3. Adding to the negative work conditions is the rather low quality and lack of purpose of internships available, meaning the tasks of interns can have no educational value, i.e., instead of developing skills in the field of the intended field, some interns spend their days making coffee and copying materials. Measures already in place A key initiative endorsed by the Member States in the Council has been the ‘Youth Guarantee’ scheme, which aims to assure that young people aged 25 or less will either receive a quality job offer, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within 4 months of leaving formal education or becoming unemployed. In addition, the ‘Youth on the Move’4 initiative aims to make training more relevant to young people’s needs by offering them the possibility to take up EU grants to train in a different country. The project also encourages Member States to facilitate the transition from education or higher education to employment. Alarmed by the high rate of youth unemployment registered in the beginning of 2012 (it had reached 22.4%), the EU launched another set of measures aimed at increasing the employment rate among youth – the ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’5. Additionally, several other platforms have been established to enhance communication between employers and job seekers, such as EU-RES and increase the opportunities for cross-border traineeships in Europe, e.g., Erasmus+. The ‘Council Recommendation on Quality Framework for Traineeships’ was supposed to effectively address the existent issues, but several stakeholders call for more concrete actions, and, despite all the aforementioned measures, many would argue that young people remain exploited under the currently prevailing practices. However, the European Youth Forum on behalf of 14 European youth organisations drafted a letter of response dealing areas in which they felt the recommendation failed young people availing of internships, emphasising that “there are no proposals in the Recommendation that require internship providers to pay their interns or offer them access to social protection.” 6 Key words Labour market; traineeships; youth unemployment; fair work value; internship exploitation; labour regulation. Useful links Official Sources • ‘Council recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships’, Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting, March 10th, 2014: www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/lsa/141424.pdf • ‘Commission to propose a Quality Framework for Traineeships’, Andor L., press conference, December 4th, 2013: ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?ref=I084341 • ’Joint letter condemning Council Recommendation on Quality Framework for Traineeships’, European Youth Forum, March 11th, 2014: www.youthforum.org/pressrelease/joint-letter-condemning-council-recommendation-on-quality-framework-for-traineeships/ Youth employment: Commission welcomes adoption of Quality Framework to improve quality of traineeships’, Press release, European Commission, March 10th, 2014: europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-236_en.htm Visual Support ‘Youth on the move’, European Commission, YouTube, October 10th, 2011: https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DEajnSUE0GiE Articles ‘Employers warn against curbs on unpaid interns’, O’Connor S., Rigby E. in UK Economy, December 15th, 2014: www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9972a862-846f-11e4-bae9-00144feabdc0.html%23axzz3ThCrVSdq ‘The Economist Explains: Are unpaid internships illegal?’, The Economist, September 9th, 2014: www.economist.com/blogs/economist-ex-plains/2014/09/economist-explains-7 ‘Internships: A mixed blessing for young Europeans’, Teffer P. in EUObserver, March 13th, 2015: https://euobserver.com/education/127989

1 ‘Unpaid internships set to continue to shame Europe’, Porcaro G. in EurActiv.com, March 5th, 2013: www.euractiv.com/socialeurope/unpaid-internships-set-continue-analysis-533939;

2 The lack of a legal contract between an employer and an employee constitutes a great risk for the employee- in case of any abusive behaviour from the employer, without a contract, the

employee disposes of a very limited legal security.

3 Malik S. and Quinn ‘Bank of America intern’s death puts banks’ working culture in spotlight’, The Guardian, 21st August, 2013:

www.theguardian.com/money/2013/aug/21/bank-intern-death-working-hours;

4 Youth on the Move’; ec.europa.eu/youthonthemove/;

5 ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’, an initiative by the European Commission: ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1006.

6 14. ’Joint letter condemning Council Recommendation on Quality Framework for Traineeships’, European Youth Forum, March 11th, 2014:

www.youthforum.org/pressrelease/joint-letter-condemning-council-recommendation-on-quality-framework-for-traineeships/

ENVIRecycling and waste-to-energy programmes are instrumental in the fight to divert waste from landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. How should the EU incentivise the wider adoption of such programmes geared towards more sustainable waste management, and their use for energy production?

Chairperson: Morgan McDonagh (IE)

Introduction The vast majority of economic growth and prosperity up to this point has been based on a linear ‘take-make-consume and dispose’ mo-del. This system, which is based on the extraction of finite, increasingly rare, raw materials, and which produces mountains of waste, is no longer sustainable. Demand for resources is growing, between 2002 and 2010 the cost of basic commodities increased 150%1, driving up costs for businesses and consumers. The extraction and transportation of many resources, from oil to rare earth metals, is either unstable, unreliable or both, increasing uncertainty and political tension, while the environmental damage caused by the extraction, processing and disposal of natural resources has led to rising sea levels, air and water pollution, and other problems. Europe has begun to break this cycle by implementing waste management policies which aim to reduce the production of waste, in-crease its value through reuse and recycling and to extract as much energy as possible though incineration and other waste-to-energy systems. Many solutions to these problems have been proposed. The Circular Economy is one, Zero-Waste Policies are another.2 What is obvious is that a more radical and far reaching approach must be sought, if the EU wishes to move towards a more sustainable future.3 Stakeholders This is a problem which affects everyone, from EU institutions, to individual citizens from multi-national corporations right down to the local bakery. At a higher level, there is the involvement of EU Institutions, including the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission. They are tasked with conceiving and producing legislation and recommendations that target citizens, busi-nesses and Member States. Early this year, the European Commission adopted a zero-waste programme, establishing a legal framework for a zero-waste EU. Within the EU, the environment (including waste management) is a shared competence, meaning both the EU and Member States can pass legislation on it. There are a number of Member States that are active in developing initiatives in the field of the waste reduction and energy recovery. The overall leader is Sweden whose recycling and energy recovery programme have been so successful that the country must import waste from other Member States to keep the incinerators going4. However, other Member States still lack the knowledge, drive and infrastruc-ture to reduce landfilling and other harmful practices. There are a number of factors contributing to this, including funding, lack of initiati-ve and innovation, and the country’s institutional capacity within the EU. Business too, has an important role to play. Corporations such as H&M, Renault and Vodafone, have shown their support for reducing was-te.5 For the transition to a more efficient waste management system to be successful, there needs to be participation and motivation at all levels of society. Unfortunately, there is an imbalance between talking about waste reduction and actually practising it amongst Europe-an businesses. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the European economy and are considered crucial to an effecti-ve circular economy. It is vital that SMEs understand, accept and implement practices that reduce waste and increase energy recovery. Individual citizens and the choices that they make are central to the full implementation of the circular economy. It is the decisions made by individuals when buying, using and disposing of products and services which most influence the economy and which can drive chan-ge.

1 World Economic Forum (2014). “Mounting on Pressure.” Retrieved from

http://reports.weforum.org/toward-the-circular-economy-accelerating-the-scale-up-across-global-supply-chains/view/mounting-pressure-on-resources/

2 European Commission (2014). “Towards a circular economy: A zero waste programme for Europe. (COM(2014) 398 final). Retrieved from

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/circular-economy/pdf/circular-economy-communication.pdf



4 Fredén, J. (2014)“The Swedish Recycling Revolution.” Retrieved from https://sweden.se/nature/the-swedish-recycling-revolution/

5 Ellen MacArthur Foundation. “What is the Circular Economy 100?” Retrieved from http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/business/ce100

Key conflicts One of the biggest challenges is that governments, businesses, consumers and the economy in general remain ‘locked in’ to the current system. We are all used to simply disposing of something after we are finished with it. The existing financial system rewards conventional investment and models, seeing these as less risky and limiting the level of investment in new, innovative technologies. The higher up-front costs involved with environmentally friendly production limits investor willingness to get involved with such projects, further reducing investment. This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of more radical legislation being enforced.1 Measures in place Some existing EU policies and incentives are working towards the implementation of a circular economy. Waste legislation has been a larger driver of resource efficiency to date by establishing a waste hierarchy; placing waste prevention on top, followed by reuse, then recycling and, finally, disposal. In July 2014, the European Commission published the communication “Towards a Circular Economy”2. It establishes an EU enabling fra-mework that combines smart regulation, market-based instruments, incentives and information sharing, as well as support for voluntary approaches. It focuses on research, unlocking investment, supporting business and consumers, and modernises waste policy. The package includes some legally binding targets, most of which are aimed at increasing recycling and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. At the fore of this proposal is a target to increase resource productivity by 30% by 2030, and to improve cooperation between the Europe-an Commission and Member States to ensure more effective implementation of such targets. Chemicals policy aims to phase out certain harmful toxins from the production system entirely. Finally, climate policy incentives have increased energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, driving up resource productivity. The “Green Action Plan for SMEs”3 developed in 2014, aims to improve research and increase financial support for SMEs in order to improve their sustainability and resource efficiency. It promotes entrepreneurship, eco-innovation, knowledge exchange, public-private partners-hips and various forms of education. Although not technically a measure in place, one idea that is popular amongst circular economy think tanks like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is the Cradle to Cradle concept. This concept proposes dividing all materials into two separate categories; biological materials and technical materials. Biological materials are designed to re-enter the biosphere safely through decomposition and can be used as fer-tiliser to grow food. Technical materials are non-degradable materials designed to circulate at high quality without entering the biosphere. The idea is to eliminate the concept of ‘waste’ and have all materials perpetually circulating.4 The cascading principle aims to extract as much energy and value from biological materials as possible. Instead of chopping down a tree to burn in a furnace, extra value can be gained through successive uses – first as a piece of furniture, then as a timber product, such as sawdust packing, and eventually incineration and heat or energy creation.5 The problem with many of these proposed solutions is that existing technologies, business models and behaviours are keeping the eco-nomy ‘locked-in’ to the linear model. It is often cheaper to chop down mature trees than to source used furniture. Key words Waste-to-energy, linear economy, circular economy, biological material, technical material, resource productivity, cascade principle, biomi-micry, regenerative design, Cradle to Cradle, industrial ecology, sharing economy. Useful links Official Links: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/index.htm Media Links: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/environment Other: https://sweden.se/nature/the-swedish-recycling-revolution/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr_DGf77OhM





3 European Commission. “Green Action Plan for SMEs.” Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/public-consultation-green-action-plan/index_en.htm

4 Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2013). “The circular model – brief history and schools of thought.” Retrieved from

http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/circular-economy/the-circular-model-brief-history-and-schools-of-thought

5 Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2013). “The circular model – brief history and schools of thought.” Retrieved from

http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/circular-economy/the-circular-model-brief-history-and-schools-of-thought

IMCOIn Europe one in every three children under the age of 11 is either overweight or obese. With the 2014 Action Plan on Child Obesity restricting marketing and advertis-ing of unhealthy food products to children, how can the protection of vulnerable consumers be ensured?

Chairperson: James Bradfield (IE)

Introduction“The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000.”1: this claim is indeed difficult to dispute given the high concentration of products that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS)2 that make up a large proportion of Europeans’ diets. The rise of said diets is influenced by its cheap cost3, dwindling knowledge of how to prepare food4 and one of the biggest factors5, the advertisement of unhealthy foods.

The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI)6 stated in 2010, that one in three European children from 6-9 were either overweight or obese. This significantly increases their chances of developing other diseases such as type-2 diabetes and heart disease. Previously only seen in adults, these conditions are now becoming a bigger threat to younger people7. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called obesity a global epidemic. They state that promotion of junk food is a ‘significant risk factor for childhood obesity.’8

Children today watch more television than ever before and the effect is twofold. Firstly, they get less exercise than previous generations and less than is recommended. Secondly, they are more exposed to and at risk from aggressive advertising and marketing strategies in part, as children do not necessarily differentiate between the cartoons they watch and the cartoons on ads for junk food. They associate their loved shows and characters with these foods, which helps to shape their eating habits9.

The European Union (EU) needs to decide how best to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens, the youth, before the obesity epidemic grows to uncontrollable levels. The 2014 Action Plan on Childhood Obesity10 (APCO) aims to show the commitment of EU Member States to addressing childhood obesity as a union, decide upon priorities in the fight against obesity and keep track of all progress made.

Stakeholders

Approximately 7% of EU healthcare budgets are spent each year on covering the obesity issue11, a figure which becomes even more startling when you consider that unlike other health care costs (such as treatment for cancer and genetic disorders), it is almost totally avoidable. Reduced unnecessary healthcare costs would result in more money being available for other projects such as education.

The situation in Member States obviously greatly affects the EU itself. Yet, the EU only has supporting competence in regard to health systems. This means that it cannot force Member States to adopt binding acts of legislation but make suggestions like the APCO. Consumer protection is a shared competence between the EU and Member States. This means that the EU can apply legislation that Member States must impose, however, if the EU decides not to act on the issue, the Member State can impose their own laws e.g. the tax on saturated fats in Denmark12.

HFSS processed goods made by food processing corporations have the advantage of being cheap to produce and sell, often resulting in very high profits. Furthermore, these corporations spend millions each year advertising them to consumers of all ages. The larger corporations have an unprecedented power, which extends into the political sphere13.

TV network providers share some responsibility, too, because of the ads they display on their channels. In a free-market economic system driven by competition, these providers will to sell the time slots for ads to the companies willing to pay most. Public actors have therefore called on other providers to follow the lead of Disney who banned the advertising of junk food on their channels14.

1 Claim made by Robert Kenner in his 2008 documentary ‘Food Inc.’. Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMVdrEo5130

2 Such as carbonated drinks or ready-made meals.

3 Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2011), ‘Scientific Recommendations for Healthy Eating Guidelines in Ireland’, p. 42. Retrieved from https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&-

source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsai.ie%2Frecommendationsforhealthyeatingguidelinesinireland.html&ei=PGWNVdS-JMPZU-O_oMAJ&usg=AFQjCNE9RUPXE-Qe3TlXmt-

7Jo4becNOD9w&bvm=bv.96782255,d.d24.

4 Roxby, Philippa (2011), ‘Why cooking skills are the key to healthy eating.’ Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-16854572

5 Park, Alice (2011), ‘It’s the Ads, Stupid: Why TV Leads to Obesity.’ Retrieved from: http://healthland.time.com/2011/06/27/its-the-ads-why-tv-leads-to-obesity/

6 European Union (2014), Action Plan on Childhood Obesity. Retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/health/nutrition_physical_activity/docs/childhoodobesity_actionplan_2014_2020_en.pdf

7 O’Regan, Mark (2015), ‘Irish teens face heart disease and infertility as obesity crisis grows.’ Retrieved from:

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/irish-teens-face-heart-disease-and-infertility-as-obesity-crisis-grows-30888414.html

8 World Health Organisation (2013), ‘Marketing of foods high in fat, salt and sugar to children: update 2012-2013.’ Retrieved from:

http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/191125/e96859.pdf

9 Hendrick, Bill (2011), ‘Cartoon Characters Influence Children’s’ Food Choices.’ Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20110307/cartoon-characters-influence-kids-food-choices

10 European Union (2014), Action Plan on Childhood Obesity. Retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/health/nutrition_physical_activity/docs/childhoodobesity_actionplan_2014_2020_en.pdf

11 Rettman, Andrew (2006), Obesity epidemic costs EU €59 billion a year.’ Retrieved from: https://euobserver.com/news/21720

12 Abend, Lisa (2011), ‘Beating Butter: Denmark imposes the World’s First Fat Tax.’ Retrieved from: http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2096185,00.html

13 Oxfam (2013), “Behind the Brands.’ Retrieved from: https://www.oxfam.org/sites/www.oxfam.org/files/bp166-behind-the-brands-260213-en.pdf

14 Hughes, Mark (2012), ‘Disney to ban junk food advertising on its TV channels.’ Retrieved from:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/9312119/Disney-to-ban-junk-food-advertising-on-its-TV-channels.html

Key Conflicts

People are free to feed themselves and their family however they see fit. How much personal responsibility should citizens feel? If somebody decides a calorie dense, low nutrient diet is the diet for them, do the government or any other body have the right to interfere?

The conflict between traditional cooking and more modern food processing techniques is becoming ever more important. Learning to cook is being quickly pushed into the history books with many school children struggling to name fresh fruit and veg1. How can these vulnerable consumers be protected in their formative years?

The balance of corporate responsibility and profit making is central to this discussion. In this capitalist world, companies exist to make a profit. How much responsibility should food companies feel toward their customers’ health? Similarly TV networks gain nothing from having certain ads over others apart from the price the company is willing to pay, but do they have a responsibility to dedicate as much time to healthier foods?

While the APCO is an attempt to combat obesity, it is important to note that its aim is to halt the development of obesity rather than reverse it. Past EU campaigns such as media campaigns have had very limited, if any success such as the widely unknown “The Tasty Bunch”2 campaign.

Measures in Place

Directive 2010/13/EU3 states that MS and the European Commission (EC) should encourage the development of a code of conduct in regards advertisements during children’s shows that contain potentially unhealthy foods and beverages. Despite this, it leaves room for each individual MS to implement it the way they see fit.

Many companies4 have made the commitment to reducing the specific advertising of foods at children. This is a clear attempt to improve their reputation among consumers and make it easier for children to develop healthier eating habits. They have also reduced sugar, calorie and fat content of many foods. While it’s difficult to say what direct effect this is having on children, it’s an important step in advertising.

The EU-Pledge5 is a voluntary initiative by large food companies to change the way food is advertised to children. It has come about as a direct result of calls to support parents in making healthy decisions for their own and their children’s diets. The EU-Pledge publish an annual report6 to display and celebrate the progress being made.

Key Words:

Obesity, advertisement, marketing strategies, non-communicable diseases, processed food.

Useful Links A 2008 documentary, ‘Food Inc.’ that aimed to show the more ugly side of America’s food industry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMVdrEo5130.

EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity: http://ec.europa.eu/health/nutrition_physical_activity/docs/childhoodobesity_actionplan_2014_2020_en.pdf

Case study on the effects of branding on children: http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=570933

Jamie Oliver talks about the importance of teaching children to cook: http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver?language=en Broadcasting authority of Ireland rules on junk food advertising: http://www.bai.ie/index.php/2013/06/bai-issues-rules-on-food-advertising-to-children/

WHO Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/disease-prevention/nutrition/activities/monitoring-and-surveillance/who-european-childhood-obesity-surveillance-initiative-cosi

Explanation of the failure of the Danish tax on saturated fats: http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21566664-danish-government-rescinds-its-unwieldy-fat-tax-fat-chance

1 Proven by Jamie Oliver (2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYs4KS_djg 2 Retrieved from: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-09-1878_en.htm?locale=en

3 Directive 2010/13/EU of 15.04.2010. Audiovisual Media Services Directive: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:095:0001:0024:en:PDF

4 Bachman, Katy (2014), ‘Companies deliver on commitment to adopt stricter nutrition criteria.’ Retrieved from:

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/big-food-cuts-fat-advertising-kids-155020

5 About the EUPledge: http://www.eu-pledge.eu/content/about-eu-pledge

6 EU Pledge (2014), ‘2014 Monitoring report.’ Retrieved from: http://www.eu-pledge.eu/sites/eu-pledge.eu/files/reports/EU_Pledge_2014_Monitoring_Report.pdf

Introduction

Intellectual property can be defined as things created by the mind. These creations can be things like inventions, recipes, business models or business plans as well as things like musical pieces, literary works, films or computer programmes. The idea of protecting intellectual property, legal measures such as patents trademarks and copyright, have become more common since the second half of the 20th century. This is intended to encourage innovation by making sure creators can earn money from their creations, while at the same time ensuring the public has access to knowledge and innovations.

Following the end of the Uruguay round of trade talks in 1995, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was officially formed, and with it, the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)1 was negotiated and introduced. The TRIPS agreement intends to harmonise different countries’ IPR legislation and sets down certain minimum standards mandatory for all WTO members. Ever since its introduction, however, it has been the target of much criticism from developing countries, NGOs and others. Examples of such critique maintain that it denies people in developing countries access to vital medications, or that it contributes to the concentration of wealth among patent holders, most of which are from developing countries.

Stakeholders

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is an international organisation with the purpose of supervising and liberalising international trade. The TRIPS agreement is one of the main agreements of the WTO, and IPRs is an important issue for the organisation.

The 28 different member states of the EU, as well as the EU as a whole, are all members of the WTO, and the European Commission speaks for the all member states at WTO negotiations, including those concerning IPRs. Both trade policy and the conclusion of international agreements are so-called exclusive competences of the European Union, meaning only the EU as a whole, not individual member states, can act within these policy areas. Traditionally, the EU has lobbied for strong IPR protection, and was one of the main proponents of the TRIPS agreement when it was first negotiated. Developing countries also make up a big part of the WTO’s member states, and are often critical to the TRIPS agreement. Not having the same level of education and technological advancement, these countries’ ability to innovate in fields like technology and business are usually not as good as that of more developed countries.

Private individuals and companies all over the world are directly affected by IPRs. They are the ones developing new ideas and innovations and creating art and literature.

Many NGOs and other civil society groups such as Oxfam International and Médecins Sans Frontiéres have also voiced critique against the agreement, demanding that the terms of the agreement be reconsidered.

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is an agency of the United Nations tasked with developing a balanced and effective system of international property rights.

Key Conflicts

One major critique against the TRIPS agreement is that it does not contribute to economic development, but instead only benefits already developed countries. Many agree that functioning IPR systems can help countries going through economic development, and have done so in the past, for example in Europe and the US during the industrial revolution. The more controversial issue is whether or not these systems should be allowed to vary in scope, depending on a country’s level of development and technological advancement. Many argue that developing countries could benefit from a lower level of IPR regulations. This is partly because strong IPR protection would impose too high costs on developed countries when importing different technologies from developed countries, and partly because it would put domestic firms and companies that lack the capacity to innovate at a disadvantage, only benefitting foreign companies from the industrialised world. Proponents of the TRIPS agreement, however, argue that strong IPR protection encourages innovation in third world countries, as well as making them more attractive for foreign investors who, in turn, could provide access to new technologies. The TRIPS agreement has also been criticised for concentrating wealth in the hands of people in the industrialised world. For example, 97% of all patents worldwide are held by people in developed countries, and 80% of all patents filed or granted in developing countries belong to people in the industrialised world.2

1 WTO, Overview: The TRIPS Agreement, Retrieved from: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/intel2_e.htm

2 WTO, Trade liberalisation statistics, Retrieved from: http://www.gatt.org/trastat_e.html

INTA IEfforts to harmonise the system of intellectual property rights, such as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), have received much criticism, particularly from developing countries, NGOs and academia. How can the global dissemination of innovation be ensured whilst also respecting IPRs?

Chairperson: Gustaf Westin (SE)

Another very big target for criticism is how the TRIPS agreement handles medicines. In the past, many countries in the world have had special regulations concerning IPRs and medicines, different to those concerning other products. This often made it possible for other companies to copy the formulas of other companies’ medicines and sell it at a lower price, consequently lowering the price of medicines. With the TRIPS agreement, however, medicines can be patented in the same way as other types of products. Many, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Oxfam, argue this is harmful to developing countries, as it makes medicines vital to the fight against AIDS and other diseases more expensive and harder to access. Proponents of the agreement, however, argue that strong IPRs are necessary to incentivise the development of new drugs and to make it possible for pharmaceutical companies to cover the costs of the necessary research.

Measures in place

To address concerns about difficulties to implement the agreement, all WTO member states were granted a transition period of varying length, depending on the country’s level of development, with developed countries being granted a period of one year, and less developed countries a period of up to eleven years. This period was extended for pharmaceuticals to 2016.1 Within the TRIPS agreement there are also strong means of settling disputes and ensuring the proper implementation of the agreement.

In 2002, the WTO attempted to address some of the concerns regarding the TRIPS agreement and medicines with the Doha Declaration2, affirming that the TRIPS agreement should by no means prevent member states from taking measures to protect public health, including importing generic copies of patented medicines or the use of compulsory licensing. These provisions mainly apply if a country can prove that its domestic pharmaceutical industry cannot produce the needed drugs itself, and that the drug in question will not be used for commercial purposes. The declaration has been met with scepticism however, with NGOs, among others, arguing this would put an administrative burden on developing countries.

In terms of EU legislation, the union has adopted the Strategy for the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Third Countries3, a strategy to, for example, promote IPRs and provide technical assistance to third world countries while implementing WTO regulations in the EU. The EU’s bilateral trade agreements with third countries also contain clauses regarding IPRs. The EU is also part of several international efforts to increase the access to medicines in third world countries, such as the EC/ACP/WHO Partnership on Pharmaceutical Policies4 as well as supporting efforts to develop medicines for the three main poverty-related diseases, namely AIDS/HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Key words

Intellectual property, patent, trademark, copyright, WTO, TRIPS agreement, Doha Declaration, compulsory licensing, economic development

Useful links

WTO - An overview of the TRIPS agreement, – https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/intel2_e.htm

Website of the WIPO - http://www.wipo.int/portal/en/

The European Commission, The EU and the WTO – http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/eu-and-wto/

The European Commission, EU Trade Policies and IPR – http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/accessing-markets/intellectual-property/

The European Commission, The EU and Access to medicines - http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/accessing-markets/intellectual-property/access-to-medicines/

Crash Course - Introduction to Intellectual Property – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQOJgEA5e1k

Understanding 4 types of intellectual property – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMos5Dx-9CQ

Global Trade Negotiations, Intellectual Property – http://www.cid.harvard.edu/cidtrade/issues/ipr.html

SciDev.Net - “TRIPS and its impact on developing countries” – http://www.scidev.net/global/policy-brief/trips-and-its-impact-on-developing-countries.html

E-IR - “The arguments for and against the TRIPS agreement” – http://www.e-ir.info/2013/12/23/the-arguments-for-and-against-the-trips-agreement/

1 WTO, Frequently asked questions about TRIPS, Retrieved from: https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/tripfq_e.htm

2 WTO, Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and Public Health, Retrieved from: https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/minist_e/min01_e/mindecl_trips_e.htm

3 EC, Strategy for the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Third Countries, Retrieved from: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2014/july/tradoc_152643.pdf

4 WHO, EC/ACP/WHO Partnership on Pharmaceutical Policies, Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/coordination/ecacpwho_partnership/en/

INTA IIAs the EU has set comprehensive sustainable development as a main goal of its trade policy, European countries’ FTAs with China and other countries have fuelled a debate on human and labour rights. How can the EU ensure that the social dimension of development is not undermined by economy-driven trade policy?

Chairperson: Olivier Rostang Rejdvik (FR)

Introduction

EUR 3.7 billion is the disastrous amount claimed by the Swedish energy company Vattenfall for compensation because Germany decided to abandon nuclear power by 20221. For the past half a century, such legal actions have been made possible because of an instrument called Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS)2. Initially established in 1959 in a trade agreement between Germany and Pakistan, it allows companies to take legal action against governmental decisions that affect them directly. ISDS cases have significantly increased during the past years, with 568 known cases worldwide (57 news cases in 2013)3. They are most commonly included in Free Trade Agreements (FTA) as clauses4.

Moreover, these cases are not overseen by regular judges, but by private law firms that act as mediators between governments and corporations. Unfortunately, they have become more popular than before and therefore gained in power, since a simple ISDS threat could push governments to abandon reforms to protect the environment or social standards5.

The European Union has high expectations in terms of workers’ social protection and environmental issues. Therefore, there are several criteria to consider when entering discussions about FTAs with certain countries. China, for instance, struggles more with regulations when it comes to social protection6, and the United States have looser restrictions on genetically modified food7. It is of critical importance that the EU defends its core values without losing competitiveness on the global arena.

Stakeholders

Governments of the EU Member States play a key role in determining which agreements are applicable on their respective territories. They are the ones deciding whether to enter in or withdraw from partnerships. The EU has acquired the status of legal personality since the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. This qualifies the EU as a subject of international law, which allows it to negotiate international agreements on its own behalf. All agreements concluded by the EU are binding for its institutions and Member States, making it a shared competence.8 This suggests that agreements signed by the EU are always applicable in all Member States. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is a United Nations’ (UN) agency which aims at improving labour conditions and protection in UN Member States. The ILO is not authorised to impose sanctions of any kind. It can only provide technical assistance to countries who follow the organisation’s labour standards9. Multinational Corporations gain considerable benefits from FTAs. Through lobbying and pressure on governments they can achieve their own goals and postpone social and environmental reforms. Additionally, once a country has authorized ISDSs, large firms gain even stronger influence on governments. Federation for Investment Law and Arbitration (EFILA).

Moreover, they lobby companies to sue governments as often as possible, since it has proven to be a thriving business. Investors are willing to pay the legal costs upfront in return for a share of the profit.10 The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has created models where governments can draft initiatives to reform market settings11. For instance, the WTO has developed an alternative to ISDSs where governments have the ultimate power of decision over companies. In such a model, only states would be able to issue complaints against companies. Major Private Law Firms can have a certain stimulus on the legal system, since they mediate the lawsuits that take place between governments and companies in the case of ISDS. Firms such as White & Case or Shearman & Sterling are responsible for some of the largest ISDS compensations. They have the power to overturn judges of the constitutional courts, and have founded the European All EU Member States are members of the WTO. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) such as Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) or World Wide Fund (WWF) have had different roles during negotiations of FTAs. While the CEO has a strong focus on exposing lobbying in the EU12, the WWF has, along with several other NGOs, drafted alternative proposals to the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), focusing on the environmental aspect of the agreement.13

1 Bernasconi-Osterwalder, N., & Hoffmann, R. (2013, October 8). Nuclear Phase-Out Put To The Test. Retrieved June 30, 2015, from http://www.tni.org/briefing/nuclear-phase-out-put-test

2 Investor-State Dispute Settlement: The Arbitration Game. (2014, October 11). The Economist. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com

3 UNCTAD International Investment Agreements. (2014). Recent Development In Investor- State Dispute Settlement (ISDS).

Retrieved from http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/webdiaepcb2014d3_en.pdf

4 Free-Trade Agreements : A Better Way To Arbitrate. (2014, October 11). The Economist. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com

5 [Campact]. (2014, October 30). ISDS – A Corporate System Of Injustice [video file]. Retrieved from www.youtube.com

6 Juwei, Z. (2010, March), ‘Social Protection in China: Current Status and Challenges’, in Asher, M. G., S. Oum and F. Parulian (eds.), Social Protection in East Asia – Current State and Challenges. ERIA

Research Project Report 2009-9, Jakarta: ERIA. pp.371-398

7 Lynch, D., & Vogel, D. (2001, April 5). The regulation of GMOs in Europe and the United States: A case-study of contemporary European regulatory politics. Council on Foreign Relations.

8 Title 5, Article 216, C 83/144, Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the

European Union, Official Journal of the European Union (2010). Retrieved from http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:FULL&from=FR

9 Labour Standards (2015). International Labour Organisation. Retrieved from http://www.ilo.org

10 CEO, FOEE, TNI. (2015). Lawyers Subverting The Public Interest: Lobby Group EFILA’s Stake

In Investment Arbitration. Retrieved from http://corporateeurope.org/sites/default/files/efila_report-web.pdf


12 (French) Honore, R. (2014, March 9). « Big Business » contre Etats, la grande polémique autour dutraité de libre-échange UE-USA. Les Echos. Retrieved from http://www.lesechos.fr

13 TTIP Puts The EU’s Environmental And Social Policies On The Line. (2014, January 13). EurActiv.com. Retrieved from http://www.euractiv.com

Key Conflicts:

One of the known issues with FTAs is respect for established social or environmental laws and norms in countries. As long as there is profit, working conditions can deteriorate and more jobs can eventually be lost in the long run, through processes such as outsourcing. Moreover, it facilitates trade for multinational corporation, which can worsen the chances of small companies. For instance, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), an FTA between Canada, the United States and Mexico, has significantly increased the amount of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) between the three countries. However, nearly a million jobs have been lost since then in the U.S. due to the NAFTA.1The principal cause is that American based companies tend to outsource their production to Mexico, hence leading to the loss of jobs for American workers. However, since these products are then sold in the U.S. is positively affects the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but reduces the amount of American jobs.

New partnerships between the EU and other countries, such as the TTIP would allow a greater number of companies to resort to ISDSs. This would enable companies to bypass constitutions and therefore violate democratic principles: in case of an ISDS case, domestic laws fail to protect the public interest, as the cases being handled in offshore tribunals give governments much less power to intervene.2 This could represent a threat to taxpayers, the environment and all of our social norms and regulations, as it was displayed in the ISDS case of the Canadian company Lone Pine Resources against the province of Quebec in 2012.3 Canada’s attempt to ban fracking resulted in Lone Pine Resources shifting their headquarters to the U.S. in order to file an ISDS lawsuit against the Canadian government.

There has been growing fear among European citizens regarding environmental aspects of negotiations for new FTAs. For instance, the U.S. are known for having significantly less legislations on hydraulic fracking (a technique for oil and gas drilling) than the EU4. This method has improved energy production all over the country, however major concerns have also been raised about health, safety and, most of all, the environment. According to the Centre for Research on Globalisation (CRG) many Europeans fear that the TTIP could open floodgates for fracking in Europe, where the extraction method has been banned in several countries. 5

Measures in place:

The EU recognises and promotes social rights among its partners. The are no sanctions in case of violation, but it offers additional tariff preferences to countries which are effectively implementing such measures.6 The U.S. have established strong sanctions in case of breach of agreements when it comes to social rights, along with an upholding of labour standards in export processing zones.7 The EU has not acted on this issue, meaning that they have yet to consider strong sanctions. Countries such as Brazil and South Africa have withdrawn themselves from treaties with ISDS clauses, judging that they were solely based on interests of investors from developed countries. To avoid less radical situations, the EU and Canada have tried to review the scope of ISDSs.8 This would mean that companies would not be able to sue when issues of health, safety and environment are concerned. Additionally, these companies would be requested to make all legal material public during a case. The individual negotiations between the EU and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam in particular, have engendered new environmental advancements. Due to the environmental concerns of aquacultures (i.e. fishery), large retailers, supported by Europeans consumers nowadays demand sustainability insurances for the products they buy. Such insurances can have beneficial impacts, both economically and environmentally.9

Key Terms:

Investor-state dispute settlement, Free Trade Agreement, sustainable development, lobbying, foreign direct investment, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Useful links A brief video explaining who the ISDS system works and how it affects trade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSuIGKSm7z0

More information on the gain of popularity of ISDSs in FTAs and brief introduction to solutions http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21623674-protections-foreign-investors-are-not-horror-critics-claim-they-could-be-improved

Access to the ILO’s resource list on European FTAs. Standards, and labour provisions are included http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/information-resources-and-publications/free-trade-agreements-and-labour-rights/WCMS_115822/lang--en/index.htm

EPI’s study on the why the NAFTA is a failed FTA http://www.epi.org/publication/briefingpapers_bp147/

1 Scott, R.E. (2003, November 17). The High Price Of Free Trade : NAFTA’s Failure Has Cost The United States Jobs Across The Nation. Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://www.epi.org

2 Clear And Present Danger To Democracy. (2013, October 17). The Morning Star. Retrieved from http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk

3 Beltrame, J. (2014, January 23). Quebec Fracking Ban Lawsuit Shows Perils Of Free Trade Deals : Critics. The Huffington Post. Retrived from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca

4 Davenport, C. (2015, March 20). New Federal Rules Are Set For Fracking. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com

5 Todhunter, C. (2014, April 03). The US-EU Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA). Devastating Social and Environmental Consequences. Centre for Research on Globalisation (CRG).

Retrieved from http://www.globalresearch.ca

6 European FTAs. (2009, October 19). Retrieved June 30, 2015, from

http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/information-resources-and-publications/free-trade-agreements-and-labour-rights/WCMS_115822/lang--en/index.htm

7 Standing Up for Workers: Promoting Labor Rights through Trade. (2015, February 1). Retrieved June 30, 2015, from

https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/reports-and-publications/2015/standing-workers-promoting-labor


9 Commissions Services’ Annex On Vietnam To The Position Paper On The Trade Sustainability Impact Assessment Of The Free Trade Agreement Between The EU and ASEAN. (2013, May 22).

Retrieved from http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2013/may/tradoc_151230.pdf

ITREWith the increasing demand for energy and threats to its security, the need for energy diversification has grown. Weighing the environmental, economic and social aspects, which alternatives should European states introduce and promote to reach a more sustainable energy supply?

Chairperson: Lourenço Cruz (PT)

Introduction

Europe is one of the largest energy consumers in today’s world. Although the European Union (EU) is adamant of the benefits of alternative energy sources and is progressively adopting more environmentally friendly energy programmes, the EU is still mostly dependent on natural gas1, which the Union imports in vast quantities from countries such as Norway and Russia. Moreover, it is estimated that natural gas demand within the EU will increase in the future due to current development in alternative areas failing to follow an increase in demand2.

The deterioration of relations with Russia and the instability in the Middle East pose threats to the EU’s energy imports and, consequently, to the EU internal market. For such reason, it is imperative that the EU ensures long-term energy availability by investing in alternative and diversified sources of energy. Environmentally friendly energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermic, are “traditional alternatives” which the EU already explores, even though on a small scale. Although green, such energy sources require large initial investment and are highly dependent on natural conditions, undermining their reliability3. This being said, a fundamental question is how much should the EU invest in these energy sources and what steps could be taken to diminish the aforementioned disadvantages? Additionally, nuclear alternatives also deserve recognition. Despite their well-known dangers often leading to public controversy, nuclear energy efficiency far surpasses that of renewable sources4.

Finally, less-known alternatives can also be considered in order to increase variety. Among these, carbon nanotubes5, bacteria6, sludge7 and hydrogen8 sources might be weighed.

Stakeholders

European Commission (EC) - Since energy supply and security is a major topic within the EU and involves numerous global stakeholders such as Russia, the Middle East countries, the United States and China, the EC plays a vital role in representing the EU as a whole. The EC is also responsible for the Energy Security Strategy9 and the Energy Roadmap 205010;

European Parliament and National Parliaments - Responsible for certain decision making regarding energy sources and energy investment, including energy budgets;

National Governments - Since most alternative energy sources require utilising local advantages, such as weather conditions, energy exploration is deemed most efficient when under the responsibility of national and local bodies;

Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and Lobbying Groups - Very important in today’s world and increasingly relevant in the political, economic and social sectors, such organisations influence political actors and help companies and countries achieve sustainability via investment in green sources of energy11;

Companies and Corporations - Although sometimes explored by national governments, energy programmes are often under the flagship of large multinational companies which, due to their importance, play an extremely relevant role in the political and economic sectors12;

Universities and Research Organisations - Are important in Research and Development (R&D) especially if less-conventional energy sources are adopted. Most of these are already being studied by groups of scientists and academia-driven companies;

1 RATNER, Michael and others (2013). Europe’s Energy Security: Options and Challenges to Natural Gas Supply Diversification. Retrieved from: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42405.pdf;

2 RATNER, Michael and others (2013). Europe’s Energy Security: Options and Challenges to Natural Gas Supply Diversification, pages 5 to 13. Retrieved from: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42405.pdf;

3 The Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy. Retrieved from: http://www.solarschools.net/resources/stuff/advantages_and_disadvantages.aspx;

4 SMITH, S., CLARK, M., FAIRBANKS, T., PRINZI, T. and DELGADO, K.. Nuclear Power - Pros and Cons. Retrieved from: http://www.sunyjcc.edu/sites/default/files/Nuclear_Power.pdf;

5 Detailed information can be found in the following document: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/carbon-nanotubes-produce-electricity/;

6 Detailed information can be found in the following document: http://eandt.theiet.org/magazine/2013/07/growing-power.cfm;

7 Detailed information can be found in the following document: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/documents/biodiesel_from_sewage_sludges.pdf;

8 Detailed information can be found in the following document: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/hydrogen/tech.html;

9 http://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-strategy/energy-security-strategy;

10 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52011DC0885&from=EN;

11 Various relevant NGOs can be found here: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/06/14/10-green-ngos-businesses-know-about;

12 Currently, the largest producer of natural gas is Gazprom (http://www.gazprom.com/), a company belonging to the Russian government. However, other large companies such as Statoil

(http:/www.statoil.com/en/Pages/default.aspx) have public shareholders;

Key conflicts

The most prominent question is how the EU should act to ensure long-term energy security. However, any valid answer must first address other problematic situations in order to be effective. To begin with, one must consider the negative impacts of natural gas and other fossil fuels and the danger of depending on few energy sources1. Weighing such negative aspects might at first lead to rejecting natural gas. Nonetheless, a considerable reduction in natural gas imports from Russia poses two major problems: firstly, such a reduction would most likely further damage international relations, since Russia constantly strives to ensure its considerable natural gas monopoly in Europe2. Secondly, a rapid shift in energy sources might destabilise the EU’s economy due to energy price increases3. Bearing this in mind, efficient solutions to reduce dependence on natural gas must be found whilst ensuring sustainable growth and the protection of international relations.

Furthermore, the investment in alternative sources must be questioned. It is true alternative and renewable sources of energy have proven to be better for the environment and provide long-term profit. However, taking into consideration the unreliability of said sources, can they replace natural gas? Should the EU risk an energy crisis in the potential case of a generalised energy failure caused by adverse natural conditions?

Thirdly, a decision needs to be taken regarding nuclear power. On the one hand, energy production from uranium and plutonium is very efficient and does not emit pollutant gases to the atmosphere, both advantages the EU is in much need of. On the other hand, and although nuclear plants are statistically safe4, the consequences in case of an accident might be severe and the disposal of radioactive waste resulting from nuclear energy production is yet to be completely efficient.

Lastly, less-conventional sources must be evaluated in search for much needed alternatives. However, most of such alternatives are still very experimental and require extensive research and testing in order for appropriate conclusions to be drawn. For such reason, one must ask if and how should the EU invest in such sources. Measures in place

The EC is at the forefront of energy security and has progressively set energy-related goals for the EU. Among those, the 2020 Energy Strategy5, 2030 Energy Strategy6, 2050 Energy Strategy and the Energy Security Strategy deserve special attention. However, very few countries are considered to be on track to meet the established goals for 20207. Furthermore, the establishment of the Energy Union8 was also a fundamental step towards the diversification of energy sources and energy security within the EU.

Important legislation has also been gradually adopted to ensure effective long-term energy strategies exist. Particular relevance must be given to the ‘Security of energy supply in the EU and international cooperation’ Communication9 of September 2011, for it establishes ambitious (yet necessary) targets to ensure healthy relations with energy suppliers and the establishment of further partnerships to ensure that the 2020 goals are met successfully.

Several countries have also initiated renewable energy programmes10, contributing to a small, although important, reduction of the EU’s natural gas dependence. Additionally, several steps have been taken to ensure good usage of nuclear power within the EU, such as the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community11, which led to the creation of Euratom12.

Key words Alternative energy sources; carbon nanotubes; energy diversification; energy security.

Useful links Natural Gas Dependence Article on the reduction of the EU’s dependence on Russian natural gas: http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21600111-reducing-europes-dependence-russian-gas-possiblebut-it-will-take-time-money-and-sustained; Article on the future of EU-Russia natural gas relations: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/09/europe-dependency-russian-gas-energy-efficiency-eu; Alternative/Renewable energy sources EC Directives on the usage and investment in alternative energy sources: http://www.nezeh.eu/assets/media/fckuploads/file/Legislation/RED_23April2009.pdf; Eurostat statistics on the production and consumption of energy from alternative sources: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Energy_production_and_imports

1 CHAZAN, Guy and CROOKS, Ed. (2014). Europe’s dangerous addiction to Russian gas needs radical cure. Retrieved from:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dacfda08-ba64-11e3-8b15-00144feabdc0.html#slide0;

2 Gazprom frequently threats to raise gas prices if European countries opt for different suppliers. More information can be found here: CRISP, James (2014). EU dependent on Russian gas for ‘foreseeable

future’, warns IEA. Retrieved from http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/eu-dependent-russian-gas-foreseeable-future-warns-iea-310469;

3 For the same reasons as the ones described here: AGOSTA, Alessandro and others (2014). Another radical shift in the global gas market?. Retrieved from:

http://www.mckinseyenergyinsights.com/media/63674/Another-radical-shift-in-the-global-gas-market.pdf;

4 WORLD NUCLEAR ASSOCIATION (2015). Safety of Nuclear Power Reactors. Retrieved from:

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of-Plants/Safety-of-Nuclear-Power-Reactors/;

5 http://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-strategy/2020-energy-strategy;

6 http://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-strategy/2030-energy-strategy;

7 EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY (2014). Trends and projections in Europe 2014 - Tracking progress towards Europe’s climate and energy targets for 2020. Retrieved from:

http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/trends-and-projections-in-europe-2014;

8 EUROPEAN COMMISSION (2015). Energy Union Package, Roadmap for the Energy Union. Retrieved from: http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/energy-union/docs/energyunion-annex_en.pdf;

9 Full document can be found here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=URISERV:en0032&qid=1435936922190&from=EN;

10 The UK can be used as an example: HARVEY, Fiona (2015). UK on track to meet its renewable energy targets. Retrieved from:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/feb/20/uk-on-track-to-meet-its-renewable-energy-targets;

11 A consolidated version of the document can be found here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:12012A/TXT&from=EN;

12 Official portal of Euratom: http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/euratom/index_en.cfm;

LIBE IThe increasing number of refugees coming from the Mediterranean has brought to the forefront issues of solidarity between and social integration within Member States. Given the lack of a comprehensive Schengen migration policy, how can the EU collectively tackle the immigration crisis?

Chairpersons: François Heusser (CH) and Anthony McKee (UK)

Introduction So far this year, over 1750 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean sea – a number which can only be described as tragic and which requires urgent action. Deaths this year are already more than twenty times as high as compared to the same timespan last year. With such an immense loss of life, this issue can no longer be ignored by the European community.1 As António Guerres, the current United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been quoted saying, “we can’t deter people fleeing for their lives. They will come. The choice we have is how well we manage their arrival, and how humanely.”2

In particular the high number of fatalities linked to single incidents is striking, as evidenced in the graph above. Furthermore, the number of asylum seekers fleeing towards Europe is not about to decrease. Italian government estimates set the number of migrants waiting to cross the Mediterranean at the shores of Northern Africa between half a million and a million.3 Last year alone, 219,000 people arrived in Europe by means of the sea.4 This however, is by no means the full picture. According to FRONTEX, the organisation which promotes, coordinates and develops European border management, “the single biggest entry route for migrants into the EU is via international airports.”5 The key challenge Europe currently faces can be summed up into two main areas. How to eliminate, or at least reduce, illegal migra-tion, particularly where smuggling rings are involved, while ensuring the right to asylum is guaranteed. Furthermore, a solution must be found, ensuring that the flow of migrants is fairly distributed among all Schengen Members and that the minimum standards for refugees set by both the EU as well as the UNHCR are complied with. Stakeholders The primary stakeholders in this issue are national governments within the EU. Asylum applications are processed on a national level and those whose applications are granted must eventually settle down in one of the Member States. However, the supranational part of the migration process is regulated by the European Union, specifically through the Dublin III agreement, its FRONTEX operations as well as general asylum regulations, such as the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, which forbids the forced return of refugees to their country of origin if such action would pose a direct threat to the subject.6 It is crucial to note that the Dublin agreement aims to provide a system for coordinating the processing of asylum applications and is not involved in ensuring an equal distribution of migrants among Schengen Members.7 In an extended sense, smugglers and the organisations which they run as well as their countries of origin are also stakeholders. The smugglers and the respective organisations they are part of or collaborate with are what makes it possible for migrants to illegally enter Europe. Ironically, more often than not the proceeds go on to directly fund the crimes and conflicts from which the asylum see-kers are fleeing. For this same reason the countries of origin are also considered stakeholders, as the conditions there are what turns regular citizens into refugees in the first place. 1 “Mediterranean migrant crisis: EU refugee quotas to be proposed.” BBC News. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32685942

2 Guterres, António. (2015). Retrieved from http://time.com/3833463/unhcr-antonio-guterres-migration-refugees-europe/

3 Micallef, Joseph. “Reflections of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis.” (2015). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-v-micallef/reflections-on-the-medite_b_7120708.html

4 “Mediterranean migrant crisis: EU refugee quotas to be proposed.” BBC News. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32685942

5 RONTEX (2015). Retrieved from http://frontex.europa.eu/about-frontex/mission-and-tasks/ and Joseph Micallef. (2015).

Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-v-micallef/reflections-on-the-medite_b_7120708.html

6 “Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.” (28/07/51) United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries. Retrieved from

http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/StatusOfRefugees.aspx

7 Fratzke, Susan. (2015). Page 4. Retrieved from http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/not-adding-fading-promise-europes-dublin-system

Key conflicts According to the Dublin III convention, asylum applications must be dealt with on a national level. The current system establishes the country on which the migrant first set foot responsible for their welfare, and allows other countries to return the asylum seeker to the country he or she first entered. This means countries that are geographically attractive for migrants receive a disproportionately large number of migrants. Meanwhile France has started returning what it considers illegal residents, not asylum seekers, back to Switzerland, which Switzerland also carries out regarding its dealings with Italy.1 Such attempts to circumnavigate the Dublin III convention are the consequence of failing to establish a quota system. While the idea has been passed around as far back as 2013, only now has the EU decided on the voluntary distribution of 40,000 asylum seekers, something deemed insufficient by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.2 However, distribution is not the only problem. There is disagreement on how to deal directly with the catastrophic shipwrecks occurring in the Mediterranean. Only on the April 23 of this year did EU leaders decide to treble the effort behind the Triton project to make it com-parable to the Mare Nostrum project which it replaces, led independently by Italy in order to attempt to prevent refugee catastrophes in the Mediterranean.3 While some, such as the British Government, have argued that improving rescue structures makes the journey increasingly attractive, Professor Philippe Fargues, founding Director of the Migration Policy Institute believes that scaling back has done nothing to deter migrants.4 Measures in place Adressing the crisis of migrant deaths are currently two missions; Triton and Poseidon. In order to fully understand these programs it is important to know their origins. Mare Nostrum was the first programme of its kind, initiated and funded fully independently by Italy in 2013. According to government numbers, it ended up saving over 100,000 lives until its end in November 2014. Costing approximately €9 million a month,the strategy was to locate and track boats in order to be able to intervene in case of an emergency. The Mare Nostrum operation extended all the way to the shores of Libya. Triton, by contrast, only guards the Italian coast, and its aim is mainly to enforce borders rather than seek out migrants in distress. Poseidon is similar to Triton, with the main difference being its focus on migration and criminality originating from western Turkey and Egypt towards Greece and Italy. Both Triton and Poseidon are FRONTEX operations. Dublin III currently forms the core of the common European asylum system. Its two main purposes, reaffirmed by the 2013 recast, better known as Dublin III, are to ensure quick access to protection to those in need as well as to improve the efficiency of the system for Member States. Important reforms introduced include mandatory information provided about all processes as well as possibilities to appeal to all migrants in their own language. Additionally, the European Commission has drafted a distribution key for 20,000 migrants in urgent need of relocation. It takes into ac-count the total population, GDP the number of spontaneous asylum applications as well as the number of resettlements, in addition to the unemployment rate as a way to gage a nations ability to integrate migrants.5 This was proposed as part of the implementation of an emergency response system to alleviate pressure on countries struggling to maintain the minimum requirements set for the treatment of migrants. Key words Dublin III, EURODAC, CEAS, Visa Information System (VIS), The Dublin hierarchy of criteria, Schengen, refugee, asylum seeker, Mare No-strum, Triton, FRONTEX, migration Useful links http://migrationpolicy.org/regions/europe/ http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/boat-understanding-migrant-journey http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/not-adding-fading-promise-europes-dublin-system http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/syrian-refugees-turkey-long-road-ahead http://www.ecre.org/refugees/refugees/refugees-in-the-eu.html https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/people-on-the-move/ http://www.migrationpolicycentre.eu/publications/flagship-publications/about-european-agenda-on-migration/ http://times.eui.eu/sinking-leadership-in-the-mediterranean.html http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1435412431851&uri=URISERV:23010503_1

1 Häuptli, Lukas. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.nzz.ch/nzzas/nzz-am-sonntag/frankreich-schickt-fluechtlinge-in-die-schweiz-1.18570262

2 Nusplinger, Niklaus. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nzz.ch/eu-massnahmenbuendel-gegen-illegale-migration-1.18198212

3 Micallef, Joseph. “Reflections of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis.” (2015). Retrieved from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-v-micallef/reflections-on-the-medite_b_7120708.html

4 Barrett, Nicholas. (2015). Retrieved from http://times.eui.eu/sinking-leadership-in-the-mediterranean.html

5 COM (2015) 240 (13/05/15) “A European Agenda on Migration.” Page 19. Retrieved from

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/background-information/docs/communication_on_the_european_agenda_on_migration_en.pdf

Introduction

The surge of far right parties winning seats at the European Parliament at last year’s election1, with the leading Freanch far right National Front (FN) coming first in 70% of the country’s regions, bears witness to Europe “turning farther right”.

The far right has always been built on the base of opposition to a different “Other”2, a part of the population that nationalist parties find dangerous for society. Now, in response to the contemporary challenges of increased migration, stemming mainly from Africa and the Middle East, a changing ethno-cultural landscape, economic crisis, rising unemployment and the threat of international terrorism, that “Other” has become the immigrant, the Muslim, the Roma and the Jew. Euroscepticism is also a key characteristic of these parties, that see the European Union as a threat to their State sovereignty3. Responding to the people’s disappointment due to the aforementioned national and international difficulties, these parties assume the position of a political factor voicing their dismay, fears and anger, employing actions of a patriotic, yet radical nature.

The radicality of the European far right varies depending on the party and its national context, however the line between nationalism and racism, populism and xenophobia, is a most fragile one, with terrible consequences in the crossing. The far right is becoming stronger all over Europe, including countries like Finland4, Greece5, Hungary6, the Netherlands7, Sweden8, Poland9, Austria10, Denmark11, Italy12, Slovakia13and Belgium14 with populism threatening to become a new normality in the continent. Stakeholders

High in the stakeholder chain stand the parties of the European Far-right. These parties now have the power in their national or the European Parliament to affect the lawmaking process and promote their ideas through legislation. But even when their parliamentary or governmental power is not deemed strong enough to alter the status quo, the power they do have over a discouraged people, losing faith for the establishment, can easily scapegoat societal groups, already at the margins, generate polarisation, instability and violence. The role of the European Union (EU) is also of key importance, both when it comes to facing the present challenges that foster extremist and radical parties and actions, but also in the preservation of security, democracy, and cooperation inside its borders. The EU has the legislative and political power to handle the issues that create the tensions pushing people towards the far right- such as immigration and refugee seekers15, unemployment and the strength of the eurozone. On the other hand, the EU is also seen as part of the problem by the far right. EU deficit, financial repercussions due to the economic crisis, open border policies and the general increase of EU decisions “encroaching” on “national territory” are some of the arguments these eurosceptic parties share. Demolishing prejudice, racism and xenophobia, need the EU’s support, while it has to make sure that its main principles of democracy, free movement, justice and equal treatment are not forgotten. Tackling terrorism and the threat of terrorist organisations reaching its land, also involves the EU. Member States as well form part of the solution in order to face national social pathologies, division, income and social well-being disparities. Their citizens’ protection from crisis- that being economic, societal or humanitarian-, violence and fear, forms part of the actions they can move to16. Civil society, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil movements, are also part of the chain as factors that voice and can change the views and mentality of the public. The recent waves of clash between anti-immigration and anti-Muslim movements17, such as PEGIDA18, with anti-racism and pro-immigration19 ones all over Europe, show the power these civil movements possess. Civil initiatives and NGOs are also actors that work on raising awareness on xenophobia and immigration, on promoting cooperation between EU citizens, and providing humanitarian aid to the victims of the current social situation.

1 (2014). European Election Results: At a glance. BBC.Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27575869 2 Catherine Thorleifsson (2015). Europe’s Thriving Xenophobia. Online Democracy. Retrieved from https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/cathrine-thorleifsson/europe%27s-thriving-xenophobia3 (2014). Eurosceptic ‘earthquake’ rocks EU elections. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-275597144 Jan Sundberg (2015). Who Are the Nationalist Finns Party?. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32627013 and Bruno Jantti (2015). Momentum of xenophobic right in Finland. Aljazeera. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/04/momentum-xenophobic-finland-150402101126751.html 5 Helena Smith (2014). SS Songs and Anti-Semitism: The week Golden Dawn turned openly Nazi. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/07/greece-golden-dawn-fascism-threat-to-democracy and (2015). ‘Open Files- Golden Dawn, New Face of Greek Fascism’. TeleSUR English. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwLONaOlUR06 (2013) ‘Hungary’s Far Right plays with fire-reporter’. Euronews. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuPuaPbBZG07 Sam Webb (2014). Controversial Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders to face trial for inciting racial hatred after vowing to make sure there were ‘fewer Moroccans’ in Holland. Daily Mail, Mail Online. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2878776/Dutch-populist-Wilders-tried-fewer-Moroccans-vow.html 8 (2014) Profile: Far Right Sweden Democrats. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-292027939 Marta Kasztelan, Marta Soszynska, Agnieszka Liggett, Mustafa Khalili, Charlie Phillips & Juliet Riddell (2015). Pretty radical: a young woman’s journey into the heart of Poland’s far right. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/jan/19/pretty-radical-young-woman-poland-far-right-video10 Billy Briggs (2009). The Far Right is on the march again: the rise of Fascism in Austria. Daily Mail, Mail Online. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1160972/The-far-right-march-rise-Fascism-Austria.html and (2015).Far Right ‘gains’ as Austria kicks off ‘super election year’. Euronews. Retrieved from http://www.euronews.com/2015/06/01/far-right-gains-as-austria-kicks-off-super-election-year/11 Bo Lidegaard (2015). Denmark’s Far-Right Kingmakers. International New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/22/opinion/denmarks-far-right-kingmakers.html12 Alice Philipson (2015). Leave Migrants on boats, says Italy’s far-Right party leader. The Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/11415936/Leave-migrants-on-boats-says-Italys-far-Right-party-leader.html13 (2014). Hard times, hard attitudes: the rise of the far right in Slovakia. Euronews. Retrieved from http://www.euronews.com/2014/03/26/hard-times-hard-attitudes-the-rise-of-the-far-right-in-slovakia/14 Nikolaj Nielsen (2012). Belgian far-right launch anti-immigrant website. EUobserver. Retrieved from https://euobserver.com/justice/11583615 Ian Traynor (2015). Mediterranean refugee crisis: EU reduced to impotent handwringing. The Guardian. Retrieved from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/20/mediterranean-migrant-crisis-no-european-migration-policy16 Maria Alvanou (2014). Far right violence in Greece- effective response. Open Democracy. Retrieved from https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/maria-alvanou/farright-violence-in-greece-effective-response17 Fiyaz Mugal (2014). ‘Tit for Tat’- Extremism and rise of far right anti-Muslim movements in the UK. Open Democracy. Retrieved from https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/fiyaz-mughal/%E2%80%98tit-for-tat%E2%80%99-extremism-and-rise-of-far-right-antimuslim-movements-018 Rick Noak (2014). What’s behind the astonishing rise of an anti-Islam movement in Germany? The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/12/16/whats-behind-the-astonishing-rise-of-an-anti-islam-movement-in-germany/19 (2015). Anti-Fascists clash with PEGIDA movement in Vienna- Hate in Europe. VICE News. Retrieved from https://news.vice.com/video/anti-fascists-clash-with-pegida-movement-in-vienna-hate-in-europe?utm_source=vicenewsyoutube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=relatedvideo

LIBE IIIn the light of far right parties gaining a majority vote in several European states, how should the EU address the rise of xenophobia and far-right parties without compromising its democratic principles?

Chairperson: Despina Dimitrakopoulou (GR)

Key Conflicts

Conflict emerges between the EU’s democratic principles and far-right extremism1. Despite the disruptive qualities of parties of the far-right, those pertaining to its ideals and practices- violent, racist, xenophobic, Neo-Nazi, or not- still voice the ideals and views of parts of the population. They are supported and voted by the people, and the latter deserve to be represented in their national and European parliament, as well as any other party: this is democracy. However, democracy also means freedom of expression, freedom of religion and equal treatment. Thus, conflict arises when these parties and their representatives instigate violence, discrimination and hate against part of the society, that go completely against the foundation of democracy and its principles, no matter how elusive the method2.

Freedom of movement, immigration and refugee policies also entail conflict when it comes to the preservation of national security, identity and the preservation of welfare. What with the crisis in the Middle East and Africa, millions of people every day try to cross European borders in order to escape war and poverty and find a better future3. However, because of the Dublin Regulation4, immigrants are not allowed to leave the country of entrance to the EU, which results to their concentration in already economically weak countries, such as Greece, Bulgaria and Italy5. The inability to process and integrate them triggers xenophobia and hate, and far-right parties with a strong sense of national identity, target them as the creators of imbalance and disorder6. Free movement of people in the EU and Schengen area, allows them to elude border controls and reach countries of central and northern Europe7. But the creation of large immigrant communities, most of them comprised of Muslims, has caused an abrupt surge of an anti-immigration and anti-Muslim stance, that considers them a pariah that errodes the social fabric8. Alleged criminal activities, different customs and identity and heavy economic cost are some of the far right arguments against immigrants9. The recent Paris attacks perpetrated by Muslims have also made way for anti-Muslim rhetoric all over Europe10. However, the question that arises in the end is how Europe actually sees itself. Will it open its embrace to the poor, the chased and tortured, or preserve its civilisation’s identity from the invasion of a world different from its own?

The clash between a United Europe and the far-right’s euroscepticism arises from the latter’s existence in the former’s context. Far right parties are against the accumulation of power in the EU’s hands, and view the European Union as an institution that robs states of their sovereignty, their dynamic of making individual decisions11. This euroscepticism is now made even stronger after the recent coalition of far-right and eurosceptic parties in the European Parliament under the name of ‘Europe of Nations and Freedoms’12.

Measures in Place

The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union13brings together in a single document the fundamental rights protected in the EU, and includes six titles, under which the rights and freedoms of EU citizens are categorised- Dignity, Freedoms, Equality, Solidarity, Citizens’ Rights, and Justice. Proclaimed in 2000, the Charter has become legally binding on the EU with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, in December 2009, and, among others, prohibits all discrimination including on basis of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity. The Race Equality Directive14 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin in various aspects of life in the EU, and, at the same time, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination15provides protection against all forms of unjust treatment on the basis of ethnicity, under the United Nations Convention on abolishing discrimination against race. The Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia16 penalises public incitement to violence or hatred on the basis of race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin and the Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS)17 aids the implementation of the principle of non-discrimination, supported financially by the European Commission. When it comes to xenophobia and racism expressed through the internet, the Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime18criminalises acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive19 bans incitement to hatred in audiovisual media services and the promotion of discrimination in audiovisual commercial communications. When it comes to border controls and the movement of people inside European borders the Schengen Area and cooperation20 applies. The Schengen area is a territory enabling the free movement of persons. The signatory states have abolished all internal borders in the position of a single external border. Inside this border, common rules and procedures are applied when it comes to visas, asylum requests and border controls. Inside the area, cooperation and coordination between police and judicial authorities have intensified. The Schengen cooperation has been incorporated into the European Union (EU) legal framework by the Treaty of Amsterdam of 1997. However, all countries cooperating in Schengen are not parties to the Schengen area. This is either because they do not wish to eliminate border controls or because they do not yet fulfil the required conditions for the application of the Schengen acquis.

Keywords

Far right party, xenophobia, islamophobia, nationalism, populism, racism, radical, extremist, immigration, immigration policy, hate crime, crisis in the Middle East, Charlie Hebdo

Useful links:

- A study of far right parties all over Europe: European Summer University for Social Movements, 2014, ‘The Far Right in Europe’, retrieved from http://rosalux-europa.info/userfiles/file/Reader_Far-Right.pdf - A study and guide exploring Policy Making when it comes to far right extremism: Tackling the Far Right Across Europe’, retrieved from http://www.strategicdialogue.org/ISD_New_Approach_Far_Right_Report.pdf - An easy, nation-by-nation, guide to Europe’s far right parties and their key characteristics: Sonia Van Gilder Cooke, 2011, ‘Europe’s Right Wing: A Nation By Nation Guide To Political Parties and Extremist Groups’, TIME, http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2085728,00.html - Interactive map, showing the state-by-state far right, with predictions for the 2014 EP elections: Telegraph interactive team, Jake Wallis Simons, Counterpoint, 2014, ‘EU Elections 2014: the rise of the new European Right’ (+Interactive Map), Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10828567/EU-Elections-2014-the-rise-of-the-new-European-Right.html - Guide of the Organisation on Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) oh hate crimes: OSCE, 2012, ‘Understanding Hate Crimes’ (Skopje Edition), http://www.osce.org/odihr/104168 - Video on Neo-Nazi movements in Europe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ldonJoxL6I - Video on Greek far-right party, Golden Dawn, and alleged Neo-Nazi tendencies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSmHtebHv90

1 SPIEGEL Staff (2012). Prohibition Debate: The Far right threat to Germany’s democracy. SPIEGEL. Retrieved from http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/prohibition-debate-the-far-right-threat-to-germany-s-democracy-a-815242.html2 Mark Mazawer (2015). European Democracy Enters Dangerous Times. FT. Retrieved from http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/aeab01f2-a70b-11e4-8a71-00144feab7de.html#axzz3fIrKx3RXMark3 Laurence Peter (2015). Why is EU struggling with migrants and asylum?.BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-245832864 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=URISERV:l331535 Will Vassilopoulos (2015). Rising tide of illegal immigrants swamp Greek islands. Yahoo. Retrieved from http://news.yahoo.com/rising-tide-illegal-immigrants-swamp-greek-islands-084119390.html6 (2012). Security and the Far Right in Europe. Open Democracy. Retrieved from https://www.opendemocracy.net/freeform-tags/security-and-far-right-in-europe7 Srecko Horvat (2015). Europe’s soft Dictatorship. Aljazeera. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2015/06/europe-soft-dictatorship-immigration-hungary-150622110424394.html8 Kait Bolongaro (2014). Coronation of the Far right in Europe. Aljazeera. Retrieved from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/05/eu-elections-far-right-immigrati-20145276133185581.html9 Benjamin de Cleen (2012). Security and Radical Right in Flanders. Open Democracy. Retrieved from https://www.opendemocracy.net/opensecurity/benjamin-de-cleen/security-and-radical-right-in-flanders 10 Adam Taylor (2015). Europe’s far right on the Paris attack: We Told You So. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/01/08/europes-far-right-on-the-paris-attack-we-told-you-so/11 Holly Ellyatt (2015). Right wing in Europe could bring ‘turmoil’. CNBC. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/id/10230550412 Alissa J Rubin (2015). Far Right Parties Form Coalition in European Parliament. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/world/europe/far-right-parties-form-coalition-in-european-parliament.html13 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2010.083.01.0389.01.ENG14 Directive 2000/43/EC of 29.6. 2000. ‘Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin’ 15 http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CERD.aspx16 http://ec.europa.eu/justice/fundamental-rights/racism-xenophobia/framework-decision/index_en.htm17 http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=32718 http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/treaties/html/189.htm19 http://ec.europa.eu/archives/information_society/avpolicy/reg/tvwf/index_en.htm20 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:l33020

Next Steps...

1. Read the topic overview on your respective com-mittee.

2. Print out the emergency sheet (http://bit.ly/1MY-cLFj), fill in the information, and hand the form - signed by you and your parents if you are below the age of 18 - to your teacher.

3. Print out, sign and bring along the code of con-duct (http://bit.ly/1MYdjer) to the session.

4. Prepare for your delegation presentation and think about what you will bring to Swiss Village.

5. Fill out the form with your travel, Swiss Village and Delegation Presentation information at http://bit.ly/1MlkfCj until 26 August 23:59 CEST.

6. Consider the dress codes indicated in the book-let and don’t forget about your outfit for the “Grease” farewell party.

7. Pack.

Documents

Bern 2015 Prep Kit & Welcome Booklet [Delegates]