RESOLUTION

BOOKLET
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEMM 1
CULT 3
REGI 5
ENVI II 8
AFCO II 11
ENVI III 13
LIBE 16
AFCO I 19
AFET 21
ENVI I 23
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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON

WOMEN’S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY (FEMM)

Girls not brides: In most European countries the legal age for marriage is 18, yet in many
countries such as Moldova and Albania 12% of all girls are married before reaching
maturity. With this phenomenon occurring predominantly in rural areas and Roma
communities, existing under tradition or need, how can the EU protect girls and ensure a
safe environment within their communities?

Submitted by:

Annalisa Devolder (BE), Lara Deryckere (BE), Laure Daels (BE), Ana Mezei (BE), Julia Plattner (CH), Camilla
Santangelo (BE), Alara Tavusbay (BE), Katarina Vandenhende (BE), Ariane Verscuren (BE), Nynke Van Aken
(BE), Victoria Kellens (BE), Weronika Walczak (PL), Ana-Maria Petcu (Chairperson, RO)

The European Youth Parliament aim to spread awareness about child marriage as a violation
of human rights, deeply concerned by the persistence of this practice. We strive to mitigate
the number of victims subjected to sexual, psychological and physical violence as a result of
early marriage, by encouraging the training of authorities to provide victims with the needed
support. Taking into account that child marriage is deeply embedded in the tradition and
mentality of some cultures, encourages dialogue between communities and authorities to
bring about mutual understanding.

because
● Child marriage can cause the long-term psychological damage of its victims,
● Victims are oftentimes afraid to speak up in fear of social exclusion or expulsion from the
community,
● The practice of child marriage leads to school dropouts, unwanted sexual relationships,
unwanted or underage pregnancies, and various health risks,
● A low Human Development Index rate in certain countries and regions directly correlates
with the rising number of child marriages,
● Deeply embedded cultural and religious practices facilitate child marriage through harmful
beliefs about girls and their role in society,
● Societal stigma surrounding the topic makes victims reluctant to seek available help,
resulting in a lack of accurate data on real cases of this practice,
● Child marriage is a form of modern domestic slavery, children affected by this practice are
often deprived of basic rights such as free access to education, health services and
protection from sexual abuse and exploitation,

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● Victims experience obstacles in accessing help due to limited resources, inadequate legal
frameworks, furthering their vulnerable state,
● Child marriage is often utilised as a transaction between two families in aid of one’s
precarious financial situation;

by
1. Urging Ministries of Education of Member States to facilitate age-appropriate sex education
classes informing children from a young age about sexual health and the risks and effects
of child marriages;
2. Recommending Member States to establish a centralised database of all registered early
marriages;
3. Further urging Member States to further advance the implementation of the United
Nations General Assembly’s 2022 resolution to end child, early and forced marriage;
4. Supporting Member States to provide previous and current victims of child marriage with
tailored programmes on job training and practical skills;
5. Asking Member States to improve and maintain the existing anonymous help systems at
local and national levels;
6. Further asking Member States to increase the availability of previously mentioned systems
in areas most affected by the practice of child marriage;
7. Encouraging Member States to provide additional specialised training for authorities that
come into contact with potential victims of early marriage in order to detect early, current,
and potential signs of abuse;
8. Further encouraging Member States to improve the conditions of shelter places for victims
by increasing capacity and hygienic conditions;
9. Endorsing NGOs on local, national, and international levels to ensure an exchange of good
practices, by facilitating a cultural network composed of experts and competent
authorities;
10. Instructing the Directorate General on Communication (DG COMM) to develop awareness
campaigns tailored to the respective national and local circumstances that display
available resources for victims in areas most affected by the practice of child marriage;
11. Inviting Member States to make safe contraception accessible for potential victims in order
to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE

ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (CULT)
Let’s learn: Educational standards in Europe vary significantly, with Eastern European
countries ranking the lowest. Given that education plays a major role in shaping future
generations, how should the EU collaborate with its Member States to effectively uplift
educational standards while aiming towards a more collaborative EU?

Submitted by:

Linne Claikens (BE), Hélène Dumonceau de Bergendal (BE), Jolien Dumortier (BE), Corinne Jimenez (BE),
Cristina Durà (ES), Eliza Neirynck (BE), Felicitas Sagmeister (CH), Sacha van Beckhoven (BE), Viktor Van
Reempts (BE), Mare Vansteenkiste (BE), Lien Verreydt (BE), Alessandro Riccio (Chairperson, IT/RO)

The European Youth Parliament aim to improve and promote inclusive and equal education
throughout Europe. We want to ensure accessibility amongst students to pursue studies
aligned with their interests and aspirations. We emphasise the importance of high-quality
education, practical learning experiences, and respect for teachers. We advocate for
integrating new technologies into education,

because

● The number of early school leavers in 2022 was still at 10%,

● There are clear discrepancies between Eastern and Western Member States, especially
when it comes to educational outcomes,
● The EU has limited capabilities when it comes to taking measures towards educational
standards, notably not being able to decide on school curricula,
● The lack of communication and coordination between educational institutions in Member
States shows the absence of educational standards,
● A substandard shortage of teachers affects the quality of classes in educational
institutions, by often cancelling classes and having unqualified teachers teach,
● Wealthy students have better access towards educational opportunities compared to
students from a lower socioeconomic background;

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by

1. Urging Member States to reaffirm the established fixed allocation1 per student in all
schools with the provision of additional resources to students with special needs;
2. Encouraging Ministries of Education of Member States to ensure a high-quality educational
process for all students by providing all the necessary materials, especially for those from
low socio-economic backgrounds;
3. Calling upon Ministries of Education of Member States to ensure accessibility to
educational resources by establishing a knowledge-sharing platform with educational
representatives from all Member States;
4. Further encouraging Member States to set the legal age necessary for leaving school to
18 years old in order to reduce the number of annual early school leavers;
5. Strongly suggesting Member States make education-related jobs more appealing by
raising the minimum wage of professionals in the field;
6. Recommending Ministries of Education of Member States to establish a training
academy on an international level, with the scope of intergenerational
knowledge-sharing between teachers and professors;
7. Further calling upon Member States to heavily take into consideration the
recommendations on educational standards made by the EU.

1
Established fixed allocations are a regular sum of money allocated by the government towards schools,
calculated per student.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (REGI)
Connect or control? In light of the European Union's 'Cities Mission' to create 100
climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, how can the EU facilitate the integration of smart
technologies in additional cities, while also considering the needs and privacy of its
residents?

Submitted by:

Léonie Biesbrouck (BE), Marlies Delmotte (BE), Joppe Haegenoodt (BE), Nikol Hambarlieva (BG), Haripratiik
Arunkumar Malarkodi (BE), Cian Ó Feinneadha (BE), Raphael Six (BE), Naud van Klinkenberg (BE), Noa
Verhaegen (BE), Billie Vermeulen (BE), Aleksandra Walczak (PL), Aditya Wakankar (BE), Fiona Hafferl
(Chairperson, ES)

The European Youth Parliament aim to further employ and improve smart technology in
urban areas, in order to enhance European citizens’ quality of life. By doing so, we aim to
optimise European cities’ infrastructure, reduce their carbon footprint, and guarantee the
safety and wellbeing of their residents. Moreover, we seek to ensure that the design of smart
cities revolves around the needs and input of its citizens, protecting their digital safety in the
process,

because

● Rapid urbanisation intensifies the demand for efficient urban planning aided by smart
tech,
● Inefficient transport networks can lead to increased commute times and CO2 emissions,
● Eastern European countries may face challenges in investing in smart cities due to their
limited economic growth,
● Currently, the development of smart cities requires unsustainable mining, which mainly
takes place in third world countries,
● Smart cities might pose accessibility challenges, seen as how they require citizens to have
basic knowledge about technology, which 46% of EU citizens did not possess in 2021,
● A lack of transparency between citizens and their government in smart cities lead to
weakened trust between both parties,
● Cyberattacks on smart cities have increased by 19% in the past year,
● Smart cities’ susceptibility to cyberattacks compromises the integrity and confidentiality
of the services provided;

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● Smart cities require efficient energy infrastructures, which lack in 75% of the building stock
in the EU, resulting in excessive energy consumption and significant wastage of energy
resources;

by
1. Appealing to the European Commission to set ethical standards2 for the development of
smart tech implemented in Member States;
2. Suggesting the European Commission to offer financial incentives to Member States that
continuously enhance and promote the development of smart cities;
3. Urging local governments to fight digital illiteracy by offering workshops and expert talks
that help citizens navigate apps, search engines, and basic online security;
4. Requesting the European Commission to establish increasing yearly quotas on how much
renewable energy smart cities should produce for themselves;
5. Inviting Member States to cooperate by organising transnational conferences with the
purpose of sharing knowledge on best practices, resource optimisation, and of driving
innovation;
6. Calling upon Member States to optimise cities’ transportation infrastructures by:
a. designating lanes on the road for shared services,
b. equipping streets with traffic sensors,
c. adapting streets by adding bike lanes and widening those already existing,
d. expanding the accessibility of rental bikes and distributing them in highly
frequented public spaces;
7. Encouraging Member States to form local committees with architects, urban planners, and
diverse segments of the population, including the disabled and elderly, to shape smart
cities that are practical, inclusive, and meet everyone's needs;
8. Proposing the European Commission to collaborate with private tech companies to
develop an application that not only educates, but also informs citizens through live
updates on their smart city;
9. Advising local governments to partner with experts, AI innovators, and residents to develop
sustainable smart city blueprints3 which integrate nature without hindering current
infrastructure to improve ecological resilience;

2
Sustainable ethical practices such as sustainable mining, fair working conditions, workers' rights, and
human rights protection.
3
Smart city blueprints refers to the urban planning of architecture and infrastructure of smart cities.

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10. Insisting the European Commission to draft cyber safety guidelines that incorporate safety
elements such as a zero trust architecture, which require strict verification and
identification of every individual that tries to access a network.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE

ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY II
(ENVI II)
Closing the Gap: With growing concern over limited vaccine access and hesitancy,
diseases that were considered nearly extinct are at risk of resurfacing. How can the
EU work to promote widespread vaccination, especially in the face of vaccine
hesitancy?

Submitted by:

Claudia Casanova (BE), Fien De Coninck (BE), Joren Deblaere Van Buynder (BE), Maryne Flahaut (BE), Julie
Grimbers (BE), Henri Grimbers Pecnik (BE), Wallerand de Maleingreau d’Hembise (BE), Diana Miniri (BE),
Mare Moortgat (BE), Donika Todorova (BG), Mateo Tsien (BE), Xena Verstraete (BE), Varazdat Khachatryan
(Chairperson, AM)

The European Youth Parliament aim to spread awareness about the importance of
vaccination, bridge the gaps in limited vaccine access, and address vaccine hesitancy to make
the world a safer and healthier place for all. Through these efforts, we aim to reduce the risk
of new global pandemics, decrease misinformation, and empower individuals with the
knowledge they need to protect themselves and their communities.

because
● There is insufficient clarity on the pros and cons of vaccines, their efficacy, and safety
concerns, making people hesitant to getting vaccinated,
● The socioeconomic differences in opportunities between people from various
backgrounds, conflict areas, and countries make it harder for some to access vaccines,
● The vaccination process, which includes multiple shots, may prevent people from
getting vaccinated,
● The healthcare system's capacity and accessibility issues, including long wait times,
queue congestion, and barriers to accessing services, can obstruct vaccination efforts,
● Misinformation about vaccines, including the proliferation of conspiracy theories and
concerns about potential long-term effects, fosters distrust among the population,
● The lack of promotion of vaccination strategies exacerbates lack of information and
reluctance, hindering efforts to achieve herd immunity and control infectious diseases,
● Insufficient precautions against forgotten diseases can lead to their resurgence;

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by

1. Encouraging Member States to support vaccine awareness in cooperation with health

authorities and media regulators by:

a. depicting vaccine production in informative TV segments,

b. targeting children via cartoons and social media,
c. integrating vaccine education into popular culture;

2. Suggesting the World Health Organisation to improve local government communication in

Member States by supporting healthcare workers to convey vaccine information in
simplified language;

3. Inviting Ministries of Education of Member States to increase awareness about vaccination,

by implementing educational workshops in schools and orchestrating community
initiatives aimed at diverse populations for efficient information sharing;

4. Further encouraging Member States to increase the amount of people receiving

vaccinations, by offering incentives such as coupons or gifts;

5. Urging the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) to enhance the
vaccination or booster shot experience, by gathering patient feedback and creating an
action plan based on it;

6. Calling upon the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to simplify and
expedite the vaccination process, by creating user-friendly online appointment systems;

7. Further inviting Member States to provide greater accessibility to vaccinations by

enhancing the infrastructure for alternative vaccination sites such as pharmacies,
community centres, and workplaces;

8. Further urging the Member States to prioritise inclusivity and sensitivity by tailoring
vaccination appointment services to accommodate diverse cultural and linguistic needs,
including provisions for religious considerations;

9. Asking the European Commission through the Digital Services Act (DSA) to ensure
transparency rules are being implemented by major media companies by using special
verification signs on their platforms;

10. Recommending Member States to engage trusted figures from various communities to
spread reliable information on vaccination to a diverse audience in order to address
cultural and religious hesitancy towards vaccination;

11. Supporting local vaccine companies and pharmacies of Member States in arranging
excursions for high school students to observe the vaccine manufacturing process
firsthand;

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12. Further supporting the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to raise awareness and
reinforce preventive measures against forgotten diseases by organising workshops and
promotional activities for specialists and scientists.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE

ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS II (AFCO II)
New crisis, new me: Since the signing of the Lisbon treaties in 2009, many things have
changed in the EU. With Ukraine and Moldova being new additions to the list of candidate
countries, and an institutional framework that is currently struggling to deal with
modern-day challenges such as the refugee crisis, how should the EU and its Member
States approach the topic of institutional reform?

Submitted by:

Margaux Adams (BE), Mohamed-Rayan Berrazi (BE), Tess Declerck (BE), David Frangieh (BE), Sophie Günter
(CH), Dagmar Hrabovska (BE), Remy Hûughe (BE), Ahana Javeri (BE), Laura Neuts (BE), Gabriela Panova (BG),
Emilio op de Beeck (BE), Costanza Uboldi (BE), Leah Stella (NL/US)

The European Youth Parliament aim to implement a treaty change in order to adapt to
current times by fighting instability and divisions within Member States. We strive to reach
effective cooperation via the encouragement of better communication and stand for the
democratic ideology of the EU,

because,

● The unanimity system is preventing the EU from being effective in their decision-making,
further worsened by the power of veto,
● A few Member States, such as Hungary and Poland, persistently breach, to a certain
extent, Article 2 of the Treaty on the EU,
● The lack of agreement between Member States and lack of appropriate institutional
frameworks, causes confusion and reluctance to implement migration policies,
● The lack of a common EU defensive force tends to threaten the security and peace of
Europe, given that Member States strive to not be reliant on external alliances such as
NATO,
● The list of candidate Member States is growing, and concerns amongst citizens are rising
as to the distribution of currently existing resources in addition to accommodating new
Member States into the EU,
● There is a democratic deficit4 given by a lack of legislative powers of the European
Parliament, the only body directly elected by the European citizens,

4
Democratic deficit is a term used to denote a situation where institutions and their decision-making
procedures may suffer from a lack of democracy and accountability

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by

1. Encouraging Member States to ensure security amongst themselves by rectifying the

Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) to implement common military
provisions, transferring peacekeeping forces into shared competencies;

2. Urging Member States to amend the Treaty on the European Union and the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union in order to increase the powers of the European
Parliament, by granting it the ability to propose laws, nominate the president of the
European Commission, and remove individual Commissioners from office;

3. Calling upon the Directorate-General on Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) to, in
accordance with clause 1 of Article 79 of the TFEU, shift from the principle of solidarity
upon which the current New Pact on Migration and Asylum relies, to a mandatory
requirement;

4. Requesting that Member States consider a treaty revision to implement a supermajority

voting system in replacement to the unanimity system, to ensure a more efficient process
of decision-making;

5. Inviting the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) to implement a variety of flexible

tools to retain and enhance the resource capacity of the EU in the form of transition clauses
for new Member States accession, temporary derogations, and enhanced cooperation;

6. Further urging the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to continue
implementing severe sanctions on the Member States that breach EU treaties, such as:
a) suspending the voting rights of Member States within the European Council and
Parliament,
b) reinforcing financial sanctions by increasing the existing fine policy,
c) threatening Member States with temporary or permanent expulsion based on
Article 7 of the TFEU.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE

ON ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY III
(ENVI III)
Economic Resilience in a Changing Climate: As weather- and climate-related extremes
caused by climate change resulted in economic losses of an estimated EUR 52.3 billion in
2022 and the anticipated escalation of these events, it is likely these losses will continue
well beyond 2030. How can the European Union adapt its policies and strategies to
mitigate the economic consequences of severe weather- and climate-related extreme
events?

Submitted by:

Rajaa Abdelkader (BE), Jasper Bonten (BE), Zephyr D’ansembourg (BE), Riti Dutta (CH), Yoline Gilbert (BE),
Victor Mali (BE), Nicolas Neuprez (BE), Melchior Picot de Moras d’Aligny (BE), Jente Roels (BE), Sverre Roels
(BE), Noa Suykens (BE), Lara Vangoethem (BE), Elena Stunda (Chairperson, NL)

The European Youth Parliament aim to minimise the economic losses caused by climate
change-related events while taking into account displaced populations, the lack of
enforcement of existing policies by Member States, and adaptability of insurance. We aim to
achieve this by recognising the divergence of negative consequences experienced in different
areas of Europe. With a focus on enforcing and enhancing existing climate adaptation
policies, we strive to create a cohesive approach towards sustainable resilience,

because
● The European Union has lost 650 billion euros between 1980 and 2022 due to extreme
weather and climate conditions,
● The existing policies for climate adaptation are not as adequate as envisaged and
frequently not enforced by Member States,
● There is a lack of cohesion in composing policies which aim for climate-resilience, as well
as a difference in strategies to combat climate change due to divergent economic systems
across Member States,
● Extreme weather events cause infrastructure to collapse, potentially leading to the
relocation of various communities,
● There are critical gaps in the resilience of the EU’s infrastructure, including energy,
structural, and architectural infrastructure, ultimately leading to more economic losses,
● Climate change impacts the supply chain through an increased frequency of extreme
weather events, shifts in resource availability, regulatory changes, supply chain
disruptions, and evolving market demands,

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● Southern Europe is the region most affected by climate change, with related economic
losses of 1,3% of GDP,
● Only 30% of climate change-related losses are currently covered by insurance, despite the
rise of cost of climate change;
by
1. Encouraging the European Commission to utilise the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs)5 as a model to rally existing policies;

2. Urging the European Commission to involve NGOs specialised in combatting climate

change in the policy-making process by incorporating their advice into policy;

3. Requesting Member States to continue strictly enforcing the “polluter pays” principle6 to
reduce the impact of their most polluting industries;

4. Recommending the European Commission to incentivise Member States to adopt and

implement current climate adaptation policies effectively;

5. Further encouraging the Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) to coordinate

researchers to cluster Member States facing similar climate-related challenges in order
to foster greater collaboration and facilitate the development of more customised
policies;

6. Further urging the European Commission to invest in current research on the

development of resilient infrastructures in order to launch an EU-wide standard for all
infrastructure, and retrofit all infrastructure that doesn’t meet the standard;

7. Inviting Member States to implement utilisation planning and early warning systems
within their impacted regions in order to reduce evacuations to other countries after
weather disasters;

8. Instructing the European Commission to put emphasis on operational responses at the

local level, in order to include local actors who have a better position in raising
awareness about their specific needs;

9. Asking Member States to prevent the supply chain from collapsing in case of an
emergency due to an extreme weather event, by:

a. using technology and innovation such as AI, blockchain, and analytics to

improve supply chain traceability and risk management,

5
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), alternatively referred to as the Global Goals, were endorsed by
the United Nations in 2015, serving as a worldwide initiative aimed at eradicating poverty, safeguarding the
environment, and guaranteeing universal peace and prosperity by 2030.
6
The concept of the "polluter pays" principle is codified within Article 191(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning
of the European Union. This principle stipulates that those responsible for pollution should bear the
financial burden of its consequences, thereby incentivising proactive measures to prevent environmental
harm and ensuring accountability for polluting actions.

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b. adding mandatory courses to the training of vehicle operators on how to deal

with said emergencies, ensuring their own safety and the safety of the products
they are transporting;

10. Further asking Member States to launch publicity campaigns supporting catastrophe
bonds (CAT bonds),7 hereby reaching and influencing more possible investors to partake
in catastrophe resilience insurance;

11. Requesting national governments to mandate insurance companies to adopt revised risk
assessment models that encompass a broader range of climate-related losses, thus
increasing the coverage of insurance.

7
A catastrophe bond (CAT) is a financial instrument with high returns, specifically structured to generate
funds for insurance companies in the event of a natural disaster.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON

CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS (LIBE)
Unravelling the Digital Battlefield: In an age of increasing subjectivity in misinformation
detection, the internet has become a new frontier for active conflicts. With a focus on
international collaboration to facilitate cross-border sharing of accurate information, what
role should the EU take in countering and clarifying misinformation during active
conflicts?

Submitted by:

Zeyad Abdrabou (BE), Pallieter Andries (BE), Sofia Angelova (BG), Marie-Emilya Bonny (BE), Margot Feys (BE),
Lydia Lefevre (BE), Charlize Masquelin (BE), Dimo Sabev (BG), Maxim Vanclooster (BE), Robrecht Versteels
(BE), Hayk Mantashian (Chairperson, AM)

The European Youth Parliament aim to strengthen the reliability of digital platforms and
social networks through combating misinformation in the media. Furthermore, we strive to
reach and spread awareness among European residents, fostering critical thinking and
media literacy. We seek to end propaganda in different media outlets, particularly
concerning current active conflicts, thereby mitigating the influence of biassed narratives,

because,
● Misinformation influences the public opinion, posing a threat to the solidity of
democracies in Member States,
● There is a lack of regulation over the spread of fake news,
● Usage of deep fake AI fuels the spread of misinformation while also violating human
rights by falsely framing companies and individuals,
● Spread of misinformation often damages private lives and privacy of individuals,
● Misinformation fuels propaganda during active conflicts, escalating violence and
polarisation, as in the case of the ongoing war in Ukraine,
● It is getting increasingly harder to fact-check public information on the internet,
especially regarding ongoing conflicts,
● Media organisations often push journalists to prioritise delivering trendy and quick news
over presenting truthful and factual information,
● There is a lack of awareness in the public regarding the dangers of fake news and on how
to establish the credibility of sources;

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by
1. Calling upon the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST) to implement
penalties, including sanctions on the circulation of misinformation spread by political
figures, such as electoral candidates;
2. Requesting the Council of Europe to monitor fake news and misinformation, to ensure
that it does not compromise fundamental human rights, and respects and complies with
freedom of expression, privacy and free access to information;
3. Instructing companies generating AI-content to include indelible watermarks in their
visual output, making them recognisable by media entities and fact-checkers;
4. Strongly encouraging the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) to release an annual
list of the most reputable political journalists, based on the accuracy and reliability of
their articles;
5. Urging Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG
Connect) to further reinforce the Digital Services Act transparency requirement to notify
users when online content potentially contains misinformation;
6. Inviting Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to further promote existing
socio-political discourse platforms and make them more accessible, through campaigns
funded by initiatives like Horizon Europe;
7. Suggesting DG Connect to further support the fact-checking entities of media corporations
to develop and enlarge their activities;
8. Asking Directorate-General on Communication (DG COMM) to ensure an unbiased
European media field by:
a) promoting initiatives centred around media pluralism in online spaces,
b) encouraging media outlets to spread unbiased and trustworthy information
regarding ongoing conflicts;
9. Further requesting The Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) to research advanced
technological solutions to effectively combat fake news and misinformation specifically
during active conflicts;
10. Appealing Member States’ Ministries of Justice to enforce legal consequences for
individuals disseminating false information and inciting of fear and polarisation by
implementing strict penalties;
11. Further suggesting DG Connect to encourage social media platforms to modify their
algorithms so that more credible content gets prioritised;

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12. Encouraging Member States to further spread awareness about the risks and
consequences of misinformation through workshops and advertisements on social media
and public television, like the InVID project.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE

ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS I (AFCO I)
Cool Kids Vote: Voter turnout in EU Elections has generally been in decline since the
1950s. Alarmingly low voter turnout rates have been attributed to the youth electorate in
particular, and studies have shown a large gap in turnout between younger and older
generations of voters. With the upcoming 2024 European elections in mind, how can the
EU improve its mobilisation of young voters and make democratic participation more
accessible to them?

Submitted by:

Febe Bille (BE), Clara Birkner (BE), Daria Dogadchina (BE), Aurélie Lammertyn (BE), Ángel Lira (ES), Lena
Moreau (BE), Luka Mosteyrin (BE/ES), Cornelia Sturm (BE), Jagoda Szejnfeld (BE/PL), Virginia Taccone (BE),
Timo Thielemans (BE), Léon Vasseur (BE), Rita Araujo (Chairperson, NL/PT)

The European Youth Parliament aim to increase voter turnout amongst young people in
future European elections. By doing so, we aim to ensure that all generations’ voices,
particularly young ones, are equally represented in the EU decision making process,

because
● Youth prefers engaging in alternative forms of political participation, such as participating
in demonstrations and signing petitions, as opposed to traditional voting,
● A growing body of evidence suggests that lowering the voting age results in higher voter
turnout amongst young people,
● Youth is underrepresented in the European Parliament, with the average age of its
members currently standing at 49,5 years old,
● People above 40 remain significantly more likely to vote than younger people, despite the
spike in voter turnout amongst younger age groups in the 2019 European elections,
● 53% of young Europeans feel that they do not have any say over political decisions that
directly affect them,
● In 2021, over 50% of young people in the EU self-reported a lack of basic understanding of
the EU structure and its functioning;

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by
1. Requesting the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) to
educate young people about the importance of voting at the upcoming European
elections by implementing educational initiatives such as debates, information points,
and seminars;

2. Encouraging Member States to uniformise the minimum voting age for European
Parliament elections to 16 years old, following the examples of Austria, Malta, Germany
and Belgium;

3. Urging the European Education and Culture Executive Agency​​(EACEA) to actively empower
young individuals to pursue political careers by creating workshops centred around the
benefits of a career in politics;

4. Suggesting EU politicians to make their election campaigns more accessible to younger

audiences by emphasising youth related topics;

5. Asking local NGOs to educate parents and teachers on the importance of involving young
people in politics by facilitating workshops tailored to the educational needs of each
community;

6. Calling upon Member States to increase the accessibility of European elections for young
voters by establishing voting booths at schools and universities enabling a familiar voting
environment;

7. Directing the European Commission to provide a platform for young people to voice their
concerns and suggestions directly to policymakers by establishing youth advisory working
groups tasked with providing input to different EU institutions;

8. Instructing the Directorate-General for Communications (DG COMM) to disseminate

accessible information about the EU and its upcoming elections by creating a social media
campaign in collaboration with youth organisations.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE

ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (AFET)
To state a region: Breakaway regions, such as those in Moldova, Spain, and the Caucasus region
bear significant geopolitical and societal importance. What measures should the EU take to further
promote European values in these regions while respecting State sovereignty?

Submitted by:

Alexander Aldershoff (BE), Miep Bauwens (BE), Selle Haemhouts (BE), Reuben Halewyck (BE),
Zuzanna Kołoś (PL), Elisabeth Mac Mahon (BE), Natasha Corman (BE), Daan Van Poucke (BE),
Renaud Verhoeve (BE), Meghna Vijay (BE), Amira Yuldasheva (BE/UA) and Marek Barbuš
(Chairperson, CZ)

The European Youth Parliament aim to aid in solving conflicts in breakaway regions while
respecting and encouraging core European values as well as the cultural and historical
background of the breakaway regions. We strive to de-escalate tensions and to tackle
violence as well as external influence in these regions. Finally, we wish to maintain a
powerful European Union in means of security, economy and culture.

because
● The recognition of a newly formed country by other nations is obligatory by international
law, posing a significant challenge in certain regions, like Eastern Europe,
● Due to the internal disagreements on the separation within the broken-away region, there
may be potential challenges arising post-separation, such as internal conflict,
● The separation of some breakaway regions taints the unity, internal stability and security
of the EU and other political unions such as NATO,
● The breakaway regions find that they lack the autonomy to govern their own international
affairs and policies, for instance, Scotland wanting to remain in the EU,
● The breakaway regions' reliance on and integration with their national government for
economic and military matters may clash with their aspirations for self-determination and
independence,
● External influence on breakaway regions involves other countries exerting control over
them, for example Russia's involvement in Abkhazia and South Ossetia,
● Breakaway regions experience limitations in their freedom to express their culture and
traditions due to their association with their nationalistic sovereign state, for example, as
seen in the Spanish region of Catalonia,
● The emergence of breakaway regions leads to security concerns increasing the likelihood

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of escalated conflicts, for instance, extremism in Scotland,

● Gaining independence results in a need for the rearrangement of legal obligations
regarding international trade, due to the emergence of a completely new state,

by
1. Inviting Member States to prioritise measures aimed at preserving the cultural identity
of breakaway regions, such as dedicated school curricula and cultural centres;
2. Supporting the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in its efforts
to promote peacebuilding and conflict prevention;
3. Calling upon the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) to advise local governments of
breakaway regions of the potential risks and consequences that could occur
post-separation;
4. Requesting the European Law Institute (ELI) to pursue comprehensive legal analysis to
ascertain the permissible actions and limitations concerning breakaway regions;
5. Assembling fair referenda in the breakaway regions before gaining independence with
oversight of the Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union (DG EXPO);
6. Asking the European Economic and Social Committee (ESC) to advise sovereign states to
provide economic support to the breakaway region;
7. Recommending the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), to
require potential breakaway regions to demonstrate their capacity to be economically
stable, politically stable, to present adequate rule of law and to meet a sufficient level of
democracy;
8. Encouraging sovereign states to put in place democratic procedures in their breakaway
regions through which culturally and politically relevant stakeholders have the opportunity
to voice their opinions;
9. Trusting Member States to hold continuous diplomatic dialogue between the sovereign
state and the breakaway region;
10. Further encouraging Member States to strive for uniformity in their approach and decisions
regarding breakaway regions;
11. Urging Member States to facilitate a seamless transition between the incumbent and newly
independent government of breakaway regions, particularly concerning bilateral
agreements and international trade, in the event of a legitimate and orderly declaration of
independence;
12. Strongly urging the Russian Federation to withdraw its troops from the breakaway
regions of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria in Georgia and Moldova, as well as
the occupied sovereign territories of Ukraine.

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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY THE COMMITTEE ON

THE ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH AND FOOD SAFETY I
(ENVI I)
Let’s stay Social: Recent studies shed light on the increasingly addictive way social media
platforms are designed and the potentially harmful effects on its users. Recognising the wide
impact on mental health such platforms have, how can the EU and its Member States collaborate
towards a safer social media environment?

Submitted by:

Saimoon Ali (BE), Ksenija Boceska (BE), Victoria Brumagne (BE), Jakob Epperson (BE), Valentina Huitfeldt
(BE), Alyssa Mbaba Mena Ngomono (BE), Víctor Pulido Behets (BE), Paula Rapado Tarela (ES), Alex Van Daele
(BE), Lore Van Hecke (BE), Lotte Vanden Driessche (BE), Giada Chiassi (Chairperson, IT)

The European Youth Parliament aim to foster a healthy relationship between Europeans and
social media platforms. We aim to reduce time spent online and increase real-life
interactions, promoting healthy habits with consumed online content. We aim for more
user-friendly digital interfaces on social media platforms, mainly reducing their addictive
nature by putting the user’s well-being first. We encourage research in the field and we strive
for general education surrounding the topic, fostering transparency and authenticity in
online environments,

because

● The lack of effective regulation and persecution by law regarding purposeful addictive
interface designs in social media challenges users’ autonomy, leading to unhealthy habits,
● Age regulations on social media platforms are easily omitted and often not respected by
underage users,
● Cyberbullying is still a very present and widespread phenomenon on social media
platforms,
● Researchers face insufficient access to reliable data for further research on the positive and
negative effects of social media on its users’ health,
● Designated users do not receive sufficient education on the possible dangers of social
media platforms,
● Social media platforms have been shown to prioritise maximising profits over the
well-being and mental health of their users,

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● The unrealistic and often unattainable standards portrayed on social media platforms
negatively affect youth’s views on reality and self-satisfaction;

by
1. Calling upon the European Commission to initiate legislation encouraging social media
platforms to cease the usage of the autoplay feature;

2. Urging the European Commission through the Digital Services Act, to implement an on/off
button available in platform settings to control algorithms that personalise content;
3. Encouraging the European Commission to propose regulations that erase the feature of
endless scrolling by limiting the amount of content available within a certain time frame;
4. Inviting social media platforms to lessen the amount of time users spend online by
formulating the presence of a timer at the top of the screen showing the time spent since
the app was opened;
5. Requesting Member States to ensure the age limits they set for social media platforms are
respected by introducing secure methods of reliable age verification, such as Belgian
Itsme8 or equivalents, Yoti9, or the approval of a legal guardian for accounts made by users
under 18;
6. Urging the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
(DG Connect) to ensure all abusive content is removed before the publication on social
media platforms through algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI);
7. Encouraging the European Commission to propose legislation to ensure all social media
users are identifiable and traceable, by attaching an accessible legal name to all accounts;
8. Calling upon the European Commission to initiate legislation encouraging social media
platforms to share quarterly public reports, including factors such as the average time
users spend online, the content they consume, the average age groups, and for what
purpose the platform is being used;
9. Inviting the European Commission to promote independent data gathering by the
European Digital Rights10 on studies regarding social media to prevent biassed and
unrepresentative data;
10. Calling upon Ministries of Education of Member States to improve education on building a
healthy relationship with social media and preventing addiction by:

8
Itsme is a digital identity platform that allows users to safely authenticate their identity online.
9
Yoti is a leading digital identity and age assurance provider. The system scans the face and estimates age.
10
European Digital Rights (EDRI) is an NGO with the aim of defending and advancing digital rights in Europe.

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a. facilitating mandatory workshops and panel debates with experts open to students
as well as parents,
b. producing educational media on the subject,
c. distributing courses on media literacy into the school curriculum starting from a
young age;
11. Encouraging the European Commission to enforce legal prosecution against social media
platforms that purposefully implement addictive features on their platforms;
12. Inviting the European Commission to enforce mandatory warnings on edited and
AI-generated posts on social media platforms;
13. Urging the European Commission to establish stricter regulation on the mandatory
disclosure of advertisement content on social media platforms;
14. Calling upon the European Commission to create an educational step-up11 program to
improve people’s understanding of social media and their knowledge of the platforms’
features.

11
Step-up programs aim to facilitate skill and career advancement by offering resources for individuals to
progress to higher levels in their field or area of interest.

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