Salo 2014

Regional Session of EYP Finland

Preparation Kit for Delegates

 

Letter from the President

Dear reader,

“Anticipation, or being enthusiastic, is an emotion involving pleasure, excitement, and sometimes anxiety in considering some expected or longed-for good event.”

– Wikipedia

Anticipation can be longing or dreading, the feeling can be large or small, overwhelming or empowering. The European Youth Parliament (EYP) is an organisation by the youth for the youth, it is a platform designed for people like me and you to meet interesting people from around Europe, experience, and develop. It is a platform, which we are all free to “exploit” the way we ourselves decide we want to.

Salo 2014, Regional Session of EYP Finland, is getting closer, the Session has been organised for you to come and make the most of the weekend for yourself and others – there is no need to dread, or to be overwhelmed. As the Session’s President I now encourage you to start actively thinking about the following event with growing, longing and empowering anticipation. Only you, in the end, can make the experience worthwhile, and I promise you, if you come open minded and ready to make the most out of it, Salo 2014 will be a weekend you will not forget.

In your ”hands” you now hold a booklet, which has been made by your committees chairpersons. This is a booklet designed to guide you through your preparations for the Session. You have each been assigned a topic, which you will discuss during the weekend. This preparation booklet has more thorough information (overviews) on all of them and links to help you start your own research.

For you to make the most out of Salo 2014, this is where to start – prepare for your topic, think of the situation, problems, and possible solutions. I also encourage you to look into the other overviews to be aware of what other discussions and debates we will have during the Session. As the beginning of this “letter” showed, Wikipedia is a good place to start. Go deeper, start your research now, come prepared.

Salo 2014 will be much more than discussion and debate, there will be 130 interesting people to meet and have fun with. Preparation is just the beginning.

I am sincerely looking forward to meeting all of you!

Yours,

Alexander Proctor

President of Salo 2014 – Regional Session of EYP Finland

 

European Youth Parliament (EYP)

The European Youth Parliament represents a non-partisan and independent educational project, which is tailored specifically to the needs of the young European citizens. European Youth Parliament Finland, established in 2001, is the National Committee of the EYP in Finland.

The EYP encourages independent thinking and initiative in young people and facilitates the learning of crucial social and professional skills. Since its inauguration, many tens of thousands of young people have taken part in Regional, National and International Sessions, formed friendships and made international contacts across and beyond borders. The EYP has thus mad a vital contribution towards uniting Europe.

Today the EYP is one of the largest European platforms for political debate, intercultural encounters, political educational work and the exchange of ideas among young people in Europe. The EYP consists of a network of 41 European associations in which thousands of young people are active in a voluntary capacity.

The EYP is a programme of the Schwarzkoph Foundation.

European Union (EU)

The European Union is an economic and political union of 28 Member States. The EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1992 upon the foundations of the European Communities.

The EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of laws, which apply in all Member States, and ensures the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital, including the abolition of passport controls within the Schengen area. It enacts legislation in justice and home affairs, and maintains common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. Eighteen Member States have adopted a common currency, the euro.

With a view to its relations with the wider world, the EU has developed a limited role in foreign and defence policy through the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Permanent diplomatic missions have been established around the world and the EU is represented at the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the G8 and the G-20

 The EU operates through a hybrid system of supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. In certain areas decisions are taken by independent institutions, while in others, they are made through negotiation between Member States.

The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community formed by six countries in the 1950s. Since the, it has grown in size through enlargement, and in power through the addition of policy areas to its remit. The last amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU came into force in 2009 and was the Lisbon Treaty.

The Institutions of the European Union

The European Council is responsible for defining the general political direction and priorities of the EU. It comprises the heads of state of government of EU Member States, along with its President (currently Herman Von Rompuy from Belgium) and the President of the Commission.

The Council of the European Union (commonly referred to as the Council of Ministers) is the institution in the legislature of the EU representing the governments of Member States, the other legislative body being the European Parliament. The exact membership depends on the topic: for instance, when discussing agricultural policy the Council is formed by the 28 national ministers whose portfolio includes this policy area.

The European Parliament is directly elected parliamentary institution of the EU. Together with the Council, it forms the bicameral legislative branch of the EU. The Parliament is composed of 751 MEPs. The current president is Martin Schultz from Germany.

The European Commission is the executive body of the EU. It is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union’s treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union. The Commission operates as a cabinet government, with 28 commissioners. The Current President is José Manuel Barroso from Portugal. His term will end in the end of December and his position will be taken over by president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker from Luxembourg.

Other important institutions of the EU include the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Central Bank. The EU also has several agencies and other institutions.    

 

Committee topics Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

Overview by: Roksolana Pidlasa (UA) & Anthony Fedorov (FI)

Chairpersons: Ana Viitanen (FI) & Alexander Bratthall (SE)

Islamic State (IS) – With US President Barack Obama stating he has authority to address the IS threat and

European countries such as the United Kingdom and France already supporting the fight against the

jihadists, what united measures should the EU take to address the threats the Islamic State poses to the war

in Syria and Iraq?

Committee on Agriculture (AGRI)

Chairpersons: Iina Lappalainen (FI) & Gustaf Westin (SE)

Feeding the continent: With the Common Agriculture Policy representing half of the EU’s budget, should the

EU continue subsidising agriculture in its Member States or rely on other measures in securing food supply?

Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)

Chairpersons: Nikolas Rawlins (FI) & Sara Reinikainen (FI)

Despite reliance on science and technology to generate solutions to the challenges of a modern information

society, the number of young people choosing to study science and taking up scientific careers is declining.

How can the EU address the lack of interest and potential shortage of human resources in science-related

industries?

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)

Chairperson: Lucie Mérelle (FI)

In the aftermath of the European sovereign debt crisis, many graduates from Southern and Eastern

European Member States are moving to more stable labour markets. What measures can the EU adopt in

order to tackle the issue of brain drain without hindering labour mobility?

 Committee on International Trade (INTA)

Chairpersons: Elias Julkunen (FI) & Valentina Moles (IT)

Exporting for growth: With small and medium enterprises building the backbone of the EU’s economy, how

can the EU assist in lowering barriers for SMEs attempting to access international markets?

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

Chairpersons: Simon Gasse (DE) & Silja Tuovinen (FI)

Creating a greener future: Reminded of the EU’s failure to reach the environmental

targets set out in the Lisbon Agenda, how can the EU adapt the proposed 2030 climate

and energy framework in order to effectively reduce its reliance on fossil fuels?

Committee on Regional Development (REGI)

Chairpersons: Christine Meiser (DE) & Hans Näsman (FI)

Building the periphery: the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund have played an important role in

developing the EUs' peripheral areas, however at a cost of €348bln in the period from 2007 to 2013. How

should the EU shape its regional policy, while keeping in mind that metropolitan areas fuel economic

growth?

Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE)

Chairperson: Laurynas Keturakis (LT)

East versus West: Russian military action at Europe’s Eastern border is increasing at an alarming rate,

whilst the NATO is taking resolute steps towards ensuring Member State security. How should the EU

respond to Russia’s growing threat posed to post-Soviet states?

 

Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET)

Islamic State (IS) – With US President Barack Obama stating he has authority to address the IS threat and

European countries such as the United Kingdom and France already supporting the fight against the

jihadists, what united measures should the EU take to address the threats the Islamic State poses to the war

in Syria and Iraq?

Summary

With thousands of murdered and internally displaced people, the Islamic State known as the IS, ISIL, and

ISIS, brings Iraq and Syria to the edge of a humanitarian catastrophe. Meanwhile, the threat of jihadism

spreads throughout the EU, as people join radical Muslim movements and travel to the Middle East to fight

within IS troops. The EU debates the idea of isolating the Islamic State while many Member States have

already taken serious military actions against the IS and its inhuman actions.

Problem

Following successful offensives against the Iraqi government and the proclamation of the caliphate in June

2014, advancing IS forces have seized the town of Sinjar in Northern Iraq. Since the conflict escalated in the

beginning of summer, IS managed to expand their control over significant territory in Iraq and Syria.

As reported by Amnesty International, IS is accused of persecuting regional and ethnic minorities, as well as

Shia Muslims on the captured territories. The United Nations (UN) published a report highlighting the

unprecedented violence of IS militants against civilians1. Furthermore, as a result of IS's upsurge, Iraq and

Syria face a severe humanitarian crisis, notably a significant displacement of people in the occupied

territories.

At the same time the European Union (EU) is also threatened by the IS supporters. According to CNN,

allegedly roughly 2,000 EU citizens have "answered the call to jihad"2 and some 500 to 1,000 of them might

                                                                                                                         1  Syria and Isis committing war crimes, says UN – The Guardian. 2 Europe faces 'greatest terror threat ever' from jihadists in Iraq and Syria - CNN  

 have joined IS. The rise of jihadism in the EU has already resulted in casualties caused by extremists. The

extensive online presence of IS attempts to target even more Western Muslims.

Main actors

• IS is believed to be "the wealthiest jihadist group in the world"3, owning assets worth over $2 billion.

During the Syrian Civil War, IS managed to increase its access to financial and weaponry resources,

yet the origin of its financial support remains unknown. IS aims at creating a pan-national state,

uniting all the territories of the world inhabited by Muslims.

• Sunni Muslims in Iraq and Syria constitute a basis of all IS supporters. Iraqi and Syrian Sunni

minorities are poorly represented in the Shia governments of both countries, while anti-

governmental manifestations in these countries are often violently oppressed. IS attempts to exploit

Sunnis' dissatisfaction in Shia governors, and demonstrates its loyalty to Sunni communities by

setting up different facilities there.

• Iraqi government led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki attempts to accumulate international

support to combat ISIS, since presumably it does not fully control the army composed of both Shia

and Sunni, previously oppressed by al-Maliki.

• Syrian government and the President Bashar al-Assad are believed to benefit from IS fighting

against more moderate opposition groups, and discouraging foreign supporters. Yet, recent

negotiations between Maliki and Assad prove the growing concern of Syrian leadership.

• NATO-led anti-IS coalition among others involves sixteen EU Member States, which support the

Iraqi and Syrian governments with air strikes, deployment of troops, as well as provision of weapons

and humanitarian aid. Furthermore, the EU set the amount of aid at $22-million.

Perspectives

In the end of the summer the IS debates unfolded on a Ministerial level in the EU. While France under the

authority of the Iraqi government executed air strikes on the IS's positions, and the UK was preparing to ship

weapons to the Kurds, many questions have been raised. The Kurdish aspirations to form their own country

suggest that arming the minority could facilitate the destabilisation in Iraq rather than help to combat IS.

                                                                                                                         3 Iraq crisis: how do Isis's cash and assets compare with other military spending? – The Guardian  

 Repeated air strikes over the IS's positions might provoke the IS to target Western states. At the same time

the presence of jihad communities in the EU is already more threatening than ever before.

To which extent should the EU and its Member States participate in the anti-IS coalition? What measures

need to be taken to ensure security of EU citizens? How to ensure the rightful prosecution and to avoid

discrimination of the Muslims in the Member States?

Definitions

The self-declared Islamic State (IS) is a religious extremist group active in Iraq and Syria that aims at

creating a pan-national Sunni Islamic state in the Middle East.

Sunni Islam – is a largest denomination of Islam as opposed to Shia Islam (second largest group).

Theological difference of the denominations is believed to be very slim.

Jihad is defined as a violent struggle against non-Muslims, while the call to join the fight is referred to as a

"call to jihad".

Kurds are an ethnic group that mainly dwell in the region known as Kurdistan. Kurdistan is divided between

Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria, and seeks for a larger autonomy within respective countries and ultimately the

creation of an independent state of Kurdistan.

Key Words

Northern Iraq offensive, jihadism in the EU, IS propaganda, anti-IS coalition, Kurdish Peshmerga forces,

IDPs

Links

Iraq crisis: what is the Islamic State?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10891387/Iraq-crisis-what-is-the-Islamic-

State.html

Anti-ISIS coalition has mobilized up to 62 nations and groups

http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/09/26/mobilizing-the-world-up-to-62-nations-and-groups-have-joined-

coalition-against-isis/

 

EU Parliament discusses ISIS security threat with EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator

http://eu-un.europa.eu/articles/en/article_15497_en.htm

Europe faces 'greatest terror threat ever' from jihadists in Iraq and Syria

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/19/world/europe/lister-european-jihadists/

Europe Tries to Stop Flow of Citizens Joining Jihad

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/01/world/europe/isis-europe-muslim-radicalization.html

 

Committee on Agriculture (AGRI)

Feeding the continent: With the Common Agriculture Policy representing half of the EU’s budget, should the

EU continue subsidising agriculture in its Member States or rely on other measures in securing food supply?

Summary

The European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a system of subsidies, trade barriers, and other

regulations aiming to guarantee European farmers a fair income and to provide European consumers with

an adequate supply of food. This may sound like an appealing idea, but the CAP has had to endure massive

critique. Firstly, it takes up over 40% of the EU budget. Secondly, it encourages massive overproduction and

greatly disadvantaging foreign farmers.

Problem

Ever since its’ introduction in 1962, the CAP has led to massive overproduction. By subsidising agriculture,

farmers are encouraged to produce more food than is actually needed, creating “mountains” and “lakes” of

surplus food and drink. Farmers are then further subsidised to export the surplus goods to other markets

where they sell it cheaply, undermining local farmers. Many go as far as to argue that this, in combination

with trade restrictions like tariffs and import quotas, prevents developing countries from developing a

functioning agricultural sector and subsequently rising out of poverty.

Another problem with the CAP is that the distribution of subsidies favours larger farms over smaller, often

family owned farms. Despite the fact that small farmers make up for around 40% of EU farms, they only

receive 8% of subsidies. At the same time, 70% of the funds go to only 20% of Europe’s farms.

Furthermore, the CAP has also been criticised for unfairly protecting farmers from foreign competition, and

for artificially raising prices on food, making food more expensive for consumers. The fact that over 40% of

the total EU budget is spent on a sector that produces only around 3% of the EU’s total GDP is also

something the CAP has been criticised for.

 Defenders of the CAP, in turn, argue that European farmers would not be able to sustain their businesses

without the CAP, and that the policy is vital for providing Europeans with a steady and reliable supply of high

quality food.

Main actors

• European farmers would be directly affected by reforms to the CAP, as for example a decrease in

subsidies would make it harder for farmers to maintain their businesses. Decreased or abolished

trade barriers to foreign countries would also increase competition.

• Foreign farmers, in developing countries or other non-EU countries, could greatly benefit by a

liberalised trade policy, or an end to subsidised exports from Europe.

• European Consumers could also benefit from CAP reforms, not only by a potentially reduced tax

burden, but also from reduced prices on food.

• The European Commission is the body responsible for presenting legislation changes and thus

reforms to the CAP. In the area of agriculture the EU has a shared competence with Member States,

which states that Member States cannot exercise their competence where the EU has done so. The

proposals submitted by the EC are then discussed, amended and approved by the European

Parliament and the Council of Agriculture Ministers (Agriculture ministers of every Member State).

Current Legislation & Policies

The CAP is divided into four different EU regulations and the rest of the legislation is defined under these

four topics. These four consecutive regulations are:

• Rural Development

• “Horizontal issues” (for example funding)

• Direct Payments for farmers

• Market measures

The CAP is designed to maintain a specific price level and support food production in the EU. Firstly, it

restricts the amount of food being imported into the EU through import quotas and tariffs. Second, an

internal intervention price is in place to prevent prices, and consequently farmers’ incomes, to drop below a

certain level. In the case of the price of a certain product dropping below the intervention level, the EU raises

the low price by buying up goods. Last but not least the CAP also includes subsidies paid directly to farmers.

 During the 2014-2020 programming period, 362.787 billion EUR will be spent on the CAP, around 76 % of

which will be spent on direct payments. However, in order to face the critique concerning the stimulation of

overproduction due to criteria that encouraged CAP farmers to use modern machinery and new production

techniques, the 2014-2020 criteria will no longer stimulate mass production, but instead focus on paying out

to farmers who:

• Reduce green house gas emissions

• Use eco-friendly farming techniques

• Meet public-health and animal welfare standards

• Produce the specialities of the region

• Develop new uses for produce in sectors like cosmetics, medicine and handicrafts.

Perspectives

The future of the CAP can be listed as three main objectives:

• Viable food supply

• Sustainable management of natural resources

• Balanced territorial development

One of the main issues in the future will be changes in production and import quotas. The milk quota, which

was originally established to reduce overproduction of milk, will be removed in 2015, causing milk

production to focus on northern Europe. Additionally, liberalising trade with foreign countries and opening

up the European market to foreign producers is something widely discussed. Already, some non-EU

countries have access to the European Market through Free Trade Areas (FTAs). Furthermore, the possible

enlargement of the EU in the future will also challenge the CAP. Already now there are notable agricultural

differences between the different EU member states, which will only be highlighted through enlargement.

An example of a country whose agricultural sector has a gone down a completely different road is New

Zealand, where agricultural subsidies were almost completely abolished in 1984. Many feared it would lead

to a large amount farmers having to close up their businesses, but instead it lead to a big increase in

productivity, and New Zealand’s farming sector remains successful to this day.

 Definitions

Subsidy – A payment given to financially support a certain sector or business

Import tariff – A tax on imports

Import quota - A limitation to the quantity of a good that can be imported to a country

Export Subsidy – A government policy to encourage the export of certain goods, through either direct payments, tax reliefs etc.

Key Words

CAP, CAP reform, trade liberalisation, overproduction, rural development, European agricultural sector

Links

BBC: Questions and answers on CAP reform:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11216061

An information booklet about the CAP by the European Commission:

http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-overview/2012_en.pdf

An article about CAP reform negotiations from 2003:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jun/26/eu.politics1

“Arguments for and against the Common Agricultural Policy”:

http://www.debatingeurope.eu/focus/arguments-for-and-against-the-common-agricultural-policy/#.VDEzvvl_sod

CAP Frequently asked questions, European Commission press release:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-631_en.htm

Overview of CAP Reform 2014-2020 http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/policy-perspectives/policy-briefs/05_en.pdf

 “Family farming and the role of policy in the EU”

http://capreform.eu/family-farming-and-the-role-of-policy-in-the-eu/

Statistics

CAP allocations per Member State, in billion Europe

 

Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)

Despite reliance on science and technology to generate solutions to the challenges of a modern

information society, the number of young people choosing to study science and taking up scientific

careers is declining. How can the EU address the lack of interest and potential shortage of human

resources in science-related industries?

Summary

Even though science-related industries have a great impact in maintaining sustainable economic

growth, the EU is facing a serious decline in students aiming to lead science-related careers. Many

are turned away by the danger of low salaries, poor funding, and working environments as well as a

negative reputation in today’s media. Because of this the means of making these careers more

attractive are complicated. A unified school curriculum within the EU, for example, would be difficult

to implement and Member States’ strategies widely differ on this.

Problem

As the problem unfolds it can be seen that in addition to the decline in the amount of students and

quality of teaching, the regional distribution of Human Resources in Science and Technology (HRST)

causes trouble as well. In the EU, more than 85 million people were considered HRST in 2006, of

which half were concentrated in only three countries. This suggests that labour mobility is still not

very popular or practical among HRST. It might be the result of widely differing university curriculums

around Europe and the employer’s reluctance to hire foreigners, despite their competences.

With our society relying almost completely on science and its flawless operating, Europe will face

serious consequences if freeing positions in the scientific fields cannot be filled by a sufficient amount

of qualified workers. The situation is especially problematic, as a large portion of workers in the field

is close to retirement age. This could potentially lead to a halt in technical development and

innovations, and a crippling effect in everything from agriculture to criminal investigation.

 Actors, Interests and Conflicts

HRST: Students of science and technology are suffering from the budget cuts in EU Member States

but on the other hand they are benefitting from increased funding from programmes like Horizon

2020. Funding possibilities have also been beneficial to the HRST, keeping in mind that more than 73

million people in the EU were employed in science and technology occupations in 2012 – this made up

one third (34 %) of total employment in. Human Resources in Science and Technology are defined by

either a successfully completed university level education or an employment in a science and

technology occupation as a ‘professional’.

Member States: Only a few European countries have developed a broad strategic framework to raise

the profile of science in education and wider society. Due to budget cuts there is a rising amount of

scientific university departments shutting down. Eased labour mobility, cross-border work and

education are mainly beneficial and have widened opportunities, but have sometimes led to a brain

drain in smaller countries.

European Commission: With the Innovation Union and the European Research Area, the European

Commission has approached its ambitious goal to be the most competitive and the most dynamic

knowledge-based economy in the world. It has also tried to ensure the amount of HRST in the future

by raising the share of its budget concentrated on scientific improvements. Attempts have also been

previously made to unify the widely differing school curriculums, but Member States have showed

extreme reluctance to submit under a common legislation concerning education.

Current Legislation & Policies

Innovation Union: A programme launched within the Europe 2020 strategy. It is expected to create 3.7

million new jobs and increase the annual GDP by €795 billion by 2025. One of its main aims is to bring

together public and private actors to achieve more creative results in the field of innovations.

European Research Area (ERA): The ERA, launched in 2000, is a joint initiative of the European

Commission and Member States attempting to integrate the research made in the EU and to create an

internal market for research by removing obstacles from cross-border collaboration. It also aims to

increase mobility and cooperation of researchers, research institutions and businesses. ERA reports

its progress constantly to the Commission, and now the Commission has increased its support to ERA

through Horizon 2020.

 Horizon 2020: Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument created to implement the Innovation Union. It

is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available

for researchers of science and technology.

Perspectives

Even though a basic understanding of science and technology are considered to be necessary skills for

every European citizen, promoting them is a difficult issue, especially in an already competitive

environment. How is it possible to raise the motivation of pupils and to increase their interest in

science?

If reached the goals of the Innovation Union and the funding of Horizon 2020 would be reached, would

it make a difference and would it be beneficial to the scientific industry?

Other solutions discussed range from tighter global cooperation to European integration in school

systems. Would it be possible to find a shared vision between Member States of the EU? Can national

governments find common ground and agree on EU-wide legislation on education?

Definitions

R&D = Research and Development are used to develop new products or processes to improve and

expand one’s operations. R&D ensures EU’s competitiveness and economic growth in the global

markets.

Key words: Innovation Union, ERA, HRST, Horizon 2020, R&D, unified education, scientific decline

Links

http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm?pg=intro

Information about the innovation union

http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.htm

Homepage for European research area ERA

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/documents/thematic_reports/133EN.pdf Science

education in Europe

 http://ec.europa.eu/research/conferences/2004/sciprof/pdf/final_en.pdf

Europe needs more Scientists

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Europe

http://www.eujournal.org/index.php/esj

European Science journal

http://www.cost.eu/

European cooperation in science and technology

 

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL)

In the aftermath of the European sovereign debt crisis, many graduates from Southern and Eastern

European Member States are moving to more stable labour markets. What measures can the EU adopt in

order to tackle the issue of brain drain without hindering labour mobility?

Summary

Human capital flight otherwise known as “brain drain” represents the migration of the highly educated

portion of a labour market in one country to another country. Since the Treaty of Rome, European citizens

have been able to move freely throughout the European Union. However, since the accession of Bulgaria and

Romania and the financial crisis of 2007, more and more people in Southern and Eastern Europe have

decided to move west and north.

Problem

Human capital flight has been an on-going crisis that has been affecting the countries of the euro zone since

early 2009. The sovereign debt crisis has affected the level of migration to more stable labour markets

continuously. For example, as a prime victim hit by the sovereign debt crisis, Greece has seen many of their

graduates moving to more stable labour markets across Europe. This has put more strain on Greece’s own

labour market. Many more Member States are unfortunately in a similar situation.

Encouraging citizens to take advantage of the opportunities that mobility offers first requires an

understanding of why people choose, or do not choose, to change jobs or move residence, across regions or

to another Member State. Since 2003 research has been conducted concerning migration and labour market

mobility in an attempt to establish likely outcomes for future European mobility.

The brain drain phenomena in Europe fall into two distinct trends. The first is an outflow of highly qualified

scientists from Western Europe mostly to the United States. The second is a shift of skilled workers from

Central and South-eastern Europe into Western Europe, within the EU. While in some countries the trend

may be slowing, certain Southeast European countries continue to suffer from extremely high rates of brain

drain. Although the EU recognizes a need for extensive immigration to mitigate the effects of an aging

population, nationalist political parties have gained support in many European countries by calling for

 stronger laws restricting immigration.

Actors, Interests and conflicts

• European Commission – the European Commission holds shared competence in the area of

coordination of economic, employment and social policies. Meaning that the European Union can

only exercise the power of its competence if it does not result in the Member States inability to

exercise their decision making power.

• Member States – Seeing that the competence of the European Commission is limited, the Member

States hold a great deal of power in labour mobility policy. Also, when deciding on joint action the

Member States must decide through the European Council and the Council of Ministers to expand

the competences of the European Union.

• Southern and Eastern Member States – These specific Member States form a block amongst all

other Member States as they are the portion facing the highest outflows of labour.

Current legislation & policies

• Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) is part of the aim to remove obstacles

that refrain free movement of workers. It makes it easier for social security information to be shared

across Member States.

• Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation is also a part

of the lowering barriers on movement. A mechanism used to make qualifications more comparable

is the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).

• The European Network of Employment Services (EURES) – aims at bringing together labour supply

and labour demand in one place by making job opportunities visible to applicants.

• The European Social Fund (ESF) – attempts to offset negative effects of the country of origin in the

case of labour movement.

• European Platform to prevent and deter undeclared work – a current proposal by the European

Commission in order to limit the high outflows from, amongst others, Romania and Bulgaria.

• Career integration grants (CIG) and European Reintegration grants (ERG) – are meant to increase

labour mobility by providing talented researchers with the funding when they move to a new

institution.

 Perspectives

Multiple divides have come into play. Currently, the countries facing human capital outflows are granted

compensation by the ESF. However, it is questionable whether the European Union should continue

compensation or consider pushing less for capital mobility instead?

On the other hand, it is arguable that future labour market demands, such as the 900,000 vacancies in IT by

2015, call for even greater labour mobility and should therefore be addressed with further compensation

measures and increased investment in the overall quality of the educational system of the European Union,

increasing the amount of people leaving school with tertiary education across all Member States.

Definitions

• Tertiary education: education past secondary school.

• Sovereign debt crisis: crisis started in 2008 by the collapse of multiple banks within the European

banking system.

• Labour mobility: the ability of citizens to move from one place to another to get employed. In

European context: the ability to move from on state to the other.

Keywords/ phrases

European sovereign debt crisis, graduates, Southern and Eastern European Member States, stable labour

markets, brain drain, labour mobility

Links for further research

1. Introductory material

An introduction to brain drain in the EU- http://www.seep.ceu.hu/archives/issue51/horvat.pdf

Brain drain and migration in the EU (focus your attention on points 3.2, 3.3)- http://www.aca-

secretariat.be/fileadmin/aca_docs/documents/reports/Migration.pdf

 2. Official sources

General view on Mobility in Europe-www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2006/59/en/1/ef0659en.pdf

European labour mobility- http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2014/01/european-labour-

mobility

The extent of the brain drain- http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/1999/06/carringt.htm

3. News articles and other materials

Làszlò Andor on estimated increase in EU migration-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/11113865/Expect-more-migration-from-

eurozone-says-EU-Commissioner.html

An article and example of brain drain within Europe- http://eu.greekreporter.com/2014/10/13/greek-

scientists-head-to-germany-in-search-of-jobs/

Statistics

 

 

Committee on International Trade (INTA)

Exporting for growth: With small and medium enterprises building the backbone of the EU’s economy, how

can the EU assist in lowering barriers for SMEs attempting to access international markets?

Summary

Although being the backbone of EU’s economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are currently

too dependent on their domestic markets. Despite the opportunities brought by the enlarged single market

and globalization, only 13% of SMEs are active in markets outside the EU.

The most present barriers for doing business in markets outside the single market are payment risks,

difficult paperwork (i.e. bureaucratic procedures), lack of financing and lack of knowledge of the foreign

market environments.

Problem

The more than 20 million SMEs in the EU represent 99% of businesses and provide around 75 million jobs

and thus are the key driver for economic growth, innovation, employment and social integration. However,

SMEs frequently have difficulties in obtaining capital or credit, particularly in the early start-up phase. Their

restricted resources may also reduce access to new technologies or innovation. Therefore, support for SMEs

is one of the European Commission’s priorities for economic growth, job creation and economic and social

cohesion.

The support aims to allow SMEs to realise their full potential in today's global economy by helping Member

States and the regions to develop policies that promote entrepreneurship, assisting SMEs at all stages of

development, and helping them to access global markets.

In a globalised world, SMEs need to be able to confront an increasing competition from developed and

emerging economies and to plug into the new market opportunities these countries will provide. There is a

direct link between internationalisation and increased SMEs performance. International activities reinforce

growth, enhance competitiveness and support the long-term sustainability of companies. Yet European

 SMEs still depend largely on their domestic markets despite the opportunities brought by the enlarged

single market and by globalisation at large.

• International SMEs create more jobs: Internationally active SMEs report an employment growth of

7% versus only 1% for SMEs without any international activities.

• International SMEs are more innovative: 26% of internationally active SMEs introduced products or

services that were new for their sector in their country; for other SMEs this is only 8%.

• Public support goes largely unnoticed: Only 16% of SMEs are aware of public support programmes

for internationalisation and even fewer SMEs use public support.

• Most often SMEs start international activities by importing. SMEs that both import and export

started with import twice as often (39%) than with exports (18%).

Actors, Interests and Conflicts

European Commission: The EU tries to balance between investing in SMEs and reducing funds. On the other

hand, SMEs, as the backbone of the EU’s economy, should enter new markets to foster growth, employment

and economic stability.

Member States: Individual member states currently have their very own policies to support SMEs.

Current Legislation & Policies

The EU is trying to tackle the issue already with many different programmes. Most of the time, SMEs are not

completely aware of them either. Most of the current programmes only provide indirect funding to SMEs

through public authorities. The programmes consist of backing up loans, organising courses in target

countries and providing platforms to create the essential relations between the enterprises.

Small Business Act for Europe (SBA) embodies the Commission’s commitment to SMEs and

entrepreneurship. Member States have committed to implementing the SBA alongside the European

Commission in an “effort to make the EU a better place to do business”. The principle ”Think Small First”

should be remembered in all policy-making. Although being a comprehensive act, the SBA does not exactly

suggest anything specific to encourage SMEs to enter markets outside the EU.

 Perspective

A more systematic and coordinated approach might be necessary towards the support of all European

enterprises in their efforts to take on the challenges of third country markets.

The structure around the internationalisation of SMEs appears to be strong, yet it is undermined by some

gaps. How can the EU act in order to fill these gaps and lead SMEs to their access towards the global

market? What measures can be adopted in order to sustain, integrate or improve the efficiency of the ones

already in place?

Definitions

SME: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. The main factors determining whether a company is an SME are

number of employees and either turnover or balance sheet total.

Company

category Employees Turnover Balance sheet total

Medium < 250 ≤ € 50 m ≤ € 43 m

Small < 50 ≤ € 10 m ≤ € 10 m

Micro < 10 ≤ € 2 m ≤ € 2 m

Key words

SME, internationalisation, international market, third countries, economic growth, sustainability,

entrepreneurship

 

Links

SMEs: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/index_en.htm

Article on “The Parliament Magazine” about SMEs internationalisation:

https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/opinion/new-commission-must-prioritise-

internationalisation-smes

Small Business Act for Europe (SBA): http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/small-business-

act/index_en.htm

Some international agreements: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/market-

access/internationalisation/index_en.htm

Promotoing Entrepreneurship: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-

entrepreneurship/index_en.htm

 

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)

Creating a greener future: Reminded of the EU’s failure to reach the environmental

targets set out in the Lisbon Agenda, how can the EU adapt the proposed 2030 climate

and energy framework in order to effectively reduce its reliance on fossil fuels?

Summary

With many European countries running short on fossil fuels, the price of energy dependency has been

noticed at last. The 2030 climate and energy policy framework aims for competitive, secure and sustainable

energy. It seeks to increase the security of the EU’s energy supplies and reduce dependency on energy

imports. However, due to EU’s unsuccessful attempts to reach its environmental targets before, there is a

need to tackle the issue through new eyes. How can the 2030 framework be adjusted in order to achieve its

goals and reduce reliance on fossil fuels?

Problem

Given the ongoing political crisis, energy security became one of the most important issues of the EU. 53% of

the EU Member States’ energy supply comes from imported energy from non-Member States. EU is highly

reliable on fossil fuels with regards to its energy consumption. However, the EU will be facing severe fossil

fuel shortage in the near future. If the EU does not quickly find new ways of producing energy this will

resolve in higher energy dependency on third parties.

Despite the important nature of the issue, the EU is also facing difficulties in reaching its environmental

targets. Firstly the goals set in the Lisbon Agenda, being stimulating growth and creating more jobs while

making the economy greener and more innovative, were partly not met. This was followed by the

unsuccessful implementation of its follower, the 2020 Climate and Energy package. Looking from the

current situation the 20-20-20 targets set out in the package will most likely not be met by the majority of

Member States. The main problem with both of the frameworks has been their uneven and ineffective

implementation in Member States and their economies. To end this vicious circle, the EU needs to make

sure that the 2030 framework will be taken seriously to give it a chance to make a difference.

Stakeholders

 

Member States: For some Member States the implementation of the 2030 climate and energy framework's

targets has a low priority, partly due to the economic crisis. Some governments are also concerned about

the competitiveness of their heavy industry.

Industry: The industrial sector in EU’s Member States fears for its competitiveness if energy prices rise and

emissions are limited. Some industrial branches already experience a migration to countries with lower

energy prices and emission restrictions in Asia and North America.

European Commission: Having agreed on the long-term strategy fixed in the 2050 roadmap, the European

Commission searches for measures to transform the EU's economy at a feasible pace. Furthermore, the

European Commission has a high interest in an international agreement on emission trading scheme (ETS)

to reduce the damaging effects of an emission market limited to the EU.

Current legislation

• The 2030 climate and energy framework was proposed by the European Commission to continue

the 2020 climate and energy framework. It consists of three key targets:

o increasing energy efficiency by 30%,

o reducing greenhouse gas emission by 40% compared to 1990 and

o raising the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to 27%.

• The European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS) provides a market for greenhouse gas

emissions allowances. It ensures that overall emission has a set limit and reduction is done at the

least cost EU-wide.

• The Energy Efficiency Directive (legally binding) establishes a framework of measures to ensure

that efficiency goals in the 2020 climate and energy framework and further legislations are met. This

directive legally defines and quantifies energy efficiency targets.

Perspective

Future implementations of the 2030 climate and energy framework have to be flexible, covering several

areas of action.

 Should the EU financially support the construction of new installations, raising the share of renewable

energy artificially? That would need a detailed plan on when to start, how to implement and when to stop

financial aid.

Alternatively, the EU could strengthen regional cooperation between Member States by letting them focus on

their individual strengths in renewables, producing renewable energy at the lowest cost EU-wide.

How might the ongoing process of a single market for electricity and gas foster the impact of renewables?

Also controversial technologies like shale gas ('fracking') and nuclear power will have to find their places.

Will the EU learn from its mistakes and find the right mix of continuity and change?

Definitions

• Renewable Energy Sources: The European Commission defines wind, solar, hydro-electric and tidal

-power as well as geothermal energy and biomass as renewable energy sources.

• Fossil fuels: Included are hydrocarbons, coal, fuel oil and natural gas.

Key Words

EU action on climate, 20-20-20 targets, EU ETS, Lisbon Agenda, Energy Efficiency Directive

Further Links

Factsheet EU ETS:

http://ec.europa.eu/clima/publications/docs/factsheet_ets_en.pdf

Structural Reform of the European Carbon Market:

http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets/reform/index_en.htm

European Commission - Energy Efficiency:

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/eed/eed_en.htm

European Commission 2030 climate and energy framework:

http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/2030/index_en.htm

 EU Strategy for sustainable development:

http://www.bmub.bund.de/en/topics/europe-international/europe-and-environment/eu-strategy-for-

sustainable-development/

Roadmap for moving to a low-carbon economy in 2050:

http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/roadmap/index_en.htm

Forbes on Reducing Reliance on fossil fuels:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikescott/2014/05/29/europe-must-reduce-reliance-on-all-fossil-fuels-not-

just-russias/

Energy Security:

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/fpis_en.htm

Committee on Regional Development (REGI)

Building the periphery: the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund have played an important role in

developing the EUs' peripheral areas, however at a cost of €348bln in the period from 2007 to 2013. How

should the EU shape its regional policy, while keeping in mind that metropolitan areas fuel economic

growth?

Summary

Research and high-tech activities are highly concentrated in the core regions of the EU. Approximately half

of total research expenditure goes to 30 regions out of 254. Disparities between regions in business research

expenditure are even wider. The Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund play a substantial role to help all

regions build research and innovation capacities corresponding to their situation and priorities. This

approach is reflected in the Commission’s Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion Policy, which expects the

Structural Funds to fully back the implementation of the Partnership for Growth and Jobs.

Problem

The Structural and Cohesion funds represent a significant portion of the EU budget. Between 2007 and 2013,

€347bln was used, representing 35.7% of the budget. In the next period from 2014 to 2020, the EU is

scheduled to invest another €351bln. In order to allocate funds efficiently, the EU needs to maintain a

balance between peripheral areas and metropolitan areas.

In order to promote sustainable and inclusive growth, the EU has The Europe 2020 Strategy. Its main

objectives are in the areas of employment, innovation, climate change, education, and poverty reduction.

However, for the goals to be reached all regions should contribute, not just the 30 leading regions. Currently,

the Cohesion Policy provides the framework for investment in order to achieve the Europe 2020 objectives.

However, the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund and Cohesion Fund account for a

third of the overall EU budget. This means the European Commission and Managing Authorities will have to

work together to ensure efficient allocation and use. Yet, regardless of these efforts regional disparities are

growing.

Actors/Interests/Conflicts

● European Commission – decides upon the allocation of funds together with Managing Authorities.

Additionally, they helped initiate, shape and overlook the Europe 2020 Strategy goals.

● Member States - have the responsibility to draft a Partnership Agreement, which summarizes the

countries strategy and proposes programs to be funded. Consecutively, they implement said

programs, whilst the European Commission monitors the adherence to agreements and alignment

with the Europe 2020 Strategy goals.

● Regional Governments – are often responsible for the actual implementation of plans and

integration into current processes.

● European Council – has the power to suspend financial assistance if circumstances arise.

Current Legislation & Policies

• Cohesion Fund: Assists Member States where the Gross national income (GNI) per inhabitant is less

than 90% of the EU average. It aims to reduce economic and social disparities and promotes

sustainable development. The total of 63.4 billion € will be used for infrastructure projects such as

Trans-European Transport Networks and environmental projects which improve the energy-

efficiency, develop rail transport, support inter modality, etc.

• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): The ERDF aims to strengthen economic and social

cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between its regions. It focuses its

investments on several key priority areas, known as ‘thematic concentration’ (Innovation and

research, the digital agenda, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the low-

carbon economy.)

• European Social Fund (ESF): For the 2014-2020 period, the ESF will focus on:

• promoting employment and supporting labour mobility

• promoting social inclusion and combating poverty

• investing in education, skills and lifelong learning

• enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration

Perspectives

Within the current situation, many contentious debates remain. The question worth asking is whether funds

are allocated efficiently as Managing Authorities at a national level may not always perfectly represent the

regional governments. Additionally, as the 2020 Strategy objectives do not seem to lead to inclusive growth,

how may the goals be adjusted to further ensure inclusion? Or does this bring us to the situation posed by

Margaret Thatcher: “He would rather have the poor poorer, provided that the rich were less rich.” Should

we hold the American perspective that focuses on investment in leading areas in order for the lagging

regions to prosper through spillover effects? Or should we follow the continental view that focuses in

inclusive growth? Additionally, are the shares of cost allocations and the prioritized areas justified? Will the

current objectives lead to inclusive growth in the long run or should there be a rebalance?

Definitions

• Cohesion: A unity among parts, for example regions in the EU.

• Gross National Income (GNI): The sum of a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) plus net income

received from overseas. GNI is defined as the sum of value added by all producers who are residents

in a nation, plus any product taxes (minus subsidies) not included in output, plus income received

from abroad such as employee compensation and property income.

• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs): Companies which employ fewer than 250 persons and

which have an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euro, and/or an annual balance sheet total

not exceeding 43 million euro. Small enterprises outnumber large companies by a wide margin and

also employ many more people. They are also said to be responsible for driving innovation and

competition in many economic sectors.

Key Words

Trans European Transport Networks, European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund,

Cohesion Fund, Partnership Agreements, Article 174 of the Treaty of the functioning of the European Union

(TFEU), Common Provision regulation (CPR), European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

Links

Cohesion fund:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/cohesion/index_en.cfm

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/cohesion/index_en.cfm

Research&Innovation Infrastructures:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/infrastructures/index_en.cfm?pg=structural_funds

European Regional Development Fund:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/regional/index_en.cfm

European Social Fund:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/social/index_en.cfm

Regional Policy Examples:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw45xvlxSQs

EU Cohesion Policy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw45xvlxSQs

Statistics:

Committee on Security and Defense (SEDE)

East versus West: Russian military action at Europe’s Eastern border is increasing at an alarming rate,

whilst the NATO is taking resolute steps towards ensuring Member State security. How should the EU

respond to Russia’s growing threat posed to post-Soviet states?

Summary

In the past 10 years Russia’s foreign policy has shown an increase in aggressive measures against the West

and especially neighbouring countries. The de facto occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (sovereign

territory of the Georgian state) were the first warnings to Europe. Recently, Crimean occupation and covert

Russian invasion into Eastern Ukraine, have sparked many concerns about security for several Member

States of the EU. NATO has taken a series of diplomatic and military steps to reinforce its presence in

Eastern Europe since the crisis began. However, during the last months, an increasing number of

provocations against the Baltics, Finland and Sweden have also been reported.

Problem

With the Russian, Ukrainian, EU and USA mediums all relaying a slightly different storyline it is near

impossible to know what is exactly going on. Russia has increased their military actions inside their state

and has increased their defence spending by 18% this year despite worsening economic outlooks. Russia’s

military exercises have always been a power demonstration tool, however, recent actions raised questions

whether the country is preparing for a large-scale war. Baltic states have noted an alarmingly sharp

increase in provocations from Russian side. In addition to informational campaign set against the West,

Russian state media has reportedly been showing an increase of patriotic attitudes based on imperial

resentments and shaping of public opinion in opposition to the West. How should the EU face the increasing

military presence at its Eastern Border and deal with informational war waged upon the West?

Actors, Interests and Conflicts

● Russian Federation - according to NATO satellite imagery, witnesses and captured regular soldiers,

Russia is actively involved in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, despite official denials. Russia however

continues to expresses its fear of a western “anti-Russian alliance”.

Powers: military strength, control of gas supplies.

Weaknesses: unstable and uncompetitive economy.

● The European Union - officially declared the Crimean annexation as illegal, the EU attempts to stop

Russia by imposing economic and political sanctions – as a result Russian economy is suffering.[5]

Powers: economic sanctions.

Weaknesses: divided, slow decision implementation, energy dependency.

● NATO - the alliance poses itself firmly and has repeatedly stated it would defend any ally under any

form of aggression. The Wales Summit in September 2014 has resulted in agreements over several

important aspects for European security: enhanced NATO Response Force, planned headquarters in

the Baltics, Poland and Romania. [6,7]

Powers: strongest military alliance.

Weaknesses: inability to face hybrid warfare

● Previously Soviet-occupied states (post-Soviet states) - a very diverse category - some countries,

such as Baltics, Poland and Romania, have already managed to enter EU and/or NATO while others

are seeking the membership and thus experiencing pressure from Russia.

Powers: stable and growing economies, pro-European.

Weaknesses: border countries - exposed to threats.

Current Legislation and Policies

● NATO Article 5 - provides that if a NATO ally is the victim of an armed attack, each and every other

member of the Alliance will consider this act of violence as an armed attack against all members

and will take the actions it deems necessary to assist the ally attacked.

● Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) - is a framework that allows EU to speak on foreign

affairs “in one voice” (invoking sanctions and other diplomatic measures). The CFSP also features a

domain covering defence and military aspects (such as coordination with NATO) - Common Security

and Defence Policy (CSDP).

● European Defence Agency (EDA) is an intergovernmental Agency of the European Council. It aims

"to support the EU in its effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis

management and to sustain the CSDP as it stands now and develops in the future.”

● The Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement is a treaty between the European Union (EU)

and Ukraine that establishes a political and economic association between the two parties. The

heats over the agreement sparked the conflict in Kiev and later in Crimea and Donbas.

Perspectives

Currently Europe is divided and slow to respond due to some Member States maintaining good economic

relations with Russia and some calling for stricter measures. Energy dependency takes its toll as well. The

question remaining is how should Europe consolidate itself and respond to the growing threat? Should

Europe take on a stricter approach towards Russia? Is the EU ready to impose more sanctions and other

restrictive measures that would unavoidably result in a slower recovery for the Member States or are there

other ways to handle the situation? If so, what should the actions be, who is to enact them and how to ensure

the efficient implementation of new policies? Or should the EU “give peace a chance” and promote a more

neutral, dialogue-based process? Deterrence or dialogue? How to deal with the new type of warfare seen

both in Russo-Georgian war in 2008 and in Russo-Ukrainian conflict?

Definitions

● Hybrid warfare is a military strategy that blends conventional, irregular, cyber and information

warfare.

● The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force

made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces components that the Alliance can

deploy quickly, wherever needed.

○ After several NATO members in eastern and Baltic states voiced concern over Russia's

regional ambitions, they agreed to create a spearhead within the NRF – a Very High

Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), able to deploy at very short notice, particularly at the

periphery of NATO’s territory.

Key words

European security, Ukraine-Russia conflict, Baltics, NATO, Article 5, Zapad/Ladoga 2009, Zapad 2013,

informational war

Links

Ukraine crisis stokes Baltic nerves over Russia (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/03/us-ukraine-crisis-baltics-idUSBREA221J520140303

To Give Ukraine a Chance, Sanctions on Russia Must Continue (The New York Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/04/opinion/to-give-ukraine-a-chance-sanctions-on-russia-must-

continue.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region&region=c-column-

top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0

Could Putin's troops 'be in Warsaw in two days'? (EUObserver)

http://euobserver.com/defence/125807

Is Russia making preparations for a great war? (Military analysis by Andrzej Wilk)

http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2014-09-24/russia-making-preparations-a-great-war

Western Sanctions And Rising Debts Are Already Strangling The Russian Economy (Forbes)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2014/08/28/western-sanctions-and-rising-debts-are-

already-strangling-the-russian-economy/

Wales Summit Declaration

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_112964.htm

The Russian information war in Lithuania

http://en.delfi.lt/lithuania/society/the-russian-information-war-in-lithuania.d?id=65615450

Anti-Russian coalition? (Pravda)

http://english.pravda.ru/russia/kremlin/24-10-2014/128886-kremlin_russia_usa-0/

‘Russian world’ versus ‘western world’ (Pravda)

http://english.pravda.ru/world/europe/21-10-2014/128852-six_mistakes_west_putin-0/

The “multipolar world” (Russia Today)

http://rt.com/op-edge/199284-valdai-ukraine-eu-sanctions/

 

 

European Youth Parliament Finland – EYP-Finland ry Uudenmaankatu 15 A 5, 00120 Helsinki

www.eypfinland.org eyp@eypfinland.org

Salo 2014 – Regional Session of EYP Finland is supported by