Issues WE-MEP Lier 2018 - Hoofdinhoud

Committee on Industry, Technology, Research and Energy (ITRE)

The question of climate change and circular economy. At the UN Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015, all participating countries signed to do whatever is in their power to limit global warming. What can be done to enforce and achieve these goals, keeping in mind that the EU is still largely dependent on limited fossil energy sources. How can the EU facilitate the transition from fossil based energy to its renewable counterparts? What can be done on an international basis to overcome the lack of co-operation between EU-member states?

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

The question of human rights: Refugee crisis. With the increased number of refugee, asylum seeker and immigrant arrivals in the EU-member states during the last two years, a right wing populist movement has developed. This is, among other aspects, a consequence of the concern for ethnic and religious parallel societies. How can prosperous integration be achieved while ensuring the support of European citizens? To what extent should member states accept the factors of interculturalism when they might conflict with national legislation, and how can peaceful societies be assured while considering the perspectives of the diverse cultural, ethnic and religious groups?

Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)

The question on Euroscepticism: For the past few years, the European Union has been under great pressure. There has been a significant increase in citizens expressing their doubts about the continuation of the European collaboration. The increasing amount of criticism can form serious threats, such as but not limited to Brexit and the rise of Eurosceptical parties in many other countries, like the Netherlands, France and Poland. Furthermore, the question of whether Turkey should be accepted into the EU has heightened these feelings of Euroscepticism. The peace, wealth and stability the European Union brought are often forgotten. If the European Union wants to have a future, the citizens have to be convinced of the importance of one united Europe again. What caused the strong feeling against the European Union? How is this a problem for younger citizens? The law curbs political participation to adults. How could youth be helped and educated to play a bigger part in politics? How could we bring back the feeling of unity in the younger generations again?

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

The question on (un)employment, especially addressing to the so called “risk groups”. For example: young people or the 50-plus group. 4.3 million young people are currently unemployed in Europe. This has a very bad influence on the future economic growth of the entire Eurozone. Another urgent matter is the employment of the big 50-plus group, that is at high risk of not being able to generate an adequate living standard once reaching their sixties, when not working. Consequently, the question for the committee on economic affairs is how Europe can provide opportunities and possibilities in order to encourage the young and the old to get work and decrease the high risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Committee on Security and Defence (AFET/SEDE)

The question of fighting terrorism efficiently. With the rise of political and religious extremism and radicalization of EU citizens, the imminent threat of terrorist attacks continues to endanger a peaceful and prosperous Europe. Meanwhile, technical development such as ‘the dark net’ offers easier, hard to control, opportunities for extremists to organize, finance and concretely prepare attacks. For example: organising arms trade. How can the EU monitor potential offenders and thus improve prevention of terrorist attacks? How can technical surveillance of possible threats be more efficient without imposing restrictions on liberty and personal rights of EU citizens? How can the radicalization of EU citizens be prevented? And how do social differences within the EU influence this process?