European Union

Organ Description

After the Second World War, there was a new movement to create unity between Germany and France, which ultimately laid the foundations for the European Union. The European Union is a unique politico-economic union of 28 member countries that together cover much of the continent. They include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The first steps of the EU were to foster economic cooperation: the idea being that countries that trade with one another become economically interdependent and so more likely to avoid conflict. However, the union has now evolved into an organization spanning policy areas, from climate and environment to external relations and migration. The EU has delivered more than half a century of peace, stability, and prosperity, helped raise living standards and launched a single European currency: the Euro.

The European Union was established under its current name in 1993 following the Maastricht Treaty. Since then the community has grown in size and has developed an internal single market through a standardized system of laws that apply in all member states. The latest major amendment to the constitutional basis of the EU, the Treaty of Lisbon, came into force in 2009.

Agenda One: Border Control with Emphasis on the Refugee Crisis and Terrorism

Instability in the regions of Northern Africa, Middle East or even further eastern is no new phenomenon. However, various factors, such as but not limited to civil wars, the rise of jihadist groups and poverty, create a more pressing environment for the 60 million people that are forcibly displaced from their homes, desperate for a place to seek asylum. For these asylum seekers or refugees, Europe has always played the role of a safe haven. However, the large influx of migrants coming into Europe is creating a plethora of problems for both the refugees and the EU members states. On one hand, thousands of people are dying in the process of escaping the crisis in their countries, while on the other hand, with almost 80% of all asylum applications directed at Europe, EU member states have the difficult task of trying to provide safety for over 600,000 migrants annually while already being crowded with immigrants from other member states. Another problem that they face is the rise in terrorism which comes with the pertinent refugee influx. Currently, Germany and Italy host maximum of the refugees, facing great difficulties in providing them with shelter, facilities, and jobs. At the borders, the aforementioned circumstances provide an adequately prosperous ground for everybody wishing to exploit the situation in a multitude of ways, most notably- the smugglers. As a result of the entire situation, most of the nations are reluctant to take in more refugees feeling overburdened and unsafe at the borders. With the world’s biggest refugee crisis since the World War II facing us, EU nations must come together to find a solution that balances between offering security to those most in need and protecting the interests of each individual state.

Agenda Two: Political and Financial Crisis in the European Union and the Implications of Brexit

On June 23, 2016, the referendum to respond to the inquiry of whether the UK should remain in the EU or not, promised by the conservatives on their election campaign was held. The result was a victory for Leave the EU, which won by 52% against Remain. These results were unexpected and have caused global uncertainty and international tensions in a very short period of time. They did not, however, come from nowhere. Many member states today are unhappy with EU policies like the abolition of border controls between EU nations giving rise to an increased migrant influx and the EU trade policy. Member states other than the U.K. are now too looking towards a possible exit from the European Union. What’s imperative now is the for the committee to look at the reverberations of the Brexit, work on changing policies so as to promote multilateral interests while keeping in mind the individual interests of the member states and, to stop further political turmoil in the union. The committee will also have to decide the status the United Kingdom will hold in the European Union after they trigger Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. This treaty includes an exit clause in the Article 50, which provides EU members the right to withdraw from the European Union, and also outlines the process for the purpose. This process of withdrawal will surely bring about unsought cosmic global changes. It’s now in the hands of the committee, to change the inevitable.

Note: The European Union is a double delegation committee. Allocations to this committee will only be made in pairs.

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