The Committee on Constitutional Affairs 25 years after the Maastricht Treaty: more or less Europe? In light of Jean Claude-Juncker’s “five pathways to unity” white paper, what steps should the EU take to address growing Euroscepticism around Europe?
The Committee on Foreign Affairs A new era of EU-US relations? Considering the actions of the new US administration, taking action against immigration, press freedom, environmental protection and other areas in keeping with EU-ideals, how should EU-US relations proceed going forward?
How can the EU promote access to evidence-based information and guidance for all its young citizens? Furthermore, how can we ensure this education addresses the broad variety of issues facing young people including; consent, pornography, STIs and “sexting”?
Considering the European Union facilitates free movement of people between Member states; how can we ensure the diversity of languages spoken across the EU does not present a barrier to this movement, while simultaneously ensuring the multilingual heritage and minority languages of Europe are protected?
The rise of robotics and artificial intelligence: Robotics and Artificial Intelligence are starting to make their mark on the labour market and notable figures, such as Bill Gates, say that robots that replace labourers should be taxed, but the European parliament rejected such a proposal. How can the EU be prepared for the integration of these techniques to the labour market without halting innovation?
Health is a basic human right. Research and development into medicines can be expensive leading the pharmaceutical industry to focus on drugs that can treat more common diseases. How can the EU encourage research and development into treatments for rare diseases while ensuring these medicines will be affordable and available to all who need them?
Following on from the continued work of Horizon 2020, and the European Cloud Initiative, as well as the European Medicine agency’s steps towards publishing clinical trials; how can the EU work towards further supporting and encouraging open research and thus become a leader in scientific research?
Entering the post truth era of “fake news” and “alternative facts”: A free press is vital in any democracy yet the media is currently facing many challenges. Competition with online news sources, which not regulated by as thorough journalistic standards, as well as being faced with strict requirements for “balance” has led to decreasing press standards and less rigorous fact checking. How can the EU balance freedom of expression with ensuring robust and effective media checks and balances?
Plastics pollution of the oceans can harm the marine environment. A few EU Member States are beginning to ban plastic microbeads from cosmetic products. How should the EU address, and create awareness around the problem of plastic ocean pollution?
Beyond Erasmus: The EU are currently considering proposals for a month long EU-wide travel card for all 18-year old EU citizens. With this in mind, how can the EU best facilitate opportunities for travel and cultural exchange for all Europeans, irrespective of their educational or socio-economic background?