The last dictatorship in Europe: Demonstrations and unlawful detentions of peaceful protesters have recently ensued in Belarus after the presidential election, which saw the reelection of authoritarian autocrat Aleksandr Lukashenko. Considering both the EU stance on human rights and the sovereignty of foreign nations, what should be the EU’s approach to deescalating the conflict in Belarus?
Carbon sinks: Reaching the EU goal of carbon-neutrality by 2050 entails finding a means of removing large quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere to counterbalance the amount produced by economic activity. What steps should the EU take to support the development and usage of CO2 removal and negative emission technologies?
Let’s talk about sex, baby: While sexuality education is mandatory by law in nearly all the countries of the European Union, its content and quality varies. Considering a flawed or insufficient sexuality education can lead to an increase of teenage pregnancy rates and a higher amount of people suffering from AIDS and STIs, what steps should the EU take to foster a common sexuality education policy among its Member States in accordance with the Standards in Sexuality Education in Europe?
Death of a language: UNESCO defines cultural diversity as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature, however Sámi languages - perhaps the most important expression of cultural identity for the EU’s only indigenous people, the Sámi - have recently been classified by UNESCO as vulnerable for extinction. What steps can the EU take to protect Sámi languages and cultural identity?
Keeping up with technology: It is estimated that 45%-60% of European workers could be replaced by automation by 2030 and might find themselves unqualified to perform in the new employment market. How should the EU react to this unprecedented rate of change in employment demand to ensure that workers can transition to new jobs with different qualifications?
The Drugs Don’t Work: In 2013, the World Health Organisation found that women in the EU will spend almost 12 years of their life in ill health. From clinical trials to medical textbooks, women are chronically underrepresented and under-researched, leading to misdiagnosis and dismissal when they seek treatment for illness and pain. Given this gender data gap, how can the EU ensure its female population (51%) receives effective medical treatment?
Democracy, a level playing field?: Despite making up 51% of the population, in 2019, women held just 32% of seats in national parliaments in the EU, the lowest proportions being in Hungary (12%), Malta (15%) and Cyprus (18%). From electoral systems which disadvantage women, to an abusive workplace culture in parliaments across Europe, how can the EU ensure a proportionate representation of women in government?