BSR MEP 2009

2009 aasta BSR- Baltic Sea Region MEP ehk Läänemeremaade Mudel Euroopa Parlamendi kevadsessioon toimus Poolas 20.- 25.aprill 2009 linnas nimega Torun.

Eestit esindasid:

Evelin Rootsi- H. Treffneri Gümnaasium
Kaisa Kotkas- Inglise Kolledž
Rauno Kivikoo- Inglise Kolledž

Saatja õpetaja Ergo Aas Pirita Majandusgümnaasiumist.

ISSUES.

1. The Committee on Fisheries
Fishing limits on the Baltic Sea and the North Sea vs. the fall of the fishing industry. Scientists warn that intense fishing means a dramatic decline in the resources of the European seas (especially the cod and mainly in the North and Baltic Seas). The European Commission has therefore imposed fishing limits on the sea countries, which put the fishing industry in the face of a crisis, especially the ones where this sector has so far been relatively well developed (e.g. Poland). The fishermen claim the limits will lead to a collapse in the whole fishing industry and they themselves will be left with nothing to live on. There are clashes between fishermen of different countries, who accuse each other of exceeding the limits and pirate fishing. Additionally, they accuse the European Commission of methodological mistakes in estimating the resources and of causing unnecessary panic.

2. The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality
The question of discrimination against women and inequality of pay.

3. The Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence
The American National Missile Defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic and its effect on the EU-Russia relations. The finalised negotiations of Poland, the Czech Republic and the USA concerning the missile defence system have complicated the relations between the members of the EU and between the EU and Russia. The countries of the old EU, however indirectly, criticise the project. They claim the possible Russian answer might worsen the state of the security of the Union. Within the European Parliament itself there are a lot of opponents of the American system, which Russia uses to play its own game conflicting the members of the Union. On the other hand, the governments in question claim they are independent countries, the system is a NATO project, which is not directed against Russia and the Union should not interfere. The situation is even more complicated by the fact that the Union lacks adequate military means and has to rely on the military power of the USA.

4. The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
Ecological threats arising from the project of the gas pipeline cross the Baltic Sea. The planned gas pipeline Russia-Germany built by the consortium Nordsteam aroused a lot of controversy mainly among the Baltic Sea countries. Among the controversies are ecological issues considered by the European Parliament and the European Commission as a result of thousands of petitions filed by concerned citizens and protests of some governments. The controversies mainly concern the pollution of the Baltic Sea connected with the technological side of the project and the intrusion into the huge old sources of pollution from the Second World War (mainly weapons including the chemical ones). Another problem is the vulnerability of the pipeline to terrorist attacks and their effects. The opponents of the project raise the problem of the lack of adequate research, the unprofitability of the project, the increase in the energetic dependence on Russia and the egoism of Germany which made the agreement with Russia against the protests of some countries. The advocates of the pipeline claim the ecological safety of the Baltic Sea is secured (generally, the environment will benefit from the project as burning gas is less toxic than burning oil) and the realisation of the investment will secure the Union energetically for decades.

5. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
Children’s safety on the Internet
The Internet, used for a great variety of purposes, is especially frequently used by young people, whose personality is just being shaped. Therefore, the effect of the Internet as a medium of reaching people and interpersonal communication should be under special scrutiny. Special consideration should paid to the dangers brought about by the worldwide web, to the means used by the European Union to combat them and to the promotion of the most desirable ways of using and not abusing the Internet.