Thread by @tepsaeu

The #EP4U Conference is starting NOW! We've got a great day planned looking at #Enlargement, #FundamentalRights, #Migration, and #ClimateAction with our great speakers!

We're live on @YouTube, and we're collecting key highlights here on @Twitter

/THREAD

We're in the opening session with TEPSA Executive Director @MariamKhote and @Hertie_Security's @bctallis

/2

"We value youth for what it may become. Youth is unsullied by the realities of live, and there is a massive potential in young people as a result"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/3

"The youth are often invoked to talk about the future in a way that might not have substance behind it, so we do need to be cautious"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/4

"The EU's forerunner organisations were created to solve intractable problems. The end of WWII created a feeling of youth, of the need to renew and find something different. I think this compares well to the current moment"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/5

"Progressive security is about securing a more hopeful future: the idea that our children should lead better lives than we do"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/6

"#Ukraine has in the past been treated not as an opportunity to integrate, but a threat from outside. It's based on a declinist idea, that we cannot transform threats around us into opportunities"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/7

"What we can see is a shift in the way EU governments are approaching #Russia and the war in #Ukraine: they are responding in a way of 'neo-idealism' to prioritise fundamental rights and freedoms. It is a vision for a hopeful future"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/8

"The EU's great geopolitical achievement was progressive security. In the last decades, though, the shift towards protective security has led to a decline. We need to shift this"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/9

On the note that "the past was yours but the future is ours", @bctallis (@Hertie_Security) ends his keynote speech in these opening remarks of the #EP4U conference

On this note, @MariamKhote opens the floor to questions from the audience

/10

Do EU leaders still act with a positive vision for the future? "My answer is 'no'. I don't see leaders acting with optimism or self-belief, and that is why we need a new generation of optimist leaders"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/11

What is the EU's greatest failure? "I think it is the failure to make the European Neighbourhood Policy a tool for further enlargement. This is the moment where at the very peak of its success, the EU starts to get nervous"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/12

But what about the EU's hard power and realpolitik? "Without the means to defend itself, including hard power, no liberal power can survive. But without a moral core, it cannot thrive."

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/13

"The greatest trick realism ever pulled was convincing everyone it was an accurate reflection of the world. I am less positive the EU should go down the road of realpolitik"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/14

"Looking at Central and Eastern Europe, the response to #Ukraine has been very different. The moves towards deterrence in the Baltics, the response of the Polish society to refugees, and more underline a positive approach"

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/15

What is the role of politically active youth in energising idealism in the EU? "Citizen views across Europe on #Ukraine are strong: people are enraged. Basic democratic action, like calling your MP, can actually work."

- @bctallis (@Hertie_Security)

/16

"Without a hope to create, there is no future. Why does Kraftwerk still sound like the music of the future? It's fifty years old! We need a new 'music of the future'"

- @bctallis's inspiring final thoughts (@Hertie_Security)

/17

On this note, TEPSA Executive Director @MariamKhote thanks @bctallis for his opening remarks to our conference. The floor now passes to @tomchevalier6 (@sciencespo) for the first panel of the conference

/18

You can join us LIVE on @YouTube for the panel: "EU non-discrimination policies in the Western Balkans: the case of LGBTQI+ rights"

/19

"This panel is really about #SocialEurope. But we have a problem: the EU budget for social policies accounts for maybe 1%, compared to 20% on the national level"

- @tomchevalier6 (@sciencespo)

/20

"The European dialogue between social partners is supposed to be a dynamic exchange. But it was last active in the 1990s, now, it is not so much any more"

- @tomchevalier6 (@sciencespo)

/21

"Since 2011, the coordination of employment and social policies happens in the framework of the European semester, during which Member States should align their national objectives with the EU level"

- @tomchevalier6 (@sciencespo)

/22

"Since 2017 and the launch of the European Pillar of Social Rights, things have improved. It is the tool through which the @EU_Commission makes suggestions for the national level"

- @tomchevalier6 (@sciencespo)

/23

"The EU's social efforts have improved, but it is still under-funded and small in scope compared to the national level. Some say this means we should ignore Social Europe, while others say we should investing in building it up"

- @tomchevalier6 (@sciencespo)

/24

"Because of their high unemployment rate for young people, the #WesternBalkans will be well-placed to benefit from Social Europe policies once they become Member States"

- @tomchevalier6 (@sciencespo)

/25

On this note, we pass the floor to our #EP4U Student Contest winner, Stevan Đurić (@Univerzitet_CG) to present his student paper on youth employment in the #WesternBalkans

You can read the paper here: tepsa.eu/ep4u-student-c…

/26

"Education is very important. It is the root of the unemployment problem. In order to really prepare students for the labour market, the education system needs to be more focused on 'soft skills'"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Stevan Đurić

/27

"My second argument is in favour of boosting #digitalisation in the #WesternBalkans to improve productivity in every sector. It can help open new workplaces for young people, and form platforms for the unemployed to find jobs"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Stevan Đurić

/28

"Thirdly, we need more government support. This will lead to better chances and better economic growth. Traditionally in the #WesternBalkans, government support has been provided to big business, and this needs to change"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Stevan Đurić

/29

"None of this will be easy. We need strong funding. This can be where the EU comes in: EU investment is an important source of funding for the #WesternBalkans, but these funds need to be guided towards the best places to invest"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Stevan Đurić

/30

What concrete reforms does Stevan suggest in his proposal for reform?

"This is not something we can do quickly, but what we CAN immediately do is offer more traineeship opportunities for students to get into the labour market. Including this into education is important"

/31

"What we see is that to increase #digitalisation we do not need on-the-job training, we need skills that are provided in high education?"

- @tomchevalier6's question to Stevan

/32

"In the #WesternBalkans a lot of people leave education after high-school. I want to reach THAT group with digitalisation, not just the highly educated. Improving digitalisation would help the people who don't have a high education"
- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Stevan Đurić
/33

On this note we pass the floor over to our second EP4U Ambassador: @tomchevalier6 introduces Michaela Dénešová (@ComeniusUni) for the second half of our panel focusing #LGBTQIArights in the #WesternBalkans

/34

"I am especially proud to be discussing #LGBTQIA rights during #PrideMonth2022"

- Michaela Dénešová (@ComeniusUni)

/35

"We have a problem though, in a number of EU Member States and beyond, whereby #LGBTQIArights are not respected: the EU is built on a foundation of #HumanRights, and it is it's duty to respect them"

- Michaela Dénešová (@ComeniusUni)

/36

#EP4U Student Contest Winner Niccolò De Vita (@ucddublin) presents his paper "Caring for LGBTIQ+ People Across Europe"

You can read it here: tepsa.eu/ep4u-student-p…

/37

"Studies since the 1990s have shown that the average #LGBTQIA person is 3.4 times more likely to commit suicide. The outright hatred of the community in some places has a huge role in this disturbing fact"

- Niccoló de Vita (@ucddublin)

/38

"It is important to realise that hatred is taught, it is learned. Thus, the EU should aim to create frameworks for both teachers and parents on how to care for #LGBTQIA people, to spread tolerance and acceptance"

- Niccoló de Vita (@ucddublin)

/39

"Currently, issues faced by #LGBTQIA people make it more difficult to transition, find help, and more. I want to create coordinate and integrated models of care that are not met by the current system"

- Niccoló de Vita (@ucddublin)

/40

"The foundations of my suggested policies already exist. The EU's task is to expand these to support #LGBTQIA people"

- Niccoló de Vita (@ucddublin), #EP4U Student Contest Winner closes his presentation.

/41

How does the EU's #LGBTQIA support compare across the world? "I do think the EU is ahead compared to other areas, but that depends on the countries. Different Member States range from more to less accepting"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Niccoló de Vita (@ucddublin)

/42

We now turn to @MBovendeaard, European Parliamentary Assistant to @kimvsparrentak MEP (@GreensEFA), for the view from the @Europarl_EN

/43

"The EU has competence on #HumanRights and protecting EU values, but in #Hungary and #Poland there is still a concerted effort to discriminate against the #LGBTQIA community"

- @MBovendeaard (@Europarl_EN/@GreensEFA)

/44

"After a lot of push from the @Europarl_EN, the @EU_Commission decided to put pressure on Polish regions where there were LGBTQIA-free zones. It worked, but the hatred is still there on the ground"

- @MBovendeaard (@Europarl_EN/@GreensEFA)

/45

"Finally, we are talking about blocking funds to countries that make discriminatory policies. When we see the level of hate speech and hate crimes increasing, a trend that is not getting better, these discussions are important"

- @MBovendeaard (@Europarl_EN/@GreensEFA)

/46

"This Parliamentary Term marks the first time we have a Commissioner on Equality. This is a good step forward, and a lot of legislation is coming out of the @EU_Commission"

- @MBovendeaard (@Europarl_EN/@GreensEFA)

/47

"In the EU we technically have freedom to move and live where we want, but rainbow families are still discriminated against: you cannot move to a country that doesn't recognise your marital or parental status"

- @MBovendeaard (@Europarl_EN/@GreensEFA)

/48

"I remember when I was in high school, I remember sex education class was completely focused on the cisgender, heterosexual perspective. We need a more open environment, also in schools, to talk about gender and sexuality"

- @MBovendeaard (@Europarl_EN/@GreensEFA)

/49

On that note, @MBovendeaard finishes her initial intervention and we move towards a back-and-forth between our #EP4U Student Contest Winner Niccoló de Vita and Myrthe Bovendeaard

/50

We also bring @tomchevalier6 and Stevan Đurić back into the panel for a cross-cutting discussion between both elements of this panel

This is the aim of our #EP4U conference: to encourage dynamic, unique discussion on multiple important EU topics

/51

In this panel we are looking at employment, enlargement, equal rights. We want to ask how the EU integrated these social policies into the enlargement perspective. What challenges are being faced, what successes have been achieved, and what there is left to do

/52

If you want to join in on the discussion you can still watch the conference LIVE on @YouTube 💪🇪🇺

/53

"When I see the younger generation on the streets, in prides, in protests, making these topics a real discussion - I think this is changing society for the better"

- @MBovendeaard (@Europarl_EN)

/54

After a dynamic and cross-cutting discussion Michaela Dénešová gives some closing remarks to our first panel of the day: "I love the EU, but I criticise the EU. It is our role to take huge steps to improve the lives of young people in the EU27 and beyond"

/55

That's the end of the first session of our EP4U Online Final Conference! We'll be back on #zoom and LIVE via @YouTube at 1⃣3⃣:0⃣0⃣ CET to discuss #migration policy as it relates to taking #ClimateAction and the #FutureofEurope

/BREAK

We're back from our break! The #EP4U conference continues with: "Migration and climate change: crosscutting effects and potential synergies for EU policy"

You can follow along LIVE via @YouTube & we'll continue our Twitter highlights here!

/CONTINUES

The panel is being opened by @FIIA_fi's @ezhakala who will start our discussion on #ClimateChange theme

/58

"The EU aims for international climate leadership by pushing to keep temperature rises under 1.5 degrees. The 2050 goals of the EU are also legally binding"

- @ezhakala outlines the key elements of EU #ClimateAction

/59

"The #Fitfor55 package is a more specific proposal still, to drive climate goals: it aims to expand the Emissions Trading System, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and more"

- @ezhakala (@FIIA_fi)

/60

"The idea is to facilitate international cooperation to reach climate objectives, through financial support and trade agreements. The Just Transition needs to be global"

- @ezhakala (@FIIA_fi)

/61

After @ezhakala's summary of the EU's current #Climate policies, we invite #EP4U Student Contest Winner Lilybell Evergreen (@OpenUniversity) to present her winning paper "Beyond Carbon Neutrality: Three Steps for the EU"

You can read the paper here: tepsa.eu/ep4u-student-p…

/62

Lilybell's paper offers three steps for the EU beyond Carbon neutrality👉 tepsa.eu/ep4u-student-p…

/63

"The first step after becoming the world's first #ClimateNeutral continent is to aid other states, regions, and continents in following"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Lilybell Evergreen (@OpenUniversity)

/64

"The second step is to become the world's first carbon POSITIVE continent, expanding on the successful methods of achieving carbon neutrality"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Lilybell Evergreen (@OpenUniversity)

/65

"The third step involves broader societal transformation. Ideas about restructuring the economy and labour relations should be explored with the aim of removing social and environmental exploitation from the work and production process"

- Lilybell Evergreen (@OpenUniversity)
/66

"My paper was very much focused on the future. The debate needs to be started now about where we are going, and Europe needs to be pre-emptive and proactive, rather than reactive"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner Lilybell Evergreen (@OpenUniversity)

/67

After Lilybell's presentation about going beyond #CarbonNeutrality, we turn to Valentin Dupont from the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, to give the view on what the EU is doing now, and what he thinks is possible in the current framework

/68

"To achieve our climate aims, we need short term goals, medium term goals, and long term leaders"

- Valentin Dupont, General Secretariat of the @EUCouncil

/69

"We cannot wait for carbon neutrality before we start helping other countries to move towards carbon neutrality: we're already doing it! The EU is the largest funding body for #ClimateAction around the world"

- Valentin Dupont, General Secretariat of the @EUCouncil

/70

"The most important strength of the EU is its commercial power and #SingleMarket. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in this way uses our economic clout to encourage #CimateAction in our partners"

- Valentin Dupont, General Secretariat of the @EUCouncil

/71

"But will partner countries comply with the CBAM? And what happens if they do not comply? These are questions we need to answer concretely"

- Valentin Dupont, General Secretariat of the @EUCouncil

/72

We now move over to a discussion on #migration policy, trying to find links and potential synergies with Evelina Staikova (@NBUSofia): "Climate-induced migration is one of the most hotly-debated topics in current discussions"

/73

"On the migration policy of the EU: we are really talking about who, and on what conditions, can enter the EU. EU migration is a set of principles and measures to regulate immigration & integration"

- Evelina Staikova (@NBUSofia)

/74

"Migration policy is of a crucial importance in periods of crisis: right now, it is certainly related to the #WarinUkraine: over 5 million #UkrainianRefugees have been recorded across Europe"

- Evelina Staikova (@NBUSofia)

/75

"The higher climate risk will result in a significant increase in the flow of migration across Europe. In the next decades, a climate-induced migration crisis will hit Europe. How can we prepare for it in a way that preserves #HumanRights"

- Evelina Staikova (@NBUSofia)

/76

We now turn to @AronBosman, a student at @MaastrichtU and winner of the #EP4U Student Contest with his paper: "Addressing the EU’s Migration Problem Through Circular Migration"

You can read the paper here: tepsa.eu/ep4u-student-p…

/77

"#Migration is just a weak spot in the links between the EU27. Efforts to increase legal pathways for migration are often met by resistance"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner @AronBosman (@MaastrichtU)

/78

"There is a clear humanitarian aspect to the idea of #CircularMigration: it provides a legal framework for migration to Europe, avoiding the Mediterranean passages, which are Europe's biggest graveyard and a continental disgrace"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner @AronBosman

/79

"We need to forge links with third countries, give migrants the necessary tools, and explain the policy"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner @AronBosman (@MaastrichtU) describes his three-point plan to manage migration in a humane and legal way

/80

"In the last years, newspapers have been filled with headlines saying 'migrants have taken our jobs'. This is not the case, and with #CircularMigration, the general population would see that concretely"

- #EP4U Student Contest Winner @AronBosman (@MaastrichtU)

/81

After @AronBosman's impassioned speech in favour of #CircularMigration and against the instrumentalisation of #migration for political gain, we turn to @david_prpa, an EU expert on this policy area who works in the General Secretariat of the @EUCouncil

/82

"Migratory challenges are something the EU has been facing for years, and the situation has been evolving: every time we think we are starting to control, a new challenge emerges"

- @david_prpa (@EUCouncil) gives his personal view on the history of EU migration policy

/83

"What happened at the border with #Belarus last year pushed us to prepare better for such a situation in the future. The #WarinUkraine has also put enormous strain on the EU. But these do show how quickly and positively the EU is capable of acting"

- @david_prpa

/84

"People often forget: the number of legal migrants is much higher than the number of those who try to enter illegally. The EU is trying to promote legal avenues, although I agree this should be more ambitious"

- @david_prpa

/85

"The link to #ClimateChange adds an extra level of complexity. Legally speaking, since there is no 'persecution' to flee from, they would not currently count as 'refugees'. This is only one of many complexities of climate-induced migration"

- @david_prpa

/86

On this note we enter into the free debate of panel 2 at the #EP4U Final Conference: the idea is to have a cross-cutting discussion on two topic areas that are usually discussed in silos

/87

In this panel we want to discover what are the main migration challenges related to climate change, and how are movements of individuals affected by them? Moreover, how does the EU frame the nexus of environmental changes and migration?

/88

"The way we are talking about #ClimateChaneg and #Migration is negative. This creates a 'symbolic universe', informing the perceptions of citizens and politicians. We should be careful of how we talk about these issues"

- Evelina Staikova (@NBUSofia)

/89

On that note we close the second panel of this #EP4U conference, and move on to the closing remarks in which TEPSA Chairperson Lucia Mokrá and TEPSA Secretary-General @CloosJim will give their final thoughts

/90

The #EP4U Final Conference is concluding with remarks from our Chairperson and Secretary-General

/91

"If you speak up, your voices WILL be heard. There is a long journey ahead of us to improve #migration policy, to take real #ClimateAction, to defend #LGBTQIArights, to boost youth employment. We cannot stay silent!"

- Lucia Mokrá, TEPSA Chairperson

/92

"This #EP4U project has been very successful in reaching young people across Europe and bringing their views to EU policy-makers"

- @CloosJim, TEPSA Secretary-General

/93

On that note, we close the #EP4U Final Conference "Youth Perspectives on the Future of Europe"

Thank you to all those who joined us either on Zoom or on YouTube, and thank you to all our great speakers!

For more from the project, check out the #EP4U social media campaign!

/END

@threadreaderapp please unroll