HNMUN 2016 Committees:

European Council - Preventing future migration crises

 
The European Council in session (Picture: The European Union)

Recently the European Union has faced an unprecedented influx of people fleeing war, hunger and poverty. In 2014, the number of asylum seekers the EU was already at an all time high of 626,000. Yet the number continues to rise, with the  first half of 2015 already seeing roughly 400,000 refugees. Without a coherent strategy, Europe has struggled to face the challenge, leading to unnecessary suffering and rifts between its members. To prevent crises like these in the future, the European Council will come together to discuss a unified strategy for the years to come. The major issues to discuss will be a pan European legislation on asylum, a unified foreign policy strategy aimed at preventing conflicts abroad, and a special focus on resolving the conflict in Syria.

The President of the European Council has called for an extraordinary meeting to find a solution. The attending parties will be:

The focus of the debate will be on two major points:

Seeing as in times of crisis, the Dublin Agreement was no longer relevant, it is now time to rework and overhaul European legislation when it comes to refugees and asylum. Major talking points will be:

- Strategies on how to aid the border EU countries dealing with the greatest influx

- Possible aid to countries bordering the EU

- Legislation regulating the future distribution of refugees across EU countries (reworking the Dublin Agreement)

Making sure people fleeing from war and terror find a safe haven is only half of the problem, the other half consists of ensuring that war and terror are eliminated in the first place. In light of this, the issues discussed will be:

- Possible development aid programs towards conflict regions

- Possible military strategies in conflict regions

- A special focus will lie on the civil war in Syria. After Russia and the US have announced increased military action, what will the response of the EU be?

These times of crisis require a unified action to ensure the EU remains a beacon of humanity and freedom in the world. They also present an opportunity to attack problems and change for the better. As the President of the European Council said:

"I have no doubts that this challenge has the potential to change the EU that we have built... It even has the chance to destroy it."

The Study Guide for the European Council is now online. For general preparation, take a look at other relevant material here .

Meet your chairs:

Leonhard Küntzle:

Leonhard studies Economics in Heidelberg, having previosly studied in Amsterdam, Atlanta, and Montpellier. A Diplomat's son, he has been interested in international politics from a young age on, interning at the German Embassy in Athens and the German Ministry of Finance. He has participated in WorldMUN 2015 in Seoul.

"As a firm believer in the European Idea, I look forward to a heated discussion on how to shape the future of the continent."

Reimar Belschner:

Reimar is studying history, political science and German studies at Heidelberg University. Additionally, he was a visiting student at Queen's University, Canada, and he completed a master's degree at Oxford University. Having been involved with MUN since highschool, he participated in numerous MUN Conferences in Germany and abroad. Recently he was part of the Heidelberg Harvard World MUN delegation 2015 to Seoul. This time he is excited to chair the EC at Heidelberg National MUN 2016.

"Steep areas can only be climbed by detours, on plains straight routes lead from one place to another." (J.W. Goethe)