Committees & Issues - MEP Graz 2023

1 Committee on Employment (EMPL)

The question of reducing gender bias and modernizing the workspace:

Professionals for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are in great demand. The number of men working in traditionally male-dominated fields like STEM still greatly surpasses the number of women. As these scientific fields become increasingly more important with regards to digitalization, development, healthcare etc. 

What measures should be taken to simultaneously promote gender equality in male dominated fields and modernize the workspace?  How can gender bias be reduced in the job market?

Preparation: Fact File, Prep Module

2 Committee on Environment and Public Health (ENVI)

The question of rising rates of mental illness especially among digital natives:

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health. Rates of mental illnesses such as Depression and Anxiety are at an all-time high, which is not only due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, lockdowns, and social isolation but also due to people´s fast paced and often overwhelming lifestyles and social media. 

How should the EU address the mental health crisis partially caused by the COVID pandemic? How does the social media usage of digital natives’ factor into the rising mental health issues? What steps should the EU take? 

Preparation: Fact File, Prep Module

3 Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN)

The question of sustainable tourism in the post-pandemic era:

Europe is faced with a massive staff shortage with an estimated 1.2 million job vacancies as of 2022. The hospitality sector and travel agencies are among the most affected by this. This issue has been caused due to the low interest in travel and subsequent layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this tourism is also a major contributor to the climate crisis and greenhouse gas emissions.

As travel restrictions are now lifted and consumers' urge to travel is now on the rise, how can these industries deal with the lack of labor and motivate employees who left due to the pandemic to return? How can the EU further ensure and support the practice of sustainable tourism?

Preparation: Fact File, Prep Module

4 Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

The question of online radicalization:

Aiming at increasing engagement and interactions, recommender algorithms on social media platforms such as YouTube are pushing user towards increasingly radical content and unilateral sources of (mis)information (filter bubbles). As a result, conspiracy theories and fake news have inccreased in popularity. 

How can the EU counteract this development and promote media pluralism protecting its democracy and political institutions? What measurements should be taken to prevent online radicalization and the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation?

Preparation: Fact File, Prep Module