A 21st Century Limerick

Wanted:

New innovators, imaginers and out-of-box thinkers.

For:

New session. / New faces / New topics. / New places.

A new sheet! With - new challenges.

New problems and crises. / New wars, / New threats, / New news leaks! /New politics, players and regimes.

A new world. Order?

New decade. / New fears. / New youth - the hope . . . . to meet New Frontiers.

Committee Topics

Committee topics are now available. Each delegate is asked to choose their favourite 3 topics during registration and effort will be made to accommodate each delegate with one of these. Unfortunately due to demand this cannot be guaranteed. Fortunately, delegates will have a chance to give their views on any of the topics during General Assembly and so interest in a range of topics is encouraged.

Delegates will be issued with their committee topic for the conference within a couple days of registration closing. It is very important for a interesting and exciting discussion during committee work that delegates research their committee topic. Tips on how to research can be found in the Information Section.

Committee on Foreign Affairs I (AFET I)

"We must show humility about the past. Europe was not vocal enough in defending human rights and local democratic forces in the region" - Stefan Füle, EU commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy.

After the resignation of Ben Ali and Mubarak and considering the on-going mass demonstrations in other countries of the region: How should Europe react to these changes in North Africa and the Middle East?

Committee on Foreign Affairs II (AFET II)

"Taken together, the elections and their aftermath represent an unfortunate step backwards in the development of democratic governance and respect for human rights in Belarus. The people of Belarus deserve better." -Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton joint statement on the post-presidential elections situation in Belarus.

Another Lukashenko victory with violent suppression of dissenters; are EU sanctions doing enough to support human rights and democracy in Belarus, or has the time come for a new approach?

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

"Europe should also strengthen economic policy coordination. Currently, the major policy frameworks in Europe—macroeconomic, financial, and structural—are relatively independent of one another. One of the lessons of the crisis in Europe is that a single currency without enough economic policy coordination may lead to huge imbalances." - Dominique Strauss-Kahn, IMF Managing Director

Bailouts, deficits and credit ratings: How can Europe balance the needs of both its core and periphery economies in the Eurozone?

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

"The best justification governments can find to shut down information is that lives are at risk. In fact, lives have been at risk as a result of the silences and lies revealed in these leaks" - Jemima Khan, British Rights Activist

Considering Europe's recent experience with destabilizing revelations (e.g. extent of Greek debt), how can the EU increase transparency and cooperation between member states whilst still respecting their individual sovereignty?

Committee on Development (DEVE)

"The Chinese model of pouring in money without conditions pleases some African leaders, but it is too simplistic to say that the Chinese model is bad and the EU model is good." - Karel De Gucht, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

Considering the growing Chinese presence in sub-Saharan Africa, how should Europe refine its strategy and policy objectives in this region?

Committee on Industry Research and Trade (ITRE)

"Energy collaboration, solidarity and common goals are an important regional task. And, for the EU, they are imperative." - Andris Piebalgs, Former European Energy Commissioner.

In order to achieve a secure supply of energy for Europe into the future, what strategy should the EU adopt in developing its future energy grid?

Committee on Climate Change (CLIM)

"Continuing global growth at 2 percent, to which we have become accustomed in recent years, is simply not compatible with the urgent need to reduce emissions – even with a revolution in green technologies, it’s clear that stark choices lie ahead" - Mary Robinson

From Copenhagen to Cancún - the results of international climate talks are questionable. Should the EU pursue its 20-20-20 targets in spite of the inaction of other nations? Are there new, innovative ways for the EU to tackle climate change?

Committee on Employment (EMPL)

"Migrants are a crucial part of the EU’s competitiveness strategy, but it will not be possible to realise their full potential unless they are given opportunities to integrate into the host society and economy" - Franco Frattini, Former European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security.

The challenge of a shrinking working-age population: is economic immigration the solution to Europe's problems? If so, how should it be organised and how can successful integration best be achieved?

Committee on the Future (FURE)

"Negative reactions since 2004 from European political leaders and growing hesitation by the European public about further enlargement have given Turkey the impression that it is not welcome, even if it were to fulfil all membership conditions." - Martti Ahtisaari, Peace Nobel Prize Laureate & head of the Independent Commission on Turkey

Full members or priviledged partners; On the question of future enlargement, how should the European Union proceed with countries beyond Europe's traditional borders?

Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)

"The EU has a decade to position itself to prosper in the increasingly competitive and connected G20 world. The economic crisis could be a watershed moment, either as a spur to a more competitive continent or the time when Europe lost out decisively." - Professor Dan Hamilton, John Hopkins University Center for Transatlantic Relations

Framed between the future economic superpowers of the US, China and India, how should the EU develop internally in order to remain a key player on the global economic and political stage?