6. Issues to be addressed by the participants
During the debates on October, 24th, the participants will have to think of how to address the issues raised by the Syrian crisis, concentrating mostly on the possibilities of humanitarian and logistical aid from the European Union.
The EU has various institutions and bodies which could work to help to the non-EU countries achieve something and improve their situation. Concerning the Council of the EU this modeling institution can address the Foreign Affairs department.
The participants of the debates shall find different ways of addressing the Syrian crisis, working on the elaboration of a juridical document, concerning the ways in which the EU can handle this kind of crisis. The main purpose of the final document shall be a mechanism of response to such a crisis, guiding it from the earliest stages till its complete resolution. This mechanism should be applicable not only to the Syrian crisis, but also to any international crisis of this kind, which could occur in future, and should provide clear directions of action.
The issues which should be addressed by the participants of the debates are:
Organization of humanitarian aid to the population of Syria
Establishment of telecommunication and transport services
Logistics and its deployment
Promotion of human dignity, rule of law and respect of human rights
The cooperation between the UN and the EU institutions
The combination of these issues should provide an action plan in case of an international crisis. The plan should have support of all the member states. This way, aid to those who are in need shall be de-politicized and brought more quickly. Nevertheless, the debate might turn onto political matters, concerning the right to intervene or taking sides with an inter-state power.
Cooperation between the UN and the EU is crucial, as it implies the development of the common Foreign and Security Policy, which is controversial among the member states and political parties. The participants of the debates shall respect the positions of their representatives, in order to open a new dimension to the discussion of this matter.
Most of the issues discussed above concern the external policy of the EU, on the other hand, the EU may face indirect implications of the Syrian crisis, with which it should also be capable to deal. These issues may also affect the internal policies of the EU. The Arab Spring and the drastic regime changes in many countries neighboring the EU combined with military action and civil war in some of these countries bring and will continue to bring people searching for asylum in the member state counties of the EU. Given the situation, it shall be wise not to underestimate the need of assistance to these people, and therefore the elaboration of a juridical document is crucial in order to engrave this domain in the law of the European Community. It is important to understand that all the actors of the EU, being the Member States, the ONGs, trans-national companies have got a moral constraint. The international society does not have a right to stay indifferent in the face of humanitarian crisis in any part of the world.
We kindly suggest to all the participants of the II Kazan European Youth Forum «European Integration Studies School» to read about the role of the Council of ministers as well as the Syrian crisis subject that they will treat. They are to respect both the rules by which the Council works and the rules that will be applied during the debates. Please note that participants must reflect and respond to the issue raised as truly as possible but bearing in mind the individual moral constraint they face.