European Union

Dear Delegates,

My name is Eli Martin and it is a great honor to welcome you to the European Union committee of Harvard National Model United Nations 2011. I am currently a rising sophomore at Harvard College, and will concentrate in either History or Classics, with a secondary in either of the two. Although I am originally from Washington D.C., I have lived in Europe since I was five and in London, United Kingdom, for the past ten years. I am a dual U.S.-British citizen, and topics concerning the European Union and the future of Europe are very close to my heart. As the E.U. rapidly consolidates its global influences and attempts to assume more and more of the responsibilities of the states it represents, the world is watching closely. The Union now faces major structural and organizational challenges which threaten the very concept of a united Europe. At the same time, many of the problems faced by the E.U. are issues that we are all encountering throughout the globe.

Although I only became involved in Model United Nations last year, when I came to Harvard as a freshman, I do know what it is like to be in your shoes. Throughout my high-school career, I participated in the European Youth Parliament. Our school team was lucky enough to go to many national and, eventually, international conferences. At these, we debated issues connected to the E.U. in both a committee and parliamentary setting, with students from over thirty different countries whom we had never met before. EYP became one of my most rewarding extra-academic experiences, and instilled in me an interest in European-wide affairs and student conferences like this one. But it was one of my most challenging as well; I know how hard it can be to come up with a resolution with results from a consensus amongst delegates while still addressing all aspects of the issue.

When I became involved in Model United Nations as a junior staff member last year, I was immediately struck by the energy, enthusiasm and professionalism shown by staff and delegates alike. Our ability to work with each other and come up with solutions makes committee work fair, fun and rewarding. Moreover, the success of a committee as small as ours is predicated by the willingness of everyone in the room to listen to and learn from each other. This includes the Dais staff, who I hope you will see as colleagues and, above all, as friends.

The two topics we will be discussing, the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the future of European Energy Policy, are both of the utmost importance to the future of the European Union. There is no clear path forward in either case, and you can play a role in setting out the debate and formatting policy in two areas that are rapidly gaining attention in the political arena. Please read the study guides carefully, and make sure that you ready to represent your nation for either of these topics.

I cannot wait to welcome you to Harvard National Model United Nations in February 2011. In the meantime, if you have any questions, about either the study guide, your own research or the conference itself, please contact me at any point. I hope sincerely that you enjoy preparing for our committee as much as I already have, and you will all be able to learn and take something away from your experience.

Regards,

Eli Bartlow Martin

Director, European Union

Harvard National Model United Nations 2011

Topic Area A: Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

Ever since its inception more than 40 years ago, the Common Agricultural Policy has proved to be one of the most controversial, complex and, at times, downright confusing projects of the European Union. Today, the CAP accounts for just under half the E.U.’s budget, and makes up the vast majority of direct payments made by the Union. Defining the purpose of the CAP has always been a tricky and politicized issue. However, there is common consensus that the program aims to sustain European agriculture by maintaining food prices, and as much as possible, traditional farming methods, are kept upright throughout the Union. In practice, some countries, most notably France, receive a disproportionate level of funding from the CAP, while others nations have been keen to reform the program by reducing expenditure and working against protectionism. As a result, the debate surrounding the CAP has developed into opposing camps, with France traditionally leading Spain, Italy and Ireland in supporting the policy, while Britain and Germany have led the cause for reform. In 2011, work will begin on the E.U.’s next budget, in which the CAP will feature prominently. For the first time, the needs of 16 new member states from Eastern Europe, many of them more reliant on agriculture than Western countries, will need to be taken into account. Critics argue that the CAP deliberately reduces the competiveness of goods coming from outside the E.U. This poses challenges for the developing world and, arguably, makes food products more expensive for the European consumer. Efforts may be made to decrease spending on the policy but, conversely, to increase regulation of the market, resulting in the continual increase of prices. In the long term, policy-makers want the Common Agricultural Policy to become more focused on making Europe’s food supply entirely self-sustainable, while also encouraging green farming practices and rural development. The struggle is to come up with a policy that continues to sustain agriculture, reduces wasteful spending and, hopefully, reduces prices and makes the E.U. a more open marketplace for the global agricultural community.

Topic Area B: The Future of European Energy Policy

Like the rest of the world, the European Union is determined to become less reliant on non-renewable forms of energy and move towards a greener economy. Europe is already the world leader in developing and using sustainable energy, and major projects are planned to dramatically increase this use. However, energy is about much, much more than just being green. First, oil prices continue to follow a long-term upward trend, and the time when there will simply not be enough ‘black gold’ to go around is fast approaching. Many now believe that the next global economic crisis will result from a global oil crunch, with potentially devastating consequences. Second, the European Union remains far too dependent for its energy on Russia and the Middle East to have any confidence in its own energy security. Serious work needs to be done to diversify Europe’s fuel sources and make the continent more sustainable. Renewable energy must play a role in this, but it cannot accomplish the job alone. Nuclear power must be considered more seriously across the Union. In early 2010, plans to build the Nabucco Pipeline (designed to lessen natural gas dependence on Russia) have rapidly advanced, while energy companies are preparing major exploratory pushes into Central and Eastern Europe in search of Shale Gas. A major solar power development in North Africa is another exciting possibility. In the context of an increasingly energy-hungry Asia and the deteriorating situations in both former Soviet areas and the Persian Gulf, energy security and dependence is of paramount importance for Europe. The problem facing this committee is to devise a program for moving Europe towards sustainable, independent and affordable energy. European energy companies are some of the biggest and most sophisticated in the world: we are faced with a challenge that must and can be overcome.