EU individual paragraph

Brainstorming
annual; Maastricht treaty
aims to raise awareness among EU-residents for socio-cultural topics
2013 European year of Citizens
Rights, responsibilities but also benefits from membership
labor, studies, medial aid, legal matters
First Version
The European year is a theme campaign by the EU and was set out in the Maastricht treaty 20 years ago. Since then the EU has annually announced a new topic which serves as a principle for the unions work on important topics of public interest. This should contribute to an active participation in the social and political processes in all EU citizens. Its aim is to help raise awareness among EU nationals with regard to their benefits as well as discuss the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of being an EU member. In particular, this year’s campaign includes topics such as easier and equal access to the EU-wide labor market for men and women or information and support on studying abroad in the European Union. Furthermore, the European year of Citizens 2013 draws its attention to support and protection in cases of court procedure or medical emergencies as well as translation and interpretation for EU citizens wherever they reside within the union. In short, with this campaign the union wants to promote the topic of accessibility and freedom from barriers and make the living standards more attractive and available for its residents. 

 Feedback and reflection

The European year is a theme campaign (created) by the EU and was set out in the Maastricht treaty 20 years ago. Since then the EU is (has been annually announcing) annually announcing a new topic, which serves as a principle for the unions work on important topics of public interest,_____ (the sentence doesn’t make sense, the ending is missing!). This (what does „this“ refer to: the Eu, The European Year,..?) should contribute to an active participation in the social and political processes in all EU citizens („of all citizens“ oder meinst du „in all memberstates“?) Its aim (whose aim?) is to help raise awareness among EU nationals with regard to their benefits as well as discuss the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of being an EU member (do you mean „EU member state“ or „EU citizen“?) . In particular, this year’s campaign includes topics such as easier and equal access to the EU-wide labor market for men and women or (as well as instead of or) information and support on studying abroad in the European Union. Furthermore, the European Year of Citizens 2013 draws its attention to support and protection in cases of court procedure or medical emergencies as well as translation and interpretation for EU citizens wherever they reside within the union. (We think this sentence is too long, try to shorten it, rather put in less information that is more specific instead of TOO MUCH information) In short, with this campaign the union wants to (register: aims to) promote the topic of accessibility and freedom from barriers and make the living standards more attractive and available for its residents.

VOC
suggestions/register
Wortwiederholungen (issue instead of topic)

Final version

 The European year is a campaign created by the EU and set out in the Maastricht treaty 20 years ago. Since then the European Union has annually chosen a socio-cultural subject of public interest which serves as a principle for the Union's work. It should mainly contribute to an active participation in dialoges and debates between all EU member states and individual residents. The aim is to help raise awareness among EU nationals with regard to their benefits as well disuss the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of being an EU citizen. In particular, this year's campaign covers key subjects suh as easier and equal access to the EU-wide labor market for men and women as well as information and support on studying abroad in the European Union. Furthermore, the European year of Citizens 2013 draws its attention to support and protection in legal matters or cases of medical aid and provides translation and interpretation for EU citizens wherever they reside within the union. In short, with this campaign the Union aims to promote the issue of accessibility and freedom from barriers and make the living standards for its residents more attractive.

2nd Final version

The European Year is a campaign created by the EU and was enshrined in the Maastricht Treaty 20 years ago. Since then the European Union has annually chosen a socio-cultural subject of public interest which serves as a principle for the Union’s work. The current theme, the European year of Citizens, is mainly ought to contribute to active participation in dialogues and debates between all EU member states and individual EU-nationals. The aim is to raise awareness among EU citizens with regard to the benefits as well as the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of being an EU member. In particular, this year’s campaign covers key subjects such as easier and equal access to the EU-wide labor market for men and women as well as information and support on studying abroad in the European Union. Furthermore, the European Year of Citizens 2013 draws attention to support and protection in legal matters or cases of medical aid and provide translation and interpretation for EU citizens wherever they reside within the union. In short, with this campaign the Union aims to promote the issue of accessibility and freedom from barriers and simplify living, working and travelling for its nationals.

EU-related topics

Labour market integration of young people in the EU As a young EU citizen and soon-to-be university graduate I’m personally very interested in the development of the European job market and what is going to expect me once I’ve graduated. I want to discuss the opportunities of young EU members for working abroad, where they can seek adequate assistance, help and information on finding the perfect workplace. 

Suicide rates amony young adults in the EU I've recently read an article saying that some EU countries are facing alarmingly high suicide rates among young men and women, which was rather shocking to me. I really consider choosing this topic because I want to know more about why people in some EU countries are more likely to attempt and commit suicide than in others? What are their motives and what drives such young people into this? What does the current economic situation within the EU have to do with it, what has already been and what will be done to prevent this figure from rising?

Comparison of the employment law for non-EU nationals, as well as refugees and asylum seekers in Austria (and another EU member state) Why foreigners are allowed to stay in our country but not permitted to work? I could imagine writing about this topic mainly because I have Serbo-Croatian relatives who have been living in our country for years but are still facing problems when it comes to work and work permit.  

Drug policy development in the European Union and in particular the Netherlands Drugs are a severe social health problem which affects millions of people within the EU. I would like to find out more about about this topic, including who or which organ is in charge of the drug control in the EU and why is the consumption of certain substances allowed in countries and prohibited in so many others.

The legality of euthanasia in the European Union I want to focus on following questions: Should it be allowed or prohibited throughout the Union? In which EU member states is euthanasia regulated in the national law? I’ve chosen this topic because I’m currently doing an additional training in spiritual care to become a volunteer in a hospice. I’ve always been interested in voluntary work and wanted to do something for people who are not as blessed as I am, to give them some strength and hope in their darkest times.  The sensitive topic of euthanasia and palliative care has been part of our training and that was basically why I chose this as a potential topic.