New Republica

EUROPEAN UNION
REGION | FORUM | COMMISSION | COURT | COUNCIL | MAP

~May 2014 Update~

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Nations: 123
World Assembly Delegate: Occoron

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Premier: Chasca Nayra, Nouvelle Picardie (Ind.)
Forgein Affairs: Bernice Winters, Halsberg (UEC)
Defence and Peacekeeping: Sir Augustus Barrington, Inimicus (UEC)
Economics: Xristos Kalabouris, Perseus Island (ECL)
Internal Affairs: Eric Pickles, Davishire, (Ind.)

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Chief Justice: Steven Doberman, Gun-Toting Animals
Justice: Judith Conde, Northern Caesarea
Justice: David Lee, Angleter
Justice: Samuel Norman Seabourne, Os Corelia
Justice: Ozik Mahdrizhe, Marrakechia

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Speaker of the European Council: Acwellan Lir Devoy am Harrison, Duxburian Union (ECL)

Socialist Workers Party (SWP): Communist, Socialist, Anti-Capitalist
Party of European Socialists and Democrats (S&D): Social Democrat, Integrationist
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for a Green Europe (ALDGE): Social Liberal, Environmentalist
European Classical Liberals (ECL): Classical Liberal, Pragmatic
Union of European Conservatives (UEC): Conservative, Christian Democrat
European National Party (ENP): Fascist, National Socialist

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Commissioners Barrington and Pickles, Defence & Peacekeeping and Internal Affairs respectively, were somewhat vocal on the issues surrounding the conflict in the Western Sahara. Following Inquista’s occupation of the Marrakechian zone of the area, the Commission took a firm view against what they saw as an illegal invasion and a breach of European law. Inquista and its supporters countered, claiming the Commissioners did not understand what was going on in the area, and that they should stay out of the issue. Commissioners Barrington and Pickles went further, saying that the Inquistan forces must withdraw, unless they want to risk conflict with the Commissioners home countries of Inimicus and Davishire. This caused considerable controversy, as Barrington and Pickles were seen to be representing their home nations’ governments, rather than the people of Europe as they were elected to do. Despite several calls from the Commission for representation in the subsequent negotiations in Red Croatia and the United Republic of Great Britain, these were ignored.

A motion for the impeachment of Economics Commissioner Xristos Kalabouris, of Perseus Island, is underway. It is argued that the Commissioner has failed to do his duty and as such has endangered the economies of the region. Little has been heard from Mr. Kalabouris since his election, and it is likely a new, special election will be held for the position of Economics Commissioner in the coming weeks.

There is no news from the European Court of Justice this month.

The Ocean Protection Act, presented by Os Corelia’s Councillor Jelesniak, was passed by the European Council. In stark contrast to the result of the previous Council vote on the bill, this time Councillors overwhelmingly supported the bill, with eight votes for and only one against and no abstentions. Consequently, industrial sewage across the EU must be treated before it is released into the ocean, and single-hulled oil tankers are banned completely, amongst other things.

Councillor Beatrice Smith of Icholasen proposed The Rights of LGBTQIA People in the EU Act. The bill mandated that same-sex marriages must be legal across the European Union. It also called for sex-changing drugs to be made available to all transgendered people, should they choose to use them. The bill also included an attempt to combat homophobic bullying in schools throughout the region, such as compulsory education on different sexualities. Many objected to the bill, such as Angleter’s new Councillor Montfort, who maintained that ”… Europolis-imposed same-sex marriage is a bridge too far.” The Duxburian Union’s Acwellan Devoy also expressed his disapproval of the act. He pointed out that the Duxburian Union does not have any concept of sexual orientation, believing it is something you do, not something you are. Speaker Devoy concluded with ”You want to overwrite two thousand years of de facto and de jure equality in favor of a system that tells us that we are not equal because of what we look like or what we like to do? That doesn't make a shred of sense and is outright uncivilized." The bill was defeated, with seven votes against and only one in favour. There were no abstentions.

Councillor Eloise Murray of Miraco proposed a bill which would standardise healthcare accreditation standards throughout the EU. According to the bill, it would ”… enhance cooperation throughout the European Union as well as ensuring geographical mobility for EU residents working in the healthcare industry.” There were concerns that the bill removed too much power from the European Council and that a section was unconstitutional. However, an amended form of the bill was passed, with five votes for, two votes against and two abstentions.

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for a Green Europe have unveiled their new deputy leader. According to an ALDGE press release, Councillor Pamela Winchell of Icholasen will take up the position, and would also be the leader of the ALDGE Bloc in the European Council. ALDGE Party Chair Ms Karolinasz Jaedala of Os Corelia is said to have appointed Winchell as, aside from Os Corelia, Icholasen is the only other member state with a councillor that sits with the ALDGE.

As referenced earlier, Inquistan forces moved into a portion of the Western Sahara that was occupied by Marrakechian forces.  This ended a three year understanding, where the Sahara region was divided into two sections, one administered by the Kingdom of Marrakechia, the other by Inquista. This was  a result of the conflict of 2011, where Marrakechia sought to bring the entirety of the Western Sahara under their control, following its de facto independence under the Polisario Front. Inquista assisted the Marrakechian forces, but did not withdraw its troops from a section of the region, leading to the situation that lasted until a few weeks ago. Inquista claims that the people of the Sahara had suffered under Marrakechian rule, and that only the unification and full independence of their country could allow for them to become prosperous and happy once more. After the initial occupation of the Marrakechian Sahara, The Sahrawi Union was declared, sponsored by Inquista and Red Croatia, who formed the Committee for Western Sahara Autonomy. The new nation encompasses the whole of the Western Sahara, but has not been recognised by all members of the EU. Currently, only members of the WSA Committee have recognised the new state, namely Inquista, Red Croatia, Rimroth, the Althanian Dominion and Icholasen.

The crisis in the Sahara created tensions within the EU not seen for several years. Many member states rejected the Inquistan occupation as a breach of Marrakechia’s territorial integrity. Amongst them was The Twelve Commonwealths of Halsberg, who sent airborne troops into the Sahara’s major cities to secure members of the Marrakechian Royal Family who were residing there following a request from King Charly himself. Negotiations began in Zadar, Red Croatia, amid threats of force from Davishire and Groot Belgie. The conference in Zadar achieved little, and as such President Cynthia Johnson of the United Republic of Great Britain hosted a new meeting of the key players in the crisis, in an attempt to avoid any bloodshed. Representatives of Inquista, Marrakechia, Red Croatia, Halsberg and the United Republic met in London to discuss the crisis and come up with a diplomatic solution. Despite some raised voices and sharp words, they succeeded, and an official agreement was reached. A referendum will be held in the Western Sahara, overseen by observes from the United Republic, to determine whether the people wish to become independent under The Sahrawi Union, or return to the Kingdom of Marraekchia’s administration. The referendum will be carried out in the next few months. Inquistan, Rimrothian and Halsbergian troops remain in the region.

The last month also saw one of the most eventful coronations in the EU’s history. Following the King of Icholasen’s apparent death, his daughter Anastasia was to become Queen. The ceremony began as one would expect, with many foreign dignitaries present, such as the Inquistan Archbishop Paul Craticus, Red Croatia’s Queen Aleksandra and Halsberg’s High President Michael Solomon. However, the coronation became engulfed in drama worthy of a television hit, as it was revealed that the King was not in fact dead. He named his other daughter, Anastasia’s sister, as his would-be murderer. The Duchess of Saint Pierre confessed to the crime, saying she would have gone on to kill Anastasia and claim the throne for herself. The Duchess evaded capture, however, escaping with an accomplice masquerading as a security guard in a helicopter that was waiting nearby. The King, realising how hurt Anastasia was and how much she was looking forward to becoming Queen, abdicated to allow her to assume the throne.

To celebrate the coronation of the new Queen Anastasia of Icholasen, the foreign dignitaries were invited to dinner at the royal palace. There are rumours that many of the region’s most eminent leaders had a little too much to drink. According to one member of the royal staff, who remains anonymous, he had never seen such a display of debauchery. The source went on to say that there appeared to be a particular hostility towards Emperor Jules of Groot Belgie from the Inquistan Archbishop. It is said that, after flicking peas and throwing various items of silverware at the Emperor, he proceeded to throw a large cream pie in the Emperor’s face. The Anitax Aureliana of the Althanian Dominion was also referenced by the source. Apparently, after getting somewhat intoxicated in a bar before the dinner began, she arrived at the banquet and got even more intoxicated. She is also rumoured to have been extremely jealous of the Queen Anastasia, who was getting somewhat flirty with Halsberg’s Edmund XI, the Duke of Roeburg. According to the source, Aureliana was like a desperate schoolgirl who wanted a boyfriend.

[SIZE=12]EUROPEAN UNION[/SIZE]
REGION | FORUM | COMMISSION | COURT | COUNCIL | MAP

[SIZE=12]~December 2013 Update~[/SIZE]

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Nations: 138
World Assembly Delegate: Occoron

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Premier: William Roebuck, Gun-Toting Animals (ECL)
Forgein Affairs: Augustus Barrington, Inimicus (UEC)
Defence and Peacekeeping: Blair von Schroeder, Red Croatia (UEC)
Economics: Peter Montfort, Angleter (UEC)
Internal Affairs: Dann Eriksson am d'Iunio, Duxburian Union, (ECL)

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Chief Justice: Javinas Stidernbaker, Os Corelia
Justice: William Hague, Davishire
Justice: Bartholomew MacPherson, Halsberg
Justice: Luyes Taraque, Nouvelle Picardie
Justice: Gergely Stjepanic, United Romulan Empire

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Speaker of the European Council: Acwellan Lir Devoy am Harrison, Duxburian Union (ECL)

Socialist Workers Party (SWP): Communist, Socialist, Anti-Capitalist
Party of European Socialists and Democrats (S&D): Social Democrat, Integrationist
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for a Green Europe (ALDGE): Social Liberal, Environmentalist
European Classical Liberals (ECL): Classical Liberal, Pragmatic
Union of European Conservatives (UEC): Conservative, Christian Democrat
European National Party (ENP): Fascist, National Socialist

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• Commissioner for Defence and Peacekeeping Blair von Schroeder has had a meeting with Davishiran Prime Minister Manning, to discuss the diplomatic tensions caused by Manning's plans to ignore the European Nuclear Arms Association (the organisation deciding who can and who can't produce nuclear weapons) and produce nuclear arms either way. Following that statement, the Duxburian Union (a country famous for its huge military and nuclear arsenal) threatened Davishire by saying that ignoring the ENAA would be "...unwise...". In the conversation between the Commissioner and the Davishirian PM, the latter said Davishire's government didn't have any plans to obtain nuclear weapons in an illegal way at all.
  

• There is no news from the European Court of Justice for the month of December

• The council has been discussing a bill proposed by the Davishirian councillor on the issue of green legislation. The bill was met with criticism, even by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for a Green Europe, the Europarty from which everyone would expect they would support legislation like this. When green legislation is discussed, the Council can expect some tough words from the Inimician councillor, as Inimicus has always been sceptical of environmental legislation. This bill was no exception:

How dares the Davishirian councillor prospose penalties for not reaching the prosposed deadlines?! You're practically saying to countries that they aren't allowed to develop themselves in a way that suits them best. Instead, you're saying they should watch their emissions, which haven't even proven to cause global warming (and no, I'm not denying global warming, it's very evident that temperatures have risen in the past 100 years, but so have they in medieval times, when there weren't any cars or emissions). (...)  Do you want to put strains on your economy by doing everything you can to cut down on carbon emissions, and afterwards you get to hear 'It's not enough' and you get a huge fin. five hundred million euros is the equivalent of 2300 new houses, or, for the ALDGE's sake, 230 wind turbines

• His Holiness Pope Clement XV resigned on the 3rd of December. Following his resignation, the Papal seat was decleared "Sede Vacante" and a conclave was called, with cardinals from every European nation with a (partially) catholic population participating. Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel's chimney for four nights, yet on the fifth night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mun44HRRdF4
  
  The Cardinal elected, Einico Baraszi, adapted the name Aloysius, after St Aloysius Gonzaga, parton saint of Christian Youth.
  
  
• The United Romulan Empire has elected its first female senator. Athena Aurora's election has caused a rapid rise in approval for her party, the Romulan Imperial Party. She chaired the Civil Rights committee and is the leader and only member of the Women's power caucus.
• The United Kingdom of Icholasen proposes the build of a tunnel from a City on the Pas de Calais coast to the Kingdom of Miraco. Key discussion points are Cost, Depth, Length (Which City to which City), Financially viable? Who will pay? Public Opinion and Trade.

• Inimicus went to the polls on 8 December. The Green Party was banned recently because of alledged connections to terrorist organisations, so an electory gap formed. A lot of voters therefore turned to the center-right party, Democrats For Inimicus, which clomb from 27 to 82 seats in the Inimician Parliament. After the elections, a liberal-conservative coalition was formed.
• Inimicus has been denied a license by the ENAA. The Inimicians thought it high time their country was granted permission to protect itself with nuclear weapons, but the ENAA disagreed, saying:

The ENAA has looked over and discussed Inimicus’ application and each argument kept coming back to the same premise: instability. Inimicus has made great strides as a nation on the European stage but this is still the same nation that used chemical weapons on its own people in a violation of European law. It leads one to question if Inimicus can do that to its own people, would it really be averse to using nukes against foreign nations. The specter of the Telum Incident looms large today over this ENAA decision, just like it has loomed over the past year of events in Inimicus.

• Also Qvait was denied a license for nuclear weapons. The main issue for denial was the half-century long civil war Qvait recently emerged from, known as the "Qvatican Oddysey" The ENAA therefore thought it wise to deny Qvait's application.
• Eurovoice XX has started. For the first time, the contest had multiple themes: Boy Bands, Girl Bands, 90s Songs, Movie/TV Songs, Duets, Current Generation Music, Covers, and Ghetto.

[SIZE=12]EUROPEAN UNION[/SIZE]
REGION | FORUM | COMMISSION | COURT | COUNCIL | MAP

[SIZE=12]~October 2013 Update~[/SIZE]

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Nations: 152
World Assembly Delegate: Occoron

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Commission elections are currently in progress. This is how the Commission was formed before the elections of the beginning of November.

Premier: Peter Montfort, Angleter (UEC)
Forgein Affairs: Augustus Barrington, Inimicus (UEC)
Defence and Peacekeeping: Karolinasz Jaedala, Os Corelia (ALDGE)
Economics: Marie Rivas, Northern Caesarea (S&D)
Internal Affairs: Blair von Schroeder, Red Croatia (UEC)

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Chief Justice: Beaver, Gun-Toting Animals
Justice: William Hague, Davishire
Justice: Concordia Ferro, Pax Aurea
Justice: Lars Josef Knudsen, North Europa
Justice: Gergely Stjepanic, New Romulan Empire

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Speaker of the European Council: Acwellan Lir Devoy am Harrison, Duxburian Union (ECL)

Socialist Workers Party (SWP): Communist, Socialist, Anti-Capitalist
Party of European Socialists and Democrats (S&D): Social Democrat, Integrationist
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for a Green Europe (ALDGE): Social Liberal, Environmentalist
European Classical Liberals (ECL): Classical Liberal, Pragmatic
Union of European Conservatives (UEC): Conservative, Christian Democrat
European National Party (ENP): Fascist, National Socialist

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• Commission Elections are currently in progress. Nominations end on 2nd of November, and so far Dr. William Roebuck from Gun-Toting Animals has nominated himself as well as a fairly unkown candidate named Darwin Cutter from Qvait. Other potential nominees are the incumbent commissioners Augustus Barrington, Inimicus; Peter Montfort, Angleter and Blair von Schroeder, Red Croatia. A delegate from Halsberg is considering to nomitate himself, too.
• Foreign Affairs Commissioner Augustus Barrington has started to carry out the Cultural Ambassador Programme. This programme was designed by Colleen Bennet, who was the former Foreign Affairs Commissioner, but who sadly passed away last September. The programme replaces the Foreign Affairs Commissioner as ambassador to other regions. Individual nations are now seperating the burden which was once placed solely on the Commissioner.
• Premier Commissioner Peter Montfort has proposed a "Committee Reform Act" to the European Council. This Act  intends to standardise and increase accountability in the organisation of Council committees. The prosposal was met with constructive criticism and an amendment by the councillor from Gun-Toting Animals. The debate was extended by Speaker Devoy, and will likely face voting at the beginning of November.
• Despite a loss of members, the European Union has managed to keep its head above water. The recruiting programme set up by Colleen Bennet has been passed on to Augustus Barrington and his recruiters, who have managed to keep the EU relatively stable even though the member count has declined slightly.

• There is no new news from The European Court of Justice for the month of October.

• The prosposed Committee Reform Act is being debated on the Council floor. It is the purpose of the Act to "standardise and increase accountability in the organisation of Council committees.". The Premier has used all his available knowledge to come up with a firm prosposal, which includes the following:

Each committee shall be led by a Director, who shall serve for a non-renewable term of six months. The Director must be a European Councillor elected by the European Council by the Alternative Vote system, with the exception of the Director of the EBCWA (European Biological and Chemical Weapons Association), who must not be a European Councillor, nor a representative of any single member-state, and shall be appointed by the Commissioner for Defence and Peacekeeping.

I share the concerns of the ever-eloquent Dr Roebuck who rightfully points out that it is counter-productive to keep councillors to only one-committee due to the small number of active participants.

• Commissioner for Internal Affairs Blair von Schroeder has chaired a "Council of Six", which included the five conflicting generals in the New Romulan Empire. Von Schroeder let each general tell their side of the story, after which she prosposed to form the country into a Confederated Parliamentary Republic and be separated into five dominions, each ruled by one person and have the overall country's parliament consist of 200 members, 40 from each Dominion, Supreme Court made out of one of each dominion's Chief of Justice and a circumstantial re-election for the leader of each Dominion.

• Internal problems in Inimicus have escalated to the point where its Prime Minister, Wilfred Cocx, declared martial law. It all started when Robert Husky, a renowned film producer, released a production on Inimicus's Emperor. Opposing extremists brutally murdered the film producer, after which riots erupted throughout the country. Meanwhile, in Parliament, the Green Party refused to denounce the killer and the rioters, instead it kept its mouth completely shut and its MPs didn't attend any parliament sessions since. And the chaos got worse. Green terrorists raided a research centre and stole smallpox vaccines, which they used to infect a large part of the Inimician population. In response to the crisis, the PM announced the abolishment of the Green Party and martial law to be declared for an indefinite period of time.
• William Hughs, the Councillor to the EU for Davishire, consulted the Council on whether or not the Davishirian police should be armed with guns. Two thirds of the Council said guns were part of police life. For example, the Inimician councillor Ralph Jaevons stated "Policemen with guns look more impressive than officers without, and if a situation gets truly dire, policemen can always use the guns to take out a possible threat. Therefore, I say 'yes' to firearms for policemen.", and the Rechroation councillor agreed with him: "Having been used to fire arms, which majority of the country reckognized as a tool that would be useful upon dealing with criminals, the police force and the absolutist queen of the time have agreed to allow them as a part of police equipment, and it has come in quite in handy when it came to enforcing law."
• Deputy Foreign Minister Mary Beth Collie from the Confederacy of Gun-Toting Animals visited Davishire this month to discuss Nuclear Weapons Security. Davishire has attempted to get a license for nuclear weapons at the European Nuclear Arms Association (ENAA) but was rejected. The decision was followed by a crisis in Davishire, which refused to accept the ENAA's decision. Davishire is looking to bolster its application and the Davishirian delegate asked the Foreign Minister on various subjects concerning nuclear weapons, for example: "How does Gun-Toting Animals see it that nuclear weapons should be secured, and how would Gun-Toting Animals be able to support Davishire in this effort? We have had nuclear protection troops ready for nearly 4 months, but how should we deploy and train them and how can you support us in this?"
• The Os Corelian Ministers are becoming mystified by a series of closed door talks between Os Corelia and the Grossdeutches Reich. The talks have only been attended by top level Corelian diplomats including the Viscount and Vice-President who both haven't attended parliament for the past few weeks. The Diplomatic suite on the 5th floor of the parliament building has restricted access with Ministers being left having to use a press conference room as a make shift cabinet office.
• The Os Corelian electoral college is currently busy preparing for the Euro Ballot as Nominations were opened for the commission in Europolis yesterday. This will see the end of Karolinasz Jaedala's term as Defence and Peacekeeping Commissioner which is widely seen as successful with a look at her consultations on security and LGBT service people's treatments. She has also been praised for her work with the Davishirian government.
• The Socialists & Democrats europarty have gathered for a conference. The main event was a speech by Malak Kayrooz, Prime Minister of Northern Caesarea. A couple of excerpts from the speech: "The European Union maintains that one of its main objectives is to make Europe a safest place, giving priority to pacific solutions to conflicts and acknowledging fundamental rights to all european citizens. Unfortunately, a single glance to European newspapers or web pages, shows us that something is going wrong.", "Right-wing and even far right wing options are more and more popular in our nations. As we have just seen here, in Northern Caesarea, populism and the mirage of easy and undemocratic solutions to complex problems are on the rise. The right wing is now strong and united in Europe. Progressive options are divided and fighting about names or political labels" and "Because we believe in a strong welfare state, we are against the "every man for himself" neoliberal approach defended by the conservatives. Because we believe in a strong Europe, we are against the transformation of the European Union in a useless organization, where pseudo-democracies and openly admitted dictatorships have the same respectability than true democracies."

EUROPEAN UNION[/b]
REGION | FORUM | COMMISSION | COURT | COUNCIL   | MAP

~August 2013 Update~

Premier: Peter Montfort, Angleter (UEC)
Foreign Affairs: Colleen Bennet, Rhine Ruhr (ECL)
Defence and Peacekeeping:Karolinasz Jaedala, Os Corelia (ALDGE)
Economics: Marie Rivas, Northern Caesarea (S&D)
Internal Affairs: Blair von Schroeder, Red Croatia (UEC)

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Chief Justice: Beaver, Gun-Toting Animals
Justice: Idla Bcassj, Kryuland
Justice: Concordia Ferro, Pax Aurea
Justice: Lars Josef Knudsen, North Europa
Justice: Gergely Stjepanic, Balkan Socialist Federation

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Speaker of the European Council: Acwellan Lir Devoy am Harrison, Duxburian Union (ECL)

Socialist Workers Party (SWP): Communist, Socialist, Anti-Capitalist
Party of European Socialists and Democrats (S&D): Social Democrat, Integrationist
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for a Green Europe (ALDGE): Social Liberal, Environmentalist
European Classical Liberals (ECL): Classical Liberal, Pragmatic
Union of European Conservatives (UEC): Conservative, Christian Democrat
European National Party (ENP): Fascist, National Socialist

• The Office of Foreign Affairs has had its ups and downs during the month of August. Recruiting efforts have increased and at one point European Union reached its record high population at 189 nations. These efforts however were countered by what is commonly referred to in NationStates as "the summer slump". The net population went down 9 nations since the end of July.
• Internal Affairs Commissioner Blair von Schroeder approached European Council members with a re-instigation to explore options for drafting environmental legislation. A second attempt at passing The Ocean Protection Act is currently being discussed. 
   
  
• The Office of Defense and Peacekeeping has handed awarded its first ever European Union Peace Prize. The award was given posthumously to Julia Glorius, the former President of Pax Aurea. Glorius served as President of Pax Aurea until she was brutally murdered as part of the Christmas Day attacks last December. Glorius was nominated by Rhinian President Fredrick Jeffery who said "President Julia Glorius should be posthumously given this prestigious honor for an entire lifetime dedicated to serving the people and keeping the peace. Glorius has left behind a grandiose legacy of humanitarianism leading efforts such as "Operation Hope" in the Western Sahara, "Operation Enduring Hope" in Dromund Kaas, and the "Roadmap to Peace" Conference. Julia also loathed violence, condemning acts of aggression across the region on many occasions. President Glorius was a leading figure in European Union who to this day holds a strong influence over many nations and politicians alike. Following her lead, many European nations adopted pacifists' stances and many discarded their militaries. President Glorius wasn't afraid to fight either, leading the way for increased social justice in our region. Julia Glorius was an amazing woman that believed in two fundamental European values: freedom and peace. That is why she deserves this honor."
   
  
• Commissioners Jaedala and von Schroeder have completed the Europolis Security Review survey and have published their findings. Defense Commissioner Karolinasz Jaedala wrote a summary of the study's findings: " After a lengthy discussion with Commissioner von Schroeder we believed that nations should be free to provide their own security. We would advise a central security body to be set up where national security can cooperate with the exiting Europolis security to effectively transmit information about threats. We also believe the choice should be available, although if Europolis services are used I would recommend that nations pay for this provision through contracting. This way we are ensuring fair use of the budget which should be for citizens. This also keeps the forces in Europolis neutral."
  
• Defense Commissioner Karolinasz Jaedala took to the European Council to bring the topic of nuclear weapons and their regulation. The Consultation on the Place of Nuclear Weapons received the greatest amount of attention by the Council throughout the month of August. Several Councilors expressed a desire to see the abolishment of Nuclear Weapons while on the other end of the spectrum Councilor Hughs argued for the dismantling of the European Nuclear Applications Authority, the only nuclear regulatory force of the European Union. A majority of Councilors felt that the current state of European nuclear affairs is where they need to be and that no changes should be made. A compelling speech from Councilor Roebuck of Gun-Toting Animals in which argued the prevailing opinion while also re-educating the Council on the nuclear history of European Union can be read here.
  

• There is no new news from The European Court of Justice for the month of August.

• The European Council finally authorized the deployment of the European Relief Force to the Caribbean following the aftermath of Hurricane Athena in July. A total of 260 million euros will be spent on the humanitarian efforts in Sint Maarten and the Aurean Provinces of Colonial Nova and Provincia Celesta. The ERF is expected to spend the next six months in the area providing aid to displaced residence while their respective nations begin reconstruction efforts.
• Councilor Roebuck of Gun-Toting Animals has presented an amendment to the European Relief Force Act that will allow the ERF to be immediately deployed by the Economics Commissioner while the Council deliberates further action. This amendment is in response to the thirty-seven day discussion by the Council regarding the deployment to the Caribbean.

• The government of North Europa has created two new ministries within the executive branch: The Ministry of Public Order and Protection of the Citizens and The Ministry of Merchant Marine & Arctic Islands. While the latter is a completely new office, the Ministry of Public Order and Protection of the Citizens was split from the Ministry of Justice. The former Ministry of Transport & Housing has been renamed the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Networks.
• King William VIII of West Embria has decided to vacate the throne and install a new republican system of government. The announcement came during the festivities surrounding the Kingdom's 19th anniversary of the end of the Embrian Civil War. William VIII is expected to vacate the throne on the 1st of September.
• The Confederate Assembly has approved a massive military expansion for Gun-toting Animals. Included in the spending increases is a project to develop a missile defense system.
• A gay rights parade in Telum, Inimicus ends in tragedy after a riot broke out leading to the deployment of the Imperial Guard. After clashes between the protestors and Imperial Guard aided by the Riot Police, thirty people were discovered dead. The dead include protesters and law enforcement alike.
• The trial of Former Aurean Homeland Security Minister Junia Falco is currently ongoing. Four major charges have been brought up against Falco in this trial: gross misuse of power in office, illegal gathering of intelligence, violation of the Constitution's civil rights articles, and the persecution of a religious group. Falco's surveillance operation "Wolves Among Sheep" allegedly targeted the Catholic Church in Pax Aurea, its clergy, layman groups, seminars, and even private confessions.
• The Balkan Socialist Federation launched the Proton VI rocket which contained the LandSurveyor 1 Satellite which will sit at low-earth orbit. The Balkan Space Agency too sent a trio of astronauts into space for the first time in the nation's history.
• Protests have been breaking out all over the Balkan Socialist Federation in a display against the nation's socialist policies. The populace has grown tired of higher taxation coupled with high unemployment.
• King Stenbren of the Imperial Commonwealth of Davishire has abdicated the throne and King Hubert has been officially crowned. Along with the changes in Monarch, the Imperial Commonwealth too will be seeing a change in Prime Minister.  Prime Minister Rt Hon David Cameron MP will be replaced by current Secretary of State for Justice Rt Hon John Williams MP. Cameron will act as the Secretary for State of Justice for a short period of time.
• Eurovoice XVIII concluded in the month of August. The Microstate of Inquista won the contest with the song "Next to Me" performed by Emeli Sandé. The winning performance can be viewed here
  
• The Imperial Commonwealth of Davishire and the Balkan Socialist Federation have signed a joint defense agreement. In addition to the defensive pact, the two nations have also agreed to cooperate in the field of Space Development.

EUROPEAN UNION[/b]
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~June 2013 Update~

Premier: Maleeka Liszckoszi, Os Corelia
Foreign Affairs: Felipe Gomez, Occoron
Defence and Peacekeeping: Susan Callaghan, Halsberg
Economics: Alexander Bass, Gun-Toting Animals
Internal Affairs: Peter Montfort, Angleter

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Chief Justice: Antony Scalin, Duxburian Union
Justice: Concordia Ferro, Pax Aurea
Justice: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Bakrova
Justice: Idla Bcassj, Kryuland
Justice: Gerhardt Garber, Rhine Ruhr

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Speaker of the European Council: Acwellan Lir Devoy am Harrison, Duxburian Union

Socialist Workers Party (SWP): Communist, Socialist, Anti-Capitalist
Party of European Socialists and Democrats (S&D): Social Democrat, Integrationist
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for a Green Europe (ALDGE): Social Liberal, Environmentalist
European Classical Liberals (ECL): Classical Liberal, Pragmatic
Union of European Conservatives (UEC): Conservative, Christian Democrat
European National Party (ENP): Fascist, National Socialist

• The new Commission will be elected soon: the nomination period is over and several parties had primary elections. The UEC has selected Peter Montfort, incumbent Commissioner for Internal Affairs, and Blair von Schroeder from Red Croatia. Inimican Councillor Augustus Barrington was not selected, but will run anyway. Colleen Bennet from Rhine Ruhr will be the ECL candidate, the S&D will be represented by Marie Rivas from Northern Caesarea and the ALDGE has selected Corelian LGBT Rights activits Karolinasz Jaedala as their candidate. Follow the lively debate between the candidates here
  
• Former Premier and Internal Commissioner Dominik Frank (Rhine Ruhr/Independent) stated in an interview with The Inquista Lounge that he was disappointed in the current Commission: "What was once thought to be a promising Commission comprised of talented individuals turned out to be hollow and lifeless.”
  
• According to a poll by the Inquistan Broadcasting Corporation, the current Commission XIII was ranked the second lowest ever.
• Commissioner for Defence and Peace-keeping Callaghan has opened a discussion concerning cluster munitions. Although most participants agreed that cluster munitions were very dangerous for civilians, a complete ban was not received well. Councillor Orcello (Pax Aurea/ALDGE) proposed that the next Commissioner holding the Defence and Peace-keeping position would continue the discussion.

• Also a new European Court of Justice is to be elected: incumbent justices Berdimuhamedov from Bakrova and Bcassj from Kryuland already announced their candidature for re-election and both are also running for the position of Chief Justice. Also Knudsen from North Europa and Stjepanic from the Balkan Socialist Federation announced their candidature.

• As the Audit of the Committees by Internal Affairs Commissioner Peter Montfort continues, the membership of the Committees for reviewing the European Constitution and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights are being discussed. Also the membership of several other committees, dealing with chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, are being discussed, as well as the merger of several committees. The purpose is to reduce the numbers of committees and to decrease bureaucracy.
• The European Arts Collaboration Fund has started a public tendering for building a new International Archive of European Culture. “A cultural archive of materials that every EU nation donates to be housed within the halls of Europolis and then to go on tour around Europe to promote cultural tolerance and curiosity of differing cultures. The archive will be housed in a building which is the main cost of the project. It would contain books, statues, sculptures, manuscripts on a permanent or loaned basis. The exhibitions will be free for all EU citizens to attend in their national museums. “

• Kryuland has a new government, led by Prime Minister Prodaj. The government coalition has the support of Left, Ecology and Freedom (ALDGE) , Centru Demokratika (ECL), Partit Demokratiku Socjali (S&D) and New Partit Komunista (SWP), although the latter two have no seats in the national parliament.
• A political scandal in Pax Aurea has caused four ministers to step down from their office: Minister of Homeland Security Falco and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fulvius had to resign after Yusif Guillaumus, Director of the Cyber Defence Division of the Aurean Secret Service, leaked to the press that several Catholic prayer groups and seminars but also telephone conversations and email correspondence had been illegally monitored by the Ministry of Homeland Security. Fulvius was former Vice-President and became acting President when former President Glorius was assassinated by fundamentalists, until her successor Proctus was elected. It was under her time in office that the illegal surveillance took place. Immediately after taking office, Proctus ordered Minister of Homeland Security to stop the illegal investigations, but she did not follow that order. The negotiations about the successor of the two resigned ministers caused the Federalist Party to leave the government and their two ministers stepped down: Minister of Citizenship Affairs Sulpicio and Minister for Welfare and Healthcare Marie-Celesté Cavain. The government of Prime Minister Laetenius still has a majority of 126 seats of the 200 seats in the Aurean Senate, also without the 21 seats of the Federalists. The opposition has called for a vote of no confidence though, which is currently underway. In the meantime, four new ministers were appointed to fill the gaps in the government.
• The Reform Party (ALDGE) has won the elections in the Balkan Socialist Federation, defeating the incumbent Socialists. Independent Matej Pasternak has been appointed as Prime Minister after being nominated by the President, since the two largest parties disagreed on the office.
• The Occoronian ELDR (ALDGE), currently delivering the President and Vice-President, has lost the parliamentary and presidential elections after failing to cope with a serious fraud scandal. ELDR Presidential candidate and incumbent Vice-President de los Santos only convinced 5,47% of the electorate, while incumbent socialdemocrat Prime Minister Barria (S&D) got 43,94% of the votes. Victoria Vigo, the leader of a list of the joint opposition (ECL-UEC) has won the first round of the elections with 50,07%, making a second round unnecessary. She will be sworn in as the new Occoronian President very soon. With 257 out of 500 seats, the conservative list also has a parliamentary majority. Immediately after her inauguration, she ordered the preparations of Occoron's departure from the European Union.
• Davishire is holding a referendum regarding its membership of the European Union, a possible membership of the European Economic Community and a possible transformation from a monarchy to a republic. The first question was not legally binding for the government, the latter two were. A majority of 60% agreed with the first question, a plurality of 48% agreed with the second while a majority was needed. The counting regarding the third question is still underway, although opinion polls show that 85% of the voters disagree with a possible transformation to a republic.

EUROPEAN UNION
REGION | FORUM | COMMISSION | COURT | COUNCIL   | MAP

~April 2013 Update~

Premier: Maleeka Liszckoszi, Os Corelia
Foreign Affairs: Felipe Gomez, Occoron
Defence and Peacekeeping: Susan Callaghan, Halsberg
Economics: Alexander Bass, Gun-Toting Animals
Internal Affairs: Vacant

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Chief Justice: Antony Scalin, Duxburian Union
Justice: Concordia Ferro, Pax Aurea
Justice: Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Bakrova
Justice: Idla Bcassj, Kryuland
Justice: Gerhardt Garber, Rhine Ruhr

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Speaker of the European Council: Acwellan Lir Devoy am Harrison, Duxburian Union

Socialist Workers Party (SWP): Communist, Socialist, Anti-Capitalist
Party of European Socialists and Democrats (S&D): Social Democrat, Integrationist
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for a Green Europe (ALDGE): Social Liberal, Environmentalist
European Classical Liberals (ECL): Classical Liberal, Pragmatic
Union of European Conservatives (UEC): Conservative, Christian Democrat
European National Party (ENP): Fascist, National Socialist

• Newly elected Commissioner for Internal Affairs Mikaela Kligenberg (Inquista/Independent) resigns due to personal reasons. She stressed her resignation had nothing to do with any political matter. A by-elections will be held to elect her successor, who will complete Kligenberg’s term. Both the S&D and the UEC are having primaries now. Nicholas Benfield (Inimicus) and Peter Montfort (Angleter) are currently the candidates for the UEC candidacy, while Marie Rivas (Northern Caesarea) is running unopposed for the S&D Commission candidacy. All three were also candidate in the last Commission elections.
• The resignation of Kligenberg caused Premier Commissioner Maleeka Liszckoszi  (Os Corelia/ALDGE) and Commissioner Susan Callaghan (Halsberg/UEC) to end the controversial (Read more in Other News) visit to Dromund Kaas sooner than expected. According to Liszckoszi, the Commissioners had to leave "to leave for the stability of the Commission".
  
• Increased efforts by the Office of Foreign Affairs resulted in an all time high number of 172 European member states.
• The female Commissioners, Liszckoszi (Os Corelia/ALDGE) Kligenberg, (Inquista/independent) and Callaghan (Halsberg/UEC) were heavily critisized by the Rhinian newspaper Dusseldorf Times.  Read more in Other News
  

• The budget proposal by Commissioner Bass (Gun-Toting Animals/ECL) was unanimously approved by the European Council. This is the first time in European history that a budget proposal was approved by the Council. Bass will now create a full report, including projections about future programs and an overview of the contribution of each individual member state.
• The Ocean Protection Act by the Aurean Councillor Nadia Orcello (ALDGE) was narrowly defeated in the Council. The discussion about the act - partially amended after some concerns of Council Speaker Devoy (Duxburian Union/ECL) - caused a debate about the human responsibility regarding climate change, after remarks by Councillor Benfield (Inimicus/UEC). He positioned himself as a strong opponent of the act, stated that mankind was unable to change anything about the environment and thus argued that an act protecting the ocean from pollution was unnecessary. Fellow UEC Councillor John Walters from Halsberg disagreed with Benfield, saying the act was "a very good piece of legislation" and only included "common-sense precautions". Councillor Elena Dammo (Occoron/ALDGE) joined Walters and mentioned she was eager to debate the human involvement in climate change. The Act was ultimately defeated with 3 in favor and 4 against, with Rhine Ruhr, a landlocked country, abstaining. Reasons for the defeat were the fact that ECL-members Gun-Toting Animals and Duxburian Union ended up voting against, after much debate within their respective nations. The latter referred to the short implementing period of 6 months. Another reason was that several nations in favor of the act surprisingly failed to vote.
• After the defeat of the Ocean Protection Act, rumors suggested Councillor Nadia Orcello (Pax Aurea/ALDGE) would be replaced by the Aurean government. Prime Minister Laetenius later re-affirmed confidence in the Aurean Councillor, stating there were no "ongoing plans to replace her."

• The Federal Commonwealth of Pax Aurea was listed 7th of most developed nations in the world!
• In an article titled "Get to Work, Ladies", the Rhinian newspaper Dusseldorf Times was very critical of the female Commissioners: Premier Maleeka Liszckoszi (Os Corelia, ALDGE), Susan Callaghan (Halsberg, UEC) and Mikaela Kligenberg (Inquista/Independent). The woman of Commission XIII, the first ever with a female majority (3/5), are not doing much. According to the article, "Since the election, we have not seen much from these women of "action". Internal Affairs Commissioner Mikaela Kligenberg has managed to make a few passing comments on the now late Jeff Speller, while the Premier and Defense Commissioners have yet to officially do anything while in office." The newspaper is further very critical of the Commissioners' visit to Dromund Kaas, implying they are wasting their time, "without the presence of Coalition members or anyone remotely relevant to the eventual future of the nation for that matter". Although now former Commissioner Kligenberg was included in the newspaper's remarks, she stressed her resignation had nothing to do with the critical Dusseldorf Times.
  
• Also former Angleteric Commission candidate Peter Montfort, now running for the UEC candidacy for the Internal Affairs Office, criticized the visit of the three Commissioner to Dromund Kaas in his show One Last Thing. He argued that "it was a mistake. Why did the Commissioners, and not anybody else, have to go, why did three have to go, why did it go on for so long, and how much did it cost? I think the main thing now is that we can be thankful it's over and that the Commission can kick into action."
  
• The Aurean President has arrived in Occoron, for a meeting with President Mahanga. After his first stop in Os Corelia, the new Aurean President want to discuss further economic and scientific cooperation, as well as European security. Both nations have no military while more European nations are building nuclear weapons.
• The increase of nuclear powers has caused some concern in the European Union. The European Nuclear Application Authority has recently granted a license to Gun-Toting Animals and also the United Kingdom, Halsberg and Rhine Ruhr were given permission to build a nuclear arsenal. ALDGE Party President and former Defense and Peacekeeping Commissioner Livia Arcturus (Pax Aurea) said "that the increased nuclear capabilities may lead to international tensions, and help establish [cold war] divisions. This would be extremely detrimental to the overall stability and development of our continent".
• Also the application of Davishire for an unconditional ENAA license was headline news in the EU. A European Union Region Act, adopted by the national parliament, did not recognize any European institution as legitimate. Decisions of European institution were only considered as advice. After the application was denied by the ENAA, the government of Davishire stated it would continue to posses nuclear weapons, resulting in criticism by the Corelian government. Consequently, Davishire promised to repeal the European Union Region Act and re-applied for an ENAA license. The Liberals in Davishire are opposed to those actions and are ahead in the polls, with eye to the upcoming national elections.
• Over 1000 people died in Inimicus after several military facilities exploded. The Inimican Emperor described the events as "acts of terrorism". Five culprits were arrested, the motive would be opposition to the government's environmental policy. According to Nuntius Inimici, the motive shall lead to further concern regarding Green organizations in Inimicus. The leader of the Green opposition Party Jeff Speller was executed last month, as he had planned an assassination attempt against the Inimican Emperor. Several European nations disagreed with the course of events, arguing a regional investigation should be started in order to make sure Speller was given a fair trial. Despite international pressure, Speller was ultimately executed, causing further concern. It is unclear how the European member states will respond to the recent events.
  
• EuroVoice XVII in Os Corelia was won by the Duxburian Brandon Devoy, with Too Damn Late!
• The first Euro (football) Cup was won by Newfoundland in the final against Rhine Ruhr with 1-2. Occoron became third after winning the 'match for bronze' against Os Corelia. That means we have a European Dream Team ready, that will represent the European Union in a competition against the representative of the British Isles. As agreed on between the EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner and the Executive Director of the British Isles Football Association (BIFA), the inter-regional competition will be organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), responsible for the European leg, and the BIFA for the leg in the British Isles. The exact details of the competition will be announced later.

• The European Union would like to congratulate Dardoillyria on his re-election as President.
• The European Union also wishes the candidates for the other offices good luck in their campaign.

• The European Union contains 151 nations.
• Pax Aurea has elected a new President, after the former had been killed in a terrorist attack. Gaius Proctus defeated his opponent Maria Fulvius in the second round.
• The Court of Justice is deliberating on the case Pax Aurea versus Kras Soren. The Kaasian Colonel is being accused of attacking an unarmed humanitarian mission during the Dromund Kaas War. The verdict is expected to be delivered soon.
• A European Pride Conference for the LGBT community has been called in Os Corelia.
• The Councillors have been very busy lately: An immigration Bill and an Environmental Protection Act were heavily opposed, and also the Europol Act, aiming to increase intelligence sharing between member states, was defeated.
• A Civilian Acces Initiative Act, aiming to increase transparency and openness in the European Union, was unanimously approved. Also a Consumer Protection Act is expected to be approved.
• Europe’s first budget  proposal has been proposed by Economics Commissioner Callaghan, and is currently being discussed in the Council.
• Europe’s Got Talent has started, we will keep you up to date!
• EuroVoice XVI in Os Corelia, was won by Julie Fowlis from… Os Corelia, with Touch the Sky!