Ammendment to European Order of Merit Act 2017

[BrumBrum]

SECTION II. GROUNDS FOR AWARDING THE ORDER
1.The European Order of Merit may be presented to those who have proven to be outstanding in the promotion of peace and human rights throughout the European Union.

2.The European Order of Merit may be presented to those who have proven to be outstanding in the promotion of European arts and culture.

3.The European Order of Merit may be presented to those who have proven to be outstanding in their defense of the the European Union from external invasion.

4. The European Order of Merit may not be presented for achievements or acts considered to be part of the job they are paid for at the time of the achievement or act took place. It shall only be presented for achievements and acts that are beyond the call of duty or what could reasonably be considered to be part of their paid job or role.

[Istkalen]

If someone does their job particularly well, and through the accomplishment of that job contributes greatly to society - a head of the ECB whose policies save Europe from disaster, for example - I see no reason why they should not be accorded this order. I am thus opposed to this amendment.

Iras Tilkanas
Councillor for the Republic of Istkalen

[BrumBrum]

I respect all those that do their jobs well and that is a good thing but why should we cheapen the European Order of Merit for doing their job. Why for example should I get recognition for something like the Neurodivergent act when I am paid to introduce and campaign for legislation or for the work I have done in the past at my company for worker welfare and ensuring green supply chains when I was paid to do that or making profit off it. I believe Orders of Merits should be for exceptional acheivements and acts beyond the call of duty , things like sacrificing or risking ones life for another or raising big amounts of money for charities and causes without any financial reward for example. This giving national or European honours for people doing their jobs even if they do it exceptionally well should not be a thing.

James Mizrachi-Roscoe
Councillour for United Duchies

[Inquista]

No. Firstly, as the name implies, this an award for merit, not charity. Obviously merit and charity can go hand-in-hand, but one is not necessary for the other. Secondly, and most importantly, this amendment would break the original act itself, as one of the grounds for earning the European Order of Merit is for protecting the European Union from external invasion, which lies in the hands of the Eurocrops, an organization composed of professionals who earn salaries - as they rightly should. No only should all labour be compensated, but people who risk their lives for the safety of our Union even more so, and we have for good reason given them explicit grounds for earning a European Order of Merit.

Why am I not surprised that the value and fruits of labour, and the fact that labour should be properly compensated and recognised, is being questioned by the only billionaire in this chamber?

Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista

[Spain]

I strongly disagree with the purpose of this amendment, as well as its reasoning. The European Order of Merit isn't given away to anybody entering through that door, Councillor Mizrachi-Roscoe, but to those people; which can perfectly be artists, politicans, comedians, football players that, as the Act says, have proven to be outstanding in the promotion of peace and human rights throughout the European Union, in the promotion of European arts and culture or in their defense of the the European Union from external invasion. Maybe navigating Europe in a yatch every summer or having a private jet blinds the Duchies' honourable Councillor from reality: this is an award, and the European Council aren't Little Sisters of Charity, as Councillor Lallana said.

The European Order of Merit works fine already, and it's awarding depend of the Council. What is more democratical than that?

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Debate on this shall CONTINUE until 17:55 GMT on October 10th, 2021.

Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain

[BrumBrum]

Maybe the right honourable Tusk should actually know what he speaks about when speaking about my lifestyle , if he did he'd know I use trains and budget airlines generally and dislike yachts for their environmental impact. In fact I would maybe suggest I am overall greener than the holier than thou Junker with his travel and EPA leadership. Regardless I don't see why one should be rewarded for essentially just doing their job , granted doing it exceptionally well but shouldn't we all be aiming for "outstanding contributions" that is after all why we are public servants, if you are paid to do the job that should be recognition enough and goodness knows many of those in Europe including councillours here are overpaid including myself which is why I refuse to take the wage for my job because I don't need it. Maybe instead of focusing on the contributions of a few paid to do the job we should recognise the everyday heroes at the bottom instead of giving some pompous title to some person on the inside of the elites.

James Mizrachi-Roscoe, Councillour for United Duchies

[Spain]

Debate is now over. Voting begins NOW and will last until 17:55 GMT on October 13th, 2021.

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On behalf of the Kingdom of Spain, I vote AGAINST this amendment.

Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain

[Inimicus]

The Empire of Inimicus votes AGAINST this Amendment.

Cllr Nicholas Benfield

[BrumBrum]

On behalf of United Duchies I vote FOR this amendment
James Mizrachi-Roscoe , councillour for United Duchies

[Inquista]

On behalf of the Most Blessed State of Inquista, I vote AGAINST this amendment.

Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista

[Spain]

Voting has now concluded. With 1 vote FOR and 3 votes AGAINST, this amendment has FAILED.

Donald Tusk
Deputy Speaker and Councillor for Spain