3rd European Leaders Summit

[Elthize]

(image credit)

President Greenwich Grimwald was not too happy with his Sunday being interrupted by an important leader's summit out of nowhere. After all, Sunday was the day when he was supposed to relax, but this Sunday was especially important as he had plans to relax at the Harry's with his wife, Imogen.

Needless to say, it was not entertaining to postpone everything from plane tickets to hotel reservations, and especially not entertaining to tell Imogen the bad news. Nonetheless, he was Grimwald, seventy-two years strong, and if he was able to keep clean during the catastrophe that brought Archie Franklin down, it's no wonder he could do so here as well.

As usual, he dressed up, moved quickly, and got into his car, taking Oscar Crofton, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had essentially become his right-hand man at this point. Their driver took them to Forecoaster International Airport. It didn't take long for the duo to get to their plane seats, first class. The plane then took off from Forecoaster to Europolis, and the two were assisted to where the summit would take place.

"Looks like we came early," Crofton said after looking around for a while. "We're the first ones? Really?"

"No, we're not," Grimwald replied. He approached Internal Affairs Commissioner Kevin Cotilla, Premier Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker and Spanish President Jesús Aguilar for the usual handshake, which Crofton followed. Grimwald started the conversation: "Good afternoon, gentlemen! Good to see you all, and good to see you again Jesús! How are we feeling on this fine day?"

[BrumBrum]

President Neha Bhatavadekar took the Air Svarna One to Europolis. This would be the first summit being a member of the EU and she intended to curry favour with many leaders including those of Spain, Reitzmag and United Duchies. The arrival was smooth , thankfully the Aankh and Haath and Kaan had dealt with the protesters combined reducing their presence to about 5 people who looked like random nutjobs.

They'd killed over 257 of the key protesters and opposition that week and silenced the rest through fear. Mind you according to the world those 257 and their families so over 1,122 in all never existed and who could prove they did now their ashes were in the landfill where the trash of their kind belonged. She had a good photo took for the propaganda agencies sorry did I say propaganda I meant news agencies back home! Not that anyone knew that these organisations had done this or officially existed of course. It was the stuff of legend among activists and any members of these officially did not exist after all what crime can one who did not exist commit.

The limo took them to Europolis venue the summit was being held at. She saw Jean-Claude Juncker and went up to greet him "Hi Premier Juncker , I'd like to thank you and the IAC at the EU for this invitation. Its nice to be among fellow democrats and socially liberal leaders like yourself and I very much hope the the EU can help up achieve so much for the Svarnan people we both love so much."

[Leagio]

Ran Mouri-Kudo welcome up early for this event that had not been done by any European Union leader for at least two years, the last time that this had been done was when Juncker was Commissioner of Internal Affairs. Now, she felt more hopeful this season as Air Force One landed into the airport, where she walked out to see the sights of Europolis and its wonderful buildings for various agencies and people living in it. She recognized some of the leaders that had arrived as well, including President Aguilar and Grimwald. She wondered about the various topics that will be discussed in the conference and what actions the member states will agree to work on or even coordinate over. She greeted the two leaders as they were on very terms with each other between their governments.

[Inimicus]

Vicarius Wilfred Cocx and EU Councillor (and Deputy Speaker) Nicholas Benfield strolled through the vast corridors of some gigantic EU building in Europolis. On Benfield's insistence, Cocx had come down to Europolis the night before the EU Leaders' Summit was due to start, as both men went way back in Inimician politics and would not pass up on an opportunity to spend an evening rousing the EU Council's bar staff and gossip like the days of old.

Now, though, Benfield had apparently forgotten where the exact entrance to this summit was located. Cocx, who already felt out of place due to his being "only" second in charge in the Empire (Artabanos was currently in Czech Slavia and, in His words, "couldn't be asked to deal" with several of the leaders who were supposed to be present today), followed Benfield through various corridors and around an infinite number of corners, until eventually the welcome area, outside, came into view.

"Well Nicholas, I hope last night didn't do too much to my general appearance", Cocx said, trying to straighten his tie in a faint window reflection. "At least some familiar faces will be here, I guess. You're probably more familiar with some of them than I am at this point."

"You're fine. We've met hundreds if not thousands of foreign politicians together and have only embarrassed ourselves half the time. I know we didn't set up an agenda as we were supposed to have done last night, we instead used our draft papers for a drunken game of Guess Who? - but that shouldn't spoil the fun today. Just go with the flow."

With that, the Vicarius and Councillor stepped outside, where they were meeted by European staff and the other leaders who had already arrived, and who looked in slight bewilderment to find the Inimicians strolling calmly towards them, rather than arriving in some armoured motorcade.

[Lusitanovetonia]

Camilo Guterres arrived just at the right moment. He was not the most punctual head of government, nor was he the most stable of the moment. But it was his duty to attend these summits to play the role he had to play at the time: That of the ruler of a nation in crisis.

He landed at the airport and soberly went to the official car. He was nervous, in a few months he had gone from being a lawyer to rubbing shoulders with the greats, but it was time to show that he was not just a provisional ruler, that he would leave a legacy. And that summit was fundamental, he was going there, not his enemies. He was going there, not those who were now fighting for power in the election campaign.

[Gadalland and Aspern]

Head Councillor Guthrun Wond and EU Councillor Dina still just don't get on, and the entire journey to Europolis they had pondered, or shouted violently, at each other over the approach they should take to the other European leaders.

Guthrun didn't want to be there, but Ms. Dina and the entire government thought it 'crucial to our relationship with the EU'. Whatever that meant. Did he really care about the EU?

He realised that being Head Councillor wasn't as fun as it seemed. It doesn't really matter very much. His fate rested with the rest of the Customary Logistics Council, all of whom voted to join the EU, blocked his protesting law and threatened many times to vote him out.

Ms. Dina had finally had it with Wond, and she got out of her seat and stormed to the other side of the plane, remaining there for the rest of the journey. It was no use speaking to that stubborn lump.

She just prayed nobody would speak to him. He wasn't well favoured in the first place so that was helpful. She would be sure to be the one escorting him around, introducing and explaining who he was to her other colleagues lest they find him the laughingstock of the entire EU.

And she hated that stupid smile of his whenever he won an argument. She hated it so much she couldn't help but think of it the rest of the journey there...

They did not speak to each other in the car. In fact, Guthrun Wond, Sertian head councillor, and Edutitalle Dina, Sertian EU councillor, ended up kicking each other in the back seat like children.

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key set out for Europolis. This would be another major conference and event for him. He arrived with his security after a budget airline flight and into the public transport since he knew their system was good. He was soon at the summit showed his badge , his clothing was inconspicous. He recognised those who had arrive so far Kudo , Juncker , Cocx , Benfield , Grimwald, Aguilar . He met with James who arrived on his own again by public transport as was tradition. He greeted Aguillar , Grimwald and Cocx as he saw them shaking hands. Then there was one he wouldn't shake hands with President Neha Bhatavadekar . He was disgusted her type was allowed in a dictator of a military dictatorship and fraud of a "democracy" . He would not shake hands and risk that picture and would refuse to be near her in a group photo.

Meanwhile President Neha Bhatavadekar roamed the room greeting members wearing her trademark red suit. She approached Grimwald and greeted him "Hi , I heard you have an AC crisis. I could arrange contacts to manufacture cheap AC units for you quickly"

[Leagio]

Kevin Cotilla stood up as all the leaders entered the room, where he felt a feeling of excitement at the fact that in the past two years there has not been such a meeting as the one occurring before him. Now he has the opportunity to introduce hopefully a new era of both partnership and unity to all the members of this union of nations. He smiled at Juncker as he could tell that the premier Commissioner was of the same your next he felt at this moment. They both agreed that more unity with all the member nations needs to be achieve before he called for this to be and now that could be done. This could be accomplished. He talked with a few of the world leaders for bed having conversations about what's going on in their country and other complaints that they had. They even discussed private affairs between themselves about their private lives and what they felt.

Cotilla felt that there was enough members of the union in attendance and decided to go ahead and begin proceedings of this grand meeting. He stood up and began to speak.

"Good evening, leaders of the member nations of our European Union. Thank you for coming here today on this grand occasion for this meeting. A meeting that was started by the current premier Commissioner Juncker and had not been continued for the past two years now. Before I was elected, I promise to reinstate this meeting within my time and help to rebuild the relations between all our member states. I hope to rebuild the relations of the union and the commission with your national governments in being able to hear your issues and complaints. In addition, I hope to hear some opinion to have regarding certain matters within our union and how you think we should respond or how the union can help your government achieve your goals regarding certain issues. The European Union has always been an institution that I have supported even before my country had joined the union as a full member back in 2020 and continue to strive for the improvement as well as the stability of our union through the means that the Constitution provides to the commission as well as your governments. My hope is that the union will continue to thrive with strong stability and unity between everyone in it and those outside of it. "

"I intended for this meeting to focus mainly on the issues of climate change, the situation in terms of energy within your countries, the stability of the union, and of course the relationship between the European Commission as well as the member states of this union or in other words your governments. However, I do intend to make time for other issues that you wish to discuss and for our premier Commissioner to raise any issues that he would like to bring to attention. Before I officially begin our discussions, I would like to say that at the moment I am looking into maintaining a neutral stance on the relations that you might have with other nations wherever they are or are not in this meeting. So I must ask that, you tried to put aside any tensions that you might have with other members of the union and their leaders."

"Before I begin with my first topic, I will leave some time for our premier Commissioner to say any words that he feels necessary for this meeting," Cotilla said as he looked towards Juncker for a moment and then back to all the leaders in the room."

[Spain]

Juncker stood up and shook hands with Commissioner Cotilla before reaching the podium, where he was expected to give his speech. He was carrying a dossier with some papers inside it, which he opened after drinking some waters that was served by a member of the staff present at the European Leaders Summit room. Jean-Claude was then ready, once more, to speak to the European leaders in Europolis:

"Good evening, my dear European leaders.

Before I start, I would like to thank the Internal Affairs Commissioner, my great friend Kevin Cotilla, for giving me the chance to speak to you all here today. I also want to thank those who have attended the summit today for their interest in keeping up with the activities and the agenda the European Commission pushes forward, and their compromise with European affairs. The Commission or the European Union itself are unable to work if there is no proof of compromise from the member states, and despite many of them being absent today, I am more convinced than ever before that there is compromise in this Union.

If I am honest with you, I have never expected that I would, yet again, have the chance to address all of you in an European Leaders Summit in Europolis, in this building that is one of the many things my Commissionship gave to the European Union. This summit was crucial to keep contact with leaders, to keep the Commission informed and ready for whatever challenge we had to face. In the 2 summits that were held under my command, the leaders that attended addressed many topics of importance, that were later addressed by the Commission and resolved. My successors might not have understood the significance of this event, but I am glad that Kevin did and brought the fastest dialogue between the Commission and member states back. As I have said many times, Europe would be nothing without its members.

On my side, I would like to make clear that my door is always open, my phone is always operative and that, if you ever need anything from me or my Premiership, I will be there at your request. In my campaign, I promised to unveil the real power of Europe, and this is part of this "unveiling process" that our region is living. I also want to announce that, before the end of September arrives, I will have submitted the budget to the European Council, and that I hope to meet Speaker Tilkanas as soon as possible.

Thank you very much, and I hope we have a very productive summit".

Juncker then went back to his seat after drinking some water.

[BrumBrum]

John Peter Key had arrived. He had firmly in his mind what was needed and lacking. He decided to raise his concerns at this point.

He got up and spoke "I would like to congratulate both of you on your victories, it is clear we did not vote for you in our country or indeed my party however that is democracy and national sovereignty for you . You two said in the campaign that you intended to increase the budget of the European Development Agency but we have yet to hear a word on just how much you intend to do so and whether it will be enough. I support you going all the way and upping the budget to at least 35 billion Euros mark you pledged. However I do not feel as a leader of United Duchies it is enough, its not just enough to promise a big budget if claiming the development money is hard, right now as it stands any EDA grant in the millions is untenable due to the sheer adminstration required the trips to Europolis and many meetings with many people who have no idea of what local conditions are like and how best to spend money locally. I feel if you scale up you need to set up boards in every country with at least half the board elected or selected by the home nation even if you have the EDA appoint half the representatives on said boards. I would then give each country its share based on need and also population and contribution also. This would be so much more than the current centralised over beauracratic system that reduces the accessibility of the fund. What do you plan to do in this area to not only ensure that the funds are significantly increased to the 10's of billions preferably closer to or above the figure I mentioned but also ensure accessibility and that spending is effective by decisions being made by people who actually have knowledge of local conditions? Also one of the aims is to help the green transition of those countries who may need more help due to either the economy being more carbon intensive by industry or just purely the nations GDP per capita means their resources are more limited restricting the ability to pay the upfront cost of many projects to get to long term sustainability. What is your plan to support such countries and make sure they get enough resources to hit a 2050 net zero target or preferably 2040 net zero target? I am an optimist and believe if the EU comes together working as one on this making access to funds easier we can unleash the power of the Union around the continent , we are all ready so what are you going to do reforms wise to address concerns?"

[UK and California]

Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Europolis, along with Ed Miliband. He felt it was his responsibity to show up on behalf of the United Kingdom. He entered where they put the summit. The initiative for fairer capitalism started here.