Internal Affairs Commissioner - Angleter Sumit
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"Not sure what he's after, to be honest, but I suppose we better humour him. The pro-EU campaign are going to say we're turning down some wonderful offer that we know can't exist. We need to do all we can to stop that narrative taking hold."
Emryc nodded as his aide continued.
"The real question for us is does he come in good faith, or is it a pro-EU campaign tour?"
Emryc scoffed. "I'll take pro-EU campaign tour for £20. But yes, we need to manage this carefully. The referendum needs to get through Parliament, and there are a few Democrat and New Right MPs on the fence. We've made it a confidence vote but we can't afford any slip-ups if we're to get it over the line, OK?"
Another aide entered the office. "Sir? He's here."
"Great. Send a convoy to pick him up. The nice cars. Full armoured things, and have the red and blue lights all the way. He loves that kind of thing. Did you see his campaign stops?"
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Juncker went downstairs and entered the "Nice Cars motorcade". "Good morning." Said the European Commissioner to his driver. When everything was ready, the motorcade departed from the New Birmigham Airport towards the Presidential office. Juncker read everything he had brought meanwhile, as he didn't want any mistake on what it could be one of the most important summits for him.
He liked the cars and the protocole, not because of his campaign, but because he felt safe. Despite the Angleteric relationship with the European Union, the still protected and honoured the Commission when a visit took place, and Juncker could prove it. Some people were protesting next to the motorcade on the city centre, as they knew Juncker was in the cars. Posters with "No To EU", "Bye Juncker" or "Unsuccessful Commissioner" could be seen on the hands of the protesters. Juncker looked carefully at the protesters, thinking about what this people needed, and the answer was on Emryc Isla.
10 minutes later, the European Commissioner arrived at the Presidential Office, thanked his driver and went off. He was received by Emryc, and both leaders shook hands. The press took some photos of both leaders smiling, and then, they went into the building. Juncker took a sit and started to talk: "I hope you are doing fine Emryc, I've brought a gift for you." The Commissioner smiled and got a book from his suitcase. "I've read it and it was really interesting, I think you may like it. It's called 'Caspian Legends and Strange Happenings', half an history book, half a fiction book."
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"Ah, this looks fascinating. I'll be sure to give it a look!" said Emryc as he placed the book to one side. He brought out from under the table a model steam train. "Now, I thought that as you like trains so much, you might like this model of the first train in Angleteric history, the Imperial Express. It ran from Damaszka to Dionysias in 1844. Think of it as the Eurostar of its time!"
"Now, to business. What would you like us to discuss first?"
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Juncker thanked Emryc for his gift and after he looked at it for a few seconds, he placed the train carefully to one side and started to speak to the Angleteric Prime Minister:
"Well Emryc, today I haven't come here to speak about my achievements, myself, the EPA or my projects. I've come here to talk about Anglexit, to know more about what are your country and yourself's, as its major representative, complaints about the European Union and to propose something that I think we all have in common, which is not a project I've said in camapign or something like that. This is not a rally to convince you to stop the voting, moreover, you are free to do it and if you want to, if the Angleteric people wish to, you should do that vote. Whether if some may not like the matter which is being voted, I'll be always on the side of democracy.
First of all, I have been reading some news articles and different opinions, as following the events related with the European Union that happened here or in Europolis concerning your Councillor. I know that you are kind of unconfortable with the Elected and Accountable Council Act 2019, the reason why your Councillor has not attended to any other Council session and one of the reasons of this Anglexit process. May I know why is it unconfortable or bad-looked from here?
And then, before we move into the complaints about the EU from yourself and the Angleterics', I would like you to tell how the Anglexit process will work if people vote for it or against it, as how it's everything going to be organized, what are the proceedings needed to hold the referendum... you know, all the burocratic and diplomatic stuff needed.
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"We withdrew our councillor because, after EACA, that law means we don't have control over our own foreign policy. You have someone representing our country on the world stage, and for that matter, in a role that actually has power over this country, who is independent of the government. And the EU telling us we can't have any authority over that person, and they have to be elected separately, is not on."
"People elect me, our government, our parliament, to speak for Angleter on the world stage. That's our constitution, and it's the constitution - or at least it was before EACA - of most normal countries. But the EACA tells us to have a separately elected person purporting to represent this country, making decisions in Europolis that will affect this country. Withdrawing our councillor was a legal form of non-compliance we could pursue, but we know it can't work long term. Anglexit is, I think, a more permanent solution to that problem, and a lot of other problems we have with the EU."
"I mean, the whole thing is ludicrous. It's like a parliament in its own right. We're having all sorts of things imposed on us on a 55% vote among what are basically MPs for the member states."
"But anyway, I'd be eager to hear your thoughts on the Anglexit process. I'm glad that you recognise how important it is that the Angleteric people are able to make this decision for ourselves."
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"Well, even thought I don't agree with Angleter leaving the European Union, I can understand why you are setting this referedum. As you know, I have nothing to do with the European Council, nor I can tell them how they have to do their job or what should they pass or not. I think, and this is just a personal advice, you should try to push forward a repeal of the Elected and Accountable Council Act, maybe it succeeds.
*Now, I want to hear about the 'other problems' with the European Union. This is very interesting and important for me and the Commission itself, because we will be able to fix the mistakes. I know it's late, but like I have always said, it's better to solve things later than never solve them. The EACA is obviously a stone in the middle of the way, but I guess there are some other things that disturb you and the Angleteric society. Could you tell me about them and explain them too?
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"It's less about the EACA itself and more about the direction of travel of the EU. As you know, there have been multiple discussions, multiple amendments, multiple repeal motions, and none of them have passed. Who knows, it may get repealed in some years to come, but that's almost not the point. These lines are non-negotiable for us, and they keep getting crossed, and there's nothing to stop them getting crossed."
"I mean what is it right now? A group of elected representatives of other countries, with wildly varying populations, that can pass pretty much anything they like on a 55% majority. That can only work when it has some sense of self-restraint, but if that isn't gone entirely, then it isn't nearly consistent enough for us. As you're probably aware, we've taken to respectful non-compliance with EU rules that we believe are going too far."
"When our country joined the EU, we believed we were joining an organisation that was about how we as member states can work better together, support each other, and deal with cross-border things. Now it's about a group of people telling us what to do. Drugs. Healthcare. Justice. Marriage. It's everything."
"My opinion, and I know many of my countrymen disagree, is that we've seen enough at this point. We know that it'll never get to the point where it's permanently better. We've had occasional bouts of repeals, but it always comes back."
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"Interesting, I have to say. I do agree with the purpose of the Elected and Accountable Council Act 2019, but I know, from what I have been able to read, listen and follow live in the Council, there is not much agreement on the EACA. Maybe those special bills could get a special requirement to be passed, but that doesn't involve me but the European Council, so I can't do nothing on that part.
Anyway Emryc, I think that the European Union is still on the edge of salvation, but what we need to understand is that the European Union is constantly changing and moving towards a new path where major policies are imposed. I also disagree with many bills that passed through the Council, I think we cannot agree with them. But I guess that if countries, not the Angleteric case, but Noctoria's citizens case for example, they didn't have any freedom or rights, and the Council, thanks to those policies which of course, invade your sovereighty somehow, was able to force them.
Before we give an end to this summit, I would like to ask you about some things that would need to happen in the European Union to avoid the referendum, even if that's not gonna happen and I think it's good to get the people to speak by theirselves, and secondly, I wanted to talk you about that. If Angleter finally decides to leave, I would like to propose you a cooperation agreement in which Angleter could still cooperate with us. I know that, without a result, it is difficult to get into that, but I would like to see how many possibilities we have to achieve that in the future."
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"Quite frankly, we'd want an end to directly elected councillors, a supermajority for anything to pass, and the wholesale repeal of, well, quite a lot of EU legislation. We'd also want some kind of constitutional delineation of what the Council can and cannot pass, to stop them passing laws that interfere unduly in the affairs of member states. But that, as you know, isn't going to happen."
"And absolutely, we would be more than happy to co-operate with EU institutions, and member states inside the EU, if we vote to leave. I'd be interested to hear which areas you see opportunities for co-operation in, should that happen."
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"I see lots of opportunities for co-operation, such as in Defence, Commerce, Fishing, Environmental Measures to stop Climate Chnage in our region... I think that, if Angleter votes of leave, which I hope they don't because I'm pretty suportive of the European Union, we will have many things to talk and work over.
Emryc, it has been a pleasure to talk with you, coming here to Angleter and get to know you deeply. I hope we can see again soon, and that time, I wish it could be with Angleter remaining in the European Union, but that's not up to me, but up to the Angleteric people."
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