Commission Debate, Feb/March 2022

Kingdom of Reitzmag

"I do indeed support ways to protect the environment, this is even part of my 5 category-based intervention principle. However, I believe we need more actions instead of just plain treaties. The European Green Deal was a good idea, however there are better ways such that we could achieve our green goal quickly. Instead of a treaty that imposes the same policies on all nations, we could instead opt for a committment treaty where nations list their commitments and decide their courses of action for fighting climate change. This will serve as the EU's general mission and vision."

"We will consult member-states on their needs to achieve their plans through legislation or EU-wide programs. As part of our EDA reform, we'll also legislate that a separate reserve be created for Green Development Funds from which nations can borrow from. After the new EDA budgeting is fixed, it will be left on its own to grow its reserve from interests in loans. We will only provide funds to the EDA for its operations and if its reserves have depleted."

"Now, on the topic of nations that will be heavily affected by too quick transition. We will focus on nations that need more help, especially bigger nations like DU and Vayinaod. I believe that if these nations are able to catch up without hurting their economies, we would be able to quickly help other smaller nations that also need help. However, if we can through enough funds help everyone at the same time to also successfully transition at the same time, we will do so as much as possible."

"Time doesn't matter much here, what's more important is we are able to achieve things together. With the right deadline, and goals, our mission and vision for a better Europe will come true."

Istkalen

I am in support of a European Green Deal. What does this mean to me? Funding and coordinating at a European level, through contacts with research organizations, the development of technology to decrease emissions, especially in technology and agriculture. Development associations will also be encouraged to promote and implement green practices and construct green industry.

I will also hold a second meeting with as many member-states, in addition to labor unions, as possible to renew and expand the Bergen Agreement to develop a united front to control desertification and sea level rise, to prepare for major climate disasters, and to reduce emissions through further industrial investment and renovation across the EU, to be funded at least partially through the fund established by the Agreement, as well as possibly by the EDA. I will also seek to negotiate supply agreements in order to maintain a constant flow of the goods needed for these projects. The intention is to develop a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels in non-supplier nations, making oil and gas production economically nonsensical, while driving significant construction of alternative green industry in those supplier nations in particular in order to replace mineral exports. While it will be to the member-states to determine what form this will take, the progress of both will follow a rough timeline agreed upon by consensus, in order to ensure that the number of new jobs in supplier nations and new exports are roughly equal to the number of jobs and goods exported lost by "greening" in other nations. It will be member-states and to a lesser extent labor unions which determine everything beyond this framework at this meeting. Perhaps this will seem like overreach; but in a globalized world, to maintain economic stability during a transition, an international approach is necessary.

Ms. Porter says that, in order to correct the past, the former exploiting states must heap aid on the developing world. What a shame that this is so much of the time merely further exploitation. The way in which aid is given denies these states any chance to develop their own innovation, their own industry; it leaves them continuously dependent on copious amounts of exports from the outside world, while themselves exporting much less. The countries which they import from may then demand from them all manner of things. The goal should be to help the developing world construct economic sovereignty, rather than to maintain the current state of things.

BrumBrum

Sara Porter:I disagree aid is exploitative. Without aid Nofoaga would have had to take a great deal of debt on instead they got roughly 100,000 Euros per citizen to help with rebuilding from the Duchies and were able to spend it on projects as they saw fit generally. Aid is a useful things, the Green European Fund is helping the green transition throughout Europe yes it does have conditions to ensure its not wasted and doesn't fund something stupid like a gadgetbahn ensuring that any technology chosen is proven but that's important right now. We cannot afford for green funds to be wasted on unproven or unlikely to succeed technologies , we need to move forward to cut carbon as quickly as possible with proven technologies. WE don't need stupid stuff like hyperloops being funded when they are likely just to fail or proprietary transport systems like monorails with limited manufacturers for example.Its not a time for experimentation but instead action.

Vayinaod

To Biden from Silly Clues: "During the last campaign you promised carrying out a constitutional reform, which was not carried out. What has been done to fulfill this promise, why has it not yet been carried out and what will you do to fullfil it if elected."

To Larsen from Silly Blues: "Do you agree with how your opponent, the current internal affairs commissioner, handled crises that arose during his term? Will you seek to maintain the status quo of the Red Strait question or will you seek to reopen this issue?"

To Porter from Silly Spruce: "What are the main benefits of paying for a Commissioner without any concrete plan?"

To Kalessed from Serious Sirius: "In the past you spoke about adopting a Sovereignty Charter which would clearly outline the powers of the member states and the European Union, is this still your goal?"

You have two minutes to answer, as well as rebuttals for 90 seconds. (((300 words: 200 words).

((OOC: you have 24 hours to submit answers. So until 0400 GMT March 05))

BrumBrum

Sara Porter:I have got a concrete plan and thats consult the nations but the benefit of this is simple you the nations set the agenda. I'm not going to force some grand agenda on you but instead visit your parliaments reguarly like I already have , visit your governments and have a big meeting of all heads of state or government. Your nations will be involved all the way unlike now. So the benefit is you'll get an EU that consults , gets a concensus then act.

Spain

I clearly do not agree with how Joe Biden has managed the crises which arose around the European Union during his term. As I said on an interview I gave to the Europolis Post a month ago or so, “Sleepy Joe is snoring at his office”, and he was when the crises arisen and he will be if more crises arise and wins the election. Mr. Biden is unable to do something correctly, because he doesn’t want to become an “European policeman”. “Two countries close to killing each other? Don’t worry, they will solve it by theirselves!” The people of Europe should know that letting this old man win means giving the EU free roam to attempt destroying itself, he is too afraid of breaking his sovereignty principles that he needs a pill to have a good sleep.

And about the Adventuranza, Red, Corinna Strait or whatsoever, I will seek to keep it calm and to avoid a conflict there once again. As long as the nations there do not start hostilities against each other, the Commission will not have to act. It is easy as that, if nations don’t want the European Commission to act and enter what some consider their “internal affairs”, do not get into trouble! Did, for example, Reitzmag had to build those islands on the Caspian? No, they didn’t, yet they did, and the Commission acted accordingly. What cannot and shouldn’t be allowed is that the Commission stays there as a sort of doll that you come to when you want a budget to be passed or certain European projects but never acts when it is needed, as the pro-sovereignty guys, which again refuse it when they are in their bedrooms with somebody and the temperature goes up, I have seen many of those, wish.

Istkalen

While I am still in support of a Sovereignty Charter, it will no longer take the form I previously spoke of. I have recognized that both the EU and member-states require flexibility, and while there should be limits, strictly delineating them all would restrict the powers of both member-states and the EU in differing crises. My new proposal for such a charter will still involve a general convention of all member-states, will still seek consensus, but will instead be a listing of some of the rights - far from exhaustive - that member-states are entitled to, particularly a wide degree of cultural integrity - meaning in my opinion that the EU can no longer force on the Duxburians concepts of race, or on my own nation marriage as a whole, although it can still pursue policies ensuring equality within existing cultural institutions - some form of economic sovereignty, preventing colonialist behavior aimed towards any nation, and finally some degree of political sovereignty, dependent on what nations themselves define it as.

The Sovereignty Charter will not be exhaustive; it will define certain rights, but will not deny the nations rights which it does not name. Areas not defined by the Sovereignty Charter will continue to exist as they do now, although, as stated previously, I intend to introduce a mechanism to allow nations to re-interpret and adjust regulations and laws according to national culture and customs.

Ms. Porter, I will ask you what you intend to consult the nations on. Will you act reactively to issues, or proactively? Do you have any pre-planned topics of discussion? On top of that, you have stated multiple positions during this debate that I doubt quite a few nations would agree with; would you let these positions override this policy, or no? You also said previously that you oppose concrete plans; have you changed your opinion now?

BrumBrum

Sara Porter:I will of course raise topics such as the Green New Deal and possibly with some nations the Neurodivergent Act for example and ask them what they'd like to see different. Other than that it would be open forum for them to tell me what issues thay have and what they want changed. I would take into account what all nations want for the EDA. My policy will entirely depend on what the nations want, there is no point proposing a reform nations won't vote majority for.

Istkalen

Please also answer my question on your stance on concrete plans.

BrumBrum

Sara Porter:I oppose concrete plans yes I have a vision but its subject to change based on what nations tell me they want. I will not impose my will on the nations.

Kingdom of Reitzmag

"Currently, I and the other members of the Constitutional Committee are still working on the Omnibus Amendment. There have been various issues that we have encountered which caused progress to stall at certain times and take more time for the project to be done. But, I do guarantee that we will finish this Omnibus Amendment in the next term along with the Acquis Communautaire Review. One of the reasons I ran for Premier was to allow me to participate in the proposal of laws without limitations. The Internal Affairs Commission had a limit on the scope of its proposed bills, and a wanton amendment to the Constitution is something that isn't allowed in my view."

"It is also likely that we will introduce more members to the Committee if necessary or replace some of the current ones so we could finish the project at least within a month. Although despite this, we must understand that there are issues that arise unexpectedly which affects how we're doing in this initiative. What I could promise is to respond to these unexpected issues to minimize its negative effects and keep the progress in the Committee as much as we could, as soon as possible."

Vayinaod

That is all the time we have tonight for questions I now ask the candidates to submit their closing remarks. You have two minutes each for a single statement. (((OOC: Not to exceed 300 words.))

(((OOC: You have 24 hours to submit your statement, so 0600 GMT March 7th))))

After all candidates submit a closing statement, their campaigns will be provided a list of remaining questions for them to answer.

BrumBrum

Sara Porter:Tonight you have choices to make. Europe you can choose the candidate who will meet with your leaders , your parliaments and your institutions and work well together with the nationstate to collect all views and let that guide policy or you can vote for people who propose their will and would seek to put their will on your governments and nations without consulting you or defining the agenda. If you vote me you will be listened to and have a real effect on EU policy
with a new consensus built approach continuing the current consultations. We must pause listen to the nations and reform based on that and not rush to rash reforms without consulting the nations so vote Porter if you want your nations to be guiding the EU and not the other way round.

Istkalen

Europeans, let us choose the route of action. Let us stand to genuinely protect sovereignty in all its forms, political, cultural, and economic; to make the Union an active defender of the sovereignty of nations against those who would seek to take that sovereignty away. Let us stand also for an open Union, transparent, where the people may have a direct audience with those in power. Let us stand finally for a decentralized Union, to end political disconnection and bring the Union closer to the issues of the common person.

That is my simple message to all. It is for you, Europeans, to decide what to do with it.

Spain

My dear Europeans, tonight you’ve been able to listen to our proposals, to compare, to see what candidates aiming for the Premier Commissioner’s seat want for you and the Union. And you have seen how somebody who has done nothing promises a lot, and someone new promises what she knows she will be able to do, to make it come true. Action versus inaction, guarantees against uncertainty.

I’ll be there for every single person that requires my help, my assistance, the help of the European Union and its many organisations. I’ll be there for the Duxburians, for the Duchians, the Nofoagans or the Ruthenish, listening to their demands, and at the same time, I’ll be trying my best to achieve the best Europe it’s possible to achieve. If elected, I’ll reform the ECoJ, defund the ESA, give more money to the EDA, if the people of Europe ask me to raise the budget, I will do a new one and raise it; keep the current level of integration, review the Council composition or giving more importance to member states in our union. We need to hear your demands; we must take them into consideration and I’ll be the Commissioner you all aim for if you trust me.

Europe was made out of and it’s still about dreams. Many of the things I’ve done through my life were unreachable dreams for me, like having a King as a special friend, travelling around the EU or having my own business! My dream is leading this Union, making it better and leaving the job with the most perfect Europe I can achieve, I want to be your Premier Commissioner. I hope you give me your trust, because together, we will achieve the Union that we all wish for. Thank you and good night.