Commission Debate, July 2022

[BrumBrum]

Calvin Kühnert:I would like to thank Colin for setting up this debate for this important election. This is the most important election for Premier which I am humbly seeking because whoever wins tonight sets the budget for a year and determines where the money goes. I ask what you want out of the budget?

My plan is simple keep reforms to a minimum and only what nations want, that is why all my proposals are based off recommendations from the survey of nations that took place. I don’t seek grand reform in that area but that’s not the most important part the budget is.

I have promised to spend at least 85% of the budget and preferable 90% before any FIA allocation to ensure most of the money is spent. I have pledged 35-60 billion Euros to the EDA alone with extra support for nations who have either GDP’s below 20,000 Euros per capita or transitioning from carbon intensive economies based on industries like oil. Why?

Because this is where its needed. This is common sense, you give the most to those with the least as they need it more and you give more to those with the biggest changes to make because they need it more. Treating all equally is not giving all including the privileged the same funding, that keeps Europe unequal in opportunity and resources, ,we need to level up those with less.. He also talks ofeconomic sovereignty, but seeks to take control of agriculture, with nations currently funding those subsidies if they do subsidise, they set the terms, if the EU did they would set the terms. Let nations run agriculture and design their policies and subsidies. It’s time for serious policy detail and not pizazz and joking around.

[Leagio]

Good evening Colin and people of the European Union, thank you for having us here today.

For my time as a member of the National Congress and in the Commonwealth of Leagio, I have always ensured that there is a balance of powers between each sector of government. The European Union is an organization that I believe should also have its own source of balance of powers between the EU Commission and the EU Council. The EU Council has been time and time again passed legislation that gave it too much power when its Councillors hardly vote in high numbers. We need to solve that problem by balancing its powers with the EU Commission by giving it a limited power of veto against the EU Council.

We also have another issue of inter-regional connectivity that our current Commission has failed to fulfill by the powers given to it within the Constitution that all the governments have delegated it. The current Internal Affairs Commissioner has not met with a single government through their tenure and had sufficient time to do so. We need a new leader that is willing to provide the ability and willingness to communicate with all the members of this Union as a part of their duties. We need an Internal Affairs Commissioner that is focusing on the governments that are elected and represented by the people of this Union. Not one that focuses on their own interests. As a Senator, I have had decades of working with various elected representatives and interests, where I called to be able to apply that experience as Internal Affairs Commissioner; where we can allow the elected and representative governments of the European Union to have a voice at the table.

Thank you.

[Inimicus]

"Thank you, candidates, for your opening statements. We have a number of questions from people all across our region for our candidates to answer.

First off, Josefina from Pamplona, Spain, has a question to all Internal Affairs Commissioner candidates: Do you consider that the European Union should regulate each country's water domains?

Second, Robert Prose from Portus Inimici, Inimicus, asks all Premier Commissioner Candidates: What were the largest failures in the previous Commission's term, and what makes you think you can avoid those failures yourself?

Candidates have two minutes ((OOC: 300 words)) to answer these questions, and an additional 90 seconds ((OOC: 200 words)) for rebuttals to other candidates'a answers."

[BrumBrum]

Calvin Kühnert:The biggest failure I'd say is the failure to release a comprehensive report on the outcome of the review something I seek to remedy. We have records of what each member of the review said and the outcome of the surveys just not summarised. I will work to get going very quickly and make sure reform bills are put before the council quickly with input from other members if possible. I will just simply get on with the job quickly launching the bills within a couple of weeks at most , no waiting or needlessly delaying. The ideas were good , I will also look to introduce the budget on schedule though to be honest I think December would be a better time to release budgets in general but as present that is not the case.

I also think there was a failure to hold leaders meetings and updates to the green meetings so I would look at getting at least one meeting every 2 months at least if leaders desire that some on specific issues with my two priority ones being a general getting peoples concerns meeting and then one specifically on moving forward with green plans as well as developing green transport such as Eurorail, we should be looking at expanding Eurorail to every country connected by land to reduce the need for planes, I would seek to get the funding for this from national transport budgets of countries involved in the system not the EU budget, Nofoaga and Gaddaland and Aspern and Mennrimiak should not have to fund a system that can never benefit them directly due to them being primarily maritime or air nations in terms of links to the rest of the EU.

[Leagio]

I believe that is a matter of jurisdiction and interpretation of the Constitution, when it was drafted it was made to ensure the creation of a union of interconnectivity between nations. However, many commissions and Councilors have taken its text to mean that all nations are below the European Union, where they have no ability to maintain their own national boundaries in times of peace. So no, I do not consider that the European Union Union should regulate each country's water domains. To do so, will require a level of interconnectivity within the Union whether every nation agrees to give the Union that power via a treaty. The European Union exists as a body to ensure, as the preamble of the Constitution states "in order to forge more cohesive bonds between our peoples, to safeguard peace and improve diplomatic relations, to advance achievements of humanity, to promote democracy and good governance, to flourish in economic prosperity, to guarantee liberty and equality, forever united in diversity."

Giving the EU the power to regulate bodies of water does not safeguard peace and improve diplomatic relations in fact, we have already seen that it does the opposite recently. The debacle of the Navigation Act nearly risked tearing the Union apart by driving nations against each, where at one point I legitimately had letters in the Senate from my constituents in Loors explaining that they feared a world war was about to happen. We can without any doubt that an attempt to regulate water domains does not build cohesive bonds nor brings peace.

[Spain]

Thank you for your question, Mr. Prose.

I think the biggest failure of the European Commission this term has a name: Joe Biden. He promised much, but did nothing. He promised to review the Constitution, but we have no reports of that taking place, so he did with the Acquis, but that’s also unaccomplished. He wanted to have a category-based intervention, but there was no intervention at all from him. And I’m pretty sure he didn’t bolster our international presence either, so that is another non-delivered promise. He’s the failure, yet Mr. Kühnert considers him a model and wants to keep his proposals. Conclusion: if you vote for him, he will be another failed Premier, something the European Union can no longer afford having.

These mistakes can easily be avoided if you, the European people, vote for me. My recipe for succeeding and having our region to go back to its golden age is being committed, acting fast and delivering the promises I made. The ones watching us at home know that I follow this recipe exactly as described, and my term as Internal Affairs Commissioner just ratifies this. My agenda is a reformist one, focused on the people, on the changes our region needs in order to grow and leave this dark era we entered thanks to Mr. Biden behind, forever. I know what being a Premier means, what a Premier does; and more importantly: how nations within the EU should be treated. Mr. Kühnert does not only want to stop the IAC from doing Europe-wide summits, or handling the Eurorail; he also calls nations like Nofoaga or Gadalland & Aspern poor and thinks money will solve your problems, even some serious ones. He doesn’t only know what this job is about, he also lives in a different dimension.

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Mr. Kühnert, in your opening speech you made some concerning statements that I’d like you to correct, because this is not what Europe is supposed to be about. You once again insulted the Sertian and Nofoagan people, that are incredibly annoyed about your comments, calling them poor; you already know how much you’ll be able to allocate to the budget, even if we don’t have the final contributions amount, basically you have started to gamble with the Europeans’ money. But that’s not everything.

You’ve also dared to lie to the Europeans tonight, saying I want to take control of agriculture and that all I do is ‘pizazz and joking around’. As I already knew you would bring that up, first off, I want to say that I don’t intend to take over but help the primary sector workers with a new ais that they’d be able to receive if they meet some conditions. Secondly, about what you think I do during my campaign and my term. I’ve brought a diagram that represents how many things your idol, Mr. Biden, did, compared to what I did when I was a European Commissioner. Maybe the data will put you off from lying.

[BrumBrum]

Calvin Kühnert:Mr Juncker respectively I've never called them poor. I 've said things like lower GDP per capita , less well off because guess what they are. You can't argue with the numbers , the facts are if you have a GDP per capita of 1/12th of the United Duchies you will not be able to fund sustainable development in the same way. Nofoaga and Gaddaland and Aspern need more help as do DU and Vayinaod due to the nature of their economy. Denying this on some fantasy all economies and countries are equally able to adapt with the same level of help will help no one and on agricultural funding would you not set the conditions on that funding you give? If the answer is yes you are actively involving EU in deciding local agricultural policy in effect unless you give it to locally run agricultural boards which would be an approach I endorse.All you can do is lie about me and say I view those nations as less I don't but I also recognise they will need a little more help to get to a sustainable development economy and I also see that they are the most vulnerable to climate change having many big low lying areas more vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather. We do no good by denying these facts and going "lets give you exactly the same because I don't want to acknowledge you have a bigger challenge."

[Istkalen]

The European Union cannot legislate through regulations on waters, with the exception of common-sense restrictions - for example, prohibiting nations from sinking passenger ships without provocation. Apart from such obvious cases, there is a need for consensus on sensitive issues such as this - and legislation does not establish it by any means. However, there is a need for intervention of some type. Disputes over waters, as Mr. Cotilla has said, have led to the brink of war - and it is, as he has also said, the duty of this Union to uphold peace. I was unable to intervene previously because of how divisive the issue was - but with many of the past issues largely resolved, it is now at last an opportune time to create the lasting conditions for calm in Europe. I intend to hold conferences with the Mediterranean states to discuss the possibility of reducing naval presences on major trade routes, as well as a discussion between the Caspian states regarding military presence in their territorial waters, which appears to be creating a mild dispute between the UD and North Diessen.

In these waters lurks great danger, hidden but enormous nonetheless; rather than putting our heads into the sand, as Mr. Cotilla seems to wish to do, we must act for permanent peace - act without imposing, act to find a consensus, but act nonetheless.

[Leagio]

If Commissioner Kalessed wants to talk about heads in the sand then we can talk about her duty as stated in the constitution. Article 3 section 6 clause 4 states the following "The Office of Internal Affairs coordinates relations between the European Commission and individual Member States governments." When the crisis occurred over the Navigation Act, you worked to jab at the Spanish President, whose nation is a member of the community, and not try to coordinate strong relations between the Commission and the governments of the Union. When I was visiting Madrid, many people told me that felt insulted by your response and lost trust in the abilities of the Commission to work for them. The job of the Internal Affairs Commissioner is not simply focused on economics but is also maintain relations with its members; where you have failed to do throughout your whole tenure. I would be interested to know why you have been unable to foster relations between the EU Commission and the member states?

[Istkalen]

The Spanish government asked that I interfere in an ongoing legislative process by effectively starting a parallel one. I reacted accordingly and appropriately. It is my work to be accountable and impartial, and I will not undermine the workings of this Union just to satiate the desires of a lone government.

It is also absolutely incorrect that I have not fostered relations between the EU Commission and member-states. I have established a clear and efficient system of communication between my office and all member-states. When asked to by member-states, which has occurred exactly once, I responded promptly and efficiently. I have further sought further debate with the Council, the institution tasked with representing national govenrments; unlike multiple past Commissioners, I have not unilaterally announced major policy recommendations, but have instead genuinely engaged in dialogue with representatives of the member-states in order to govern.

[Spain]

Mr. Kühnert, you already admitted that you’ve lied to the Europeans about what I do when I become a Commissioner, but now you want to take the Europeans for fools. Even right now, in this very debate, you have implied what they are; and you also did through your campaign, by calling them ‘developing nations’. Why are you so obsessed with GDP per capita? Hear me out, raising nations’ GDP per capita doesn’t help the EU to solve the ECoJ activity problems, for example. You’re doing something nobody has ever done in this region, a bad thing: using money to divide us. I won’t allow that.

About your question on the agricultural fund, the proposal would go through the European Council, therefore I wouldn’t be the only one to set said requirements, but the European Governments. Nevertheless, believe me when I say they’ll be simple, easy to meet and affordable. We want to help farmers and fishers, we don’t want to control what they grow, catch or produce. And again, the only one lying tonight is you, who has tried unsuccessfully to deny that I’ve been one of the most productive Commissioners ever and the data has proved me right.

[BrumBrum]

Mr. Kühnert,:With respect "Developing" is not an insult but an acknowledgement of less resources primarilly due to nations like yours and nations that had empires having exploited nations like these resulting in them having less money to develop sustainably or protect themselves from climate change , so its not an insult its just what those nations are, developing despite the challenges put on them historically by the rich nations of Europe. It may not help solve those other problems but I have other solutions for solving activity problems by having a broader range of nations on the court for example and frankly it can only be active if cases are brought necessarilly, in theory you want less active courts as it means nations are behaving.

And on the agricultural fund it would be set at European levels which means they set the regulations and conditions for accessing the money. Unless you give block grants to national organisations controlled by the the local governments its the EU taking on extra power and telling nations how to run agriculture. That should be a power for solely the national legislatures who actually understand the local needs, I don't have a first clue about how banana agriculture in Nofoaga needs to be done for example.Would for example the regulations regulate how much wildlife space or what fertilisers they can use for example?

[Spain]

What’s the point of bringing the past to this debate, Mr. Kühnert? I’d like to remind you that you are not running for becoming an MP in the UD, but rather Europe’s top position, yet you seem to be ignorant and prove to have no knowledge about what a Premier does. You’re also lying again, seems that’s what your candidacy is based on, by saying I want a less active court. That’s false, I want to bolster the court’s activity, and the Europeans can be sure I’ll do that if they give me their trust.

On developing nations, that’s a synonym of ‘being poor’, even you just implied it here, tonight! You cannot avoid it, you come here and insult nations that doesn’t meet Duchian GDP per capita standards. You’ve lost any legitimacy as a European candidate, you aren’t one either. You are a Duchian candidate wanting to make Europe look like your country. You are also against helping farmers or fishers, you’re against the current integration and you prove so by having Premier Biden as your idol, you want the Union to mean nothing and you gamble with our citizens’ money without hesitation. Definitely, you aren’t a serious candidate.

[BrumBrum]

Mr. Kühnert,:I'm not lying and you are twisting words. I am saying an active court is not necessarily desirable as it means things are going wrong and nations are possibly not complying with EU law. Activity should not the metric used to judge the success of the court but instead time to resolve the cases they get and the efficiency in getting judgements quickly that are also comprehensive and solve the issue at stake.The best way to achieve this is to have more people to handle cases when needed , having 2 judges selected by each nation to a jury pool is the most efficient way to do that, and was suggested which is why I am supporting it.

I am not insulting nations that do not meet our standards of per capita but tell me how do you expect Nofoaga that has a GDP per capita of less than 1/6th of Spains and in Gaddaland and Aspern's case an even more stark difference to be able to afford to transition sustainably and protect themselves from climate change mainly caused by higher GDP per capita countries. You can't seriously say their is no difference in support needed , a 10,000,000 Euro solar farm is not even 0.001% of Spains GDP but is almost 50% of Nofoagas GDP. Clearly one is far less able to afford the required flood protections, climate change adaptations and infrastructure necessary to go carbon neutral without significantly more EU help per capita. You can be this PC candidate saying there is no differences between nations all you like but its not going to help Nofoagans and Gaddaland and Aspern citizens when their house is flooding because they could not afford flood protection to protect against storm surges just because you didn't want to provide the necessary funding because you didn't want to "insult" them. I am sure they will appreciate you treating them with exactly the same funding per capita when they are drowning to death from a sudden storm surge. Poverty and lack of resource issues don't go away just because you wish it didn't exist and these nations need additional help to actually stand a chance of adapting to a new climate and developing in a sustainable way without bankrupting themselves and taking on debt!

[Spain]

First off, you should respect the debate rules, as you’ve spoken for nearly 4 minutes. Secondly, you say an active court isn’t desirable because that means things are going wrong; but you forget about the 2 cases delayed currently. You cannot get more people to judge a case unless you reform the Constitution, and if your idol is Joe Biden… that isn’t happening if you’re elected.

Mr. Kühnert, do you care about what Sertians or Nofoagans say? They’ve felt insulted, and you keep going. Again, this is not the Duchian General Election, this is a European Commission Election but you’re behaving as a local candidate. I don’t represent Spain, I represent the European people. It’s not the Premier job to be obsessed with GDP, it’s the ECB’s; so once again you’re confused about what the Premier does. Neither I’m saying they don’t need to be helped, but they already have a way to ask for help: the EDA. They haven’t made any requests, so don’t speak on their behalf, you aren’t their messiah but rather someone they’re feeling insulted by. Summing up, you lie, disrespect, don’t know what the job’s about and you set your own rules. What a shame.

[BrumBrum]

I can only speak for local councils and authorities and those in government nationally here but one of the reasons requests aren't put in often is because of paperwork and the fact that each project requires a separate request. Its often just easier to go through a national scheme than the EU one sadly which makes the EDA useless , no point giving the funding a boost if its still just as admin heavy to apply. Also you keep using personal attacks , maybe you should actually give details on your policy and your exact plans and focus on policy. I do not want to make Europe like the Duchies there is only one Duchies and our policies work there , I want to give countries control of their fair allocation of funding and leave the funding to the most accountable people , the people elected by the nations in their nation.

Yes it is sad that the 2 cases are delayed , I believe Judge Sheindelin has criticised that and multiple times requested they speed up and I will be on to that as soon as elected. As for you complaining about time maybe you should stop attacking other candidates and making up lies that require them to rebutt you. People want premiers focused on policy not ones who only attack the opponent , so tell us Mr Juncker your actual policy and focus on policy , none of this vague "I will increase the budget" without telling us how much , an increase could be 1 Billion , 10 billion or 40 billion but if you don't tell us we don't know and we can't judge your policies fairly. Give specifics not vague statements and tell us what subsidies for agriculture will actually look like who will control them and allocate them out for example and by what rules and who sets the rules. You come up with a policy its up to you to give the details.

[Spain]

You’ve exceeded the time limit, again. Now you say European countries don’t ask for help because of paperwork, but the EDA has got 5 requests in 10 months, which is a nice indicator of two things: one, nations that didn’t need help didn’t ask for it and second, the EDA works. Clearly bureaucracy isn’t the issue here. And let’s say it clearly, you want this Union to become something useless, why not just propose to disband it then? Oh wait, you want a new salary.

By the way, it’s the first time I heard about Judge Sheindelin and his criticism, I haven’t seen it on the news either… May you show us your sources, please? If not, I won’t have any other choice but deeming it as another lie. On the budget, I don’t gamble with the Europeans’ money, and I will never. We don’t know yet what the final contributions amount is going to be, and therefore all I can say is the EDA budget will be over 35 billion. Then again, I want to remark that money will not make this region a better place, action will. And you’re clearly the candidate of the inaction party, like Biden.

[Inimicus]

"Thank you, Candidates. I believe I was very clear on the rules of this debate, which state rebuttals may not exceed 90 seconds ((OOC: 200 words)). Mr Kühnert, please adhere to this rule, and to all candidates, please keep this debate civil.

"We move on to the second round of questions. Our third question of the evening is from María Consuelo Carrillo, who has described herself as a fan of the former Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, to Calvin Kühnert -- however, I will expand the question to all candidates for both positions: should the European Union give member states the right to allow or ban gay marriage? What's your personal stance on gay marriage?

"Fourth, a question by none other than His Imperial Majesty Emperor Artabanos Himself, who asks to all candidates for both positions: What, if anything, do you think can be done about member states' nautical claims, given we have seen fairly inflammatory situations arising from nations' responses to these claims?

"Again, candidates have two minutes ((OOC: 300 words)) for answers per question, and 90 seconds ((OOC 200 words)) for rebuttals, before we move on to the next round of questioning."

[BrumBrum]

Calvin Kühnert:I believe there is zero reason to open up the constitution on gay marriage while if opened up the Duchies position is it is a social issue and up to the Duchies in our nation its not any priority now. What is is making sure any remaining social issues are left up to the nation-state not the EU. My personal stance regardless is love is love and it is as simple as that, who cares if it is two men , two women or a man and woman in a relationship or more than two partners as long as its consensual.

On nautical claims I'd prefer there was a standard that all can agree on but it might not happen and if I have to choose between keeping peace or having a consistent standard I will choose the former. However if a bill setting standards can be agreed on fantastic but I'd leave it to the councillors to do their work. Currently an agreement between Spain and ECON has been reached so perhaps it is best to leave things as they are at the moment though if further tensions spark over nautical claims from anywhere I think it is appropiate that a meeting of EU nations occurs to set a series of standards for nautical claims, the most important thing is peace reigns supreme if we can achieve that with an act in the council on nautical rights and territorial standards I would back that if that can be achieved by letting nations deal with it themselves I back that and if the EU needs to intervene then I would also back that but I wouldn't prioritise EU intervention on an issue such as this. In general EU should stay out of nations foreign policy unless necessary.

[Istkalen]

There are men devoted, body and soul, to other men; and women to other women. Who am I, who is anyone, to force them apart? Their bonds are noble; they should be respected and seen as being as important and as beautiful as all others.

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Issues on nautical claims must be solved by consensus. That does not mean that we should simply give up. Ignoring them, particularly in regards to the effects they have on civilians across Europe, is the surest path towards mass death and destruction. Tensions, as of now, are low enough that something of an agreement is possible without provoking violence - hope for lasting peace is the highest it has been for a long, long time. I thus intend to discuss, with the Mediterranean and then Caspian states, where tensions have erupted and seem likely to interrupt, the possibility of a reduction of military presence, especially around international trade routes, a respect for the transit of passenger ships in the open ocean, and then perhaps, if necessary, limtations on these claims.

Nothing will be imposed, nothing can be imposed, if we truly value peace - but all the same we must work for at least something, even the smallest thing, so that life is protected.