Ricarda Schmitz- Lets Get EU moving again

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Ricarda Schmitz- Lets Get EU moving again

Hello my name is Ricarda Schmitz , a proud Duchian but more importantly for this election a European. I believe in the power of Europe and the EU , I believe in the power of working together to solve big picture issues and believe in an EU that works for the working class and middle class of Europe as well as for businesses and government agencies. However that is not what we have . What do we have a comission that has barely communicated in months , just sitting on its ass doing nothing for the people of Europe, a backlog of EDA applications from not this term but the previous term that have not been voted on, let me just restate that not this term but the last term. Still 2 out of three commissioners have not voted on EDA applications. We need reform and we need it now we need funding decisions to be made by those who know the nations with oversight from the central EU , by national committees for both EDA funding and for EAF funding to ensure money goes to projects based on good solid local knowledge of local conditions in line with central aims and policies of the EU , and most important we need transparency , we need the criteria to be public.

My platform is simple:

1. Reform the EDA with national committees and sub-comittees on EDA funding and EAF funding to ensure timely, quick and relevent decisions with a knowledge of local context. These panels would be half EU appointed to ensure no corruption and there would need to be reports on use of funding and where ever Euro cents has gone. This is your money and we need oversight but we also need to hire the amount of staff needed and most importantly staff with the right experience and in the right locations. We need smaller projects to be approved in country so there is less travel needed for applications and smaller projects can justify applications, we cannot centralise all functions in Europolis and in three people , that is insanity and will only lead to stagnation and the 47.1 billion euros of EDA funding sitting in an account in Europolis doing nothing for the European people. We need an easier application process and a transparent , fair communication explaining the whys of decisions so applications can be put in again if rejected modified to suit concerns. The EU needs to be in touch.

2. We need an active commission in communication with its memberstates not what we've had both times so far where they come for the election then you never hear or have a conversation with them. If politicians in Duchies acted like this current commission they'd be out within weeks, , why because we have standards in our politics and one is talking and being in touch with the people. If you can't commit to or do the job don't run its that simple. This job is a privilege not a right, the commissioners are there to serve the people not be a line on your C.V to look impressive. I will be active unlike Juncker and Wirt Harland.

3. We need to discuss with nations their concerns properly, we need a comission in touch with national governments and an open office policy. We need a commission that is reachable I will do that. Its the least respect you can give member states to have dialogue but our commission hasn't even achieved this baseline of basic requirements.

4. We need to look at reform of the courts possibly to a more pool of judges style system where nations send 2 judges each if they wish to so diversity of judges can be increased and importantly if a judge can't judge on a topic for whatever reason due to interests there is someone that can replace them. We should also potentially look at the balance between voting power of big nations and small nations and implementation of a double majority system that will protect both small nations and big nations alike. Big nations are big donors and important so need a voice that is proportional in some way but this must not come at the expense of small nations and allow big nations to just push through legislation against small nations wishes. I will look for a solution to this problem using some sort of double majority system. I will consult with smaller nations like Mishar , Czechslavia and Istkeln and bigger nations like Duxburian Union and Inquista. I will seek a solution to suit all nations.

5. Most of all I will reform the EU to get it working and functioning. We cannot go on like this forever where the EU pretends everythings okay and rewards failure on lack of communication. If you want to break the cycle and vote for a positive EU that unleashes its power on Europe in partnership with memberstates vote me.

6. Trigger a recall vote on comissioners if they go over any deadlines for actions such as voting on EDA proposals. Any comissioner who has not voted within 1 week more or done thier job within 1 week than a deadline set in law shall automatically face a recall vote. There must be punishment for inactivity. If you cannot do the job don't run its that simple.

7. I will bring to the table my ability to balance different parties interests and issues you don't get far in the Duchies politics like I have if you don't do this. So I have proven my ability to do this just by getting through the system in Duchies.

8. Develop either a European Union Prosecutorial Office or give the European Court of Justice the powers to prosecute nations for breach of EU law. For too long the EU law has been toothless allowing nations to just break EU law, the Istkalen situation only highlights this issue.

I will be doing rallies on this schedule

1. Mishar
2. DU
3. Czech Slavia
   4.Brickston
   5.West-Friezen
   6.Fremet
   7.Ineland
   8.Inquista
4. Hellas
5. Spain
6. California
7. United Duchies
8. North Diessan
9. Inimicus
   15.Yosai
10. Leagio
11. Reitzmag
12. Selvaris
13. Istkalen

If you want to get in contact with me send this form and I will aim to get in contact back as soon as possible

Name:
Nation:
Issue:
What you would like if anything:

My office door is open , so I will try my best to answer while touring.

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On Commissioner Recall proposals
We must make a way for commissioners to have to do their job or be removed. This is why I am proposing an amendment to the constitution to introduce a automatic commissioner recall process. The mechanism would protect against lazy comissioners by removing them from office triggering another election if one of the two following conditions are met
1:The commissioner misses a deadline on votes or deadlines they need to meet by more than 1 week unless over a key holiday like Christmas or Easter
2. The commisioner doesn't answer a query from a member state or citizen of the EU within 1 week unless over a key holiday like Christmas or Easter

On the first breach a warning will be given , if it lasts 2 weeks or is a repeat breach a final warning will be given. If there is a repeat third breach then removal of the commissioner will take effect with immediate effect and an election be triggered. Being a comissioner is a duty to the people not a job to put on your C.V while putting zero or minimal effort in. The EU cannot afford inactive comissioners.

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Statement on Istkalen
I am highly concerned by the breach of EU law on human rights by Istkalen however this is far from the only case of it happening , I would also like to point to Inimicus and North Diessan among others who breach EU law on human rights daily.This is happening because nations know the EU is a toothless organisation that even if it passes laws cannot enforce them. This must change , I propose a prosecutorial agency or prosecutorial power for the courts with penalties if nations are sucessfully prosecuted. The penalties should start with being banned from accessing EU services and funds with an escalation from there to automatic EU wide sanctions if needed to bring the country to heel and back in line with EU law. This would show countries they cannot just breach EU law because they don't like the EU law or having to adhere to "pesky human rights" but instead that there is a serious penalty for being a rogue government breaching EU law. The people of the EU deserve the protection of EU law, all EU citizens not just those in developed democratic and stable government structures.The goal shall be to first bring into compliance through warning for minor violations however if they continue then penalties would apply. If the violation is so great that it shows a blatant and obvious disregard for the AQ then punishment should be immediate.

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Statement on failure of EDA Reform
I regret that EDA reform in its current form was voted against. However the current state of affairs where 0 Euros has been distributed out of 47.1 Billion Euros 6 months into the budget period is still highly intolerable. I will make it my priority if elected to talk to all nations on EDA reform to come up with a solution that works for all , keeps accountability but gets money from the EDA actually spent on the people of Europe to improve their lives and development of nations as the funds are intended for. I believe some sort ofdevelopment comittees full of experts in specific fields or countries needs in some form is needed however I am open to suggestions on how this should be structured. However I continue to believe reform is needed when 0 Euros out of a 47.1 Billion Euro's have been spent. That is not in the interests of Europeans or an acceptable state of affairs.

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Istkalen sanctions statement
I am always nervous to propose sanctions against EU member states. The truth is sanctions should be a last resort after everything has failed to stop a undesirable course of action. However I do believe we now have a massive problem with Istkalen. I support the idea of limited sanctions targeting the National Salvation Council but not general sanctions as of now that would only hurt people and innocent politicians having to operate in a system in which opposition and standing up for human rights means prosecution and consequences that could be grave indeed. I will back and moves for sanctions on the National Salvation Council and those who are responsible for multiple human rights abuses as well as arrests of political opponents or those protesting for human rights. This egregious breach of EU law should be dealt with. I will also on entry to office if elected make one of the priorities other than adminstration reform the implementation of a prosecutorial agency with more automatic sanctions for breaches of EU law. The EU must not have a situation where sanctions can be stopped by a small bloc of human rights abusers protecting each others backs.There needs to be known substantial penalties for breaching EU law.

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Proposal for EDA Reform
I will propose the following proposal for EDA reform. The proposal will split the fund into two funds the General Grant and Loan Fund for applications under 2,000,000,000 Euros accessible to third sector and government agencies which will be administrated by a board appointed by the the EU for various areas of development with boards specialised in Transport, Energy and Utilities , Retail and Industrial Development and Technology with a General Board for everything else. These should consist of 3 members from each country that will then give advice to the boards based on national knowledge they have. this fund shall report to the EU to ensure accountability. Any bids over 2 Billion Euros shall come out of a separate fund called the Supergrant Fund this will operate with the Commissioner approval system and European Council votes as back up as is the current system with the key difference that if a commissioner fails to vote on proposals withing 7 days of the deadlines multiple times they will be removed from office. The General Grant Fund shall have a minimum of 65% allocated to it and shall have application offices in all countries to make making applications easier. The Super Grant Fund shall get the remaining fund allocations. This is a good compromise between keeping the the commissioner system exclusively and going fully to national boards for EDA development which was voted against in the council