European Union

Inquista

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Regional update for the month of May, 2020

European Commission

Premier Commissioner Eilidh Whiteford (Icholasen)
Commissioner of Internal Affairs Jean Claude Juncker (Spain)
Commissioner of Foreign Affairs Antoni Reynels (Inquista)

European Council

Speaker Edward Firoux (Inquista)
Deputy Speaker Marion Rousselot (Gallorum)

European Court of Justice

Chief Justice Andreas Ekka (Fremet)
Justice Frans Svenson (Mennrimiak)
Justice Anne Gruwez (Malborya)
Justice Francois Mori (Gallorum)
Justice Luis López Guerra (Spain)

Commission Politics

Commission Elections
May saw the election of the twenty-fifth European Commission. Nicoleizian Korojaunu Eilidh Whiteford (European Progressive Alliance) was elected as Premier Commissioner with 18 votes. Whiteford’s opponent, Pravoslaviyan businessman Dragan Trympov (Independent), received 8 votes. Spanish Secretary of State, Jean Claude Juncker (European Progressive Alliance), was elected as Commissioner of Internal Affairs with 18 votes, defeating Reitzmag’s Edmund Jasper Winston (European Liberal Democrats), who received 5 votes, and Dragan Trympov (Independent), who received 3 votes. Inquista’s High Commissioner to Icholasen, Antoni Reynels (European Progressive Alliance), ran unopposed for Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, and was unanimously elected with 26 votes.

The European Commission Goes Digital
Commissioner of Internal Affairs, Jean Claude Juncker, has overseen the development of a mobile app which shall act as a communications pipeline between the European Commission and the broader European public.

Czech Mate
The Internal Affairs Commissioner met with representatives of Czech Slavia in order to normalize relations between the communist state and the rest of the European Union. The Commissioner outlined his plans for greater European cooperation, and invited the Democratic Republic of of Czech Slavia to play an active role in European partnership.

Don’t Tread On Me
Commissioner of Foreign Affairs, Antoni Reynels, has proposed the establishment of a Eurocorps to the European Council. Commissioner Reynels intends for this corps to protect the European Union and its allies from foreign invasion, as well as to liberate regions which have been invaded or occupied by other regions.

Council Politics

Banning Conversion Therapy
Councillor Kent Evergreen of Malborya has proposed an act to ban conversion therapy across the European Union and recognize the practice as a form of torture.

Eurocorps
Commissioner Antoni Reynel’s bill to establish a voluntarily military force to defend the European Union and its allies is currently being debated by the European Council.

Siredor Recognized as a Neutral State
A motion to recognize the Republic of Siredor as a neutral state was passed by the European Council. Under Article VI of the European Constitution, neutral states are afforded certain legal protections and are provided with a special status.

A New Eurogroup Has Been Formed
The Party of the European Left was formed on the 7th of May. The Eurogroup was formed by Councillors Václav Kohout (Czech Slavia), Martin Bourgaize (Eastern Haane), Molotov Claudio (Taltovia), who have since been joined by several other European councillors. The PEL is one of three European Council eurogroups, the others being the European Progressive Alliance and the European Liberal Democrats.

European Court of Justice

ECoJ Elections
A new European Court of Justice was elected alongside the new European Commission. Andreas Ekka (Fremet) was elected Chief Justice while Frans Svenson (Mennrimiak), Anne Gruwez (Malborya), Francois Mori (Gallorum) and Luis López Guerra (Spain) were all elected as Justices. Nicholas Barber (Sunkist) was narrowly defeated in his bid for a seat on the ECoJ.

News From Around Europe

Elections in Inquista Produce a Bright Future But a Not-so Bright Archbishop
Inquistans went to the polls on May 4th in order to elect a new College of Bishops (which is the legislature of the country). The Reformist Bloc won a majority with 136 seats, while 73 seats were won by non-affiliated candidates and 21 seats were won by the Progressivists. 9 days later, the College of Bishops elected Mikaela Kligenberg (Reformist) as the 3rd Archbishop of Inquista, who defeated Edward Firoux (Reformist) in a narrow 116-114 vote within the College of Bishops. Archbishop Mikaela Kligenberg is singer, socialite, television personality and daughter of former North Inquistan Archbishop and European Premier Commissioner, Alexander Kligenberg.

Gay Marriage and Other Social Reforms Enacted in Inquista
The first legislative session of the new College of Bishops in Inquista was entirely dedicated to passing several reforms concerning the rights and privileges of Inquista's sexual minorities. Most notably, gay marriage was legalized in the country. The College also banned the practice of conversion therapy, equalized adoption rights for same-sex couples, expanded hate speech laws to include gender expression, and made sex reassignment surgery unnecessary in order to make changes to sex markers on government forms.

An Evergreen Result in Malborya
Kent Evergreen has been elected as the Councillor of Malborya to the European Union, defeating Claudia Leon and Vald Linda in a close contest. Evergreen is an LGBTQ+ activist known for drafting much of Malborya’s recent LGBTQ rights laws, as well as for organizing numerous pride events in Lachte, which is one of Malborya’s most socially conservative regions. Councillor Evergreen has since submitted his bill to ban conversion therapy across Europe to the European Council.

But, But, But His Emails!
Andries van Hoebeek, the former Supreme Councillor of Eastern Haane, has been convicted with criminal charges after a trove of 44,000 emails were uncovered that detailed blackmail, bribery, corruption and plans to eliminate political opponents. Van Hoebeek was aided by Helga Becker, Eastern Haane’s Councillor to the European Union, who has also been indicted. Van Hoebeek and Becker have both been sentenced to fifteen years of paid but fixed labor.

Catalonia is Spain
Spanish President Jesús Aguilar met with Catalonian President Quim Torra in order to ease sovereigntist sentiments within Catalonia. President Aguilar and Catalonian President Torra affirmed their commitment to Spanish unity and announced that they would begin jointly working on measures to allow Catalonia to thrive within Spain.

Are They OK Over There in Mennrimiak?
Earlier in the month, Councillor Mariann Pettersen of Mennrimiak was founded dead after committing suicide. Adam Karlsson has since succeeded Ms. Pettersen as Councillor of Mennrimiak to the European Union. Later, Prime Minister Frederick Johanson resigned as Prime Minister of Mennrimiak and was succeeded by Prime Minister Sauli Niinistö.

Elections in Icholasen and Fremet
Elections are currently underway in Icholasen and Fremet. Within Icholasen, there are 3 factions currently vying for power: the TANKIES (Transitory Alliance for Nicoleizian Kinship, Internationalism and Economic Strength) led by Bernard Sanders, the ANL (Alliance for the Nicoleizian Left) led by Georgia Francis, and the AEL (Alliance écolo nicoleizienne) led by Carole Baskin. The three largest political parties vying for power in Fremet are Høyre (the Conservative Party) led by Nikki Oleman, the Liberaldemokraten (Liberal Democrats) led by Ursula von der Leyen, and the Sosialistpartiet (Socialist Party) led by Erna Solberg.

Let Burned Bridges Light the Way
Prime Minister Emryc Isla of Angleter is meeting with Prime Minister Simon Bridges of Reitzmag in order to discuss the normalization of relations between the two states. Following Reitzmag’s abduction of Nicoleizian Foreign Secretary Bernard Sanders, the country became an international pariah and was sanctioned by many countries within the European community, including Angleter. Prime Minister Isla hopes to ease retaliatory measures in order to bargain certain trading rights and privileges for Angleteric citizens and businesses within Reitzmag.

Make Europe Great Again!
The Make Europe Great Again Foundation has been founded to continue the movement created by Dragan Trympov in May's European Commission elections. The aim of MEGA is to drain the swamp in Europolis and to take the fight to the globalist elite. Several European parties and their leaders have joined MEGA, and they hope to eventually turn to the foundation into a Eurogroup within the European Council.

Instant Democracy, Just Add Water
During a recent European Council discussion, Speaker Edward Firoux removed Reitzmag’s Councillor to the European Union, Friedrich van Allen, for being an unelected member of the European Council, as he succeeded his predecessor without being democratically elected to his position, which violates the Elected and Accountable Council Act. Reitzmag has since organized a “rushed” election which would take place in 4 days, without any debates, and would be organized by Friedrich van Allen himself.

The Allied Defense Organization
A defence organization known as the Allied Defense Organization (ADO) has been formed between several European Union member states.

Sport and Culture

Formula 1
The fourth grand prix of the current Formula 1 season was completed in Gallorum. Gaulois driver Daniel Ricciardo finished first, followed by Spain’s Fernando Alonso and Malborya’s Okzi Laveretta finishing in third. Okzi Lavertta’s teammate, Dann Kliverden, unfortunately placed 16th after a disastrous crash left him unable to finish.

EuroVoice
The 38th EuroVoice competition has been announced in Neomantua, Angleter. The competition will be hosted by Nick Knowles, who previously came 4th in EuroVoice 35. Nearly a dozen countries have already submitted artists to compete and perform in EuroVoice, but the entry deadline remains open until the end of June 5th. These European competitors will, for the first time, be joined by artists representing allies of the European Union. Representatives from the great regions of Spiritus, Conch Kingdom and United Kingdom are currently expected to participate in the competition.

Europe’s Drag Race
Racers, start your engines! The first challenge of Europe’s Drag Race is currently underway, with contestants being tasked to create a political advert for the office of Premier Commissioner of the European Union. Is the European Union ready for its first Drag Premier Commissioner? May the best woman… win!

Eurocook
The Eurocook contest is currently being organized in Leagio. The contest will have teams, each compromised of cooks and chefs from each participating nation, compete in a series of culinary challenges. The competition will begin in June.

Eurocup
It has been announced that the 2020 UEFA Eurocup will be held in Spain. A dozen countries have qualified for the Eurocup and will be competing later this summer.

Royal AeroSpace Exhibit
The Royal AeroSpace Exhibit is currently being organized in Reitzmag. The Royal AeroSpace Exhibit bills itself as “the biggest air show in Europe”, and will be celebrating its 30th annual air show with special guests from across Europe in June. Several EU member states will be sending civilian and military aircraft to participate in the show.

This regional update has been issued by the Commissioner of Foreign Affairs.