Council of Esquarium [IC, Closed]

[Ainin]

OOC Thread - Signup and Discuss Here

The Council of Esquarium is the executive organ of the Esquarian Community. Headquartered in Huimont's historical Legation Quarter, it proposes legislation and ensures the proper running of the organization. It is composed of over a dozen commissioners, one hailing from and appointed by each country in the EC. Legislation proposed by the Council is forwarded to the Esquarian Parliament if a majority of commissioners vote in favour, and must then be ratified by the Parliament to become supranational law.

Executive Council of the Esquarian Community

President of the Esquarian Community: Everàrd Torsièl
President of the Council of Esquarium: Rémi de Wampley

Members of the Esquarian Community, entitled to one vote in the Council of Esquarium

Refer to link

Nonvoting Observers of the Esquarian Community, entitled to speaking rights in the Council of Esquarium

Refer to link

Legislation considered by the Council of Esquarium

• Esquarian Community Defence Act (withdrawn)
• Esquarian Charter of Human Rights (passed 13-0)
• Climate Change Act (passed 7-1)
• Act to Integrate the Greenwich Area into the Common Market (passed 10-0, partially repealed)
• Association Agreement between the Esquarian Community and the People’s Republic of Namor (passed 10-0)
• Joint Resolution on Recent Atrocities in Borea (passed 8-0)
• Financial Exchange Mechanism Act (withdrawn)
• Esquarian Community Internal Account Act (passed 5-4, failed to become law)
• Motion to Censure Bohemia (passed 7-6)
• Terrorist Organizations and Individuals List Act (passed 7-0)
• Motion to Censure Pavonistade (passed 4-3)
• Comprehensive Common Market Act (passed 5-2, amended)
• Motion to Create the Terrorist Organizations and Individuals List (passed 7-0)
• Labour and Residency Act (passed 7-2)
• Joint Resolution to Ratify Treaties Concerning the Law of the Sea (passed 4-1)

PROCEDURE

• A bill needs 2 sponsors (the author is one of them) to be brought for debate.
• The presiding officer (chair) shall then set a period for debate. Debate may be ended at the expiry of the period or upon the passage of a motion to call the question.
• A voting period of 48 hours shall then occur. A simple majority is necessary.
• Council of Esquarium sessions are conducted in camera. Proceedings are confidential and a hansard is not published.
• Observers have the right to be present during debates, but must leave the chamber during a substantive division.

[Francilie]

Delegate Laurence Larget shows up and takes her seat.

[Crolacia]

Crolacian delegate sits down and looks patiently towards their colleagues.

[Geadland]

Karla Petersen, the delegate for Geadland, took her seat.

[Britanno 2]

Natasha Edwards, the Britannon commissioner, took her seat.

[Michillies]

Epifanio Arreola protests that his seat has been placed in alphabetical order according to the name “Michillies” instead of “United Republics”.

[Masseau]

Massean delegate Jaime Losa looks around and then takes his seat.

[Arkiasis]

Durward Goffe, the Arkiasian delegate takes his seat and organizes his papers.

[Vyvland]

Valeria vun fi Bruj, the Vyvlander delegate, sits down in the chamber.

[Ainin]

Esquarian Community Defence Act
An Act to establish a system of collective security within the Framework of the Esquarian Community.
Sponsor: Ainin
Cosponsor: United Republics

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The Assembled COUNCIL OF ESQUARIUM,

Realizing that the global security situation has significantly deteriorated over the past decade and that there are many threats, from both state and non-state actors, across Esquarium,

Affirming that the Esquarian Community, as a regroupement of Esquarian nations united in the pursuit of peace, development and regional security, must take action in order to protect its membership from potential aggression,

Cognizant that any such action must be unanimously agreed-upon in order to avoid divisive and potentially agressive acts by this convened association of free and developed nations,

1. Resolves to enact the following Act of the Council of Esquarium into law:
   
   
   1. The following clause shall be added to the Treaty of Esquarian Community:
      
      Member-states of the Esquarian Community have a fundamental, inalienable and unconditional responsibility to come to the military, material and diplomatic aid of a member-state that has been subject of a direct military attack without justification.
   2. The aforementioned section of the Treaty of Esquarian Community, when invoked, shall be taken as a binding obligation on all member nations of the Community to defend the attacked nation against any and all enemy threats wherever they may arise.
   3. The only body with the power to invoke the aforementioned section of the Treaty of Esquarian Community shall be the Council of Esquarium.
   4. The Council of Esquarium shall have the power to invoke the mutual defence clause by a unanimous vote in the affirmative by its membership that participates in the common defence framework.
   5. The Esquarian Community shall establish a supranational Secretariat for Military Affairs, responsible for coordinating military cooperation between member-states of the Esquarian Community and serving as a liaison between the armed forces of the Community.
   6. The Kingdom of Crolacia and its Overseas Territories are exempt from the provisions of this Act.
2. Intends to remain actively seized on this issue.

[Michillies]

Esquarian Community Defence Act
An Act to establish a system of collective security within the Framework of the Esquarian Community.
Sponsor: Ainin
Cosponsor:

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-snip-

The UR delegate rises to speak. “Given the scourges of imperialism that abound on the face of our planet, especially that of Nevan imperialism that exists right on the doorstep of two august members of this Community, the United Republics would like to sponsor this bill from the Aininian delegation.”

[Geilinor]

OOC: I thought Geilinor was a member. Yes, I'll be active this time.

[Francilie]

"I think it's maybe unnecessary to debate over this : this is the exact purpose of the Esquarian Community." L. Larget says.

[Crolacia]

''We cannot support this. Esquarian Community was built to be an economic union, not a military pact.''

[Michillies]

''We cannot support this. Esquarian Community was built to be an economic union, not a military pact.''

Arreola muttered “bastardo analfabeto” before rising to speak. “I would like to point out section 1F,” Arreola stated in his rather unconfident English, “which explicitly exempts Crolacia from the provisions of the proposal. I understand that some of our member states have the privilege of being surrounded by friendly nations, but others do not. In these uncertain times, we believe that any opportunity to deter foreign aggression against the free nations of Esquarium is worth taking, especially since this Community already cooperates on matters of security. ”

[Crolacia]

''We cannot support this. Esquarian Community was built to be an economic union, not a military pact.''

Arreola muttered “bastardo analfabeto” before rising to speak. “I would like to point out section 1F,” Arreola stated in his rather unconfident English, “which explicitly exempts Crolacia from the provisions of the proposal. I understand that some of our member states have the privilege of being surrounded by friendly nations, but others do not. In these uncertain times, we believe that any opportunity to deter foreign aggression against the free nations of Esquarium is worth taking, especially since this Community already cooperates on matters of security. ”

''Security should be dealt with on other platforms, through mutual cooperation and intelligence sharing, but not by having a military pact. As stated in the resolution, Crolacia will not be part of this pact. We encourage all not to bind themselves in more integration and more war. Esquarian Community needs to be a union of peaceful, prosperous nations and it was made to be just that. This brings us to the times of the Cold War.''

[Britanno 2]

"I have to agree with the Crolacian delegation in that the Esquarian Community should be an economic and political union, not a military one."

[Michillies]

Arreola muttered “bastardo analfabeto” before rising to speak. “I would like to point out section 1F,” Arreola stated in his rather unconfident English, “which explicitly exempts Crolacia from the provisions of the proposal. I understand that some of our member states have the privilege of being surrounded by friendly nations, but others do not. In these uncertain times, we believe that any opportunity to deter foreign aggression against the free nations of Esquarium is worth taking, especially since this Community already cooperates on matters of security. ”

''Security should be dealt with on other platforms, through mutual cooperation and intelligence sharing, but not by having a military pact. As stated in the resolution, Crolacia will not be part of this pact. We encourage all not to bind themselves in more integration and more war. Esquarian Community needs to be a union of peaceful, prosperous nations and it was made to be just that. This brings us to the times of the Cold War.''

“I presume you have never heard of the principle of deterrence. We would rather not go to war if it can be avoided, but cooperation should definitely be a big priority for us in unstable times. If Crolacia would like to do this in the context of a cooperation agreement between NOSDO and the SOE, which would cover almost all of the membership of the EC and would now be politically feasible given the expulsion of Nevanmaa from NOSDO, I am certain something can be agreed to, but we will not rule out any means of deterrence. We have reached an impasse here and will simply not agree. Let’s let that be the end of it and give other delegates here time to speak.”

[Britanno 2]

“I presume you have never heard of the principle of deterrence. We would rather not go to war if it can be avoided, but cooperation should definitely be a big priority for us in unstable times. If Crolacia would like to do this in the context of a cooperation agreement between NOSDO and the SOE, which would cover almost all of the membership of the EC and would now be politically feasible given the expulsion of Nevanmaa from NOSDO, I am certain something can be agreed to, but we will not rule out any means of deterrence. We have reached an impasse here and will simply not agree. Let’s let that be the end of it and give other delegates here time to speak.”

"With all due respect commissioner, if nations want military alliances then there are plenty of opportunities for them to ensure their national security, for example in the form of NOSDO. The Esquarian Community is a union that should be focused on economic ties, providing free trade opportunities and benefiting all member states. If, however, EC member states wish to develop closer military ties, then what about negotiating individual agreements or at the very least allowing an opt-out from the treaty, meaning the EC is what it should be in the eyes of individual nations."

[Masseau]

" I side with the Crolacian delegate on this issue. Although unrest and war will always be a problem, it is unnecessary to create another military pact to intimidate other nations and create even more tension."

[Michillies]

“Since it is becoming painfully obvious that this measure will either be defeated or rendered completely and utterly useless due to the number of nations demanding opt-outs, we withdraw our sponsorship.”

[Vyvland]

Vun fi Bruj stood up to speak. "With respect, Vyvland has only limited capacity to intervene in a war outside of the Northern Sea area and our other defence commitments with Ainin and Magane. A country like ours has to recognise that it can't stretch its resources without limits. This is not to say that we're opposed to the principle of mutual defence, but just that we're concerned as to how realistic aiming for global power projection would be for many Esquarian Community members."

[Arkiasis]

The Arkiasian delegate interjects "We disagree with this proposal. The EC is not a military organization nor should it be one. Our main goals should be mutual cooperation, trade and peaceful relations between our nations and towards the rest of the region. We need to be a force of good for the region and stand as an example to the region through peaceful cooperation. Creating yet another military pact will further create tension in the region. We need to be willing to work with the rest of region, not be against it."

[Michillies]

“You’ve all already killed it. Let’s move on to some other topic.”

[Ainin]

"Will the House come to order," asked House President Rémi de Wampley after slamming his gavel on the presiding officer's desk. He surveyed the councillors assembled in the room before speaking, in a soft, monotone voice.

"As the Act no longer has quorum, it shall be shelved until this situation is remedied. We will be moving onto the next question. The floor is now open. Does any councillor wish to take it?"