Montecara–Euclean Community relations: Difference between revisions

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== Movement of goods and people ==
== Movement of goods and people ==
Montecara and the EC have been in a {{wp|customs union}} since 1 January 2001. Goods can move between the EC and Montecara tariff-free, though they are still subject to inspection for health and safety reasons. This includes both material goods and utilities such as drinking water and electricity. As part of their trade agreement, Montecara and the EC agree to respect one another's policies in regard to {{wp|protected designation of origin}} and traditional specialty foods. Laws regarding consumer protection, workers' rights, and the environment are generally in harmony, but conformity is not a legal requirement of any current bilateral agreement. The only major area of exception to trade liberalization is agriculture and fisheries, which remain subject to certain quotas and controls.  
Montecara has been in the [[Zilverzee Area]] since 1 January 1994. EC citizens are allowed to enter Montecara without a passport and vice versa; a national identity card that states citizenship (such as the [[Ùnivers card]] for Montecarans) is sufficient to prove nationality and the right to freedom of movement when required. The EC and Montecara have a common travel policy that allows citizens of either entity to spend up to 180 days in any 365-day period in the other visa-free for personal or business reasons. Visas are still required to work or study. The EC and Montecara also generally cooperate in judicial affairs, including {{wp|extradition}}, the enforcement of {{wp|arrest warrants}}, and general police matters.


The EC is Montecara's largest trading partner by a wide margin, and [[Florena]] is its largest individual state trading partner. Montecara relies almost entirely on the EC for its supplies of such staples as food and chemicals. The EC is the destination of the vast majority of Montecara's exports, especially precision tools, luxury goods, medical instruments, and pharmaceuticals.
The EC and Montecara have a bilateral trade agreement affording each other {{wp|most-favored nation}} status. The EC as a whole is Montecara's largest trading partner by a wide margin in terms of both imports and exports. Montecara relies heavily on the EC for its supplies of such staples as food and consumer goods, and sends the vast majority of its main exports of precision tools, luxury goods, medical instruments, and pharmaceuticals to the EC. As part of their trade agreement, Montecara and the EC agree to respect one another's policies in regard to {{wp|protected designation of origin}} and legally protected traditional specialty foods. Laws regarding consumer protection, workers' rights, and the environment are generally in harmony, but conformity is not a legal requirement of any current agreement. Agriculture and fisheries remain subject to certain {{wp|non-tariff barriers to trade}}, including quotas.
 
EC citizens are allowed to enter Montecara without a passport and vice versa; a national identity card that states citizenship is sufficient. The EC and Montecara have a mutual travel policy that allows citizens of either entity to spend up to 180 days in any 365-day period in the other visa-free for personal or business reasons. Visas are still required to work or study.
 
The EC and Montecara also generally cooperate in judicial matters, including {{wp|extradition}}, the enforcement of {{wp|arrest warrants}}, and general police activity.


== Defense ==
== Defense ==
Montecara is a member of the [[Euclean Common Defense Treaty Organization]] (ECDTO), which it joined at the organization's founding in 1948. It cooperates in ECDTO planning and exercises and allows member states' navies to make regular port calls at its harbor.
Montecara is a member of the [[Euclean Common Defense Treaty Organization]] (ECDTO), which it joined at the organization's founding in 1948. It cooperates in ECDTO planning and exercises and allows member states' navies to make regular calls at its [[Port of Montecara|port]].


== Proposed membership ==
== Proposed membership ==
{{Infobox referendum
{{Infobox referendum
| name              = Ratification of EC Membership Agreement, 1996
| name              = EC membership proposal, 1996
| title              = To ratify the agreement negotiated by the State of Montecara and the Euclean Community with the aim of securing membership in the Community
| title              = To submit an application for membership in the Euclean Community
| date              = {{Start date|1996|06|28}}
| date              = {{Start date|1996|06|28}}
| yes                = 260986
| yes                = 260986
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}}
}}


Montecara's last serious attempt to join the EC was made in 1996, when the [[Colegio]] and [[Senate (Montecara)|Senate]] both approved the necessary treaties of accession. When they came to a vote by the [[Popular Assembly]], however, they were defeated by a margin of over 60%.  
Montecara's last serious attempt to join the EC was made in 1996, when the [[College of State (Montecara)|College of State]] and [[Senate (Montecara)|Senate]] approved a proposal for Montecara to become an official EC candidate state. The [[Popular Assembly (Montecara)|Popular Assembly]], however, rejected the proposal by a margin of over 60%.  


In the lead-up to the Popular Assembly vote, major [[Trade unions in Montecara|trade unions]] came out strongly against the proposal, arguing that membership in the Community would undermine worker protections and allow an influx of cheap foreign labor into the country. Small entrepreneurs and craftsmen also feared increased competition from abroad, and renters reported concerns about increased housing costs and fewer available units in consequence of mass migration.  
In the lead-up to the Popular Assembly vote, major [[Trade unions in Montecara|trade unions]] came out strongly against the proposal, arguing that membership in the Community would undermine worker protections and allow an influx of cheap foreign labor into the country. Small entrepreneurs and craftsmen also feared increased competition from abroad, and renters reported concerns about increased housing costs and fewer available units in consequence of mass migration.  


The financial sector, on the other hand, was strongly pro-membership, and executives of several prominent banking institutions made public statements to the effect that Montecara would stand to gain far more than it would lose by having essentially unrestricted access to a vast capital market. Many political liberals also supported membership on the basis of heightened international cooperation and the progress of the pan-Euclean project. Students and young people also generally supported membership for several reasons, including the increased ability to live, work, and study abroad.
The financial sector, on the other hand, was strongly pro-membership, and executives of several prominent banking institutions made public statements to the effect that Montecara would stand to gain far more than it would lose by having essentially unrestricted access to a vast capital market. Many political liberals also supported membership on the basis of heightened international cooperation and the progress of the pan-Euclean project. Students and young people also generally supported membership for several reasons, including the increased ability to live, work, and study abroad.
 
=== Positions of EC member states on Montecaran membership ===
Montecaran membership in the EC was broadly supported by both members of the EC government and the populations of EC member states. Sitting EC President [[Smitty Werbenjagerman]] and members of his cabinet made several visits to Montecara to promote the vote. There were also private discussions in cabinet concerning contracting a marketing firm in Montecara to publish a series of advertisements promoting accession on [[VM]] railcars, but ultimately the scheme was considered too expensive with not enough potential impact on the vote.
 
However, a group of nations led by [[Solstiana|Solstianan]] President [[Ine Jensen]] was strongly opposed to the inclusion of Montecara on the basis of distrust of the government. Jensen believed that Montecaran membership would lead to the further intrusion of private banking interests at the same time that she was promoting policies in the EC which favored "diminishing partnership" financing. Privately Jensen referred to Montecaran accession as a "poison pill" which would lead to a decline in the ability of the market to regulate itself in consequence of predicted obstructionism by Montecara.


== See also ==
== See also ==
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{{Template:Montecara topics}}
{{Template:Montecara topics}}


[[Category:Montecara]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Montecara]]
[[Category:Euclean Community]]
[[Category:Euclean Community]]
[[Category:International relations]]
[[Category:International relations]]

Latest revision as of 04:49, 24 August 2023

Montecara–Euclean Community relations
Map indicating locations of Euclean Community and Montecara

Euclean Community

Montecara

Montecara is not a member of the Euclean Community, but it does have extensive relations with both the Community and its member states.

Movement of goods and people

Montecara has been in the Zilverzee Area since 1 January 1994. EC citizens are allowed to enter Montecara without a passport and vice versa; a national identity card that states citizenship (such as the Ùnivers card for Montecarans) is sufficient to prove nationality and the right to freedom of movement when required. The EC and Montecara have a common travel policy that allows citizens of either entity to spend up to 180 days in any 365-day period in the other visa-free for personal or business reasons. Visas are still required to work or study. The EC and Montecara also generally cooperate in judicial affairs, including extradition, the enforcement of arrest warrants, and general police matters.

The EC and Montecara have a bilateral trade agreement affording each other most-favored nation status. The EC as a whole is Montecara's largest trading partner by a wide margin in terms of both imports and exports. Montecara relies heavily on the EC for its supplies of such staples as food and consumer goods, and sends the vast majority of its main exports of precision tools, luxury goods, medical instruments, and pharmaceuticals to the EC. As part of their trade agreement, Montecara and the EC agree to respect one another's policies in regard to protected designation of origin and legally protected traditional specialty foods. Laws regarding consumer protection, workers' rights, and the environment are generally in harmony, but conformity is not a legal requirement of any current agreement. Agriculture and fisheries remain subject to certain non-tariff barriers to trade, including quotas.

Defense

Montecara is a member of the Euclean Common Defense Treaty Organization (ECDTO), which it joined at the organization's founding in 1948. It cooperates in ECDTO planning and exercises and allows member states' navies to make regular calls at its port.

Proposed membership

EC membership proposal, 1996
To submit an application for membership in the Euclean Community
DateJune 28, 1996 (1996-06-28)
Results
Votes %
Yes 260,986 39.88%
No 393,386 60.12%
Valid votes 654,372 98.79%
Invalid or blank votes 8,028 1.21%
Total votes 662,400 100.00%
Eligible to vote/turnout 753,910 87.86%

Montecara's last serious attempt to join the EC was made in 1996, when the College of State and Senate approved a proposal for Montecara to become an official EC candidate state. The Popular Assembly, however, rejected the proposal by a margin of over 60%.

In the lead-up to the Popular Assembly vote, major trade unions came out strongly against the proposal, arguing that membership in the Community would undermine worker protections and allow an influx of cheap foreign labor into the country. Small entrepreneurs and craftsmen also feared increased competition from abroad, and renters reported concerns about increased housing costs and fewer available units in consequence of mass migration.

The financial sector, on the other hand, was strongly pro-membership, and executives of several prominent banking institutions made public statements to the effect that Montecara would stand to gain far more than it would lose by having essentially unrestricted access to a vast capital market. Many political liberals also supported membership on the basis of heightened international cooperation and the progress of the pan-Euclean project. Students and young people also generally supported membership for several reasons, including the increased ability to live, work, and study abroad.

Positions of EC member states on Montecaran membership

Montecaran membership in the EC was broadly supported by both members of the EC government and the populations of EC member states. Sitting EC President Smitty Werbenjagerman and members of his cabinet made several visits to Montecara to promote the vote. There were also private discussions in cabinet concerning contracting a marketing firm in Montecara to publish a series of advertisements promoting accession on VM railcars, but ultimately the scheme was considered too expensive with not enough potential impact on the vote.

However, a group of nations led by Solstianan President Ine Jensen was strongly opposed to the inclusion of Montecara on the basis of distrust of the government. Jensen believed that Montecaran membership would lead to the further intrusion of private banking interests at the same time that she was promoting policies in the EC which favored "diminishing partnership" financing. Privately Jensen referred to Montecaran accession as a "poison pill" which would lead to a decline in the ability of the market to regulate itself in consequence of predicted obstructionism by Montecara.

See also