Hallanic Commonwealth
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 Flag | |
 Location of the Hallanic Commmonwealth, showing members and their territories (blue), and observers (light blue) | |
| Secretariat |  Rhinmond |
| Working languages | |
| Type | Intergovernmental organization |
| Membership |
1 Territory 1 Observer |
| Leaders | |
• Secretary-General |  Ailsa Kennetdoher |
• Deputy Secretary-General |  Einari Mækelæinen |
• Chair of the Hallanic Council |  Shila Torvald |
• Chair of the Pan-Hallanic Assembly | Vidar Kenichi |
| Establishment | |
• Commonwealth inaugurated | 20 June 1956 |
• Customs union established | 11 August 1972 |
• Single market established | 1 January 1996 |
| Population | |
• 2017 estimate | 43,752,817 |
| Currency | |
The Hallanic Commonwealth is the official body for formal co-operation among the Hallanic countries. Formed in 1956 as an intergovernmental forum, it has grown to include several political, economic, and cultural components.
Initially founded as a consultative inter-parliamentary body, proposals for further integration among the Hallanic countries began to be seriously considered. Soon after, the countries agreed to form a passport union, allowing citizens of member-states to travel and reside in the other Hallanic countries without travel identification or residence permits.
Despite opposition to political integration, the result of the failed Kingdom of Hallania, the Hallanic Commonwealth expanded to include a customs union in 1972. This was later further expanded upon to achieve a single market in 1996, allowing for the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people among member-states.
The budget of the Hallanic Commonwealth is funded by its four member states: Crethia, Svaldheim, Tuskval, and Velsken. Its secretariat and institutions are based out of Rhinmond, Tuskval. The Pan-Hallanic Assembly is composed of members of national parliaments and its decisions are advisory.
History
Hallania first emerged as a unified state following the formation of the Kingdom of Hallania in 1812. It was dissolved following the Hallanic Wars, resulting in the independence of the Hallanic nations. In the aftermath of Hallania's dissolution, tensions between the nations were high. The Svaldheim-Tuskish War of 1925 was the result of these lingering tensions. In the wake of the conflict, a shift in policy brought about a new sense of cooperation and the first inter-Hallanic organization, the Hallanic Council, was established in 1940. It was later replaced by the Hallanic Commonwealth in 1956, which included more organizations going beyond the initial scope of the council.
Structure
Council
Retaining the name of the original Hallanic Council, the Council is responsible for intergovernmental cooperation. Heads of government have the ultimate responsibility and attend quarterly summits to discuss cooperation and issues facing member-states and Hallania at large. The day-to-day responsibilities of the Council are delegated to a member of the Council’s Secretariat who is nominated by the head of government of each state. The autonomous territories - TBD - are also represented at the Council by their governor and a designated member of the Secretariat.
Pan-Hallanic Assembly
The Pan-Hallanic Assembly consists of thirty representatives from the parliaments of participating states. The delegations sent by national parliaments reflect the relative representation of the political parties in each legislature. It meets while the national legislatures are in recess. Each of the national delegations has its own secretariat in the national parliament. Each member state sends six representatives while the autonomous territories each send two representatives.
It is able to pass non-binding resolutions, all of which are advisory in nature. Power is still vested in the national parliaments. However, the principal goal of the Pan-Hallanic Assembly is to facilitate cooperation among legislators in each member-state in order to implement the resolutions passed.
Secretary-General
The Secretary-General is responsible for overseeing all functions of the Hallanic Council. This includes meetings of the Council and the agencies created by the agreements implemented by the Council. The Secretariat, which functions as the administrative arm of the Council is led by the Secretary-General. The current Secretary-General is Ailsa Kennetdoher, of Crethia.
Agreements
Hallanic Travel Agreement
The Hallania Travel Agreement, ratified in 1958, is a passport union that allows citizens of the Hallanic Council to travel and reside in another Hallanic country without any travel documentation (e.g. a passport or national identity card) or a residence permit. Identity documentation is not legally required to enter or reside in any participating state. However, some companies and government agencies may require proof of identity in order to qualify for certain services. This is true for services like banking, which requires identity documentation issued by a local government authority. Those who travel within the participating countries but come from outside of the Hallanic Council must provide identity documentation to enter, however it is not required to move between the countries if all participating governments maintain a visa-free travel agreement with a foreign state.
Customs Union
The Hallanic Council Customs Union is a customs union between the four full members of the organization. It allows for a free trade area among members. There is a common external tariff in place for all goods entering countries from outside of the union. It was one of the Hallanic Council’s first major achievements and marked the beginning of economic integration among the Hallanic states, the first major attempt since the dissolution of the Kingdom of Hallania. It was established in 1972.
Hallanic Cultural Union
The leading organization responsible for cultural collaboration among participating countries is the Hallanic Cultural Union. It works to facilitate cultural exchange and the preservation of Hallanic languages and dialects. The governing body for Standard Hallanic falls under the authority of the cultural union. It is recognized as an accredited non-governmental organization by the Assembly of Nations.
Hallanic Higher Education Exchange Program
The Hallanic Higher Education Exchange Program is an educational organization set up by the Hallanic Council allowing university students in participating countries to study abroad. It’s aim is for studies in another Hallanic or participating country to result in a cultural exchange and mutual understanding. Students do not pay extra tuition fees to the university that they visit and can apply for grants to cover additional living expenses while abroad. It has become a cultural phenomenon in Hallania, as for many students it is their first experience living abroad and as such is very popular among Hallanic students.
Hallanic Joint Aviation Agency
As the popularity of civilian air traffic increased, the Hallanic Council agreed to establish a single aviation authority among them. In 1961, the Hallanic Joint Aviation Agency. It maintains a joint aircraft register and oversees the approval and regulation of all civil aviation in participating states.
Single Market
Expanding on economic integration, the Hallanic Council agreed to create a single market among the full members in 1996. This resulted in the removal of most trade barriers and resulted in a common Hallanic policy for product regulation. Goods and services can travel freely between the Hallanic states and many multinational corporations have been established. The single market is currently a common market, with the intent to grow to become a unified market over time.
Members
Participating members
The Hallanic Council has 5 members; 4 sovereign states and 1 territory.
| Country name | Arms | Flag | Head of government | Parliament | Membership status | Represented since |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full membership | ||||||
| Crethia | 
|
|
Donal Menzies | Folketing | Sovereign state | 1956 |
| Svaldheim | 
|
|
Klara Malström | Högting | Sovereign state | 1956 |
| Tuskval | 
|
|
Vidaar Bruun | Alting | Sovereign state | 1956 |
| Velsken | 
|
|
Gudmund Anfinson | Ylætinki/Høgasting | Sovereign state | 1956 |
| Territories | ||||||
| Kyuko | 
|
|
Riku Takahama | General Court | Territory under Tuskval | 1956 |
Observers
| Country name | Arms | Flag | Observer since | Ambassador to the Council | HTA relation | HCU relation | HHEEP relation | HJAA relation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alriika | 
|
|
1960 | Heikko Taave | member | member | member | member |