Royal Union
The Royal Union De Koninklijke Unie Uni Royal | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms
| |
| Headquarters | Koninstad, Noordenstaat |
| Official languages | English, Dutch and Indonesian |
| Type | Confederal relationship |
| Member states |  Hindia Belanda Noordenstaat |
| Leaders | |
• Hoofd van de Unie | Anne Charlotte II |
• Secretary-General | Tony Poernama (Hindia Belandan) |
| Establishment | |
• Independence of Hindia Belanda | 12 August 1929 |
• Statute of the Royal Union | 20 August 1929 |
| Population | |
• 2017 estimate | 248,461,356 |
The Royal Union is a confederal relationship between Hindia Belanda and Noordenstaat, two sovereign countries which are in a personal union since the former's independence in 1929. The Royal Union has been described as an intergovernmental organisation, although its scope of power is largely limited to passing supranational laws that concern both countries, such as the law of succession to the two crowns and free movement legislation. Headquartered in Koninstad, the capital of Noordenstaat, the Royal Union is headed by the incumbent monarch and led by two representatives each representing either one country who take turn each year as its Secretary-General.
History
From 2 November 1928 to 11 August 1929, the Round Table Conference was held in Koninstad to negotiate the terms of independence. The conference concluded with Noordenstaat agreeing to transfer sovereignty over the Nusantara Archipelago to the Commonwealth of Hindia Belanda:
“The Kingdom of Noordenstaat unconditionally and irrevocably transfers complete sovereignty over the colony of Hindia Belanda to the Commonwealth of Hindia Belanda, and thus recognises the Commonwealth of Hindia Belanda as an independent and sovereign Nation.” — Transfer of Sovereignty Instrument
The transition of control from the colonial administration to a sovereign government of Hindia Belanda took place on 12 August 1929 in two separate but simultaneous ceremonies held in Koninstad and Jakarta. The following day, Hindia Belandan and Noordenstatian ministers convened in Koninstad to formalise a confederal relationship which serves to promote their common interests as well as communication between the two governments. The Statute of the Royal Union was signed on 20 August 1929.
Structure
The Royal Union is comprised of the Commonwealth of Hindia Belanda and the Kingdom of Noordenstaat.
Objectives
The Royal Union was established largely as a consultative body for Hindia Belandan and Noordenstaatian ministers of the Crown, with no powers save for the passage of certain supranational laws involving the law of succession to the two monarchies and free movement legislation, both of which concern Hindia Belanda and Noordenstaat.
The Royal Union mandates that a meeting between Hindia Belandan and Noordenstaatian ministers be held every six month at its headquarters in Koninstad, in order to discuss issues affecting the common interests of the two countries.
Union law
The highest form of law in Hindia Belanda and Noordenstaat, Union laws are supranational legislation whose territorial extent and application covers both countries. These laws are drafted jointly by Hindia Belandan and Noordenstaatian ministers in a conference of the Royal Union and enforced upon their ratification by both countries’ legislatures. The scope of Union laws is limited by the Statute of the Royal Union to legislating the law of succession and free movement of Hindia Belandans and Noordenstaatians between the two countries.