What's new

Congress of Katajanokka

Jydsken-Østveg

Established Nation
Joined
Oct 30, 2006
Messages
6,379
Location
Stavanger
Capital
Trollshjem
Nick
Coro (Skepps)
Three nations gathered in a small city hall conference room in the outskirts of Göötehamina. There sat a delegation for Osvålsen and Nedernesië. Osvålsen was a welcome sight for Pohjanmaans. They represented a nation which had often peacefully worked with Pohjanmaa for a great period of time. Especially since the end of the of civil war. They represented a cool, calm, collected people and a nation of which Pohjanmaans wanted to expand ties with. Seated at another end of the table was the Nedernesians. They were seen as multicultural, open, liberal explorers. In a past era they’d have been seen as rivals, but today they were seen as partners in an every opening economic world.

Together all three hoped to sign onto a document that would formalize what was hoped to be the Congress of Katajanokka. A trade union with the hope of ever reducing tariffs and trade barriers while also formalizing defense responsibilities and coordination in the region.

The name for this group was a sticking point between diplomats. Originally conceived as the Scanian Union this term seemed off-putting to nations that once fell under the flag of the Great Northern Empire. Undeterred, Pohjanmaan diplomats continue to press for the idea and eventually fell upon drawing up a Congress or Treaty at the small town they all occupied for the next weeks and foreseeable future. Originally they were going to host the group in Göötehamina but diplomats suddenly felt the judgment of their neighbors also not wanting to unite yet again around the Pohjanmaan imperial capital. So the conference was quickly moved just outside of the capital and now the sleepy, yet peaceful town of Katajanokka would have its day in the sun.

Leading the talks was Jari Kappo, a slender man in his 50s. “I welcome you all here to today. I believe that together we can create a bright future for the Scanian region. Something in contrast to many other regions, but also in the same belief of the many other trade groups that have continued to appear. I want to make clear that I believe first and foremost that this is a trading bloc. Trade does not exist in isolation though. The Gothic Sea, Engellsea, Tavastian Sea, and Thaumantic Oceans are all of our concerns. To ensure free trade we must also ensure universal security. So we must collaborate on this issue. I have with me a draft Charter that I will release to you shortly. First I would like to meet you all, and also hear of any concerns or suggestions you have. Once you have voiced anything on your mind I can put out the Charter with those suggestions in addendum. So I greet you all warmly. I am Jari. I am not young anymore, but I hope to not be near death either. President Lepomäki appointed me here to today because I have known her since University. I think and hope University cooperation is on our minds today too. In any case, I like ice hockey and golf. When I am home I find myself reading books and watching ice hockey and golf. I prefer beer over most things. I am a simple man that likes what he knows and gets what he likes.“ He laughed and paused waiting for the silent to stir forward a volunteer from another participant.

@Nedernesië @Zhola
 

Vrijpoort

Establishing Nation
Joined
Jul 27, 2018
Messages
583
Location
Berlin, Germany
Capital
Vrijpoort
Nick
Drei
Chief Negotiator for Overseas Relations and Cooperation Nedernesia, Yevgeny Ivanov, was a man of experience. His fifty some-odd years had given his hair a grey patina, his face delicate wrinkles and his voice a raspy effect. Katajanokka was a nice change from the large cities where most of the events he partook in were hosted. He just hoped that the group they were hoping to found today wouldn't actually be hosted in this tiny place. Naming the treaty after it would be fine, however.

Yevgeny cleared his throat, 'Mr Kappo, thank you for hosting us and for organising the beginnings of what I hope will be a fruitful endeavour for our countries and peoples. Nedernesia is a trading country. It has been since the harbour of Batavia island sheltered lost Saalsen merchants during wintry storms, which later grew into a mighty trading melting pot. We proudly pose zero tariffs on any product from any country. We understand that some countries feel the need to maintain some tariffs, even though we would be happy to argue against the economics of this. Nevertheless, we hope that this organisation can strive to reduce and eventually eliminate tariffs on all goods and services among members. The boost this would bring to our economies would be immeasurable. We would also like to see standardised health and safety requirements and documentation across all member states to further reduce bureaucratic costs.'

'We also want to ensure that citizens and permanent residents of member states will be able to travel across borders more quickly than citizens and residents of non-member states. Border checks are naturally an important part of state sovereignty and I am sure we here can agree to common immigration checkpoint standards. More aspirationally, we also wish to propose an open labour market whereby citizens and permanent residents of member states would have unfettered access to the labour markets of each member state. For example, a Nedernesian citizen or PR would be able to take up work in Osvålsen without the need for a work permit and would also not require permission to reside there. This type of arrangement would reduce costs for companies seeking talent and make an easier world for job seekers in the group.'

'Naturally this sort of open labour market would require agreements on how our healthcare and welfare systems operate. Pohjanmaan working in Nedernesia is required to enroll in a public or private healthcare scheme and pay into it monthly. He only needs to pay into our pension scheme upon becoming a permanent resident, however. Perhaps this is different in Pohjanmaa. Perhaps a foreigner working there is required to pay into a pension scheme immediately, not firstly upon becoming a PR or the equivalent. In any case, we would need to formalise a system so that our citizens, as they live and work across borders, are able to draw on a pension regardless of where they end up retiring and also ensure that they receive quality healthcare irrespective of which land they find themselves in during a time of sickness. Nedernesia has a unique pension, healthcare and housing savings scheme for citizens and PRs and we of course do not expect Osvålsen and Pohjanmaa to adopt our version of how to do things, but we do expect a system to be put into place to ensure fairness for people who will live and work in different member states.'

Yevgeny sipped his tea that an aide had poured for him. It was a Nedtea brand, he could see from packaging on the table. This made him smile.

'Two other issues that come to mind: the name and location of this organisation. Seeing as the treaty will be signed here, we take no issue with the treaty or congress being named after the town where it is signed. We do want to see a different name for the organisation, however. We also would like the organisation to be in a city with good transport links and centrally located within the region. We would propose the capital of Osvålsen for the head office of the orgnisation. We want certain offices to be distributed across member states, however. For example, any offices focussing on the budget, economic and trade and law would probably be best situated in Vrijpoort. Meanwhile any offices on defence and security issues would be best situated in Göötehamina.'

'As for a name for the organisation itself, we would like to see "Scania" somewhere in there, but I agree that "Union" should be left out. Perhaps "Scanian Cooperative"?'
 
Top