Marsilia Economic Forum

[Imimoya]

[div] style="width: 140px; padding: 2px; float:right" |

You must be registered for see images

[/div] City of Marseille,
Special Statute Regions of the Grand Duchy of Lars.

On the ashes of war, some men decided to build a new idea. A forum open to entrepreneurs, economists and, above all, politicians, in the hope of creating a space where all could discuss the problems that afflict the world and offer solutions. This at least is the idea that the organizers of the MEF had when they created this nonprofit organization. Eight different nations, for ideology, economy and government systems have responded to the invitation of the MEF.

The choice of Marseilles is no coincidence. The city is the perfect representation of what war can do. What was once a pearl in the Long Sea today is a mess of rubble. The city, although numerous reconstruction sites have been started up, appears in different areas that cannot be accessed due to debris or still numerous unexploded blows. Once the initial humanitarian crisis has been resolved due to lack of medicines, drinking water and food, the remaining funds are now dedicated to the reconstruction of Marsilia, in the hope of bringing it back to the glory of the past. Over 1/5 of the population left the city following the war, more than a million citizens.

The forum would take place in a hotel and Convention Center, not far from the airport, both rebuilt with funds from the Grand Duchy. The airport is also operational with only one runway on the three pre-war routes. Lodgings for journalists were prepared near the city, allowing them to quickly reach the hotel and airport without too much trouble. Internet connections in the area have also been strengthened in order to guarantee total media coverage of the event.

Upon arrival at Marseille airport, guests will be accompanied to the hotel, where they will be staying. During the three days of the conference, they will be free to interact with each other and discuss the problems that afflict our world in the hope of reaching solutions. To welcome all the guests, in addition to the representatives in the non-profit organization, he also wanted to be the new Governor of Marsilia, Cavour. He also announced at the last minute his direct participation in the event.
At the Palais des Congrès de Marsilia, where the guests meet their colleagues the last two days, reconstructed respecting the monumental architecture of the 20s of the last century, political exponents and economists will intervene exposing the current situation of the economy, conflicts and the world political situation.

To ensure the safety of the event, the Governorate of Marsilia ordered the deployment of a further thousand police officers and special teams to cover the whole event.

They are present at the event:

-Bruce Steinvasser, Economic Officer for the Thaumantic Alignment Committee
-Delegation from Commonwealth of Clarenthia
-Prof. Dr. Lorenz Röpke from the Universität der Stadt Trier and Chancellor Dr. Stephan Röpke
-Delegation from Empire of Pelasgia
-Delegation from Confederated Republic of Beautancus
-Delegation from Commonwealth of Nedernesia
-Delegation from Anti-State
-Ministro dell'Economia e Finanza, Folco Cuneo, Lars.
-Governor of Marsilia, Francesco Cavour
​

​

Spoiler: OOC

The event will take place over a three-day period as anticipated earlier.
The first day will cover the arrival and mostly will take place in the morning between the airport and the afternoon in the Hotel and the respective reception hall. Second and Third Day will take place in the congress building. All the characters are free to interact with each other in the bilateral agreements or simply to see the current situation in the world.

 

[Imimoya]

Hotel Speranza, Marsilia.

Opening speech by Francesco Cavour,
Governor of Marsilia.

"My dear colleagues, kind guests,
The city of Marsilia is pleased to host this extraordinary event that has the historian of which we are all authors in our own way.

There are several international challenges ahead of us, the slowing economy, unsafe sea trade, the war in the heart of Europe, political instability that is destroying entire nations from within. Although we strive to build an strong image of our nations in the eyes of others, we are aware of the complex system of trade and economy that inevitably links us to the rest of the world. Today, we are able, with the eyes of the world focused on this event, to start a new project, which, in hope, can start something wonderful in the near future that can help all nations.

I will focus mainly on economic and social aspects within my city, but I find that it will be of interest to everyone who is for one reason or another to struggle with similar problems. The global opening of the markets, the free movement of capital and the technological revolution have produced great results as promised, but these benefits have been swept away by a war as brutal as it is short. A feeling of despair has spread; even the new middle class, which felt emancipated from basic economic needs, now fears living in poverty. All, with few exceptions, tend to believe that tomorrow will be worse than today.

The economic aid is the most beautiful thing that this city has ever seen since the end of the war. The economic aid is the most beautiful thing that this city has ever seen since the end of the war. But this help is a bandage for a patient in how, that need for larger aid and able to restart the entire economy.

My task and my priority, as Governor, is to revive Marsilia, through the economy as an instrument to distribute welfare and social justice to the whole population. Because only with an economy that relieves the population from misery, distributing wealth as equally as possible, fighting economic inequality at the origin, are we able to create a fair nation, even for those who are defined as the last. I believe that a nations is judged according to the way it treats the last, how it treats its elders, how its citizens are rehabilitated after a fair trial. When equity is perceived by a large number of people, and trust prevails over opportunistic behavior, people tend to look to the future with greater hope, building that of their children in the best way.

We want to go very far, I can't say how long it will take. We have taken the first steps in the new parliament to unlock our economy and promote the development of Marsilia. What I do know is that certainly our battle for a better society would be easier if we were not alone along this path.

Thanks for your attention."

 

[Beautancus]

Hotel Speranza,
Marsilia


There could be no disputing that this assignment beat most undertaken by Cussian envoys and representatives in these troubled days. A fact so plainly obvious it hardly bore putting to words, though to words it had been put nevertheless, for Weyland G. Newton.

Already one of Statesboro's somewhat unsung rising stars before being snapped up by the Orton Administration in 2012, Weyland had been shuffled into the country's Thaumantic Alignment Committee with several added bonus for his new superiors, some months prior. Foremost among those, and quite unlike the majority of his fellows of a similar age, Weyland came into the job holding a professional record untainted by the numerous "complications" and scandals suffered by the various Executive Departments in the past months.

It was this, far above and before any other consideration that had lead Oswald King, the Cussian TAC Chairman, to select Weyland for this task. The State Foreign Service lacked the capital in Statesboro to argue the choice, had they even cared to, and the Office for High Custom was where Weyland had been transferred to the TAC from - meaning he'd left on very good terms. OHC had even provided a number of introductions, promisory notes and recommendations for the enterprise.

Weyland had a somewhat more personal appreciation for the charmed circumstances he now enjoyed. His eldest sister's eldest son, Garreth, wore the colors of the Cussian Marine Corps, with the patch of an aviator on his shoulder - and the green hills, vineyards and hidden AA guns of western Burgundy often rushing underneath him for much of the last several weeks.

Though it had and would for long years heap glory on their yeoman houses, it had come at the cost of three close calls dire enough for Garreth to speak of them. The two were near enough of an age for friendship to be how their kinship was expressed, making Garreth dear enough that the glory seemed a distant tertiary concern to Weyland. He was just terrified that glory might be purchased at the cost of Garreth being blown to bits, all their duty be damned.

As proud of Garreth as any in the family, still and all the same, Weyland was still consciously thankful to be talking shop with bureaucrats, financiers and industrialists instead. Glancing to the man standing on his right, Bruce Steinvasser, whatever creeping anxiety even passing thoughts "of Burgundy" had cultivated was somewhat dispersed.

The Engellachian economist had orchestrated a rise to influence and household prominence far more meteoric than the much younger Cussian's. Steinvasser had enjoyed a career of some note in education, finance and writing well before that, with it being his work in those years earning the esteem Weyland held him in, far more than his appointment as Economic Officer for the West Engell TAC. Perhaps even something like a hero, if an awkwardly willowy and wiry Cussian academic the likes of Weyland were capable of admitting to such sentiments.

Saved from further self indulgence by the Marsilian Governor, Weyland gladly diverted his full attention to Cavour's speech. There was to the Cussian's liking there, in these sentiments of another kind, particularly the dawning concern with actively shaping the future evinced in the address.

The process of Thaumantic Alignment was still the chief concern of Statesboro, be that as it was now, with the apparent collapse of all support for the initiative in the distant Commonwealth and as yet still unresolved domestic strife among the North Engells. Crucially though, all the major factions to have coalesced in post-Ilchester Engellachia were still at the table, with the Cussian and South Engell movers and shakers of the whole scheme.

The immediately secondary concern, the driving and ever-present need of the Thaumantic market to adapt and expand through the development of new - and stable - partnerships beyond the oceanic frontiers of the Domain. There was profit enough to be found within those frontiers, beyond doubt, but the lessons of the previous years had been hard and bitterly learned. Neither the statesmen of Welmonton or the arch-financiers of Mint Hill would suffer the Confederated Republic being forced into a position where it was left with only one leg to stand on, ever again.

Cavour presented a vision that offered ample opportunities for Beautancus to demonstrate civility and a desire for profit through reasonable, regularized custom. This event itself offered similar opportunities, for Weyland, the Cussian TAC, and the country as a whole. The appearance of measured temperance foremost, though not the feigned humility many might have desired. The Cussian TAC's Economic Envoy was young and unassuming enough to present that face, alone.

Weyland had orders to give the other Engellkin an opportunity to speak first, if they meant to, but to present his own remarks without deviation once the time came. Beautancus was faced with a number of challenges abroad at present, but it needed to be clear to all that the country remained undiminished for it, capable of and prepared to meet those challenges. It was then a very fortunate coincidence that Cavour set much of it up with the tone of his speech, offering Weyland the chance to go about his tasks in the more subtle manner that he and the TAC preferred. Some of it was even agreeable to Nativist principles.

Happy to follow orders and wait for his moment, Weyland decided that not only was the Hotel Speranza a better place to be than Burgundy - it was the best place he could have hoped to be, at all.

OOC: As usual for me, intro post is a bit longer to set up later points, those following will be less involved. Enjoy and cheers.