[toronto353]

(Original post by thunder_chunky)
QFA

Could you put this into the Guidance Document please?

Title = EU Budget

11. The EU budget
i) Any member of the EU bloc may post an EU budget for the next financial year in the forum
ii) Only one EU budget may be discussed at a time
iii) The EU budget must be submitted between a month and a year before the financial year concerned
iv) The total spending in the EU budget may rise by up to 5% from the previous year, or fall by up to 2%
v) After a week's discussion, the budget will be voted on over three days
vi) A majority of 75% is required to pass the budget
vii) If no budget is passed in time, then the real life EU budget for that year is adopted instead

[stanlas]

Honourable delegates, almost a month ago we made an unofficial statement of the Czech Republic's eight priorities for the EU bloc. We would like to update the Bloc with what we have done and what we are planning to do.

1. The EU budget
Perhaps regrettably the EU budget for 2013 did not rise overall. However, we have managed to achieve what we consider an extremely beneficial rebalancing of the budget by cutting areas such as administration and agriculture, while giving large increases to capital spending and other economically efficient sectors. We are confident that though the budget itself shall not rise, its positive effect on the economy shall thanks to the rebalancing.

2. The Euro crisis
We have followed recent events with great interest and we are still committed to the creation of Eurobonds, though we expect a lot more negotiation shall be required before a Treaty is passed.

3. Defense and security
We have considered our position on this and have decided that our best option is the creation of an opt-in EU defence pact. We intend to submit legislation on this by the end of the month.

4. More accountability
This is currently our main priority and we are working on a treaty to improve European elections with a Europe wide party system and PR (with a 5% threshold); we intend to submit this within a week.

5. European Nationality
We still support the idea, though we treat it with a lower priority than the Euro crisis and as such we do not expect to pass any legislation on this within the next month.

6. Expansion
We hope to partially achieve this aim through the setting up of the World Free Trade Treaty, which will allow non-EU members to join.

7. European Carbon tax
We have successfully managed to achieve this aim, with the passing of the Carbon Tax Treaty.

8. More Investment
The increase in investment has been achieved through the rebalancing of the EU budget; we also have plans to create a TSR version of the European Investment Bank, though those are not currently a high priority. In addition, the Carbon Tax Treaty has significantly increased investment in green energy through a common fund.

[toronto353]

(Original post by stanlas)
Honourable delegates, almost a month ago we made an unofficial statement of the Czech Republic's eight priorities for the EU bloc. We would like to update the Bloc with what we have done and what we are planning to do.

1. The EU budget
Perhaps regrettably the EU budget for 2013 did not rise overall. However, we have managed to achieve what we consider an extremely beneficial rebalancing of the budget by cutting areas such as administration and agriculture, while giving large increases to capital spending and other economically efficient sectors. We are confident that though the budget itself shall not rise, its positive effect on the economy shall thanks to the rebalancing.

2. The Euro crisis
We have followed recent events with great interest and we are still committed to the creation of Eurobonds, though we expect a lot more negotiation shall be required before a Treaty is passed.

3. Defense and security
We have considered our position on this and have decided that our best option is the creation of an opt-in EU defence pact. We intend to submit legislation on this by the end of the month.

4. More accountability
This is currently our main priority and we are working on a treaty to improve European elections with a Europe wide party system and PR (with a 5% threshold); we intend to submit this within a week.

5. European Nationality
We still support the idea, though we treat it with a lower priority than the Euro crisis and as such we do not expect to pass any legislation on this within the next month.

6. Expansion
We hope to partially achieve this aim through the setting up of the World Free Trade Treaty, which will allow non-EU members to join.

7. European Carbon tax
We have successfully managed to achieve this aim, with the passing of the Carbon Tax Treaty.

8. More Investment
The increase in investment has been achieved through the rebalancing of the EU budget; we also have plans to create a TSR version of the European Investment Bank, though those are not currently a high priority. In addition, the Carbon Tax Treaty has significantly increased investment in green energy through a common fund.

The MHoC will resist any attempt to encourage European Nationality. The MHoC would also like to remind the Czech Republic that, if a eurozone summit is called, eurobonds could be created. The Guidance Document will set out eurozone meetings in more detail.

[stanlas]

(Original post by toronto353)
The MHoC will resist any attempt to encourage European Nationality. The MHoC would also like to remind the Czech Republic that, if a eurozone summit is called, eurobonds could be created. The Guidance Document will set out eurozone meetings in more detail.

The Czech Republic would like a further explanation of the MHoC's opposition to a voluntary nationality. We would like to remind the MHoC that dual nationality exists, and thus people shall be able to take up European nationality and also retain their current one.

Could eurobonds not be introduced via a Eurozone only treaty?

[toronto353]

(Original post by stanlas)
The Czech Republic would like a further explanation of the MHoC's opposition to a voluntary nationality. We would like to remind the MHoC that dual nationality exists, and thus people shall be able to take up European nationality and also retain their current one.

The MHoC believes that voluntary nationality will lead to the EU developing a sense of nationhood which we fundamentally oppose.

Could eurobonds not be introduced via a Eurozone only treaty?

You are correct, they could be.

[JPKC]

The Kingdom of Denmark is disgruntled by the unnecessary apostrophe in this thread's title.

[Rakas21]

Sweeden supports both voluntary nationality and Eurobonds.

Sweeden will however oppose plans for a European investment bank as long as debt based economics exists.

[thunder_chunky]

(Original post by JPKC)
The Kingdom of Denmark is disgruntled by the unnecessary apostrophe in this thread's title.

The Office of the Secretary General apologise's for the unncessary erroneous apostrophe in the thread's title's. We will be sure to remove all error's grammatical and otherwise as soon as possible.

[stanlas]

(Original post by toronto353)
The MHoC does not support any form of EU taxation.

Would the MHoC not support it even if the money raised was equal to the current budget of the EU?


OOC: Moving the conversation to this thread (more relevant)

[hines]

The Holy See questions the above spelling of Sweden

[toronto353]

(Original post by stanlas)
Would the MHoC not support it even if the money raised was equal to the current budget of the EU?


OOC: Moving the conversation to this thread (more relevant)

The MHoC is fundamentally opposed to EU taxation on the grounds that taxation is the remit of nation states. The EU should cease trying to be a nation state of any kind.

[stanlas]

(Original post by toronto353)
The MHoC is fundamentally opposed to EU taxation on the grounds that taxation is the remit of nation states. The EU should cease trying to be a nation state of any kind.

Is the MHoC consequently opposed to an ever closer union, one of the founding principles of the modern version of the EU?

[toronto353]

(Original post by stanlas)
Is the MHoC consequently opposed to an ever closer union, one of the founding principles of the modern version of the EU?

The MHoC would like to see a return to the old trading bloc only aspect at the most. The MHoC intends to block any attempt at an ever closer union.

[stanlas]

(Original post by toronto353)
The MHoC would like to see a return to the old trading bloc only aspect at the most. The MHoC intends to block any attempt at an ever closer union.

How long does the MHoC wish to remain in a union when it is opposed to one of the founding principles?

[toronto353]

(Original post by stanlas)
How long does the MHoC wish to remain in a union when it is opposed to one of the founding principles?

The MHoC believes that ever further integration takes the EU down a path to nationhood. The EU is not a nation state and nor do we believe that it ever should be. The MHoC seeks a relationship with Europe that is beneficial for both parties.

[stanlas]

(Original post by Rakas21)
From the UK land value tax (TSR) we know that 40% yields £600bn so 10% is £150bn, now taking into account that the UK economy makes up about 20% of the EU then assuming land value to be proportionate then such a tax would raise about £750bn.

This would replace EU fees as well which are currently £13bn for the UK so again assuming proportionality EU members pay somewhere about the £65bn mark giving an increase for the EU of a little under £700bn which would rise or fall with average EU tax yields.

Truly EU bonds and tax revenues of £700bn would make the EU the place to invest provided the money was spent in reasonable areas (infrastructure).

Sweeden wishes the Baltic Partnership to agree to this.

The Czech Republic is truly interested in this, and we have always liked the idea of direct EU taxation. Unfortunately, we believe the MHoC would veto any attempts to create this. We think that there is a chance that this could be done for the Eurozone only, as those treaties do not require the MHoC's ratification and do not affect it.

OOC: Are you sure you want to ask the Baltic Partnership and not the EU Bloc to agree? I don't think that the BP can pass anything that is legally binding

[Rakas21]

(Original post by stanlas)
The Czech Republic is truly interested in this, and we have always liked the idea of direct EU taxation. Unfortunately, we believe the MHoC would veto any attempts to create this. We think that there is a chance that this could be done for the Eurozone only, as those treaties do not require the MHoC's ratification and do not affect it.

OOC: Are you sure you want to ask the Baltic Partnership and not the EU Bloc to agree? I don't think that the BP can pass anything that is legally binding

A good point, perhaps limit it to the Eurozone (and applicant states on a voluntarily basis).

OOC: The Baltic Partnership makes up a large proportion of the EU bloc and as such having their support would be a significant step forward.

[toronto353]

There has been talk of the EU writing resolutions submitted on behalf of everyone, what do member states think to this idea?

[stanlas]

(Original post by toronto353)
There has been talk of the EU writing resolutions submitted on behalf of everyone, what do member states think to this idea?

The Czech Republic approves in principle, but we believe there may be some logistical challenges in getting people to contribute collectively to EU resolutions. We suggest that any ideas for EU resolutions are posted in this thread for debate.

[stanlas]

(Original post by thunder_chunky)
QFA

Please could you delete everything in the original post and put this in instead?


EU Basic Information

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Secretariat: Morgsie
Acting Secretariat: Toronto353
Deputy Secreteriat: none
States that are members in TSR but no in RL:
States that are members in RL but not in TSR:

The EU Guidance Document

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1. The Secretariat of the EU bloc

i) The EU representative of the MUN shall be the Secretariat of the EU bloc
ii) The Secretariat shall be responsible for posting motions in the EU bloc thread at a rate of one per day. In the event that more than one motion is received, the motion of the President of the EU shall take precedent over other motions. If not, then motions will be submitted one per day in the order that they have been received
iii) The Secretariat shall post treaties when he has received notification of them from a member state and hold a vote on any treated negotiated.
iv) The Secretariat may not post in debates except to post the motion or treaty and to clarify points of EU law
v) The Secretariat may issue statements on behalf of the EU when the opinion of EU member states is united. EU member states may supplement these statements.
vi) The Secretariat shall chair, but not participate in Eurozone debates
vii) The Secretariat shall post membership upgrade motions, but may not debate in them.
viii) The Secretariat may still post in his role as EU rep in any discussion, but may provide an additional ‘official’ statement as set out in Section 7 of this Guidance Document.
ix) The Secretariat shall be elected from any of the 27 EU member states in the process as detailed in section 9 of this Guidance Document.
x) The Secretariat may be subject to a vote of no confidence as detailed in section 10.
xi) The Secretariat may dual represent the EU and their own member state, but must ensure that they act in the role of EU rep when dealing with any EU business.


2. The President of the EU

i) The President of the EU shall be a rotating presidency with each member state serving a term of one month at a time.
ii) The Presidency shall be allotted in turn each month to countries based on alphabetical order. Where a country has no representative, the presidency shall pass onto the next country on the list.
iii) The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the MHoC shall be the president when the MHoC holds the presidency.
iv) Motions submitted by the President take precedent over all other motions.

3. Members of the EU

i) Membership of the EU bloc shall be divided into four categories: member state, candidate state, applicant state, European state.
ii) A member state is defined as a state which is a member of the EU. A member state may participate in any and all activities and votes of the EU except in the case where a member state is not a member of the Eurozone in which case they may only debate and not vote in Eurozone meetings
iii) A candidate state is a state which has candidate status in the EU. A candidate state may debate motions only. They have no other powers.
iv) An applicant state is a state which has applied to join the EU. An applicant state may debate motions only. They have no other powers
v) A European state is a state which has no affiliation with membership of the EU. They may debate motions only. They have no other powers.
vi) A candidate state or applicant state may have their membership upgraded when a member state proposes that they be upgraded with a second member state seconding this proposal. A vote will be held for a period of 4 days. A 100% majority on the vote will allow the state to upgrade their status.
vii) A European state may seek applicant status within the EU by PMing the Secretariat. The Secretariat will post a vote for a period of 4 days and 100% majority will allow the European’s membership status to be upgraded.

4. Motions

i) The Secretariat will post motions at a rate of one per day in the EU bloc thread. Where more than one motion has been submitted, the President’s motion of the EU shall take precedent. If there is no Presidential motion, then the Secretariat will post motions at a rate of one per day on the basis of when the motion has been received.
ii) All members of the EU bloc may debate motions. Only member states may vote on motions.
iii) A vote shall be posted in the MUN by the Secretariat and last for a period of four days.

5. Treaties

i) Any member state may initiate a treaty debate by notifying the Secretariat. The Secretariat will then post a treaty discussion thread in the MUN.
ii) Only one treaty may debated at a time.
iii) Only member states may debate or vote on treaties.
iv) If a treaty is negotiated, the Secretariat shall set up a vote lasting four days. Member states must PM the Secretariat with their veto on the first day of the four day voting period. Should the treaty be vetoed, the vote may proceed with the treaty regarded as a pact and not a treaty.
v) The treaty negotiations are considered to have ended if there has been no discussion for more than two days or where the proposer has moved that the thread be closed.
vi) All votes for the treaty are taken as both approval and ratification except in the case of the MHoC where the vote will only count as approval with the MHoC to ratify the document via the channels set out in the MHoC Constitution and Guidance Document.
vii) Treaties regarding the Eurozone may debated by all member states, but voted upon by Eurozone countries.
viii) For a treaty to remain a treaty and not a pact all member states must vote for the treaty. A majority of 100% is required for the treaty to be passed as a treated and not a pact. A pact may still be signed provided that two or more countries approve it.

6. Eurozone Meetings

i) A Eurozone meeting may be called once every three months by the President of the EU and held in the Eurozone meeting thread.
ii) Any subject relating to the Eurozone may be debated by the Eurozone meeting.
iii) Any motion or treaty resulting from a Eurozone meeting may be debated by all member states and voted upon by only the Eurozone member states with the same rules as in sections 4 and 5.
iv) Any motion resulting from the Eurozone meeting will not count towards the one motion a day limit and will be posted in the Eurozone meeting thread.
v) The Secretary General of the MUN shall close the Eurozone meeting thread between Eurozone meetings.

7. Secretariat Statements

i) Where all member states are agreed, the Secretariat may post a statement in any thread to provide an ‘official EU opinion’.
ii) All states which are participating in the EU bloc may still post their own statements in any thread.

8. Guidance Document Amendments

i) Any state of the EU bloc may suggest a Guidance Document Amendment by PM’ing the Secretariat with their Amendment and details of any Seconders. Three Seconders are required for an Amendment to be submitted.
ii) All states may vote on Guidance Document Amendments. The Secretariat will post a vote lasting 4 days detailing the Amendment. A 2/3 majority is required to pass the Amendment.
iii) The Amendment does not count towards the motion limit of one motion per day.


9. Election of the Secretariat/ EU rep

i) The EU rep/ Secretariat shall be elected from any of the 27 EU member states. Any EU member state representative is free to stand in this election.
ii) Any EU member state standing in the election must submit a manifesto to the Secretary General of the MUN (who will run all elections) of no more than 250 words as to why they personally are suited to the role of EU rep/ Secretariat.
iii) Only EU member states are eligible to vote in this election
iv) The timetable for electing the EU rep/ Secretariat is as below:
i) Day 0: Secretary General announces election
ii) Day 3: Deadline for manifestos being submitted. The Secretary General shall post all manifestos in an election thread and Q&A period opens.
iii) Day 6: Voting opens.
iv) Day 10: The candidate with 50% or more of the votes shall be elected EU rep and Secretariat of the bloc. If no candidate has 50% of the vote, then the lowest scoring candidate shall be eliminated and those who voted for the lowest scoring candidate have two days to change their vote. If, after two days, no candidate has 50% of the vote, then the above process will occur again until a candidate has 50% of the vote.
v) The Secretariat should face re-election using the above procedure every six months, but should still complete their other duties during the vote.


10. Vote of No Confidence in the Secretariat

i) Any EU member state may call a vote of no confidence in the Secretariat if seconded by two other member states. Only EU member states may vote on the motion.
ii) The process for holding a vote of no confidence is as follows:
i) Day 0: The Secretary General of the MUN shall post the motion of no confidence and begin a vote lasting four days.
ii) Day 4: If more than 50% of the member states vote for the motion, then the Secretariat will face a full election as detailed in section 9 of the Guidance Document. If less than 50% of the member states vote for the motion, then the Secretariat shall continue their duties.

11. The EU budget
i) Any member of the EU bloc may post an EU budget for the next financial year in the forum
ii) Only one EU budget may be discussed at a time
iii) The EU budget must be submitted between a month and a year before the financial year concerned
iv) The total spending in the EU budget may rise by up to 5% from the previous year, or fall by up to 2%
v) After a week's discussion, the budget will be voted on over three days
vi) A majority of 75% is required to pass the budget
vii) If no budget is passed in time, then the real life EU budget for that year is adopted instead

EU Secretariat Statments

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Syria, 21st June
Statement from the Secretariat
The EU is united in expressing its horror and disgust at the continued and worsening situation in Syria. Though we are yet to come to policy regarding the use of military intervention, we call for further sanctions against the Assad regime. We urge the Security Council to do more to bring the bloodshed to a halt and urge Assad to allow urgently needed aid into Syria.

EU crisis, 22nd June
Secretariat's Closing Statement
The Secretariat of the EU thanks the Czech Republic for calling a eurozone summit. We believe that this is a positive step forward to solving the crisis even though some states have not participated. The Eurozone is in agreement that Eurobonds should be adopted with limits put it place to prevent excessive debts being built up. The Eurozone also believes that further fiscal integration is an important step to take. While the eurozone differs on some of their approaches to the crisis, there are moves to begin to reconcile these differences. The Secretariat is encouraged by the solutions presented and we call upon the Czech Republic to produce treaties to begin to legislate for some of the solutions.

EU Carbon Tax Treaty

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Carbon Tax Treaty:

EU Carbon Tax Treaty proposed by the Czech Republic

Article 1: The minimum price

1.1 Beginning on the 1st April 2014, all EU governments must introduce the European Minimum Carbon Tax (EMCT) at a rate of 15 Euros per ton of CO2 emitted
1.2 The EMCT rate shall rise by 1 Euro every year after 2014, until it reaches 30 Euros
1.3 - The EMCT will apply only to energy producers and companies that emit more than 50 tons of CO2 a year
1.4 Individual governments have the right to control to rate of carbon tax in their own country, providing that the rate is equal to or higher than the EMCT
1.5 Individual governments have the right to extend their own carbon tax to sectors not covered by 1.3

Article 2: Usage of the money

2.1 A new ‘Green Investment Fund’ (GIF) shall be set up
2.2 The GIF shall invest money to profit making and environmentally friendly projects, including but not limited to green energy
2.3 All member states must contribute a minimum of 5% of their carbon tax revenue to the GIF
2.4 The 5% in 2.3 only applies to money raised by levying the EMCT; if individual governments have a higher carbon tax rate than the EMCT, then the extra money raised is exempt from 2.3
2.5 The remaining money belongs to the individual government in whose country the tax was collected

Article 3: Exemptions

3.1 Countries which currently produce more than 75% of their energy from coal shall be exempt from the EMCT until 2030
3.2 Countries which currently produce between 50 to 75% of their energy from coal shall be exempt from the EMCT until 2024
3.3 The MHoC is fully exempt from this Treaty, but may opt into any section of the Treaty by notifying the Secretariat.

Article 4: Commencement, Short Title and Extent

4.1 This Treaty may be cited as the Carbon Tax Treaty
4.2 This Treaty shall extend to the European Union; and
4.3 Shall come into force on the 1st April 2014 following ratification by the national Parliament of each member state.

EU Budget 2013

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EU Budget 2013/4
The Czech Republic

Section 1: The total budget of the EU in the financial year 2013/4

1.1. The total spending commitments of the EU in the financial year 2013/4 shall be €147.2 billion
1.2 The rise in commitments is in accordance with the guidance document of the EU, and does not exceed 5%

Section 2: The specific spending commitments of the EU budget in the financial year 2013/4

2 In accordance with the definitions used by the European union here, the following changes will be made:

2.1. The total spending commitments on ‘administration’ shall fall by €0.8 billion
2.2 The total spending commitments on ‘preservation and management of natural reasources’ shall fall by €6.8 billion
2.2.1 (Note: The EU is committed to increasing food aid programs by 0.5 billion)
2.3 The total spending commitments on ‘citizenship, freedom, security and justice’ shall fall by €0.1 billion
2.4 The total spending commitments on ‘EU as a global player’ shall rise by €0.2 billion
2.5 The total spending commitments on ‘cohesion for growth and employment’ shall rise by €4.2 billion
2.6 The total spending commitments on ‘competitiveness for growth and employment’ shall rise by €3.3 billion

Section 3: Commencement, Short Title and Extent

3.1 This Budget may be cited as the EU budget 2013/4
3.2. This Treaty shall extend to the European Union; and
3.3. Shall come into force on the 1st April 2013 following ratification by the national Parliament of each member state.

Notes

See here for some more information on the budget. The figures used are commitments, which are not equivalent to the actual amount spent (the actual amount spent is always lower)

Costings:

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Total commitments: 147.2 billion euro (+ 0 billion)

Administration: 7.5 billion (-0.8 billion, 9.6% cut)
Preservation and management of natural resources: 53.2 billion (-6.8 billion, 11% cut)
Citizenship, freedom, security and justice: 2.0 billion (-0.1 billion, 4.7% cut)
EU as a global player: 9.6 billion (+0.2 billion, 2.2% rise)
Cohesion for growth and employment 56.9 billion (+4.2 billion, 8% rise)
Competitiveness for growth and employment: 18 billion (+3.3 billion, 22% rise)