Alliance of Northwest Gondwana
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The Alliance of Northwest Gondwana, abbreviated ANG, is a free trade and free-travel agreement among states in the northwestern region of the continent Gondwana. It was established on May 2nd, 2020, at a summit held in the city of Crystal Coast, Acronis. The founding members of the Alliance are Acronis, Ayaupia, Hausberg, Libertanny, Lunaria, Vultuca, Ragea, Sanctmunitis, Talusi, and Zukchiva. The Tavari Union was admitted as the 11th member on July 13th, 2020. The headquarters of the Alliance are also located in Crystal Coast.
Alliance Trade Area
The primary function of the Alliance is as a free trade agreement between the signatory states. The Charter Establishing the Alliance of Northwest Gondwana refers to the free trade agreement as the "Alliance Trade Area," one of two major pillars of the agreement. Signatories agree to abolish internal economic controls such as tariffs on their fellow member-states and establish a common system of regulation for the safety and quality of agricultural goods and other goods, as well as a common standard of labor safety regulation and minimum wages.
Common Currency
The charter allows for the Alliance to establish a common currency among members, if the members choose to adopt such a currency. In the event that the Alliance does establish a common currency, it has the authority to set economic requirements for member-states to meet before they can adopt the common currency.
Alliance Free Travel Area
Additionally, the Charter created the Alliance Free Travel Area, in which there shall be no border controls between members. Membership in the AFTA is voluntary for ANG member states, but those who join must allow citizens of other AFTA members to visit without a visa, and to live and work in their country for at least one year without obtaining a visa. AFTA members may extend the period beyond one year, but cannot make it less than one year.
AFTA rules allow for member-states to temporarily establish border controls in the event of an emergency for up to six months. Keeping restrictions for longer than six months allows the Alliance to sanction a member-state, which includes allowing the other member-states to impose reciprocal restrictions on the member in violation.
Governance
The governing body of the Alliance is called the Alliance Council, which consists of one representative from each member-state. The Alliance Council appoints the Secretary-General of the Alliance of Northwest Gondwana, who is in charge of day-to-day administration of the organization and leads the Alliance Secretariat, the administrative support staff. The Council, Secretary-General, and Secretariat are all based in Crystal Coast, Acronis.
Membership
Membership in the Alliance is open to all sovereign states "with territory in the region of Northwestern Gondwana." The Charter defines the region as "those portions of the continent of Gondwana, including islands off the coast, north of the line 15 degrees south of the Aequator and west of the line 100 degrees west of the Prime Meridian." Colonies and non-self governing territories are not eligible for membership. Membership may be granted by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Alliance Council.
Any nation may choose to revoke its membership in the ANG at any time by issuing a written declaration of such to the Alliance Council. Such revocation shall become effective one year after the declaration is received by the council unless extended.
Observer Status
Sovereign states that are located outside the region can be granted observer status by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Alliance Council. Observer states shall have the right to attend meetings of the ANG but shall hold no vote in any proceeding and may not join either the ATA or the ATFA. Observer states may negotiate favored-nation status with the ANG for access to the ATA.
Sanctions
The Alliance Council has the power to suspend or revoke the membership of member-states who are held to have "acted contrary to the established doctrines" of the Charter. In order to suspend a member, the Council must vote by 2/3, while revocation of membership requires a unanimous vote excluding the member-state being considered for revocation.