Xäiville Convention
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The Xäiville Convention (sometimes abbreviated to XC) is a treaty signed in November 2020 that formalises free-movement of people between Craitland, the Dark Berry Islands, Hurmu, Mercury, Oportia, Sanama, Senya, the South Sea Islands and Tellia.
Craitland, Mercury, Senya, and Tellia were the original signatories. Hurmu became the fifth signatory on 16 November 2020, after their application was ratified by the existing Convention signatories. The South Sea Islands has since applied, sponsored by Hurmu, and acceded 1 April 2021, followed by Sankt Ludwigshafen, who were sponsored by Craitland, joining on 17 December 2021 and Cisamarra, who were sponsored by Hurmu, on 4 May 2022. Sankt Ludwigshafen left the convention following the arrests of Ludwiggian students who enjoyed the right to free travel in Hurmu, citing an alleged breach of the Convention, however no official complaint was made.
History
The Xäiville Convention came about by a desire by the founding signatories to forge both closer relations and to formalise their visa free travel arrangements. Craitland, Mercury, Senya and Tellia all shared similar qualities, in being advanced highly developed democracies that are noted (with the exception of perhaps Tellia) for their peaceful and stable histories and for largely abstaining from involvement in Micras' various conflicts. Due to the influence and expansion of the mega-multilateral military alliances of the Raspur Pact and the USSO, these four nations were eager to solidify a democratic and non-aligned alliance which would allow for open and free trade, mirroring such free-trade agreements in other such unions. Despite their locations across Micras being significantly distant from one another, the union was successful.
Hurmu joined the convention eight months after its foundation, having formed out of a merger between the Hurmu Trust Territory and the Craitish territory of Lakkvia earlier that year. Hurmu's entry brought a rapid expanding economy into the union, and its geography, as a halfway point between Senya and Mercury, helped establish further trade routes, which continued in 1695 with Hurmu and Senya's participation in the re-booted Apollonian Express project. In 1702, the two nations established a sea freighter and passanger ferry service between the cities of Port Nelson and Tyrador, and Craitland was also connected to this with plans to connect the Victorian capital of Riego with the network via a line from the Senyan capital Svorgas, along with a freighter service that would run via Hawshire and Arboria.
In 1695, the convention saw the accession of the South Sea Islands, a small island country in the Southern Seas, who sough both protection through association and trading opportunities for their small island nation. In 1703, they were joined in the convention by Sankt Ludwigshafen, who had recently annexed parts of the former Craitish territory of Zandarijn, and who also had previous friendly relations with Senya and were eager to improve their standing with the rest of the international community.
In contrast to the Raspur Pact and the USSO, the Xäiville Convention is not a military or defence union, with member states instead encouraged to maintain a peaceful rapport with the rest of Micras. This has allowed its member states to trade with both pacts without being controlled by either, and has cemented the convention's outstanding reputation in the international community.
In 1708, Cisamarra joined the organisation, having already established friendly relations with neighbouring Tellia, and seeking to move away from the Sanaman sphere of influence.
The Lanzerwaldian-Whaler War, fought between an XC member, Lanzerwald, and a Raspur Pact member, Western Natopia, did not occasion any appreciable damage to relations between the two blocs.
The mid-1710s saw a reduction in membership for the bloc. Firstly, Sankt Ludwigshafen withdrew from the organisation in 1716 citing differences in economic outlook, before Cisamarra withdrew the following year, after unifying with Sanama. Oportia became a member of the organisation in 1719. Oportia's acceptance came after an intense scrutiny by other member states following the withdrawal of Sankt Ludwigshafen and Cisamarra in the years prior.
In 1720, the Dark Berry Islands and Sanama joined.
Conditions
The Treaty sets out the following conditions that signatories agree to adhere to:
- Unlimited visa-free travel between signatory nations
- Protection against prohibited or restricted persons from entering a signatory nation
- Conditions for new signatory nations to be admitted
- Conditions of neutrality, signatories are not required to enter conflicts on other signatories' behalf
- Free movement of workers, products and services with the following exceptions:
- agricultural products and foods
- livestock, other animals, plants and seeds (to allow nations to protect their own fragile ecosystems)
- medicines
- weapons, ammunition, explosives
- services or positions that are restricted to citizens or companies registered in the country for national security reasons
Every-day work
There is a secretariat in Xäiville which deals with the day-to-day affairs of the Convention. Ambassadors from the state parties are accredited and resided here. There are also annual summits, hosted once a year (usually), by various state parties in a rotating order.
Admission of new Signatory States
States may be invited to accede to the Convention by a decision of unanimous consent of the existing state parties. Applicants should have good reputation, be at peace, and have good relations with most countries. In particular, countries should not have hostile relationships with any other country. During the application stage, applicant countries are usually sponsored by an existing state party.
Termination of Effect
There is no formal process in place for a state party to terminate its commitments under the Convention. State parties that no longer wish to be bound by the Convention may simply renounce their signature, however, may be again required to gain sponsorship from another state party should they subsequently wish to accede once again.
State Parties
| Name | Accession | Accession (AN) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 Craitland |
1 November 2020 | 1.I.1690 | Founding member |
 Dark Berry Islands |
25 May 2023 | 10.XIII.1720 | Accession |
 Hurmu |
16 November 2020 | 1.VIII.1690 | Accession |
 Mercury |
1 November 2020 | 1.I.1690 | Founding member |
 Oportia |
30 April 2023 | 18.XV.1719 | Accession |
 Sanama |
25 May 2023 | 10.XIII.1720 | Accession |
 Senya |
1 November 2020 | 1.I.1690 | Founding member |
 South Sea Islands |
1 April 2021 | 1.I.1695 | Accession |
 Tellia |
1 November 2020 | 1.I.1690 | Founding member |
Membership applications
| Name | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 International Mandate |
Withdrawn | Sponsored by Senya, seen as hostile by Calbion and therefore withdrawn |
 Nova England |
Withdrawn | Sponsorship by Mercury withdrawn |
 Meckelnburgh |
Under consideration | Sponsored by Mercury in 1721 AN |
Former members
| Name | Accession | Accession (AN) | Termination | Termination (AN) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cisamarra |
4 May 2022 | 19.II.1708 | 19 February 2023 | 24.V.1717 | Became a Sanaman protectorate |
 Sankt Ludwigshafen |
17 December 2021 | 23.IX.1703 | 30 January 2023 | 21.XV.1716 | Terminated membership unilaterally |
Sanctions
On Floria
On 20.X.1706, the Xäiville Convention introduced sanctions against Floria, due to its war of aggression on Port Balaine, which amounted to:
- Import ban on Florian products
- Copyright on Florian products already in the XC is lifted (making piracy legal)
- No broadcasting of Florian football games, no audience for Florian games taking place in XC countries
The signatories also agreed to organize a football tournament with proceeds going to the victims of the war, however, this never took place.
Removal of sanctions
The end of sanctions against Floria, partially or entirely, were proposed on multiple occasions. However, the sanctions were agreed to be kept following the extensive use of chemical weapons in the Florian invasion of Ostland in 1719 and 1720. The continuing hostility of the Xäiville Convention towards Floria accordingly found its way onto the agenda for the Mehrshahr Conference of 13.IX–24.IX.1721 AN, where the possibility of reciprocal sanctions was raised. Consequently, on 11.X.1721 AN, the Senate of the Lakes, unanimously adopted a resolution which read:
"That Hurmu unilaterally ends every and all sanctions against Floria, as implemented by the decision of the Xäiville Convention on 20.X.1706"
The foreign ministry of Sanama also issued a statement saying that while it had sanctioned Floria earlier, prior to becoming a signatory of the Xäiville Convention, as of 1721, all sanctions had been removed. On 17.X.1721, Mercury announced a widespread lifting of restrictions, with the import ban being replaced by a tariff of 33.3% on Florian goods, which the government claims is to limit the market shock from the sudden re-introduction of these products. On 18.X.1721, Senya renounced all sanctions against Floria.
Currently, Craitland, the South Sea Islands and Tellia have not announced any removal of sanctions. Oportia have indicated an intention to maintain sanctions following Floria's use of chemical weapons in the Florian invasion of Ostland, which caused mass protests in that country. The Dark Berry Islands had never imposed sanctions on Floria, having not been signatories to the Convention at the time.
