Benelux
The Benelux Union, also known as simply Benelux, is a politico-economic union and formal international intergovernmental cooperation of three neighboring states in western Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. To outsiders, they are known as the Low Countries.
History
The three countries that make up Benelux were involved in the formation of the European Economic Community from the start, giving them a fairly consistent position in it. This was good, as EEC grants were very much needed due to constantly rising sea levels.[1] By 2077, the Netherlands had lost around one-third of its territory to rising sea currents, but thanks to new dam-building technology they managed to avoid being completely swallowed by the North Sea.[2] This created a refugee crisis forcing many Dutch and Belgian citizens to apply for asylum in Scandinavia. Sweden responded with force, causing the death of nearly 60 people by sinking their vessels.[3] A statement was to be released by President Rosalind Myers on the ongoing refugee situation, while most (77%) of the AidVote voters voted against taking in more refugees from the Netherlands.[4]
Culture
Netherlands
The Netherlands has quite a large tourism industry as the government has sunk a lot of money into maintaining its famous tulip fields, as well as its assortment of spectacularly-designed historical buildings. However, one of the other main draws of travelling to the Netherlands is its loose laws on drug possession, and it’s used as a port of call for drug-smuggling operations around Europe.[1]
Belgium
Belgium is home to a super-port stretching across the entire length of its coastline and extending 15km inland. Unlike the Netherlands, Belgium has a very small tourism industry as most of its towns are dingy and unappealing to holiday-goers as they didn’t take steps to preserve any old buildings.
Belgium's capital, Brussels, is the center of the European Economic Community, which brings in a large amount of business. Belgium maintains a black market on illegal Cyberware, which the EEC turns a blind eye to as it bolsters the local economy.[1]
Luxembourg
Luxembourg has managed to remain relatively unchanged for the last twenty years or so apart from the gradual urbanization of most of the country. It's primary industry is banking, and it’s garnered the nickname the "Switzerland of Europe" due to it's banking privacy laws which make it a haven for money-laundering and other illegal activities.[1]
Government
The low countries area is governed by the United Benelux Congress, which is made up of representatives from all three countries. The number of Congressmen for each country is in direct proportion to the size of their population. Each country holds its own elections where by the population choose its congressmen out of the candidates put forward by all the political parties.
The United Benelux Congress oversees the running of all three countries and the implementation of EC will. The benefits of a combined administration are less cost, better communications between the three countries and a united voice that is more easily heard in the corridors of the EC. The elections are held every three years in all countries but individual countries may hold elections to change their congressmen if they deem it necessary.[1]
Cities
Notes
- The Dutch citizen Leendert Tvagers was a VIP client of Arasaka's Secure Your Soul program.[5][6][7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 RAMOS, J. Eurosource Plus. Berkeley, CA, R. Talsorian Games, 1995. (pp.36–40)
- ↑ BATYLDA, M. The World of Cyberpunk 2077. 1st ed. Milwaukie, OR, Dark Horse Books, 2020. (p.24)
- ↑ Cyberpunk 2077 - N54 News Report #4
- ↑ Cyberpunk 2077 - Quest: Life During Wartime
- ↑ Cyberpunk 2077 - Shard: "Secure Your Soul" – VIP Clients
- ↑ Cyberpunk 2077 - Computer Message: "Secure Your Soul" - clients' data
- ↑ Cyberpunk 2077 - Computer Message: The Tvagers Case