THE NEXT STAGE

Progressing the Monarchy

 

Cortes

Functions are being added to the duties of the Cortes. It will become more active in the affairs of the Royal House. Further Ministries are being inaugurated. Discussions are taking place on whether to expand the Cortes slightly.

Attorney General

An Office of Attorney General is being instituted. This is necessary as the Royal House expands into a sovereign power in its own right. The Attorney General will be tasked with the development of a legislative code, international regulations, contracts involving the Royal House and Concordats.

Due Diligence

The Council, already established, will acquire further powers to negotiate and review al arrangements necessary to acquire and occupy the Principality and install the Royal House and its institutions there. This will include the development of contractual relationships with outside companies and individuals (i.e. building, infrastructure, electricity, telecommunications, water etc.).

Monitors

A new Council called the ‘Monitor Council’ will be inaugurated to continuously review the performance of any commitments and obligations towards the Royal House and its institutions and companies both of a commercial and financial nature.

Royal Bank

A Royal Bank license is being issued. The Bank will oversee all financial dealings of the Royal House. The bank will also hold bonds and other commitments issued by parties entering into transactions with the Royal House or its institutions and companies.

Insurance Company

An Insurance company will insure all risks of the Royal House and its institutions, public risk, buildings and motor vehicles.


Building a Principality


To establish the Principality the following work already underway must be completed.

The Royal House will negotiate the acquisition of a Braganza Principality, comprising a territory and its territorial waters, which will be a Sovereign, Independent State ultimately recognized by the United Nations countries individually. The terms should include a long lease (300 years), military and security support, guarantees of non-intervention, recognition of new governmental and military authority, acceptance of ambassador, recognition of separate tax status, recognition of separate civil and judicial authority.Its official languages will be English, Italian and Portuguese.


Institutions must be installed:

Government.

The Head of the Royal House of Portugal will rule the Principality in perpetuity. The Constitution will be amended to reflect the changes brought about by the acquisition of new territory.

Embassies

The Principality will establish and maintain Embassies and Trade Missions with countries with which it has diplomatic relations. These Embassies will represent the Principality abroad. The Principality will provide accommodation for Ambassadors to the Principality who may also use the Principality’s Embassies throughout Europe and elsewhere for their necessary business there. In the case of Ambassadors from Developing Nations an Ambassador to the EU or one of its member Countries can also be Ambassador to the Principality and use the offices at the Principality to service its European duties.

Judiciary

The Principality will expand its current Tribunal system and maintain a Judiciary with a two-tier court system. Five Judges, elected for a three-year term by the Cortes, will sit on the bench of the Royal Court of Braganza. There will be a common court from which a right of appeal to the Royal Court will exist. In their functions the Courts will be independent of the Ruler, the Cortes and defense forces.

The Courts

The Courts will act as the investigative and regulatory arm of the Cortes. They will sit in judgment on prosecutions brought by the Attorney General against citizens, residents, visitors and registered companies who are accused of breach of the Principality’s laws and codes. The Courts in tandem with the Royal Bank will Regulate Banking, Insurance and Financial Trading matters in the Principality.

The Royal Court will act as Final Appellant and Arbitrator in matters of International Business, Trade and the establishment of Joint Ventures between businesses in countries with whom the Principality has Diplomatic Relations. The Royal Court will be able to order the taking of Bonds, the impounding of property, the imposition of penalties and fines. The Royal Court can select negotiating teams in international disputes and appoint individual arbitrators where the need arises. These powers can be incorporated into contracts between parties from countries with whom the principality has diplomatic relations. In effect the Royal Court is final arbitrator in international commercial disputes.

Attorney General

The Attorney General will oversee all litigation in the Principality and abroad. He will participate in arrangements to secure recognition and sovereignty for the Principality. He will be responsible for drafting all legislation and regulations for approval. He will oversee the activities of all Principality Institutions and make recommendations for improvement and resolution of problems. His staff will include a State Solicitor who will be responsible for all licensing and registration activities

Professions

The Principality will license lawyers, Accountants, Engineers, Doctors and other Professions. In issuing its licenses the Principality adheres to generally accepted principles of International Law. All professional and commercial activity in the Principality must be licensed or it will be deemed illegal

Security

The Principality will expand its current security system and will institute a Police force, Military and Coast Guard. All will carry the duty of defense of the Principality and the prosecution of wrongdoers. They will answer directly to the Royal House

Royal Bank

The Royal Bank of Braganza will be (as is now being instigated) an arm of Government which acts as Regulator of the Financial and Insurance Sector. Licenses will be issued, maintained and withdrawn on its recommendation. It will oversee monetary policy, audit the Government, Cortes, Courts, Police, Military and Coast Guard. Where it feels action or further investigation is necessary, it files its report and recommendation with the Attorney General.

Post Office

The Principality will cause the issue of stamps and franking machines. Arrangements will be made to cooperate with European postal systems. A courier system will be installed.

Commercial Banks

The Principality will provide for the issue of a limited number of Commercial Banking Licenses. Applicants must conform to the international norms of minimum capital, suitable management and regulatory policy

Other Financial Institutions

Insurance and Re-Insurance Licenses are available as are a number of Financial Trading Licenses. An International Financial Center along the lines of those in Dublin, Jersey and Luxembourg will be developed

Principality Companies

 

 

The Principality will issue (as the Royal House currently does) Company Registration certificates. To escape the stigma attached to offshore company registrations, Company Law already requires companies to adhere to EU regulations and additionally companies are only allowed to bank with certain approved banks, and have a minimum cash capital of ECU 100,000 lodged with the Royal Bank. In a move to simplify company filing, all companies will be registered on the Principality’s Internet server. Paperwork will be kept to a minimum and the Charter is written identically for every company. There is no difference between Public and Private Companies. Shareholding is unlimited and all companies must have two or more directors. Issued shares must be paid in full. As an incentive companies will have a tax rate fixed at 5% of net profit. To keep auditing simple no other taxes are collected and no deductions are applied. Companies seeking to raise capital will have the opportunity to publish (after approval by the Courts) a prospectus and share offer on the Internet, by correspondence and over the counter

Foreign Companies

The Principality will re-register Foreign companies to carry on business within the Principality as appropriate. These companies will be identified by the designation FC followed by the number. Care will be taken to ensure that a foreign company is not taxed twice.

Trusts

Any Deed creating a Trust for the benefit of a third party, wherever made, if registered with the State Solicitor’s office, will be deemed a valid Trust. Foreign trusts properly created in their own jurisdiction will be recognized and registered by the State Solicitor’s office.

Shipping

 

The Principality will issue Shipping Registration Licenses and Leisure craft Licenses. These Licenses will be issued to ships and leisure craft, which conform to International standards, have appropriate insurance and skilled crew. Licenses will be cost effective.

Taxes

The Principality will impose and collect taxes from its companies, citizens and residents. Funds collected are used to improve the infrastructure and standards of living, in the Principality and to help the Principality’s citizens wherever they are.

Citizens As now, Citizens are categorized into two groups.
-The Noble Orders
-The Knights
Citizens are expected to uphold the laws of the Principality and to treat all other citizens with respect and dignity. The Principality may ultimately withdraw citizenship from an offender and impose banishment as part or full punishment. The procedure for this will be the same as the current Cortes and Tribunal procedure

Residence

There will be two types of Residence:
-The first grants a Passive Residency to a person who has equity or joint venture with any company or business in the Principality
- The second grants Active Residency to any person who resides in the Principality for more than six months every year, keeps a specified amount on deposit with the Central Bank and who has satisfied the Central Bank of his or her financial independence and capacity.

Internet The Principality will publish all Cortes deliberations on its Internet page. The Cortes may vote on certain matters via the Internet All company registrations, audit returns, prospectus, litigation judgments and shipping licenses will be viewable on the Internet. A substantial database of commercial and historical information will be made available from the Principality’s computer via the Internet or Intranet (subject to security screening) for which a fee will be charged in line with the information provided.

Visas

Travel Visas will be available to citizens and residents wishing to travel to countries not normally accessible but with whom the Principality has Diplomatic Relations. Embassies and other diplomatic offices will be put at the service of persons traveling under Principality visas.

Transport

An airport and helicopter base will be built connecting the Principality to nearby International Airports. The Principality will develop infrastructure, hotels and apartments. A marina will be constructed for boats. The Principality will issue motor vehicle licenses and commercial vehicles will be separately licensed. A separate licensing system will be set up for classic vehicles. The Principality will have its own Museum (which will incorporate the collection already gathered by HRH Dom Rosario) and Art Gallery.

The government will establish several commissions, such as, but not limited to the ones listed below:

Politics and constitution
Housing and identification of urban areas
Legislation
Hygiene and sanity
Juridical ordinance
Nourishment and agriculture
International negotiation
Industry, commerce and services
Sociology
Tourism
Ethic and religious investigation
Sport
Protection, security and defense
Research and experiments
Technical-administration
International relations
Technical-catastral
Macro economy
Technical-ambiental
Public finance
Instructions and culture
Development economy
Transports and communication
Banks and insurance
Providence and assistance

This commissions shall arrange for Public services to be organized in following groups:

 

Water

 

Libraries, theater, museums

Ambiance hygiene
Cemetery services
Urban neatness
Funeral transports
Roads maintenance
Local and veterinarian police
Public greens
Homes
Drainage
Sports grounds
Depuration
Public markets
Gas distribution
Slaughter-House
Electric energy
Hotels and soothing Houses
Public illumination
Colonies and visits
Sanctuary homing
Population registry and civil state
Maternity school
Technical office, electronic center and EDC
Basic education
Taxation services
Secondary education
General services
Scholastic transports
Statistic services
Scholastic restaurants

 

Prinipality locations and buildings already included in the plans, are:

The Royal Palace
Government buildings
Embassies
Court House
Security
Residences
Offices
Guest accomodations
Trfansportation
Airport
Harbor
Yacht marina
Water system and desalinization
Gas System
Electrical system
Fuel supply
Heating
Telecommunicatons
Banks
Commercial Center
Hotels
Secure meeting Facilities
Sports centers
Schools
Museum
Golf Course
Cinema
Theatre

 



The Principality of Braganza is intended to be a successful sovereign state enjoying full international recognition, located in one of the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean, enjoying a warm Mediterranean climate. It will be near to Europe, the FSU, Africa and Asia. It will offer full modern commercial and financial services, diplomatic assistance, hotels, marinas and apartments. It will discourage pollution producing industry and endeavor to keep its countryside and urban areas clean, healthy and eco-friendly. The Principality will be commercially oriented, encouraging international commercial contracts and trade, even in seemingly inaccessible areas. Every facet of commerce and healthy leisure activities will be catered for, with a focus on simplification and thorough efficiency.


Declarations of Human Rights
Vienna Convention: Diplomatic Relations
Vienna Convention: Consular Relations