diff --git a/client/src/app/core/repositories/motions/motion-repository.service.ts b/client/src/app/core/repositories/motions/motion-repository.service.ts
index 856f48ccf..338b8148c 100644
--- a/client/src/app/core/repositories/motions/motion-repository.service.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/core/repositories/motions/motion-repository.service.ts
@@ -887,6 +887,7 @@ export class MotionRepositoryService extends BaseAgendaContentObjectRepository<V
             }
             return rec;
         }
+        return '';
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/client/src/app/core/ui-services/base-import.service.ts b/client/src/app/core/ui-services/base-import.service.ts
index ad8b2bd27..5ede5079e 100644
--- a/client/src/app/core/ui-services/base-import.service.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/core/ui-services/base-import.service.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export abstract class BaseImportService<V extends BaseViewModel> {
     /**
      * The headers expected in the CSV matching import properties (in order)
      */
-    public expectedHeader: (string)[];
+    public expectedHeader: string[];
 
     /**
      * The minimimal number of header entries needed to successfully create an entry
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-import/motion-import-list.component.html b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-import/motion-import-list.component.html
index 0fd5d84b0..175daacc0 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-import/motion-import-list.component.html
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-import/motion-import-list.component.html
@@ -13,9 +13,10 @@
     <span translate>Required comma or semicolon separated values with these column header names in the first row:</span>
     <br />
     <div class="code red-warning-text">
-        <span translate>Identifier</span>, <span translate>Title</span>, <span translate>Text</span>,
-        <span translate>Reason</span>, <span translate>Submitter</span>, <span translate>Category</span>,
-        <span translate>Origin</span>, <span translate>Motion block</span>
+        <span *ngFor="let header of this.expectedHeader; let last = last">
+            <span translate>{{ header }}</span
+            ><span *ngIf="!last">,&nbsp;</span>
+        </span>
     </div>
     <ul>
         <li translate>
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-import/motion-import-list.component.ts b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-import/motion-import-list.component.ts
index fff002c60..e954b9b1b 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-import/motion-import-list.component.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-import/motion-import-list.component.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,22 @@ import { ViewMotion } from 'app/site/motions/models/view-motion';
     templateUrl: './motion-import-list.component.html'
 })
 export class MotionImportListComponent extends BaseImportListComponent<ViewMotion> {
+    /**
+     * Fetach a list of the headers expected by the importer, and prepare them
+     * to be translateable (upper case)
+     *
+     * @returns a list of strings matching the expected headers
+     */
+    public get expectedHeader(): string[] {
+        return this.importer.expectedHeader.map(header => {
+            if (header === 'motion_block') {
+                return 'Motion block';
+            } else {
+                return header.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + header.slice(1);
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
     /**
      * Constructor for list view bases
      *
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-export-dialog/motion-export-dialog.component.html b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-export-dialog/motion-export-dialog.component.html
index 6b5a49951..f15dcac23 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-export-dialog/motion-export-dialog.component.html
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-export-dialog/motion-export-dialog.component.html
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
                 <mat-button-toggle value="category"> <span translate>Category</span> </mat-button-toggle>
                 <mat-button-toggle value="tags"> <span translate>Tags</span> </mat-button-toggle>
                 <mat-button-toggle value="origin"> <span translate>Origin</span> </mat-button-toggle>
-                <mat-button-toggle value="block"> <span translate>Motion block</span> </mat-button-toggle>
+                <mat-button-toggle value="motion_block"> <span translate>Motion block</span> </mat-button-toggle>
                 <mat-button-toggle value="polls" #votingResultButton>
                     <span translate>Voting result</span>
                 </mat-button-toggle>
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-export-dialog/motion-export-dialog.component.ts b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-export-dialog/motion-export-dialog.component.ts
index 19c3270f9..f3d1c3058 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-export-dialog/motion-export-dialog.component.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-export-dialog/motion-export-dialog.component.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export class MotionExportDialogComponent implements OnInit {
         'category',
         'origin',
         'tags',
-        'block',
+        'motion_block',
         'polls',
         'id'
     ];
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-list/motion-list.component.ts b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-list/motion-list.component.ts
index 0b3c22749..eaa63f597 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-list/motion-list.component.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/modules/motion-list/components/motion-list/motion-list.component.ts
@@ -223,7 +223,8 @@ export class MotionListComponent extends ListViewBaseComponent<ViewMotion, Motio
                         result.comments
                     );
                 } else if (result.format === 'csv') {
-                    this.motionCsvExport.exportMotionList(data, result.content, result.metaInfo);
+                    const content = ['identifier', ...result.content, ...result.metaInfo];
+                    this.motionCsvExport.exportMotionList(data, content);
                 } else if (result.format === 'xlsx') {
                     this.motionXlsxExport.exportMotionList(data, result.metaInfo);
                 }
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/motion-import-export-order.ts b/client/src/app/site/motions/motion-import-export-order.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a9a7fa135
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/motion-import-export-order.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/**
+ * Defines the column order for csv/xlsx export/import of motions.
+ */
+export const motionImportExportHeaderOrder: string[] = [
+    'id',
+    'identifier',
+    'title',
+    'text',
+    'reason',
+    'submitters',
+    'category',
+    'origin',
+    'motion_block',
+    'tags',
+    'recommendation',
+    'state'
+];
+
+/**
+ * Subset of {@link motionImportExportHeaderOrder} properties that are
+ * restricted to export only due to database or workflow limitations
+ */
+export const motionExportOnly: string[] = ['id', 'recommendation', 'state', 'tags'];
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-csv-export.service.ts b/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-csv-export.service.ts
index a36031a00..9b136a819 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-csv-export.service.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-csv-export.service.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {
     CsvColumnDefinitionProperty,
     CsvColumnDefinitionMap
 } from 'app/core/ui-services/csv-export.service';
-import { InfoToExport } from './motion-pdf.service';
+import { motionImportExportHeaderOrder } from '../motion-import-export-order';
 import { MotionRepositoryService } from 'app/core/repositories/motions/motion-repository.service';
 import { ViewMotion } from '../models/view-motion';
 
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ export class MotionCsvExportService {
      *
      * @param motions Motions to export
      * @param contentToExport content properties to export
-     * @param infoToExport meta info to export
      */
-    public exportMotionList(motions: ViewMotion[], contentToExport: string[], infoToExport: InfoToExport[]): void {
-        const propertyList = ['identifier', 'title'].concat(contentToExport, infoToExport);
+    public exportMotionList(motions: ViewMotion[], contentToExport: string[]): void {
+        // reorders the exported properties according to motionImportExportHeaderOrder
+        const propertyList = motionImportExportHeaderOrder.filter(property => contentToExport.includes(property));
         const exportProperties: (
             | CsvColumnDefinitionProperty<ViewMotion>
             | CsvColumnDefinitionMap<ViewMotion>)[] = propertyList.map(option => {
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ export class MotionCsvExportService {
                     label: 'state',
                     map: motion => this.motionRepo.getExtendedStateLabel(motion)
                 };
+            } else if (option === 'motion_block') {
+                return {
+                    label: 'Motion block',
+                    map: motion => (motion.motion_block ? motion.motion_block.getTitle() : '')
+                };
             } else {
                 return { property: option } as CsvColumnDefinitionProperty<ViewMotion>;
             }
@@ -83,6 +88,7 @@ export class MotionCsvExportService {
         );
     }
 
+    // TODO does not reflect updated export order. any more. Hard coded for now
     public exportDummyMotion(): void {
         const headerRow = ['Identifier', 'Title', 'Text', 'Reason', 'Submitters', 'Category', 'Origin', 'Motion block'];
         const rows = [
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-import.service.ts b/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-import.service.ts
index e630bfc2d..3ec2c0dce 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-import.service.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-import.service.ts
@@ -4,15 +4,16 @@ import { MatSnackBar } from '@angular/material';
 import { Papa } from 'ngx-papaparse';
 import { TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 
+import { BaseImportService, NewEntry } from 'app/core/ui-services/base-import.service';
 import { Category } from 'app/shared/models/motions/category';
 import { CategoryRepositoryService } from 'app/core/repositories/motions/category-repository.service';
 import { CreateMotion } from '../models/create-motion';
 import { MotionBlock } from 'app/shared/models/motions/motion-block';
 import { MotionBlockRepositoryService } from 'app/core/repositories/motions/motion-block-repository.service';
+import { motionExportOnly, motionImportExportHeaderOrder } from '../motion-import-export-order';
 import { MotionRepositoryService } from 'app/core/repositories/motions/motion-repository.service';
 import { UserRepositoryService } from 'app/core/repositories/users/user-repository.service';
 import { ViewCsvCreateMotion, CsvMapping } from '../models/view-csv-create-motion';
-import { BaseImportService, NewEntry } from 'app/core/ui-services/base-import.service';
 import { ViewMotion } from '../models/view-motion';
 
 /**
@@ -74,17 +75,7 @@ export class MotionImportService extends BaseImportService<ViewMotion> {
         matSnackbar: MatSnackBar
     ) {
         super(translate, papa, matSnackbar);
-
-        this.expectedHeader = [
-            'identifier',
-            'title',
-            'text',
-            'reason',
-            'submitters',
-            'category',
-            'origin',
-            'motion_block'
-        ];
+        this.expectedHeader = motionImportExportHeaderOrder.filter(head => !motionExportOnly.includes(head));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-pdf.service.ts b/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-pdf.service.ts
index ceda73586..ffe88112a 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-pdf.service.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-pdf.service.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export type InfoToExport =
     | 'state'
     | 'recommendation'
     | 'category'
-    | 'block'
+    | 'motion_block'
     | 'origin'
     | 'tags'
     | 'polls'
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ export class MotionPdfService {
         }
 
         // motion block
-        if (motion.motion_block && (!infoToExport || infoToExport.includes('block'))) {
+        if (motion.motion_block && (!infoToExport || infoToExport.includes('motion_block'))) {
             metaTableBody.push([
                 {
                     text: `${this.translate.instant('Motion block')}:`,
diff --git a/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-xlsx-export.service.ts b/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-xlsx-export.service.ts
index f25c509fd..7387c91b1 100644
--- a/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-xlsx-export.service.ts
+++ b/client/src/app/site/motions/services/motion-xlsx-export.service.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
 import { Workbook } from 'exceljs/dist/exceljs.min.js';
 
 import { InfoToExport } from './motion-pdf.service';
+import { motionImportExportHeaderOrder } from '../motion-import-export-order';
 import { MotionRepositoryService } from 'app/core/repositories/motions/motion-repository.service';
 import { TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import { ViewMotion } from '../models/view-motion';
@@ -51,7 +52,9 @@ export class MotionXlsxExportService {
      */
     public exportMotionList(motions: ViewMotion[], infoToExport: InfoToExport[]): void {
         const workbook = new Workbook();
-        const properties = ['identifier', 'title'].concat(infoToExport);
+        const propertyList = ['identifier', 'title'].concat(infoToExport);
+        // reorders the exported properties according to motionImportExportHeaderOrder
+        const properties = motionImportExportHeaderOrder.filter(property => propertyList.includes(property));
         const worksheet = workbook.addWorksheet(this.translate.instant('Motions'), {
             pageSetup: {
                 paperSize: 9,
@@ -63,14 +66,13 @@ export class MotionXlsxExportService {
             }
         });
 
-        // if the ID was exported as well, shift it to the first position
-        if (properties[properties.length - 1] === 'id') {
-            properties.unshift(properties.pop());
-        }
-
         worksheet.columns = properties.map(property => {
+            const propertyHeader =
+                property === 'motion_block'
+                    ? 'Motion block'
+                    : property.charAt(0).toLocaleUpperCase() + property.slice(1);
             return {
-                header: this.translate.instant(property.charAt(0).toLocaleUpperCase() + property.slice(1))
+                header: this.translate.instant(propertyHeader)
             };
         });