EUReview & Call to Prayer (EURCP)

October 2005

Calling Christians in Europe to pray...before it’s too late

"... that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made... for kings and all who are in authority... “ (1 Tim. 2:1-2)

http://www.euprayer.com/

Visit the New Connection for EURCP – “Sentinelle De Priere” – http://www.sentinelle.info/

Emmanuel Duvieusart, Pasteur fondateur, email info@sentinelles.info 14 prayer walls in Europe

GERMAN ELECTION

Merkel: Union Will Occupy the Chancellery

10.10.2005 http://www.dw-world.de/dwelle/cda/popups/dwelle.cda.popups.drucken/0,,1432_AD_1736167_A,00.html

Angela Merkel appeared before the world's media on Monday in her first press conference as chancellor-designate and spoke of the coming grand coalition government as a "coalition of new possibilities." Christian Democratic Union chief Angela Merkel said on Monday she would be the next chancellor of Germany at the head of a coalition government. "The Union will occupy the chancellery," Merkel said, in a reference to her Christian Democratic Union after striking a power-sharing deal with the Social Democrats of outgoing chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

[SEE LINK for more]

Germany's SPD gets the knives out after deal with Merkel

By Bertrand Benoit in Berlin

Published: October 12 2005 03:00 | Last updated: October 12 2005 03:00

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f024dcf8-3abd-11da-b0d3-00000e2511c8.html

It did not take long. One day after Franz Müntefering, the Social Democratic party (SPD) chairman, revealed the political deal that will make Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democratic Union, the next chancellor of Germany, the SPD descended into civil war. [SEE LINK for more]

Political rise of Germany's Merkel

Monday, October 10, 2005; Posted: 7:07 a.m. EDT (11:07 GMT

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/10/10/merkel.rise.reut/index.html

BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- Conservative leader Angela Merkel is set to become Germany's first female chancellor, and the first to have been raised in the former communist east, under a deal struck with the country's Social Democrats (SPD), sources from both parties said on Monday..

Following are highlights of Merkel's political career:[SEE Link for list]

PRAYER: Pray that God will move in the heart of Christians in the Bundestag and of Chancellor Merkel so that whatever is His preferred government for Germany has a major influence on the affairs of the European Union.

TURKEY

Pessimism in Turkey rises with EU process
Turks are becoming increasingly ambivalent about a process that many feel will inevitably end in disappointment.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/03/news/turkey.php

Turkey: Austrians just say no
On the streets of Vienna, it is easy to see why there is an issue about Turkey joining the EU. Austrians, such as Gerhard Lachner, who runs a market stall, expressed fears about immigration and the threat to jobs.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/02/news/austria.php

The European Union and Turkey have finally agreed

From The Economist Global Agenda Oct 4th 2005

The European Union and Turkey have finally agreed on a negotiating framework that will allow formal talks on Turkish membership of the EU to begin. Within Turkey and outside it, there are questions about the predominantly Muslim country’s readiness for Europe

http://www.economist.com/agenda/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=4474123

PRAYER: Pray that the role of Turkey as a part of the European neighborhood will also be good for the spiritual life of Europe and will be a significant factor in the analysis by Europe’s leaders in defining that role.

The European Union opens accession negotiations with Croatia

noticias.info - Spain

... The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Mr. Olli Rehn, said: "I am very pleased that Croatia has responded positively to the need to fully cooperate with ...

See all stories on this topic

http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&hl=en&client=google&ncl=http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=105261&src=0

PRAYER: Pray that the negations with Croatia go in such a way that they would be a positive influence in Europe if they are admitted to the EU.

Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly – Women & Religion Report

CARE’s weekly news digest [is written by CARE and] is designed to help you respond constructively to the political challenges confronting society.

Unfortunately MP’s [MEP’s] at the Council of Europe, [EU Parliament] Parliamentary Assembly this week failed to either amend or refer back this unhelpful Report which smears all three monotheistic faiths as being generally ‘not benign’ towards women’s interests and calls for women’s ‘rights’ (an undefined term) always to take precedence over the human right to freedom of religion and its expression. It specifically calls on Member States to ‘ensure that women are not subjected to religiously inspired policies and laws (e.g. in the area of family, divorce and abortion law)’ and for ‘underage girls’ not to have their ‘freedom of movement’ or ‘access to contraception’ curtailed by their families.

This Resolution will now be referred to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers for decision. Please consider writing to Europe Minister Douglas Alexander or Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP expressing your concerns. A copy of the Report is available on our website http://www.careforeurope.org/index.htm

[Recommended prayer by “CARE”] PRAYER: Please pray that many Peers will speak against this “women and religion report” and also the practice of euthanasia. Ask that the role of the hospice movement and palliative care will be highlighted.

SPECIAL SELECTED REPORT

EU citizens respond negatively on Europe

http://euractiv.cabestan.com/Go/index.cfm?WL=31732&WS=7

In Short:

France emerges as the most negative on EU membership in a survey conducted in five member states revealing a general feeling of dissatisfaction among EU citizens.

Background:

Failure to ratify the Constitution in France and the Netherlands, indecision over the budget and disagreement over Turkey has cast doubts over the effectiveness of the European Union. Many member states are questioning whether EU membership is as advantageous a proposition as originally thought. Citizens throughout Europe are growing increasingly sceptical about the ability of governments to reach successful compromises and are rapidly losing faith in the viability of the EU as a fully functioning and operative working entity.

Issues:

According to a survey produced by the leading French market research company Sofres, citizens from five of the EU's six largest member states are predominantly negative about the effects of belonging to the EU. Results revealed that a large number of people remain unconvinced that the benefits of EU membership outweigh the disadvantages. Overall, the economic implications appeared to be the greatest cause for concern.

From the countries surveyed, Spain emerged as the most positive about its association with Europe - 57% of Spanish interviewees claimed that the standard of living in their country had improved as a result of EU membership. Spain was also the only nation whose respondents felt safer thanks to Europe. France proved to be the most eurosceptic nation with 43% of French interviewees answering that their country had become 'less prosperous' due to involvement with the EU. Conversely, only 29% believed that France had benefitted from its European ties.

Although more British participants claimed that the standard of living had improved since joining the EU (33% yes, 24% no), 48% said that their national identity and culture were under threat from closer European links. A majority of interviewees from all five member states agreed that prices had increased because of European integration. However, only respondents from Spain believed that EU involvement had made their nation more powerful on a global scale.

Other results:

-When asked to choose from a set of expressions that described Europe, 60% of respondents said "the euro", 51% said "the freedom to travel". "Prosperity" was only mentioned by 21% of those surveyed.

-Respondents whose professions were listed under "manual labour" proved to be least satisfied with the economic conditions of their nation since European integration - particularly in France (52%), Poland (49%) and Germany (47%).

-All the nations surveyed claimed to feel "more protected" because of Europe apart from Great Britain (36% no 24% yes).

-Women were generally more critical than men, while young people gave more positive answers than their senior counterparts.

-All the nations surveyed answered that unemployment is an issue that should be tackled at national level, apart from Polish respondents who felt that it was a challenge most effectively solved at European level.

PRAYERS:

Pray for clarity in the minds of the citizens of europe to understand the positive and the negative features of EU membership
Pray for leaders to come forth that will represent the best interest of their citizens and take effective positions in the political scene
Ask for God’s personal direction for your role and participation in the debate on the EU and know the facts to support your position. Write us if you need information.

3 MAJOR EVENTS from our ministry in Europe from 12 September to 3 October 2005

-25 NATIONAL PRAYER TEAMS

We visited Parliament Prayer for Scotland [ http://www.ppscotland.org/FAQ ] They meet weekly in Edinburgh during Parliament sessions; they are a template for beginning plans for “national prayer for parliament” centers in the capitol cities of the 25 EU (European Union) nations. This will include a very important prayer center in Brussels, Belgium, focusing on the European Union and its Parliament.

-EXPANSION OF EURCP COVERAGE

Each issue and distribution of our existing monthly “EUReview & Call to Prayer” newsletter will be joined with an existing 1,800 member prayer network from a church and intercession group in France, which is being distributed in six languages throughout Europe. We will also be exchanging information on our web pages.

- ROLE OF PRAYER AT 2 MAJOR EUROPE WIDE CONFERENCES

We will also provide EU prayer information for two major Christian conferences in Europe:

An annual “Round Table” of Para-church groups and leaders in Europe

A special conference to study “New Spirituality” teachings and practices in Europe

PRAYER: Pray that these initiatives will bear good fruit.

EURCP subscription is assumed at this point. Let us know by reply if you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE.

EUReview & Call to Prayer Ministries is conducting this multi-denominational ministry under the mission program of the Assemblies of God, Western Europe office, outside of Brussels, Belgium. The mailing address there is: EMC/EURCP (Gerald Branum.) 45 Chaussee de Waterloo, 1640 Rhode Saint Genese, BELGIUM EURCP@aol.com

ATTACHMENT - A New Connection for EURCP – “Sentinelles De Priere” – http://www.sentinelles.info/

Emmanuel Duvieusart, Pasteur fondateur, email info@sentinelles.info 14 prayer walls in Europe