EUReview & Call to Prayer (EURCP)

MEMBER STATE RELATIONS AND ENLARGEMENT

 

This is a call to prayer. Our primary purpose is not to advocate issues, but a call to prayer about issues, issues that might impact the Christian community of Europe, and the rest of the world.  As the EU government agencies begin to define the rule of law for the new Europe, only the Christians can act effectively for their governing legislation and policies.  Let us join in prayer that this information will help in doing this.

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30 November 2004, EUReview & Call to Prayer Ministries – Hugh E. and Norma Jenson Davis

 

PRIMARY HEADLINES

1. Romania – admission negotiations

2. Ukraine – election struggle

3. Turkey – admission negotiations

4. New Members and Neighbours - policies

5. Denmark – negative polls

6. Norway – positive polls

7. European Commission President vows to champion reforms

8. YWAM European director warns on enlargement policy

 

The Word to pray [1 Timothy 2: 1 "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." [Prayers that implement God’s Word]. John 15: 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who ABIDES in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If you ABIDE in Me, and My Words ABIDE in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” [The conditions for freedom] 2Chronicles 7:14” if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

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Articles are selected from different sources. EurActiv is used when possible as it offers 3 languages.

Most the articles will only have a summary. Some will be more fully presented. We are assuming that you are able to open and read linked articles locate them on your search engine if links are missing.

French homepage >> www.euractiv.com/?_lang=FR  German homepage >> www.euractiv.com/?_lang=DE

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MEPs support Romania's accession schedule

>> www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-132680-16&type=News&_lang=EN

Stressing the need for close monitoring, the members of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee say they support Romania's accession timetable.

EU-Romania relations  [PRAY for Romanian negotiations]

 

EU and Russia struggle to conceal divisions over Ukraine - 26.11.2004

>> http://euobserver.com/?aid=17849&rk=1

Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU representatives struggled to

conceal diverging geopolitical interests over Ukraine on Thursday during a

summit in The Hague. [PRAY for Ukrainian democracy and religious freedom]

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey's EU bid: a 'third way' looming?

>> www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-132381-16&type=News&_lang=EN

A month before the EU's scheduled decision on Turkey's membership bid, question marks remain over the 25 member states' ability to reach a unanimous verdict. Meanwhile, the spectre of a 'third way out' appears to loom large.

Bot: Turkey could join EU in 2015

>> www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-132313-16&type=News&_lang=EN

If everything goes as scheduled, Turkey could join the EU by 2015, according to Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot. Meanwhile, French President Chirac believes that a "third option" is also feasible.

CEPS Turkey in Europe Monitor

>> www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-132312-16&type=Analysis&_lang=EN

Issue 10 of CEPS Turkey in Europe Monitor presents an article and extracts of two other articles, demonstrating the arguments that are used in favour of and against Turkish accession to the EU.

[PRAY for Turkey and EU negotiations, that their role in Europe will be for the greatest good]

 

State aid in the new member states

>> www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-129629-16&type=LinksDossier&_lang=EN

The EU's regime for state aid aims to prevent member states from protecting or promoting companies to the detriment of competitors within the EU. The underlying goal is to guarantee an undistorted single market and to boost competitiveness. The ten new member states have to comply with the existing EU laws (the 'acquis') but some transition periods have been agreed during the negotiations.

The EU's new neighbours

>> www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-129625-16&type=LinksDossier&_lang=EN

The EU is in the process of drawing up a coherent policy framework for its new neighbourhood. The three main objectives are enhancing co-operation in the political field as well as in security matters and social-economic development in a way that is distinct from EU membership.

[PRAY for fair treatment of all member states and good relations with our neighbours]

 

Danish ministry submits Constitution report - 24.11.2004

>> http://euobserver.com/?aid=17835&rk=1

The Danish Ministry of Justice has concluded that the new EU Constitution will curb Denmark's sovereignty in a number of areas. [PRAY for God’s guidance in Denmark’s response]

 

Norway EU  from news_letter@banns.com  11/26/2004

The polls in Norway show that there is a stable majority in favour of Norwegian membership of the European Union. This Sunday it’s 10 years since the last referendum on EU membership in Norway – then some 52% rejected membership. The polls now show that 48.5% would vote in favour with 40% against. [PRAY for Norway’s future with Europe and it’s neighbors]

 

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EU chief vows to champion reforms

By Graham Bowley International Herald Tribune, Tuesday, November 23, 2004

BRUSSELS José Manuel Barroso came out fighting here Monday, his first day as president of the European Commission, saying the uncertainty surrounding the incoming commission had not dented the European Union's credibility but was a sign of a growing EU political maturity.

 

Setting the controversy aside, Barroso, speaking in an interview, vowed to push forward on economic reform in Europe.

 

But he also signaled a strong willingness to allow leeway for countries - such as Germany, the EU's biggest economy - where economic growth has been sluggish.  He said he would fight to expand the EU's budget, controversial since some of the EU's biggest paymasters want to freeze payments.

 

Barroso ventured as well into international affairs with criticisms of Russia and the United States for human rights abuses. [PRAY for President Barroso and his administration of EU affairs]

 

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The old Trojan horse trick??  22 Nov/04   [YWAM Weekly Words]

REMEMBER THE WOODEN HORSE OF TROY? Ancient Troy, as the current Brad Pitt movie reminds us, was situated in modern Turkey, across from Gallipoli on the Dardanelles (those straits that help link the Aegean Sea with Black Sea). The Greek adventurer Odysseus and his friends tricked the Trojans into allowing the famous wooden horse full of soldiers into the enemy camp. Hence the expression, 'Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!'

 

Next month, European Union leaders are set to make an historic decision to invite Turkey to begin EU membership talks. Some are afraid that Turkey's entry will be a Trojan-horse-in-reverse, allowing Islam an unprecedented official entry into what has been until now basically a 'Christian' club. History's battles, for example, at Vienna's gates in 1683, will have been fought and won in vain, some say, if now the gates of Europe are opened wide by our politicians to Turkey 's Islamic millions.

 

So, should we now be wary of Turks bearing gifts?

 

Talks over the last few weeks with Turks in Holland, Turkish Christians in Turkey and western Christians in Turkey–and a little background reading–have cautioned me not to assume this is yet another diabolic plot to overthrow the last vestiges of Europe's Christian heritage. In fact, I suspect there just might be some grander divine purpose behind this historic development.

 

Two things are very clear. Firstly, unlike the famous wooden horse, Turkey will not be admitted overnight within the EU city walls. The process is likely to last at least a decade, perhaps a decade and a half. That could put us into 2019! And secondly, almost everyone I've talked to agrees the process so far has been a very healthy influence on Turkey, as the nation strives to meet the Copenhagen Criteria for starting the membership talks. [See link for full article]

[PRAY for Turkey and her right role in the European family}

 

Weekly Words are the personal reflections of Jeff Fountain and do not necessarily express the official position of YWAM. They may be reproduced with due acknowledgment.

Past WW's may be viewed and downloaded at: www.ywameurope.org/news/word.asp

 

 

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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

(Your comments are welcome. Your assistance is needed. Can you help mobilise Christians to pray and participate? This call to prayer needs to be prepared by Europeans in other languages and with greater distribution!)


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