EU Review & Call to Prayer (EURCP)08 February 2004

(By Praise & Prayer Ministries International   http://www.EUPrayer.com)

 

***2 May 2004 Prayer for the EU Sunday***


The Word

1 Timothy 2: 1,2 "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." [Your prayers 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. 7. If you ABIDE in Me, and My Words ABIDE in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you

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.”

 __________________________________________________________________________________

08 February 2004, Praise & Prayer Ministries International – Hugh E. and Norma Jenson Davis

Our web page   http://www.euprayer.com/          Other language EU News   http://www.euractiv.com/  [fr] [de]

 

INDEX

YWAM ANALYSIS AND REPORT ON EUROPE IN 2004

FRANCE, GERMANY WARNED NOT TO PUSH FOR "CORE EUROPE" BEFORE CONSTITUTION IS AGREED

LAST-MINUTE DOUBTS AS FRENCH DEBATE VEILS IN SCHOOL

POLISH PM TO DISCUSS CONSTITUTION WITH AHERN

IGC, PRESIDENCY ADDRESSES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE  

IRISH MINISTER MCDOWELL BRIEFS THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COMMITTEE ON CITIZENS’ FREEDOMS

            AND RIGHTS, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS  

THE EUROPEAN PEOPLE'S PARTY CONGRESS – LIST OF NATIONAL PARTIES

**********************

YWAM analysis and report on Europe in 2004

http://www.ywameurope.org/contact.htm

 

 [EURCP comment, YWAM Europe is a leading evangelical organization of European Christians. We felt this report by them was worth sharing]

 

They talk four about reasons for hope

 

These include:

1. on going signs of growing spiritual hunger

2. consequences of the expansion of the European Union and the ongoing God-in-the-constitution

            debate

3. the slow dawning in the west of global spiritual realities

4. signs of an awakening people of hope...

 

Split

As the year drew to a close, Italian premier Berlusconi's promises to pull something out of his pocket "at the last minute" to push the draft constitution for the EU through to adoption proved mere smooth talk. The main sticking point was primarily the proposed new voting rules, which many felt would give too much power to the grouping's 'big four' of Germany, France, Britain and Italy. But another 100 issues still remained to be decided, including proposed majority voting on foreign policy, allowing 60 percent of the bloc's population to carry the day. And whether or not God should be mentioned in the charter,

 

The God-in-the-charter issue has split Europeans along the lines of Enlightenment-Humanist versus Judeo-Christian. Giscard d'Estaing, former French premier and main architect of the draft constitution, dug in his heels against all personal efforts of the pope to change his mind to include an explicit reference to God and Europe's Judeo-Christian roots. The Frenchman stood firm on his conviction that the European institutions belonged to the secular universe, not the religious domain. In the draft version of the constitution's preamble, Europe's roots are described as 'the cultural, religious and humanistic traditions of Europe'. Churches do get a mentioned further down in article 51, when the importance of continued dialogue between church and Union is acknowledged.

[See attachment to this email for continuation of this report by YWAM]

 

PRAY that Christians recognise the difference in the issues at stake and their advocates.

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France, Germany warned not to push for "core Europe" before Constitution is agreed

http://www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe/1?204&OIDN=1507083&-tt=

EurActiv Date: 30/01/2004 12:00     . 

Brief news:

 The leaders of Germany, France and Britain will meet on 18 February to co-ordinate their positions and enhance their cooperation ahead of the next round of EU enlargement, the Financial Times reported on 29 January. Ministers responsible for foreign policy, the economy, finance, employment, education, and social affairs of the three countries will also sit together to discuss EU policy issues. The meeting will prepare common positions for the March European Council at which a report by the EU Presidency on the state of play of talks on the EU Constitution will be discussed.

 

However, the idea of closer cooperation led by the two largest original EU members has prompted fear in smaller EU countries. On 29 January, the Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot warned France and Germany not to "sow discord and confusion" by calling for "a Europe of leading groups" at the time when the EU Constitution is still under discussion.

 

PRAY that power politics will not  jeopardise  the rights of the smaller nations

************************

Last-Minute Doubts as French Debate Veils in School

http://www.reuters.com/printerFriendlyPopup.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4271788

 

Tue February 03, 2004 08:52 AM ET   By Tom Heneghan

 

PARIS (Reuters) - Critics and some supporters of France's plan to ban religious symbols in state schools voiced last-minute doubts whether the bill to be presented to parliament Tuesday would succeed in stemming extremism.

 

The bill, to be presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday by Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, looked set to pass easily, enabling France to bar Muslim headscarves, Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses from public classrooms.

 

After weeks of emotional debate linked in part to next month's regional elections, voices from both camps questioned whether the law designed to stem a perceived wave of Islamic militancy among Muslim youths can actually do the job.

 

"The law is going to pass," said Lhaj Thami Breze, president of the large Union of French Islamic Organizations (UOIF). "We say, couldn't it include discreet headscarves, bandannas, a hairband or a cap among the symbols that are allowed?”This law targets Muslims, it stigmatises Islam and it will lead to exclusion," he told Reuters. Because of this "monumental error," he said, many girls will quit state schools and "we'll see private (Muslim) schools sprouting like mushrooms."

[Continued on this link

http://www.reuters.com/printerFriendlyPopup.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4271788]

PRAY that sectarianism does not spread beyond France and jeopardise religious freedom

*****************

Polish PM to discuss Constitution with Ahern

 [From the Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

http://www.valleyskeptic.com/poland_catholic.html

“The leftwing government of Mr Miller came into office last year pledging to liberalise the abortion regime, but has since got cold feet. Mr Miller now says there will be no reform under the current government, while Poland's president, Alexander Kwasniewski, last week declared: "The present abortion law works."

 

“Uniquely in the EU, Ireland enjoys a special provision declaring that no EU laws or rules can affect its constitutional ban on abortion. Malta, joining the EU at the same time as the Poles, negotiated a dispensation with Brussels safeguarding its abortion ban. “

 

PRAY that Polish Christians have a strong prayer influence on their PM

***********************

IGC – Presidency addresses European Parliament Constitutional Affairs Committee  

 http://www.ue2004.ie/templates/news.asp?sNavlocator=66&list_id=93

 

Date: 20 Jan 2004 

Policy Area: General Affairs and External Relations 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen today addressed the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on the current state of play regarding the IGC.

 

"Mr Chairman, Members of the Committee   I am delighted to be present here this morning and look forward to a valuable discussion about the current situation in the Intergovernmental Conference.  I will set out briefly the Presidency's intentions and plans, and outline what has happened so far since last month's European Council meeting.  But for me the most important aspect of this session is the opportunity to hear your views and to receive your advice and insights.

 

Clearly, in our planning for the Presidency, we took full account of the possibility that we would have to take forward the IGC.  But, to be frank, we had hoped that it would be possible for final agreement to be achieved in December.  That would have left us only with the important, but less complex, task of preparing the final text of the Constitutional Treaty for signature.  Of course, a great deal of very good work was done under the Italian Presidency since the IGC began on 4 October, and I will say a little about this in a moment.   But, as we all know, it was not possible to complete the IGC at that time.

 

The European Council therefore gave the Irish Presidency a mandate to consult with partners and to present a report to the Spring European Council, which will be held on March 25th and 26th.    We take our responsibilities with the utmost seriousness and I can assure you that we are already fully engaged in this vitally important task. 

 

Logically, our work falls into two parts.  First of all, we must be sure that we fully understand the views and concerns of all our partners, and of all those concerned with the IGC, including of course the Parliament.   We have to listen to what everyone has to say and, through active dialogue, tease out the exact nuances of their positions.  We want to have available to us the most complete and the most accurate possible picture of the situation.

[Continued on this Link http://www.ue2004.ie/templates/news.asp?sNavlocator=66&list_id=93]

 

PRAY that the 25 March meeting and that IGC has strong Christian representation participating and praying.

**************************

Minister McDowell briefs the European Parliament Committee on Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs  

 http://www.ue2004.ie/templates/news.asp?sNavlocator=66&list_id=107

 

Date: 21 Jan 2004 

Policy Area: Justice and Home Affairs 

Mr Michael McDowell, T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of Ireland and President of the Justice and Home Affairs Council today addressed the European Parliament Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs.

 

Minister McDowell emphasised his commitment to working closely with the European Parliament over the term of the Irish Presidency.  "The Parliament is one of the key institutions of the Union and, uniquely among these institutions, derives its mandate directly from the people.  It plays a critical role in advancing the work of the Union", said Minister McDowell.  The Minister added that he would like to see fruitful and constructive engagement between the Parliament and the Council over the coming months.

 

Mr McDowell informed the Committee that the Irish Presidency is fully committed to the creation of an area of freedom, security and justice, one of the five core objectives of the Union

 

[For the middle part of this link http://www.ue2004.ie/templates/news.asp?sNavlocator=66&list_id=107]

[Final paragraph]

 

Human Rights

The Minister said that support for human rights is a core value which underpins the Union.  In that context he placed great emphasis on today's hearing on the report on fundamental rights in the European Union, because the Union is committed to the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for universal and indivisible human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law

 

PRAY there is no compromising language in the religious freedom human rights section

****************

The European People's Party congress

The European People's Party congress, a crucial decision on the no-frills airline Ryanair and discussions about the unofficial Geneva initiative will all take place next week in the EU.

[The EPP probably has the largest confessing Christian participation and is the largest EP party]

Article >> http://euobs.com/?aid=14274&rk=1

 

European People’s Party (EPP) list of 30 political parties in the 15 member states

[Know your MEP political national players http://www.epp-ed.org/links/en/default.asp]

 

PRAY for EPP convention and for participating Christians that they keep their voice and remain strong in the EPP and in the European Parlament

*******************

 

 

 

 

 

***2 May 2004 Prayer for the EU Sunday***

 

[Special attachment from YWAM]

EUReview & Call to Prayer (EURCP) SPECIAL APPENDIX

 

1. Ahern says 20 issues remain open in EU Constitution - 05.02.2004 - 09:52

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Irish Prime Minister and current head of the EU Presidency, Bertie Ahern

has warned that there are 20 issues still to be resolved in the EU

Constitution.

 

Article >> http://euobs.com/?aid=14332&rk=1

 

05.02.2004 - 09:52 CET

 

Ahern says 20 issues remain open in EU Constitution

 

Irish Prime Minister and current head of the EU Presidency, Bertie Ahern, has warned that there are 20 issues still to be resolved in the EU Constitution.

 

Speaking before the Irish Parliament, Mr Ahern said, according to the Irish Times, that while the media had decided there were just two outstanding issues, there were in fact about 20.

 

"What we must now try to do is to narrow the list because whoever, whether me or someone else, has to have an IGC [intergovernmental conference] with over 20 issues on the agenda would never get agreement", he said on Tuesday (4 February).

 

Mr Ahern listed some of the open issues as being the new voting system (as the biggest one), whether to have one commissioner per country, the overall number of MEPs, the ending of national vetoes in some areas and aspects of justice and home affairs.

 

The Irish Prime Minister said he would be able to provide a full report on 17 March - a week before EU leaders gather in Brussels for a summit to discuss - amongst other things - how to proceed with the Constitution.

 

Talks failed on the treaty blueprint in December when the 25 current and future EU member states were unable to reconcile their differences over a new voting system.

 

The disagreement pitted Germany - in favour of the new system - against Poland and Spain - implacably opposed.

 

Press Articles  Irish Times   

 

Written by Honor Mahony

 

PRAY that God’s hand will guide the selection and resolution of these open issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PLEASE FORWARD THIS COPY TO OTHERS WHO NEED TO KNOW AND PRAY

[Translators and participants needed for the EURCP]

 

 

 

PPmi (Praise & Prayer Ministries International - Hugh & Norma Jenson Davis) 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

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