EUReview & Call to Prayer (EURCP)

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 through prayer and involvement, can the Christians act effectively for their governing legislation and policies.

The EU is at a pause or a new beginning. Our one comment is that Europeans have demonstrated a need to know more about what the issues are and what the recommendations are. This may take some time and some discussions between east and west Europe. Also many prayers by European Christians. This is good. We will try to provide help with this information. Some possible developments in UK, Germany and France may have positive impact on the future. Let us join in prayer that the following information for prayer will help make this possible.

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20 August 2005, EUReview & Call to Prayer Ministries – Hugh E. and Norma Jenson Davis

Information from these ARTICLES with some with links [in FR and DE included] and prayer requests

UK to cancel formal October EU summit in favour of social model debate

The future of the EU: Two-tier or two lungs?

"Europe has to be More Modest"

EU Battles to Keep Crisis From Widening

Curing the EU's Democratic Deficit?

Young people trust EU institutions more than national ones

Referenda on EU Constitution - state of play in the member states

Turkey on verge of meeting EU conditions

Austria to extend work ban for EU newcomers

Bulgaria's new government commits itself to EU goal

Opinion: Schröder Caught in the Middle

Politics and Religion Don't Mix

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.”;also Psalms 9:11-19 and 10:12-18

UK to cancel formal October EU summit in favour of social model debate

http://euobserver.com/?aid=19670&print=1

05.08.2005 - 08:22 CET | By Honor Mahony

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The British EU presidency is to cancel the traditional formal meeting of European leaders in October in favour of an informal discussion on the future of the bloc's social model, German news agencies reported on Thursday (4 August).

The meeting, which would normally take place in Brussels, was supposed to concentrate on how to fund the EU in the future after the budget summit failed in June. Instead, this issue is expected to be largely left to the Austrian presidency beginning in January. The informal nature of the meeting means that the 25 EU leaders will not be flanked by their foreign and financial ministers, which may lead to a more off-the-cuff discussion.

Europe's social model and what it means and how it can be adapted to survive in an increasingly globalised world is one of the key themes to be thrown up in recent months, particularly in the run up to the French referendum on the EU constitution. [more on link..]

© EUobserver.com 2005 Printed from EUobserver.com 09.08.2005

PRAY for: wisdom in priorities in this discussion of “Europe’s social model” and funding, that they will come to wise and just conclusions, good for all of Europe, not just their own areas.

The future of the EU: Two-tier or two lungs?

http://www.praguepost.com/P03/2005/Art/0728/opin1.php

(Is a 25-nation union too large to function? Consider another divide)

July 27, 2005

By William A. Thomas

Brian Adcock

The European Union expanded last year with the addition of 10 new nations, and it will continue to expand in the next 10 years with up to 20 new member states, not only in Europe, but in Asia Minor and beyond, perhaps as far as Israel.

The founders of the concept of the common market, namely Robert Schumann, Alcide de Gasperi and Jean Monnet, began with the concept of the union of Christian states within Western Europe with a "common agricultural policy." Now that the common market has evolved into the EEC, the EC and now the EU, will a new name be brought forward to indicate that it has expanded way beyond its original mandate?

Firstly, it may be said that Europe is no longer a union of Christian states; Christianity is no longer recognized in fact or in theory. France has decided to remove all crucifixes (as the ultimate sign of love, albeit paradoxically) from its schools. Italy was also in trouble earlier this year with the crucifix following the complaint of a 15-year-old Muslim girl that the sight of the cross made her uncomfortable and hence a court ordered its removal.. [continued on link…]

— The author is a resident of Strongfort, Craughwell, County Galway, Ireland.

PRAY: that Europe’s religious heritage will not be totally lost in trying to adapt to various cultures; but that it will be accepted as a vital factor in the European values system

"Europe has to be More Modest"

04.06.2005

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1605331,00.html

Elmar Brok, conservative European MEP and member of the convention which drew up the EU charter told DW-TV that it should have been approved before expansion and warned the EU had to take note of its citizens' concerns.

DW: Mr Brok, you are almost part of the political landscape in both Brussels and Europe - is the European Union going through its biggest ever crisis after the two "No" in the referendums in France and the Netherlands?

Elmar Brok: No, technically speaking, it's not the biggest crisis. There have been "Nos" before - from Denmark or Ireland over the Maastricht and Nice Treaties, for example. But the constitution is especially significant and of course the French "No" in particular carries a lot of weight. If you look at the type of discussions which are now going on, you start to worry that we're walking on quicksand, and there's nothing you can do about it. But you get the impression it's not just hyperbole - after this double "No," Europe seems almost paralyzed.

We have to recognize that the constitution was already too late. It should have happened before the European Union took in the ten new members last year. The 25-strong EU won't work with the current body of legislation, because the decision-making processes are so complicated and so difficult. Everyone said that, if one country rejected the constitution, then it wouldn't happen at all, so isn't it already dead as a dodo?

The interview was conducted by Alexander Kudascheff

http://www.dw-world.de © Deutsche Welle

PRAY: for the Lord’s will about the constitution – in timing and content - that what develops will be good for Europe – and not a hindrance to any element of the plan of God for this time

EU Battles to Keep Crisis From Widening

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1605765,00.html

05.06.2005

The EU risks further turmoil as it fights to avoid a escalation of one of its worst crises even as French and German leaders underlined Saturday that the ratification process of the new constitution should go on.

The 25-nation bloc is desperately grappling for a way ahead after French and Dutch voters dealt an apparently fatal double-blow to its long-cherished constitution last week. But there is no obvious solution, and the crisis is threatening to drive a wedge between key EU governments not only about the fate of the constitution, but about the whole future of the European project. [continued on link…]

Author AFP/DW staff (sp) http://www.dw-world.de © Deutsche Welle

PRAY: that national cultures and religious values be respected in debates on EU principles and policies.

Curing the EU's Democratic Deficit?

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1606863,00.html

07.06.2005

The referendums in France and the Netherlands on the EU constitution gave citizens a real, if disapproving, voice in the EU's future. But some question if referendums are a good way to chart the EU's future direction.

Last week's ballots in both France and the Netherlands, in which majorities rejected the EU constitution, were a blow to the EU elites, just as many voters intended them to be. The charter, hammered out in tortuous fashion over several years, went down to defeat in two of the EU's founding countries: 55 percent of the French said "non"; 61.1 percent of the Dutch screamed "nee." For many voters, the referendums were a way to express the widely held view that the EU is an imperious bureaucracy that is unresponsive to the concerns of everyday people.

"No one seems to be in charge and no one seems to be listening to us," Iwan Amier, a 41-year-old limousine driver in the Netherlands, told Reuters. He voted against the constitution to send a message to those in charge that he does exist and wants a say in how the European Union moves forward”. "These referendums have been an earthquake for the European elite," said Carsten Berg of the Brussels-based Initiative and Referendum Institute Europe. "They have shown those in Brussels, who seem to think everything about European integration is going fine, that out there among the population there is a real difference of opinion.". [continued on link…]

Author Kyle James, DW-WORLD.DE http://www.dw-world.de © Deutsche Welle

PRAY: that more consideration be given to maximizing national responsibility in knowing what is really important to its own people, as well as for the whole Union.

Young people trust EU institutions more than national ones

http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-142942-16&type=News&_lang=EN&email=7581

Published: Tuesday 26 July 2005 | : Thursday 28 July 2005

In Short:

European institutions enjoy more trust among the European youth than the national institutions, reveals a European project on young people and political participation.

Brief News:

An EU-funded project 'EUYOUPART' (Political Participation of Young People in Europe) conducted 8,030 face-to-face interviews among Europeans between age of 15 and 25 in eight EU countries. The results show that the majority of young people (63%) are not interested in politics and that young people trust the European institutions more than their respective national institutions. [continued on the link…].

Published: Monday 18 July 2005 | : Friday 29 July 2005

http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-142652-16&type=LinksDossier&_lang=EN&email=7581

PRAY: that Christian young people be motivated to care about the EU and be involved in keeping its values compatible with Christian values and concerns.

Referenda on EU Constitution - state of play in the member states

Constitution Sunday 31 July 2005

Constitutional Treaty Convention IGC 2003-4 Referenda

http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-130616&type=Overview&_lang=EN&email=7581

Published: Thursday 7 October 2004 | : Monday 25 July 2005

Langues / Sprachen: [FR][DE]

In Short:The European Council adopted the final text of the Constitutional Treaty on 18 June 2004. The Treaty was signed on 29 October 2004. Starting on this date, the member states had, in principle, two years for its ratification. EurActiv sheds light on the current state of play in each country.

Background: The European Council agreed on the EU's first-ever Constitutional Treaty on 18 June 2004 (see also EurActiv 21 June 2004). The Constitutional Treaty was signed on 29 October 2004, under the Dutch EU Presidency. In principle, the Member States have two years to ratify the Treaty with the ratification process varying from Member State to Member State depending upon whether direct democracy (via a popular referendum) or parliamentary democracy is favoured.[continued on link…]

PRAY: that those reviewing the constitution seek to recognize the traditional positive and Christian values fundamental to the development of European life and history..

Turkey on verge of meeting EU conditions

Published: Tuesday 26 July 2005 | : Tuesday 26 July 2005

http://www.euractiv.com/Article?tcmuri=tcm:29-142941-16&type=News&_lang=EN&email=7581

In Short:

Turkey is ready to sign a protocol extending its customs union to Cyprus - a move which will see Ankara meet the final condition for opening accession talks in October.

EU-Turkey relations [continued on link…]

PRAY: that Turkey is only admitted to the Union if its admission fits into God’s plan for Europe

Austria to extend work ban for EU newcomers

18.08.2005 - 09:41
Austria is to extend a ban for workers from new EU countries for another three years, with a possibility of applying a maximum transition period of seven years until 2011.
Article >> http://euobserver.com/?aid=19697&rk=1

PRAY: For fairness in national concerns for human equality and rights and that countries not lose their Christian concerns and heritage in considering economic well-being.

Bulgaria's new government commits itself to EU goal

18.08.2005 - 09:44

Bulgaria's new government has committed itself to working towards the goalof EU membership, planned for the beginning of 2007.
Article >> http://euobserver.com/?aid=19696&rk=1

PRAY: Again for fairness in national concerns for human equality and rights and that countries not lose their Christian concerns and heritage in considering economic well-being.

Opinion: Schröder Caught in the Middle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,1685068,00.html?maca=en-bulletin-433-html

With less than a month left until Germans go to the polls, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder appears to be in a tight spot. Maybe his decision to have an early election wasn't such a great idea, says DW-WORLD's Marc Young.

If you're looking for an early political obituary to go with Germany's early election, you're in the wrong place. Although things look grim for him at the moment, I won't be tolling the bells for Gerhard Schröder just yet. He's pulled off seemingly impossible comebacks before and he might do so again.

That said, it's hard these days not to get a feeling of inevitability about the impending end to Schröder's seven-year tenure. Flip open a paper or turn on the television in Germany and you're bombarded with retrospectives over the legacy of his so-called "red-green" coalition government. And Schröder's relaxed presence on the campaign trail is often chalked up to his actually being relieved about soon being relieved of his responsibilities in Berlin. Perhaps. Indeed, it does not look good for Gerd: While his Social Democrats (SPD) are stuck at 30 percent in opinion polls, the Christian Democrats (CDU) have stabilized over 40 percent and the new socialist outfit, the Left Party, continues to pull in nearly 10 percent nationally.

Surprising his opponents

I imagine this isn't how the chancellor expected the campaign to play out after he decided in May to bring forward the next general election by a year. September probably seemed far away back then. By springing the snap poll after the state election debacle in SPD-stronghold North Rhine-Westphalia, Schröder had masterly wrong-footed his opponents both inside and outside his own party.

The conservative opposition was able to throw together a response, but the rough edges have shown. Not only has CDU chancellor candidate Angela Merkel seemed unsteady on the campaign trail, several of her colleagues have been extremely adept at insulting eastern German voters. Still, much to the chagrin of the SPD, all the gaffes haven't particularly dented the conservatives' standing in opinion polls.

PRAY: that the German election be guided by the prayers of its people and that its next chancellor be God’s person for that key roll in Europe.

Politics and Religion Don't Mix

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/briefs/0,,1685931,00.html?maca=en-bulletin-433-html

Germany 20.08.2005

The Vatican has restrained itself from getting involved in the German election campaign during the World Youth Day in Cologne. There have been very few meetings between Benedict XVI – the first German pope in over 500 years – and German politicians. With the exception of an official state visit with German President Horst Köhler on Friday, the Pontiff only granted the country's top candidates for the Sept. 18 elections a 15-minute audience. After the brief meeting was over, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder declined to make any statements to waiting journalists. His challenger, Angela Merkel simply said of the talk with Benedict XVI: "We are all proud to have a German pope."

PRAY: that religious motivations are supportive of moral and human values.

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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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