EU Review & Call to Prayer (EURCP) – 30 August 2003

Lakitelek Conference Issue II

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

THE WORD [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." Your prayers implement God’s Word. John 15:7]

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[CLARIFICATION NOTE: We do not necessarily endorse any article or organization represented, but to let you know (Matt 5:14-16) what is being said and know how to pray specifically. Specific prayer is often the most effective. We will try to make clear which organization is responsible for each article.]

REPORT ITEMS

1)  Lakitelek, Hungary - The International Christian Conference, September 10-13, 2003

2)  Pope: Enlargement is a fresh spiritual source - 18.08.2003

3) Denmark set to be excluded due to EU opt-outs - 15.08.2003 - 09:10

4) Communion and Liberation movement call for recognition of Chrisitan Roots Rimini, Italy, (Zenit.8263)

5) Top Social Democrat goes against EU constitution - 13.08.2003

6) German federal judge attacks Constitution - 01.08.2003

7)  Berlusconi stresses importance of Constitution - 04.08.2003

8)  Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer

9)  Italy/Rome backs plan for quick constitution

1) Lakitelek - The International Christian Conference, September 10-13, 2003

The council will be the second stage of an initiative. The first meeting was held in December 2002 also at Lakitelek, when Christian and Christian Democratic parties and NGOs from more than 10 countries discussed ‘new chances for Christian politics in Europe’. The conference ended with a Declaration on the common values and conceptions, and the participants founded the European Christian Political Movement to realise the principles and to be the ‘framing network’ of their cooperation. The Declaration and all information about the coming conference can be read on the homepage of the Movement: http://www.ecpm.tk.

Values for Europe - Lakitelek 2003

The second conference titled "Values for Europe" will be held at one of the most enchanting venues in Europe, Lakitelek, in the center of Hungary between 10th September (Wednesday evening) and 13th September (Saturday morning) 2003. In the weekend the participants of the conference may have the opportunity to see the sights of the countryside or the capital of Hungary, Budapest.

Lakitelek 2003 aims to..

- facilitate a meeting between representatives of Christian political parties, movements and youth organisations from present and future EU-member states.

- discuss a number of political issues relevant to the parties involved, such as the impact and importance of EU-membership for political parties, politics and Christian ethics within the EU-framework; family, civil society, pro life policy after the enlargement.

- explore the support and possibilities for future cooperation within a European Christian political network.

- articulate the possible strategies of Christian politics at the European level regarding the relation of European societies to the Christian, or more generally, to the human values.

 [PRAY for the success of this critical conference for these participants who have given legs to our prayers.]

2)  Pope: Enlargement is a fresh spiritual source

http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=12382

18.08.2003 - 09:34 CET

The Pope is calling on European leaders to consider the spiritual dimension of enlargement (Photo: EP)

Speaking ahead of next year's historic enlargement of the European Union, Pope John Paul II has called on both political leaders and citizens to consider its spiritual dimension, and "not only think about money and the borders". Speaking to pilgrims at his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, about 30 km from Rome, the Pope said that Europe is facing a crisis of values and should strengthen its identity by re-inventing its spiritual force, originated in Christianity.

"Christianity has formed the spirit of Europe, and some of its fundamental values have inspired the democratic ideal of human rights," said the Pope, according to the ANSA agency. The entry of ten new countries to the EU on 1 May, 2004 - with the Pope’s homeland, Poland, as the biggest of them - should be viewed not only as the mere agglomeration of new states, but also as the spiritual unification of people with their consciences, values and different cultures.

PRAY for the new nations of the European Union, that they may be willing to exercise there moral and spiritual influence in the Union.

3) Denmark set to be excluded due to EU opt-outs - 15.08.2003

The Danish EU opt-outs in common defence and justice and home affairs are set to have dramatic consequences in relation to up and coming new European Union treaty, according to a foreign ministry memo.

Link to article >> http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=12371

PRAY that the EU Constitution will allow countries to have op-outs, which relate to Christian values issues. 

4) Communion and Liberation movement call for recognition of Chrisitan Roots in EU Constitution

RIMINI, Italy, AUG. 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- A meeting organized by the Communion and Liberation movement has asked that a draft of the European Constitution not be approved because it fails to mention the continent's Christian roots. Roby Rona, spokesman of the "Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples," presented the request to the Italian government, which occupies the rotating presidency of the European Union this semester, and which seeks consensus to approve the draft of the Constitution this autumn.

In a statement on Monday, Ronza called for a "radical revision of the draft," which would imply "a postponement in the signing of the European Constitutional Charter."  The message of greeting to the meeting, sent on behalf of John Paul II by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, stated that the event should remind "the peoples of Europe, who seem to vacillate under the weight of their history, where their roots are imbedded."

The meeting, which has attracted 600,000 people to this coastal city, opened Sunday with an address by Pierferdinando Casini, president of the Italian Chamber, who also stressed the need to refer to the Christian roots in order to understand Europe. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, however, said the request would not be easily implemented. He told a diocesan weekly newspaper Verona Fedela that, "in addition to Italy, only Spain, Ireland and Poland" support the mention of Christian roots, while 21 countries are opposed.

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PRAY that voices like those above will have some influence on the final EU Constitution.

5) Top Social Democrat goes against EU constitution - 13.08.2003

Link to article >> http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=12355

The leader of the Danish Social Democrats in the European Parliament, Torben Lund, would like to see the European Constitution turned down in a referendum next year. "I think it goes too far in giving away influence from the national parliaments to Brussels", Mr Lund says.

PRAY that each nation act in such a way that their best interests are served and that there action has the right influence on the EU Constitution’s final content.

6) Top German judge fears too hasty EU constitution

21.08.2003 - 17:25 CET

Link to article >> http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=12407

 EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A top German judge, based at the Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, has said that he fears that Europe is pushing ahead with its plans for an EU Constitution too quickly. In an interview with the EUobserver, Professor Siegfried Bross, a constitutional judge and leading expert in European law, said "the problem is that the process at EU level is going too quickly and a certain slowing down would not be amiss".

He adds that the new Constitution is such an "extraordinary treaty and the EU is such a complex organism itself that I cannot, as a lawyer and judge, understand why there is so much time pressure and why more time is not taken to think over certain issues". One of the biggest problems with the draft Constitution, in Prof. Bross' opinion, is that it does not account for a dispute over competences between the EU and its member states. "This is a big gap that should not be underestimated", said the judge.

Big gap in the Constitution

He calls for a separate court to judge on disputes over competences. The European Court of Justice cannot do this as it may not rule on national constitutional law and the equivalent national courts may not do it as they cannot rule on interpretation of European law. Such a new court should be at European level and should have a representative from each member state - but it should not be a European institution.

PRAY that the EU constitution allows for the valid cancers of the member nations be given a fair and sincere judicial review.

7) Berlusconi stresses importance of Constitution - 04.08.2003

The EU could "waste away" without the common rules and foundations included in the European Constitution, according to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Mr Berlusconi also faced fresh questioning about his

role in the diplomatic spat which overshadowed the start of his presidency. Link to article >> http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=12282

8) Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer warned current and to-be EU governments not to endanger the success of the IGC on the EU Constitution by breaking the consensus.  [Date: 27/08/2003 EurActiv]

http://www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe/872674-528?204&OIDN=1506055&-home=home

9) Italy/Rome backs plan for quick constitution

25.08.2003 - 09:44 CE

Link to article >> http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=12422

The Italian and German governments have agreed to seek a quick adoption of the European Constitution, with as few changes as possible. The agreement to limit the number of amendments made by governments when they pour over the document later this year is being seen as an attempt by Rome to place relations between the two countries on a better footing.

 Meeting with his Italian counterpart on Saturday in Verona the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder spoke in favour of having the draft Constitution adopted without changes. Pleased with the draft presented by the Convention on the Future of Europe Berlin is keen to see that the agreement is not watered down. Whoever opens the packet, will not manage to seal it again, the German Chancellor warned.  It looks like he has now secured Italian support, which will be essential.

PRAY that each nation act in such a way that their best interests are served and that there action have the right influence on the EU Constitution’s final content

HOW TO PRAY FOR THE EU

1. Know God is expecting you to ask so He can answer [John 15:7 “If you abide in me and my words abide in you shall ask what you desire and it shall be done for you!”]. Pray daily and communicate continually..
2. Know as much as you can about the people and situations; tell God you know He understands, but you are asking as He told you to do, specifically with qualifications of His greater view. Ask Him to enlighten you as necessary.
3. Thank God that he will respond with the right answer to the issue at the right time.
4. Ask God to reveal Himself to many in the EU and many others outside.
5. For those in rebellion against His Word, ask God to block their purposes. Hesitate to name names because you may not know what you think you know. God does know

ASK EURCP: Do you have a question about the EU and Christian concerns? Ask it. Email us - we’ll find a good response from a responsible person. Use our web page for many Links.

POST ON YOUR BULLETIN BOARD

READ THESE PRAYER REQUESTS FOR EU ISSUES

1)  PRAY for the success of The International Christian Conference at Lakitelek and for these participants who have given legs to our prayers that their objectives would be achieved for the good of all Europeans.

2) PRAY that the new members of the EU would bring some of their values which would balance out some of the more secular humanists values of the original states.

3) PRAY that the EU Constitution will allow countries to have op-outs, which relate to Christian values issues.

4 PRAY that more recognition be given to Europe’s Christian roots in some way.

5-9)PRAY that the on-going debate provide the kind of constitution that would provide a fair and sensitive document protecting the rights and values of all Europeans of good will and PRAY for the new nations of the European Union, that they may be willing to exercise there moral and spiritual influence in the Union

TRANSLATERS NEEDED FOR THESE MONTHLY PRAYER REQUESTS TO POST THEM ONCE A MONTH OR READ THEM AT A MEETING

Hugh and Norma Davis

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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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Our email is: eurcp@EUPrayer.com or NjensonDavis2@aol.com

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