EU Review & Call to Prayer (EURCP) - December, 2003

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

 

BULLETIN - the European Union Constitution – Closing days negotiation news and prayer insight


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”

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3 December 2003, Praise & Prayer Ministries International – Hugh E. and Norma Jenson Davis

 

The European Constitution may well hang on the balance of referenda across various EU member states. Seven countries have already declared that they

will consult their citizens. Click here to see the exact situation in each of the 25 EU countries:

http://www.euobserver.com/?aid=13266

Europe is voting in June 2004. For the latest updates on the Parliamentary elections, party politics, and MEP campaigns don't miss our new section,

'EP Elections 2004'. Go to: http://euobs.com/?sid=154

Kind regards,   The editors, EUobserver

 

[EUobserver.com article] Conservative leaders make no headway on Constitution - 05.12.2003 -

 

[EURCP Note: This article is a good explanation of the debate and a clarification of the issues before the IGC. In EURCP’s personal visits with European Christians and churches, the primary issues seem to be “Judeo-Chrisitan heritage” and “full voting representation for each sovereign nation”. These could most likely affect our freedom of religious expression.

We urge you to review this article and pray about your position. Then PRAY for the negotiations and whether an approval decision is near. Does God like what will happen? If not you should pray for delay.]

 

Article link>> http://euobs.com/?aid=13789&rk=1

Conservative leaders make no headway on Constitution

Jean Pierre Raffarin [Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the prime minister of France, is a 53-year-old moderate right-wing senator from the free-market Liberal Democracy party (DL).]  called the meeting in Paris but there was little progress on the usual sticking points (Photo [0n link]: European Commission)

 

EUOBSERVER / PARIS - Conservative leaders from around Europe, representing the European People's Party, have been unable to bridge their differences on the EU Constitution.

 

Meeting in Paris on Thursday (4 December) to discuss progress on the treaty blueprint, the talks fell at the familiar hurdles: the proposed new voting system, the number of commissioners and defence.

 

Speaking to journalists afterwards, Italian Prime Minister and current head of the EU, Silvio Berlusconi, characterised the most contentious issue on the table - the voting system - as a question of "prestige".[EURCP Note: Could also be called full and equal representation as a separate nation]

 

He characterised Madrid and Berlin's position on the new voting system - with Spain implacably opposed and Germany strongly in favour - as representing the "outer limits of the debate".

 

Mr Berlusconi said he would meet Germany's Gerhard Schröder before the final summit on the Constitution at the end of next week.

 

While Spain (along with Poland) has traditionally been extremely outspoken on wanting to keep the present voting system - which gives it a relatively strong position in the council of ministers - Germany has now also upped the stakes.

 

In an interview with the Financial Times, Germany's foreign minister Joschka Fischer warned that Spain's and Poland's position could risk splitting the EU.

 

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who initiated the meeting, kept his language deliberately vague.

 

"There can be some changes to the Convention [text] but we hope they will be limited and based on consensus. Important advances have been made but there remains work to be done", he said.

 

Similarly, the leader of the EPP, Wilfried Martens said that they had managed a "common perspective" and all had agreed that there had to be "movement on the discussions".

[EURCP Note: EPP, more conservative MEP voting bloc]

 

The one concrete issue that they agreed was that a reference to Europe’s Judeo-Christian heritage be included in the future Constitution.

 

Last ditch attempt

Mr Berlusconi summed up pragmatically by saying that the EPP covered different countries with different peoples.

 

However, he will be trying to persuade all of these countries and more to come to an agreement on the Constitution before the final EU [IGC] summit on 12-13 December. [EURCP Note; Prayer window, now to 13 Dec.]

 

In addition to today's meeting with seven EU conservative prime ministers, the Italian Prime Minister will also meet French President Jacques Chirac, Greece's Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Gerhard Schröder

 

Written by Honor Mahony  Article published 05.12.2003 - 09:16 CET

Printed from EUobserver 05.12.2003 Copyright EUobserver 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

The information may be used for personal and non-commercial use onl This article and related links can be found at:

http://www.EUobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=13266&sid=231  

 

EU IGC (Intergovernmental Council) meeting schedule

http://www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe/1?204&OIDN=500748&-tt=FU

 

 

 

 

 

 


Pnpmi (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 NjensonDavis3@aol.com

 


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