EU Review & Call to Prayer (EURCP)30 October 2003

the IGC bulletin 2c

The Intergovernmental Conference, whose aim is to agree on a Constitutional Treaty for the European Union

 

(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: 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” [Each article below is followed by a suggested prayer subject if needed.]

 

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30 October 2003, Praise & Prayer Ministries International – Hugh E. and Norma Jenson Davis

We will be in Belgium 7 Nov to 25 Nov. Email us if we can be of service. Check our web page:  http://www.euprayer.com  a good addition to your web site list with many links. Some sites have various EU languages translations. DAILY CHECK  links:  http://www.euractiv.comhttp://euobs.com  Draft Constitutional treaty http://www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe/1251149-449?204&OIDN=2000712&-tt=fucn

 

PRAY that the laws which will now be agreed to and will govern the 25 member nations of the European Union will be in agreement with 1 Timothy 2:1 & 2.  Select for specific prayer those issues that will be on the agenda of each day as listed below.

THIS [the IGC] IS AN HISTORICAL PRAYER MILESTONE

You prayers now, and over the days until 13 December 2003, will shape the lives of most of the nations of Europe. Do not have to look back on these days and wish you had prayed and done your best to ask God  to direct the affairs of Europe.

PRAY that participants in the IGC who are Christian will pray and receive the right inner guidance from the Holy Spirit to recognize the legitimate concerns for obtaining EU spiritual compatibility with God’s plans for Europe. PRAY that this will be clear and not clouded by other special interests.

STUDY NOTE: Study the relationship between articles and events and pray for understanding.

 

Detailed information on differences surfacing at  "Intergovernmental Conference 2003" |

 Link to current detailed reports on national official and delegates positions

http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/Search/Search.htm?SearchType=1&SearchString=&SelectedCategory=68&AllCategories=False&FullText=False&Sort=0&AreaAll=True&AreaNews=False&AreaForum=False&AreaLegislation=False&AreaInterviews=False&AreaPressReviews=False&Page=0&PageAlpha=A&SearchKeywords=&DisplayAll=False&ShowNav=True

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CONTENTS

1. The IGC Watch -4.10 to 13.12.2003 detail documents

2. Seven countries back Christianity in Constitution- 24.10.2003

3. “Ruined" Germany on new collision course with Brussels - 24.10.2003

4. EU Presidency pledges to propose compromise early enough to keep IGC deadline 23.10.2003

5. Schröder threatens to block future EU financing - 22.10.2003

6. Chirac rules out Constitution poll for now - 20.10.2003

7. EU to act on religion in the workplace - 20.10.2003

8. European Finance ministers (?) plotting to retain more influence in the proposed EU constitution?

9. Member states play waiting game on Constitution - 16.10.2003

 

 

1. The IGC Watch

The Intergovernmental Conference will generate the new European Constitution. For all your resource needs on the IGC go to:

http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?preview=true&aid=12963&previewKey=a07fa76637

 

The Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) started in Rome 4 October 2003 with the aim of agreeing a new European Constitution to replace the current EU treaties.

The basis for the negotiations is a draft Constitution, agreed by consensus in the Convention in July 2003.

*The basic IGC documents

*The five latest IGC documents

*The IGC documents in chronological order

*The IGC documents according to topic

*The IGC documents by origin

Website  Italian EU Presidency  IGC Documents  EUobserver.com  EUabc.com  

 

Written by / Edited by Peter Jonasson Pedersen

2. Seven countries back Christianity in Constitution - 24.10.2003 - 16:02

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The demand to have Europe's Christian values mentioned in a new European Constitution is now being backed by seven countries.

Article >> http://euobs.com/?aid=13199&rk=1

 

The demand to have Europe's Christian values mentioned in a new European Constitution is gaining increasing support. Now, seven of the 25 countries participating in the negotiations of a new European Constitution support the call, according to the Italian EU Presidency.

 

The seven countries are: Spain, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. As the current holder of the EU Presidency, Italy is abstaining from taking a stand on the issue. But it is well known that Rome supports the demand as well.

 

The Convention, which drafted the Constitution, included a reference to the religious heritage of the European identity and civilisation. But the Convention failed to make an explicit reference to the Christian heritage. The seven countries feel this is unacceptable. The issue might now be up for debate when the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) is held on Monday (27 October) in Brussels.

 

The French President Jacques Chirac has made it clear that he will defend the lay character of the French state and is not going to accept a "religious reference" in the EU Constitution. Also the majority in the European Parliament has rejected an inclusion of a reference to the "judeo-christian roots of Europe" in the preamble of the new treaty. MEPs were against the proposal by 283 to 211.

 

Italian treaty draft by the end of November

On the agenda for Monday's meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels are also the rotating presidencies and the use of qualified majority voting in the European Union. Italy's draft of the future European constitution will be ready by the end of November, said the Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in the European Parliament's constitutional affairs committee on Tuesday (21 October).

 

The draft, on which EU heads of state and government are expected to take a final decision in December, will be a global proposal based on a series of bilateral consultations and a summit of foreign ministers in Naples on November 28 and 29, added Mr Frattini

 

Written by Lisbeth Kirk 

PRAY for wisdom and anointing to accomplish God’s desire for this subject.

 

3. "Ruined" Germany on new collision course with Brussels - 24.10.2003 - 08:43

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Germany admitted for the first time yesterday that it would break the EU's economic rules for the third year in a row. In theory, this could result in huge fines from the European Commission, but Brussels is likely to be lenient and give Berlin an extra year to comply with the rules.

Article >> http://euobs.com/?aid=13184&rk=1  [See article 5 note]

 

4. EU Presidency pledges to propose compromise early enough to keep IGC deadline

Date: 23/10/2003 08:40    

http://www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe/1?204&OIDN=1506494&-tt

In short:

On 22 October, the Italian Presidency highlighted its action plan for finding a consensus on the EU Constitution by its targeted deadline of the end of 2003. 

Background:

Speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg, Silvio Berlusconi, the head of the rotating Council Presidency, explained on 22 October that in order to find a compromise on the outstanding issues relating to the new EU Constitution, a negotiating method has been chosen which is "different from previous ones".

 

5. Schröder threatens to block future EU financing - 22.10.2003 - 08:30

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The German Chancellor has put the screws on EU partners in the looming battle over a new EU Constitution.

Article >> http://euobs.com/?aid=13144&rk=1 [PRAY that power politics alone will not rule the EU]

 

6. Chirac rules out Constitution poll for now - 20.10.2003 - 07:58

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French President Jacques Chirac on Friday (17 October) appeared to rule out a referendum on the EU Constitution for the time being.

Article >> http://euobs.com/?aid=13099&rk=1 [PRAY for God’s plan and it’s progress on this issue]

 

7. EU to act on religion in the workplace - 20.10.2003 - 08:16

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.Article >> http://euobs.com/?aid=13097&rk=1

 

Under new EU laws which will come into force in December, a workplace must provide space for religious workers to pray, whether they are Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh or any other religion, writes the Sunday Times. Workers will also be given time off to attend religious festivals and events.

 

The regulations - known as the employment equality rules - will allow Christians to refuse to work on a Sunday and Jews to refuse to work on a Saturday. Muslims will be entitled for time off to attend their annual festivals, known as Eid. Some religious observances could become commonplace in the workplace.

 

The rules will allow Sikhs to carry a hidden ceremonial sword to work. Muslims will have to be given time off work for a pilgrimage to Mecca - which each Muslim is supposed to perform once in his or her life. Hindus must be allowed to shave their head as a sign of mourning and be allowed to scatter the ashes in the Ganges, in India - requiring a lengthy period off work.

 

The rules have already created confusion amongst employer groups. The Confederation of British Industry told the Sunday Times, "if you stop production at Christmas, should we be keeping our plant or offices open for non-Christians in the workplace?" 

  Written by Richard Carter 

PRAY that this works our correctly for all parties.

 

8. EU NEWS: EU – Ecofin

© B&NNS Radio International. Danish and international news, October 27, 2003 banns@banns.com

European Finance ministers are said to be plotting to retain more influence in the proposed European constitution - at the expense of other institutions. The group of EU Finance Ministers - known as the ECOFIN council - reached a secret common position on the constitution at an informal meeting in Stresa, Italy, last month, according to the reports. EU sources are quoted as saying that the ministers want to lessen the role of other institutions in favour of ECOFIN. There are two main targets for the ECOFIN council, the Stability and Growth Pact - which sets rules for the 12 countries that share the euro - and the EU budget.

PRAY that ECOFIN will not have undue influence on EU policies.           

 

9. Member states play waiting game on Constitution - 16.10.2003 - 17:36

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It became clear at a meeting of EU leaders on Thursday on the EU Constitution that nothing will be agreed until everything is agreed.

Article >> http://euobs.com/?aid=13073&rk=1

PRAY for wisdom and anointing to accomplish God’s desire for the content of the Constitution.

 

HOW BEST TO PRAY FOR THE EU

1.         Know God is expecting you to ask so He can answer. Pray daily. (See scripture after heading)

 

2.         Know as much as you can about people and situations; tell God you know He understands, but you are asking as He told you to do. Ask Him to enlighten you as necessary. Pray specifically when you know.

 

3.         Thank God that he will give the right answer to the issue at the right time.

 

4.         Ask God to reveal Himself to as many in the EU as possible through witness or revelation.

 

5.         For those in rebellion against His Word, ask God to change their minds or block their schemes. Don’t name names because you may not know what you think you know. God does know.

 

 

 

Late Addition

Date: 27/10/2003 08:15    

http://www.euractiv.com/cgi-bin/cgint.exe/?204&OIDN=1506516&-home=home

 

EU Foreign Ministers to undermine future powers of Parliament?

In short:

The agenda of the Foreign Ministers' meeting of 27 October features the rotating EU Presidency, qualified majority voting and the budgetary powers of the European Parliament. 

PRAY for that meeting and the anointing on any Christians attending.

 

 

 

 

 

Hugh and Norma Davis


 

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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