EURCP NEWS for PRAYER 15 February 2012

Our name & mission “The European Union Review & Call to Prayer”

Part of TPM, Targeted Prayer Ministries, Newsletter publishers: Hugh & Norma Davis

WEB http://euprayer.com/ all back issues and EU info Next issue 1 March 2012

 

 

ADD TO YOUR NATIONAL PRAYER ORGANIZATION

 

Highlighted portions in long articles are for you to seek the HOLY SPIRIT’S direction in Prayer for Change. Check other sources. Suggestion – Then begin with prayer in the Spirit

CHANGING THE WORLD ONE PRAYER AT A TIME

 

Weekly word  13feb2012

 

How love can still shape Europe

Thanks to some guy name Valentine, the cash registers are ringing up sales of greeting cards, chocolates, roses, lingerie and perfumes this week all over Europe and beyond. Not a bad business, in both senses of the word.

Few would be able to tell you who this Valentine was, however. Maybe some casanova or loverboy from ages past?

Actually, no. Valentine’s story was no more romantic than that of the thousands of Christians who have been killed, wounded or forced to flee for their faith in Egypt in the first ten months of the Arab Spring (more than during Mubarak’s 30-year regime). For the unfortunate Valentine was an early Christian martyr, executed by Roman Emperor Claudius II. Sentimental but fabricated glosses have been added to his story in more recent times to link his name with the celebration of romantic love.

 

Thanks to some guy named Geoffrey in the 14th century, Valentine’s burial day, February 14, has become a global festivity of passion. Chaucer, famous for his Canterbury Tales, wrote a poem on the first anniversary of the royal enagagement between the King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, both only 14 at the time! Chaucer linked the engagement date with the saint’s day, which in turn coincided with the beginning of the natural mating season:

For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

["For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."]

 

Investment

Now thanks to another guy named Richard (British, but not a king), the whole week leading up to Valentine’s Day is being celebrated in 16 countries as Marriage Week, encouraging couples to invest time and attention into their relationship.

Former ywamer Richard Kane was standing at the cash register in a home improvement centre and observed the large amounts of money couples were spending on improving their homes. How much were they investing in their relationships? he wondered.

 

That thought became the driving force behind a movement that began in his native England in 1996 before spreading across the channel to Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Holland, Hungary, Belgium and Ireland, as well as across the Atlantic Ocean. Richard’s goal is 75 nations by 2021. If you are fortunate to be in a marriage, you should look after it, Richard told a conference of ywam leaders near London last week. He had just launched this year’s event in the Houses of Parliament, and was heading off to Brussels to talk with members of the European Parliament. Earlier he had addressed American congressmen and spoken at the White House Prayer Breakfast for the Marriage Week inauguration there.Richard’s idea was to encourage all sorts of activities, articles and attention focusing on the strengthening of the marriage relationship. Divorce is costing British taxpayers £7 billion each year. Its good sense for governments to invest in good marriages, he argues.

 

Consequences

Our last weekly word reported on Professor Govert Buys’ thesis that the Christian concept of ‘love’ fundamentally shaped Europe’s past. Richard is convinced that marital love, nurtured by time and attention, can continue to shape a much better Europe. Over the past months I’ve been living with the preparations for Marriage Week in Holland. My wife Romkje is the project coordinator. The committee commissioned an independent bureau to research the consequences of divorce. The results showed that children of divorced parents were twice as likely to experience divorce themselves, and were also twice as susceptible to psychological problems. This prompted a Christian member of parliament to ask in official question time if the government was prepared to make marriage courses tax-free, as are divorce costs. Also the secular weekly, Elsevier, ran a six-page cover story announcing that marriage makes one healthier, happier and richer!

 

Thanks to some photographer named Gert-Jan, this Jeffrey had to do all sorts of silly poses for a photo to accompany an interview with my wife, published in a national television guide.

What one does for love!

Till next week,

Jeff Fountain

 

THE EUROPEAN UNION REORGANIZATION February 2012

 

Monti –Italy, Merkel-Germany, Sarkozy –France

MONTI TO SUPPORT EU-WIDE TAX ON FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS

http://www.france24.com/en/20120111-monti-italy-support-eu-wide-tax-financial-transactions-france-germany-tobin-european-union-uk

 

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti expressed his support on Wednesday for a Franco-German proposal to tax financial transactions but said the tax should apply to all 27 members of the European Union rather than just the eurozone.

By News Wires (text)

LATEST UPDATE: 11/01/2012

 

AP - Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Wednesday threw his support behind a new tax on financial transactions, backing a push by Germany and France, but said he would prefer to have it apply across the whole European Union.German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have suggested it might suffice to enact such a tax among the 17-nation euro countries. Monti said he would rather have it applied across the full 27-nation EU -- which would be more difficult because of U.K. opposition -- but did not rule out a eurozone-only deal. “We are open to supporting this initiative at the EU level,” Monti said at a press conference with Merkel during his first visit to Berlin since taking over from Silvio Berlusconi in November.

***********

In Italy, Monti has already instituted painful austerity measures and said he planned to work closely with Merkel and Sarkozy in the coming weeks and months for wider European solutions to the crisis.He said Italy should not be seen as “a possible source of infection. ... Italy can do its full part, next to Germany and next to France, for stability.”

 

Merkel and Sarkozy on Monday stressed that they saw boosting economic growth in the 17-nation eurozone as a priority, a recognition that the focus on austerity cuts is unlikely to get Europe out of its debt crisis.Monti said he and Merkel agreed that they should strive to create real economic growth, not “ephemeral growth that is based on emergency measures, which given room to deficits and inflation.” “Growth needs to be based on structural measures in individual countries and also within the European framework,” Monti said. [open web link for more]

 

MERKEL

MERKEL: 'MY VISION IS POLITICAL UNION' [FR]

http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/merkel-vision-political-union-news-510395 Published 26 January 2012 - Updated 27 January 2012

 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has revealed her long-term vision for Europe, saying the debt crisis is forcing eurozone countries towards a federalist model and placing her on a collision course with the more eurosceptic UK.

In an interview with six major European newspapers, Merkel said closer integration was needed to resolve the EU debt crisis."My vision is political union, because Europe has to follow its own path. We need to get closer step by step, in all policy areas," Merkel said. The chancellor's European vision was made public ahead of a summit on Monday where EU leaders are expected to finalise a new treaty aimed at tightening fiscal discipline and deepening economic integration in the eurozone.

Without mentioning federalism, Merkel described a new architecture for Europe where EU institutions have the last word over member states, placing her on a collision course with British Prime Minister David Cameron, who has vetoed attempts to transfer more powers to Brussels "In the course a long process, we will transfer more powers to the Commission, which will then work as a European government for European competencies," Merkel said."This implies a strong parliament. The Council, which brings together heads of government, will form the second chamber. Finally, we have the European Court of Justice as the supreme court. This could be the future shape of the European political union in a while and, as I said, after many steps."

 

Two-speed union

Asked about the position of Britain, Merkel said Germany remained committed to a dialogue with all member states, whether they are inside or outside the euro.But at the same time, she said the crisis is forcing the 17 eurozone countries to take a step further by forging closer economic and political ties among themselves."Everyone will understand that the countries that have joined up in adopting a common currency should operate in a very close way," she said."We will be able to strengthen our common currency only if we increase our political dialogue, if we are ready to transfer more competences to Europe, step by step. … To do this, we need to give institutions more control rights and give them more teeth."

 

Eurobonds only after fiscal integration

Merkel reiterated her opposition to eurobonds as a way of addressing the short-term effects of the crisis. However, she remained open to the idea in the longer term, at the conclusion of a process of deeper economic and political integration."Eurobonds are not a solution for resolving the momentary crisis. We cannot think of a greater shared responsibility until we have reached a much deeper integration in Europe.""But for deeper integration, it is necessary, for example, that the Court of Justice of the European Union monitors national budgets, and much more.""If we were to have one day a harmonised financial and budgetary policy, other forms of cooperation and shared responsibility can then be found."

 

Call for structural reforms, not stimulus

Merkel said that, when it comes to growth policies, "some people still think in terms of expensive economic stimulus programmes".The German chancellor referred to unused European regional funds, which could be mobilised to support smaller businesses, youth employment and innovation. "Germany is ready to invest in structural funds in these useful areas," she said. But she also added that there were other ways of boosting growth, "which cost close to nothing," citing labour market rules that "should be more flexible," especially for young people.

 

European solidarity and national responsibility

Merkel deflected pressure to increase the eurozone's rescue fund, saying the key to reassuring markets was to restore lost trust in governments' policies. Germany's solidarity, she stressed, has to go hand in hand with a sense of national responsibility."If we express our solidarity, we must not however lose sight of our own responsibilities," she said, adding that the eurozone needed to tackle the root causes of the crisis by reducing economic disparities. "It is absurd to promise more money if we do not fight the origins of the crisis. In Spain, for example, more than 40% of youth are unemployed, which is also due to the legislation." [Open web link for more]

NEXT STEPS:

30 Jan.: EU summit in Brussels to finalise new treaty text

 

EU TREATY.

FISCAL TREATY STIRS POLITICAL DISPUTES IN EU COUNTRIES

http://euobserver.com/19/115090

01.02.12 @ 10:20

RELATED Czechs abandon EU fiscal pact, for now Franco-German 'growth' plan looks to EU funds and taxes Nine EU countries form splinter group on financial tax

BY VALENTINA POP

 

BRUSSELS  The Czech Republic's decision to not sign up to a new fiscal discipline treaty given the nod by EU leaders on Monday (30 January) has caused parties in the ruling coalition to lock horns - but the intergovernmental pact is proving controversial elsewhere too. François Hollande has pledged to re-negotiate the treaty if he wins (Photo: Francois Hollande)"This really harms the Czech Republic," foreign minister Karel Schwarzenberg said on Tuesday. "That much is clear to everyone, while our stance is absolutely unclear to everyone," the leader of the Top09 party, a junior partner in the centre-right coalition led by Prime Minister Petr Necas, added. Necas' own party, the right-wing Civic Democrats, is aligned with the country's eurosceptic president Vaclav Klaus, who has said he will not sign the pact. The eurosceptic president already delayed the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by withholding his signature back in 2009.

 

Prague's internal divisions were well known to those around the EU negotiating table. "If Schwarzenberg becomes president, maybe things will change," one EU politician quipped.At a press conference after the summit, Necas himself did not rule out that his country may join the treaty at a later stage - an allusion to the fact that Klaus will step down after March 2013 elections. But once back in Prague on Tuesday, Necas defended his stance and said Schwarzenberg's statement is "extremely ill thought-out." He noted that the pact is a big step towards a fiscal union - something Czechs did not vote for when they voted on EU membership in 2003.One of the three reasons Necas gave for his opposition to the treaty was the "complicated ratification procedure."

 

Referendum calls

Meanwhile, the new treaty has met with calls for referendums in Ireland and Denmark.Fianna Fail, the former ruling party in Ireland, on Tuesday joined other opposition groups in calling for a plebiscite.The government itself has asked Ireland's attorney general for a legal opinion, even though the language of the treaty has been crafted so as to avoid referendums. The opposition has pledged to take the matter to court if the attorney general says a referendum is not required.Eurosceptic parties on the left and right of the political spectrum in Denmark, a non-euro country which signed up to the pact, have also called for popular votes.The majority of parliament is in favour of the pact however, while a Gallup poll showed on Tuesday that 56 percent of Danes favour the treaty, with just 27 percent against.

 

French challenge

In France, the frontrunner for the April presidential elections, Socialist candidate Francois Hollande, is also making waves with his pledge to re-negotiate the treaty if he wins.Hollande wants an increased role for the European Central Bank, the creation of eurobonds and a European financial transaction tax.His position has prompted a debate in French political circles about whether the treaty can be re-opened after the current French President Nicolas Sarkozy signs it in March, as expected.The intergovernmental pact came about after Britain vetoed a change to the EU Treaty proper.The treaty is widely seen as part of a grand political strategy to enable Berlin to push through measures to raise its contrbution to EU bail-out funds.According to the Financial Times Deutschland, the plan is to increase the firepower of the bail-out funds from the current €1 trillion to €1.5 trillion.EU leaders will come back to the money issue on 1 when they meet in Brussels for another summit - the 15th since the crisis began.

PRESS ARTICLE Irish Times Financial Times Deutschland

 

CHILD PROTECTION

CAN THE CHURCH BECOME A LEADER IN PROTECTING CHILDREN?

ZE120203] The World Seen From Rome

Date: 2/4/2012 12:58:08 A.M. Central Standard Time

From: infoenglish@zenit.org

Victim Expresses High Hopes for Symposium on Clergy Sex Abuse

By Ann Schneible

 

ROME, FEB. 3, 2012 (Zenit.org).- This Monday through Thursday, the Gregorian University will host the international symposium "Towards Healing and Renewal," on the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. One of the greatest hopes is that the symposium will act as a catalyst for developing a culture of listening and healing within the Church.At a press conference today, some of the speakers discussed the main themes of the conference, and the primary concerns to be addressed.Marie Collins, a victim of clerical abuse who will give her testimony to the symposium in the coming days, spoke regarding the progress that she hopes Church leaders will make in the protection of children and the pastoral care of victims."There is still a huge anger among survivors at the Church and at the Church leadership," she said. "And as we know, there are many, many reasons for this anger. Despite apologies for the actions of the abusers, there have been few apologies for the protection given to them by their superiors." [open web link for more]

 

 

 

UK EU ISSUES

UK PM: EU TRANSACTION TAX PLAN MADNESS

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/cameron-tells-europe-bolder-000552091.html

Press Association – Thu, Jan 26, 2012

 

 

EU ECONOMY

CORPORATE DEFAULTS SET TO SOAR IN EUROPE

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/02432268-4e90-11e1-ada2-00144feabdc0.html#ixzz1ldSRViAF

February 6, 2012 8:08 pmBy Robin Wigglesworth, Capital Markets Correspondent

 

European corporate defaults are widely expected to climb sharply this year despite the recent improvement in credit market sentiment as bank lending cuts and a deteriorating economic backdrop put many smaller or indebted companies under pressure. Analysts have markedly increased their 2012 default forecasts for European companies rated below investment grade, or junk, and some restructuring advisers warn the pain could rise close to levels seen at the nadir of the financial crisis.

 

European banks are under immense pressure to raise capital or shrink their loan books to meet new regulations with most choosing the latter course. A European Central Bank survey showed that credit conditions tightened sharply in the last three months of 2011, with banks reporting that they expected lending conditions to deteriorate further this year. “We haven’t seen it trickle into the default rate yet, but I think it will soon,” said Peter Briggs, a senior restructuring adviser at boutique firm Alvarez & Marsal. “Companies are going to find it hard to operate in this macroeconomic environment, and banks are becoming increasingly selective over who they are willing to support.” [open web link for more]

 

NEW EU

ONE EUROPE - ONE MARKET MEETING

http://eu2012.dk/en/Meetings/Conferences/Feb/One-Europe---One-Market

02.02.2012

 

As a prelude to the informal competitiveness Council meeting to be held in Copenhagen, the Confederation of Danish Industry and the Danish Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the European Commission Representation in Denmark, are pleased to invite you to the high level conference In 2012 the Single Market can celebrate its 20 year Anniversary. The Single Market has been a great success and brought prosperity and jobs. However, it is time to take stock of achievements and discuss the way forward. In 20 years the Single Market should still be one market, including the digital world. kwww.di.dk/onemarket

 

CHINA EUROZONE

IMF WARNS CHINA ON EUROZONE FALLOUT

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/bd70fe6a-50e9-11e1-8cdb-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1mHoernEb

By Jamil Anderlini in Beijing  February 6, 2012 6:32 pm

 

Economic growth in China could drop by half this year in the event of a sharp recession in Europe, the IMF predicted on Monday in a report that underscored the importance of global trade to the world’s second largest economy.

 “The risks to China from Europe are both large and tangible,” and “China would be highly exposed through trade linkages,” said the report, which was published by the IMF’s resident representative office in China.

 

The IMF’s forecast for China’s annual growth in 2012 has already been lowered to 8.2 per cent from a previous forecast of 9 per cent but if Europe’s performance is worse than expected then China’s export-driven economy would be badly hit. “In the absence of a domestic policy response, China’s growth could decline by as much as 4 percentage points relative to the baseline projections [of 8.2 per cent] leading to broad-based consumer and asset price deflation,” the report warned.That would entail a growth rate far below the level the ruling Communist Party has identified as necessary to create enough jobs for it to maintain its grip on power.But Beijing has been loathe to run large government deficits in past years and this means the government could probably afford a relatively large stimulus in the event of such a downturn. [open web link for more]

http://irishecho.com/?p=69629

 

GREECE

GREECE CLEANS UP AFTER NIGHT OF RIOTING

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/13/world/europe/greece-debt-crisis/?hpt=hp_t2

By the CNN Wire Staff

February 13, 2012 -- Updated 1706 GMT (0106 HKT)

 

Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Anger over Greece's austerity measures exploded in the streets of Athens early Monday as tens of thousands of protesters clashed with police in riots that left 106 police officers and dozens of civilians injured, according to police. The riot, widely described as one of the worst in Athens since Greece began dealing with its crippling debt crisis in 2010, broke out after the Greek Parliament approved a new package of austerity measures in return for a new eurozone bailout of the debt-stricken country. Protesters among a crowd estimated by police at about 80,000 hurled rocks and firebombs toward police. Officers responded with tear gas. At least 74 people were arrested, police said. Police said investigators were still tallying property damages, but the Athens News Agency said more than 45 buildings were damaged by fire and numerous others were looted. Among the damaged buildings were a bank, cafes and a movie theater, the news agency reported. [open web link for more]

 

NEWS ITEMS

 

 

SYRIA

HAARETZ EXCLUSIVE: SYRIA DOCUMENTS SHOW IRAN HELPING ASSAD TO SIDESTEP SANCTIONS

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/haaretz-exclusive-syria-documents-show-iran-helping-assad-to-sidestep-sanctions-1.412353

Published 01:10 12.02.12Latest update 01:10 12.02.12

By Barak Ravid

 

Iran has been helping Syria bypass the international sanctions imposed on it for massacring civilians, according to documents from the Syrian president's office obtained by Haaretz.The documents show that Iran has given the Syrian regime more than $1 billion, which would help it overcome the oil embargo and other moves including restrictions on flights and sanctions against the central bank.

 

The documents were leaked following a cyber-attack by hackers known as Anonymous against the e-mail server of the Syrian president's office. Seventy-eight employees in President Bashar Assad's office had their e-mail hacked. One of these accounts belonged to the minister of presidential affairs, Mansour Azzam; it included two documents signed by him that dealt with relations between Syria and Iran.

 

Syrian document obtained by Haaretz.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Follow Haaretz.com on Facebook and share your views.

The two documents were authored two months ago and detail discussions by senior Iranian delegations visiting Syria. The documents are written in ambiguous language and only in a number of places do they detail ways Syria would be aided to bypass sanctions. The document repeatedly refers to Syria's wish to "learn from the Iranian experience in this area."The United States, Turkey, the European Union, the Arab League and other countries have imposed severe sanctions on Syria due to the regime's attacks on civilians. As part of the sanctions, all Arab League members have ceased contact with the Central Bank of Syria, and commercial flights from Arab countries to and from Syria have stopped. The European Union has imposed an oil embargo on Syria.Around 20 percent of Syria's gross domestic product derives from oil sales, with 90 percent of Syrian oil being exported to the EU.

 

On December 8, Azzam sent Assad and other senior figures a document entitled "Memo on the visit of the Iranian delegation to Syria." The delegation included 10 senior members of the office of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and representatives of the Central Bank of Iran and other Iranian ministries. The delegation met with Syrian Prime Minister Adel Safar, the head of the Syrian central bank, and the ministers of finance, trade and oil.As a result of the disturbances around the country and the sanctions, the Syrian regime is undergoing an economic crisis. The regime needs revenue, in part to pay the armed forces and the gangs of thugs - the Shabiha - it uses against the demonstrators. It also needs to pay the salaries of the tens of thousands of officials whose loyalty is vital. [open web link for more]