This link from my friend Roger. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and French President Nicholas Sarkozy have called for the creation of a permanent post for European President at a press conference following an EU leaders' meeting in Brussels last Thursday. The Lisbon Treaty, which was rejected by the Republic of Ireland in the union's only public referendum earlier in the year, would have established the permanent posts of President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs for the European Union. The presidency currently operates on a rotational system, whereby each member state government takes turns at leading the EU for a six month period. But the energy crisis of 2006, the Russian invasion of Georgia, the latest global financial crash and the <insert your preferred crisis here> has many people asking whether or not the present system is adequate for dealing with such long term issues.

Quote: ""I do not know whether we are in condition to propose to president Sarkozy to be president of the European Council - I think he does not want it after his experience in the last months," Mr Barroso said referring to the Russia-Georgia conflict and the financial crisis, which the French president has had to tackle. "In any case, me, I would vote in favour, of course," Mr Barroso added, smiling. Mr Sarkozy stressed that the current situation of the EU presidency rotating from country to country every six months "must change," so that "tough dossiers" do not keep being passed around.

The Republic of Ireland is the only country within the European Union who's constitution must be amended by a public vote. Many in the Republic feared that their country would lose even more of its sovereignty if they chose to sign up to the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty will give the EU its own legal identity on the world stage. Already many embassies of EU nations are closing their doors and combining to form a single European embassy. If the free state votes 'Yes' to the Lisbon Treaty, many are afraid that the Republic would inevitably lose its traditional neutral status, and be forced to contribute troops towards a European army for any future conflicts. The EU's new Charter on Fundamental Rights could also overturn the state's ban on abortion. After the French and Dutch rejection of the EU Constitution, Luxemburg Prime Minister Junker said he believed they didn't really reject the treaty at all, they just didn't understand what they were voting for. And following the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty, France and Germany described the 'No' vote as a serious blow to the process, but urged the EU to press on regardless. And true to their form, EU leaders are now looking at ways of forcing through a 'Yes' vote for the Lisbon Treaty, in a second referendum that could be put to the Irish prior to the European elections next June.

Quote: "Minutes of the event, and of a separate dinner with the French minister for European affairs, record how key French politicians and other MEPs said that Ireland should be put in an "untenable position" by pressing Poland and the Czech Republic to ratify the treaty by December. The minutes were made available by a high-level source who attended both events. They tally with publicly available EU minutes but include direct quotes rather than the diplomatic language of the official record. The meeting and dinner heard how Ireland's "intellectual mediocrity and lack of political courage" led to the rejection of the Lisbon treaty and included discussions of how to "cuddle and pamper" the Irish voter ahead of a new vote while at the same time "making pressures on them".

What part of the word 'No' do the politicians not understand? When it comes to the European Union, it seems that our leaders know exactly what they want to do, and all they really want from us is our approval for them to do it. They give us the democratic choice of whether or not we want to be part of Europe. Then they tell us how to vote. And when we don't toe the line, they say we obviously didn't understand what we were voting for and tell us to vote again! To me this whole affair just reveals the sheer wickedness of politics. Treason used to be a capitol offence in this country. No wonder that when Christ returns, some of these men will be thrown into prison. 

Isaiah 24:21-22
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

The government of man is already showing itself to be utterly corrupt. And as we have seen today, many are looking for a superman who will be able to solve all the world's problems. And Satan will provide them with such a man (Revelation 13:2). But the government of man will fall. And Christ will return to set up His Kingdom, and the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end (Isaiah 9:6-7). Then a King will reign in righteousness, and rulers in justice (Isaiah 32:1). But the Bible says that unless you are born again of God's Spirit, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Your sins have separated between you and your God (Isaiah 59:2). But God loves you so much, He sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world, to bear the punishment for your sins. And to all who believe on Him for salvation, He gives the authority to be called the children of God (John 1:12). Why don't you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today? He is waiting for you to come.

Matthew 11:28
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Source EU Observer, Irish Times

The EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly has called on foreign ministers belonging to the assembly to recognize it as the official parliament for the new Union for the Mediterranean, at the latest meeting which was held in Jordan on the 12 and 13th of October. The EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly was established in 2003 through the Barcelona Process for the purpose of developing the EuroMed Partnership. At present the parliament works on a consultative basis only, and passes resolutions which are not legally binding that pertain to association agreements adopted by member states. In March of this year, European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering called on the newly established body to acquire powers similar to that of the European Parliament in Brussels, urging the EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly to "expanded authorities, so that its decisions will be binding". It seems that this latest call by the EuroMed Parliamentary Assembly for foreign ministers to recognize it as the official parliament of the Union for the Mediterranean will pave the way for the fulfilment of that goal. 

Quote: "EMPA also called on ministers to recognise it officially as the "democratically legitimized parliamentary institution" of the "Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean" (UFM) launched at the Paris summit in July 2008. "The role of our Assembly must be to scrutinise and make proposals as part of the UFM", said Tokia Saïfi (EPP-ED, FR), chair of the EMPA Political Affairs Committee.

The Middle East conflict was also discussed at the gathering. Hans-Gert Pöttering remarked that the momentum launched at the Annapolis peace conference must continue. He said that two outstanding issues remain to be resolved in the Middle East conflict: The expansion of Israeli settlements in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, and the restricted freedom of movement in the territories. With EuroMed Parliament members providing sixty percent of the total aid donated to the Palestinian Authority, Pöttering added that it was "unacceptable that the fruits of financial solidarity should be wiped out as a result of military operations or for security reasons, however legitimate they may be". Israel was of course the first Middle Eastern state to sign up to the Barcelona Process, and it seems that the Union for the Mediterranean is already taking much to do with resolving the Middle East conflict. In May Sarkozy said the conflict should not be allowed to hinder the project, and proclaimed at its launch that the Union for the Mediterranean was the "best news for the peace" in the region.

As we can see, the influence of the European Union is continuing to grow in the Middle East. The Scriptures seem to indicate that it will be a leader from a revived Roman Empire who will strengthen a peace accord between Israel and many of the surrounding nations (Daniel 9:26). Clearly the fulfilment of this prophecy is at hand. For only within the past 60 years have we had a regional power equivalent to that of the old Roman Empire. Only within the past 60 years has the state of Israel come into existence again. And only within the past 40 years has the status of Jerusalem become a burdensome stone for all nations to bear (Zechariah 12:2-3). These are three verifiable prophesies that have all come to pass within your lifetime. And now the nations of the world are pressing for the division of God's land, which this final world leader is prophesied to perform during his seven year reign (Daniel 11:39).

What has all of this got to do with you? It means that Jesus Christ is coming back soon. He is coming back to take all those who have trusted in Him for salvation to be with Him where He is (John 14:3). And after that He will come in judgement upon this world. People have this idea that God is to blame for all the bad things that are happening in this world, because He has the power to stop it and appears to do nothing about it. Sin did not originate with God, man bears that responsibility alone. And Jesus Christ says that every idle word than men shall speak, they shall give an account of it in a coming day (Matthew 12:36). Make no mistake about it, there is coming a day when God will judge the world in righteousness by that Man He has ordained (Acts 17:31), which is Jesus Christ.

John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Do you know Jesus Christ? He was the One who bore God's punishment for your sins when He died upon the cross of Calvary. And God has declared that all who believe on Him for salvation can know the forgiveness of sins and have everlasting life in heaven. Why don't you trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 6:40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Source European Parliament, European Parliament

The Foreign Minister of Bahrain has called for a grouping of Middle Eastern states to be set up, to provide a forum in which regional disputes such as the Middle East conflict and the Iranian nuclear crisis could be resolved. Sheik Khaled bin Ahmed al-Khalifa made the comments during an interview with the Arab daily newspaper Al-Hayat. The statement, which is likely to be rejected by extreme Islamic states such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, is one of the first to be made publicly by an Arab state.

Quote: "Asked by al-Hayat if it would include Israel, he replied, "with Israel, Turkey, Iran and Arab countries. Let them all sit together in one group... This is the only path to solve our problems." "Why don't we all sit together even if we have differences and even if we don't recognize each other? Why not become one organization to overcome this difficult phase?" the paper quoted him as saying. Few Arab governments are likely to accept a permanent regional forum with Israel. When the first Israeli-Palestinian peace deals were reached in the 1990s, Arab countries quickly quashed proposals that were floated that Israel be allowed to join the Arab League. Iran, which rejects the peace process with Israel, is even less likely to join a regional block with it.

The official consensus adopted by the Arab League, most recently in the form of the Saudi Initiative, is that Arab states will only offer Israel a normalization in relations once it withdraws from all territory captured during the Six Day War and accepts the influx of millions of Arab 'refugees' into their land. Arab states did express concern that their co-operation with Israel in the Union for the Mediterranean could be perceived as a normalization of relations. But despite that fact most Arab states endorsed French President Nicolas Sarkozy's proposal. Perhaps the reason for that acceptance was that Sunni Islamic states fear the growing influence of Shi'ite Iran in the region, and are seeking the security and stability offered by the European Union. And as tensions continue to increase between Iran and the West over the nuclear crisis, it seems that Arab states are fearing the possibility of another regional conflict breaking out in the not too distant future.

I don't know whether Bahrain's call will be heeded, or whether the European Union will thrust its vision for the Union for the Mediterranean upon the region. But clearly we are living in the days in which Israel and its neighbours are seeking "peace and safety", 1st Thessalonians 5:3. And we know that once peace will be made, then sudden destruction will come upon them without any prior warning, and they shall not escape. You see, it is not possible to know true peace without knowing the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6-7). He was the One that Job longed for Who could bring both God and man together (Job 9:33). Jesus Christ made it possible for you to know peace with God through His sacrifice upon the cross (Colossians 1:20). He bore God's punishment for your sins, and all who believe on Him for salvation can have their sins forgiven, and have everlasting life in heaven. Why don't you trust Him for salvation today? He will not turn you away.

John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Source YNet News

French President Nicholas Sarkozy has hailed tomorrow's Paris summit as the "best news for peace in the Middle East". Forty-one of the forty-four heads of state invited to the summit have agreed to attend. The list of participants include Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Palestinian Authority, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Kingdom. French President Nicholas Sarkozy and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will co-host the event. But it is the presence Syrian President Bashar Assad and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that is expected to steal the show. Both countries have been involved in indirect peace negotiations since May, and have signalled their readiness to move to direct talks. 

There was a mixed reaction to the proposal for a Union for the Mediterranean (UPM) when it was first announced following Sarkozy's election in October 2007. Northern European states originally feared that the new project could become a competitor to the European Union, and objected to EU money being used to fund an initiative they had no part in. Arab states were concerned that the UPM would be dominated by wealthier European states, and objected to Israel's inclusion in the group. But the plan was adopted by the European Union on the 13th of March, and on the 13th of July the new Union for the Mediterranean will be formed...

Quote: "The union was the brainchild of his special advisor and speech-writer Henri Guaino. In Toulon in February 2007, Sarkozy said he wanted "to be the president of a France that will set the Mediterranean on the path of its reunification, after 12 centuries of division..." He wanted "to achieve a new Renaissance... undertake with this project a policy of civilisation as envisioned by the philosophers of the Enlightenment." In Tangiers last October, Sarkozy said: "Within every man and woman who lives on the shores of the Mediterranean sleeps the memory, nostalgia, for the unity lost 15 centuries ago." Not since the Italian dictator Mussolini revived the ancient Roman concept of Mare Nostrum ("our sea" in Latin) has a politician held such high ambitions for the Mediterranean.

Revelation 13:1
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

And as you can see from these two maps, despite the watering-down of Sarkozy's original proposal, the above quotation is an apt description of what is happening here. For it seems that the European Union and the Union for the Mediterranean are fulfilments of Biblical prophecy. The old Roman Empire is being revived, just as the Bible predicted. Throughout the centuries Christians have proclaimed the rebirth of the nation of Israel and the revival of the old Roman Empire. These Christians staggered not at the promises of God, though there was little evidence of these things coming to pass during their lifetimes. We have been privileged to witness the rebirth of the nation of Israel and the revival of the old Roman Empire. There is no excuse. The fact that there is a nation called Israel in the world is plain for all to see. And just in case you are not sure if the EU is the revival of the old Roman Empire, we have the frequent allusions to it by European leaders, the references to it in EU paraphernalia, the design of the EU parliament building, the motif on our coins, and the geographical area of the EU and UPM are roughly the same. The EU is the revived Roman Empire, no question about it.  The Bible predicted over 2000 years ago that these things would happen. And today they are coming to pass before our very eyes. If the Bible was right about these things, what other things does the Bible say that we should know about? Jesus Christ is coming back soon (John 14:3). First, to take all those who have trusted in Him for salvation to be with Him where He is (John 14:3). And again, to judge this world for its wickedness (2nd Thessalonians 1:7-8). We need to be ready for His coming. How we can be ready? The Bible says our sins have separated between us and God (Isaiah 59:2). And if we die in our sins, where God is we cannot go (John 8:21). We need to have our sins forgiven. How can we have our sins forgiven? God sent His only Son Jesus Christ into this world 2000 years ago. He took God's punishment for your sins when He died upon the cross (Isaiah 53:6). All who believe on Him for salvation can have their sins forgiven and have eternal life in heaven (John 3:16). Turn away from your sins. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).

Source Irish Times, Bloomberg, Wikipedia