EU looks to approve Eastern Partnership next yearPDFPrintE-mail
Europe
Written by Chris Perver  
Sunday, 14 December 2008 15:30
European leaders gathered in Brussels at the weekend to approve a new initiative that will pave the way for increased political and economic integration between the European Union and its eastern neighbours. The Eastern Partnership was put forward by the Polish government in May of this year, and is intended to broaden co-operation between Europe and former Soviet satellite states, some of which have recently become members of the European Union. Europeans leaders have asked the EU Council to examine the new initiative with a view to implementing it in the coming year. The Eastern Partnership seeks to do for Europe's eastern neighbours what French President Nicolas Sarkozy's Union for the Mediterranean aspires to do for the bloc's southern neighbours. While avoiding the controversial topic of accession to the European Union, the plan is nonetheless wide-ranging in its scope, addressing everything from free trade agreements and increased economic integration to security and defence co-operation.

Quote: "The Partnership foresees free trade, easier travel to the EU for citizens of these nations, enhanced energy security arrangements benefiting all concerned, and increased financial assistance, security and defence consultations, as well as far-reaching economic integration with the EU, the document added. Under the plan, the EU will triple its aid to the six partner countries to 1.5 billion euros (1.95 billion U.S. dollars) by 2020. The EU summit also endorsed guidelines adopted at last month's meeting between the group's foreign ministers and their counterparts from the members of the Barcelona Process Union for the Mediterranean, and called for further ambitious implementation of this initiative to establish the Union for the Mediterranean in all its dimensions. 

While many in the EU are debating the issues as to who should be called a 'European' and what the extent of the borders of the union should be, the influence of the revived Roman Empire is continuing to spread. The Bible prophesies that during the last days, a final world empire would spring up out of the ashes of the Roman Empire, which would devour the whole earth (Daniel 7:23). As we saw recently, political analysts are already predicting that such a scenario could theoretically come about. And as European influence continues to grow in the east and the south, and as Israelis and Palestinians increasingly look to Europe for direction, there is no doubt the way is being prepared for the appearance of the man of sin (2nd Thessalonians 2:3). As Dr. Paul-Henri Spaak, the first president of the UN General Assembly, once stated, "We do not want another committee, we have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and be he God or devil, we will receive him". And that is where the loyalty of this world lies, toward anyone who is able to solve the world's economic and political problems, regardless of who they may claim to be. Notice something there? Man looks at the world and he sees economic and political instability as the prime cause of many of the world's ills. God looks at the same world and He sees sin as being the root cause of the world's ills. Man is blind and is unable to see his greatest need. He sees only the symptoms of his problem, and is unable to deal with the actual disease that is causing them. Jesus Christ did not come to bring economic and political stability to Earth. He could have, as He had all that. But He saw man's greatest need. And He came to bring a planet that was in rebellion against its Creator back to Himself. He is the answer to this world's problems. He is the answer to your greatest need. Trust in Him for salvation today.

John 5:43
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

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 China View, Telegraph

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