González favoured to become first EU PresidentPDFPrintE-mail
Europe
Written by Chris Perver  
Tuesday, 23 June 2009 17:05
Former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González has received backing to become the European Union's first permanent president, should the Lisbon Treaty come into force by the end of the year. Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, gave the socialist politician his backing for the new role at a press conference in Brussels. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has also expressed approval of the nomination, favouring González over former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he views as "not having done anything" in his current role as Special Envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet. José Manuel Barroso, from Portugal, is expected to be reconfirmed as head of the European Commission for the next five years. Solana had been tipped to become the EU's first foreign minister, but his term as High Representative will end within the next few months and the Lisbon Treaty may not be approved in time for that to happen. The future of the Lisbon Treaty depends on the mood of the Irish, whose written constitution requires a public referendum to be held before it can be ratified. The European Commission has agreed to make special concessions for the Republic on taxation, neutrality and abortion laws. Britain has no written constitution, and so is not legally required to hold a public referendum on the treaty. And the Labour government have intimated that they will approve the document if Ireland votes yes.

Quote: ""The foreign service is contemplated in the treaty as an effort of the member states to create a global common diplomacy. I like to think that in time we will be one of the most important diplomacies in the world, along with US, China and other big players in the world," he said. Mr Solana, who has been the Union's first high representative for foreign and security policy for the past ten years, said the bloc's foreign service would consist of national and EU diplomats. "I would recommend that it won't be a Big Bang – it has to be well done, member states need to prepare the people, and it probably would be better if this takes some time."

The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will result in the creation of permanent posts for president and foreign minister for the European Union. Both positions will be renewable after a period of two and a half years. A committee of British MPs recently concluded that the Lisbon Treaty would significantly damage Britain's foreign interests across the world, as the UK is forced to adopt a European line and British embassies merge with those of other European nations. The treaty will give the EU its own legal identity on the world stage, giving it the power to make or break treaties with third countries and external organizations according to the dictat of the foreign minister and the European Commission. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised us that following the adoption of the document, debate on European political integration would cease for some time to come. Why? Were EU politicians planning a freeze on further political integration? Not likely. Rather it is public debate on European integration that will cease, thanks to the 'self-amending nature' of the Lisbon Treaty. Through the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council has granted itself the power to amend its own treaties without the consent of the parliaments of member states. Article 308 of the Lisbon Treaty declares....

Quote: "If action by the Union should prove necessary, within the framework of the policies defined by the Treaties, to attain one of the objectives set out by the Treaties, and the Treaties have not provided the necessary powers, the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament, shall adopt the appropriate measures.

In other words, if the unelected European Commission decides that it needs some powers not hitherto granted, and the European heads of state think its a good idea (and they often do), and the European Parliament gives its consent, the EU can obtain said powers without having to ratify a new treaty as they have done for the past 60 years. Solana's grandfather Salvador de Madariaga, a leading architect of the League of Nations, once said, "It is a well-known fact that the League works on the principle of unanimity. The alternative to such a principle is a super-state, since on the day a nation could be bound by decisions taken by an international body against its own vote, its own sovereignty would have been transferred to the international body in question". Not only will the UK be bound by decisions taken by an international body against its own vote, but now they want to take away our ability to vote! No wonder EU leaders are so eager to get the EU Constitution passed. It's a blank cheque.

But I believe the EU Constitution will be passed sooner or later. The Bible predicted all of this would happen. The Scriptures state that this European Union, the revived Roman Empire, will continue to grow in power until it devours the whole world (Daniel 7:23). Although we are living in dark days, we are privileged in that we are witnessing events coming to pass that believers in past ages could only dream about. We have witnessed the regathering of the Jewish people to the land of Israel in our time (Ezekiel 37). We are witnessing the manufacture of instruments that will be used in a rebuilt Temple (Revelation 11:2). We are witnessing ongoing efforts to divide the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2). We are witnessing the beginnings of the siege of Judah and east Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:2-3, 14:2). We are witnessing the revival of the Roman Empire (Daniel 7:23). We are witnessing the rise of implanted electronic identification systems (Revelation 13:16-18). How clearer could the signs of the times be? I am glad to be living in these days, but only because I am saved and they are a sign of my Saviour's soon return. For the unbeliever, these days offer no reason for hope. Rather they are sign of God's impending judgement upon this world. But there is hope in Jesus. God has promised in His Word that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). All who believe on the Son of God have everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but are passed from death unto life (John 5:24). Turn away from your sins, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.    

Source EU Observer, Times Online, EU Referendum

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