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The European Commission has told France that it faces action over its expulsion of Roma (Gypsy) migrants if it fails to adopt EU rules on freedom of movement by 15 October. France welcomed the fact that the EU was not accusing it of discrimination. But Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said France had not respected a 2004 EU directive on freedom of movement. The controversial expulsions of thousands of Roma led to a serious row between Brussels and Paris. ‘France is not enforcing European law as it should on free movement, so we are launching an infringement process against France,’ Ms Reding told France 24 television. Ms Reding also says France has failed to transpose into law a 2004 EU directive on freedom of movement, which sets out procedures for deporting migrants deemed to be staying illegally. (See Prayer Alert 3810 & 3510) Pray: that the French government reconsiders its current decisions over the Roma. (2Ch.19:7) More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11437361
Sweden has said the EU should put pressure on Pristina to improve relations with Serbs in north Kosovo following three months of escalating violence. Foreign minister Carl Bildt sent a letter to EU institutions on 17 November after visiting the Serb-controlled town of north Mitrovica, which he described as ‘more tense and more divided today than it has been for a very long time.’ The letter - seen by EUobserver - says the European External Action Service and the European Commission should ‘launch a structured dialogue with Pristina on the issue of the north.’ He added: ‘While we must be firm in rejecting any notion of partition, we should also be realistic enough to admit that there will be no easy solution to overcoming an existing division that is currently growing stronger and more hostile by the day.’ For its part, the commission has invited Pristina to put forward a ‘comprehensive agenda’ to pacify the region.
Pray: that there would be a breakthrough leading to peace and reconciliation. (Ps.85:8)
Top BBC journalist George Alagiah has urged Europe’s decision makers to do more to address the global food ‘crisis.’ The news anchor told a Brussels conference that the world needs to increase food production by 100 per cent by the year 2050 ‘in order to sustain itself.’ He said, ‘As the world’s population continues to grow, and more and more households in emerging economies join the world’s middle class, the demand for animal protein is expected to double by 2050’. The conference was organised by the International Federation for Animal Health Europe (IFAHEurope). Those attending the conference were told that there is an urgent need for realistic policies to address the challenge and the role the animal health industry can play. At present, 1.02 billion people do not have enough to eat, 907 million of these live in the developing world. ‘Some 20 per cent of animal productivity is lost due to diseases in animals’. Pray: that the delegates from this conference would use their knowledge to raise awareness in their home nations. (Pr.12:11)
The EU is preparing to send a team of technical experts to Sudan in the coming weeks, with senior officials warning that Africa's largest and soon to be divided state continues to pose the greatest risk to the continent's security, despite recent competition from Egypt. ‘The mission will be sent to south Sudan to make a strategic assessment of what support the EU should provide for stability, building, development and security sector reform.’ Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU high representative Catherine Ashton, said on Tuesday. Final results from last month's referendum, released on Monday, showed that nearly 99 percent of the 3.9 million voters in south Sudan elected to separate form the Arab-led and Muslim north. A complete lack of development in southern Sudan for the past 25 years, security failings and a history of epidemics and floods are among the challenges facing the region, set to gain independence in July, said the official. Pray: for the teams of experts that they will be given God’s wisdom in ways to help this new nation. (Pr.2:6)
In a significant legal development, the European Court of Human Rights has requested that the British Government state whether they believe that the rights of Christians have been infringed in recent cases where individuals have been penalised for expressing their faith in the workplace. The request has come because legal action is being taken by four Christians who argue that their rights have been infringed. The four Christians are: Gary McFarlane, a counsellor who was sacked by a counselling service for saying that he would not give sex therapy to homosexual couples (See PA5310); Shirley Chaplin, a nurse who was banned for wearing a cross around her neck (See PA1510); Nadia Eweida, a British Airways employee who was prevented from wearing a cross; and Lillian Ladele, who was disciplined by Islington council for refusing to conduct civil partnership ceremonies for homosexual couples. The cases have been viewed by the European Court as being of such importance that they merit further investigation. Pray: that this development will lead to the law being changed to protect those who wish to practice their faith. (Ps.5:11)
Brussels is to hold an EU summit with atheists and freemasons in the autumn, inviting them to a political dialogue parallel to the annual summit the bloc holds with Europe's religious leaders. While the EU is a secular body, the three European presidents of the commission, parliament and EU Council, alongside two commissioners, on Monday met with 24 bishops, chief rabbis, and muftis as well as leaders from the Hindu and Sikh communities. The annual dialogue, which has taken place since 2005, is for the first time this year made legally obligatory under Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty. Under pressure from Belgium, which constitutionally protects and financially supports humanist organisations as well as churches, the EU has been forced to hold a mirror-image summit, but of atheists, scheduled for 15 October. However, in a move that perplexed and annoyed humanist groups, the EU atheist summit will also welcome under the rubric of ‘non-religious groups', the Freemasons, the secretive fraternal organisation, according to commission spokeswoman Katharina von Schnurbein. Pray: that this recognition will not lead to a further breakdown in Europe’s Christian roots. (Lk.3:6)
The European Union has announced the creation of a working group to assist Christian minorities in countries around the world where they are persecuted. The initiative launched by Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is to help EU member countries' embassy staffs know how to intervene on behalf of persecuted Christian minorities. Frattini says that before action the first step will be to write a manual that will be given to the embassy staff of all EU member nations. It is the first European government organisation devoted to addressing the persecution of Christians, he said in an interview in the Italian newspaper Avvenir. EU analyst Jonathan Racho says ‘This panel will be an official EU governmental agency designed to intervene on behalf of a nation's Christian minority,’ Racho said. ‘They will advocate on behalf of persecuted Christians even though the report we have from our sources doesn't go into a lot of detail.’
Pray: for this initiative to bring God’s help to those persecuted for their faith in Jesus. (Ps.9:13)
More: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=132577
The European Union said on Tuesday it would offer Kyrgyzstan's interim government political and economic support if satisfied it was committed to a quick return to democracy. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was encouraged by early signs, including pledges of a new constitution and elections, but underlined the need for the involvement of all parties and ethnic groups. ‘If we are satisfied that the provisional government is committed to a quick return to legitimacy and genuinely wants to join the democratic family, the European Union will be ready to provide the necessary political, financial and technical support.’ Russia and the United States have pledged aid to Kyrgyzstan, where President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was ousted on April 7, but Washington and the EU have not yet recognised the new government. (See Prayer Alert 1610 & 1510)
Pray: against any breakdown and disunity amongst the leaders. (Job.22:21)
The economic crisis in Greece is forcing families to seek help from children's homes.In many cases parents are asking if their children can be taken into care, because they can't afford to look after them. See: The Brussels EU summit didn’t come up with ground breaking decisions to balance fiscal discipline with growth, issuance of Eurobonds or recapitalisation of banks. However they tried to produce something to relax Greek, Irish and Portuguese austerity programmes and start firewalls to soothe market anxiety. The Irish are holding a referendum on 31 May over the fiscal pact; Greece votes on 17th June to decide in or out of Eurozone. America says, ‘What happens in Greece has a direct impact in the US.’ The economy was the main issue not only in the G8 council in Camp David but also occupied a central position in the military alliance's meeting in Chicago. The past week has been pivotal for the continent of Europe.
Pray: for those who preside over these and future events to be aligned with God’s purposes.(Ps.119:169)
More: http://www.neurope.eu/article/eu-summit-towards-compromise
The European Parliament is preparing to vote on a proposal to ban all forms of pornography. Embedded under Article 17 of the report is a clause that, if eventually made into law, would effectively ban pornography across all types of media, including the Internet, in Europe. They also described the inclusion of the article as an 'unacceptable political invasion of people’s bedrooms'. Dutch MEP Kartika Liotard, introduced the report which recommended a 'ban on all forms of pornography in the media,' including what it refers to as 'the digital field.' But the report does not distinguish between different types of pornography, or indeed what media the bill refers to. However, it is expected that MEPs will amend the bill to clarify that the clause refers to pornography in the context of advertising.
Pray: for those responsible for making laws that they will be guided by the good things in their consciences. (Mt.15:19)