Well here it is friends, it seems the European Union has finally found its "one voice" that has been spoken about for so long. The draft of the new EU Constitution is now available on the internet here (a backup copy is on my website here). I have been keeping record on this site of the many times European leaders have called on Europe to speak with one voice. Javier Solana called for it in relation to energy resources, the European Parliament echoed those calls, Javier Solana called for it in relation to the UN Security Council, former French President Jacques Chirac said it of Solana's appointment to EU Foreign Policy chief, the press said it of Solana and the new EU Constitution, and of course EU propaganda boldly proclaims that Europe is a nation of many languages speaking with one voice. Well if this new constitution is ratified by 2009 as planned, the EU will officially have one voice on the world stage. I wouldn't consider EU treaties bedtime reading material, but I found article 188n of particular interest regarding the EU's new "legal identity". Following the ratification of this treaty, the European Union will now have the power to make and break its own agreements with other nations and organizations, with the guidance of its new Foreign Policy chief. This is quite an increase in political power for the European Union. No wonder the politicians are saying that no further constitutional changes are needed for quite some time. Have a read for yourself...

The new legal identity of the European Union

THE UNION'S RELATIONS WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND THIRD COUNTRIES AND UNION DELEGATIONS
Article 188p 
1. The Union shall establish all appropriate forms of cooperation with the organs of the United Nations and its specialised agencies, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The Union shall also maintain such relations as are appropriate with other international organisations. 
2. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission shall be instructed to implement this Article.

The new power of the European Union to make and break agreements with third countries, based upon the recommendation of the Foreign Policy chief.

Article 188n
1. Without prejudice to the specific provisions laid down in Article [III-315], agreements between the Union and third countries or international organisations shall be negotiated and concluded in accordance with the following procedure. 
2. The Council shall authorise the opening of negotiations, adopt negotiating directives, authorise the signing of agreements and conclude them.
3. The Commission, or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy where the agreement envisaged relates exclusively or principally to the common foreign and security policy, shall submit recommendations to the Council, which shall adopt a decision authorising the opening of negotiations and, depending on the subject of the agreement envisaged, nominating the Union negotiator or head of the Union's negotiating team.
4. The Council may address directives to the negotiator and designate a special committee in consultation with which the negotiations must be conducted.
5. The Council, on a proposal by the negotiator, shall adopt a decision authorising the signing of the agreement and, if necessary, its provisional application before entry into force.
6. The Council, on a proposal by the negotiator, shall adopt a decision concluding the agreement. Except where agreements relate exclusively to the common foreign and security policy, the Council shall adopt the decision concluding the agreement: 
    (a) after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament in the following cases: 
        (i) association agreements; 
        (ii) agreement on Union accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; 
        (iii) agreements establishing a specific institutional framework by organising cooperation procedures; 
        (iv) agreements with important budgetary implications for the Union; CIG 1/07 103 EN Page 104 
        (v) agreements covering fields to which either the ordinary legislative procedure applies, or the special legislative procedure where consent by the European Parliament is required. The European Parliament and the Council may, in an urgent situation, agree upon a time-limit for consent. 
    (b) after consulting the European Parliament in other cases. The European Parliament shall deliver its opinion within a time-limit which the Council may set depending on the urgency of the matter. In the absence of an opinion within that time-limit, the Council may act. 
7. When concluding an agreement, the Council may, by way of derogation from paragraphs 5, 6 and 9, authorise the negotiator to approve on the Union's behalf modifications to the agreement where it provides for them to be adopted by a simplified procedure or by a body set up by the agreement. The Council may attach specific conditions to such authorisation.
8. The Council shall act by a qualified majority throughout the procedure. However, it shall act unanimously when the agreement covers a field for which unanimity is required for the adoption of a Union act as well as for association agreements and the agreements referred to in Article [III-319] with the States which are candidates for accession. The Council shall also act unanimously for the agreement on accession of the Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; the decision concluding this agreement shall not come into force until it has been approved by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. 
9. The Council, on a proposal from the Commission or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, shall adopt a decision suspending application of an agreement and establishing the positions to be adopted on the Union's behalf in a body set up by an agreement, when that body is called upon to adopt acts having legal effects, with the exception of acts supplementing or amending the institutional framework of the agreement.
10. The European Parliament shall be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the procedure. 
11. A Member State, the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission may obtain the opinion of the Court of Justice as to whether an agreement envisaged is compatible with the Treaties. Where the opinion of the Court of Justice is adverse, the agreement envisaged may not enter into force unless it is amended or the Treaties are revised."

Friends, for the first time in history, the European Union will have its own legal identity on the world stage. It will be able to establish its own relations with third countries. It will have the authority to negotiate, modify and suspend its own agreements with those nations. It seems that for the first time in history, the EU will have the capability of fulfilling Daniel 9:27, which prophesies of a Roman "prince" or ruler that would strengthen a covenant of peace between Israel and the Arab nations. As we can see from this treaty, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs will have a central role in establishing agreements between the European Union and third countries. The book of Revelation states that during the tribulation period, all sovereignty on earth will one day be handed over to a man who will head up a world government system. The Apostle John declares about this man that "the dragon (Satan) gave him his power, and his seat (position), and great authority", Revelation 13:2. John also records that there was "given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies", and that he would be given "power to continue for forty two months", Revelation 13:5. This world leader will use his powerful position to blaspheme God's name, to persecute the Jewish people and defile the Temple, to make war against the tribulation saints, and to blaspheme those that dwell in heaven. 

With today's news, it seems we have come one step closer to the fulfilment of these prophesies. Time is short. I presently believe that the rapture of the Church must occur before all this comes to pass. I am not dogmatic about this, but this is simply my understanding of Scripture. And so I say, will you be one of the ones that the Antichrist will blaspheme, because he cannot come at them in heaven, or will you be left behind to face the judgements of God, poured out without mixture? Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today, and be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall come to pass, and stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21:36).

Isaiah 26:19-21
Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Source Europa

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