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