European Union
(Signs of the Time - April 2003)
The European Union (EU) was launched May 9, 1950, when France officially proposed to create “the first concrete foundation of a European federation.” Six countries -- Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands -- joined from the very beginning. Today, after four waves of accessions -- 1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom; 1981: Greece; 1986: Spain and Portugal; 1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden -- the EU has 15 Member States and is preparing for the accession of 13 eastern and southern European countries.
Russia aligns with the EU
In the first few days of March, Russia hardened its stance on the U.S.
policy toward Iraq. Specifically, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that
“Moscow would rather veto the U.S.-sponsored war resolution than abstain.”
They joined France and Germany in this position. Why did Russia align with
European nations against the United States with whom they have been having
increasingly cordial relations? Stratfor-on-line reported on March 6, 2003
that: “U.S. Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush promised Yeltsin and
his successor, Vladimir Putin, that no foreign forces would be stationed
inside the borders of the new and prospective NATO members. With Washington
planning to deploy its forces in Eastern European countries, Moscow sees
this as a promise broken.”
Money and finances also play a significant role in determining alliances. Stratfor-on-line reports: “It seems that Germany and France thus far have been successful in persuading Russian President Putin that Russia has much more to gain from cooperation with Europe than it does playing the role of a junior U.S. ally to whom Washington has no inclination to listen. The material grounds for this persuasion is the fact that Germany has been the largest trade and investment partner for Russia -- surpassing the United States. Being an equal partner in a united Europe is an attractive option for Putin and many in the Russian elite, where 90 percent of the population rejects a U.S. war on Iraq.”
Ironically, even if France and Germany remain close to Moscow, they have done tremendous damage to European unity. Russia’s hopes of profiting with a European powerhouse may be reduced to suffering amid European division and economic turmoil.
We are looking at a condition in the Western alliance where Daniel’s vision seems to perfectly fit – feet part of iron and part of clay which do not mix. Into that situation comes the stone representing the Lord Jesus which smashes the entire image to set up the kingdom of God.
George Rayner