European Union

Population: 499 794 855

Life expectancy: 72.3 years
Religion: Predominantly Christian; Protestantism in the north-west,
Roman Catholicism in the south, and Orthodox Catholicism in the
east. 52% of the citizens of EU member states state that they believe in
a God, 27% believe there is some sort of spirit or life Force while 18%
do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God or Life Force. 3%
declined to answer.

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27

Concerns
Democracy
The turnouts for the Parliament elections are below 50%,
and the interest is falling. There are concerns as to how
much influence the Parliament has, compared to non-
elected institutions (such as the European Commission).
Only 36% of the citizens feel they understand how the
union works. Yet, an increasing number of political
areas are absorbed by the supranational organs in EU.
member states, located primarily in Europe. The EU has developed a
single market through a standardised system of laws which apply in all
member states, ensuring the free movement of people, goods, services,
and capital within the Union. The idea is to increase the ease of trade,
and to make the participating countries mutually dependent on each
other (to prevent war). The structure of the EU is a hybrid of
supranationalism and intergovernmentalism. In certain areas, it
depends upon agreement between the member states; in others,
supranational bodies are able to make decisions without unanimity.
The European Parliament is elected every five years by the member
states' citizens, but the turnout is low and falling.

Even though all official EU documents must be

translated to at least English, French and German, the
vast majority of the population have to work in a foreign
language to engage in political matters handled by the
European Union. Distance in geography, lifestyle and
language are huge obstacles for media coverage.

The “European Union Constitution” was rejected by

popular vote in France and the Netherlands in 2005, but
the revised version, “the Lisbon treaty,” still includes a
“Paseralle clause” which would allow the EU to give
itself more powers as it sees fit without the need for any President of the European
more treaties. The Lisbon treaty was however rejected President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek
by Ireland in 2008, the only country to arrange a Commission Jose Manuel
referendum. A new referendum will be held on 2 Durao Barroso In the 1980s Jerzy Buzek was
October this year, which many consider to be an activist of the democratic
disrespectful to the Irish voters. Barroso's political activity anti-communist movements in
began in his college days in the communist Poland. He was an
Privacy seventies, where he studied law active organizer of the trade
European citizens leave an increasing number of digital and economics. He was one of union's underground
traces as they move around, and it becomes both legally the leaders of an underground authorities. From 1997 to 2001,
and technically easier and easier for the governments to Maoist organisation Buzek was Prime Minister of
combine the information available. The privacy of the (Reorganising Movement of Poland, leading a right-centrist
individual is at risk at the cost of “national security.” the Proletariat Party). coalition. On 14 July 2009,
There is no recognition that people not only want to live However, in 1980 Barroso Buzek was elected President of
and travel in safety but also want protection from the joined the right-of-centre the European Parliament. He
activities of an all-powerful state. Democratic Popular Party. has pledged to make human
rights and the promotion of the
Barroso became Prime Eastern partnership two of his
Minister of Portugal on 6 April priorities during his term in
Members of the EU
2002. In 2003, Barroso hosted office.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, U.S President George W. Bush,
British Prime Minister Tony Buzek graduated in 1963,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Blair and Spanish Prime specializing in chemical
Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Minister José María Aznar in engineering. Since 1997 he has
Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
the Portuguese Island of been a professor of technical
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United
science.
Kingdom. In addition, Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway Terceira, in the Azores, in
are a part of the European Economic Area. which the four leaders met and
finalised the controversial US-
led 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Suggested prayer topics Under Barroso's leadership,
Portugal became part of the
• Pray for democracy in the EU "coalition of the willing" for
• Pray for the ethical challenges for security the invasion and occupation of
agencies in respect to surveillance/privacy Iraq. Barroso did not finish his
• Pray for the European Union’s political term as he had been nominated
leaders, that they may reign wisely for the as President of the European
benefit of their country and for the world Commission on 5 July 2004.
• Pray for the advancement of justice and
selfless love in the European Union.