Germany: From ‘Call of the Watchman’
Europe is dependent on a well-oiled working relationship between France and Germany. However the chemistry between François Hollande and Angela Merkel is poor. Merkel offended Hollande by refusing to meet him in Berlin when he was a candidate in the French presidential election. He took his revenge by inviting the SPD chief to the Elysée Palace, where only heads of state are normally welcomed. There is much that has yet to come out into the open between the two of them. Politically they are divided on how to solve the European crisis. Merkel believes this can be achieved by strict budget control, debt reduction, liberalization of the labour market (with minimal state interference), and the reform of the social system. Hollande holds the opposite opinion. The economy should first be revived with state investment, before looking for savings and reform – a more palatable recipe. In the past, Berlin and Paris agreed a policy in advance and then presented a united approach. This is not happening and Germany appears to be standing alone.
Pray: for reconciliation between the two leaders at a personal level. (Psalm 133) and wisdom for an agreed basis of budget control. (Job 12:.13)
Germany: From ‘Call of the Watchman’
Europe is dependent on a well-oiled working relationship between France and Germany. However the chemistry between François Hollande and Angela Merkel is poor. Merkel offended Hollande by refusing to meet him in Berlin when he was a candidate in the French presidential election. He took his revenge by inviting the SPD chief to the Elysée Palace, where only heads of state are normally welcomed. There is much that has yet to come out into the open between the two of them. Politically they are divided on how to solve the European crisis. Merkel believes this can be achieved by strict budget control, debt reduction, liberalization of the labour market (with minimal state interference), and the reform of the social system. Hollande holds the opposite opinion. The economy should first be revived with state investment, before looking for savings and reform – a more palatable recipe. In the past, Berlin and Paris agreed a policy in advance and then presented a united approach. This is not happening and Germany appears to be standing alone.
Pray: for reconciliation between the two leaders at a personal level. (Psalm 133) and wisdom for an agreed basis of budget control. (Job 12:.13)
European week against cancer
The European commission estimates that 700,000 people die and millions of EU citizens suffer as a result of smoking related diseases every year. Tobacco consumption is by far the largest avoidable health risk and the biggest cause of premature death in the EU. Linda McAvan parliament’s rapporteur on the tobacco products directive, said, ‘The biggest worry for me is that more young people smoke than adults in the EU.’ The British MEP, who is a member of parliament’s environment, public health and food safety committee, said that 28 per cent of European citizens smoke. According to the European commission, the figure for 15 to 24-year-olds is slightly higher, at 29 per cent. ‘We have to do something to tackle the recruitment of children and young people into smoking, and that’s what this new law from Europe’s about,’ McAvan said.
Pray: that the battle against cancer and smoking by the young will be taken seriously. (Ps.144:1)
European week against cancer
The European commission estimates that 700,000 people die and millions of EU citizens suffer as a result of smoking related diseases every year. Tobacco consumption is by far the largest avoidable health risk and the biggest cause of premature death in the EU. Linda McAvan parliament’s rapporteur on the tobacco products directive, said, ‘The biggest worry for me is that more young people smoke than adults in the EU.’ The British MEP, who is a member of parliament’s environment, public health and food safety committee, said that 28 per cent of European citizens smoke. According to the European commission, the figure for 15 to 24-year-olds is slightly higher, at 29 per cent. ‘We have to do something to tackle the recruitment of children and young people into smoking, and that’s what this new law from Europe’s about,’ McAvan said.
Pray: that the battle against cancer and smoking by the young will be taken seriously. (Ps.144:1)
