Already they are lining up for his job Read about it here. Word is the first Mr. Europe, the ever tireless Javier Solana, may actually be tired. And, if the rumor is true, Solana may be getting tired only a few steps from his goal.

From the beginning of his EU career, Solana's goal has been the same -- to become the EU's minister of foreign affairs. From the start, Solana has persuasively argued that the EU's current system of foreign policy operation was inefficient and in need of change. As a result, in the final draft of the EU's new constitutional treaty, most all Solana's recommendations were included. Once ratified, the constitution would have created the office of Foreign Minister. This new minister would have the power of initiative -- to decide the EU's foreign policy direction. He or she would have one foot in the Council and one foot in the Commission. In the Council he or she would have access to all the EU's new crisis management assets, and in the Commission access to the EU's purse strings. And, as far as Bible prophecy is concerned, it's the purse strings that may be the most significant. You see, including in the EU's purse is a new, seven-year funding instrument that was especially created to strengthen a previous covenant with many. It's called the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (see below).       

This new instrument is to begin funding on January 1, 2007. Like any good book, there's always an increase in suspense near the end. Friends, I think that's what we may be seeing. In order to explain, let me turn to our strange EU beast.

As rumors circulate that the EU beast's new little horn may quit, its 25 heads are busy wrestling with a cunning bear Read about it here. From past experience, the bear knows that if it holds out long enough, some of the EU beast's heads will yield to its demands FM pdf (pg 16). And, the outcome of this match is more serious than ever before. At stake this time is the EU beast's long-term survival. If ever the EU beast needed a strong little horn, it's now. But, it's little horn may quit. What's the EU beast to do?

Stay tuned!