Isaiah 43:19: See,
I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making
a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
2014 was a year
of change and several challenges lied ahead of us. Several reports on Christian
values were launched in the European Parliament such as the protection of life
and family, freedom of religion, conscience and expression. In my articles, I write
on the challenging times which may be faced through Jesus’ teaching, ‘the way
of life, purpose, faith, patience, love and endurance’ (2 Timothy 3: 1-10)
For the 2014
message, I was inspired by the Bible verse from Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs
up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the
wasteland”. I felt like this verse relates to both ECPM in Brussels and
my personal life.
At the end of
2013 and the beginning of 2014, several controversial reports were launched by
threatening basic Christian values such as the protection of human dignity, and
the freedom of religion.
Fortunately, initiatives
such as the notorious Estrela and Zubert report (threatening the protection of
life and the freedom of education) were blocked. At the same time, we lost other
battles such as Lunacek report which privileges LGBT community above other minority
groups). In such way, it was an apprehensive time before the European Elections
in May 2014.
These latter
were a blessing for ECPM as the number of elected representatives, members of
ECPM, went from two to five. ECPM is very proud and happy that the newly representatives
are actively involved in promoting human dignity, family, freedom of religion
or belief, sustainable entrepreneurship and combating human trafficking. Several
successful conferences and meetings on these topics were held in the European
Parliament. In only two-week time, ECPM organized three thematic conferences in
the European Parliament.
The involvement
of ECPM on the European political arena was also relevant. Several times the
ECPM Members of the European Parliament worked and jointly launched
declarations such as the question on the ‘One of Us Citizens Initiative’ or ‘A common
declaration’ on the newly elected European Commission. In this way, the ECPM grew
visibility.
Human
Trafficking and prostitution
Another
positive point in question is the growing awareness that prostitution is
directly linked with human trafficking and that this latter may be tackled-by criminalizing
the client. In February, Nordic model’ was supported by the Honeyball report in
the European Parliament. In April, prostitution models in the Netherlands,
Switzerland, Germany and Sweden were investigated by rapporteur of the Council
of Europe Mendes Bota. This report brought to a resolution, where the Nordic
model (criminalizing the purchase of sex) is recommended as the best way to
combat human trafficking. Besides, this was discussed in a conference organized
in collaboration with the Romanian Parliamentary Working Group combating human trafficking
in the Romanian Parliament. The failure of the current Dutch prostitution
policy was obvious when I visited with two MPs and delegates of this working
group in the Netherlands. Fortunately, the Dutch MP Gert Jan Segers, jointly with
his colleagues from the Socialist and Labour Party, drafted a bill that
criminalizes the purchase of sex. Hopefully, this will be only the first step
to improve the situation on prostitution policy in the Netherlands, and will
protect hundreds of women who are treated as slaves and raped every night in
Amsterdam and other Dutch cities.
In 2015, we envisage
to come forward in the fight against human trafficking. In April 22th, I will
get involved in an international conference on human trafficking organized in
the Romanian Parliament in collaboration with the European Freedom Network and
the Romanian Parliamentary Working Group. However, the battle is not over, but
it is encouraging that there is an increasing awareness on the fact that
prostitution is not an ordinary industry. In other words, prostitution is not
the oldest profession, but rather the oldest oppression. The dignity of women
should be guaranteed.
Reconciliation
As post
conflict reconciliation is one of the key values of ECPM, this latter was
involved in several projects on peace and reconciliation in the Balkans and
South-East Europe. I was a guest speaker at the ‘Renewing Our Minds’ conference
where young leaders from were inspired by the teaching of Jesus Christ. Additional
projects were supported via ECPM such as the Economic Diplomacy Seminar in
Croatia.
Prayer
Prayer was, is
and will always be of crucial importance in ECPM activities. Therefore, I was
active in promoting the European Prayer Breakfast and organizing the annual
Cornerstone event in Brussels, where 72 young leaders were gathered around the
values of Jesus and where different MEPs gave inspiring messages on Christian faith
in practical life and the way Jesus inspired their personal and professional
lives. Additionally, this year, the annual prayer breakfast was organized in Putna,
Romania, where I was invited to share a biblical message and a prayer.
Worldwide
growth
Not only in
Brussels but also worldwide, ECPM became increasingly involved in promoting
Christian values. New collaborations were made with different transatlantic
networks and American congressmen who promote family and dignity. I was invited
to speak in several meetings and conferences in Washington DC and in the United
Nations. As a result, fruitful collaboration with the Interparliamentary
Assembly on Orthodoxy has been increased.
Here
I mentioned some of the highlights of 2014. We are thankful of all the
aforementioned events for which are difficult to describe in two pages. Indeed, I felt that, after the elections something new lay
ahead of us. In the sense of a fresh and new way of doing politics based on
dignity, freedom and responsibility. I also felt more and more at home in Brussels and I am very thankul for this. After the elections for me too something new has started.
Thus, I would
like to thank each one of you who was involved or worked by my side this year,
all those who prayed for ECPM and its activities and/or supported us in one way
or the other. In a very special way, my thanks go to God, as He gave us so many
openings, protected us gave us a spirit
of unity with the people I am working with, and a common vision to promote His
values in European Politics.
I wish you a
blessed and inspiring 2015!!!!
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