*** AXELLE BERGERET-CASSAGNE: Pour une Europe fédérale des collectivités locales. Un demi-siècle de militantisme du Conseil des Communes et des Régions d'Europe - 1950-1999. L'Harmattan (5-7 rue de l'Ecole polytechnique,F-75005 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 40467920 - fax: 43258203 - E-mail: diffusion.harmattan@wanadoo.fr - Internet: http://www.librairieharmattan.com ). "Inter-National" series. 2009, 278 pp, €25. ISBN 978-2-296-09822-0.
This book is the result of university research and sometimes makes for some uncomfortable reading because it focuses on certain useful details for historians, but casts a shadow on the general picture and lessons to be drawn from it. Nonetheless, it is successful at very appropriately illustrating how the processes of European construction cannot be reduced to the action of the Community institutions and member states alone. It clearly indicates, rather, how much more modest and less well-known actors were involved in the construction processes at a level more often closer to the ground or within specific sections of European society but who were, nevertheless, crucial in laying some of the foundation stones of this edifice. To demonstrate this, there is the example of the Council of Municipalities and Regions of Europe founded in Geneva on 28 January 1950 by 56 representatives from the local authorities in nine countries or regions of Europe and whose previous and often chaotic and confused pilgrimages illustrate the difficulties in "constructing Europe" at all levels of the process.
Professor Eric Bussière (University of Paris-Sorbonne) subsequently underlines in his preface how this study reveals in the aftermath of the Second World War, the "revolutionary and profoundly democratic" European ambition behind this project. Revolutionary, because the Council of Municipalities of Europe -- its original name testifies to the very broad unitary nature of the countries during this era -- was essentially built by those who were part of the resistance and European federalists involved in rethinking democracy on "a new basis strongly influenced by federalism". Those involved in this process were therefore seeking to affirm a revived local level democracy as a key ingredient and element in the "extensive fabric of the European area". In this perspective, it is undeniable that the struggle of the Council of Municipalities (for a period of several years and that of its adjunct "and regions" established in the 1980s) was not in vain. Europe set about affirming itself in the popular imagination at local authority level, whilst gradually asserting "local, then regional objectives within the European institutions themselves". Its action to promote learning is particularly clear as illustrated in its accomplishments of twinning European municipalities together. At the same time, it has also sought to, quite legitimately, promote its own local interests and freedoms in the face of all-powerful nation states. The author of this publication briefly explains that the impetus behind the Council of Municipalities and Regions of Europe can be located in the following quotation, "in the articulation between the idea of defending local freedoms and that of the European Federation, namely, in the conviction that local autonomy is something that is fought for and strengthened in large movements that unify several centralised states and federations of their people. This coming together has the noble goal of seeking to create multiple and deep links between the people of all the countries of Europe, in an effort to establish a genuine European society".
It is nonetheless, far too early, to reach any conclusions and the current period is no longer exactly advantageous to the ideals and high hopes of the federalists. At the end of her study, Axelle Bergere-Cassage draws up a mixed balance sheet of this organisation's results. Nonetheless, it provides a useful insight into the work accomplished by these pioneers of the European idea, who were led by first rate political figures but who have, unfortunately, been forgotten. This book is a way of paying tribute to their valuable efforts.
Pierre Bouvier
*** PETER BECKER: The Modernization of European Cohesion Policy. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik/ German Institute for International and Security Affairs (3-4 Ludwigkirchplatz, D-10719 Berlin. Tel: (49-30) 88007-0 - fax: 88007-100 - E-mail: swp@swp-berlin.org - Internet: http://www.swp-berlin.org ). Collection "SWP Research Paper", No. 7. 2009, 34 pp..
This concise study focuses on the future of cohesion policy in terms of the financial perspectives for 2007-2013. The author pointed out that this policy is currently marrying two “opposing models”: traditional policy, which aims to strengthen the Union's economic and social cohesion by helping the poorest regions and which is anchored in the treaty is and constitutes “the most visible indication of solidarity in the union”. The other partner in the marriage is the “Lisbon-based” model, which identifies the redistributive function of structural funds as “the Lisbon strategy's operational instrument” and a means of promoting competitiveness, growth, and employment. Peter Becker considers that a pragmatic compromise will be imperative for blending these two approaches, even if it means amending the treaties, given that just using “strictly utilitarian policy defined in terms of efficiency criteria and growth rates” would mean rejecting the obligation of solidarity with the weakest players in the integration process. Financial benefits, which do not have a positive impact or are no longer envisaged in the next financial perspectives, are not expected to be, unless there is a great surprise, more generous than the most recent benefits afforded. The writer of this study therefore calls for a balancing mechanism that both fuses flexible implementation of structural funds with this strategic accompaniment and control of the projects under development. (MT)
*** ECKART GÜLDENBERG, TOBIAS PREISING, FRANK SCHOLLES (Editors): Europäische Raumentwicklung. Metropolen und periphere Regionen. Peter Lang (1 Moostrasse, CH -2542 Pieterlen , Suisse. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Stadt und Region als Handlungsfeld" series, No. 8. 2009, 168 pp., €32.5. ISBN 978-3-631-58877-2.
Urban development has recently acquired greater importance in the strategies of European Union member states. It also has a higher profile in the Union's agenda as well. Although urban development is not part of the European Union's remit, the Gothenburg agenda and the Lisbon strategy has helped to push this theme onto the European agenda. The issue of regional development can involve several regions from the same country or indeed from different countries. The question of distributing competences is the primary subject tackled in this book. As well as institutional aspects, governance is also a theme tackled in several of the contributions throughout the book. Several national case studies are depicted in different chapters and compared with each other. The main advantage of this book can be located in its multidisciplinary approach, given that the economic aspects of urban development management are not left out from the institutional considerations. Specific cases were examined in this book in an effort to provide the reader with a vision of the different problems and solutions linked to urban development issues in Europe. (JD)
*** L'Europe en formation. Revue d'études sur la construction européenne et le fédéralisme - Journal of Studies on European Integration and Federalism. Centre international de formation européenne (10 av. des Fleurs, F-06000 Nice. Tel: (33-4) 93979397 - fax: 93979398 - E-mail: europe.formation@cife.eu - Internet: http: //http://www.europeenformation.eu ). 2009, No. 352, 200 pp., €12. Subscription: €35.
This issue of the publication founded by Alexandre Marc, an avid supporter of an integral and personalised form of federalism, is mainly composed of a "Dossier" focusing on “Sustainable Development Discourses in Europe Countries ". Other contributions are made by scientists and result from a reflection carried out by the International Training Centre headed by its president Hartmut Marhold. They focus on the European Union itself, of course, but also on several countries representing European diversity as chosen in a case study: Germany, France, and Italy and other countries that have been involved in European construction since the beginning; Sweden and Norway from the Scandinavian part of the continent and Hungary and Poland, which allow for Central Europe's pulse to be taken. All this helps to make a concrete contribution to sustainable development as a European project whose authors seek to apply “ambitious integrating and global” values. (MT)
*** Confrontations Europe (227 bld. Saint-Germain, F-75007 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 43173283 - fax: 45561886 - E-mail: confrontations@wanadoo.fr - Internet: http://www.confrontations.org ). October-December 2009, No. 88, 46 pp., €7.
Consistently substantial and serious, this publication contains in this edition, several contributions relating to the current crisis. Some of these are economic and financial or focus on the climate, whereas the "Dossier” calls for a "mobilisation for training and employment" so that recovery from the crisis is sustainable. In his editorial, Philippe Herzog criticises micro-economic policy and taxation remaining within the exclusive preserve of member states, which he describes as, “an absurdity in the world of today” and ignores the Union at an international level and consequently denies it effective representation. In another editorial, Alain Lamassoure MEP calls for Europe to be transformed into “a personal and living space”, for which the internal market must also mean “European public goods” if it is to benefit European citizens. The publication also contains an appeal from Commissioner Barrot to find a balance between the need for security and the respect for freedom. A portrait of the President of the European Investment Bank, Philippe Maystadt, is also provided. (MT)
*** WALTER LEAL FILHO, FRANZISKA MANNKE (Editors): Interdisciplinary Aspects of Climate Change. Peter Lang (1 Moostrasse, Postfach 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen, Suisse. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Environmental Education, Communication and Sustainability" series, No. 29. 2009, 507 pp., €63.60. ISBN 978-3-631-58153-7.
This book was prepared in the context of "Climate 2008" (http://www.klima2008.net ), the first scientific conference on climate change held on the Internet. Its objective was two-fold: to present the most recent elements of scientific research into climate change, particularly aspects linked to the environment, the social sphere and economic and political considerations; to debate problems, obstacles, challenges and opportunities related to the sustainability of research projects in general. Those involved in contributing to this study are all specialists in very diverse scientific disciplines (economic science, meteorology, architecture and environmental management etc.). Throughout this study they describe projects and initiatives in industrialised and developing countries carried out by universities, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and the governments to fight against climate change. The approach of this book is therefore resolutely multidisciplinary and seeks to chart the interdependence at all levels of society with regard to the climate. In this respect, it breaks with previous studies that had a tendency to focus on specific problems (climate modelling, forecasts, etc.). (NDu)
*** Climate Change. Keys to a Concerted Policy Shift. Friends of Europe - Les Amis de l'Europe (Bibliothèque Solvay, 137 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7379145 - fax: 7387597- E-mail: info@friendsofeurope.org - Internet: http://www.friendsofeurope.org ). 2009, 60 pp..
This publication is the extension of an “event” organised by “Friends of Europe - Les Amis de l'Europe" during the most recent European commission's “Green Week”. It seeks to tackle different issues related to the problem of climate change and political and societal upsets that are expected to result from this phenomenon. Can the media and society change attitudes on climate? Can a “green revolution” bring us out of the recession? What can emerging economies be asked to do in relation to this issue? Do the European Union, the USA and China share the same or rival interests? These are some of the themes tackled in this publication. (PBo)
*** MISCHA BECHBERGER, MEZ LUTZ, ANNIKA SOHRE (Editors): Windenergie im Ländervergleich. Steuerungsimpulse, Akteure und technische Entwicklungen in Deutschland, Dänemark, Spanien und Groâbritannien. Peter Lang (see address attached). 2008, 222 p., €32.50. ISBN 978-3-631-57586-4.
This publication aims to promote a better understanding of the origins of wind power. It also provides a comparative analysis of the main technical developments and actors involved in this arena, namely the pioneering European countries involved in developing this kind of energy: Germany, Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom. The authors of this publication explained that in an effort to attain European and international climate protection objectives, wind power can provide an enormous contribution. Recent successes in this area can largely be explained by the process of continued and required learning. This book is based on our research project into wind energy innovation in Germany and provides a meticulous examination of this process. (EPi)
*** ANDRE SCHNEIDER: Energie: quelle stratégie pour l'Union européenne ? Commission chargée des Affaires européennes de l'Assemblée nationale (Boutique de l'Assemblée nationale, 7 rue Aristide-Briand, F-75007 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 40630033 Internet: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr ). "Les documents d'information de l'Assemblée nationale" series, No. 1655. 2009, 146 p., €5. ISBN 978-2-11-124138-1.
This Information Document analyses and describes the European action plan on energy security and solidarity put forward by the European Commission on 30 November last year. (MT)