*** DOMENICO ROSSETTI DI VALDALBERO: The Power of Science. Economic research and European decision-making: The case of energy and environment policies. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes / Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - E-mail: pie@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). 2010, 297 pp. €36.50. ISBN 978-90-5201-586-6.
Renewable energies, climate change, biodiversity, green jobs, emissions trading quotas etc. The economy-energy-environment paradigm is now more than ever a burning issue and these three challenges constantly interconnect at the very moment political decision-making takes place. They are at the heart of the debate, both at an international and European level. Moreover, they embody a cause, which brings two hitherto distant worlds together: citizens' concerns, on one side, and the political stakes at play, on the other.
According to Domenico Rossetti, Principal Administrator at DG Research at the European Commission and Secretary General for the Union of European Federalists and author of this book, the actor at the heart of this apparently unlikely symbiosis, is no other than the economist. Often ignored in theoretical studies, the economist constitutes, nonetheless, an indispensable component in the political decision-making mechanism from the very beginning of the latter's conception to its adoption by the different European institutions. The author therefore underlines that, “scientific support is a necessary condition for the success of a Commission initiative” because the European Union's legitimacy and credibility is based on objective targets and its technical charisma. It is therefore the combination of economic and social requirements and the consensus of the main Union actors and scientific community, which underpins the success of a given scientific initiative.
Where do these targets come from, which serve as scientific props to official Commission documents, such as communications, Green Papers and directives? What are the quantitative and qualitative tools used by researchers in developing their economic models and what is the result of all this? This is the main goal and reason for writing this book. It seeks to dissect the links between European economic and political research, as well as illustrate the role played by scientists in the political decision-making process and demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of the forecasts used by economists in their work. It becomes quite apparent that this book is both comprehensive and extremely well developed. Based on five case studies (energy taxation, climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energies and the internalisation of external costs), Domenico Rossetti employs his expertise in the field of forecast programming, in addition to his experience at the Commission, to analyse the way in which energy and environmental policy decisions are taken by the European institutions.
The great strength of this book is undoubtedly located in its effort to provide a neutral analysis. Far from being an apologist for the economist, as the instrument of salvation for European policy, the author seeks to provide an analysis of the budgets and the top-down and bottom-up models applied, the qualitative and quantitative approaches, as well as the reliability of forecasts made in the past. Mistakes are identified and exit-strategies are explored. The book is divided into seven main chapters and finishes with recommendations for the scientific community, which, according to the author, should strive to enhance the continuity of dialogue, retain its objectivity and elaborate models that are able to define the increasingly complex world in which we live. This analysis is conducted as an extremely important point in time, given the energy and environmental challenges that are more vital and complex than ever.
Thomas Bauwens
*** Le monde en 2025. La montée en puissance de l'Asie et la transition socio-écologique. European Commission (DG Research, SDME 7/34, B-1049 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2962811 - Fax: 2979608 - E-mail: domenico.rossetti-di-valdalbero@ec.europpa.eu / Official Publications Office, Luxembourg. Internet: http: //bookshop.europa.eu). "Espace européen de la recherche" series. 2009, 28 pp. ISBN 978-92-79-12486-0.
This small volume was prepared by the “Science, Economy and Society” Directorate at DG Research at the European Commission, in cooperation with the Bureau of Political Advisers (the former Prospective Cell) and other services at this institution. It provides a concise analysis of the main results developed by experts invited to develop forecasts about how the world will be in 2025. The authors first of all describe the main trends for the future: geopolitical transformations in terms of population, economic development, poverty or international trade. The sources of tension are then examined, such as those involving natural resources (food, energy, water and minerals), migration and urbanisation. Finally, the different transition possibilities are outlined: towards a new model of production and consumption; a new way of regional management and moves towards establishing a new gender and generational balance etc. As explained by Jean-Michel Baer in his preface, "the subtitle of this publication (…) is quite clear and a source of inspiration for the European Union's future strategy”. He concludes this publication with the observation that, “future challenges require consolidation and affirmation of the European project, including its dynamic insertion into the world”.
(MT)
*** SUSANNE DRÖGE, OLIVER GEDEN: EU-Richtungswechsel in den Klimaverhandlungen ? Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Deutsches Institut für Internationale Politik und Sicherheit (3-4 Ludwigkirchplatz, D-10719 Berlin. Tel: (49-30) 88007-0 - Fax: 88007-100 E-mail: swp@swp-berlin.org - internet: http: //http://www.swp-berlin.org ). "SWP - Aktuell" series, No. 35. 2010, 4 pp.
International negotiations on the climate that took place a year ago in Copenhagen under the leadership of United Nations are perceived by many to have been a failure. Heads of state and government were unable to agree on an ambitious climate plan. In a European perspective, the main perception retained focuses on the inability of the Union in negotiations. It was not even invited to the final negotiating table by the other major powers, such as China and the US. Consequently, we can quite confidently assert that it is necessary to change the European diplomatic strategy for the forthcoming negotiations in Cancun at the end of this year, in an effort to relaunch climate negotiations and conclude an agreement on environmental challenges. This mission has, for the most part, been accomplished, as we are now aware. Nonetheless, it is also necessary for Union member states to in the meantime, to attempt to develop a single strategy. One of the elements in this brief study returns to the question of dissent between European countries. In Copenhagen, the latter were not excluded from the negotiating table for no reason at all. The authors also examine the way in which the negotiations took place at the Copenhagen summit and develop an alternative Union strategy.
(JD)
*** GIANLUIGI GUIDO: Behind Ethical Consumption. Purchasing motives and marketing strategies for organic food products, non-GMOs, bio-fuels. Editions Peter Lang (1 Moostrasse 32, Postfach 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). 2009, 183 pp., €38. ISBN 978-3-0343-0095-7.
Increasing numbers of Western consumers are aware that their decisions to purchase a given product rather than another can have multiple consequences. These repercussions can take place at an environmental level or at a level directly affecting the people who help manufacture the product that they buy. Their decisions even have an impact on the health of the latter. So far, few studies focus on the determining factors influencing consumer behaviour. When it is not actually businesses that are developing these studies, we are able to see that “ethical consumption” bodies are becoming increasingly important in affecting consumer choice. As a lecturer in marketing at the University of Salento in Italy, Gianluigi Guido, seeks to rectify this shortcoming by putting forward in this book, five studies exploring the reasons behind ethical consumer choices and those that occur at the level of marketing strategy plans. The field of investigation varies from organic food and genetically modified organisms to biofuels and new transport technologies based on low emissions in CO2. The different studies illustrate a European and more particularly, an Italian point of view, by extending studies in other European countries to the Italian situation and by opening up new research prospects based on older purchasing patterns that have hitherto never been explored.
(NDu)
*** HEINZ KRAMER: Die Türkei als Energiedrehscheibe. Wunschtraum und Wirklichkeit. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politk, Deutsches Institut für Internationale Politik und Sicherheit (see address attached). " SWP - Studie" series, No. 9. 2010, 36 pp.
For several years, different strategies have given way to new ones in the energy field in Europe, particularly with regard to strategies in the transport sector. In most cases, Turkey creates a number of questions in all of these different areas. Due to its geographical position, Turkey has become an important hub in the transport of gas and oil to and for Europe. This makes Ankara a highly strategic ally for the Union and Russia. The country is now unquestionably a regional power.
The author of this brief study analyses the different strategies or energy routes, which confer this new role on Turkey on the transport of fossil fuels between mainland Europe and Asia. He explains that each gas and oil corridor includes its own individual political challenges, whether they are intimately linked to the European Union or Russia and the countries bordering the Caspian Sea, such as Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan.
(JD)
*** CHUYANG LIU: Maritime Transport Services in the Law of the Sea and the World Trade. Peter Lang (see address attached). "Etudes en droit économique mondial" series, No. 14. 2009. 314 pp, €54.10. ISBN 978-3-0343-0099-5.
Since the creation of the first international laws, maritime law has been crucially important to world trade. The author of the book examines certain major aspects of this particular and often conflictual relationship between specific maritime law and laws governed by the World Trade Organisation for trade carried out when entering port or in the event of cabotage activities, etc. The author also underlines the similarities and divergences between different legal auspices in international institutions. At the end of the book we find a series of recommendations.
(IP)
*** MARIE-MADELEINE DAMIEN, JACQUES MARCADON (editors): Les ports européens et la mondialisation. Editions 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 ). 2009, 175 pp. €17. ISBN 978-2-296-09163-4.
Devised by its authors as a homage to André Vigarié, "Géographe de la Mer et des Ports" and founder of the French maritime school, this book includes contributions made by academic specialists examining north facing seaports in Europe, such as those on the North Sea and the Baltic. The authors explain that the dynamism of these ports has helped develop the globalisation of the economy by way of their own changing status, in addition to investment for deepening channels, building new terminals, developing safe information technology systems and rail and enhanced waterway access etc. Since the end of 2008, none of these ports, except for Zeebrugge, has been spared the full force of the recession but all of them are confident about their future and are developing new major projects, particularly in terms of improving land-sea interface operations through greater inter-modality and use of real-time information follow-up systems. The second part of the book focuses on the problems confronting French ports. The conflictual context of the way in which these ports are reformed and the future role of the port authorities is examined in this part of the book.
(PBo)
*** 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 2010, No. 92, 48 pp. €7.
The dossier in the issue of this publication, which is very dear to the heart of the former MEP, Philippe Herzog, focuses on renovation of the single market, as launched by Commissioner Barnier. The latter is very keen to make this market into a “major enterprise of mobilisation”, a “hub” and “base camp” for industries and services. This publication also includes a comparative study of central and Baltic states in Europe that have had to confront the crisis. Poland was subject to particular scrutiny with a contribution entitled, "New skills for New Jobs", which is one of the seven key initiatives contained in the Commission's EU 2020 Strategy, as well as articles on the “New Paradigm”, which outline the parameters for regional cooperation and professional mobility within the Union from a viewpoint of the car manufacturers ( the president of Eurocadres, Carlo Parietti, puts forward the idea of a European professional card), difficulties involved in the social insertion of young people and avoiding “the risk of a lost generation”, to pension reform and “active ageing” and finally, European funds for which targets still need to be identified. This edition also contains the customary editorial by Philippe Herzog, a balance sheet of accomplishments in the economic governance arena, written by … Ferdinando Riccardi.
(MT)