*** To mark the Brussels Think Tank Dialogue 2012 on 31 January, organised by ten different think tanks (Bertelsmann Stiftung, Bruegel, CEPS, Confrontations Europe, Egmont, EPC, Friends of Europe, IFRI, Madariaga SWP) and with the support of Agence Europe, this European library will be focusing on the most recent of these publications that these think tanks sought to highlight.
*** PHILIPPE MOREAU DEFARGES, VIVIEN PERTUSOT (Editors): L'UE face à la crise. Faut-il plus d'intégration ? Institut français des relations internationales (Bureau de Bruxelles, 21 rue Marie-Thérèse, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2385113 - fax: 2385115 - Internet: http://www.ifri.org « Note de l'Ifri » series. December 2011, http://ifri.org/downloads/noteifrieuropecrise.pdf.
The European Union is faced with a formidable challenge: that of finding a way out of the crisis in one piece. Each summit appears to both offer the most hope and at the same time provide a last chance. There seems to be a deluge of information that makes any attempt at diagnosing the situation a difficult operation. In addition to the lack of integration, the current crisis reveals the fragility of the entire European edifice. Rather than focusing on the causes of this crisis, this publication is more about examining the possible consequences, dangers and solutions. It also seeks to provide a contribution to the debate by tackling two fundamental issues. First of all it seeks to analyse the different facets of the integration question: where do we actually stand in this regard? Is a stronger kind of integration inevitable and what will be the consequences of this be for member states and European institutions? Secondly, it looks at how the European project will develop and particularly how it's different actors will have to adapt. What will be the position and role of the Franco German duo? Are we witnessing the emergence of two Unions, one with 17 members and the other with 27? And finally, is this crisis an illustration, if indeed one were needed, of the fact that Europe is eminently integrated into a global system of which it is not the centre but only one albeit important component? The authors provide clear and analytical answers to these often misunderstood questions that are too often brushed abruptly aside. This publication is available at: http://www.ifri.org/downloads/noteifrieuropecrise.pdf.
*** PHILIPPE HERZOG: Is there any future for Europe? Inaugural Lesson, Ecole des Ponts Paris Tech. Confrontations Europe (Bureau de Bruxelles, 19-21 rue du Luxembourg, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2136270 - fax: 2136379 - Internet: http://www.confrontations.org ). 2011.
The European Union is at a crossroads in its history: we find ourselves in a make-or-break time that will decide on the future of European society. The profound and complex changes we are currently experiencing compel us to confront the contradictions and illusions we have inherited from the past. We now have every reason to ask ourselves a serious but simple question, “Is there any future for Europe?” Philippe Herzog attempted to address this challenging question with both courage and determination, during his inaugural lesson at the Ecole des Ponts Paris Tech (31 August 2011).
His reflections on a crisis recovery strategy are underpinned in three different areas: the need for a revival in European democracy, through the strengthening of civil society's expertise and the creation of trans-national political parties; a European New Deal aligning the competitiveness efforts of the Member States and finally, Europeans have to locate a means for ensuring that political integration is resumed and cooperation improved between European and national institutions.
This publication is available at:
http://www.confrontations.org/images/confrontations/publications/option/option%2029%20ENG.pdf.
*** ALAIN RICHARD, MAXIME LEFEBVRE (Editors): La déconstruction européenne ? Institut français des relations internationales (Bureau de Bruxelles, 21 rue Marie-Thérèse, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2385113 - fax: 2385115 - Internet: http://www.ifri.org ). « Politique étrangère » series, No. 4/2011.
The main article in the December 2011 edition of the French Institute of International Relations' quarterly review, Politique étrangère, focuses on the European project. The article, “European deconstruction?” seeks to examine several key areas and look in detail at the state of debate, level of integration and development of these policies in this connection. Issues involving the disarray in the euro zone, economic governance, the Schengen area and public opinion are all analysed. We are able to see that if we go beyond the headlines, existing structuring trends remain both anchored and balanced. At the same time, it is undeniable that Euroscepticism is a trend that is gathering strength. These four thematic articles are explored in contributions by Alain Richard and Maxime Lefebvre. The first analyses the current crises and identifies hope in the audacity of future media and political elites. The second provides a more comprehensive exploration and poses a number of questions regarding the current European project. It considers that only a redefinition of the notions of its association, subsidiarity, solidarity and differentiation will be enough to revitalise the current European project. The appropriateness of the European project remains fundamental but it is certain that its confidence deficit largely began with the crises that undermined morale. There are solutions but political courage will be needed to put them into place.
*** MARC LEPOIVRE, JACQUES KELLER-NOËLLET, STIJN VERHELST (Editors): The European Union and Economic Governance. Egmont - Royal Institute for International Relations (69 rue de Namur, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2234114 - fax: 2234116 -: info@egmontinstitute.be - Internet: http://www.egmontinstitute.be ). “Studia Diplomatica” series, Vol. LXIV, No. in Glenrothes 4. 2011.
In the wake of the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, the EU's single currency appeared to offer an effective shelter against the prevailing financial difficulties. Nevertheless, within just a few years, a full-blown sovereign debt crisis has emerged in the eurozone. Economic governance in the EU has proven deficient. This issue of Studia Diplomatica analyses the causes of this insufficiency and provides a reflection on the ways and means of improving the governance framework.
Each chapter in Studia Diplomatica assesses a specific element of economic governance, after which an overall conclusion is drawn. The first chapter focuses on the concept of economic governance itself. Afterwards, the two components of economic governance are discussed: normative governance (i.e. binding numerical limits) and non-binding incentive governance. Enforcement and solidarity are two key overarching themes in the economic governance debate and each of them are discussed in specific chapters. European economic governance can obviously not be isolated from international governance issues and therefore the final chapter draws a link between the EU and global economic governance.
Both practitioners and academics contributed to the Studia Diplomatica. Authors include Petr Blizkovsky (Council), Jim Cloos (Council), Philippe de Schoutheete (former permanent representative of Belgium to the EU), Jacques Keller-Noëllet (Egmont), Jean-Victor Louis (hon. professor, ULB), Marc Lepoivre (Egmont), Maria João Rodrigues (IEE-ULB) and Stijn Verhelst (Egmont).
*** The State of Europe: Re-thinking the European project. Friends of Europe / Les amis de l'Europe (Bibliothèque Solvay, Parc Léopold, 137 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7379145 - fax: 7387597). Autumn 2011.
The State of Europe is dominated by the financial crisis in the Eurozone, which was reflected in Friends of Europe's annual State of Europe roundtable. This roundtable brought together senior stakeholders for a no-holds-barred discussion on prospects for rethinking the European “project”. The discussion helped highlight the complexities of the issues and the disagreements and divisions on how to deal with the problems.
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, outlined what needs to be done - beefing up the tools of the euro area, strengthening the banking system, improving economic governance and implementing the single market agenda. The EU, however, is still struggling with its lack of connection to voters and lack of legitimacy. This was not so much of a problem when it appeared to be creating win-win situations for its citizens, but today when that equation looks more like lose-lose, it is more of an issue. Making the Commission more accountable is one answer - it would make people feel they have a say in who runs Europe as well as increasing understanding about the issues. This publication is available at: http://www.friendsofeurope.org/Contentnavigation/Library/Libraryoverview/tabid/1186/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/2997/The-State-of-Europe-Rethinking-the-European-project.aspx
*** JANIS A. EMMANOUILIDIS, JOSEF JANNING (Editors): Stronger After the Crisis. Strategic Choices for Europe's Way Ahead. European Policy Centre (Résidence Palace, 4ème étage, 155 rue de la Loi, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2310340 - fax: 2310704 - Internet: http://www.epc.eu ). « EPC Strategic Paper » series. June 2011.
Europe finds itself at a crossroads. Either European leaders succeed in re-energising European integration or the EU will lose its relevance and it will no longer be seen as the main instrument for shaping their future. Europe needs new momentum if it is to tackle the crisis. Translating the Union's strategic objective of a global Europe into practice, which is able to co-determine international developments in a highly dynamic global environment and deliver peace and prosperity for its citizens, requires that the EU and its members concentrate their efforts on concrete, ambitious, yet realistic, strategic projects. This EPC strategy paper argues that the resolution of the euro crisis is a condicio sine qua non for the future of the European project. However, it will not suffice to merely follow a reactive approach aimed at papering over the cracks. Once the sovereign debt crisis is contained, the EU will be in dire need of proactive projects that can revive integration, rebuild consensus, and attract and bind the leadership ambitions of its key actors at both national and European levels: http://www.epc.eu/pub_details.php?cat_id=2&pub_id=1300&year=2011
*** PIERRE DEFRAIGNE: An answer to the Crisis: Social Model and Political Union. Fondation Madariaga / Collège d'Europe (14 av. de la Joyeuse entrée, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2)2096210 - fax: 2096211 - Email: info@madariaga.org - Internet: http://www.madariaga.org ). « Madariaga Paper » series, Vol. 4, No. 10. (October 2011).
The systemic crisis of Western capitalism could have been avoided if only democracy had set up countervailing powers necessary for the control of a market capitalism in a phase of globalisation. Democracy must regain the control that it has unduly and unwisely left to market forces. The way out of this systemic crisis will therefore call for political ruptures and crossing new thresholds towards an increased integration. Today, inside the EU-27, the eurozone is the most relevant level to rebalance the market and politics. But a new political integration drive raises the question of democratic legitimacy.
*** GORDON BAJNAI, THOMAS FISCHER, STEPHANIE HARE, SARAH HOFFMANN, KALYPSO NICOLAIDIS, VANESSA ROSSI, JURI VIEHOFF, ANDREW WATT: Solidarity: For Sale ? The social dimension of the New European Economic Governance. Bertelsmann Stiftung (Gütersloh. Internet: http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de ). “Europe in Dialogue” series, No. 2012/01.
The “Europe in Dialogue“ series wishes to make a contribution to the debate about current European issues. The analyses in this series subject political concepts, processes and institutions to critical scrutiny and suggest ways of reforming internal and external European policymaking so that it is fit for the future. This volume examines the social dimensions of the new European economic policies, issues that have not been as high on the agenda of European leaders and the public.
Thomas Fischer and Sarah Hoffmann argue there is a worrying lack of solidarity among member states and their citizenries. Different concepts of solidarity and their relevance to the European Union and the financial crisis are discussed by the Oxford University scholars Kalypso Nicolaïdis and Juri Viehoff. Andrew Watt, European Trade Union Institute, has a closer look at Europe's performance prior to and during the financial and economic crisis in terms of cohesion and solidarity, both within and between countries. Former Hungarian Prime Minister Gordon Bajnai presents more integration as the only solution to overcome the crisis. Vanessa Rossi and Stephanie, both of Oxford Analytica, present practice-oriented solutions and argue in favour of a sharply focussed ”gold standard” programme for social investment. This publication is available at: http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/SolidarityForSale.
*** YANNOS PAPANTONIOU: The Lessons of the Eurozone Crisis that should Shape the EU's G20 Stance. Friends of Europe: Les amis de l'Europe (Bibliothèque Solvay, Parc Léopold, 137 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7379145 - fax: 7387597).
In Friends of Europe's first Fellowship report, Dr Yannos Papantoniou, a former Greek finance minister, draws lessons from Greece's debt crisis to propose eurozone reforms and also a more proactive approach by the EU to global governance issues. The report advocates a permanent secretariat for the G20 and
a number of regulatory and supervisory rules that would cover banking and financial services around the world. “The aim,” says Dr Papantoniou, “is to ensure no repeat of the financial crash that pushed much of the world into recession, while also giving a fair deal to emerging economies.”
The need to adapt international rules governing trade and financial services to the requirements of emerging giants like China, India and Brazil, and of Third World countries battling poverty led to the establishment of G20. But it has yet to reach agreement on the wide range of reforms to be introduced. This publication is available at:
*** Towards competitiveness and solidarity in Europe. Confrontations Europe (Bureau de Bruxelles, 19-21 rue du Luxembourg, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2136270 - fax: 2136379 - Internet: http://www.confrontations.org ). 2012.
“Towards competitiveness and solidarity in Europe” is published on the results of the European Economic Debates that took place in Paris on 23rd and 24th November 2011. This book reflects the analysis of the road that Europeans should not fail to take. And while the road is still long, the path is clear: an enlarged, dynamic and open internal market, progression towards a European incentive-based budget and massive mobilization of investment funds.
The European Union faces an enormous challenge to be competitive, both within and outside its borders. Member States are beginning to realize that they are interdependent, while in the meantime competitiveness gaps are increasing. The European Union and national governments will not achieve their goals without bringing their societies on board, and it will require enormous courage to confront and mobilize them. Among the distinguished authors of this publication are Michel Barnier, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services; Alain Lamassoure, Chairman of Budget Committee of the European Parliament; Philippe Herzog, Founder President of Confrontations Europe and many other famous names.
*** STORMY_ANNIKA MILDNER: Resource Scarcity - A Global Security Threat? Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politic / German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Bureau de Bruxelles, 80 Bld. Saint-Michel, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7429728 - fax: 7429729 - Internet: http://www.swp-berlin.org/en/brussels ). “SWP Research Paper” series, 2011/RP02. 2011, 33 pp.
For a decade we have been living through a period of great turbulence in the commodity markets. Rising prices, geological and market concentration, and state intervention in the commodity markets all stoke fears of supply bottlenecks and violent confrontation. The central questions of the study 'Resource Scarcity - A Global Security Threat?' are: under what circumstances does resource scarcity lead to conflicts? And how can latent and acute conflicts over scarce resources be contained and regulated?
*** DANIEL FIOTT: The New Frontex: A Model for the CSDP? Fondation Madariaga / Collège d'Europe (14 av. de la Joyeuse entrée, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2)2096210 - fax: 2096211 - Email: info@madariaga.org - Internet: http://www.madariaga.org ). « Madariaga Paper » series, Vol. 4, No. 11. 2011.
The new rules for Frontex include the agency's ability to buy or lease its own equipment for missions, to assume a co-leading role in joint operations and to draw up detailed provision plans for its activities. But this progress has not been matched, and is not so readily in sight, despite the Lisbon treaty's protocol on Permanent Structured Cooperation, and in light of defence budget cuts in many EU Member States, when it comes to the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy. Indeed, under the CSDP no agency such as Frontex is entrusted with operational planning or for rationalising the development of defence capabilities. This paper asks why the innovations now underway for Frontex are not equally applicable to CSDP by showing ways in which the Member States could use the "Frontex formula" as a guiding principle for the further development of defence policy.
*** VOLKER PERTHES, BARBARA LIPPERT (Editors): Expect the Unexpected. Ten Situations to Keep an Eye on. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politic / German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Bureau de Bruxelles, 80 Bld. Saint-Michel, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7429728 - fax: 7429729 - Internet: http://www.swp-berlin.org/en/brussels ). « SWP Research Paper series », 2011/RP 01. 2012, 49 pp.
The fact that individual elements create crises is generally already well-known. It is their interaction that is unpredictable, and therefore defies planning. We present ten conceivable situations chosen from different fields of foreign and security policy; situations that Germany, the European Union and the international community could find themselves unexpectedly having to confront. The themes range from the major disruption of Saudi oil exports; the idea that the Americans or Chinese might apply enormously risky technologies to tackle climate change and the potential impact of secession movements within EU member states.
*** SVEN BISCOP, ROSA BALFOUR, MICHAEL EMERSON (Editors): An Arab Springboard for EU Foreign Policy? Egmont - Royal Institute for International Relations (69 rue de Namur, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2234114 - fax: 2234116 - Email: info@egmontinstitute.be - Internet: http://www.egmontinstitute.be ). « Egmont Papers » series, No. 54. 2012, 93 p.
The EU has not been perceived as reacting very rapidly or effectively to the so-called Arab Spring. Events validate the underpinning idea of the European Security Strategy and the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP): only where governments guarantee their citizens security, prosperity, freedom and equality, can peace and stability last - otherwise, people will revolt. But in practice, in its southern neighbourhood, the EU has acted in precisely the opposite manner, so the Arab Spring is occurring in spite of, rather than thanks to EU policy. The ENP stands at a crossroads therefore: Can a new start be made? Which instruments and, in times of austerity, which means can the EU apply to consolidate democratization? And, finally, can the EU continue to wage an ENP without addressing the hard security dimension, especially as the US seem to be withdrawing from crisis management in the region - or shall it continue to leave that to others? This Egmont Paper covers the key dimensions of the EU's relations with its southern neighbourhood. Following a general assessment of the state of regimes in the region today, the paper addresses: political relations; a prospective Euro-Mediterranean economic area; natural resources; migration; the role of the military in the region; EU crisis management and the role of NATO; and, finally, the impact of the Arab Spring on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Reflecting the Union's key interests in the southern neighbourhood, these dimensions ought to guide the setting of priorities as the EU is re-shaping its strategy towards its Mediterranean neighbours.
*** THE TRANSATLANTIC COUNCIL ON MIGRATION: Improving the Governance of International Migration. Verlag Bertelsmann Stiftung (Gütersloh. Internet: http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de ). 2011.
Contemporary states are ambivalent about the global governance of migration: they desire more of it because they know they cannot reach their goals by acting alone, but they fear the necessary compromise on terms they may not be able to control and regard it as an issue that is politically charged. Currently, there is no formal, coherent, multilateral institutional framework governing the global flow of migrants. While most actors agree that greater international cooperation on migration is needed, there has been no persuasive analysis of what form this would take or of what greater global cooperation would aim to achieve. The purpose of this book, the Transatlantic Council on Migration's fifth volume, is to fill this analytical gap by focusing on a set of fundamental questions: What are the key steps to building a better, more cooperative system of governance? What are the goals that can be achieved through greater international cooperation? And, most fundamentally, who (or what) is to be governed? This publication is available at: http://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/cps/rde/xbcr/SID-D5378BAC-12D1D025/bst/xcms_bst_dms_34930_34931_2.pdf.