*** ANDREW DUFF: Pandora, Penelope, Polity. How to Change the European Union. John Harper Publishing (27 Palace Gates Road, London N22 7BW, UK. Tel: (44-1767) 604951 - Email: custserv@turpin-distribution.com - Internet: http://www.johnharperpublishing.co.uk ). 2015, 122 pp. £11.50, €15. ISBN 978-0-9929748-6-2.
It might seem a paradox that the Anglo-Saxon world has always had determined and emblematic heralds and builders of federalism. In actual fact, there is no paradox at all because throughout the history of political thought, the Great Britain of Margaret Thatcher or even that of Great Britain currently under David Cameron are nothing other than a quirk of fate and a nationalist form of lunacy which, in a certain way, can be characterised by having substituted the navel for the brain. Andrew Duff is part of a much more honourable and future looking tradition, such as that of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison who sought to build the United States of America in the shape of a federation, in an effort to emancipate itself from the chains of the British imposed colonial power. In his way, Andrew Duff is proposing something almost identical to the European countries, the partners of the United Kingdom and for them to subsequently liberate themselves from British interests and prosper within an agreed form of European federalism within the European Union because it is quite simply the only way of saving democracy in Europe.
In this small publication, he explains that it came to light because he lost his position as an MP, which he had occupied at the Group of Liberals and Democrats for Europe at the European Parliament since 1999. With both talent and passion he makes an erudite defence of his conviction that the time has now come for Europe to become a federation. In response to those in government and diplomatic circles who say that beginning any new revision of the European treaties should be resisted at all costs because the exercise would open up a Pandora's box, this former president of the Union of European Federalists explains that this box has in fact already been opened due to the obvious weaknesses contained in the Lisbon Treaty, particularly with regard to economic governance. He points out to these critics that the first woman created by Zeus opened the present given to her by the gods of Olympus in order to, " let out all the evils of the world" and that this was the only hope of doing so. " It is strange that, so many years later, urbane modern leaders of Europe are still gripped by a fear of being unable to control events of their own making"… It should be pointed out that certain members of the European Council are not wrong in expressing concerns about his idea because Mr Duff has another trick down his sleeve, namely, the Penelope workgroup set up by President Prodi and placed under the authority of the late François Lamoureux. A top-flight European Parliament actor at the European Convention that followed the Declaration of Laeken, Andrew Duff remembers the immense potential of the "most federal constitutional initiative" that they had had since the draft treaty drawn up by Altiero Spinelli in 1984. He praises all the ideas contained in this fully constitutional initiative capable of meeting the challenges that arise. In his argument Andrew Duff compares these advantages to the current shortcomings and sums up some of the protests voiced by citizens regarding the nauseous levels of intergovernmentalism.
It is, however, the ideas put forward by the author himself that warrant the most attention, such as those on the proposals put forward by certain citizens and decision-makers. Given the obvious reality of the situation, the author ultimately asks his readers to take a look at the question of full and comprehensive political union, with executive power conferred on a reformed European Commission and the European Council obtaining the same right as the European Parliament to withdraw its confidence from it. The President of the Commission under this setup would become the only Union representative at the international bodies and would exclusively select the College of Commissioners on the basis of three names put forward (which would contain at least one woman) by each of the member state governments. In exchange for this governmental evolution, the Commission would abandon its quasi-judicial competencies in the area of competition, which would be given to an autonomous body. The coordination of national economic policies would be required to give way to a genuine common policy to complete an unstoppable Economic Monetary and Budgetary Union. Is all of this realistic? Obviously, there will be some doubters who will pose a number of questions or attempt to dismiss the ambitious ideas put forward in these pages. Nonetheless, how can they reasonably respond to the observation made by Andrew Duff that, "The financial crash and its aftermath have demonstrated well how the intergovernmental approach leads to centralisation around one German economic model of uber-competitiveness - alas, a model which does not work everywhere". Responsible management in the European Union and its member states would require, as persistently pointed out by the author, the abandonment of dogmatic intergovernmentalism, which has condemned the European project to technocratic transgressions and the subsequent and increasing disaffection of its citizens. He therefore calls on the Juncker Commission to take the initiative to set up a new European Convention as soon as possible that is capable of releasing all the different positive energies required. He believes that despite the blackmail thatc David Cameron is hoping to exercise with his referendum, the United Kingdoms' partners will be encouraged to go in the direction he advocates without any serious problems, before it is too late. Michel Theys
*** CAROL HARLOW, RICHARD RAWLINGS: Process and Procedure in EU Administration. Hart Publishing (16C Worcester Place, Oxford, OX1 2JW UK. Tel: (44-1865) 517530 - fax: 510710 - Email: mail@hartpub.co.uk - Internet: http://www.hartpub.co.uk ). 2014, 351 pp. £35. ISBN 978-1-849-46298-3.
This book provides a functional analysis of the European Union' administrative processes and procedures. Following a presentation of the way in which the European administrative system has evolved, the two authors dissect the way in which the current administrative system is functioning, as well as the values, objectives and principles underpinning and influencing it. Carol Harlow (Emeritus Prof of Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science) and Richard Rawlings (Professor of Public Law at University College of London) each in turn look at the role played by the European courts and ombudsman, as well as the different aspects of the legislative scenery (committee procedures delegated acts etc.), transparency requirements, the rules to follow for public procurement and institutional conflicts. They also seek to differentiate the horizontal procedures valid in all the different domains from those specific to certain sectors. In their conclusions, the authors provide a recapitulation on the lessons learnt from the different chapters, as well as their own personal opinions about how the general administrative apparatus functions. They are critical of the very "top-down" approach of the administration, dominated by experts and external points of view, which leaves little room left for citizens to make a contribution. Nonetheless, they describe the "strong glue" that this complex administrative system uses to keep itself in place and point out that although it is obviously a useful product, it also has to be applied with care. (HHe)
*** SPYRIDON FLOGAITIS: The Evolution of Law and the State in Europe. Seven Lessons. Hart Publishing (16C Worcester Place, Oxford, OX1 2JW, UK. Tel: (44-1865) 517530 - fax: 510710 - C Email: mail@hartpub.co.uk - Internet: http://www.hartpub.co.uk ). 2014, 123 pp. £30. ISBN 978-1-849-46644-8.
The majority of books on the public powers of the state tackle the subject from a point of view of legal theory, sociology and political science. This book, however, without claiming to provide a complete theory of the law and the state, distinguishes itself by the author's determination to provide a different reading of history and the institutions that have developed in mainland Europe and in the domain of legal and political sciences. Spyridon Flogaitis is a lecturer in administrative law at the University of Athens, as well as the director of the European Public Law Organisation and a lawyer at the High Court and Greek Council of State. In this publication, he provides a very extensive range of western and eastern European sources to argue that it is only by getting to know the history of the state and its administration since the 12th century that we can begin to understand the continued importance of the state and public powers in modern Europe. In this era of globalisation and the fact that the importance of the law and the international institutions is leaving certain commentators to claim that the state has lost its importance, the actual truth is much more complex. The author seeks to explain that we are now living in an epoch where the goal is no longer fighting to build states based on democratic values but rather, to adapt and take ownership of the fundamental values that exist beyond the borders, subject to the scrutiny of the judges underpinning the primacy of the law. It should be noted that this book is also available in Greek at the Sakkoulas publishers (23 rue Ippokratous, Athens, GR-10679. Tel: (30-201) 3387500 - fax: 3370075 - email: info@sakkoulas.gr - Internet: http://www.sakkoulas.gr ). (AKa)
*** ALAIN-G. GAGNON, JOSE MARIA SAUCA (Editors): Negotiating Diversity. Identity, Pluralism and Democracy. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes / Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - Email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). « Diversitas » series, No. 18. 2014, 260 pp. €43.90. ISBN 978-2-875-74171-4.
Following the attacks on Charlie Hebdo, the question of multiculturalism is now at the heart of the debates everywhere in Europe. Whether this is cultural, ideological or legal, pluralism is a difficult concept to put into place and it is difficult to ensure that it is respected, even in a democratic society. The consequences of inadequate integration of certain communities are certainly damaging to minority groups but also to other citizens. This book looks at identity, pluralism and democracy and also seeks to tackle the very contemporary concern of building a mixed society. The authors tackle these three themes in the perspective of politics, history and political science. They believe that the key to developing cultural, ideological and legal culturalism is to ensure the scrupulous respect for democracy and human rights. Pluralism can therefore become a reality through the negotiations that lead to greater autonomy of minority groups and nations. (HHe)
*** CHRIS REYNOLDS: Sous les pavés… The Troubles. Northern Ireland, France and the European Collective Memory of 1968. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, P. O. Box 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - fax: 3761727 - Email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). 2014, 227 pp. €49.95. ISBN 978-3-631-62643-6.
When May 1968 is mentioned we usually immediately think of the events in Franc. As Chris Reynolds, Professor of European Studies at the University of Nottingham Trent explains, the events of May 1968 are perceived as the "highpoint" of the era. In this book, he obviously returns to these events but also to those that occurred at the same time in Northern Ireland. He compares them and explains why the Northern Irish case has been marginalised, even though it should indeed be included in the list of the major events of this bygone European period. This book helps us to deepen our knowledge about the events of 1968 in France and Ireland, as well as look at the way in which these events have been reported and, more broadly, studied, particularly the question of the transnational collective memory of 1968. (HHe)
*** MONICA SALVAN: Mobilités et imaginaire identitaire des Roumains dans l'Europe d'après 1989. Carnets de bord et ethnographie des pratiques de voyage en autocar. Peter Lang (see address attached). "Transversales - Langues, sociétés, cultures et apprentissages » series, No. 39. 2014, 281 pp. €61.50 ISBN 978-3-0343-1585-2.
This book is the direct result of a doctoral thesis in which a young researcher currently teaching modern literature in France looks at the subject of travel by Romanians with few economic resources. The basis of this research is a personal history because Monica Salvan is Romanian herself and in 1989 was able to benefit from the opening up of the borders and the right to travel. The originality of her investigation is found, however, in the area of coach transport because in these times of low-cost flights, this way of travelling appears obsolete. It is not, however, obsolete for everybody and this means of transport is a way of taking the pulse of a section of the population, which despite appearing marginal is a very real part of Europe in certain countries more than others and in certain categories of the population more than others. This is the case, for example in Romania, with the Roma. On the basis of 16 journeys of around 40 hours she made between 2005 and 2008 from the Paris Galliéni station in Bucharest and vice versa, Monica Salvan subsequently develops an "ethnography of stealth" which, according to her thesis supervisor, Professor Zarate (National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations) provides an insight into, "the mirages of Europe that take shape and dissolve, according to the direction of the journey, as perhaps part of a commercial activity, with their toilet breaks and customs controls". Over time, a variety of different ways in which a Europe of people is constructed take shape, with its poorer citizens and students. Another vision of Europe and, above all, another vision of Europeans …(MT)
*** Regions & Cities of Europe. Comité des régions (99-101 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2822211 - email: regionsandcities@cor.europa.eu - Internet: http://www.cor.europa.eu ). November/December 2014 No 89, 30 pp.
This issue of the Committee of the Regions' newsletter contains a dossier on the decentralisation process taking place in different parts of the European Union. In the editorial, the organisation's president, Michel Lebrun, emphasises the interest shown by increasing numbers of municipalities and regions in the Charter for Multilevel Governance in Europe. Charles Ricq, Emeritus Professor at the University of Geneva, explains in an interview that he is not concerned by the increasing power of regionalist movements that some see as a prelude to the inevitable falling apart of the Union. The secretary general of the European Centre for Observation of the Regions sees this as illustrating the need to build Europe with the regions. (MT)