*** JOHANNES PAKASLAHTI: La dimension sociale de l'Union européenne. L'impact de l'élargissement et de l'approfondissement. PIE - Peter Lang (15 Jupiterstrasse, Postfach 277, CH-3000 Berne 15, Tel: (41-31) 9402121, fax: 9402131, peterlang@access.ch, http: //http://www.peterlang.ch ). "La cité européenne" series. 1999, 132 p., DEM 48, ATS 317, GBP 17, FRF 152, CHF 38, USD 27.95. ISBN 90-5201-701-8.
This work is an invigorating breeze from Finland. And as this country's just-ending Council Presidency confirms, the Finns cultivate transparency and are not afraid to call a spade a spade. Johannes Pakaslahti gives us further evidence thereof in this work which, irritating in terms of style (between authoring a report and being an author pure and simple, there is room for margin...) and topical events, is a gold mine of itching powder. "Can a directive or two, based on the Maastricht Protocol, and the Agreement on Social Policy, really change the pathetic image of general ambiguity attached to the social dimension of the European Union?" This is the type of direct question Pakaslahti raises. An agitator? A simple-minded anti-European? On the contrary! But a European who makes his Nordic difference clear. Pakaslahti was a member of the working group that prepared the Finnish Government's position on the Union's social dimension at the Intergovernmental Conference that concluded with the Treaty of Amsterdam. So he knows his subject. And, through him, it is doubtless Nordic tendencies in general that are expressed. He hints, for example, that Northern Europeans, from Scandinavia to Finland, will never allow the Union to flout the principles of solidarity underpinning their welfare states, or even give the impression of flouting them or, more seriously, invite criticism by others in Europe eagerly awaiting the opportunity to rush in to the breach. These countries, he contends, "reject the idea that holds sway in the United Kingdom (...), that social spending is nothing but a burden". In his view, the Union -all institutions and officials taken into account- must therefore re-examine its most promising ambitions from the angle of their potential social consequences. This, he accuses, was not done in the case of the single currency (the Commission preferred to opt for "marketing campaigns on the benefits of EMU", favouring the technique of brainwashing to the mutually enriching technique of maieutics) nor for enlargements, either past or present. Pakaslahti argues that it is time to raise a fundamental question: Do we want to develop a "fortress Europe built on market forces" or should integration be "a means of developing sounder economic bases with the objective of promoting employment, human rights and the welfare of all, oriented towards Europe-wide and global solidarity?" A good question!
Michel Theys
*** ODILE QUINTIN, BRIGITTE FAVAREL-DAPAS: L'Europe sociale. Enjeux et réalités. La Documentation française (29-31 Quai Voltaire, F-75007 Paris Cedex 07. Tel: (33-1) 40157000, fax: 40157230, http: //ladocfrançaise.gouv.fr). 1999, 158 pages, FRF 65.60, 10 euros. ISBN 2-11-004335. ISSN 1264-2789.
Odile Quintin, Deputy Director General at the European Commission's DG for Employment, and Brigitte Favarel-Dapas, former (temporary) principal administrator at the same DG, describe social policy in Europe, using "social" in the broad sense, namely not limited to labour and social security issues alone. Social policy in this work entails other elements concerning the living conditions of European citizens addressed at European level, such as education and training, the effort to combat discrimination, or, in public health matters, measures to prevent new health risks. This two- part work begins by describing the framework in which European social policy evolves (its foundations, the main stages of its development, social provisions of the different Treaties, institutional and non-institutional players, consultation mechanisms, the application and monitoring of Community law). Part Two then presents the achievements of social policy in Europe (legislative tool, financial aid, social dialogue, convergence, cooperation and exchange).
In their conclusions, the authors write that with "greater consistency and better use of its different means of intervention, social policy in Europe can become a force for modernisation that will help bring about change in all the countries of the Union". And this is possible in spite of the many challenges to be taken up, namely enlargement, economic and monetary integration, the ageing of the population, changing forms of work and of its organisation, ongoing unemployment, exclusion and inequalities. "In these times of change and uncertainty, the question of what type of society Europeans want to live in is highly relevant and social policy must address it", continue the authors. And they conclude: "The main objectives have been fixed, the instruments are in place. All that is needed is political will by the institutions and the players in the social sphere. Social policy always represents the expression of a political will. This will should not be lacking as social Europe now seems to be a necessity. Because, all things considered, it is social policy that the public sees as giving meaning to European integration". (GVH)
*** ALAN R. TOWNSEND: Making a Living in Europe. Human Geographies of Economic Change. Routledge (11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE, England). 1997, 266 pages. ISBN 0-415-14480-9.
A Reader in Geography -specialised in industrial geography- at the University of Durham, Alan Townsend presents a penetrating analysis of the major economic changes which are radically altering the employment situation in Europe, leaving behind entire regions. In his view, these upheavals are the growing pains of a new society, which -as usual- will be the worst or the best of worlds depending on the choices made upstream. An energetic champion of the support the European Commission wishes to provide for local economies, Townsend begins by placing the employment problem in its general and regional contexts. He highlights the difficult trends that are accelerating sectoral changes (de-industrialisation and the expansion of services) and the gradual triumph of flexibility in employment, which will condemn Europeans for some time to growing insecurity and low earnings. He then goes on to observe how this dual phenomenon is taking place in the sectors of business services, tourism and retail trade. In Part Three, Townsend describes the human consequences, notably the exodus of jobs from rural to urban areas. In his conclusions, Alan Townsend eloquently calls for more determined actions at local and European level to tackle inequalities and restore hope to hundreds of thousands of Europeans. (MT)
*** IAN DAVIDSON: Jobs and the Rhineland Model. Federal Trust (Dean Bradley House, 52 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF). 1997, 80 pages, GBP 12.95. ISBN 0-901573-64-7.
This Federal Trust report is the result of study by eminent European specialists, with Ian Davidson as rapporteur, of a question of fundamental importance to the future of the Union: Is persistent unemployment in so many EU countries due to a fundamental defect in the European social model? Clearly, are there grounds for the criticisms by the champions of Anglo-Saxon liberalism of the "Rhineland model"? This is too simplistic a judgement, argue the authors, nonetheless British for the most part... They begin by observing that the Rhineland model favours social solidarity and consensus, but also that it takes on varied forms in the different countries of continental Europe. They go on to note that Germany has not demonstrated this model's failure, but has simply fallen victim to a cyclical recession aggravated by "two politico-strategic shocks", namely German unification and the budgetary constraints imposed by the run-up to the single currency. And while it is true that this model held up to obloquy by the ultra-liberals has slowed the reforms required by the changing circumstances of the world economy, it is not the model itself, but rather the breakdown of the model which, in Germany, led to rising unemployment, reunification having weakened the principles of wage moderation. For the authors, however, the Rhineland model needs reforms, as it tends to rely too heavily on excessive regulation. But as Federal Trust Chairman Dick Taverne notes, there is no point in throwing out the baby with the bath water: the experience of the Netherlands demonstrates that the Rhineland model can reconcile economic performance and social concerns. In short, the Anglo-Saxon course is not inevitable as long as European officials are willing to undertake enlightened reform. (MT)
*** JEAN-YVES BOULIN, REINER HOFFMANN: New Paths in Working Time Policy. European Trade Union Institute (4 bld du Roi Albert II, bte 4, B-1210 Bruxelles. Tel: 2240470. Fax: 2240502, etui@etuc.org, http: //http://www.etuc.org/etui ). 1999, 211 pages, EUR 19.83. ISBN: 2-930143-42-8.
Working time policy is regularly the focus of discussions, not only in an effort to determine how to create new jobs, but also how to protect or even improve working and living conditions. In this work, Jean-Yves Boulin, a researcher at the Institut de recherche socio-économique (Université de Paris-Dauphine), and Reiner Hoffmann, Director of ETUI, explore different paths of reflection, from the reduction of working time to part-time work, educational leave, lifelong learning, flexible retirement models and various forms of extended leave, enabling working time to be viewed in the context of the whole span of working life.
(GVH)
*** KEN COATES, ANNE VAN LANCKER, LUIGI VINCI, FRIEDER OTTO WOLF, Eds.: Full Employment: A European Appeal. Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation (Gamble Street Nottigham, N67 4ET, England, Tel: (0115) 9784505). "The Spokesman" series, No 64. 1998, 86 pages. ISBN 0-85124-616-8.
This work coordinated by Members of the EP is a compilation of the proceedings of the first European Convention for Full Employment, held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 22 and 23 May 1997. It will be recalled that the second onvention was held at the end of last January, adopting on this occasion its "European Appeal for Employment" (see EUROPE of 9 February 1999). (GVH)
*** KARINE RAYNAUD, AGNES ROSET, LYSIANE THOLY: Droit du travail européen. Les grands textes. Groupe Revue Fiduciaire (100 Rue Lafayette, F-75485 Paris Cedex 10. Exclusive Benelux distribution: Patrimoine, 168 rue du Noyer, B-1030 Bruxelles. Tel/fax: (32-2) 7366847)). 1999, 640 pages, FEB 2,108. ISBN 2-86521-435-4.
This volume presents the main Community texts on labour law, classified by themes -employment contracts, employment, working hours, equality of treatment, health and safety at the workplace, worker representation, worker participation in company profits, vocational training, seconding of workers in the context of the provision of services, protection of employees in case of the employer's insolvency, and the European Social Fund- which legal practitioners and the social partners must now incorporate on a daily basis into their legal practices. Part Two does the same for European laws from other sources, such as the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the revised Social Charter. (GVH)
*** PASCALE DE ROZARIO, Eds.: Passerelles pour les jeunes. Des partenaires européens dans la lutte contre l'exclusion. L'Harmattan (5-7 rue de l'Ecole-Polytechnique, F-75005 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 40467920, fax: 43258203). "Logiques sociales" series. 1999, 287 pages, FRF 150. ISBN 2-7384-7717-8.
It is well known that today's society is increasingly selective. For young people leaving school without qualifications, it is even a synonym for "no future". So how can this path to a social dead end or even a descent into the living hell of exclusion, be avoided? Activists working for the integration of these young people into working life have been asking themselves this question and coming up with suggestions for some time now, throughout the Union. The Community Employment-Youthstart programme is now giving their efforts a new dynamic and a new dimension. This work describes that programme, achieving its objective skillfully, even if it is primarily meant for specialists working in this field in one capacity or another. Passerelles pour les jeunes associates five partners on a European basis: a local mission (Tourcoing Vallée de la Lys) and two French bodies (Institut supérieur de formation permanente in Aquitaine and the Comité de liaison pour la promotion sociale in Brittany), an Italian social cooperative (Risposte Esperienze Servizi, in the Marches) and a Finnish training centre (Centre for Research and Development, University of Kajaani). They are first described in their national and regional context, after which their most innovative projects are outlined. These original approaches are in full conformity with the spirit of the Employment-Youthstart programme, especially since they are being matched with increasingly professionnal measures and players working in this area, on the one hand, and transnational cooperation meant to stimulate the pooling of best practice, on the other. Probably no local experience will ever result in a universal model that can be transferred "turnkey" to another country, but as Bernard Liétard states in his peéface, what this network teaches in particular is that information sharing is a powerful factor for change, and thus for creativity. (MT)
*** Revue du Marché commun et de l'Union européenne. Editions Techniques et Economiques (3 rue Soufflot, F-75005 Paris, Tel: (33-1) 55426130, fax: 55426139). No 433 (November-December 99), 68 pages. Annual subscription: FRF 1,010 (France) or 1,200 (outside of France).
In this issue: the new Prodi Commission facing up to its commitments, the European Central Bank's policy for keeping a lid on inflation, the spirit and ambitions of the Tampere European Council in the area of justice and home affairs, the many forms of EU action to assist South East Europe and the Royaumont process (meant to mobilise civil society as a means of strengthening stability and good neighbourly relations in this part of Europe), the European Commission and the European defence industry, antidemocratic tendencies in the WTO, bilateral accords between Switzerland and the EU, protection of health and consumer safety during the dioxin crisis.
*** Comunidad Europea. Editorial Aranzadi (Carretera de Aoiz, Km. 3,5, E-31486 Elcano, Tel: (34-948) 297297, fax: 330845/297200, clientes@aranzadi.es, http;//http://www.aranzadi.es ). No 10 (Oct. 99), 88 pages.
This monthly provides information on the latest developments in the institutions, Community legislation and case law, and comments on recent merger control decisions. Articles are arranged by sector (economy and finance, internal market, external relations and common trade policy, industry, environment, agriculture, technology, freedom of establishment). It also reviews developments in EMU and publishes a document on crime victims in the EU.
*** Internationale Politik. Verlag für Internationale Politik (Bachstraße 32, D-53115 Bonn, Tel: (49-228) 7290010, fax: 695734, EUV-VIP@t-online.de). No 11 (Nov. 99), 126 pages. Annual subscription: DEM 190.
"Germany in Europe" is the theme of the November issue. Articles discuss the stability Germany can provide in Europe, the European policy of the red-green coalition, British opinion on Germany's European policy, Germany's role in the transformation process underway in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland's hopes of playing a role in the new Europe, diplomatic efforts in favour of German reunification, and more.
*** Südosteuropa Mitteilungen. Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft (Widenmayerstraße 49, D-80538 München, Tel: (49-89) 2121540, fax: 2289469, Suedosteuropa-Gesellschaft@t-online.de). No 3/99, 120 pages. Annual subscription: DEM 60.
In this issue: the diplomatic failures that led to the Kosovo war, US management of the Kosovo crisis, Macedonia, the Albanian question and the conflict in Kosovo, development in Slovenia and Croatia since their independence and their relations with the EU, the state of the communication network in South East Europe in the wake of the political upheavals.
*** Dokumente. Europa Union Verlag (32 Bachstraße, D-53115 Bonn. Tel: (49-228) 7290022, fax: 690065). No 5, October 99, 85 pages. Annual subscription: DEM 30.
This issue contains three articles on combating youth unemployment. They discuss young people's difficulties becoming integrated into working life in France, the "Employment-Youth" programme and the "Boutiques Club Emploi". Other articles address: the "new France", between identity and modernisation; globalisation as seen by France; the values of the right-wing electorate; and more.
*** Documents. Revue des questions allemandes. 50 rue de Laborde, F-75008 Paris, Tel: (33-1) 43879042, Fax: 42935094, bild.documents@wanadoo.fr. No 4/99 (Sept.-Oct. 99), 128 pages. Annual subscription: FRF 230 (France) or 250 (out of France).
In this issue: the Franco-German "entente" vital to the strategic interests of both countries; the heavy heritage of dictatorship; democracy and dictatorships in Germany; the German elections; the "Kurpfalz" (right-wing extremists in Germany); the German Greens; the influence of the Austrian far right -winner in the recent elections- over the German extreme right; Hanover, a third millennium capital; the German press and France; and more.
*** Europa in Beweging. Europese Bewegng Nederland (Den Haag). 1999, No 5, 16 pages.
In this issue: Europe's failings in the Kosovo tragedy and Greek-Turkish relations in the light of the Cypriot dispute.