*** PIERRE PASCALLON (edited by): L'Alliance Atlantique et l'OTAN, 1949-1999: un demi-siècle de succès. Etablissements Emile Bruylant (67 rue de la Régence, B-1000 Brussels. Tel.: (32) 025129845). Collection "Organisation internationale et relations internationales", n° 51. 1999, 571 pages, BEF 3,600. ISBN 2-8027-1335-3.
This highbrow publication gathers within it the speeches made during the colloquium organised by Prof. Pascallon to the French National Assembly, in March of last year, in anticipation of the celebrations, the following month in Washington, of the fiftieth anniversary of the Atlantic alliance. Forming a superb mural, it is too thick, too rich in penetrating thoughts, in the views of actors involved or with a wider perspective, in authorised expert opinions, to allow itself to be summarised in a few lines. Also if it where possible, in this European library, to arbitrarily single out one or other prestigious contribution and to mention some ideas developed over the years through the pages, so as to illustrate as far as it is possible, the huge value of this book as a whole.
After an introduction by Pierre Pascallon who lays the foundations perfectly, the first part is dedicated to the truly historic aspects. In this we find, among others, a contribution from the former French Prime Minister Pierre Messmer who explains why General de Gaulle took France out of NATO. For his part, Prof. Zorgbibe (Sorbonne) concentrates on Henry Kissinger and the "transatlantic disagreements", while the Rear Admiral François de Larminat recalls "the vain attempts to establish a European defence," from the EDC to the WEU. The Ambassador François de Rose talks of the "pleasure and displeasure of the European pillar of the Alliance," while the former Minister Jacques Baumel returns to the present by comparing the European defence identity with NATO. The second part covers the "structural aspects" (the Ambassador Gabriel Robin notably compares NATO and its contradictions: "coherence and enlargement: legitimate defence and peace keeping") and the third pillar on the bilateral stakes. Under the heading "time is running out," Michel Jobert shows that his mind and pen have lost none of their acidity, he who taunts the European States who "negotiate, with bowed heads, with big brother and his universal pretensions," these United States for which European efforts in terms of defence "must be scattered and gathered together by the sole hand of America." Other contribution discuss the pertinence of the "rapprochement" between France and the Alliance, Germany and the Franco-German partnership with NATO, while Philippe Grasset considers the future of NATO in the light of "American physiological isolationism." Finally Prof. Christian Franck explores the ways in which the small countries behave, notably a diagnostic of an "objective alliance of the Atlantic relationship and the Neutrals" that blocked an absorption of the WEU into the EU. The fourth part is entirely dedicated to inter-organisational relations, especially between NATO and the EU (François Heisbourg, Luis-Maria de Puig, Eric Remacle and others including civil servants in the European Commission and from the Secretariat General of the Council). Finally, the last part works towards discerning the prospects awaiting the Alliance and NATO in the light, among others, of the revision of the strategic concept, of its enlargement (strategic revolution?") and the opening-up of nuclear sector. Conclusions, a postface notably studying the conclusions of the Washington summit and presenting the views of Lord Robertson, as well as perfectly targeted annexes punctuating this remarkable book. Michel Theys
*** ALAIN BARRAU: Politique étrangère, sécurité et défense: où en est l'Europe ? French National Assembly delegation to the European Union (Kiosque de l'Assemblée nationale, 4 rue Aristide-Briand, F-75007 Paris. Internet: http: //http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr ). Collection "Les documents d'information de l'Assemblée nationale". 2000, 109 pages, FF 40 , EUR 6.10. ISBN 2-11-109279-7.
This is a brilliant report, dedicated by the French MP Alain Barrau to a very topical problem, that of the development of a common foreign, security and defence policy.
To start with the author, casts an eye over the development of ESDP that is "critical for the future of the European building process" as the EU "cannot continue to make the distinction between its political influence and its economic power without breaking its momentum." A policy that is on the whole suffered, the Bosnian crisis demonstrated this bitterly, from three ills, an "absence of a common vision" between the partners, who are split by numerous lines of division, institutional weaknesses and, finally, NATO. With the Amsterdam Treaty, the EU strongly progressed with regard to the first two ills, even if CFSP retains a "still fragile foundation" (it seems driven, notes the author, "by variable principals of geography which seems to make small countries favour human rights and the realpolitik for the large". Though especially, it remains "incomplete in the absence of a military tool" which at the present time is still in its early stages. The remainder of the report is dedicated to the imperatives to which the European Union must answer so as to provide itself with a defence capability. Alain Barrau notably speaks in favour of a decision-making process based on autonomy, coherence, efficiency and democratic legitimacy. Compared to NATO the EU must, according to him, seek "co-operation without subordination." Lucid he nevertheless also recognises: "As long as Europe does not have at its disposal all the military tools indispensable to the execution of the Petersberg missions (…) it will be unable to (…) claim having full decision-making autonomy vis-à-vis the Atlantic alliance and especially the United States. This is a crucial point over which the EU must not only assert an ambition, but also give itself the means." An observation that finally leads him to underlining the need for a convergence of efforts to strengthen Europe's military capabilities as well as its technological and industrial base. The works and conclusions of the European Union Delegation to the French National Assembly as well as by reference texts finish the pamphlet. (MT)
*** NAGAYO TANIGUCHI: NATO. http: //: http://www.iwanami.co.jp . 2000, 204 pages. ISBN 00-430669-8.
The book is written in Japanese, no doubt by one of the Japanese journalists who, over the last years, have learnt to better understand Europe - be it Community Europe or Defence Europe. Nagayo Taniguchi knows NATO well. A little after the fall of the Wall, his understanding pushed him - an idea that many European journalists did not have - to go and see Pierre Harmel, former Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, father of the "Harmel Doctrine", of which he preciously keeps two hand written pages. (MG)
*** JACQUES CRESSON, JEAN-MARC MONTSERRAT, LOÏC TRIBOT LA SPIERE (edited by): La défense dans tous ses états. Editions Publisud (15 rue des Cinq-Diamants, F-75013 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45807850 - Fax: 45899415 - E-mail: PUBLISUD@compuserve.com). "Prospective stratégique" collection. 2000, 134 pages. ISBN 2-86600-564-X.
This book offers a collective and multidisciplinary study of the evolution of European defence policy and the restructuring of the defence industry. In these fields, for some months seen "phenomenal" advances that, explain the co-ordinators of this publication, "will not be without effect on the classic visualisation that we have of sovereignty." The various authors bring "French" answers to the question of knowing "how to conciliate what is possible with what is desirable." (MT)
*** LAURENT MURAWIEC: La guerre au XXIe siècle. Editions Odile Jacob (15 rue Soufflot, F-75005 Paris. ISBN: http: //http://www.odilejacob.fr ). 2000, 297 pages, FF 15. ISBN 2-7381-0755-9.
How will we wage the war of tomorrow? Translator of Clausewitz, Laurent Murawiec has no illusions: man will continue to wage war, as long as it is true that "the human race has not really learned to develop political and territorial structures without shedding blood"… But war will no longer be, tomorrow, what it was: for the author, presently analyst at the Rand Corporation, one of America's main strategic research institutes, the revolution underway in military affairs will transform war as much as the digital revolution and the changing relations between States, civil society and the economy have transformed, these last twenty years, the socio-economic and cultural scenery. In this book he retraces the genesis and discerns the present contours and foreseeable manifestations of this "revolution in military affairs." (MT)
*** PHILIPPE MOREAU DEFARGES: The International Community. Presses Universitaires de France (108 bld Saint-Germain, F-75006 Paris. Internet: http: //http://www.puf.com ). "Que sais-je ?" collection. 2000, 126 pages. ISBN 2-13-050715-8.
What is this volatile entity, the "international community," that the press and political figures keep talking about? When it speaks, who in fact is speaking? It is not just a word, one of these catch phrases that people brandish so as to justify themselves, on behalf of general interest, while in the pursuit of specific objectives? On the other hand is it real? Or is it both at the same time, a permanent stake between States, each looking to appropriate it, but also barring unity between men. It is to answer these pertinent questions that Philippe Moreau Defarges works. Advisor in foreign affairs, head of mission at the French Institute of International Relations and Professor at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris as well as at the Ecole national of western languages, he starts by presenting the "international communities of the past" before explaining the "emergence of the world community," exploring the "problem of legitimate force" that is at the heart of all communities, as well as the regulations and solidarity of the world community. After having discussed "international surveillance", which is an essential vector of a world community, he then moves onto "regional international communities." - The EU is very well presented- and to conclude he questions the transition of a community into a global society. (MT)
*** Changement et continuité. Principes et instruments pour l'approche culturelle du développement. UNESCO publications (7 place de Fontenoy F-75352 Paris 07 SP) and Editions Publisud (15 rue des Cinq-Diamants, F-75013 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45807850 - Fax: 45899415 - E-mail: publisud@compuserve. Com). 1999, 343 pages, 208 FF. ISBN 2-86600-538-4.
For a good quarter century, UNESCO to working to promote the taking into account of the cultural dimension as the sine qua non dimension in an endogen development, harmonious and fair. A crusade that, in the beginning, was not so clear: as recalled, in the preface, the Ambassador for Benin Rémi-Noureini Tidjani-Serpos, former President of the UNESCO Executive Council, "the idea that culture may contribute to the development of strategies would still have been consider unrealistic" at the beginning of the 1980s… Since then, the exclusively economic approach cruelly shows its limits: the need to no longer simply export "northern" development models, but to recognise the specificity of local cultures and to base oneself on them, is recognised by an increasing number of people. In this context, this book is important as it constitutes a first attempt aiming to make operational the concept of a cultural approach in the planning process for development. It shows how the working methods of bodies and operators engaged in the actions could, on this basis, lead to truly sustainable human development. To this effect, it proposes a number of methods and instruments that could give ideas to decision-makers and development agents who are confronted to problems that present themselves, the efficiency of their work, adapting their efforts to the socio-cultural particularities of States and beneficiary populations. (MT)
*** Risque pays 2000. Editions Dunod (distribution: Presses de Belgique, 117 bld. de l'Europe, B-1301 Wavre. Tel: (32) 010420320 - Fax: 010412024). 2000, 290 p., 180 FF, 1.242 FB. ISBN 500-044942.
The risks represented by a country are fundamental for the companies and institutions active in the field of external trade and foreign investments. This is were arises the importance, for them, of having at their disposal recent and credible statistics, as well as pertinent assessments related to the internal political development of the countries concerned. This publication written by Le Moci on the basis of a colloquium organised by Cofac, world leader in export credit insurance, honourably answers this requirement, in which it gathers the opinions of international experts, banks, investors and companies over the risks and trade opportunities in some 140 countries. The countries covered correspond to the zones of Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Japan, North Africa and the Middle East as well as Sub-Saharan Africa. Each major section includes an analysis by Alexandre Adler, from the Courrier international, the contributions from participants in the Coface annual colloquium and its operational synthesis for the risk countries and risk clients. Certain present aspects are the object of a particular monographic: the countries wanting to join the European Union, presently European Turkey, the Mercusor, North Africa, the United States, the peace process in the Middle East… "Client" files providing information on the rates of "unpaid", while the "country" files indicate the strong and weak points, the global assessment of risk, the condition for access to markets with lots of information on practices concerning foreign investment, and trade systems, etc. In other words, a high quality publication of which the practitioners and decision-makers in international relations should not be able to do without. (LD)
*** Liaisons Sociales Europe. Le lent décollage de la Présidence française. Bi-monthly published by Liaisons sociales (1, avenue. Edouard-Belin, F-92500 Reil-Malmaison. Tel.: : (33-1) 41299659 - Fax: 41299665. Annual subscription: FF 3,000.
When France has taken up, the 1 July and for six months, the rotating European Union Presidency, this revue evaluates the government's still rather vague social programme.
*** EUROPEAN COMISSION: Fiscal policy in the European Union. Outline of what awaits us at a fiscal level in the European Union. Distributed by the European Commission representation in Belgium (73, rue Archimède, 73, B-1000 Brussels. Tel.: (32) 022953844. Published in all the EU languages. 2000, 38 pages. ISBN 92-828-8739-1.
The Feira summit closes and this pamphlet already presents to us the future changes resulting from tax harmonisation. However, among others, the stabilisation of Member States and the promotion of employment. Also after having analysed the present situation in the Community, especially regarding VAT, telecommunications and e-commerce.
*** Revue du marché commun et de l'Union européenne. Editions Techniques et économiques (3 rue Soufflot F-75005 Paris. Tel.: (33-1) 55426130 - Fax: 55426139. Annual subscription: EUR 153,97 for France, EUR 182.94 abroad.
This monthly revue dedicates an article to the European Directive on electronic signatures. Adopted on 30 November 1999, this Directive should be transposed into Member State national law by mid-2001. So as to ensure the good running of the internal market, the Directive aims to provide a proof of identity for the signing of electronic data.
*** European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Research on work-related Stress. Distributed by the Publications office of the European Communities. Tel: (352) 292942505). 2000, 167 pages, EUR 11. IBSN 92-828-9255-7.
This study tries to define the concept of stress at work as well as its causes, whatever the psychology or physiology. It also discusses the types of behaviour that lead to stress and the group that are especially vulnerable. Another aspect of this study is the repercussions of stress on health and the immune system.
*** Santé et travail: Prévention, tour d'Europe de l'action syndicale. Published by the Management of Communications, information and training in the French Mutuality (255 rue du Vaugirard, F-75719 Paris cedex 15. Tel.: (33)-1) 140433030). N° 29, 1999, 34 p.
This revue dedicates a special issue to the practical difficulties related to the transposition of the framework agreement on prevention into the EU Member States law, be it the replacement of oils used in construction with less toxic versions, the length of breaks to the assessment of the risks linked to hospital environments, and this in most of the EU Member States.
*** ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE: Get in! A report from the European youth forum. Youth convention on Social Exclusion and Employment. Youth Forum Jeunesse (120 rue Joseph II, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32) 022306490) - Fax: 0222302123 - E-mail: youthforum@youthforum.org. 2000, 72 p.
This publication looks at the report by the Youth Convention organised at the European Economic and Social Committee. The youth presented their projects aimed at fighting against unemployment and social exclusion. This activity was followed by a significant number of NGOs, representatives from regional organisations, youth organisations and the European institutions.
*** Provincia informa. Notiziario sulle politiche comunitarie: Vertice di Lisbona. Périodique d'information de la Province de Turin (Via Laggrange, 2-10123 Torino. Tel: (011) 8613513 - Fax: 8613480 - E-mail: sviluppo@provincia.torino.it). 2000, 23p.
This periodical dedicated to the economic and social vivacity of Turin presents an account of the Lisbon summit.
*** Bildung und wissenschaft. Inter nationes e.V. (Kennedyallee 91-103 D-53175 Bonn. E-mail: bw@inter-nationes.de). This revue dedicates a special edition to apprenticeship and teaching in collaboration with extra-curricular partners.