*** Internationale Politik. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik (Rauchstrasse 18, D-10787 Berlin. Tel: (030) 2542310 - Fax: 25423167 - Email: ip@dgap.org - Internet http: //http://www.dgap.org/IP/ ipaktue.htm). August 2000, 138 pages, DM 18.
"Enlargement without end?" It is on this question by Prof. Werner Weidenfeld that opens this latest edition of the review by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik. "The new Europe of today needs more clarity over itself" as it lacks a clear vision, affirms Prof. Weidenfeld, for whom the result of the transformation of European institutions over the years is "a non-transparent jungle". However, he admits, "the magnetism exerted by the Union on ever more new members remains intact". And he feels that the "new logic" of a European policy of stability" (he makes allusions in the sub heading of his article: "Structuring Europe as an area of stability") could develop in particular with the enlargement of the European Union to Turkey (even if he recognises that this is a very large political challenge for the EU). In another article Prof. Ingolf Pernice, from the Humboldt-Universität in Berlin, raises the prospects of the Intergovernmental Conference on institutional reform of the EU, by paying close attention to the fate of the Charter of fundamental rights. After the adoption of the Charter by the European Council in Nice "should start a phase of study by public opinion and the national Parliaments", affirms the Prof. Pernice when speaking in favour of the drafting, after Nice of a "consolidated test of Treaty in the form of a EU Constitution, at the head of which should be the fundamental rights and the objectives and principals of the EU".
Furthermore, in an article on "the Euro and policy", Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, member of the Directorate of the European Central Bank, affirms that in particular that it would be a mistake to consider the "opportune" distance of the ECB compared to the policy as an excuse not to develop any prospect of a whole within the Bank. The Euro is part of the process of the development of an "increasingly closer" Union and the Eurosystem must see, it too, its own development in a "dynamic future", feels Mr Padoa-Schioppa. As for Michael Schmunk, who leads the "G-8" team in Auswärtiges Amt, he raises the possibilities offered to the Ministers for Foreign Affairs from the G8, and also the limits of their role. Mr Schmunk recalls that, while the Finance Minister for the G-7 very quickly organised their own meetings, "with their own agenda", the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the G8 only started to profile each other after the Denver summit in 1997. At the same time, he underline the role played by the "sherpas", who concentrate on the preparation of annual summits and "make, in the first quarter of each Presidency, proposals for the "philosophy of each summit". Finally the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov outlines the new priorities of Russian foreign policy, by raising both the "dialogue with the United States and Asia", and also the important partnership with Europe. "It would be in the interests of Russia if we could create in Europe a stable system for pan-European security and cooperation", asserts Mr Ivanov, while underlining that, in relations with the EU, they must ensure "that they are not distracted by the problems and causes of artificial conflicts", so as to "in the future develop relations of consequence and fill them with concrete content". Marina Gazzo
*** NATHALIE TORDEURS: Birth of the European movement in Belgium. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes - Peter Lang (E-mail: pie@skynet.be). "Euroclio" collection, N° 16. 2000, 219 pages. ISBN 90-5201-907-X.
Historian by training, Nathalie Tordeurs explains very usefully, with this work published in the Euroclio collection lead by Prof. Dumoulin, the "true mixture of initiatives with a European vocation" of which Belgium was the theatre between 1946 and 1950. Based on archives left by people such as Raymond Rifflet (especially), the Baron Antoine Allard, Prof. Robert Bultot, Etienne de la Vallée Poussin, former Minister Paul Van Zeeland and the Henri Koch-Kent (Luxembourg), the author first makes the point on the European idea as early as between the two World Wars until the creation of the Federalist movements between 1946 and 1950. She then enters into the heart of the subject by studying the great militant movements of the period in Belgium, namely the initiatives born in the Socialist and Christian-Socialist circles (no active Liberal movement on the European field would be created before 1952, she notes), as well as the economic and pacifist globalisation trends. She also dedicates a chapter to Mouvement d'Action et de Propagande. Finally she carries out an examination of the Mouvement Européen and its relations -often difficult or even tense...- with its founding movements. (MT)
*** YVES HERSANT, FABIENNE DURAND-BOGAERT: Europes. From antiquity to the 20th Century. Critical and commented anthology. Robert Laffont publication (31-33 rue Falguière, F-75725 Paris Cedex 15). Tel: (33-1) 43201421 - Fax: 43271412). "Bouquins" collection. 2000, 1,024 pages, FF 189. ISBN 2-221-08575-2.
Great ambition, not fulfilled! The two authors, both teachers at the Ecole des hautes études in social sciences in Paris and members of the Research group on Europe, gathered under this title 96 pieces (well) chosen by extremely diverse authors who have written on "Europe" or "the Europe". It starts with Hésiode (towards 700 BC) to Mitterand passing by the Abby of St Peter, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Denis de Rougemont and Altiero Spinelli... Seven parts divide this book: markers, stories, thoughts, fictions, testimonies, mixtures and rockets (that is to say short quotes). Are you looking for the Europe of Moschos (towards 150 BC), the text by Saint Simone "The new organisation of European society" (1814), the "Against the United States of Europe" by Lenin, the anti-fascist manifest of Ventotene (1941) or the famous declaration by Jean Monnet "We are not uniting States, we are uniting people" ? You do not even have to flick: all you have to do is consult the index with its 1,006 entries. We even find some unpublished texts in French, such as course by Federico Chabod "History of the idea of Europe" taught at the University of Milan. This European "bible" includes in addition two maps (Union, including the candidate countries and the Council of Europe), a chronology starting with Homeric poems and going to the Helsinki summit, 90 biographical notices and 116 bibliographic references. (J-RR)
*** NICOLE AMELINE: The common organisation of the fisheries market: freedom and responsibility. National Assembly (Kiosque de l'Assemblée nationale, 4 rue Aristide-Briand, F-75007 Paris. Internet: http: //http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr ). Information report N° 1940. 1999, 59 pages, FF 20, EUR 3.05. ISBN 2-11-109005-0.
Provided since 1970 with a common market organisation, the activity of fishing is one of the most integrated among the economic activities of the European Community. In this publication, Nicole Ameline -member of the Delegation from the French National Assembly for the EU - retraces to origins and evolution of the common fisheries policy. She also describes the consequences of the outlet crisis that, in 1993, lead to significant fall in prices and revenues in the sector, which put in peril the economic balance of numerous fishing companies in Europe. The author then examines the basis and the trade and social implications of the reform called for by France and considered by the draft Council regulation. The report finishes with an assessment of the situation of external trade and the present customs regulations and the future of the fishing sector in Europe. (ED)
*** DANIEL VIGNES, GIUSEPPE CATALDI, RAFAEL CASADO RAIGÓN: International law of maritime fishing. Bruylant publications (67 rue de la Régence, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32) 025129845) and University of Brussels publications (26 av. Paul Héger, B-1050 Brussels). International law collection. 2000, 616 pages, BEF 4,200. ISBN 2-8027-1304-3 and 2-8004-1226-7.
The publication offers a complete table of the international legal rules that govern the maritime fishing sector on the dawn of a new millennium. In the introductory chapter, the former Director of the Legal Service of the Council Secretariat General, Daniel Vignes, recalls the fundamental historic stages of the progressive formation of international fisheries law. Both professors in international law, the Italian Cataldi and the Spaniard Casado Raigon look at the positive rules in terms of considering, respectively, fishing in areas submitted to the sovereignty or the jurisdiction of coastal States and fishing in the high seas. The third chapter deepens the specific issues such as the fishing system in the Antarctic, Community fisheries policy or dispute settlement. Rich annexes complement the volume. (MT)
*** JEAN-PAUL CARRIERE, STUART FARTHING: Atlantic cities: peripheral towns or metropolitan cities fort tomorrow ? Problems and policies - Les cités atlantiques: villes périphériques ou métropoles de demain ? Diagnostics et politiques. Publisud publications (15 rue des Cinq-Diamants, F-75013 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45807850 - Fax: 45899415 - E-mail: publisud@compuserve.com). "Dynamiques territoriales et développement" collection. 2000, 356 pages. ISBN 2-86600-741-7.
What is the situation and the future of cities on the Atlantic front of Europe? This is the aim of this study, work of two teams of teacher-researchers active in the Urban development departments of the University of Bristol (University of the West of England) and the University of Tours (François Rabelais University). In modern history, it is of Seville and Lisbon the navigator traders left towards African and then American shores. In the 18th Century, Bristol became the second largest city in England, rivalling the wealth cities of Nantes and Bordeaux. Later, Glasgow then Liverpool and Bilbao pulled the rural areas into the industrial revolution. However, today these towns seem to have trouble competing with the large lotharingian cities. In a context of the ever faster internationalisation of the economy, can they hope to emphasis the value of their specificities, thus escape the risk of peripheral marginalisation and join rank among the large European metropolis? Such is the central question to which this collective work bring answers, adding to the analysis and the diagnostic of thoughts of a strategic nature and interpretation on urban policy. (LD)
*** Eurete. Newsletter telematica. Eurete scarl (11/3c via Cairoli, I-16124 Genova. Tel: (39-010) e2470044 - Fax: 2470385 - E-mail: eurete@infinito.it - Internet: http://www.eurete.it - 87 rue Faider, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5347198 - Fax: 5347298 - E-mail: eurete@freegates.be). July 2000, 10 pages.
The tenth edition of this publication by Eurete, European agency for development chaired by the former MEP Roberto Speciale and that has set itself as mission to assist Italian companies and organisations in Community issues, discusses current European issues by providing a large amount of succinct information. Roberto Speciale also signals that his group Centro in Europa will publish a new edition of its In Europa review dedicated to the "new economy". (MG)
*** Review of the common market and the European Union. Technical and economic publications (3 rue Soufflot, F-75005 Paris - Tel: (33-1) 55426131 - Fax: 55426139 - E-mail: editecom@starnet.fr - Internet: http//http://www.editecom.com ). N° 440, 70 pages. Annual subscription: FF 1,010 (France) or FF 1,200FF (abroad).
In summary: this edition includes numerous articles that cover economic-financial themes such as compatibility of the conventional tax system of cross border workers with the free movement of workers. The lawyer Jean-Pierre Maublanc reacts to a ruling from the Court of Justice in the matter. Nathalie Grove-Valdeyron, economist, sheds light on the new shift in jurisprudence in the notion of barriers to trade. On a budgetary level, the inter-sectoral agreement of 6 May 1999 is examined under the microscope and in the light of the 2000-2006 financial forecasts.
*** International review of work. BIT (40, rue Aimé-Smekens, B-1030 Brussels) - Tel: (32-2) 5385169 - Fax: 7354825 - E-mail: pubvente@ilo.org). N° 1, vol. 39, 121 pages. Annual subscription: FF 396, EUR 60).
One of the themes discussed in this review is employment and the new idea of work in the new world economy. This study retraces the meaning of work since ancient Greece and medieval Europe passing by the reformation, the industrial revolution and Taylorism up to the present. Who says employment says protection in the industrialised countries. According to the economist Giuseppe Bertola, it is time to develop new indicators so as to provide a firmer base to political action and employment protection reforms.
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION - DG EDUCATION AND CULTURE publishes in the "Europe on the move" collection (distribution: Office for Official publications of the EC, L-2985 Luxembourg), The following brochures:
- Healthy food for Europe's citizens. The European Union and food quality. The brochure gives some advice to help consumers choose healthy and safe products, which is one of its main concerns. It also shows that the EU's agricultural policy encourages farmers to improve the quality of foodstuffs. Without forgetting new technologies, needed to contribute to this improvement.
- The budget of the European Union: how is your money spent? The issue reviews the Community budget and examines who decides what. It explains the divide between the Treaty and practice, as well as the control mechanism.
*** French Presidency of the Union. For a Europe committed to health. Ministry of Employment and Solidarity (Tel: (33-1) 42505454 - Fax: 43505454 - Internet: http://www.presidence-europe.fr ). IBSN: 2-11-091731-8.
In summary of this brochure: the definition of a general strategy for health through public health and nutrition programmes, draft regulations and targeted actions so as to protect and improve the populations health, finally the prevention of drug consumption..
*** Rivista di Studi politici internatzionnali. Lungarno del Tempio 40 - I-50121 Firenze - Tel: (39-055) 666384). N° 267, July-September 2000, 80 pages. Annual subscription: EUR 51.65 (Italy) or EUR 62 (abroad).
In this edition, among others, is an article on men/women parity within the institutions of the Council of Europe and the European Union. Umberto Vattani, professor at the University of Milan, thus examines the reforms by the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Revues nationales en bref
*** Slovenia Weekly. Vitrum (Ljublana). In Summary of N° 32 (22 August 2000, 23 pages.): the role of the ethnic minorities in the light of EU enlargement, an interview by Rudi Seligo, Minister for Culture, the preparation of the Slovenian police with regards to international legal cooperation, the forthcoming parliamentary elections, etc. ***Revista do Sindicato Nacional dos Médicos Veterinarios. Madrid. In summary of N°2 (March/April 2000): food safety under the responsibility of States and private enterprises, a study into the production and rearing or sheep and the monitoring of contagious residues in the food chain. ***Laguna. Bimestrale per lo sviluppo delle zone umide. Bologna. In summary of number 1 of this monthly (January 2000, 70 pages), the development of Silure in Italian waters, the purifying capacity of rice fields and the animal population of the lagoon.