*** VINCENT DUJARDIN: Jean Duvieusart (1900-1977). Quorum Publications (61 allée Pré Magnette, B-6280 Gerpinnes. Tel: (32-71) 506245 - Fax: 505512). 2000, 272 pages, BEF 790. ISBN 2-87399-101-1.
After having worked for three years, with Prof. Michel Dumoulin (Catholic University of Louvain), a quality biography similar to that of Paul van Zeeland, Vincent Dujardin - assistant at the Institute of European Studies of the UCL - continues on his own the exercise and this time draws the portrait of Jean Duvieusart, for whom 2000 marks the centenary of his birth. One of the merits of this first biography by Duvieusart is certainly to cast light and give justice to the national and European policy, only slightly forgotten, of the former Belgian Prime Minister rather than the mythical figures of the "founding fathers" of Europe, who until now had been left in the shadows. In this journey through a life (focalised, in this article, on the European building site…) Vincent Dujardin shows how the Second World War marks the main change of the lawyer from Charleroi mainly preoccupied, until then, by local political life. Young Social-Christian MP Duvieusart raises as of 1945 the need for a reorganisation of Europe within which he already measures the antagonism between the western and soviet models.
Three times Minister for Economic Affairs between 1947 and 1954, Duvieusart is obviously directly associated to the problems of national and European reconstruction. For this he is confronted to the hard questions that will not wait before stirring the country. Right away Duvieusart make himself an ardent partisan of the Benelux whose customs convention entered into force 1 January 1948 and that he considers, according to today's accepted formula, as a laboratory for the future European unity . Though beyond economic integration, Duvieusart also calls for the creation of a common political authority.
Core moment of the book, Vincent Dujardin put many clock back on time,- which is saying little…- by bringing the irrefutable proof that Duvieusart did participate, in Paris on 8 May 1950, in the secret meeting during which Robert Schuman revealed to the Ministers from the Benelux and Italy the revolutionary content of the famous press conference of the next day. Far from forming a chronological detail reserved solely to school debates, this detail on the contrary poses the controversial question of the role played by the partners of France in the paternity of the Schuman declaration. Either way it corroborates the themes according to which France is ensured the support of the small European countries in its plan before, on 9 May at the end of the morning, specifying the definitive content to Chancellor Adenauer. In fact it is doubtful to think that France would have been able to take the political risk of such an initiative if its main partners had not offered their support before hand. Parliamentary rapporteur of the 1951 Treaty forming the European Coal and Steel Community, Jean Duvieusart worked in favour of its ratification by Belgium, before immediately chairing the first Council of Ministers. He grasps the opportunity to once more defend the creation, within the Six, of a large market open to free competition. In the winter of 1954, his voluntary action making him a serious candidate, but sad at the succession of Jean Monnet at the head of the High Authority of the ECSC.
Later sent back to the opposition and member of the Senate, Duvieusart deplores on several occasions the failure, in August 1954, of the draft European political community (EPC) in which he had placed his hopes for the political unification of Europe in the rush of negotiations relating to the draft European defence community (EDC). Thus he would be in favour of obtaining, three years later, the ratification of the Treaties of Rome. It is also at the same time that his party asks him to chair the Benelux inter-parliamentary consultative Council then what would be later called, as of 1962, the European Parliament of which he becomes the Vice-President during the same year. Encouraged by this surge of choice, the former Minister does not hesitate to pass on to his former colleague Paul-Heri Spaak with the partial responsibility of the failure of the Plan Fouchet negotiations.
Demonstrating that he had more ideas to follow, he immediately tabled at the EP, with his counterpart Fernand Dehousse, a resolution in view to rekindle the debate on the European political union. Respectful of the NATO structures, this ambitious text of May 1962 notably calls for a common foreign and defence policy of the Six as well as a greater harmonisation of national legislation. Moreover the two parliamentarians call for the creation of a single Council of Member States to replace the Council of Ministers of the three European Communities as well as a reinforcing of the EP's power of which Duvieusart defends the election by direct universal suffrage. If this proposal was not followed by effect, it nevertheless enabled Duvieusart to appear to some of his colleagues as a moral authority of a European Assembly of which he was president between March 1964 and May 1965.
In addition to the institutional questions, Duvieusart made considerable efforts in the external relations of the EEC. In 1965, in deep disagreement with the policy followed by the Social-Christian party in the face to Flemish linguistic claims, Duvieusart slammed the door of his party and renounced his mandate of EP President in order to work towards the implementation of Federalism in Belgium. Which did not prevent him from continuing to closely follow Community developments and not from reminding, several times, of the urgent need for a European diplomacy and singly currency. Also Vincent Dujardin points out the topicality of the visionary message of Jean Duvieusart. We are also hit by the originality of his thought which tried to establish a synthesis between the European concepts of Federalism and confederalism. This being, the historian usefully invites the reader work their memory and rediscover the action of those, who, on the initiative of Jean Duvieusart, have played, sometimes in the corridors of power, a role too long missed in the history of contemporary Europe. Etienne Deschamps
*** MARCEL WATELET, PIERRE COUVREUR (Edited by): Waterloo. Site of European memory. Bruylant-Academia (29 Grand'Place, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve. Tel: (32-10) 452395 - Fax: 454480 - E-mail: academia.bruylant@skynet.be). 1999, 197 pages, BEF 1,080, FF 180. ISBN 2-87209-560-8.
Despite what the sub-heading leads to believe, this work is of a more Belgian nature than European. It goes without saying that the battle of Waterloo, as an epilogue of a French adventure, which contributed towards the long-term shaping of the history of Europe and its countries. Also that it put in the hands of Europe, of all origins and tendencies, that we find in both camps. The Swiss among others, who were not on the victorious side. Also the Belgians, very present in the Imperial army. A good section of the book, results from a colloquium organised in Louvain-la-Neuve by the Franc-European Waterloo association, which aims at bringing justice to those, who, in the eyes of history and of those who wanted to write in Belgium and Switzerland, had chosen the wrong side. To inform the trial of those who, according to Pierre Couvreur, have "for a long-time intoxicated our school goers, our students and for long years our students at the Military colleges by bragging of the merits of Holland-Belgian units at the service of the Netherlands' sovereign in June 1815". Beyond the interest of history, this work - which also contains contributions enlightening certain aspects of the periods context and the erecting of the Lion's bust in Waterloo - can interest those who, as writes the Prince Napoleon in his preface, think "that there is no possible future for the generations of Europe outside the common picture printed in their memories, but resolutely turned towards the future. (MT)
*** The Federalist Debate. Papers for Federalists in Europe and the World (26 via Schina, I-10144 Turin. E-mail: federalist.debate@libero.it. Internet: http://www.fede via ralist-debate.org). July 2000, 64 pages. Subscription: EUR 16, USD 18.
The latest issue of this review, published three time per year, by the Young European Federalists (JEF), the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and the World Federalist Movement under the aegis of the Einstein Centre for International Studies opens with the editorial by Bruno Boissiere, Secretary General of the UEF, who calls for "the unity of action between all Federalists, at a regional, European and global level". "Listen to the voice of Europeans in Nice, the 7 December!", calls out Bruno Boissiere when recalling the large demonstration by civil society planned for the European Council.
Among the articles published in this issue, let us cite those by Igor Kossikov on Federalism in Russia, by Paolo Di Motoli and Francesco Pallante on "the internationalisation of Jerusalem", by Lucio Levi on "Alexander Marc and complete federalism", by Marita Rampazi on "European citizenship and identity", by Ludo Dierickx on "democratic decisions against diplomatic decisions", by Fergus Watt on the theme "WTO does it need a Parliamentary Assembly?". (MG)
*** Euro handbook. Ministry of Economic affairs (Espace euro, 6 rue de l'Industrie, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32) 0800/90806 - Fax: 025121885 - E-mail: euro-mae@pophost.eunet.be - Internet: http: //mineco.fgov.be). 1999, 216 pages.
The Belgian Minister for Economic affairs took the excellent initiative of mobilising some of his experts so as to concretely explain what will be - and already are - the consequences of the transition to the singly currency. This work is initially remarkable for its exhaustive character and the wealth of fields that are covered: legal framework of the Euro, rounding and conversions, the Euro and the financial institutions, the Euro and insurance, relations between companies and consumers, relations between companies, the Euro and my shopping, the Euro in business relations, fiscal aspects, the Euro and administrations, accounting and IT issues, the repression of crimes linked to the use of the Euro… It is also remarkable for it presentation which shows itself to be very clear, the dialogue in the form of questions and answers and the choice of examples enables the reader to easily have trustworthy and accessible facts. The fact that this guide is enriched by Belgian and European reference texts as well as with "good addresses" and that its up dating is foreseen in a reference publication and a model. It is also available in Dutch with the title Euro wegwijzer. (MT)
*** L'euro pratique. Ministry of Economic affairs (6 rue de l'Industrie, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32) 0800/90806 - E-mail: euro-mae@pophost.eunet.be). 1999, 52 pages.
Also published in Dutch under the title De euro in de praktijk, this other pamphlet by the Belgian Ministry of Economic Affairs presents the consequences of the introduction of the single currency on the daily lives of citizens in a very clear manner, simple and educational, through questions and answers understandable by all. A success. (MT)
*** ALEXANDRE LAMFALUSSY, LUC D. BERNARD, ANTÓNIO J. CABRAL (Edited by): The Euro-Zone: a New Economic Entity? Bruylant (67 rue de la Régence, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5129845). Collection de L'Institut d'études européennes de l'Université catholique de Louvain. 1999, 153 pages, BEF 1,600. ISBN 2-8027-1302-7.
In this work's preface, the former European Commissioner Yves-Thibault de Silguy cites Antoine de Saint Exupéry for whom: "the best job for man, is uniting man". To the father of the single currency, the Euro fulfils this mission. Also it would not only be beneficial for Europe: it will contribute to the stabilisation of the international monetary system. Very high level experts study, in this thick book, various aspects of the establishment of the single currency: the Stability and Growth Pact, coordination between of economic and employment policies, the impact of the Euro on candidate countries and the international monetary system… The conclusions are drawn by the former "boss" of the European Monetary Institute, Alexandre Lamfalussy. (LD)
*** ROGER LEVY (edited by): Managing, Monitoring and Evaluating the EU Budget. Internal and External Perspectives. Institut Européen d'Administration Publique (P.O. Box 1229, NL- 6201 BE Maastricht - Tel: (31-43) 3296222 - Fax: 3296296). 1999, 133 pages. NGL 50, EUR 22.69. ISBN 90-6779-140-7.
This book on the management, control and assessment of the EU budget is the fruit of a colloquium organised last December in Maastricht by the European Institute for Public Administration, or at a time located between the revelations of the civil servant of the Paul van Buitenen Commission and the report by the "wise persons" entrusted by the EP with investigating the accusations of fraud, nepotism and mismanagement by the Commissioners
In an introductory chapter, Gerhard van den Berge gives a global view of the development and the relative importance of the EU budget. While there practically does not exist any systematic analysis of the quality of the management of EU programmes, Roger Lévy, bases himself on the annual report by the Court of Auditors, examines the results on the management of EU programmes over a 20 year period. This chapter is followed by a report "from the inside" by Klaus Ebermann, Director at the Secretariat General of the Commission, on the Sem 2000. Brian Gray then broaches the changes that have taken place in the management of CAP, since the financial crisis in the middle of the 1980s, while Chris Pollitt presents, in a very critical manner, the way in which the assessment of EU programmes was carried out. Finally Edith Kitzmantel, at the time Deputy Director General at DG XIX (Budget) of the Commission places the question of the quality of EU budget management in the wider context, that of the media and the perception of the institutions. The general view that is found from these various studies is mitigated. Real improvements were seen, but the reforms often remain, at the time when the work went to press, at the stage of laudable intentions. (CB)
*** LE SÉNAT - Delegation for the European Union. European Affairs Service (15 rue Vaugirard, F-75291 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 42342121 - Fax: 42343292. Internet: http//http://www.senat.fr-europe ). N°38, June 2000, 125 pages. Subscription FF 100, EUR 15.24.
In Summary: The accession of Lithuania to the European Union, Swiss policy towards rail transport, hearing of Javier Solana, Hungarian candidacy to the EU, agriculture and fisheries policy, retaliations against Russia in trade matters and the possibility of a national fund for the clearing of the Danube.
*** Revue des Questions Humanitaires: Quarterly review by Débat International. Published by La Maison de l'Europe (Bibliothèque Solvay, 137 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7361430 - Fax: 7363216 - E-mail: julie.bolle@humanitarian-review.org. Internet: http://www.humanitarian-review.org ). N°10, summer 2000.
The equation oil-food is it right? This is what the review asks itself. Even if the "oil for food" plan generates more than USD 6.7 billion in humanitarian aid, the descent of Iraq continues, some 16% of young Iraqis suffer from malnutrition while the death toll for children below five, has doubled since 1996, date for the entry into force of the American embargo. For some economists, the European NGOs can save Iraq. Other parts of the review show that children are at the heart of the EU's concerns, the ban on children soldiers is called for.
*** Politica exterior: (6 Padilla, E-28006 Madrid. Tel: (34-91) 4312628 - Fax: 5777252. E-Mail: revista@poloticaexterior>.com. Internet: http://www.politicaexterior.com ). N° 76, July-August 2000. Subscription: 7,200 pta (Spain), 1,000 pta (elsewhere).
Samuel Hadas tries to draw a portrait of Bachir el Assad, young Syrian President since the death of his father Hafez. A difficult succession after thirty years of rule by his father. Fujimori has just won the Peruvian elections to the loss of Toledo. Since then, demonstrations and speeches tarnish the democracy of Fujimori. Xulio Rios questions the Falun Gong sect. How can we thus mobilise the crowds? Communist power loosing speed has it found its master? Without forgetting the inattention of the international community in the face of the fate of these thousands of refugees from the great lakes region.
*** World policy journal. New School University (65 Fifth Avenue, suite 413 - NY 1003. Internet: http://www.thebulletin.org ). N°2, Summer 2000. Subscription: USD 19.95.
In Summary of this issue: William DeMars, professor of international politics at the University of Cairo, raises his hopes as to peace and reconciliation in Africa, what the European think of America, the future of Islamic politics in Turkey.
*** Forces. The vitality of world cooperation. Editions Forces (500 rue Sherbrooke ouest, bureau 450, Montréal, Québec, Canada). N° 128, 2000. Subscription: USD 35.
In summary of this quarterly economic and social review: the role of globalisation and taking advantage of the security offered by cooperation. "The new financial order: when the national markets melt into national space", the cooperative ideal as philosophy for the development of society, the unsuspected power of global cooperationism and the possibility of multiplying the forms of solidarity.
National review in brief
*** ICC. Istanbul. In summary of this publication by the Turkish Chamber of commerce: tourism of the faith in Anatolia where regions converge, visit Istanbul where the continent meet and Turkey as a official candidate to the European Union. *** Taïpei aujourd'hui (May-June 2000). In summary of this bimonthly: the recovery of Taiwan and the dawn of a new era, boiling pop, the new accents of folk and an interview with the President of the Consumers association. *** Europa info. Maggio 2000. In summary of this bimonthly, the 2000-2006 programme with regard to the Structural funds, the reconstruction in Ombria and the reconstruction work in Corsica. *** Innovation & technologie-transfer. Die Europaïsche.com Mission. N°4/00 (July 2000). In summary of this monthly which deals with e-commerce: the Lisbon summit gives a push to the European innovation policy, transnational ME technology networks, innovation policy in Central and Eastern Europe and support Relay Centres for innovation to the transfer of technology. *** Comunidad Europea. N° 7 (July 2000). In summary of this monthly studies and information on the EU institutions: a summary of decision taken during the month of the decisions taken during July in Brussels, the European Council of Santa Maria de Feria, the provision in terms of regional policy, extrajudicial solutions in cases of litigation on the right to consumption and the revision of the regulation on concentrations monitoring.