*** Politique étrangère. Institut français des relations internationales (27 rue de la Procession F-75740 Paris Cedex 15. Tel: (33-2) 54504600 - Fax: 54504611). Summer 2000, N° 2, 575 pages, FF 115, EUR 17.53. ISBN 2-294-00335-7.
This very rich edition of the quarterly review by Ifri concentrates in particular on France's foreign policy and European policy, starting with a rather disillusioned article by Stanley Hoffman, from Harvard University, which emphasises the bitterness of the "unrepentant Jacobeans" and feels that France "in some way finds itself in a weightless state in space, having left the traditional coast of the sovereign nation State, and orbiting in a spiral getting closer to the promised planet of a united Europe without ever, it seems, joining it or truly broaching it" (however Prof. Hoffmann notes that, if we want to assess the successes and failures of these last twenty years, "it still is the European Union that, despite these lamentations, has best served the interests of the French"). Completely different position with Henri Froment-Meurice, Fraech Ambassador, who on the contrary asserts that the "greater picture" remains, and that "it is not embellishing history to claim that this line of government men from Robert Schuman to Charles De Gaulle, from Valéry Giscard d'Estaing to François Mitterrand, so serious where their divergences (…), sharing the same conviction that France, turning the imperial page, has now as mission to get the Europeans to unit". In an article on the French Presidency of the EU entitles "France "practising non believer"? The real stakes of a modest Presidency", Sylvie Goulard, researcher at the "Centre d'études et de recherches internationales" (Ceri) notes that the "official stake of this Presidency is clearly marked out" and that France is right not to overestimate its role, but that "neither should it fall into excess that consists of forgetting the impact of our own guidelines on our partners". "Has been to modest in its ambitions, France mainly risks disappointing the other founder", she feels, while noting that the worst would be to "insidiously move towards a "practising non believing" France within a weakened Union".
Another great theme of this issue of Foreign Policy, if the "after Seattle". Thus Pierre S. Pettrigrew, Canadian Minister for International Trade, in an article entitled "the future of policy", feels that, "far from forming the end in the form of a failure in the negotiation process", Seattle, "probably represents the starting point in the form of a promising "malaise" for a policy renewal process". "While awaiting the cycle - what to do after Seattle? "To this question, Alex Kouvéje (pseudonym under which hide two high level civil servants that work on trade policy dossiers) answered that "the break imposed" in the WTO negotiations must enable to find "the basis of the social contract of globalisation", and that the negotiators must benefit from this break to tackle the questions created by the challenges in Seattle" - poverty, the architecture of the trade system, the dispute settlement system, social and environmental issues. The authors, who underline the divine surprise of the before Seattle, the departure of Leon Brittan helping, was to see a surprisingly united Europe on an integrating project", launching several concrete ideas, in particular, by answering those who assert that the social dossier must not be dealt with by the WTO, but by the ILO , the International labour Organisation, if they state: "That the partisans of social" also show ambition and imagination, and that a "social" cycle starts at the same time as the trade cycle!"
Among the other contribution to this issue, let us cite those of Françoise de La Serre, Director of research at the National Foundation for political sciences, on "reinforced cooperation", by André Dumoulin, responsible for research at the University of Liege, on European ambitions in terms of security and defence (he calls in particular for the elaboration of an EU strategic doctrine), the French Senator Philippe Marini on "fiscal convergence" in Europe (the rapporteur general for the Senate's Finances Committee, who feels that "the democratic legitimacy of consent toward taxation must remain at the level of national Parliaments, proposes that, to resolve the problem of legitimacy at a European level, to create a "European Senate" that would be competent in particular for "all the standards relating to obligatory payments, to their receipts, their rates, their structure, the methods for audit"). As always, the revue lead by Pierre Jacquet and Dominique Moïsi finally suggests a series of "readings". Marina Gazzo
*** BIRGITT HALLER, WOLFGANG KNOPF (Edited by): Crossing Borders. Genzüberschreitende Begegnungen im Rahmen des Nahost Jugendfriedensforums. Wilhelm Braumüller (Universitäts-Verlagsbuchhandlung, 5 Servitengasse, A-1092 Vienna. Tel: (43-0222) 3191159 - Fax: 310.28.05). "Studienreike Konfliktforsehung" collection N° 13. 1999, 107 pages, DM 41, 298 ös, 38 7S. ISBN 3-7003-1292.
"From coexistence and tolerance to cooperation and friendship"… It is under this adage that youths from Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt have been invited to Austria to meet on the initiative of the du "Forum Bruno Kreisky for International Dialogue" whose aim is to contribute towards the education in cross border peace, due to the unresolved conflict and still alive between Israelis and Palestinians. In this book, the authors analyse, describe and accompany the development of relations, political positions and understanding between the members of respective delegations. Their observations form a precious contribution to the preparation of new cross border meetings, source of peace between youth from different nations and cultures. (CB)
*** Développement et politiques agro-alimentaires dans la région méditerranéenne. 1999 annual report. Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Médigterranéennes (11 rue Newton, F- 75116 PARIS. Tel: (33-1) 53 23 91 00 - Fax: 53 23 91 01 - E-mail: secretariat@ciheam.org). 2000, 359 pages. ISBN 2 -85352-209-1.
This second report by the "Centre International de Hautes Etudes Agronomiques Méditerranéennes", published under the direction of its Secretary General Enzo Chioccioli, former Director General for Agriculture at the EU General Council analysis, in its first part, the prospects that open up to food processing systems from the Mediterranean basin in view of the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area for 2010 and their transition into a globalised economy. The second part includes national analysis of agricultural systems in Mediterranean countries, while the third develops the theme of significant interest for the Mediterranean region, namely sustainable rural development, to which Ciheam dedicated a significant international seminar in April 2000. Finally the fourth part presents the main indicators of agricultural and foodstuff development in Mediterranean countries (demography and economy, resources and means of production, consumption and trade in agricultural products) as well as a summary of bibliographic notes referring to various chapters. (CB)
*** ALAIN BARRAU: Pour un dialogue fructueux entre l'Union européenne et le Mercosur. National Assembly delegation to the European Union (Kiosque de l'Assemblée nationale, 4 rue Aristide Briand, F-75007 Paris. Internet: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr ). "Les documents d'information de l'Assemblée nationale" collection, N° 15/2000. 2000, 66 pages, FF 20, EUR 3.05. ISBN 2-11-109045-X.
The aim of this information report is to prolong and deepen the though process started in June 1999 by the French National Assembly delegation to the European Union over relations between the Community and Mercosur. Since then, the Rio summit last 28/29 June gave new impetus to the association process between these two groups, but the Seattle Conference also saw them strongly oppose it. The MP Alain Barrau set out an assessment of the situation in Mercosur countries and its associates after the crisis of the Brazilian Real and exposes the problems of the trade negotiations presently underway, among others, the American plan to create, around 2005, a free trade area covering the whole of the American continent. (MT)
*** Liaison Info. Information bulletin from the DNGO liaison Committee to the EU (10 square Ambiorix, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7438760 - Fax: 7350951 or 7321934 - E-mail: info@clong. Be - Internet: http: //http://www.oneworld.org/liaison ). September-October 2000, 24 pages.
This issue notably discusses the financial relations - difficult - held by the European NGO Committee working towards cooperation for development with the Commission.
*** LINOS-ALEXANDRE SICILIANOS: L'ONU et la démocratisation de l'Etat. Systèmes régionaux et ordre juridique universel. Editions A. Pedone (13 rue Soufflot, Paris). "Publications de la Fondation Marangopoulos pour les droits de l'homme" collection, N° 5. 2000, 321 pages, FF 300, EUR 46. ISBN 2-233-00366-7.
"Every State has the inalienable right to chose it political, economic, social and cultural system without any form interference by any other State"... Taken from a sombre declaration, this small phrase suitably surmises what had been the consistent attitude of the United Nations Organisation: abstain from choosing between political regimes. Based on a Charter that, even it, does not mention anywhere the democratic regime, the UN would not have resisted, certainly during the "Cold War". Even the International Court of Justice was resigned at the time, it said in 1975: "No rule of international law requires that the State have a determined structure., as is proved by the diversity of State structures that presently exist"… Though times change and absolute the sovereignty of a State is no longer what it was. Today, their freedom to choose a political system which pleases them is possible only when this does no violate international law. Very concretely the democratic imperative it progressively becoming universal. It is this phenomenon that Prof. Sicilianos meticulously analyses in this dense work, first apprehending the conceptual mutation that showed itself in the UN practice before dissecting, in the second part, the action in favour of democratisation of which the UN would now like to be the cradle. This book proves itself to be a very good homage to the role of precursor played at this level by the Council of Europe, role which then, due to enlargement to the Greater Europe "simplified the European Union's task in the action undertaken for the developing and reinforcing of democracy and the rule of law and for the respect of human rights (…)". As Prof. Sicilianos pertinently wrote, "the enlargement of the EU to States of Central and Eastern Europe only constitutes, in the end, the correlation of this guideline" favoured in Strasbourg. In fact, always returning "to Caesar what belongs to Caesar", thus also… to the former Secretary General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali who, as author of the preface of this work was unstoppable in the process of the democratic evolution of the UN. (LD)
*** Droit international et droit communautaire, perspectives actuelles. Editions A. Pedone (see details above). 2000, 448 pages, FF 340. ISBN 2-233-00367-5.
This book constitutes the acts of the 33rd colloquium of the Société Française pour le Droit International that was held at the University Montesquieu-Bordeaux IV just one year ago. The very in-depth works , broached three themes. First the issue of the grip of international law on Community law, including also that of knowing if the Communities entertain with international organisations a different degree or nature. This problematic is introduced by Prof. Jean-Claude Gautron and Loïc Grard (University Montesquieu-Bordeaux IV) before Prof. Philippe Manin (University Panthéon-Sorbonne) considers the influence of international law on Community jurisprudence and that Prof. Frédéric Sudre (University Montpellier I) considers the contribution of international and European law to Community protection of fundamental rights. This first part is punctuated by an account of a debate chaired by Daniel Vignes honorary Director of the EU Council legal service. The autonomy of Community law in the legal framework if States is the second theme that is broached. After a general introduction by Prof. Denys Simon (University Robert Schuman de Strasbourg) who searches for the foundations of the autonomy of law prevailing at a Community level, Professors Constance Grewe (also from Strasbourg) and Hélène Ruiz Fabri (University Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne) shed light on the respective situation of international law and Community law in the constitutional law of States, while Ronny Abraham Director of legal affairs at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, dedicates his contribution to the standards of these two systems before the French administrative judge. A debate chaired by Jean-Pierre Puissochet, Judge at the Court of Justice, punctuates, here again, the exercise. The third part of the work is finally dedicated to the inclusion of the Community and the EU as subjects (and actors) in international civil law, in the network of the increasingly dense multilateral relations they entertain with the various international courts. The variety of legal situation is thus outlined by Prof. Joël Rideau (University de Nice-Sophia Antipolis) in a general report on their participation in international organisations. The Prof. Jean-Victor Louis (Free Brussels University) studies the legal specificities of the inclusion of the Eurogroup in the institutions of the international monetary system notably the IMF. During a round table and a debate that was dedicated - event helping at the time - in the WTO negotiations in Seattle, Jean-Louis Dewost head of the European Commission's legal service, finally brings detail clarifications on the EC's position in the dispute settlement system. Finally, this complete work of great detail whose conclusions are drawn by Prof. Verhoeven, de l'University catholique de Louvain. (MT)
*** Futuribles. Analyse prospective. Editions futuribles (55 rue de Varenne, F-75341 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 53633770 - Fax: 42226554 - E-mail: revue@futuribles.com). N° 256, September 2000, 59 pages. Annual subscription: FF 690, EUR 105.19.
Economic rationality and transport noise… It is a topical theme that is dealt with in this issue. In ten year, the percentage of people exposed to noise above 65 decibels - ceiling above which sleep is disturbed - went from 15 to 25. How live close to an airport? What do the public authorities intend to do in the face of the growing exposure of the public to noise? Some answers are given. Another theme studied, the Italian districts as a model for exemplary local development. These clusters of small and medium sized enterprises are remarkable for their spirit of competitively and their ability to adapt to the market. A model to be inspired from. Finally a fascinating article on the new generation of intelligent and conscious computers
*** Politica exterior. Comercial Atheneum (6 Padilla - 28006 Madrid. Tel: (91) 4312628 - Fax: 5777252 - E-mail: http://www.revista @politicaexterior.com). Annual subscription: ESP 7,200 (Spain), ESP 13,000 (abroad). N° 77, Sept./October 2000, 187 pages.
In summary of this review: the derailing of the PRI (to political scientists analyse the institutional and political development of Mexico, following the election last 2 July which saw, after 70 years of government by the PRI, the victory of Vicente Fox, right wing candidate), European defence (from the French perspective), "Serbia: mythology and manipulation", "political economy and desolation" (an economist studies the doping effect of the dollar on the economies of some Latin American countries), "Capitalism against democracy", "Living in a new Europe" and finally, "Europe and its architects".
*** Annual review of EC Competition Cases of 1999. Ed. Coppens Van Ommeslaghe et Faurès (81, av. Louise, B-1050 Bruxelles. Tel: (32-2) 5428888 - Fax: 5428989). April 2000. 137 pages.
Some subjects are tackled in this review: the ecotaxes in Germany, the dismantling of Microsoft, the German post office, Danish subsidies towards trail transport, the liberalisation of the postal sector, aid and subsidies in the public domain, tax aid, the deregulation procedures and French television.
*** Law and European Affairs. The European Union and immigration. Mys and Breesch (12 Graslei, B-9000 Gent. Tel: (32-2) 2236471 - Fax: 2231364). Annual subscription: EUR 255. April 2000, N° 1-2, 201 pages.
In summary of this review: the European Union and immigration at the start of the new millennium, European citizenship and immigration., a legal analysis of provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty relating to immigration and asylum, the reform of national law in Germany, the European dimension of new French laws on immigration and citizenship, recent jurisprudence from the Court of Justice concerning migrant workers from third countries, Europe's responsibility in terms of racism and finally, Gypsies and immigration in the EU.
*** Hommes & Libertés. Revue de la Ligue des droits de l'homme. FIDH (17 passage de la Main d'Or, F-75011 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 43552518 - Fax: 43551880 - E-mail: fidh@fidh.org - Internet: http: // http://www.fidh.org ). N° 10, June/August 2000, 68 pages, FF 35. Annual subscription: FF 300, EUR 45.73.
This issue notably brings, in a dossier, civil answers to globalisation.
National review in short
*** 30 Giorni nella Chiesa e nel mondo. N° 6/7. 2000. In summary of this review: the urgency in Italian prisons, cases and statistics of a crisis, the need for an amnesty and radical reforms, the reality of Jesus Christ in Israel. *** Slovenia Weekly. Ljubljana, N° 35, Sept. 2000. In summary: 10% more tourists than last year, interview with the Defence Minister, the energy sector and the definition of national security. *** Kangaroo Group Newsletter. Brussels, N° 24, August 2000. In summary: freedom of movement for workers, the priorities of the French EU Council Presidency, new democratic rules for the Europe of tomorrow and the advance of IT and telecommunications companies. *** Tunisia News. Tunis, N°26, August 2000. In summary: the most competitive economy in Africa, olive oil and dates, the democratic transition and interview with President Ben Ali. *** Energies. N° 42, 2000. Total Fina Elf: the dawn of a new era. This review presents the company. *** Look Japan. Hong Kong, N° 46, October 2000. In summary: Japan as a pioneer in terms of energy conservation, the signs of active volcanoes and the economic prospect of this country.