*** MICHEL DUMOULIN (Edited by): The European Defence Community, lessons for the Future? Presses interuniversitaires européennes La Communauté européenne de défense, leçons pour demain? (63 rue des cottages, B-1180 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 3477236 - Fax: 3477237 - Internet: http: //http://www.pie-eip.com - E-mail: pie@skynet.be) and Peter Lang (15 Jupiterstrasse, Postfach 277, CH-3000 Bern 15. Tel: (41-31) 9402121 - Fax: 9402131-Internet: http: //http://www.peterlang.ch - E-mail: langwerbung@datacomm.ch). "Euroclio, Etudes et Documents" collection, N° 15). 2000, 430 pages. ISBN 90-5201-908-8.
The initiatives taken these last months by the EU 15 in favour of a Common Defence and Security policy - such as the agreement on land, air and naval forces for a rapid reaction force in around 2003 - have not failed to raise wide and controversial debates. Thus for example, the strategic choice of Great Britain and the europeanisation of NATO reveal discussion sometimes old that this collective work puts for strong arguments over the future. Fruit of a international colloquium organised in March-April 1995 and the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL), it gathers, in French and English, historic contribution and/or comparative at the time.
After a mechanical introduction by Prof. Michel Dumoulin (Institute for European Studies - UCL) who deplores that "the technocrats, in their crushing majority, do not take into account the history and even less the mentalities that, by definition, are part of the long-term", the work successively examines the origins of the project of the European Defence Community (EDC), its reception in the military, political and economic circles of the six protagonist countries and with their partners, the direct consequences of the failure, in August 1994, of the EDC and some topical issues of security in Europe. In the practical impossibility of providing an account of the whole book, we struggle to pin down the main events.
Florence Gauzy (German Institute in Asnières, University of Paris III) enlighten particularly well the fundamental role played by the issue of German rearmament in the development and definitive abandoning of the French plan for a European army. Renata Dwan (Oxford University) looks at, as for her, the influence, sometimes positive, sometimes inoperative, of the Franco-American network in the preparation and in the promotion of an Atlantic defence. Jasmine Aimaq (Lund University) then casts an original eye on the French attitude through the possible colonial dimension of the EDC project.
Moving on to the reaction within the Europe of Six, Pascal Deloge (UCL) analyses the European consciences of Belgian soldiers in the face of the building of a Common defence in Europe. He shows, well, that beyond the globally shared accession to the European ideal, it is the Federal issue and the future of NATO that have fed the main reticence towards the EDC project. Analysis that largely confirms the contributions by professors Anjo Harryvan and Jan van der Harst (Gronigen University) in the Dutch case and Antonio Varsori (Florence University) that scrutinises the hesitant attitude of Italian diplomacy. Michael Creswell (Chicago University) then emphasises the deep motivations for the United States obesse - and due to the heart of the old War - with the Soviet threat and the nuclear arms race. We will also point out the novel article by Prof. Jozef Laptos (Krakow College of Education) who related in detail the little know episode of the training projects, notably in the framework of the EDC, battalions formed with emigrants from the East keen to oppose the Soviet block.
Today it is admitted that the Western European Union (WEU), created in October 1954, forms an alternative of circumstance to the European Defence Community. Professors Anne Deighton (Oxford University) and Elisabeth du Réau (University of Paris III) examine with precision the determining role played by Great Britain and France in the birth of this intergovernmental institution redefined these last years both as the armed arm of the EU and as the European pillar of the Atlantic alliance. They clearly emphasis the clear continuity between the compromise of 1954 and the median line that still presently prevails within the EU with regards to Common Foreign and Security policy.
After a rapid overview of the perception of the USSR of the German threat,, supposed or real, over the second half of the twentieth century, Pierre-Henri Laurent (Tufts University, USA) draws a subtle portrait of the present and future state of Euro-Atlantic relations. Maurice Vaïsse (Centre d'études d'histoire de la défense, Paris) measures the distance crossed by the idea of European defence since the end of the Second World War. The development of Italian policies in terms of European defence are the object of a rich contribution from Pr. Leopoldo Nuti (Catane University) that completes, to conclude, A. Harryvan and J. van der Harst look at the present views of the Netherlands in the face of the challenge posed by the implementation of CFSP.
Etienne Deschamps
*** GIANNI BONVICINI (Edited by): The Northern EU. National Views on the Emerging Security Dimension. Tapani Vaahtoranta, Wolfgang Wessels The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (15 A Mannerheimintie, FIN-00260 Helsinki and Institut für Europäische Politik (22 Bundesallee, D-10717 Berlin. Tel: (49-030) 889134-0) - Fax: 889134-99 - Email: info@iep-berlin.de). 2000, 267 pages. ISBN 951 -769-110-6.
This ninth volume of the "Nordic dimension of CFSP" series, programme lead by the Finnish and German institutes in collaboration with the European Commission, is undertaken in collaboration with the Tepsa (Trans European Policy Studies Association). Security policy experts from all the Member States of the European Union describe the attitude of their country towards this initiative launched in 1997 by the Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, initiative that does not cover the military aspects of security (while, in the chapter on "The Northern security agenda", Olav F. Knudsen notes that, last January, the Swedish Minister for Defence von Sydow had proposed the creation of a "Common Security Council for the Baltic Sea region" to which would belong the Nordic countries, the Baltic countries, Russia, Poland and Germany, feeling that "even other countries with a naval presence, such as Great Britain could be interested"). With regard to the position of London over this plan, Clive Archer talks of "British pragmatism", be noting in particular (what is moreover the case for the other Member States of the EU, even those which feel less concerned by the Nordic dimension of the EU) that the British government sees this dimension as "a part of the larger relationship between the EU and Russia". As for the initiating country, Tuomas Forsberg and Hanna Ojanen underline that the idea officially presented by Paavo Lipponen in Rovaniemi, in September 1997, corresponds to the strategy of Finland aiming to turn multilateral its own relations with Russia in the region, without raising any provocation". The Nordic dimension could "integrate itself without damage top the EU enlargement project, and will probably reduce the potential problems associated to it", feels Bertel Heurlin in his chapter on the "Danish Hopes", while by raising the "Swedish approach", Gunilla Herolf reveals a certain competition between the EU Nordic countries over the issue of knowing which of them is the most "attractive" in this field (which was called constructive competition", as it brings some advantages to the beneficiaries). Finally Uwe Schmalz, over the "German ambitions and ambiguities", notes that Germany, finds itself "at the cross roads of paths of multiple spheres of affinity and regional interests", has "much to win for a multidimensional view of the Nordic dimension of the EU and much to contribute".
(MG)
*** MICHAEL PUGH: L'Europe et ses boat people: la coopération maritime en Méditerranée. Institut d'études de sécurité de l'Union de l'Europe occidentale (43 av. du Président Wilson, F-75775 Paris cedex 16. Tel: (33-1) 53672200 - Fax: 47208178 - E-mail: ies-ueo@iss-weu.com - Internet: http://www.weu.int/instititute/ ). "Cahiers de Chaillot" collection, N° 41. July 2000, 81 pages.
Lecturer in international relations at the University of Plymouth and editor in chief of the International Peacekeeping journal, Michael Pugh analyses, in this monograph, the problem - that is set to haunt the years to come - of the Mediterranean boat people. Starting with the realisation that its management is based mainly upon, in the Western Mediterranean, the seamen concerned, the author and expert calls in favour of a strengthening of their cooperation in the framework of the rise in power of CFSP, in partnership with the Southern countries concerned. It also shows how the boat people are mainly of concern as a management of humanitarian crisis, and not a direct threat for the security of the countries, reason for which it must be avoided to militarise the problems and to consider it as a threat to security.
(MT)
*** Regard européen. Editions Letizia (75 rue de Lourmel, F-75015 Paris). August 2000, 126 pages, FF 95, EUR 14.5. Annual subscription: FF 300, EUR 46.
This issue of Regard européen contains a dossier dedicated to European defence that opens with a complete text of the speech that President Chirac had made before the Committee of President in the parliamentary assembly of the WEU and the auditors of the national institute for higher defence studies last May. We then find the text of the speech made at the same time by the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, before the NATO Parliamentary Assembly gathered in Budapest. Journalist from "Figaro", Claude Jacquemart tells of how the European Defence Community was torpedoed in France, which refers to the editorial by Jean-Antoine Giansily who, by looking at the "stakes of Nice", notes that Europe is now, with the single currency, a "giant that rivals directly with the United States" on the economic level, but that nothing, for a very long time, has been done on the military level that may allow it to escape the "NATO omnipresence": "the failure of the EDC to the pusillanimity of the WEU passing by the neutrality of certain EU Member States, or by the absence of any true armaments industry in many Members of the EU 15, one can say that everything was done by the Europeans, excepts for the French for the keys to a possible future conflict in Europe to be in Washington and furthermore, with all the disagreements and (…) the feeling of revolt that can sometimes inspire the ways in which military affairs in Europe are exploited by the media who call for American domination".
The dossier continues with interesting contributions by Karl-Heinz Bendert ("France-Germany: an exemplary military cooperation"), François-Georges Dreyfus ("where is the Bundeswehr going?"), Jean-Sylvestre Mongrenier ("American engagement in Europe: flexibility and deterritorialisation"), Jean-Pierre Olsem ("the Euro, innovation and European defence"), Wolfgang Behrendt ("European Security and Defence: the parliamentary dimension"), Klaus Bühler ("the need for democratic control"), Armand De Decker ("Not to deprive ourselves of the WEU experience"), Catherine Lalumière ("For a forum of European Union parliaments") and Ilonor Sloan ("the initiative of the defence capabilities").
Outside this dossier, the review outline the core of the article - published "Le Monde"- through which the German Minister for Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer summarised the speech that launched, last spring, the debate over the finalities of the European building process, as well as the answer that was given in the same newspaper by his French counterpart Hubert Védrine. Also of this complemented by the ideas that President Chirac launched, in echo , in Berlin. It must be noted that a "project for Europe of our time", put forward by the former President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, while the Senator Hubert Haenel launched this call at the time when the French Presidency of the Council just started: "at the time when we commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Schuman declaration, let us not hesitate - for risk of a crisis - to reaffirm in all its urgency the European project". To be studied a few days before Nice!
(MT)
*** JEAN-PAUL HEBERT (Edited by): Stratégie & Armement EUROPE 1999-2000. Naissance de l'Europe de l'armement. Groupe de Sociologie de la Défense de l'EHESS (Internet: http://www.ehess.fr/cirpes ). "Cahiers d'Etudes Stratégiques" collection, N° 27. 2000, 143 pages, FF 97. ISBN 2-905758-19-8.
This study is dedicated to the transformation of the European armaments industry that started at the end of the 1980s. since then, phenomenon of privatisation and mergers have been observed, in Europe and, even more so, in the United States where three giant groups hardly hide, now, their hegemonic claims. In this context, the urgency and the crucial nature of a European restructuring have become evident. It is the history of this awakening that is told in the work edited by specialists. It leads, according to them, to the birth of industrial Europe of armament in 1999, with the grouping of various world wide economic structures. This change is analyses in depth, the authors review the trends of the market and the economic situation of the various societies concerned. Though they do not stop there. They explain that this change in the form of mergers does not form a starting point, a first stage to achieve economically. Among other it is necessary, according to them a political building process accompanying this industrial development, in order to provide themselves with the doctoral means to consider the strategic autonomy necessary for Europe. A political building process all the more necessary, they show, that the American administration and companies interested do not remain cross legged in this new competitive framework. All the book bears witness, to conclude, that the building of the Europe of armaments make more urgent as ever the firm up a policy capable of providing itself with a single defence, as it is presently providing itself with a single currency...
(LD)
*** EUROPEAN COMMISSION. European social and employment policy: a policy for citizens. Directorate General for Education and Culture (Office for the official publication of the EC (2 rue Mercier, L-2985 Luxembourg. Tel: (352) 2942455 - Fax: 2942758 - E-mail: info.info@cec.eu.int). May 2000, 30 pages.
Certain Member States see with a concerned eye the future of EU social cohesion in the light of its enlargement. Reasons raised: the standard of living below the European average of the twelve accession candidate countries. However, guarantees exist, the EU applies a pre-accession strategy that incites these countries to "raise the bar" in order to be able to enter into the EU. This helps them through various programmes, among others, the Social Action Programme 1998-2000. One of its aims: more and better quality jobs for all. To do this, the programme intends to favour the ability for adaptation, equal opportunities, employability and the spirit of enterprise. It also intends to invest in human capital via the European Social Fund. Equality between full-time and independent workers is another war horse in this programme. Development that must go through a stable social protection in the EU, not forgetting the fight against discrimination and exclusion. The Helios programme that come to the aid of the handicapped another instrument. The European Council in Lisbon last March lay the foundations of the future social policy programme. It indicated that Europe should move forward in the knowledge based economy and create a "electronic Europe". The aim of the Heads of State and Government for the next ten years: make the EU the most competitive technological economy, capable of supporting growth thanks to more numerous jobs and better social coherence. This brochure provides a systematic account of this whole adventure
*** The Federalist Debate. European Federalists Union (1 place du Luxembourg, B-1050 Brussels). November 2000, N° 3. Annual subscription: EUR 30 (institutions), EUR 15 (others).
In summary: debate for a European Federal Constitution as a basis for the supranational policy of the EU. This Constitution will have to also foresee a common policy in terms of security and defence. Other themes broached: the possibility for peace in the framework of coexistence between member countries and the relationships of strength, the creation of a International crimes tribunal, the realist idealism of the federalists, finance capital in the global market and the crisis of the nation State, Geneva opens the doors of the United Nations to civil society, regionalisation and globalisation, reform of the Security Council, European Council in Nice, return of economic depression, "Echelon: information Big Brother", and the research centre against genocide.
*** Internationale Politik. Turkish candidacy (Bachstrabe 32, D-53115 Bonn - Tel: (49-228) 729 00 10 - Fax: 695734 - E-mail: EUV-VIP@t-online.de). November 2000, 118 pages. Annual subscription: DM 190.
This review covers the positive advances seen in Turkey in the sense of its integration into the EU. Such as the development of Turkish institutions since the Ottoman Empire until today via a demographic study. The authors asks the question of knowing if, yes or no, Turkey accepts the values of European civilisation. Other theme broached: the development of Turkey since Helsinki. The coalition government of Bulent Ecevit progressively gained the improvement of the financial situation in the country and of its social system. No forgetting the progress in terms of human rights. Though also the point of view of Turkey in the field of nuclear energy, is relations with Israel and the note of discord between Turkey and Cyprus.
National reviews
***A l'écoute du Japon. Brussels, Nov-Dec. 2000. In summary: the third Asia-Europe summit in Seoul, state of progress and issues of the World Trade Organisation and relations between Japan and the European Union. *** Fuertes en Europa. Brussels, Sep-Oct. 2000. In this brochure, Nicole Fontaine insists of the fact that terrorism is the greatest negation to democracy, while the European Parliament's European People's Party welcomes the approval of a declaration of the political situation in the Basque country. The EP also pay homage to the twentieth anniversary of Solidarnosc. ***Liaison info. Brussels, Nov-Dec. 2000. In summary: some new on the financing of NGOs, the NGO forum during the United Nations conference on less developed countries, "food safety: publication of three calls for proposals", political reform of cooperation for development and administrative reforms of the Commission, new EC proposals for access to markets of less developed countries and work of Estonian NGOs.