*** EMILIANO GROSSMAN, BASTIEN IRONDELLE, SABINE SAURUGGER: Les mots de l'Europe. Lexique de l'intégration européenne. Presses de Sciences Po (44 rue du Four, F-75006 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 44393960 - Fax: 45480441 - E-mail: info@presses.sciences-po.fr - Internet: http: //http://www.sciences-po.fr ). "Références inédites" series. 2001, 363 pages, FF 85, EUR 12.96. ISBN 2-7246-0813-5.
What adjective to choose to define such a book? Precious? Indispensable? Whatever the choice, it would be inadequate and banal. Let us rather try to indicate to the reader what is found in the roughly 400 pages. This "lexicon of European integration" exceeds by far the analytical index of European signs, with decoding. Tools of this kind are precious as the multiplication of signs has become such that it is nearly impossible to find ones way. Though this time, it is something else. The authors retained 250 terms used in the context of European integration, but whose exact meanings are not known to initiates and researchers. And presently, remain unknown. Even the terms that have entered into common usage are often used or interpreted in an approximate manner. The authors themselves cite the misunderstood distinctions between "common currency" and "single currency". It would be easy to add many other examples, starting with the nearly mythical "subsidiarity", with its origins in the "political philosophy of Christian interpretation".
For each term, the authors indicate that English and German translation, the meaning in European terminology and the appropriate historical elements. Each time that it is suitable, they add the list of books that develop the issue. They have not backed away from linguistic difficulties; for example, they sought the equivalent to the terms "Community acquis" which most specialists where resigned to maintaining in French even in the versions in other languages. The result is "Community patrimonies" in English and "Gemeinsamer Beritzand" in German. In the other direction, "screening" which indicates a precise operation in the context of accession negotiates is translated by "criblage" in French.
The criteria for the choice of "words of Europe" are not only technical or linguistic, but also historical and political. As an example, it is evident that the terms "Europe Agreements" do not present any apparent difficulties. Though in fact, they cover a precise reality: in the European terminology, they indicate in a specific manner the Association Agreements with accession candidate countries from Central and Eastern Europe, as a preparatory step. Sabine Saurugger (each text ends with the initials of one of the three authors which drafted it) explains why and how these Agreements have been decided and what they basically contain. In line with this, in addition to a succinct explanation of the Institutions and bodies of the EU, we find, for example, the well known and nevertheless misunderstood "Blair House Agreements", a summary of the "Cassis de Dijon" ruling by the Court of Justice with its meaning for the creation of the single market, the periphery of the "empty chair" that had blocked the functioning of the EEC from June 1965 to the end of January 1966, the main problem with the "comitology", the functioning of the "conciliation procedure", the quarrel over the "British contribution", a simple summary of the famous "convergence criteria", the main content of the "Davignon reports", the case of the "three pillars"…
Why continue? Let us simply invite the readers to examine their conscience: to what extent would they be able to cite the three "Petersberg missions" so often cited? Who remembers the order of countries that will hold the Council Presidency, order decided upon until the end of 2002? Could they cite without hesitation the five figures normally selected as "fathers of Europe"? More generally, who would be able to rapidly find information sources allowing to deep a specific subject?
The volume is completed with a general bibliography (limited, it is true, to works in French and English), by a table of Treaty Articles after the latest modifications (which, for example, have made Article 81 and 82 become Articles 85 and 86 well known under their former numbering) and, important detail, an alphabetical classification of the terms not only in French, but also in English and German, with in each case a referral to the corresponding French text.
At this point, the reader will have understood why it was impossible for us to define this book with simple adjective. Also why we feel that all those who deal with Europe need it, especially the new generations, which, for obvious reasons, have not followed the day to day development of half a century of European building.
Ferdinando Riccardi
*** DUSAN SIDJANSKI: The Federal Future of Europe. From the European Community to the European Union. The University of Michigan Press (Internet: http: //http://www.press.umich.edu ). 2000, 462 pages. ISBN 0-472-11075-6.
This unquestionable classic in literature dedicated to European integration and, even more so, to the contemporary federalist thought process saw the light of day in French in 1992. No less than eight additional years have been needed to see it translated into English. The English speaking readers know this: they will not be disappointed. Firstly, because the analysis by Dusan Sidjanski, founder in 1969 of the Department of Political Sciences in Geneva where today he is an emeritus professor (as well as at the Florence European University), remains of a rare academic quality and that it will allow the Anglo-Saxon reader to establish bridges between federalism and the neofunctionalist approach to which, as notes Jacques Delors in an introductory note, is further familiarised. This translation thus fills the void, both as it is true that Anglo-Saxon readers have had the clear tendency of not yet granting much attention to the federalist concept. Then because this Yugoslav, how has become a Swiss citizen, is not only a scrupulous academic, but also, in this work enriched by three chapters covering the end of the last century, that of a critical, but passionate federalist militant. (MT)
*** Futuribles. Futuribles Sarl 2000 (55 rue de Varenne, F-75341 Paris cedex 07. Tel: (33-1) 53633770 - Fax: 42226554 - E-mail: revue@futuribles.com - Internet: http: //http://www.futuribles.com ). April 2001, N° 263, 96 pages, FF 78, EUR 11.89. Annual subscription: FF 690 or EUR 105.19 (France) and FF 740 or EUR 112.81 (abroad). ISBN 2-84387-263-4.
Once more very European, this issue of the forward-looking review lead by Huges de Jouvenel. No doubt the theme emphasised concerns the reform of the French State (subject nevertheless broached in a comparative spirit, which already includes Europe…), but the Forum section is entirely dedicated to this "question of Europe" which stokes the controversy. Europe yes, but what Europe?, thus titles the economist Michel Crancourt who was, in his time, close to Jean Monnet and who keeps, from this time, the passion and zeal of the militant. For him, the great majority of political actors, as those of the commentators, is born to the active life after the relaunch of the European idea, which today means the fight over the procedures while forgetting the aim. Which? The founding texts of the European Coal and Steel Community where of a "federal inspiration" and could have been "the beginning of a true political group. The refusal of the European defence community (under the impetus of General de Gaulle who lived the national as an eternal reality, but the responsibility of Pierre Mendes France and the Communists is also engaged) decided otherwise, wanting since "the ersatz Europe" that only the single currency has become embroiled (but we will see at the beginning of 2002, according to the author, if the shock of the transition from virtual to real provokes a phenomenon of rejection of Europe where, on the contrary, a movement for awareness raising of its reality"…). From then on, Europe "exists on the cheap", which would at least be the case "if the strongest political figures decide to asserts themselves in his framework rather than in their village". And Michel Drancourt to explain the in the absence (since Schmidt, Giscard d'estaing, Kohl, Mitterand and Delors) of Leaders who dedicate themselves with force to its development, opinion has the feeling that Europe is a form of machinery lead by the depths of national political life". Also weight that the State rediscover - notably Germany which France now finds it difficult to treat on an equal footing - does not simplify the case, no more so that the enlargements to come which "will place emphasis on diversity, without interdependence of the part (…) being guaranteed". Thus, is it necessary to resign? No, not Michel Drancourt, in any case. For him, Europe will exist a la carte, as we can see in the field of economic and associative life, new forms of plural organisations are in the process of being born and are called on to infiltrate into the existing structures, as water infiltrates between the stones"…
To this imprecatory answer André Lebeau et André-Yves Portnoff. For the first, President of the French meteorological society, Europe advances from the bottom, in small steps, not without facing barriers among which are the power games of encyst actors in their national structure; though she moves forward, and the dream of an imperial Europe is not truly to be regretted. As for the second, Director of the l'Observatoire de la révolution de l'intelligence in Futuribles, he joins Drancourt through R&D, only distinguishing a "Europe of dwarfs"… (MT)
*** ISABEL CORTE-REAL, KOEN NOMDEN, MICHAEL KELLY, FRANCK PETITEVILLE: Administrations in Transition. Modernisation of Public Administration in Four Countries: Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland and France. Institut Européen d'Administration Publique (22 O. L. Vrouweplein, B.P. 1229, NL-6201 BE Maastricht. Tel: (31-43) 3296274 - Fax: 3296296 - Internet: http: //http://www.eipa.nl ). "Current European Issues" series. 2000, 136 pages, NGL 50. ISBN 90-6779-150-4.
This work, which gathers together four national studies, dedicated to the administrative reform process underway in France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal. Studies that where aimed at being resolutely concrete and practical in order to caste light on the key factor for the success of reforms. (MT)
*** GIANNI PITTELLA: Eurodiario 1999 - 2000. Più Mezzogiorno in Europa, Più Europa nel Mezzogiorno. Gruppo Parlamentare del Partito del Socialismo Europea (Parlamento Europeo, Rue Wiertz B-1047 Brussels. Internet: http://www.dspe.net ). 2001, 271 pages.
Here is an initiative that deserves a follow-up. Gianni Pittella, member of the European Parliament in a peripheral area of the Union (a small region in the Italian Mezzogiorno, the Basilicata), gathers in a single volume the crucial information on the history and functioning of the European building process. He also offers a journal of his work as European parliamentarian. We see the aim: make available to his electorate - and citizens from southern Italy in general - both a clear and simple explanation of the aims and institutional mechanisms of the EU and a living demonstration of what is the actions of a European parliamentarian, in his region of origin (firstly to be selected as a candidate, then to get elected and now as representative for his region) and within the institutions (in Strasbourg and Brussels). All of this is completed with a guide of the European programmes and financial instruments, notably those to which the regional bodies have access, and through a few texts: the Charter of fundamental rights, a certain number of speeches on Europe especially important for Italy (by Romano Prodi, Giorgio Napolitano, Aneglio Campi). The local readers will be able to better understand what is sought and what Europe does, and to note the extent to which it is involved in the local and regional issues through its debates and decisions concerning regional policy, nature conservation and, in this case, olive oil or wine. It is obviously not a question of analysing in detail the content of this "Eurodiario" (why Mr Pittella concedes, over the "chocolate" Directive, to the easy demagogy of those who have understood nothing of this dossier?), but to underline the principal of this example of a contact, through an interposed book, between the institutional Europe and unspecialised public opinion. The last European elections, with the high rate of abstention, prove the extent to which such initiatives are to be encouraged (FR)
*** JEAN-NOEL JEANNENEY (sous la dir. de): Une idée fausse est un fait vrai. Les stéréotypes nationaux en Europe. Editions Odile Jacob (Paris). 2000, 118 p., 145 FF. ISBN 2-738-0908-X.
This book is issued from a colloquium organised by UNESCO, in December 1999, by Europartners, the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung and the Jean Jaurès Foundation. It is to be shared, notably with politicians, teachers, journalists, not forgetting national and European civil servants. Eighteen contributions from authors of various nationalities (European) and socio-professional origins, all having a multicultural experience, provide precious lessons - without concession, but with humour - on the nature, the origin, the transmission and the desirability of the critical examination of the pre-prepared ideas, of these "clichés", to use a less intellectual word "stereotypes". We will note in particular, other than the strong contribution by Jean-Noel Jeanneney, the reflections from historians or writers such as Robert Frank, Jean Lacouture, Jean-François Sirinelli, Miguel-Angel Bastenier, Ariana Montanari, Hans-Manfred Bock, Robert Picht… Sir Michael Jay, United Kingdom Ambassador to Paris, provides with finesse and prudence his opinion on "France-England: our little grain of folly…" while Carole Tongue, former MEP, without vain diplomatic precaution, feels that "The British can move". Pierre Moscovici admits that Ministers also sometimes have prejudices, but he feels that "as a whole, the building of a globally prosperous European democratic edifice, is not to make the stereotypes disappear (…) but to make them manageable". So be it! (J-RR)
*** XAVIER MABILLE: Histoire politique de la Belgique. Facteurs et acteurs de changement. Editions du Centre de recherche et d'information socio-politiques (35 rue du Congrès, B-1000 Brussels). 2000, 505 and 29 pages, FF 990 or EUR 24.54 and BEF 190 or EUR 4.71.
Xavier Mabille is one of the great connoisseurs of Belgian political life. This work which is in its fourth edition bears witness to this. It enlightens with rigour the genesis - he begins in 1780 - the development of this small and complicated State, as well as the collective actors that have shaped it and continue to do so. It is completed by a postface printed separately that casts light on the beginnings of the period opened after the legislative elections of 1999. (MT)
*** Europe infos. Comece et Ocipe (42 rue Stévin, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2350510 - Fax: 2303334 - E-mail: europeinfos@comece.org). March 2001, N° 25, 12 pages. Annual subscription: EUR 25, FF 160, BEF 1,000 (EUR 35 outside EU).
The monthly of the Commission of the Bishops' Conference of the European Community and the Catholic office for information and initiative on Europe notably looks at, in this issue, the geographic area of the Union, which will grow and which will see some 500 million people sharing a good part of their daily lives, the future of public services in the Union, the prospects for enlargement and the productive loos of course that leads to the revision of CAP towards a more reasoned agriculture,in 2001 that will be the trail year for the Euro…
*** Europa info. SEU Servizio Europa (51 via Fontivegge, I -06124 Perugia. Tel: (39-075) 5045600 - Fax: 5045602 - E-mail: info@seu.it - Internet: http://www.seu.it/europainfo ). February 2001, N° 1, 62 pages.
In summary of this review notably published by the Italian region of Umbria: a dossier of the structural funds that looks at the aids to SMEs with environmental aims, to those which are brought by the Objective 5b in order for the farms in Umbria to introduce a system of quality, to the creation of companies in the same region (whose presence in Brussels is also the object articles) and the support given in the field of music and theatre…
*** Economia exterior. Estudios de Politica Exterior (6 Padilla, 28006 Madrid. Tel: (34-91) 4312628 - Fax: 5777252 - E-mail: revista@politicaexterior.com - Internet: http: //www/politicaexterior.com). Spring 2001, N° 16, 174 pages, ESP 2,000, EUR 12.
This issue focuses on the relations between Spain and Germany through several contributions. Firstly, Commissioner Gunter Verheugen looks at the accession negotiations that will end in 2002 (Spanish and Danish Presidencies) for the first candidate countries, while the Spanish Secretary of State for European Affairs Ramón de Miguel analyses the repercussions of enlargements to come for Germany and Spain within the Union. Jochen Thies and Rafael Estrella both discuss after Nice, while other contributions - among others from Joachim Bitterlich - study the different facets (notably economic) of relations between Germany and Spain.
*** Liaisons sociales Europe. Groupe Liaisons (Service Diffusion: BP 52, F-92502 Rueil-Malmaison Cedex. Tel: (33-1) 41299991 - Internet: http: //http://www.liaisons.sociales.com ). 28 March-10 April 2001, N° 29, 8 pages. Annual subscription: FF 3,200, EUR 457.35.
Between economic and social, the Stockholm European Council carried out a "re-balancing of pure form", title of this front-page review. It notes, on the other hand, that in terms of temporary work and teleworking, the European social partners are "under pressure: , their dialogue being blocked, while a dependent grant may be qualified as "exportable service" according to European jurisprudence.
Reviews in short
*** Slovenia Weekly. Ljubljana, April 2001. In summary: human development, accession negotiations, the government's progress in terms of privatisation, the challenge of wanting to accede to NATO in 2004, the challenges of globalisation on the cultural level, an interview with the Minister for Culture Andreja Rihter… *** Rassegna. Rome, April 2001. This review notably looks at the capability for proposals and initiatives from trade unions in view of contributing toward local development. It also looks at a thesis that punishes workers, thelargest trade union in the world, which is German and the research by the Brodolini Foundation. *** La lettre d'information. March 2001, Paris. This Letter from the French Ministry for Culture notably contains an article dedicated to the reform of the short film established in 2000. *** Vecteur. March 2001, Brussels. In summary: of this pamphlet by the Belgian Fortis Bank: the challenges and opportunities of eastern enlargement by Philippe Maystadt, the last lap before 2002 for the Euro, the explosion of wage costs in the Netherlands, the consumer to the rescue in the Belgian economy and the power of gold or the history of an obsession… *** La lettre du CEPII. Paris, March 2001. This letter from the centre for internatinal forward looking studies and information is entirely dedicated to an article by Antoine Bouët who, to the question of knowing if food safety still justifies support of agricultural activities, works towards demonstrating that it is the public nature of the territorial and environmental services provided by agriculture that justify its support.