*** HARTMUT ELSENHANS (Edited by): A Balanced European Architecture - Une architecture européenne équilibrée. Enlargement of the European Union to Central Europe and the Mediterranean - L'ouverture de l'Union européenne vers l'Europe centrale et la Méditerranée. Publisud (15 rue des Cinq-Diamants, F-75013 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45807850 - Fax: 45899415 - E-mail: Publisud@ compuserve.com).Collection "Le développement dans les faits". 1999, 224 pages. ISBN 2-86600-616-X.
Fruit of two conferences that gathered German, French and Polish intellectuals, this work is interesting in that it casts light on the various ways in which enlargement is programmed in the countries of Central Europe and its potential consequences for the Mediterranean partners of the Union are examined and studied by the researcher. It is also useful in that is shows developments in mentalities and reveals potential policy synergies between the European candidate countries and the present members of the Union which, France leading the way, do not intend to turn their back on the Mediterranean to only look East. One of the notable developments has been seen in the French leaders who took part in the preparation and the holding of the Leipzig conference. There where, during the previous exercise (a conference held in Paris in 1995 on the theme "Euro-Mediterranean: a region to build"), the French representatives had called for the Mediterranean countries to be treated as a priority compared to the countries of Central Europe, for which all admitted, this time, that the importance to be granted to the Mediterranean could not lead to granting it an equal status to that of the CEEC and that Eastern enlargement is well and truly a priority. This development, however, does not exhaust the subject, which, according to the angles of observation, leads to revealing the triangular reflections of extreme political complexity in the enlargement and its stakes.
Renowned professor from Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität in Frankfurt, Ernst Otto Czempiel tackles, in the first contribution, the expansion of NATO, explaining that the accession of the countries from Central and Eastern Europe is "the institutionalisation of a peaceful European Europe", while their entry into NATO can only be the expression of a Europe lead by America and directed towards security. For Professor Czempiel, the fact that history has wanted things differently was been a marked opportunity to establish a new order directed towards peace in Europe. For Antoni Kaminski (professor at the Institute for political studies at the Polish Academy for sciences in Warsaw), the Union must grant the priority to the countries that bring the proof of their "European character", which, according to him, "definitively excludes" Russia (he also feels that the accession of this country to NATO and the EU will constitute an instrument that discourages the non-democratic tendencies in Moscow). Professor of History at Warsaw University, Jan Kieniewicz wants to be more accommodating, he who feels that countries such as Byelorussia and the Ukraine should benefit from a special status and become border States of Europe, which is, according to him, a condition for the spread of its civilisation and its affirmation as a global actor.
A second group of interventions covered the absorption capability of Europe, both concerning the CEEC and the Mediterranean countries. Jean-François Daguzan (from the think-tank on strategies and technologies from the Polytechnic and the Mediterranean foundations for strategic studies in Toulon) has admitted that a full accession of the Mediterranean countries, partners of the EU, is an illusions, but he calls in favour of a more intensive cooperation between the EU and these countries. An intensification that cannot be the fact, according to him, of the Member States forming the Latin arc: Germany in particular, but also the group of Northern countries, must support the movement in order to properly balance the Union (it would not be good, he explains, for France and Germany to each form their courtyard and thus establish a regional division of responsibilities…). This point of view was supported by Prof. Stanislaw Parzymies (Faculty of International Relations at the University of Warsaw) who distinguishes, under this angle, the converging areas of interest between the members of the Latin arc and the CEEC. Working in the "European integration" department of the Polish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Grazyna Bernatowicz, works, for his part, to cast light on the difficulties that exist in translating these complementarities into appropriate policies. She looks, in particular, at the case of Italy which, according to her, would be concerned with limiting the influence of Germany in Central Europe and with finding a common ground with Russia, which would lead to bringing Poland into a grey area, or a situation that would be dangerous for Warsaw. Containing Germany can thus only pass, in his eyes, via the enlargement to the CEEC and maintaining the American influence as long as the EU has not reached a qualitative status, as it has not accomplished the Europeanization of Europe. NATO, from then on, remains the vital key, observation that may lead other speakers to reduce the importance, in this context, of the partner countries in the Mediterranean in the short-term. A reality that will lead the EU 15, according to Prof. Jean-Robert Henry (CNRS and Institute for political studies in Aix), to recreate the "andalou myth", that is to say to tie with the Mediterranean partners links so light that they would equate to closing the door, in the same manner as the Europeans may fully dedicate themselves to the creation of a European identity. In short, to chain a Germany, which scares its partners… And who would be right to let them carry on. Michel Theys
*** DIDIER DOUCET: L'élargissement de l'Europe: un risque pour le Sud ? L'Harmattan (5-7 rue de l'Ecole-Polytechnique, F-75005Paris. Tel: (33-1) 40467920 - Fax: 43258203 - E-mail: harmat@worldnet.fr). 2001, 283 pages, 150 FF. ISBN 2-7475-0143-4.
Presently a teacher at the Institute for European Studies at the University of Paris 8 after having been a member of ministerial cabinets, Didier Doucet looks, in this book, at the foreseeable consequences of the enlargement of the Union towards the East, for Africa and the countries of the southern shore of the Mediterranean. An interest fed by his fear, patent, that the EU 15 do not provide themselves with the necessary means to make this enlargement a game that benefits all at once in the East, West and South. To do this, he explains, it would require strong measures from the Union to come and compensate the losses from enlargement into the candidate from Central Europe probably brought to the south in terms of investment, trade, population flows and state aid for development. Measures that he does not see brewing on the Community horizon, he who shredded the Agenda 2000 (taking into account the scope of the restructurings of the productive machines of the candidate countries and the efforts required to adapt to the Community acquis, one can wonder if this budgetary prospect will be sufficient and whether it will allow to carry out the enlargement in the right conditions…) and who considers the financial cost of enlargement "underestimated". So many factors which, according to him, could lead the Union to no longer pay sufficient attention to the Mediterranean and African countries.
Helped by numerous statistics, the author explores, in five chapters, the potential economic and social consequences of enlargement for the south. In a sixth chapter, he proposed a treatment for enlargement. In order to widen the enlargement to the south, it would notably be suitable, according to him, that the EU 15 maintain their development aid at a sufficient level and that they enhance its effectiveness. It would also require that they cancel the debt and that they work towards regulating the effects of globalisation (one can't run the hundred meters in the same way as a professional runner and a handicapped runner, he notes while favouring the setting, in this competition, of different rules for each). Didier Doucet also calls for structural adjustment plans to be humanised, made more social, and that the African and Mediterranean countries are encourages to take steps that will be of a nature to attract more private investors. He also favours the development of crossed investment between the countries of Central and Southern Europe, to increase the South-South relations and to accelerate regional integration in this part of the world, not counting the various measures of a nature to balance the migratory flow. (MT)
*** JOSEPH F. FRANCOIS, MACHIEL ROMBOUT: Trade Effects From The Integration Of The Central And East European Countries Into The European Union. Sussex European Institute (University of Sussex, Arts A Building, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9SH. Tel: (44-01273) 678578 - Fax: 678571 - E-mail: sei@sussex.ac.uk). Collection "Working Papers in Contemporary European Studies", N° 41. 2001, 30 p., £6.
This working paper works towards measuring the trade effects that enlargements heavily commented upon in the East will cause. Its authors note that the opening of Central and Eastern Europe imposes on the Union to take up unheard of challenges. The gaps between the Europe of the Fifteen and the candidate countries are unprecedented. Though if the transition is well managed, it should also offer unprecedented opportunities, not only for the new members, but also for the present Member States. The work includes a series of economic indicators and concludes that the economic costs of this enlargement will finally, losses and profits taken into account, relatively small. Thus the questions remains above all political. (DDF)
*** NICOLE FEIDT, ALAIN BARRAU, GERARD FUCHS, MAURICE LIGOT, JACQUES MYARD: Contributions parlementaires pour l'élargissement de l'Union européenne. Estonie, Hongrie, Lettonie, Pologne, République tchèque, Roumanie et Slovaquie. Délégation pour l'Union européenne de l'Assemblée nationale (Kiosque de l'Assemblée nationale, 4 rue Aristide-Briand, F-75007 Paris. Internet: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr ). Collection "Les documents d'information de l'Assemblée nationale", N° 2863. 2001, 121 pages, 30 FF, 4.57 Euro. ISBN 2-11-109742-X.
This information report gathers together the press releases that have been released within the Delegation for the European Union of the French National Assembly following missions and studies carried out by its members last year to follow the development of the seven of the thirteen EU accession candidate countries. The same move continues this year, which announces another publication. (MT)
*** CAY LIENAU, LUDWIG STEINDORFF (Edited by): Ethnizität, Identität und Nationalität in Südosteuropa. Beiträge zu einem Präsentationstag der Südosteuropa-Forschung an der Universität Münster am 27.11.1998. Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft (49 Widenmayerstr., D-80538 München. Tel (49-89)212154-0 - Fax: 2289469 - E-mail: Suedosteuropa-Gesellschaft@t-online.de - Internet: http://www.suedosteuropa-gesellschaft.com ). Collection "Südosteuropa-Studie", n° 64. 2000, 221 pages, 50 DM. ISBN 3-925450-83-1.
The concepts of ethnicity, identity and nationality in South Eastern Europe have been discussed during a day presenting the academic research on this region at the University of Munster in November in 1998. This collection of contributions to this event explains, in detail, the socio-psychological problems and the ramifications of the identity of several ethnic groups in the various countries of the region. The book contains detailed information for specialists and takes on, in general, a rather historic and ethnographic tack. (PB)
*** ANNELI UTE GABANYI, ANTON STERBLING (Edited by): Sozialstruktureller Wandel, soziale Probleme und soziale Sicherung in Südosteuropa. Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft (voir coordonnées supra). Collection Südosteuropa-Studie", n° 65. 2000, 265 pages, 50 DM. ISBN 3-925450-86-6.
Due to the dramatic military and political events arising in the region, the social problems caused by the economic transformation of the countries of South Eastern Europe are often neglected, or even ignored. During an academic conference held in Tutzing (Bavaria) in March 2000, several researchers - especially sociological and economists - have tackled this dimension less known and explored. This publication regroups the contributions from this conference. Special attention is granted to Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Among the themes broached are the socio-structural and social policy changes in the countries of the region. (PB)
*** AMINE AIT-CHAALAL: L'Algérie, les Etats-Unis et la France: des discours à l'action. Publisud (voir coordonnées supra). Collection "L'avenir de la politique". 2000, 315 pages. ISBN 2-86600-706-9.
Doctor in political sciences at the Catholic University of Leuven, Amine Ait-Chaalal examines, in this work, in the foreign policy of post-war Algeria, a policy marked by non-alignment, decolonisation and, more recently, the dramatic events that affect this country. Amine Ait-Chaalal bases himself not only on the abundant literature - the bibliography at the end of the work is exhaustive - but also a series of interviews with political leaders. An enlightening book. (DDF)
*** HAMID AÏT AMARA, JEAN GALLOT, BENAMAR MEDIENE, PAUL SINDIC: Algérie, débats pour une issue. Publisud (see details above). 2000, 143 pages. ISBN 2-86600-679-8.
This work presents the summary of the Assizes that gathered in Marseilles, in November 1998, more than 170 participants French and Algerian, academics as well as cultural figures passing by researchers from all areas, company managers, trade union militants, and many more. Aim: mark out a new path between the planned economy and its derivates, on the one hand, and globalisation, on the other. The participants see, in this third path, the beginnings of a solution to the Algerian crisis. They also underline the need to improve the Franco-Algerian relations and, more generally, the links between Algeria and Europe in the framework of a Euro-Mediterranean policy to be revisited. (DDF)
*** Look Japan. May 2001, Tokyo. The Japanese are concerned with the future of the manufacturing sector which, though in decline, especially in this country of high technology, will continue to play a role in the capital of the future… It remains for us to take their word for it.
*** EUROPEAN COMISSION- DG Environment: - Integrated product policy (IPP). A statement by the European Consultative Forum on the Environment and Sustainable Development. Distributed by the sales network of the Office for the official publications of the European Communities (L-2985, Luxembourg). 2001, 15 pages ISBN 92-894-0814-6.
Integrated product policy is one of the instruments for integrating the environment into all the Union policies in order to ensure sustainable development, written into the Amsterdam Treaty. This publication presents the results of a study lead by as group of experts. Among the conclusions of this Forum: with this policy and by analysing its efforts on an entire product life cycle, the Commission hopes to avoid the negative environmental effects during production and consumption.
*** Enseignement des langues. Bibliographie Thématique. Unité européenne Eurydice (15 rue d'Arlon, B-1050 Bruxelles. Tel: (32-2) 2383011 - Fax: 2306562 - E-mail: info@eurydice.org - Internet: http: //http://www.eurydice.org ). April 2001, 38 pages ISBN 2-87116-321-9.
Selection of publications on the teaching of foreign languages - actions, organisations, aims, methods and training tools, cultural approaches, teacher training, vocational training, minority languages…. -, the publication accompanies that study "The teaching of foreign languages in a school environment in Europe" (February 2001) in the framework of the European Year for Languages.
*** Revue du Marché commun et de l'Union européenne. Editions Techniques et économiques (3 rue Soufflot, F-75005 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 55426130 - Fax: 55426139 - E-mail: editecom@starnet.fr). April 2001, N° 447, 287 pages. Subscription: 1,260 FF, 192.09 Euro.
Normally centred on the ground to ground problems, this review presents, in this issue, the thoughts of an eminent lawyer, Prof. Jean Touscoz, on… the debate relating to the future of Europe after Nice. It also broaches a wide variety of legal problems, which are caused by the development of European law, the implications of the Nice declaration of the specificity of sport, competition between the car distributors in Europe, the bringing into the Community sphere of "Brussels II", the new regulations on the transport sector, clinical trials in the Union, the conflict between industrial policies and competition in Portugal…
*** Kangaroo Group Newsletter. The Kangaroo Group (c/o Parlement européen, 60 rue Wiertz, EAS 260, B-1047 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2844666 - Fax: 2840784 - E-mail: info@kangaroogroupagesorg). 2001, N° 27.
With an editorial on competition law and subsidiarity in the light of the need to preserve local governance, we find in this issue articles on the patent, copyright and the implications they may have for industry and consumers, etc.
*** Opinion jeunesse. Forum européen de la jeunesse (120 rue Joseph II, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2306490 - Fax: 2302123 - E-mail: youthopinion@youthforum.org), 2001, n° 4, 16 pages
The review from the Youth Forum - which proudly welcomes a great number of organisations from everywhere in Europe - draws attention, in the editorial, to the fact that youth is a jewel… threatened.
*** OIM infos. Organisation internationale pour les migrations (CP 71, CH-1211 Geneva 19. Tel: (41-22) 7179111 - Fax: 7986150 - E-mail: info@iom.int - Internet: http: //http://www.iom.int/francais/ oim/Publications/iom_news_fr.htm). March 2001, 20 pages
In summary: refugees from Sierra Leon leaving Guinea, the life of amputees, emergency housing for Indian homeless, Falintil fighters in Timor returning home, the Sudanese exodus towards the United States, the celebration of 50 years of history in the migrations and the positive examples of the media working for peace.
National reviews in short