*** JEAN-MARC FERRY: La question de l'Etat européen. Editions Gallimard (Paris). "NRF Essais" Series. 2000, 322 pp, Euro 19.66, 129 FF. ISBN 2-07-073066-2.
Will the era of the "Fathers of Europe" and the builders of Europe who more or less followed in their footsteps, be succeeded by that of the "Thinkers"? Such an idea would in fact be insulting to those who have contributed intellectually to the peaceful construction of Europe over the last fifty years. This book by Jean-Marc Ferry is not only part of a tradition in European literature that is becoming more and more prolific but a real turning point within it. The French author of this flamboyant essay, who teaches political science and philosophy at the Université libre de Bruxelles, succeeds in breaking the chains that only too often impair the European ability to reflect or confine it, at least, to the too narrow realm of the knowing technocrat or collective militant appeal. Nothing of the kind with Ferry, whose examination of European policy on the disadvantaged is not restricted to any preconceived ideas or dogma. It allows for an unhindered, magnificently erudite and structured examination of Europe - Europe on the world stage - from the highest summits.
As a philosopher, Ferry's premise is that European construction is no longer "the routine of the technician", but rather, "a clearly political project". However, "erecting a political European edifice is no longer stimulating" and "is even less successful in winning people's hearts". Why is this so? Because the "cause of peace" appears to have given way to that of the "Great Market" and where the European Acquis are currently drawn up in "a landscape in which the coldness reveals nothing but an additional low-water mark of a bureaucratic de-politicisation of the State". Ferry is of the opinion that as opposed to the French Revolution, this occurs because "the new kind of integration being implemented does not happen on its own (…) by means of a clear political expression"; by piecemeal methods, the unification process seems apolitical, thus "tarnishing the idealistic aura of its political currency - the constitution of a State of United Citizens ". And yet, by way of decisions, regulations, directives and "a chain of treaties", the "very real constitution of the Union" is taking place, as well as the firm institutional practicalities of the "new political constellation of nation States": "has (…) to be seen as the logical beginnings of the Global State". The legal basis for this new form of state "composed of both the rights of the individual and those of the States themselves, according to (…) the double normative reference of civil rights (or the fundamental rights of individuals) and citizens' rights (or the fundamental rights of citizens), while public law appears as a synthesis of national and international law". They contain so many different characteristics that they do not belong to one country alone. Ferry believes that they are responsible for making the federalist dream consisting of a "supranational duplication of the nation state set-up" outmoded.
Jean-Marc Ferry believes that the federalist approach "is, in the last instance almost as dishonest and illusory as nationalist twitching and is centred upon the conviction that nothing political can occur beyond the remit of the countries themselves". Ferry considers that "nationalists and defenders of the nation state (…) conceal the warning signs from enthusiasts who would too hastily have done with the nation state". Obstacles and opposition from "resistance forces" who exude national identities and the national sovereignty should therefore be taken seriously, "just like the many objections and arguments positively help to inform us about the European question". Jean-Marc Ferry asserts that through Europe we see revealed the "pertinence of a post-national identity" and the forces that object to this beating a retreat. The increase in "para-political universalities: " humanitarian; civil rights; ecology; citizens' movements and "ethical aspirations", which "begin to demolish traditional international law and its sacrosanct principle, the sovereignty of nation states", means that the "post-national constellation" is now taking shape and Europe should use it as a guide. It will do, if it decides to stay close to the heights of the path that Ferry has traced throughout the pages of this remarkably perspicacious book.
Michel Theys
*** Revue politique et parlementaire (21 rue de La Baume, F-75008 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 53837045 - Fax: 53830170). 2001, No. 1012, 127 pp, 78 FF. Subscription: 400 FF (France), 480 FF (abroad). ISBN 2-85702-129-1.
Is the state setup going to find itself marginalised by that of the transnational? Are we experiencing the end of the nation state? These are some of the questions that Revue politique et parlementaire tackles in this edition. In effect, it brings together an array of French international relations experts - lawyers and economists - crossing swords in the battle of ideas and illustrating the divisions, as speculated upon in the book by Jean-Marc Ferry mentioned above, between enlightened defenders of the nation state and transnational visionaries. Professor Bertrand Badie (Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris) provides the lightening conductor for these exchanges of ideas. He is resolutely in the camp of the latter and observes from the outset that the notion of sovereignty is "atrociously polysemic". Professor Badie asserts that it is necessary to first distinguish sovereignty as, "a demand such as that for emancipation" in relation to the existing power. It is much later that we move from, "the right to sovereignty, to the right of sovereignty" and the claim to, "build a power that is not just political power but also power in its ultimate sense". He considers that the problem rests on the following question: "from a sociological and political scientific point of view, can there be an ultimate exercising of power, namely, that as envisaged by no other power hitherto? Can even the power at the White House (…) perhaps be considered as that of ultimate power, as that of a power never having been preceded by any other?" Questions such as these are more pertinent than ever in the current climate. There has always been the idea that the emergence of the nation state occurred in the eighteenth century along with that of popular sovereignty. Badie is convinced that sovereignty has never known a golden age and that the problem, since then, is not so much one of knowing if sovereignty has been abolished but rather if, " this sovereignty has always been illusory, a fact that is still the case today". To put it bluntly, Badie asks whether, "this fiction of sovereignty is still useful to have or strive for?" He believes that it is not, his hypothesis being that, "this fiction of a useful or useless state is obsolete and that beyond this uselessness are a whole series of problems linked to the confusion this concept provokes in contemporary international relations". This viewpoint is of course not shared by everybody. The debate that develops in the following pages clearly and usefully demonstrates the origins and causes of the intellectual tension and complexities that this question incites. Beyond the clash of academic opinion, French political decision makers are also given their say on questions such as the sharing of sovereignty that occurs within the European Union.
(MT)
*** Documents. Revue des questions allemandes. Bureau international de liaison et de documentation (50 rue de Laborde, F-75008 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 43879042 - Fax: 42935094 - E-mail: bild.documents@ wanadoo.fr). 2001, No 3, 128 pp, 60 FF (France), 65 FF (abroad). Subscription: 230 FF (France), 250 FF (abroad).
This publication headed by Joseph Rovan includes a contribution by Professor Hartmut Kaelble in this issue (University of Humboldt in Berlin), who envisages "three European options for today's Germany". The first of is of a Germany "disaffected with Europe" viewing it as a, "tiresome burden, an expensive technocracy devoid of passion, concerning farmers, bankers, large international companies and experts". According to Kaelble, this kind of Germany already exists (he shows how German journalists, "avoid Brussels which they consider as a difficult stage"). This attitude results from the emergence of a "new German identity" and an attachment to the "democratic acquis" considered specific to the country. These feelings can explain the position of supporters of the second option, who seek to build, at an institutional level, a "German Europe". An option that the author believes unrealistic as the Union, "has never followed and will never follow a single national model", with all Europeans having to identify with it. The third option is that of a "European Germany", "Germany responsible for Europe, active and interested in Europe, identifying with Europe, aware of the differences of all the different Member States". Harmut Kaelble sets out to prove that this option is the most likely. He concludes that his country is, "not the laboratory of the Europe of the future", but that it will remain important for Europe, "chiefly through the Franco-German relationship".
There are also a number of other interesting observations on, "current developments in the structuring of European public debate". Ulrike Guérot, Head of European Affairs at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik in Berlin, is happy that Europe is no longer pursued en catimini and concludes that, "its citizens are more European than their governments and are not afraid of a politicisation or a constitutionalisation of Europe! A constituency of European citizens already exists". This remains to be seen. Let's hope Member States bear this in mind at Laeken!
(MT)
*** HUBERT HAENEL: Une constitution européenne ? Délégation pour l'Union européenne du Sénat français (Internet: http://www.senat.fr/europe/debat-avenir.html ). Collection "Les Rapports du Sénat", No. 363. 2001, 35 pp, Euro 3.81, 25 FF. ISBN 2-11-110407-8.
This information report tackles the idea of a European Union Constitution and the support that exist for the idea. Using the Treaty of Nice as a starting point and the "declaration on the future of the Union" which completes it, Senator Haenel - who was joined by his colleagues, - celebrates the initiative in which national Parliaments, politicians, economists and academics, as well as representatives from civil society participate in the ensuring debate. The French Delegation believes that the four main elements emanating from Nice could "quite naturally" open the way up to an examination of a possible "Union Constitution". The author of the report, however, believes that the current stage of developments is, "far from having reached the necessary clarity", and this is even without taking on board the clear-cut differences regarding a possible "constitutional" initiative. The book, therefore, seeks to provide some clarification on the matter. It outlines some of the possible projects and weighs up the advantages and downsides to the "constitutional" approach and examines the details… applying Montesquieu's dictum, "only trembling hands seek to approach fundamental laws"…
(GC)
*** DANIEL HOEFFEL: Une deuxième Chambre européenne. Délégation pour l'Union européenne du Sénat français (voir coordonnées supra). Collection "Les Rapports du Sénat", No. 381. 2001, 35 pp, Euro 3.81, 25 FF. ISBN 2-11-110405-1.
At the very moment the European Union is experiencing one of its most significant transformations in its history, enlargement, a number of Heads of Member States and Candidate countries - Tony Blair, Gerhard Schröder and Vaclav Havel - have suggested creating a second European Chamber. This would aim to protect democracy in the Union and fully involve the different countries in the European project. In this report, the Senate of the French Delegation suggests, at the request of its rapporteur Daniel Hoeffel, that a second Chamber should consist of politicians from national parliaments - with each Member State represented by the same number of delegates. The second chamber could play an essential role in the application of the principle of subsidiarity and have a say in assessing European defence matters, joint foreign policy and legal and domestic affairs. It will, therefore, intervene in areas still dominated by national governments, areas in which the European Parliament cannot fully play a regulatory role. Hoeffel also points out that the increased number of interventions by the Community in a variety of sectors and the changes resulting from enlargement have led Member States, particularly those he considers as "small" or "medium" to pay greater attention to the importance of countries in the institutional triangle. Daniel Hoeffel concludes that for many reasons, a Federation of States would require two chambers: a citizens' chamber and the other for the different countries…
(GC)
*** LIEVEN DE WINTER, HURI TÛRSAN: La Présidence belge 2001. Notre Europe (44 rue Notre-Dame des Victoires, F-75002 Paris - Tel: (33-1) 53009440 - fax: 53009444 - E-mail: notreeurope@notre-europe.asso.fr - Internet: http: //http://www.notre-europe.asso.fr ). "Etude et Recherches" series, No. 13. 2001, 50 pp.
In this study, published by the Group of which Jacques Delors is President, two Belgian academics and European experts (both graduates from the European University Institute of Florence), provide an interpretation of the relationship between the Belgian Presidency's priorities and their integration into the social structures and national political policy. It also assesses the role of the actors, culture and traditions in Belgium and how this affects its European policy. The institutional complexity of the Belgian political system is described, as well as the many levels of its European decision-making process and the different Belgian politicians. A useful study of a country which is, as the former President of the Commission described in his forward, "a small country accustomed to important office" and which is confident that at Laeken "the European project will become clear".
(MT)
*** CHRISTOPHE DEGRYSE: L'Union européenne, un chantier permanent. Editions De Boeck (diffusion: Accès+, 4 Fond Jean-Pâques, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve. Tel: (32-10) 482500 - fax: 482519 - E-mail: acces+cde@deboeck.be - Internet: http: //http://www.deboeck.be ). Collection "Les cahiers du petit Ligueur". 2001, 32 pp, 320 FB. ISBN 2-8041-3749-X.
Written by a journalist and expert in the field of European and social affairs, this examination (published in collaboration with the Ligue des familles de Belgique) is a very useful and effective tool for teaching students about Europe. Indispensable for parents and teachers alike, and not only Belgians.
(MT)
*** Regions & Communities of Europe. Newsletter from the Committee of the Regions. COR (92-102 rue Montoyer, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2822155 - fax: 2822155 - Internet: http://www.cor.eu.int ). September 2001, No. 34, 8 p..
Available in eleven European Union languages, this newsletter focuses on institutional co-operation and the shared desire to contribute to shaping a stronger Union. One of the strong political messages in this regard is the fact that the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions will continue to organise their plenary sessions at the same time and place. The strengthening of relations with the Commission will see, in accordance with the agreement protocol which has just been signed, the COR further develop their strategy documents that will help the Parliament before the decision-making process begins.
*** Revue internationale du travail. Bureau international du travail (BIT, CH-1211 Genève 22, Switzerland. Tel: (41-22) 7997828 / 6510 / 7903 - Fax: 7996938 / 6117 / 8685 - E-mail: revue@ilo.org et pubvente@ilo.org). 2001, No. 1, 150 pp. Subscription: Euro 60.
To summarise: "equality and the strengthening of empowerment action for decent jobs", "involving, women and everyone else", reform of the pensions systems in Central and Eastern Europe ("the stakes and new trends"), "economic lay-offs, company flexibility and workers' security: the lessons of a European comparison", "support for job creation and reducing employers' national insurance contributions: the balance sheet of a variety of empirical assessment projects"…
*** Politica exterior. Estudios de politica exterior (6 Padilla, 28006 Madrid. Tel: (34-91) 4312628 - fax: 5777252 - E-mail: revista@politicaexterior.com - internet: http: //http://www.politicaexterior.com ). septembre/octobre 2001, No. 83, 200 pp, Euro 9, 1,500 pta.
From the Conference of Genoa to the Kyoto Protocol, an unexpected and aggressive social response to the new social disorder produced by globalisation is upsetting the Western world and the political classes do not appear to have found the appropriate channel for resolving these problems or provide any adequate answers. This is the main theme tackled in this prestigious Spanish journal. Other subjects include: "Argentina, Brazil, Spain", European defence, "The Russian Exception", Bush and Climate Change. The journal also contains a contribution by the Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister, Josep Piqué, entitled, "Towards a New Spanish Diplomacy".
*** Opinion jeunesse. Forum européen de la jeunesse (rue Joseph II, B-1000 Brussels). August/September 2001, No. 6, 16 pp.
Youth must take part in the process! Which process? The one laying down the new action plans on youth policy in southern European countries. This was the message sent out by a youth policy forum held in Sofia, Bulgaria in October. Other themes tackled: European budgetary cuts in 2002, Macedonia in search of optimism…
*** Liaisons sociales Europe (1 av. Edouard-Belin, F-92500 Rueil-Malmaison, RCS Nanterre. Tel: (33-1) 41299623 - Fax: 29 96 70 - Internet: http://www.liaisons-sociales.com ). July/September 2001, No. 37, 12 pp. Subscription: 3,200 FF.
This edition focuses on social responsibility which "entered the Community scene" following the publication of the Commission "White Paper" sketching out the outlines of the business sector. Other subjects dealt with: the principle of the freedom to offer private health-care services in hospitals, a feature on "a year of social security in Europe", creating the European airbus, the creation of an organisation of European social mediators…
Reviews in brief
*** Courrier économique et financier. Monthly publication of KBC, bans ans insurance provider. Brussels, August-September 2001. To summarise, the passage to the Euro currency and the replacing of coins and notes constitutes a major operation producing problems of adapting both on a social and psychological level. Strategic relations developed between the American Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank are also examined. *** Enjeux économiques, culturels et sociaux. Supplement to the "Politique et parlementaire" publication. Summer 2001, Paris. Includes an article by Commissioner Erkki Liikanen on "EUROPE 2002: an information society for all" and a contribution by the French Secretary of State for Industry and the New Economy ("the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end!").