*** ELIE BARNAVI, PAUL GOOSSENS (Ed.): Les frontières de l'Europe. De Boeck & Larcier (39 rue des Minimes, B-1000 Brussels. Distribution: Acces+, 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 ). 2001, 271 pp, 995 FB, 160 FF. ISBN 2-8041-3938-7.
Any book can be presented but any book dealing with Europe in all its multiple facets is particularly welcomed in our Library section. There are some book, however, where duty gives way to pleasure. The pleasure felt by journalists when their reviews can not only inform, but also try to share their pleasure in reading the book in question - and this volume fits the bill. It is the late but more seasonal than ever fruit of a conference that was organised at the European Parliament in October 1999 by the association promoting the setting up of a European Museum in Brussels. Great actors on the European scene and writers of various backgrounds - historians, political analysis, economists, philosophers, essay writers and journalists too - discussed the mental geography of Europe and its spiritual frontiers that go to make up, in Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt's words, a kind of "iconography of the spirit" of which this book outlines the contours.
In the preface, Antoinette Spaak and the former European Commissioner Karel Van Miert recall that the conference had initially focused on history (the book follows this division) although the European area is as much a mental as a geographical project with its definition being largely dependent on individuals' subjective vision. It is also the result of a thousand years of history which means its frontiers have nothing arbitrary about them. This issue is sumptuously developed by Prof. Elie Barnavi (Tel Aviv University), who begins his comments on thousand years of building Europe with a telling anecdote (which, unfortunately, the current situation in the Middle East has given a bloody outline to): "A historian friend who turned out badly - he became a minister - said something to me one day that has haunted me ever since. We were talking about Shimon Peres' big idea of a new Middle East that he wanted to turn into a local version of the European Union. What Shimon doesn't understand, my friend said to me, is that on both sides of every national frontier in Europe there are the same cathedrals"… In Elie Barnavi's remarkable essay, a three-fold argument is presented. Firstly, that Europe is an objective historical reality - it was born in the Middle Ages as a conscious cultural entity with its midwife being the Roman church. Despite the countless wars that seemed to prove the opposite (or perhaps because of them), Europe emerged from the late Middle Ages in the view of its elite as a homogeneous cultural entity". As a result, "at the beginning of the fourteenth century, plans started to be drawn up for uniting Europe". This magnificent introduction is followed by other grains of gold dust such as the "artistic history of Europe" brilliant described by Jacques Attali (who sees the "first fathers of European Unity (…) as da Vinci and Goethe") and the comparison drawn up by the journalist Jacques Julliard between Montesquieu and… Jean-Marie Le Pen, a comparison that shows that thought can sometimes regress in history… The second part of the historical section focuses on the half century of the European project that we have lived through. It also contains pearls, like the appeal by Jean-Louis Bourlanges not to look for the frontiers of Europe, but the frontiers of the Union, which means adopting its values.
The second part of the book is dedicated to politics, the current frontiers of the Union and, therefore, the burning question of enlargement. It is just as interesting. A book not to be missed!
Michel Theys
*** LYNDELLE D. FAIRLIE, ALEXANDER SERGOUNIN: Are Borders Barriers? EU Enlargement and the Russian Region of Kaliningrad. Ulkopoliittinen instituutti - The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (15 A Mannerheimintie, FIN-00260 Helsinki. Tel: (358-9) 4342070 - Fax: 43420769) and Institut für Europäische Politik (Jean-Monnet-Haus, 22 Bundesallee, D-10717 Berlin. Tel: (49-30) 889134-0 - Fax: 889134-99 - E-mail: info@iep-berlin.de - Internet: http://www.northerndimension.org ). "Programme on the Northern Dimension of the CFSP" series, No. 13. 2001, 190 pp. ISBN 951-769-122-X.
The question of European enlargement and the Russian region of Kaliningrad poses an interesting problem, the origins of which are little known and have their roots in the immediate post Second World War era. In 1945, the Potsdam Peace Conference decided that a part of Eastern Prussia - together with its capital, Königsberg - would be handed over to Russia. In 1946, the Kaliningrad region effectively became part of the ex-Soviet Union sphere of influence and its German-speaking population was forcibly uprooted and replaced by ethnic Russians. The end of the Cold War changed the situation dramatically. Separated from "Great Russia" in an enclave of 15,000 km², the inhabitants of Kaliningrad can now cross through Poland and Lithuania without a visa. When these two countries join the Union, the Kaliningrad region will become a Russian enclave within the enlarged Union. As soon as the two new Member States become part of the Convention of Schengen, the inhabitants of Kaliningrad will need visas when leaving their area, even if it is only to go back to "Great Russia". This situation will produce a rather ambiguous effect at the border, with the Union possibly having to revise its two-pronged policy based on the distinction between internal and external security.
Different aspects of this issue are examined in this book from both "European" and Russian points of view. If awareness about this "accidental by-product" of enlargement is still rather vague in Brussels, Russian consciousness with regard to the problem is entirely different. Russia would be in favour of a special agreement enabling the Kaliningrad region to benefit from greater integration within a European legal and economic space. The authors are optimistic about the possibility of Russia and the Union being capable of seizing the opportunities offered by this kind of regional phenomenon, with the Kaliningrad border region becoming a "contact zone", a bridge promoting co-operation rather than new divisions on the continent.
(CB)
*** FRANK-DIETER GRIMM (Ed): Tourismus und touristisches Potential in Südosteuropa. Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft (49 Widenmayerstr., D-80538 Munich. Tel: (49-089) 212154-0 - Fax: 2289469 - E-mail: suedosteuropa-gesellschaft@t-online). Series "Südosteuropa-Studie", No. 66. 2000, 221 pp, 50 DM. ISBN 3-925450-87-4.
This study of Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft provides a balance sheet of tourism in the South-East of Europe, assessing its weaknesses and potential. The first part examines the problems and what causes them - one of which is the lack of enthusiasm for travelling to the former Eastern-block countries. Case studies of Albania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Slovakia follow. The different writers describe the whole variety of historic and cultural contrasts between these countries, as well as the reasons for which Western European tourists continue to spend their holidays elsewhere - poor tourist infrastructure and marketing are not the only reasons for this situation.
(CB)
*** ANTONIO MARQUINA, HANS GÜNTER BRAUCH (Ed): Political Stability and Energy Cooperation in the Mediterranean. Unisci (Faculty of Political Science and Sociology, Department of International Studies, Complutense University, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid. Tel: (34-91) 3942924 - Fax: 3942655 - Internet: http: //http://www.ucm.es/info/unisci ) and Afes-Press (47 Alte Bergsteige, D-74821 Mosbach. Fax: (49-6261) 15695 - E-mail: afes@afes-press.de mailto: afes@afes-press.de - Internet: http: //http://www.afes-press.de ). "Strademed" series, No. 10. 2000, 319 pp. ISBN 84-930005-5-8 and 3-926979-91-7.
This book was overseen by two academic experts - one of whom heads the research unit on security and co-operation at the University of Complutense in Madrid and the other lectures at the Political and Social Science Faculty at the Free University of Berlin. Both experts provide a detailed review of security and co-operation issues in areas that make up the European Union's backyard. It analyses the question of political stability in North Africa and looks into the question of Islam in this connection, which is of course of some current interest. It also examines the Caucasus region, in particular, Armenia and Azerbaijan and their proactive policies, as well as the role played by the European Union in the region.
(LD)
*** ALESSANDRO BUZZI: L'intervention armée de l'OTAN en République fédérale de Yougoslavie. Editions Pedone (13 rue Soufflot, F-75005 Paris). "Perspectives internationales" series, No. 22. 2001, 277 pp, 20 Euro. ISBN 2-233-00385-3.
NATO air strikes in Yugoslavia between 24 March and 9 June 1999 raised a number of important questions concerning their legitimacy as well as provoking serious unease amongst law experts. In this study, which forms parts of a degree on international law and international organisations at the Université de Paris I, Alessandro Buzzi applies a purely legalistic approach when tackling the issue of military intervention. The conclusions of his analysis - which is very scientific in its presentation - suggest that the regulations are outmoded or at least insufficient and it will be up to the European Community as a whole to bring them up to date.
(CB)
*** VINCENT KRONENBERGER (Ed): The European Union and the International Legal Order: Discord or Harmony? Kluwer Law International (P.O. Box 322, 3300 Dordrecht, The Netherlands. Tel: (31-78) 6546454). 2001, 640 pp, 129 Euro. ISBN 90-6704-129-7.
Twenty-five experts in European and international law have attempted to provide a clear and critical analysis of European Union law and how it "coexists" and relates to the three pillars (Community, CFSP and JHA) and international law. Whereas most writing on European legal issues generally concentrates on the internal sharing of competencies between the Union and Member States when employing international instruments, the issue dealt specifically with in this issue has hitherto been ignored. As Vincent Kronenberger stresses, the question of whether international agreements can be qualified as mixed agreements in Community law is not to be underestimated. Nevertheless, the goal of this book is to go beyond this issue and give the reader an idea of the potential or current conflict between Community and international law. On the question "Discord or Harmony?", the Union often responds, according to the writers, by trying to resolve the conflicts during the first round of negotiations on international conventions. It provides a "typically legalistic" response that is neither conflictual nor completely harmonious.
The different contributions give the general impression that international aspects of the Union are not in line with the strictly didactic dichotomy of the three pillars, given that the real situation is far more complex. The" hybrid" nature of the EU probably explains why its international partners find it so difficult to appreciate and understand how it works. The first section of articles underlines the conflicts between the "pillar of integration" (community) and international economic law, conflicts which often originate in secondary European legislation but which can, according to the writers, stem from the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice. In the second part of the book, the writers analyse the different forms of EU action in relation to international law (particularly in the CFSP and JHA fields). A third selection of articles provides an overview of the way in which law and Community action adapts to or integrates into international law. One of Vincent Kronenberger's regrets is that certain aspects of civil and international law within the EMU have not yet been directly tackled. Perhaps these aspects could provide the title to the sequel of this volume?
(CB)
*** Le droit international et le temps. Editions A. Pedone (13 rue Soufflot, Paris). Collection "Société française pour le droit international". 2001, 282 pp, 225 FF. ISBN 2-233-00382-9.
This book gives the proceedings of the 34th Conference of the French international law society organised at the Sorbonne in May 2000 in collaboration with five Paris universities and focussing on the looming end of the century and the millennium, and research into how law (particularly international law) meshes with time. In an essay drawing on both law and philosophy, Prof. Joe Verhoeven (from Leuven Catholic University) starts by examining the existence of the legal concept of time before analysing how this impacts on the functioning of the international legal system. Prof. Martti Koskenniemi (Helsinki University) then traces the development of doctrine from the end of the 19th century onwards, describing the birth of "modern" international law; while Prof. Serge Sur (Université Paris II) draws up an inventory of the fashionable phenomena that have resulted in some people identifying a very hypothetical "new international law". Other high flying specialists then look at the dialectic of duration and the moment, including how time works in the process of setting up and the destiny of international legal phenomena, illustrating a particular aspect of the role of time in international law. The conclusions discuss how time relates to countries' conventional practices, the use of time by international judges, its role in international penal law and the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, and more.
(MT)
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985, Luxembourg) has published the following documents:
*** RDT Info. European Research Magazine. DG Research (Tel: (32-2) 2959971 - Fax: 2958220 - E-mail: research@cec.eu.int - Internet: europa.eu.int/comm/research). September 2001, No. 31, 39 pp.
Concentrating on genetically modified plants, this issue tries to "break the discussion gridlock" and discern the true relationship between scientism and extremism in order to see whether pure agriculture might be transgenic in the future. The publication also talks about the 100 years of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Southern European Observatory, enlargement (that will extend the Union's research potential), scientific publications on the web, global warming and renewable energy.
*** Echos de l'Europe. The Commission's Representation in Luxembourg (Jean Monnet Building, rue Alcide de Gasperi, L-2920 Luxembourg. Tel: (352-4301) 32925 - Fax: 34433 - Internet: europa.eu.int/Luxembourg). September 2001, No. 4, 12 pp.
Covering burning issues in European current events like the savings tax, the problem of cross-border payments in euro, dioxin in food, studying in another European country, recognition of qualifications, a biography of François Mitterrand and more
*** Le Courrier. Le Magazine de la coopération au développement ACP-UE. DG Development (Fax: (32-2) 2993002). September 2001, No. 188, 88 pp.
Opening with an interview with the Secretary General of the International Organisation of French Speakers, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who calls for a "dialogue between cultures", this issue of the Courrier covers a wealth of interesting subjects: the EU/Cuba dialogue, a new role for civil society in the framework of Cotonou, global warming ("A Kyoto Handbook"), etc. Special attention should be drawn to a very complete section that includes an interview with Dr Lieve Fransen, a high-ranking official at the Commission, who explains the EU's policy in this area.
*** Liaisons sociales Europe. Groupe Liaisons (1 av. Edouard-Belin, F-92500 Rueil-Malmaison. Tel: (33-1) 412999 - Fax: 299670 - Internet: http://www.liaisons-sociales.com ) September/October 2001, No. 39, 12 pp. Subscription: EUR 487.84, 3,200 FF.
Covering a conventional pension-fund for German metallurgists, the European Parliament's launch of a review of the directive on the European Works Council, the legitimacy of social actors, health care faced with free supply of services, the 2002 Employment Guidelines, and more.
*** Initiatives Francophones FDF (127 ch. de Charleroi, B-1060 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5388320 - Fax: 5393650 - E-mail: fdf@fdf.be - Internet: http: //http://www.fdf.be ). September 2001, No. 78, 27 pp.
This bimonthly publication from a Belgian French-speaking political party has a special dossier on the Council of Europe's Framework Agreement on protecting national minorities and considers the role the Agreement might play in the suburbs around Brussels.
Reviews in brief
*** Compte rendu 2000-2001. UNICEF Publications Innocenti, 2000-2001, Florence. Commissioned to outline new action areas for UNICEF focussing on statistics, the Innocenti Research Centre gives an overview in this brochure of the situation facing children throughout the world, in both developed and developing countries, and global problems concerning children's rights. *** Newsletter. Ministère de la culture et de la communication, Paris, No. 87, September 2001. The European Heritage Days were used by the French Ministry as an opportunity to draw up a balance sheet at the time of the digital age and demonstrate the role of associations in protecting heritage. *** European Economic Perspectives. Centre for Economic Policy Research, London, No 29, October 2001. Contending that free trade can be an important ally in fighting poverty in the developing world, the authors discuss how policies can ensure that the impact of free trade on developing regions be as effective as possible… *** Luxembourg development cooperation. Annual Report 2000, Luxembourg, 2001. With "partnership" as the key word in co-operation, the co-operation policy in development and humanitarian actions as implemented by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 2000 is outlined in this publication from the Luxembourg Foreign Ministry.