*** BO STRATH (Ed.): After Full Employment. European Discourses on Work and Flexibility. PIE-Peter Lang (Presses Universitaires Européennes, Brussels. E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.net ). "Work & Society" series, No. 25.2000, 302 pp. ISBN 90-5201-925-8.
The triumph of the Welfare State in the 1950s and 1960s was nothing more than a fortunate quirk of history! With the oil crises of the 1970s we saw the reappearance of mass unemployment, the ranks of which made a direct link between the "vagabonds from pre-industrial society and the misérables of nineteenth century industrial society"… This forms the main observation and basis for this powerful book containing a number of different contributions. It was put together under the auspices of Professor Bo Strath, within the framework of a research project undertaken by the European University Institute in Florence. The study forms part of a long-term historical perspective, with the authors identifying and explaining the shift in the terms of discourse in the 1960s and 1980s from one of full-employment to that of flexibility. Examples that reflect one another are explored but so too are case studies of the different experiences in Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Sweden.
In his introduction, Bo Strath., who teaches contemporary history in Florence, explains amongst other things that this semantic upheaval originated in the advent of a new economic theory in the 1970s that divested the State of its role in favour of the market. The trend has been strengthened since then with the clear break with the slow but continuous rise in agreements on social responsibility that had begun in the nineteenth century. It is clear that the different European countries in their own ways dived into what was nothing short of a total "renegotiation and redefinition of the social contract". Strath explains that in a certain way, the situation is now more serious than it was in 1890 when the question of assuming responsibility for poverty was being mapped out. The problem can now be located in the fact that the working methods we inherited from industrial society have been swept away and we are left floundering, "The political controversy surrounding unemployment, working hours, employment legislation and wages can be seen as a symbolic struggle detached from the more profound issues impacting on society as a whole, such as former ties of solidarity, notions of identity, the ditching of responsibility" etc.
This plunge into an enigma that we are all experiencing today and which none of us completely understand, is all the more disturbing and enriching given that it has led the authors to pose the question of how as Europeans, going beyond our own historical experiences, can reclaim at a European Union level, commonly shared principles which will help us face a new post-full-employment epoch.
Michel Theys
*** DAVID WALTERS: Health and Safety in Small Enterprises. European Strategies for Managing Improvement. PIE-Peter Lang (Presses Universitaires Européennes, Brussels. E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.net ). "Work & Society" series, No 31.2001, 404 p.. ISBN 90-5201-952-5.
In the majority of European countries more than half the working population work in companies that employ a staff of less than 100 and where the accident rate and health problems are of such a level that an investigation into the issue is required. Basing his work on research carried out by different Member States and supported by the "Swedish Joint Programme for Working Life Research in Europe" (Saltsa), the author, a lecturer at South Bank University in London, points out that an effective prevention policy could be easily implemented in companies of this kind but good management practices are in fact better developed in larger firms. A number of studies have indeed looked into the question but none of them, asserts David Walters, have provided information on the subject that is "accessible or coherent", with most assessments on SMEs actually being extremely contradictory. This explains why the author sought to examine as clearly as possible health and safety management problems in SMEs and their possible solutions. With this in mind, the first part of the book is devoted to "vital statistics" in the SME sector. The second part assesses possible alternatives to strategies based on rules and inspections. The important role for workers' participation is also mentioned, given that this constitutes one of the "main principles for prevention" contained in Directive framework 89/391 for employers' organisations. David Walters is, however, critical of how improving health and safety in small and medium-sized companies is seen from the employers' point of view and fails to take into account workers' opinions on the matter and who should themselves really be playing a key role in improving their working conditions. To Walters, it is clear that there is enough evidence to demonstrate that health and safety issues in SMEs are as proportionally as bad as in large companies and that the conventional approach to the problem has been ineffective. "Although there is a lot of uncertainty concerning the way in which problems can be dealt with", the author recognises that the research has enabled him to apply certain guidelines, while emphasising the strengthening of commitment and the ability of small companies to prioritise health and safety management; (CB)
*** ANTOINE MATH: Les retraites par répartition dans le collimateur européen. Observatoire social européen (13 rue Paul-Emile Janson, B-1050 Brussels. Tel. (32-2) 5371971 - fax: 5392808 - E-mail: ose.eur@skynet.be <mailto: ose.eur@skynet.be> - Internet: http://www.ose.be ). "Working Paper" series, No. 24. 2001, 65 pp.
In this "Working Paper", the author, a researcher at the Institut de Recherches économiques et sociales (IRES, France), dissects the report on the impact of the ageing population on the pension systems, which was developed by the Economic Policy Unity for the attention of the ECOFIN Council. Four major themes emerged: shared pension costs are going to rise considerably and consequently debt will increase, a situation that public finance will find "unsustainable". If this premise is accepted, it will be necessary to limit the influence and role of the distribution systems, which will mean reducing future payments by way of encouraging the individual to increase their own contributions, as well as raising the age of retirement. This will also require funded schemes and private and company schemes managed by the private sector. Antoine Math believes that these results and proposals are not all viable and despite appearances, that seem highly logical, are "very dubious indeed". By examining the way in which they were obtained, he demonstrates that instead of the rigorous and "scientific" methods claimed to have been used, the opposite is true and they should be treated with caution. As well as providing a hatchet job on what Math regards as a biased report, he also puts forward a different analysis of pension reform. (MT)
*** Observatoire national de la pauvreté et de l'exclusion sociale. Report 2000. La documentation française (29 quai Voltaire, F-75344 Paris. Tel. (33-1) 40157000). 2001, 125 pp, Euro 10, 65.60 FF. ISBN 2-11-004984-7.
Becoming law in France on 29 July 1998 as part of the struggle against exclusion, l'Observatoire National de la pauvreté et de l'exclusion sociale has produced its first ever report. The report, published in English, constitutes a synthesis of a variety of studies carried out by organisations such as the Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE) and the Ministère de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité. Those responsible for compiling the report have divided it into two parts. The first half deals with the main features of the detailed itinerary. It seeks to describe the social phenomenon that are hidden beneath the figures given for the year 2000. We find out that almost 10% of French households live beneath the poverty threshold, an average that is found in the majority of European Union countries. The analysis, nevertheless, concludes that the current lack of alternative measures for obtaining statistics means that research into practical and effective measures for combating exclusion are handicapped. The reports that follow will be drawn from more comprehensive indicators that will clarify the correlation between statistics and social reality. The second part of the report aims to reveal a number of the specific phenomenon which those responsible for fighting against poverty and exclusion have to face. In this first edition attention was focused on youth poverty and the difficulties deprived sections of society encounter when attempting to find out what they are eligible to. (AD)
*** Revue internationale du Travail. Bureau international du travail (Internet: http://www.ilo.org/revue <http: //http://www.ilo.org/revue> ). No. 2000/4.
This quarterly publication is always very interesting and this issue contains articles on family and social responsibilities (masculine and feminine behavioural norms and their economic incidence), full employment in industrialised countries, current theories regarding male and female segregation, atypical work in the European Union, the origins of unemployment in Europe etc.
*** Initiatives nationales en faveur de l'éducation et de la formation tout au long de la vie en Europe. Cedefop (EUROPE 123, P. O. Box 22427, GR-57001 Salonica. Tel: (30-31) 490111 - E-mail: info@cedefop.eu.int - Internet: http://www.trainingvillage.gr ) and Eurydice (Eurydice, 15 rue d'Arlon, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2306562 - E-mail: info@eurydice.org - Internet: http://www.eurydice.org ). 2001, 167 pages. ISBN 2-87116-323-5.
This publication, produced by the European Centre for Development and Vocational Training, and Eurydice, the European Education Network in Europe, provides us with the National Actions to implement Lifelong Learning in Europe. It aims to shed light on all the different lifelong education and training initiatives implemented throughout Europe. The study on which this publication is based, followed the consultation process carried out by the Commission between January and July 2001, which forms the basis of the action plan it will be presenting in May 2002. After a preliminary enquiry, the Commission sought to cover the six key themes in the Memorandum adopted in October, as well as working on the basis of an integrated approach with Eurydice and CEDEFOP. The enquiry shows the significant differences that exist between the initiatives implemented in the different national systems and the different goals they set themselves. Emphasis is placed on the effective mastering of new basic competencies and the definition of what standards should be achieved. Education and training systems are currently being modernised and reorganised. This analysis takes into account the "stirrings" linked to the desire to adapt the systems to what society requires in the here and now. The applied approach seeks to break down the barriers between education and training and pinpoint new areas and experiences that deserve further analysis.
(GC)
*** Les financements culturels européens. La documentation française (29 quai Voltaire, F-F-75344 Paris cedex 07. Tel: (33-1) 40157000 - Fax: 40157230 - Internet: http: //http://www.ladocfrancaise.gouv.fr ). 2001, 404 pp, Euro 30, 196.79 FF. ISBN 2-11-004743-7.
Although it has never constituted the main priority of European construction, culture has, nonetheless, become a major factor in the actions being developed in the audiovisual and cinematic fields through programmes like the "Culture 2000", "Raphael", "Ariane" and "Kaleidoscope" projects. The number of funding possibilities for cultural projects at a European level is therefore quite promising. Measures for funding goes beyond the specifically cultural programmes developed by the Community, and includes a number of mechanisms that support projects of this kind even if this is not their aim or main priority. Article 151 of the Treaty of Amsterdam stipulates that the action of the Community should take into account cultural aspects as well as its other political ends and respect and promote cultural diversity. A greater number of Community activities can now include a cultural dimension or have an impact in the cultural domain, thus expanding the range of instruments that can be applied: structural policies, education and training, external relations etc. This practical guide is now in its third edition and was produced to help those operating in the cultural arena to identify instruments that would be of use to them. It provides succinct, practical and comprehensive information on all Community programmes that include a cultural dimension in their projects.
(LD)
*** MAURICE BLIN: L'Europe et la culture. Délégation pour l'Union européenne du Sénat français (Paris). "Les Rapports du Sénat" series, No. 213. 2001, 94 pages, Euro 381, 25 FF. ISBN 2-11-110288-1.
"If it had to be done again, I would begin with culture"…And thus begins the report by Senator Blin, who at once explains that although this sentence had never been articulated, it did in fact come from Jean Monnet. The author herself immediately adds that she is expressing something that is in fact already reality, "Europe defines itself less by its geography than by the cultural community which unites its different people". Hence, even though it was a long time before the European Community was given a cultural remit, which indeed did not come about at all unreservedly, it has now become a key factor in European construction, and currently accounts for more than 0.5% of the Community budget. A certain polemic has now arisen as to whether European level incentives and legislative provisions are effective in countering a perceived threat by cultural domination by the Americans. The author expresses some doubt on this matter in the report but calls for a more culturally ambitious European policy if the continent is to assert itself politically. A useful insight into the issue from France.
(LD)
*** EUROPEAN COMMISSION (The Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985, Luxembourg) has published the following documents:
*** Cordis Focus. DG Enterprise (Directorate Innovation/SME, L-2920 Luxembourg. Fax: (352-4301) 32084 - E-mail: innovation@cec.eu.int - Internet: http://www.cordis.lu/news/fr ). November 2001, No. 184, 27 pages.
In this issue: interviews with both Commissioner Busquin on the, "importance of increasing the participation of women in the sciences" and Nicole Dewandre, Head of the Women and Sciences Unit at DG Research. The interviews follow a demonstration on "Humanity and Research", articles on the amendments the Commission introduced to the proposal on the 6th Research and Development Framework Programme in order to clarify "the future scientific and technological needs of the Union" and the results of the symposium on funding for SMEs and Science Week.
*** Cordis focus. European Innovation Scoreboard 2001. DG Enterprise (see address attached). September 2001, No. 18, 42 pages.
This supplement to Cordis Focus introduces the "innovation scoreboard", set up at the request of the European Council of Lisbon. This gave the Union two objectives: strengthen the social fabric of society whilst becoming the most competitive knowledge-based and dynamic economy in the world within the next ten years. This "scoreboard" analyses statistical data from seventeen indicators in four different fields: human resources, knowledge creation, transmission and implementation of knowledge, funding, production and innovation markets. It sets out the results and trends, strengths and weaknesses of Member States and examines innovation convergence in Europe. Good news! European Union front runners also lead their Japanese and American rivals in a number of innovation indicators.
*** Liaisons sociales Europe. Groupe Liaisons (1 av. Edouard-Belin, F-92500 Rueil-Malmaison, RCS Nanterre. Tel: (33-1) 41299623 - Fax: 41299670 - Internet: http://www.liaisons-sociales.com ). 2 au 14 November 2001, No. 42. 11 pages. Subscription: Euro 487.84, 3,200 FF.
This issue provides an analysis of the Draft Directive on Temporary Employment the Commission is due to adopt at the end of the year. This directive aims to "resolve the root of the problem - the failure of inter-professional negotiations" and outline the notion of the "worker of equal value" in order to apply the principle of non-discrimination. Other subjects include: the integration of social standards in international trade, attempts to elaborate a joint work programme within a framework of European social dialogue and a Commission initiative in the field of restructuring and social benefits for seconded staff.
*** Employers' Report. Patronat Català Pro Europa. (50 C/ del Bruc, 2n - 08010 Barcelona. Tel: (34-93) 5672626 - fax: 5672628 - E-mail: pcpe@correu.gencat.es). July 2001, 116 pages.
This half-yearly publication by Catalan employers provides a detailed picture of the "state of the Union" and pays particular attention to the programmes carried out by each Presidency - the current Belgian Presidency and its Spanish predecessor. Political, financial and institutional aspects are discussed, as well as the state of play in EMU, external relations, negotiations with candidate countries, the Treaty of Nice ratification process, the Spanish government's memorandum on regional policy and enlargement etc.
National magazines in brief
*** Courrier économique et financier. KBC, No. 9, 2001, Brussels. To summarise: the Belgian economic budget of 2002, an itinerary of candidate countries' preparatory measures for accession, consumer rights when purchasing a faulty product etc. *** Europe Infos. Monthly bulletin of the Commission of the Bishops' Conference of the European Community and the Catholic European Study and Information Centre. October 2001, No. 31, Antwerp. To summarise: "Real Justice", editorial on the follow-up to the "American tragedy", cultural co-operation as interpreted by the European Parliament, action carried out by the European Mediator, climate change, "European Values", "Succeeding in Enlargement", "changing education" in order to deal with the political crisis etc. *** Themes plus Talent. Strategic plan 2002-2005. Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. The Hague, September 2001. Promoting quality and innovation in academic research and encouraging the transfer of knowledge through cumulated research - these represent the goals of the Dutch Scientific Research Organisation. In this issue it identifies certain aspects of its objectives that it wishes to emphasise during the period from 2002 to 2005.