*** JEAN-FRANCOIS DREVET: L'élargissement de l'Union européenne, jusqu'où ? L'Harmattan (5-7 rue de l'Ecole-Polytechnique, F-75005 Paris). 2001, 353 p.. ISBN 2-7475-1586-9.
"This enlargement is nothing like those of the past. It poses problems of a kind and on a scale for which the European Union's short history has no point of reference"…Jacques Delors had intimate knowledge of Europe and a vision that was so far reaching that the facts almost always give credence to his views. This book is valuable in that it methodologically clarifies the numerous reasons that justify the analysis of the former President of the European Commission. It also sheds light on all the corresponding factors involved in enlargement, thus Eneko Landaburu explains in his preface that this represents, "a challenge that knows no precedent" and will dominate European affairs over the next decades.
An Ecole normale supérieure graduate in geography, Jean-François Drevet is currently working at the Regional Policy and Cohesion Directorate General at the European Commission. In this scintillating book, he provides answers or the keys to unlocking these answers, to a whole range of fundamental questions that are only too often swept under the carpet. These issues form part of the intellectual architecture of many decision-makers, who often, nonetheless, prefer to skirt over them or bury their heads in the sand,as a tactical device. Will the Union be up to mastering the integration of twenty counties in less than twenty years, a development that could continue for an unlimited period and involve areas that know no demarcation. Or perhaps in an effort to be clearer, "can a limit be set to the construction first begun in 1957 ?" An American President posed the following question a century ago concerning the massive immigration to the USA, "would it have a strong enough stomach to deal with this unprecedented influx?". A number of other issues could be added to these existential questions that are of immediate concern to the protagonists responsible for this major historical event unfurling under our very eyes. Will current and future candidate countries be capable of integrating into a system that requires the common exercising of sovereignty in the essential competencies of economic flexibility, something that the EU has been striving towards over the last two decades of strengthened competition? And will the administrative apparatus of these countries be up to the sophisticated rules demanded of the single market? Will these countries be able to achieve in ten years what took current Member States thirty? And how should the different tier Europe, with its different levels of participation and disagreements on the aims of the Union react to the newcomers? And in the long run, what will be the impact of new Member States in Europe of trade or Europe the political entity? Another essential question deals with the nucleus of the founding countries and whether they will still be able to play a role in the further construction of the Community.
It is to these very important issues, as well as many others, that the author attempts to respond. His answers are never superficial and follow a well-crafted line of reasoning, based on a clear historical knowledge of the realities of European construction. In the first part of the book he draws up a balance sheet that leaves us with plenty of things to reflect upon and which is done in an independent way, touching on the enlargement of the past. He then provides us with a panoramic view of the current candidate countries in negotiations, examining their collective and individual motivation, as well as their integration perspectives. Drevet then moves on, in the same penetrating style, to analyse Union methods in these negotiations. He then provides us with an insight into the next wave of candidate countries and the Union's subsequent response. An illuminating book! Michel Theys
*** PAUL TAGGART, ALEKS SZCZERBIAK: Parties, Positions and Europe: Euroscepticism in the EU Candidate States of Central and Eastern Europe. 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). "Working Papers in Contemporary European Studies" series, No. 46. 2001, 34 pp, £ 6.
This "working paper" provides a comparative study of the Eurosceptisism of certain political parties in Central European candidate countries, before drawing a number of lessons. The phenomenon is explored at a mainly local level, in terms of electoral influence and a rejection of Europe. This appraisal, according to the authors, is the most effective way of understanding Eurosceptisism and the areas where the phenomenon is strongest. It reveals that each case of Eurosceptisism is specific to the history of the post-Communist regime in question, which calls, therefore, for a number of specific and individual responses to the issue. (LD)
*** Naar een Europabrede Unie. Rapporten aan de Regering. Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid (2-4 Plein 1813, Postbus 20004, 2500 EA 's-Gravenhage. Tél.: (31-070) 3564600 - fax: 3564685 - E-mail: info@wrr.nl - Internet: http: //http://www.wrr.nl ). 2001, 415 p.. ISBN 90-12-09322-8.
The WRR is a Dutch government advisory body that has analysed the implications of enlargement of the European Union with a further ten Central and Eastern European countries. WRR discussions, for which Professor Scheltema is the President, focus on the adoption by these countries of the Community acquis. The WRR makes a distinction between the fundamental, non-negotiable acquis and the other acquis that remain, which can be revised depending on the candidate country in question. The WRR regards this as a way of avoiding any temptation to slow down the enlargement process. (FV)
*** MILADA ANNA VACHUDOVA: The European Defense and Security Policy and EU Enlargement to Eastern Europe. The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (Institut universitaire européen, 9 via dei Roccettini, I-50016 San Domenico di Fiesole, Italy. Fax: (39-055) 4685770 - E-mail: forinfo@iue.it). "The Policy Paper Series", No. 01/1. 2001, 20 pp.
This working group report on European Union enlargement, presided over by former Director General of External Relations at the European Commission Horst Gunther Krenzler examines the link between ESDP and enlargement. It points out that, "credible candidates …attempt to anticipate their future status by applying EU foreign and security policy, as well as ESDP policy in particular. The author indicates that the links between ESDP capacity and European Union enlargement is determined by geography and that the means available to European Security and Defence Policy is partly determine by the areas where the EU borders are situated. According to Milada Anna Vachudova, the key question is where the EU is going to finish up and how it is going to begin in its "backyard", given that if a defence policy is to be clear, "there has to be a general consensus on the issues that it could be called on to resolve". This would be in effect, "the role of those countries that make up the Member States, those countries that are the closest neighbours to the EU and those countries that consider themselves as credible future Members of the EU". To conclude, Ms Vachudova points out that current enlargement does not present any problems to ESDP but that difficulties could arise out of the fact that the budgets and resources of candidate countries are still more limited than those of Member States. (MG)
*** ADAM LAZOWSK: Adaptation of the Polish legal system to European Union law: selected aspects, Working Papers in Contemporary European Studies, University of Sussex at Brighton. Sussex European Institute, SEI Working Paper No. 45. (University of Sussex, Arts A Building - Falmer - Brighton BN1 9SH - Tel.: (49) 1273 678578 - Fax: 678 571 - E-mail: sei@sussex.ac.uk). May 2001. 31pp.
The Sussex European Institute has made quite a name for itself in publishing the research results of its students and other researchers on contemporary European affairs. Its reason for doing so, is to develop research programmes that goes to the very heart of defining what exactly constitutes Europe. In covering such a range of subjects it subsequently contributes to providing a more comprehensive understanding of the continent. Dr. Lazowsk, the author, Ph.D. at the University of Warsaw and tutor at the English Studies and European Law Centre, is also active in the Civic Education Project that is involved in the issues surrounding the harmonisation of Polish law with that of Community law, which he describes as an, "endless process". This book, therefore, deals with the process of adapting the Polish legal system to the demands laid down by the Community acquis. It covers two aspects: theory and practice, examining both within the perspective of the goals they seek to achieve. In the second part Mr Lazowsk covers the practical aspects of the process, analyses of the organisation of the activities involved in the adaptation process, its impact on State structures and the crucial issue of strengthening the newly adapted legislation. An analysis is also carried out on the legal activities of the Polish law courts in relation to that of European law. (LD)
*** ALEKS SZCZERBIAK: Europe as a re-aligning issue in polish politics ? Evidence from the October 2000 presidential election. Sussex European Institute (see address supra). "Working Papers in Contemporary European Studies", No. 48. 2001, 23 pp, £6.
The question of joining Europe did not at first incite any major differences amongst Poles, perhaps there were, nonetheless differing degrees of enthusiasm. This is not the case any more, as we were able to observe at the last Presidential elections. This short study examines the ballot and campaign that preceded the elections, in an effort to evaluate to what extent accession to the Union could lead to changes in the Polish political landscape - the response provided by the author is not positive on this point.
(LD)
*** FRANK-DIETER GRIMM, ELKE KNAPPE (Ed): Landwirtschaft und ländliche Raüme: Aussenseiter des Transformationsprozesses in den Ländern Südosteuropas ? Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft (49 Widenmayertsr., D-80538 München. Tel.: (49-/89) 212154-0 - fax: 2289469 - E-mail: Sedosteuropa-Gesellschaft@t-online.de - Internet: http://www.suedosteuropa-gesellschaft.com ). Collection "Südosteuropa-Studie", No. 69. 2001, 178 pp. ISBN 3-925450-92-0.
The role of agriculture in the development of the market economy in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and other Central European countries is particularly important in the perspective of these countries' accession to the European Union. During the current transition period a number of them have developed a subsistence agricultural system that should not be regarded as an intermediary stage, given the general economic problems. It became clear in the past that privatising the land and creating small family enterprises would not lead to an efficient market economy by these means alone. The farmers usually have very limited capital available to them and are not sufficiently prepared for the new demands in their sector. These difficulties resulted in the development of a subsistence farming system for which the criteria of competition and efficiency are still to be determined. These problems are examined in the different articles in this study. Some of the experiences of diversification are explored and discussed, particularly the return to traditional modes of agriculture. The most striking aspect of the study is the spectacular rise of the towns, whereas rural areas were already in decline rather than expanding. The writers of this study therefore consider that elaborating a number of possible scenarios that focus on local solutions enabling the local population to remain in their villages, would be the best way forward. (CB)
*** MICHEL E. DOMSCH, DESIREE H. LADWIG (Ed): Reconciliation of Family and Work in Eastern European Countries. Peter Lang (15 Jupiterstrasse, Postfach 277, CH-3000 Berne 15. Fax: (4131) 9402131). "Forum Personalmanagement, Human Resource Management", No. 4. 2000, 178 pp. ISBN 3-631-36713-9.
Reconciliation between Family and Work in Eastern European Countries was the subject of a conference in Brussels, organised by the European "Family and Work network". This book examines the positions taken by the various experts from Eastern European countries on the current situation in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia, all to become European Union Member States in the near future. An historic appraisal of the family is provided, that covers equality of opportunity between men and women, a description of current family models and changes, as well as special government and local authority projects. The book comes to an obvious conclusion: if there is to be an improvement in reconciling work and family, there still remains a lot do at a legislative and structural level. Michel Domsch and Desirée Ladwig believe that another thirty years will be required before the most advanced ex-Communist countries attain a quality of life and purchasing power that is more or less equal to that of current Union Member States. Those responsible for the co-ordination this book recognise, nonetheless, the importance of the progress and efforts realised by these countries, motivated by the hope of a fast-stream accession to the European Union. (CB) (CB)
*** Südosteuropa Mitteilungen. Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft (see addresses supra). 2001, No 2, 240 pp..
The latest issue of the quarterly Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft journal has published a series of articles focusing on Greece - its political system, role in the Balkans, its relationship with Turkey and the affect of the Common Agricultural Policy in Crete. There is also an article on Hungary, the banking system in Croatia and the Stability Pact in Eastern Europe. (CB)
*** La COMMISSION EUROPEENNE (Office des publications officielles des Communautés européennes, L-2985, Luxembourg) a publié les documents suivants:
*** Cordis focus. DG Entreprises (Fax: (352-4301) 32084 - E-mail: innovation@cec.eu.int - Internet: http://www.cordis.lu/news ). Janvier 2002, n° 188, 27 p…
« La R&D atteint des niveaux records en Espagne au moment où ce pays assure la Présidence de l'UE », annonce en première page cette publication en expliquant que le pourcentage du PIB espagnol consacré à ce domaine n'a jamais été aussi élevé. Au sommaire figurent également les conclusions d'une étude française sur le 5ème PCRD qui place l'Allemagne en tête, un appel que Loyola de Palacio adresse aux Etats membres concernant Galileo, tandis que le commissaire Philippe Busquin explique que l'Espace européen de recherche offre, dans le domaine de la biodéfense, un cadre idéal pour la coordination de la recherche communautaire.
*** RDT Info. DG Recherche (Tél.: (32-2) 2959971 - fax: 2958220 - E-mail: research@cec.eu.int - Internet: europa.eu.int/comm/research). Décembre 2001, n° 32, 40 p..
Au sommaire, un dossier « Industrie automobile » avec, comme titres: « Inventer la voiture de demain », « Rouler sans stresser », « Relever le défi des émissions », « De l'air, de l'eau ». D'autres thèmes sont abordés, tels que les cellules souches ("promesses et précautions", « exceptionnelle exception », « problèmes éthiques omniprésents », « pistes européennes »), une interview du Pr. Xu Guanhua, ministre chinois de la Science, « une Europe plurielle: dialogue des sociologues sur la construction d'une civilisation multiculturelle », micro-organismes et macro-résultats, la seconde mission de l'observatoire des fonds marins, le retour de la phénologie, la discipline qui analyse les signes donnés par la nature ( migrations, floraison).
*** Comunidad europea Aranzad. Aranzadi Editorial (carr. Aoiz, km 3,5 E-31486 Elcano, Navarra. Fax: (94-8) 330919 - E-mail: clientes@aranzadi.es - Internet: http: //http://www.aranzadi.es ). Décembre 2001, n° 12, 100 p..
Au sommaire: l'actualité communautaire, le droit de la concurrence, l'euro, des études (entre autres sur la société anonyme européenne), la jurisprudence. A retenir: la ratification par l'Espagne du Traité de Nice, le droit d'auteur sur la décoration générale des pièces de monnaies en euro, la création d'un mécanisme communautaire d'aide à la protection civile, la directive relative à la limitation des émissions nuisant à l'atmosphère, le code communautaire sur les médicaments vétérinaires, le code communautaire sur les médicaments pour l'usage humain, le protocole à la convention relative à l'assistance judiciaire en matière pénale entre les Etats membres, Eurojust et la coordination de la lutte contre le terrorisme.
*** Renewable Energies Success Stories. European Environment Agency (Kongens Nytorv 6, DK-1050 Copenhagen K. Tél.: (45) 33367100 - fax: 33367199 - E-mail: eea@eea.eu.int - Internet: http: //http://www.eea.eu.int ). N° 27. 2001, 95 p.. ISBN 92-9167-407-9.
Ce rapport démontre la détermination de l'Agence à fournir non seulement l'information qui puisse aider à la meilleure prise de décision politique, mais aussi à la dissémination des meilleures pratiques afin d'aider les divers acteurs économiques à respecter l'environnement et à œuvrer dans l'esprit et la perspective du développement durable. Les énergies renouvelables sont présentées dans ce contexte.
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