*** MATTHIAS KIPPING: La France et les origines de l'Union européenne. Intégration économique et compétitivité internationale. Editions du Comité pour l'histoire économique et financière de la France (Ministère de l'Economie, des Finances et de l'Industrie, Paris). "Etudes générales" series. 2002, 411 pp, 27 euros. ISBN 2-11-091056-9.
On 23 July 2002, the Treaty giving rise to the European Coal and Steel Community will have signed out after fifty years of good, loyal service.. A hefty page in the European project will have been turned, whence the huge interest of this book, the fruit of a doctoral thesis for Munich University, an initial version of which was published in German as "Zwischen Kartellen und Konkurrenz: der Schuman-Plan und die Ursprünge der europäischen Einigung 1944-1952". Former French prime minister and Vice-President of the European Commission, Raymond Barre is not sparing with his praise in the preface, talking about a book that should be passionately interesting for anyone interested in Europe, but also for anyone trying to understand how decisions take shape, are taken and put into practice. What is more, the book renews what we thought we knew about the setting up of Europe that from the start has been so much more than a big marketplace.
This detailed and extremely rigorous scientific research attempts to demonstrate in a nuanced and often complex manner how the decision-making process played out in the preparatory phase, and the negotiations and ratification of the ECSC Treaty. The author accords particular attention to changes in the competitiveness of European industry and to the role of the US competition model. Structured chronologically, the study is divided into four sections. The first gives an overview of the modernisation of France after the Second World War against the backdrop of rebuilding Europe's economy. Matthias Kipping's main aim is to reveal the initial conditions and motor force behind the later changes. The crises of 1949 are the subject of the second part of the book, where the author explains the origins of the crises and their repercussions, before describing the various solutions put forward at the time, focussing on why the suggestions made in advance of the Schuman Plan failed. The third part considers the period between the Schuman Declaration (9 May 1950) and the signing of the ECSC Treaty (18 April 1951). The author goes over the influence of the various pressure groups on the economic and political front with a fine toothcomb, and their impact on the form that the Community finally took. In particular, he analyses the coalitions that enabled Jean Monnet to get a large number of his ideas accepted. The fourth part looks at the ratification of the Treaty, with Kipping focussing on internal debate in France. The arguments put forward both in favour and against the ECSC are systematically outlined and the author explains why the former won the day. In the short epilogue, the author outlines the economic impact of the creation of the ECSC.
It cannot be denied that all four sections together go to make up a reference book explaining the recent past and consequently today's challenges. As Raymond Barre writes, "Here is a book that the citizens of the countries of the European Union won't be able to ignore"! Michel Theys
*** L'option de Confrontations. Confrontations pour une démocratie participative européenne (41 rue Emile Zola, F-93107 Montreuil cedex. Tel: (33-1) 49881194 or (32-2) 2847123 - Fax: (33-1) 49881184 or (32-2) 2849123 - E-mail: confrontations@wanadoo.fr - Internet: http://www.confrontations .org). 2001, 104 pp, 7.62 euros. Subscription: 15 euros.
Presided over by economist and MEP Philippe Herzog, the Confrontations association of social and economic associations, politicians and intellectuals counts high level public figures among its members. Francis Mer, for example, now French finance minister but previously the boss of Usinor, alongside other personalities like Jean Gandois and Jean Peyrelevade. The latter, President of Crédit Lyonnais, has written the preface to this issue, devoted entirely to finance policy in the Europe of the financial sector. From the preface onwards, the approach taken aims if not to be critical then at least to be searching and free of doctrine. Jean Peyrelevade for example starts off by affirming, in the light of efforts made by the Commission to construct a fully integrated financial market in as little time as possible, that the rapid liberalisation of the financial area in no way guarantees that it will work in a manner that meets the interests of the people inhabiting the area. In his view, it is essential to determine to what ends and for which policies such an area should be set up. Which requires providing answers to various questions beforehand. For example, what does this united market mean if tax harmonisation doesn't accompany it and it gives free rein to "stupid tax competition"? Or what does making uniform rules actually mean if the form is more important than the content, if generalisation of a catechism is substituted for genuine reflection? (For example, Jean Peyrelevade wonders how one can adopt a Directive on takeovers without considering the reasons and industrial and social impact of mergers and acquisitions, without querying the limits of shareholders' financial interests and general interest.) Questions of this ilk, whose disturbing nature is rendered even more disconcerting by the status of the person formulating them, are sprinkled throughout this publication that reviews in turn the Financial Services Action Plan (that the publication's editor, economist Bernard Marx, describes as the financial integration of a Europe lacking in policies), the single market and the euro ("Moving towards which financial regulations?", "European banks - we are interested in your health!"), restructuring of the banking sector in Europe, long-term savings, pension funds, the funding of large-scale rail infrastructure networks, EIB and WTO activities and the "European speciality" of fiscal dumping.
(MT)
*** ETIENNE FARVAQUE, GAEL LAGADEC (Eds.): Intégration économique européenne. Problèmes et analyses. De Boeck Université (39 rue de Minimes, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-10) 482614 - Internet: http: //http://www.deboeck.fr ). "Questions d'économie et de gestion" series. 2002, 339 pp, 24.95 euros. ISBN 2-8041-3952-2.
In the form of a manual, this book has the merit of providing a political view of the economy alongside a huge amount of factual and conceptual information anchored in the real world of political challenges, including European integration. Under the direction of lecturers at the Universities of Lille and New Caledonia, the essayists take a three-pronged approach: trade issues, Monetary Union and the social, political and economic dimensions of the EU. As far as trade is concerned, the authors outline the chronology of events leading up to customs union and then look at the role played by pressure groups in the EU before considering whether the European Union is compatible with the WTO and the extent to which the EU can be compared to other experiments in integration that are currently in progress. In the section looking at Monetary Union, the authors look how the single currency meshes with European trade, national budget policies in the context of Monetary Union and how Monetary Union impacts on the job market. The last four chapters of the final part of the book look at the divide between states and regions, enlargement to Eastern Europe, the prospect of a European Constitution and the creation of a "social Europe".
(AD)
*** The Euro: Required Steps to Success. Recommendations by the Monetary Panel of ELEC. Ligue européenne de coopération économique (2 place du Champ de Mars, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2198250 - Fax: 2190663 - E-mail: elec@easynet.be - Internet: http: //elec.easynet.be). "Cahier comte Boël" series, No 10. 2002, 42 pp.
The Monetary Panel has been closely linked to debates on Economic and Monetary Union ever since the Delors Report of 1989. It was set up by the European Economic Cooperation League and is made up of a wide range of business leaders, economists and bankers. To ensure the success of the European currency well-placed to make constructive criticism and promising proposals, the Panel members work and express themselves with complete independence with regard to the financial institutions they belong to. In this report, the Panel looks at progress in using the euro, reasons for its weakness since launch and how the European Central Bank operates. The need to improve and better coordinate economic policies in the eurozone, and the institutional support of the European Union are two other areas analysed by the authors, who close the publication by looking at the challenge of enlargement, arguing that a successful Economic and Monetary Union is one of the essential elements for the future whose success depends on Europe's ability to structure and support, both internally and externally, a common project that is so broad that it justifies genuine European patriotism..
(GdB)
*** LOIC LEVOYER: L'influence du droit communautaire sur le pouvoir financier du Parlement français. Librairie générale de droit et de jurisprudence (31 rue Falguière, F-75741 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 46338985). "Bibliothèque de science financière" series, No 39. 2002, 451 pp, 42.50 euros. ISBN 2-275- 02185-X.
As Prof. Jean-Pierre Chevalier explains in the preface, the influence of Community law on the French parliament's financial powers lies at the heart of all economic, political and institutional challenges of the European project. The fruit of a doctoral thesis in law, this book was awarded the Bercy Prize in 2000. It is dominated by the idea that Community financial standards are both a test and a hope of renewal for the French parliamentary assemblies. The first part of the book is dedicated to the removal of financial competence from the French parliament. Loïc Levoyer studies the whittling away of parliament's budgetary competence, via its dismemberment and framework, and then looks at the reduction of tax competence via its removal and appropriation by the Executive. The second part of the book explores the rebuilding of the French parliament's financial competence through the stimulation and development of parliamentary control over national and Community finances. The author looks at various perspectives, including the renewal and enriching of parliament's budgetary control, and indirect parliament control of taxation and the Community budget.
(GdB)
*** LAURENT DU JARDIN: Un confort sous-estimé dans la contractualisation des groupes de sociétés: la lettre de patronage. Bruylant (67 rue de la Régence, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5129845 - Fax: 5117202 - E-mail: lib.bruylan@pophost.eunet.be - Internet: http: //http://www.bruylant.be ). 2002, 330 pp, 80 euros. ISBN 2-8027-1528-3.
"Letters of comfort" are a form of personal guarantee given by groups of companies which have not been considered in very great detail, in terms of doctrine or jurisprudence, to date. Laurent Du Jardin aims to fill the gap with this book, identifying the different types of letter and setting out the conditions of their creation and validity. The book makes a comparison of different types of letter, explaining the legal and non-legal impact of such letters in terms of contracts and other non-contractual affairs. It goes without saying from the very nature of the subject addressed that this book is aimed at specialists.
(AD)
*** LUC DE BRABANDERE: Le management des idées. De la créativité à l'innovation. Dunod (Paris. Internet: http: //http://www.dunod.com. Distributed by: Vivendi Universal Publishing Services, 117 bld. de l'Europe, B-1301 Wavre. Tel: (32-10) 420320 - Fax: 412024 - Internet: http: //http://www.vups.be ). "Stratégies et management" series. 2002, 244 pp, 26.18 euros. ISBN 2-10-006417-7.
"Moving from creativity to innovation" is what Luc De Brabandere proposes to his readers, business leaders and those aiming to join their ranks. Moving to innovation involves changing one's perceptions, in other words, the ability to instil a culture of imagination in one's staff and changing reality, in other words, considering ideas as a strategic resource in their own right.
(AD)
*** LUC DE BRABANDERE, ANNE MOKOLAJCZAK: Le Plaisir des idées. Devenir créatif. Dunod (see above). "Stratégies et management" series. 2002, 249 pp. ISBN 2-10-006448-7.
How can one promote a climate that promotes the expression of new ideas? How can one deepen ones understanding of the creative qualities of ones staff? How can one implement tools and methods that stipulate and exploit everyone's creative potential? The authors, professional sleuths tracking down imagination and creativity, look at these questions, answering them with the benefit of twelve years' experience in training seminars. Their starting point is their strongly-held belief that creativity can be learned and improved, and can also be managed alongside other human resources, skills, and the financial and material resources of companies and organisations and it demands as much rigour. Compared with the first edition (published in 1994), the part of the book looking at creative qualities has been extended. The other two parts of the book look at managing creativity, a question of human beings and teams; and creativity training, a question of tools and methods; In order to enhance the pedagogical and practical side of the book, the authors have outlined a string of exercises and examples with the aim of inviting readers not just to train themselves, but also and more importantly to watch themselves think and see how they actually think.
(MT)
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985, Luxembourg, http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** The ACP-EU Newsletter. DG Development (Fax: (32-2) 2993002 - Internet: http: europa.eu.int/comm/development/publicat/). May-June 2002, No 192, 100pp.
This issue of the ACP-EU development co-operation magazine includes a dossier on information technology and communications looking at the role of ITC in development co-operation with attempts being made to bridge the digital divide between rich and poor countries, the introduction of the Internet to relieve the isolation of campaigns of the South, the pressing need to get women on board, the poor relations of ITC (meaning the Southern media), all illustrated with examples. Other issues covered - the Monterrey Conference, the "consensus-plus" that was noted at Monterrey, the US position at Monterrey, an interview with the South Africa finance minister Trevor Manuel, and an interview with Michel Camdessus, former IMF Director General, both of whom were special envoys at Monterrey. There is also a report on two paradises that are currently preparing for total opening of the banana market in 2008: Sainte-Lucia (whose economy is currently in the doldrums) and Saint-Vincent et les Grenadines.
*** Update. European Public Health Alliance (36 rue de Pascale, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2303056 - Fax: 2333880 - E-mail: epha@epha.org - Internet: http: // http://www.epha.org ). May/June 2002, No 62. 25 pp.
This issue looks at the European Union's role in public health; is the free circulation of patients a benefit for both patients and consumers?; does the free circulation of professionals mean providing opportunities or perpetuating problems?; and who sets prices in the free circulation of pharmaceutical laboratories. Other issued covered include complementary health services and whether there's a role for the EU; integrated public health services in Europe, an interview with Spanish health minister Celia Villalobos Talero at the end of the Spanish Presidency and a summary of the news.
*** Actualité des Industries de Réseaux en Europe. Editions ASPE Europe (36, rue de Laborde, F-75008 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 43876014 - Fax: 43876891 - E-mail: aspe@club-internet.fr). June 2002, No 4, 16 pp. Subscription: 490 euros.
The idea looked at in this issue is almost a rhetorical question - recapitalising public telecoms operators and separating infrastructure - the carrot and the stick? Lawyer Olivier Fregel answers the question The review explores another issue that covers a series of others - energy supplies for tomorrow, what mix of energy for Europe, the future energy policy that has yet to be defined, and whether nuclear energy is a thing of the past or the future. Other areas looked at include the controversy surrounding the Flemish tax on telecoms and energy networks, Commissioner Mario Monti's political desires, speeding up liberalisation, and a step in the direction of highways of the sea.
*** IOM New. International Organization for Migration (PO Box 71, CH-1211 19 Switzerland - Tel: (41-22) 7179111 - Fax: 7986150 - E-mail: info@iom.int - Internet: http://www.iom.int ). June 2002, 19 pp.
This issue looks at the return of Afghan refugees from Iran (IOM hopes that 400,000 will return), aid for the Nahrin earthquake in Afghanistan, potential agreement on Mexican immigration to the US, the new life of Sierra Leone veterans, the white slave trade in the Dominican Republic and Romania and the IOM's campaign "Human Beings are Priceless" that aims to raise people's awareness and warn potential victims of the dangers they are facing.
Reviews in brief
*** Courrier économique et financier. KBC. June 2002, No 6. Brussels Covering the international economic climate, a new start; the fact the global economy picked up quicker that expected from the S-11 shock and the Belgian economy that is beginning to pick up after a sluggish 2001. *** Louvain. June 2002, No 129, Louvain-la-Neuve. This publication by the Université catholique de Louvain in Belgium explains that the University is changing. This issue looks in particular at human dignity (which has to be reinvented, particularly in terms of access to health care) with one essay explaining that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the source of rights that can be claimed by human beings, far more than the European Charter of Fundamental Rights.