*** SIMON HUG: Voices of Europe. Citizens, Referendums and European Integration. Rowman & Littlefield (PO Box 317, Oxford, OX2 9RU, United Kingdom. Tel: (44-1865)865466 - Fax: 862763 - E-mail: randL@oppuk.co.uk - Internet: http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com ). Governance in Europe series. 2002, 173 pp. ISBN 0-7425-1692-X.
The Irish referendum cleared the way for enlargement and for the Nice Treaty to come into force, and has been greeted with a sigh of relief by the corridors of power of the European Union. This amounts to saying that direct consultation of citizens is extremely important at the beginning of this new century, a trend which is unlikely to diminish. On the contrary, it is expected to become stronger against the backdrop of the process of the next ten countries joining the EU. Whence the huge interest of this scientific work focussing on this issue and on burgeoning European democracy beyond Member State level in the wider sense. The book arrives at a highly appropriate, if not providential, moment in time. It was designed and put together by an American who teaches at Texas University in Austin, with this view from outside adding to the usefulness of the book.
Simon Hug starts from the undeniable fact that "innovative and ambitious" plans to set up direct democracy at European level through pan-European referendums are quite literally unprecedented in history, which makes it difficult to assess the consequences, utility and feasibility of such mechanisms, but the author explains that such an assessment is an essential criterion for fruitful dialogue in this connection. The author sets about making such an assessment, hoping to see in what way referendums have influenced European integration up until the present day. Concretely, he attempts to outline various highly significant trends, likely to influence pan-European referenda in the future, asking three questions: how do voters in national referendums on European integration actually decide?; what impact do pan-European referendums have on the citizens, elites and institutions of the European Union?; and how do referendums affect negotiations between Member States?
In the first part of the book, Hug considers the general background to the calling of referendums that impact on Europe. He argues that the European Union is on the verge of a struggle for democratic transformation along the lines of the ideas put forward by Robert Dahl: after the democracy of the city state in Greece was overtaken by nation state democracies, we now have to set up "democracy beyond the nation state". Good governance requires more and more issues to be dealt with at a level higher than the nation state, making organisations like the European Union or the United Nations face the "challenge of democratisation". The author argues that the entire problem of the claims of democratic deficit has to be seen against the wider backdrop of globalisation. Simon Hug then studies and classifies the 35 referendums with a European impact that have been held to date and then looks at the outcome of the referendums, highlighting that the punitive strategies that have been detected do not occur when the popular verdict the referendum calls upon is not binding. The author goes on to analyse constitutional measures enabling referendums to be held and their political impact, which leads him to prudently suggest that popular consultations may prove advantageous in terms of support of the European Union. In the next chapter, he argued that extending the use of referendums at European level would have a considerable influence on the decision-making process, with a greater risk of vetoes, which would have a positive outcome in that it would increase the EU's political stability. The author then queries the relevance and utility of extending European referendums, before concluding his study with great prudence. Given the highly delicate and sensitive nature of this issue, this is hardly surprising. Simon Hug's book stands out through its extremely rigorous explanations.
Michel Theys
*** GENEVIEVE BERTRAND: La prise de décision dans l'Union européenne, second edition. La Documentation française (29-31, quai Voltaire. 75344 Paris) Tel: (00-33) (0)1 40 15 70 00 - Fax: 40157230 - Internet: http://www.ladocfran çaise.gouv.fr ). 2002, 152 pp. ISBN 2-11-005072-1 Price: 10 euros.
The EU system is unusual in that it is one of the international community's most integrated, but also one of the least transparent organisations. "Complex and eluding traditional definitions of law and the sociology of international relations, the Community system is neither federal nor closely intergovernmental, but uses methods from both organisational modes depending on the policy in question". Thus Community institutions have legislative, regulatory and legal powers and hence have public powers. All the same, they are lacking in "the inherent means of constraint of sovereign states". The European project is therefore inextricably bound up with its Member States. Swamped in the midst of this unmanageable machine, citizens often fear asphyxiation and Geneviève Bertrand takes a pragmatic approach to attempt to alleviate the problem. What she does in fact is to decipher the Community machine by following the process of taking a decision in the first part of the book, outlining the spheres of influence in the second part of the book that decisions are subject to. More specifically, the first part of the book examines the legal underpinnings of EU decisions, the structure of the institutions and the processes through which decisions pass. The second part paints a picture of "institutional players" and interest groups at the centre of the decision-making process. Geneviève Bertrand is senior lecturer at ENA in France and advisor to the Secrétaire perpétuel de l'Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques.
(AD)
*** JEAN-MARC FAVRET: L'essentiel de l'Union européenne et du droit communautaire. Fourth edition. Gualino (31, rue Falguière 75741Paris cedex 15). Tel: (00-33) (0) 1 56 54 16 00 - Fax: +33 1 56 54 16 49). 2002, 90 pp ISBN 2-84200-511-2. Price: 8.50 euros.
Both clear and easy to use, this book is an introduction to Europe with twenty chapters "explaining the specific characteristics of the European legal system to readers". En route, the author provides information about Member States, stages in the process of building the European Union and the main common policies and activities. As Robert Toulemon, formerly Director General at the Commission, notes in the preface, it is a shame that little space is given over to the two intergovernmental pillars - the common foreign and security policy and internal and home affairs. This book makes an ideal present for people new to people new to the European Union who would like to know more. The author is senior lecturer in public law at the Institut d'Etudes politiques in Bordeaux.
(AD)
*** ALEX WARLEIGH: Flexible Integration, which model for the European Union? The Tower Building (11, York Road, London SE1 7NX) Tel: (00-44) (0)20 7922 0880 - Fax: 7922 0881 - Email: rwilson@continuumbooks.com). 2002, 125 pp. ISBN 0.8264.6093-3. Price: £14.99
The UK and Ireland are not part of the Schengen Agreement. Denmark, Sweden and the UK have decided not to adopt the euro. Denmark has an opt-out for defence… Since the Maastricht Treaty, Member States have had the option of advancing at different speeds and what started out as a potential option has been institutionalised by the Amsterdam Treaty and extended by the Nice Treaty. This is what is known as "strengthened cooperation" but whatever term one decides to give it, the author argues that this organisational flexibility is bound to increase. The more Europe enlarges, in fact, the more responsibilities it will taken on and the more difficult it will become for its Member States to act in the same manner. For this reason, contends the author, flexible integration must be considered. Member States may disagree about what the European Union should be doing and how much of their national sovereignty they are prepared to give up. The author explains that such divergences have accompanied the European project ever since the creation of the ECSC, but asserts that this is highly logical in that the different Member States have different reasons for taking part of the European project, they have different political organisations and different problems. Derogations to various policies have always been awarded to Member States and although these derogations were supposed to last for a limited duration of time, some of them have gone on for years. Alex Warleigh explains why this increased flexibility has become such an essential factor in the building of the European Union, going back in time to examine the dangers of such flexibility and also the opportunities it provides. He sums up by arguing that this flexibility should be seen as a positive element in the integration progress rather than a potential trouble point. He asserts that flexibility is in fact an important mechanism in the process of implementing the European motto "Unity in diversity".
(MF)
*** JEAN-CLAUDE ZARKA: QCM Institutions de l'Union européenne. Fifth edition. Gualino (31, rue Falguière 75741Paris cedex 15). Tel: (00-33) (0) 1 56 54 16 00 - Fax: 56 54 16 49). 2002, 143 pp. ISBN 2-84200-49. Price: 12 euros
As its title in French suggests, this book is a multiple choice quiz on the institutions of the European Union, with chapters on: "From the Act of Union to the Nice Treaty", "the European Council", "the Council of the EU", "the European Commission", "the European Parliament", "the European Court of Justice", "the Court of Auditors", "other Community institutions", "the different legal sources" and "the principles underlying Community legislation". This is a useful book for people preparing for examinations. It is practical, instructive and amusing and the quiz could also be done at home. Jean-Claude Zarka is senior lecturer in at the Université des Sciences Sociales in Toulouse.
(AD)
*** Revue internationale de politique comparée. Pratiques de la citoyenneté européenne. De Boeck (39 rue des Minimes, B-1000 Brussels. To subscribe contact: Accès+, 4 Fond Jean-Pâques, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve. Tel: (32-10) 482570 - Fax: 482519 - E-mail: acces+cde@deboeck.be). Spring 2002, No. 9, 157 pp, 37 euros. Annual subscription: 92 euros. ISBN 2-8041-3913-1.
The fact that Europe is often used as a convenient scapegoat is being condemned by more and more people these days. In the introduction to this issue of an international review of comparative politics (focussing on European citizenship), the editor of the publication, Sylvie Strudel (from the Institut d'études politiques in Lille, France), starts by making the following accusation: Europe is also used as a mirror for a number of domestic democratic problems that extend beyond the so-called "democratic deficit" of the European institutions, namely a crisis of confidence in governments, the feeling that traditional representation is out of step with the concerns of an ever wider section of the population, the thorny problem of the relationship between political control and the ever greater technical nature of public decision-making. She sees these as symptoms of a crisis of both the national and the supranational political systems. Against this difficult and worrying background, what can be expected of a "Eurodemocracy" that is being cobbled together while citizens' disaffection for Europe reflects their disillusion with political systems that even leads them to challenge democratic ideals in general? The small academic team that wrote for this issue attempts to provide responses to this question from the starting point of "European democracy". Céline Belot studies what citizens say about their support for the European Union when they express themselves on the issue (or are questioned about it). Anne Jadot outlines the background and determining factors behind the massive abstention at the European elections in 1999 which she sees as the manifestation of a broader crisis of representation, while Sylvie Strudel remarks that it seems to be easier to build an European electoral body from below, since the European Parliament elections mobilised fewer people than local elections did once European immigrants were granted voting rights. Paul Magnette asks whether direct European citizenship is being formed through the right of petition, while Julien Weisbein asks the same question about lobbying by associations defending the general interest. The last two articles look at "exclusive use of the right to appeal to EU courts" (Olivier Costa) and the potential Europeanization of social movements (Corinne Gobin).
(MT)
*** La Cittadinanza Europea - Itinerari- Strumenti-Scenari. Rivista di studi e documentazione sull'integrazione europea. Philos ( 19, Via Quarrata, Rome. http://www.philosedizioni.it ). 1/2002, 245pp, 14 euros. ISBN 88-86589-36-0.
This issue of the European integration studies review chose the title "European Citizenship". It is the result of cooperation between the University "Roma Tre" and the Italian foreign affairs ministry's directorate-general for European integration, whose Director General is Rocco Cangelosi, formerly Italy's Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union and the author of books such as Du projet de Traité Spinelli à l'Acte unique européen. Each issue of the review is divided into two volumes - one contains documents (sometimes unpublished documents) outlining Italian positions and the positions of the Community institutions in European negotiations, while the other contains a series of essays by various authors on European current affairs. The articles in this first issue of the review were written by the President of Italy, Ciampi, the Italian European affairs minister Buttiglione, the Italian judge at the European Court of Justice, La Pergola, and Pier Virgilio Dastoli from the University "Roma Tre". Cangelosi and Buccino Grimaldi look at Michel Barnier's "memorandum" of October 2001 on institutional reform, which they consider to be one of the most interesting public documents published in recent time on Europe. In their article, they stress he "courage and lucidity" of the European Commissioner for Institutional Affairs.
(MG)
*** Nouvelles de Chypre. Cyprus' Embassy and Permanent Delegation to the European Union (2 Square Ambiorix - 1000 Brussels - Tel: (32-2) 7353510 - Fax: 7357948 - E-mail: chypre.pio.bxl@skynet.be). September - October 2002, 4 pp.
According to the European Environment Commissioner Gunther Verheugen, no legal or constitutional obstacles stand in the way of both halves of the island of Cyprus joining the European Union. He goes on to explain that Turkey's opposition to Cyprus joining the EU is unfounded and the European Union has already rejected Turkish opposition. This issue of the Cyprus newsletter also contains an article on the tenth EU-Cyprus accession conference, reporting that the Danish foreign minister Per Stig Möler (who is President of the Council) has recognised that Cyprus has made considerable progress in the accession process. Other issues covered in the newsletter include a speech by Ioannis Kassoulides to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the UN's efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus Problem and Turkey being rapped over the knuckles by the Council of Europe.
*** Key to Europe. European Students' Forum, AEGEE Europe (PO Box 72 - B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2452300 - Fax: 2456260 - E-mail: info@aegee.org - Internet: http: //http://www.aegee.org ). 2001/2002. 64 pp.
The publication begins with Romano Prodi's greeting to Europe's young generation at this turning point in the continent's history. It then goes on to review the European Students' Forum's activities in 2001 and 2002, with articles outlining the history of the association, how it is organised, its structure and activities, a description of the people who "keep the wheels turning", the "Summit of 28", forthcoming activities, meetings, conferences, seminars and training programmes.
*** Rapport annuel d'activités pour 2001. Venice Commission, Council of Europe. (DG1 - F-67075 Strasbourg cedex - Tel: (33-3)88412205 - Fax: 413738 - E-mail: venice@coe.int - Internet: http: //http://www.venice.coe.int ). 2002. 83 pp.
The Annual Report for 2001 makes a positive assessment of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (aka the Venice Commission). On the subject of promoting democratic reform, the publication describes successful cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey and South Africa. At the end of a successful year for the Venice Commission, its President, Antonio La Pergola, expresses content at having managed to greatly strengthen the Commission's role in settling ethnic conflicts, and also new electoral work in cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress.
*** The European Declaration on Paper Recovery. European Recovered Paper Council & The Confederation of European Paper Industries Newsletter. (CEPI 250 Avenue Louise Box 80 B-1050 Brussels - Tel: (32-2) 6274911- Fax: 6468137 - E-mail: mail@cepi.org - Internet: http: //http://www.cepi.org - http://www.paperonline.org ). October 2002. 15 pp.
This is the second report looking at the European Declaration on Paper Recovery. It describes the first activities by the signatories to move towards the target of recycling around 56% of paper by 2005 and improving the industry's environmental performance. All the mechanisms required to monitor fulfilment of the targets are now in place, and efforts are beginning to bear fruit.
In brief
*** Courrier économique et financier. KBC, September 2002, Brussels. "Behavioural Finance: reason vs emotions on the financial markets" and "the media and how they influence investors". *** NASDAQ Educational Foundation, 2002, New York Market mechanisms - a guide to financial markets in the United States. *** Focus sur la Flandre, (Flanders is the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium). No 35, October 2002, Tielt. Subjects looked at in this issue include AGALEV's tougher stance on Nepal, Louis Michel seeing no need to suspend arms exports, the Flemish government being forced to find EUR 20 million, the question of compulsory integration courses, doctors on the night shift in casualty wards and fashionable children's books in Flemish.