*** HARALD MÜLLER: Terrorisme, prolifération: une approche européenne de la menace. Institut d'Etudes de Sécurité de l'Union européenne (43 av. du Président Wilson, F-75775 Paris Cedex 16. Tel: (33-1) 56891930 - fax: 56891931 - institute@iss-eu.org - Internet: http: //http://www.iss-eu.org ). "Cahiers de Chaillot" series, No. 58. 2003, 103 pp, 6 euros. ISBN 2-7475-1988-0.
While terrorism (mega terrorism) and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are currently among the main causes of concern in the world, one has to note that non-confidential studies have approached this issue so far from an overall point of view, restricting their analysis to the roots and nature of the phenomenon and the means used to combat it, usually at the global level. As the title indicates, while it does not neglect the universal aspects of its subject matter, this Cahier de Chaillot has taken up the challenge, in a highly intelligent manner, avoiding intellectualism, using a highly readable didactic style, of only considering the threat and the means of eradicating it when it approaches the current and future borders of the European Union or its national components, looking at the attitude that each of the states in question adopts vis-à-vis the pan-Islamic doctrine, which is described here as a desperate attempt by the Muslim community to defend itself against the enemies of Islam. This particular approach could give on the impression to non-European readers of “every man for himself”, in the form of a European Union called upon to defend itself better against a cluster bomb in one street in Europe, rather than against a thermonuclear conflict in the heart of overpopulated Asia. It is no less edifying, however, to analyse the manner in which the two scourges placed under the spotlight are potential threats to Europe, and to Brussels in particular, while formulating suggested responses and recommendations which would be useful for drawing up an appropriate European policy. Describing itself as an interface between European experts and decision-makers at all levels, the Institut d'Etudes Européennes is carrying out useful work, especially since Harald Müller has not forgotten, in fine, to shine the spotlight on the sometimes paradoxical nature of transatlantic relations in the post September 11 2001 era.
In this connection, this study is a remarkable sources of technical, semantics, philosophical, ethnic and historical data, all appropriately connected together in a very coherent package, not running shy of occasionally venturing into the domain of pure speculation. Speculation is given substantial space in this Cahier, because we known that many, but not all, of these strange networks have been spun within our communities, currently under threat from fatwas issued from the depths of hypothetical caves and fought out every night by means of raids that are given very little media publicity, supported by powerful anti-bunker bombs, through surveillance, police operations and infiltration that gradually to disentangle a long unentanglable skein, some highly precious threads of which are exposed here.
Fernando Ochoa
*** JEAN-LUC DEHAENE, CHARLES A. KUPCHAN: Recasting the Atlantic Bargain and its Implications for Central Europe. Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute (9 via dei Roccettini, I- 50016 San Domenico di Fiesole. Fax: (39-5) 54685775 - forinfo@iue.it). "Policy Papers" series, No. 6. 2001, 14 pp.
The European Union and the United States have to turn their relationship into a balanced partnership, Europe no longer being able to focus on its economic and political integration while the United States keeps the peace. In this volume published almost two years ago, but still highly current, Jean-Luc Dehaene and Charles A. Kupchan point out that the European Union has to acquire an effective, autonomous, military capacity in order that the United States in exchange grants it greater influence. It is in the interest of the countries of central Europe to reconsider their position vis-à-vis the European Security and Defence Policy since European security will, in the future, depend less on NATO than on the European Union. During the transition period that currently characterises Atlantic relations, the authors urge the United States and Europe to ensure stability in the Balkans and begin the process of extending NATO to Russia.
(IDo)
*** JONI HELISKOSKI: Mixed Agreements as a Technique for Organizing the International Relations of the European Community and its Member States. Kluwer Law International (P.O. Box 85889, 2508 CN The Hague, The Netherlands. sales@ kli.wkap.nl - Internet: http: //http://www.wkap.nl ). "Monographs on International Law and Human Rights", No. 2, 2001, 321 pp. ISBN 90-411-1713-X.
Legislative secretary in the European Law Unit of the Finnish Justice Ministry, Joni Heliskoski analyses interaction in this book between international law and Community law in international agreements between the European Community, its member states and non-EU countries. As far as the author it concerned, it is not a question of spending time on the views of European law purists who see mixed agreements as an “anomaly” under the Treaties, but more a matter of examining the practical issues of mixed agreements using three parameters, namely participation, certainty and autonomy. After looking at the fundamentals and scope of the Community's external competence, Joni Heliskoski considers the justification and implications of mixed agreements through Court of Justice jurisprudence. He then sets out the limits of “mixedness”, defining its practical implications and attempting to put forward improvements. The book also looks at how the European Union institutions negotiate, sign and implement mixed agreements at the political level. The book gives a detailed explanation of the mixed agreements system, explaining the interests of each of the parties concerned and showing how the use of the mixed system has led to the development of the European Community's external relations. This monograph, based on a doctoral thesis for Cambridge University, aims to be a practical guide for professionals who are called upon to manage conflicts of interest between the European Union and its Member States in international negotiations.
(IDo)
*** Salamandra. Revue politique et culturelle du groupe EDD au Parlement européen (288 bld Saint-Germain, F-75341 Paris. To subscribe: BP 24-29, F-69219 Lyon cedex 02. revue-salamandra@wanadoo.fr). June 2003, 52 pp, 4 euro. Annual subscription: 15 euros.
The most recent issue of the magazine of the European Parliament's political group Europe of Democracies and Differences (which French separatists belong to) includes a dossier on the Mediterranean publishing a few pages of the book by MEP Paul-Marie Coûteaux, "Un petit séjour en France", inspired by the writings of Fernand Braudel (whose name will forever be associated with the Mediterranean following his monumental study "La Méditerranée et le monde méditerranéen à l'époque de Philippe II", notes Salamandra). Another MEP, Mario Segni, Italian member of the group Union for a Europe of the Nations, points out the need for the European Union to seriously relaunch its Mediterranean policy following the lack of activity in recent years. Segni highlights transport and energy, noting that the programme for sea motorways, which remains hazy and uncertain, could ensure the predominance of Europe for decades to come when it comes to world transport.
(MG)
*** Développement et politiques agro-alimentaires dans la région méditerranéenne. 2002 Annual Report. Centre international de hautes études agronomiques méditerranéennes (11 rue Newton, F-75116 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 53239100 - Fax: 53239101 - E-mail: secretariat@ciheam.org - Internet: http://www.ciheam.org ). 2003, 247 pp. ISBN 2-85352-252-0.
The world is moving in the direction of ever more open economic systems. The relations between the European Union and countries to the south of the Mediterranean are being formed on new bases in the context of globalisation of the economy. Whence the interest of this fifth Annual Report of Ciheam, a body aiming to become a genuine monitoring centre of agricultural and agri-food policies in the Mediterranean. First of all, the agricultural issue is studied within the framework of the EuroMed Partnership. The second part analyses sectors and national situations, while the third part is an innovation in that Ciheam considers fishing in the Mediterranean. The final part looks at the main indicators of agricultural and food development. A useful book with a pleasant lay-out, supplemented by numerous diagrams and photos.
(LD)
*** JULIE GILSON: Asia Meets Europe. Inter-Regionalism and the Asia-Europe Meeting. Edward Elgar Publishing (Glensanda House, Montpellier Parade, Cheltenham, Glos GL50 1 UA, UK. Tel: (44-1242) 226934 - Fax: 262111 - Info@e-elgar.co.uk - Internet: http: //http://www.e-elgar.co.uk ). 2002, 188 pp. ISBN 1-84064-108-8.
Regions, regionalism and regionalisation are three terms that have been bandied about in all directions and all circumstances ever since the components of nation states became aware of their ethnic or linguistic identities in the face of current debates. Three terms often understood as the expression of a growing diversity and fragmentation of sensitive identity issues within ever greater units. Three terms outlined in this book by Julie Gilson, assisted by Peter W. Preston. Both lecturers at Birmingham University. They take a radically different approach, looking as regions as supernational aggregates, like Asia, the European Union or the United States and North America; and regionalism as the conscious move towards the formation of social, political or economic interest blocks; and regionalisation as the act of becoming aware of a feeling (true or fabricated) of belonging to a supernational group of sensitivities, cultures, languages or other uniting element.
The book focuses on the growing importance of dialogue and exchanges between cultures and trade between the European Union and Asia, looking at their own characteristics and then going on to consider differences. While Europe is built on a so-called Western, legalist, rigorous model, based on each of its constituents and respecting their own history, the authors say Asia is more to be defined as a reaction to the former relations between western metropolises and the various forms of protectorates, colonies and trade routes, standing against or forming centres of the post-war Communism, and also by new political and economic relations in the form of one adult and another, but still occasionally affected by jack-knife interventionism by the United States. Hence it creates a contrario a certain emerging Asian culture. Regionalism of autonomy, regionalism of integration, defence (or defensive) regionalism, inter and intra-regionalism are all reviewed in this highly detailed book that sheds light with highly detailed figures and diagrams of often little known facts like the predominance of trade between the European Union and Asia.
(FOc)
*** CHRISTOPHE JAFFRELOT, JASMINE ZERININI-BROTEL: La question du Cachemire. Après le 11 septembre et la nouvelle donne au Jammu et Cachemire. Institut d'Etudes de Sécurité de l'Union européenne (see above). "Occasional Papers", No. 43. 2003, 29 pp, 3.50 euros.
Following the long drawn-out and troublesome partition of the British Empire in India, following three years of war between India itself and Pakistan, General Musharraf decided on 12 January 2002 to give a long speech with the aim of preparing public opinion in Pakistan to accept the idea that fundamentalist Muslim groups preaching Jihad against the West in general - and against India in particular -will now be subject to repression. A genuine U-turn or a smokescreen? Analysts will decide in the light of developments of a rare level of complexity that will follow. Question: What role will the European Union be able to play these days in this giant web involving Bin Laden, US interests, the axis of evil and, in fine, the growing importance of Asia? Will the EU play the card of national interests one after the other, or what we have now become used to (but whose effectiveness has yet to be proved) of conciliation in the interests of peace? There are elements of an answer in this well documented “Occasional Paper”.
(FOc)
*** ANDREE ABEELS: Angoisses géopolitiques. Le Moyen-Orient. Homes International (119/5 rue Froissart, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2302187 - Fax: 2304207 - homes.eurocis@skynet.be). 2003, 80 pp, 10 euros.
Of Belgian nationality, Andrée Abeels is a language teachers. Her wide knowledge of languages has enabled her in travels around the world to have close contact with the local population. In this essay, she describes her encounter with people in the Middle East, from Turkey to Afghanistan via Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan. In this troubled time, it is probably a good idea to point out, as the author does, the hospitality and kindness of the inhabitants of these countries, but also the disdain that the United States can display with regard to anyone who is not like them. In the second, more political, part of the book, Andrée Abeels gives her own interpretation of current events and does not hesitate to twist the necks of a series of received ideas. She writes for example: “There is a part of the West that props up the current wave of Islamism, through its intransigence and disgust vis-à-vis Muslim peoples”. An idea to be considered in all urgency.
(MF)
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** Des régions en action(s), un pays en mouvement. Florilège de projets réalisés en Grèce avec le soutien des Fonds structurels. DG Regional Policy (41 av. de Tervuren, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2960634 - Fax: (32-2) 2962305 - regio-info@cec.eu.int - Internet: http: //europa.eu.int/inforegio). 2003,43 pp.
This time, Inforegio takes a close look at Greece and its moves towards economic and social development, broadly supported by the Structural Funds and the Cohesions Funds. The magazine shows the importance, for Greece, of this economic aid which makes it possible to carry through certain projects like the construction of a modern transport network, strengthening the competitiveness of industry and the service sector, access to the information society for all, improving the quality of life, etc. This issue analyses projects carried out in Greece, region by region.
*** EURinfo. Représentation en Belgique de la Commission européenne (73 rue Archimède, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2953844 - Fax: (32-2) 2950166 - represent-bel@cec.eu.int - Internet: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/represent/be).October 2003, No. 279, 18 pp.
This particular issue is given over to a long interview with Philippe Busquin, Research Commissioner, who explains the challenges to be faced by the Prodi Commission during its last year in office. Busquin points out that the European Parliament does not have the real power it should have. Other articles look at the draft European Constitution and the Intergovernmental Conference, the future Museum of Europe in Brussels and the recognition of European political parties …
*** Monthly bulletin. European Central Bank (Postfach 16 03 19, D-60066 Frankfurt am Main. Tel: (49-69) 13440 - Fax: 13446000 - Internet: http://www.ecb.int ). September 2003, 103 pp.
This monthly newsletter analyses business activity in the eurozone over the last four months (between April and August). With a range of diagrams and tables, the bulletin meticulously reviews economic ad monetary development, prices, supply and demand, budget changes and inflation.
*** Politica Exterior. Estudios de Politica Exterior (6 Padilla, 28006 Madrid. Tel: (34-91) 4312628 - Fax: (34-91) 5777252 - revista@politicaexterior.com). September/October 2003, No. 95, 147 pp, 10.50 euros. Annual subscription: 87 euros.
Europe in the World and Islam and the West are the main topics looked at in this issue. Javier Solana presents multilateralism as the European Union's strategy after the EU became aware, with the Iraq issue, of its weakness on the world stage. The French foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, analyses relations between the Muslim and the Western world in the aftermath of the war on Iraq, while Bernabé López García looks at the Moroccan diaspora and the problem of illegal immigrants in Spain.
*** Louvain. Université catholique de Louvain (Halles universitaires, 1 place de l'Université, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve. Tel: (32-10) 479001 - Fax: 472531). September 2003, No. 141, 35 pp, 2.5 euros. Annual subscription: 20 euros.
This issue is largely given over to ecology: Ecology between nature, science and society; What is nature were to become a major player? ; Towards sustainable management of natural resources; and Biodiversity: a strict necessity or an optional wealth? The titles of some of the essays in this issues.
Reviews in brief
*** Annual Report 2002. Eurofer. 2003, Brussels. Annual Report of the European Confederation of Steel Industries *** Information. European Investment Bank. 2003/2, No. 114, Luxembourg. This magazine looks at the activities of the European Investment Bank. *** La Flandre. September/November 2003, No. 39, Brussels. This French-language magazine looks at life in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium. *** Nasdaq. September/October 2003, United Kingdom. Magazine of business and stock exchange news. *** Amcham Business Journal. 2003, No. 547, Brussels. Information sheet of the American Chamber of Commerce in Belgium.