*** La défense européenne. Etablissements Bruylant (67 rue de la Régence, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5129845 - fax: 5117202 - e-mail: info@bruylant.be - Internet: http://www.bruylant.be ). 2003, 274 pp., 40 euros. ISBN 2-8027-1637-9.
In reality, less than an instrument of power, European defence appears more like a “necessary condition for Europe to get its voice heard and for it to play a role in the twentieth century”. And looking at it though the project since the failure of European community of Defence, it is not unfair to condemn the prudish rejections affecting it. In fact, the European cacophony over Iraq should not be considered as the proof of natural incompatibility but rather as an essential spur to the movement. That said, if optimism is legitimate, we should not get too carried away. Although the process has been triggered, defence is faced with two challenges that raise as many questions as answers. Firstly “will Europe be able to pursue this policy in the long term and reconcile the interests of London, Paris or Berlin, while not cutting out the other Member States, as well as meeting the first crises it has to face?” And will it be able to convince European citizens of the essential character of European defence? This forms a collection of contributions from eminent scientists at a symposium in Lyon last year, this book attempts to answer these questions, as well as others.
In his article entitled “The Construction of Common European Defence and Security Policy since 1995 ", Jean-Pierre Maury, a lecturer at the University of Perpignan, looks over the years that have just passed and which have marked "the beginning of a new direction in the construction of European defence". During this period, "the Europe of Defence has made some spectacular successes, inspired by a series of initiatives, declarations and plans". Looking over the historic landmarks in the history of defence, Jean-Pierre Maury provides an answer to the following question: "After years of debates and hesitation, are members of the European Union ready for a common defence policy and do they really agree on the international role that Europe could play?"
In more militant tones, Jacques Walch examines "relations between the European Union and NATO since the European Council of Laeken". This colonel, seconded to the military high command is also a lecturer at the Leonardo de Vinci University and he demonstrates how NATO and the Union have developed relations since they were set up. These organisations left the field of pure formalities in 1997 when the Austrian Presidency began the construction of European Security and Defence Policy. Jacques Walch considers that future relations between the two of them will be difficult to manage: "Achievements are already visible, obtained slowly, while ESDP is moving quickly and there is lag between the results obtained by the Fifteen in the construction of European defence". He then appeals, therefore, for institutionalising the relationship between the Union and NATO.
Other contributions include: "the Future of Defence Related Industries: a European Concern", "Security and defence in Europe's New Aerospace Directions", "The Financial Construction of European Defence", "The European Union in Kosovo: Actor or Spectator", "The New American Policy and Europe", "Russia and European Security", "A Paris-Berlin-London Leadership?" and "New Relations between the USA, France and Germany after the Attacks of 11 September 2001"…
In its introduction, Christian Philip, rector at the University of Lyon 3 and director at the European Centre of European Studies, explains that in half a century's time, "the debate will become less passionate": "every country is aware that it is in its interest is to facilitate progress and the fact that the United
Kingdom has become the driving force over recent years is significant". The book came out before Baghdad was taken but the ideas are no less pertinent, at least in so far as focusing on a half century of European history and not just on the length of an American presidential campaign. Alain Dremière
*** ANTONIO MISSIROLI: Euros for ESDP: financing EU operations. Institut d'études de sécurité de l'Union européenne (43 av. du Président Wilson, F-75775 Paris cedex 16. Tel: (33-1) 56891930 - fax: (33-1) 56891931 - e-mail: institute@iss-eu.org - Internet: http://www.iss-eu.org ). Collection "Occasional Papers", n° 45. 2003, 53 p..
The Union police mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Concordia operations in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Artemis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, mark the European Community's initial operations in crisis management this year. Although these operations are different in nature, scope and size, they constitute references for similar future action, even in budgetary terms. According to researcher Antonio Missiroli, funding for this action has been improvised and cannot constitute a framework for sustainable work for other operations. Via an approach that is at the same time administrative, budgetary and political, the author of this “Occasional Paper” examines the legal, institutional and operational acquis, as well as the problems and challenges facing European security and defence policy. It then studies the rules and practices that are prevalent in other organisations like NATO, the OSCE and the UN, before he goes on to formulate his recommendations. (IDo)
*** La défense en Europe. Centre de recherche sur l'Europe et le monde contemporain (54 boulevard Desgranges, F-92331 Sceaux. E-mail: cahiers@cremoc.org). Collection "Les cahiers du CREMOC", No.37. 2003, 52 pp..
This publication focuses on European defence. We are able to read three articles that focus on "NATO Aerospace Geo-politics", "ESDP in Light of the Work of the European Convention on Europe" and "Relations between the WEU and the EU in the framework of the Treaty Provisions on the European Union". (AD)
*** YVES JEANCLOS (editor): La sécurité de l'Europe et les relations transatlantiques au seuil du XXIe siècle. Etablissements Bruylant (see address attached). "Etudes stratégiques internationales" series, No. 1. 2003, 411 pp., 50 euros. ISBN 2-8027-1732-4.
"The Euro-Atlantic Area" or the area where the Shakespearian relationship that unites two powers is located, between hatred and passion, where they intertwine and tear themselves apart. However divorce is not possible even amicably: their cohabitation is forced on them. This is why for fifteen years, academics from the two sides have chosen the third way, undoubtedly the only reasonable way, that of mutual understanding: "They strive to reduce the areas of incomprehension in order to define, build and implement Collective Trans-Atlantic Security for the joint benefit of the USA and Europe”. This book is one of the results of their efforts. The way it is divided up is evidence of the intellectual process supporting the approach. "Time for questioning and solitude" is followed by "time for cooperation and solidarity". The first part focuses on “The Search for Security in the Post-cold War" and the "fields of divergences and rivalry". The second part explores the "emergence of a Europe of Security and Defence" and calls for a "new architecture for peace and security". (AD)
*** HENRIKKI HEIKKA: Grand Strategies and the Northern Dimension of European Security. Four Scenarios for 2010. The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (15A Mannerheimintie, 00260 Helsinki), Institut für Europäische Politik (Jean-Monnet-Haus, 22 Bundesallee, 10717 Berlin). 2003, n° 18, 158 p., ISBN 951-769-139-4.
What will Euro-Asian security look like in 2010? What will its implications, according to is different future possibilities have on the security of the Baltic and Nordic regions? Analysing the scenarios, Henrikki Heikka, researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, attempts to answer these two questions. In an effort to envisage the future possibilities, the author develops four hypotheses: liberalised Eurasia; that of the trigger-happy cow-boy; multi-polar Eurasia and that of the bubbling cold war. The strategic options of the Union USA and Russia are also examined. The title of Henrikki Heikka's final study in the series is "the Nordic dimension in foreign and common security policy", which is the result of a common research programme between the Finnish Institute of International Relations and the Berlin Institute of European Policies. The book contains a summary of the analyses of the series that inspired the author to elaborate his analysis of the different scenarios. (IDo)
*** SIMON DUKE: Beyond the Chapter. Enlargement Challenges for CFSP and ESDP. European Institute of Public Administration (22 O. L. Vrouweplein, P. O. Box 1229, 6201 BE Maastricht, Netherlands. Tel: (31-43) 3296274 - fax: 3296296 - e-mail: m.simons@eipa-nl.com - Internet: http: //http://www.eipa.nl ). "Current European Issues". 2003, 111 pp, 21 euros. ISBN 90-6779-178-4.
In the current enlargement process, the chapter on Common Foreign and Security Policy was one of the first to be finished. This book looks at the challenges arising in this context, impacting on both current and future Member States (the latter join Community on 1 May). These challenges include relations between the Union and is “new neighbours” (with a swathe of repercussions involving customs, ethnic and military issues), institutional adaptations necessary for the CFSP to work with a membership of twenty five, as well as relations with the new EU and countries such as Russia and the USA and organisations like NATO and the United Nations. Although the challenge of such large scale enlargement could appear immense, the complexity appears to be direct proportion to the number of countries and also, via this analysis, with the number of advantages that could be expected. The author therefore explores both the NATO opinions of most of the candidate countries that could contribute to the relaunch of a better trans-Atlantic dialogue, together with geographic enlargement , both of which provide an exceptional occasion for beginning novel dialogue with new neighbours. The challenge of enlargement for the Common Foreign and Security Policy is also examined. Simon Duke proves reassuring throughout. Hence, the new armies that will be stepping on board the Union could substantially contribute to rectifying some of the current military imbalances. (FOc)
*** Boxes: Why CFSP and CESDP Do Not Matter Much to EU Candidate Countries. Jean-Luc Dehaene, Pal Dunay, (European University Institute, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, Badia Fiesolana, I-50016 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy). December 2001, 26 pp.
This report analyses the nature of the link between candidate countries and the second pillar of the Union. It is necessary to briefly cast our eyes back to the end of the East-West conflicts and look more closely at the choices these countries had to make with regard to their political future and international commitments in order to understand where they are coming from. Different possibilities existed for them: a new alliance with the Soviet Union, neutrality or integration with the West. They all chose the third option. Several elements justify this choice. Countries from East and Central Europe were always completely European and the population had on numerous occasions expressed its desire to live in a democracy. Moreover, integration would relaunch the economy in these areas and support stability by creating a link with the greatest military power of all, the USA.
These countries are joining the different Western institutions, with each of them playing a specific role. In the same spirit as these countries, the Union has a strictly economic functions whereas the Council of Europe will help democratisation and NATO, their security. The Union was therefore not seen as an institution for security and defence. The importance of NATO for these countries has been on many occasions underlined in this report. This organisation is considered as the essential element for a safer Europe and CEEC does not want this relationship jeopardised in anyway. (MLe)
*** RENE ANDRE: L'adhésion de la Lituanie à l'Union européenne: un juste retour du sort. Délégation for the National Assembly to the European Union (Kiosque de l'Assemblée nationale, 4 rue Aristide Briand, F-75007 Paris. Tel.: (33-1) 40636121 - Internet: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr ). "Rapport d'information series", No. 776. 2003, 33 p., 3.50 euros. ISBN 2-11-117046-1.
After centuries of struggle to defend its national identity, Lithuania has, since 1992, obtained greater political stability thanks to a parliamentary system. Moreover, GDP in the country has not stopped growing since 2001 and has risen by 22%. On the other hand, the unemployment level remains quite high and stood at 10.7% at the end of last year. The author of this information report considers that the country still has some efforts to make in areas like administration, corruption and the implementation of the Community acquis. Another major challenge will definitely be for this country (as for the others), the modernisation of its agricultural sector and the elaboration of a new energy strategy. There is also the question of Kaliningrad, with Lithuania afraid that Russia is imposing its views and is not respecting the different agreements ion the enclave. Despite the difficulties, the French Member of Parliament points out that Lithuania is strongly attached to the western world and considers itself as an essential link between Central and Northern Europe, which leads to the conclusion that the country is really ready to integrate into the Union. (MLe)
*** La COMMISSION EUROPEENNE (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following documents:
*** Regions in action, a country on the move. A selection of successful projects supported by the structural funds in Greece. Regional policy DG, Inforegio service (CSM2-A00/COU, B-1049 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2960634 - fax: 2962305 - Internet: http://www.europa.eu.int/inforegio - E-mail: regio-info@cec.eu.int). 2003, 44 p. ISBN 92-894-5266-8.
This magazine presents a selection of twenty six Union supported projects in Greece. The country is classed as "Objective 1". European structural funds therefore come to the aid of regions whose development has fallen behind. Certain projects are carried out at a national level while others exclusively concern certain regions. Projects include improvements in infrastructure, such as the construction of hydroelectric plants and wind power or roads, as well as projects promoting cultural heritage and projects fighting against discrimination against women in the business sector.
*** International Monitoring on Environmental Safety. DG Research, Information and Communication Unit (B-1079 Brussels. Fax: (32-2) 2958220 - E-mail: research@cec.eu.int - Internet: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/research). “La recherche européenne en action ». 2003.
This small pamphlet examines the (GMES - Global Monitoring for Environnement and Security) system planned for 2008. Initiated by the European Council of Göteborg. This instrument aims to implement a "coherent European, geared to the user, which could provide the necessary information for formulating long term policy, which enabling rapid reaction in conflict situations".
*** New opportunities. What does a bigger Europe mean to you? The Foreign Policy Centre (Elizabeth House, Mezzanine Floor. 39 York Road, London SE1 7NQ. Tel: (44-20) 74015350 - fax: 74015351 - Internet: http: //http://www.fpc.org.uk - E-mail: info@fpc.org.uk). 2003, 10p p. ISBN 0-90790-240-9.
Faced with a British public opinion that is aware of the imminence of enlargement but not aware of what this entails, the Foreign Policy Centre, in collaboration with the Local Government International Bureau, has given a mandate to eight experts whose task will be to explain what enlargement will mean to the British population. These experts, from the business community, media and politics, will therefore be answering questions on jobs, the standard of living and food safety.
*** Dokumente. Gesellschaft für übernationalen Zusammenarbeit e.V. (86 Dottendorfer Strasse, D-53129 Bonn. Interne: http://www.guez-dokumente.org - E-mail: red.dokumente@gmx.net). August 2003, No 4, 112 pp., 3,90 euros.
This edition of the publication focusing on Franco-German dialogue, looks at anti-Americanism. It also explore the current friction between Europe and the USA. Other subjects include French foreign policy and the links between Paris and Moscow, pension reform and even cartoon books in France, Belgium and Germany.
*** Liaisons sociales Europe. Groupe Liaisons (1 Avenue Edouard-Belin, F-92500 Rueil-Malmaison. Tel: (33-825) 825371 - fax: (33-1) 44299668 - Internet: http//http://www.ls-europe.com ). October 2003, No. 89, 12 pp, 31 euros. Price: 31 euros.
Liaisons socialesgives gives vent to the European Confederation of Trade Union and certain NGOs which are concerned about the danger of certain social reforms being watered down at the Intergovernmental Conference. The publication “zooms” in on the preparation for the expansion of European Works Committees. Other subjects include an article on the agreement concluded at British Telecom which is attempting to avoid redundancies of British workers following relocations.
Reviews in brief
*** King Baudouin Foundation: 2002 Annual report. King Baudouin Foundation. 2003, Brussels. This provides an annual report for the charity foundation. *** NASDAQ. The NASDAQ Magazine. November / December 2003, New York. This magazine presents up to date Nasdaq news on companies that are quoted in this index, as well as other information linked to international finance.