*** PAUL MAGNETTE, KALYPSO NICOLAIDIS: Grands et petits Etats dans l'Union européenne: réinventer l'équilibre. Notre Europe (41 bld des Capucines, F-75002 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 44589797 - fax: 44589799 - E-mail: notreeurope@notre-europe.asso.fr - Internet: http: //http://www.notre-europe.asso.fr ). Collection "Etudes et Recherches", No. 25. 2003, 47 pp.
The division between “small” and “large” Member States with regard to subjects previously dealt with by the Convention and which are currently being raised at the Intergovernmental Conference, is poisoning the atmosphere. The Problems involved are analysed in this new Government and Research publication “Our Europe” (available in English and French on our internet site) in a positive, and according to Jacques Delors, “shrewd” way. Firstly, the authors, one is a lecturer in political science and director of the European Studies Institute at the Free University of Brussels, the other is a lecturer in international relations at Oxford University, study how the opposition, based on the size of the country, has reached a level of awareness over the course of the last ten years.. The authors look at the “tensions between the countries with the largest populations and those with smallest, which are characteristic of any federal union and which were at the bottom of one of the most significant conflicts at the Philadelphia Convention two centuries ago. The book also looks at the elements of the “original balance” between the three “big” and the three “small” founding countries (the system for weighting votes, the independence of the supranational institutions and the rejection of a permanent presidency), the reasons for the “exacerbation of tension” during the 70s and 80s and finally, the process of the “mass enlargement” which has seen the large countries succumb increasingly to the “Lilyput syndrome” where they see themselves a “giants which could potentially be obstructed by a crown of mini-countries”.
Paul Magnette and Kalypso Nicolaïdis then tackle the many proposals put forward by the Convention, highlighting above all, the Presidency. It is, nevertheless, the third and final part of the study that grips our attention, given that the authors map out how compromises were achieved, which “Jacques Delors “describes as “shrewd” in view of reinventing rather than replacing the original balance of in the Community model. According to Magnette and Nicolaïdis, a synthesis should be based on “a compromise between the institutions, such as the Council for the large countries and the Commission for the small countries” which is not compatible with “a weakening of the Commission and its President”. The synthesis should also include an increase in the efficiency of the institutions and the strengthening of democracy and legitimacy. On this basis they call for the maintaining of the rotating Presidency but in a reformed and corrected shape.
Michel Theys
*** OLIVIER DUHAMEL: Pour l'Europe. Le texte intégral de la Constitution expliqué et commenté. Editions du Seuil (27 rue Jacob, Paris VI. Internet: http://www.seuil.com ). 2003, 435 pp, 21.50 euros. ISBN 2-02-06217-3.
Those who were unable to follow the long months of the work of the European Convention at the time, through the chronicles of Olivier Duhamel, can now revisit the path taken in this book where Duhamel (as a very committed Convention Member) comments on the results of this work and the draft European constitution. Whether the readers are well-versed in European affairs or the opposite, is not important. The book is both instructive and a pleasant read, thanks to a satisf actory combination of the competence of the author and his lively and incisive style. His eloquence is well known to those who have heard his contributions made at the Convention and the European Parliament . Before the French MEP gets to grips with his book, he quite rightly thanks his colleagues Pervenche Berès and Catherine Lalumière (who have worked with him on the Constitution and the Charter of Fundamental Rights), as well as Jean-Louis Quermonne "who helps us to understand Europe so much" -a fitting moment too, for thanking Professor Quermonne. "For Europe" earned Olivier Duhamel the "Book Prize for Europe" awarded for the first time at the end of October during the "European Epernay meetings".
(MG)
*** DAVID FRIGGIERI: The EU and sovereignty towards multi-level governance. Minima Publishers (8 Frères Street, Sliema SLM 14, Malta). 2002, 146 p.. ISBN 99909-999-8-8.
One of the major objectives of the Convention was to simplify, indeed de-mystify the European Institutions. In its initial stages, European construction needed a certain dose, not of obscurantism, but discretion, which was a measure of tranquillity and conformed to the spirit of the époque. In the current era of mass communications, clarity has become more than necessary, in both substance and in the shape of its institutions, as well as in the way they communicate with the general public. In this book, a young Maltese legal expert shaped by the college of Europe in Bruges, examines the potential causes of conflicts between the constitutional makeup of the Union and the national Constitutions. After providing a run down on the debates that pit supporters of a European Constitution with those who oppose it in the name of national sovereignty, David Friggieri makes a determined appeal for a "constitutionnalisation at multiple levels" which could bring the Union and its Member States to act in unison.
(SCh)
*** FRANCOIS D'ARCY: Les politiques de l'Union européenne. Editions Montchrestien (31 rue Falguière, F-75741 Paris cedex 15. Tel.: (33-1) 56541600 - fax: 56541649 - E-mail: info@eja.fr - Internet: http://www.lgdj.fr ). "Clefs/Politique" series. 2003, 152 pp, 11 euros. ISBN 2-7076-1356-8.
This small book presents a didactic synthesis of different European policies. Honorary director at the Institute of Political Studies of Grenoble, François d'Arcy - who now teaches in Brazil, underlines the success and original character of the internal market to unify (without obscuring the efforts that remain to be undertaken) and complete the process. Initially, the author dresses up a balance sheet of what has been done and traces the perspectives for future work, which leads him to note that Community Europe constitutes “the most successful example of regional economic integration”. He then focuses a chapter on the legal-institutional foundations of European policies, calling on the reader to master the complexities of the existing treaties and attempt to grasp how the institutional triangle works, as well as the decision making process. The author then describes the different stages of setting up the single market before illustrating some of its sectors - Common Agricultural Policy, fisheries, general economic interest services, which are subject to exceptions to the rules of free competition, as well as regional policy. After having examined the situation of people in the Union “working for citizens”, d'Arcy looks at the coordination of economic, social and employment policies of Member States. The final chapter covers external Union policies: common trade policy, cooperation and development and common foreign and security policy. A very comprehensive book that provides reliable information for a broad swathe of the public.
(MLe)
*** PHILIPPE MOREAU DEFARGES: La gouvernance. Presses universitaires de France (6 avenue Reille, F-750141 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 46338985 - fax: 58103182). Collection « Que sais-je ? ». 2003, 127 p.. ISBN 2-13-053745-6.
The term “governance” appears in the twelfth century but its update comes at the end of the last century, as the world entered a new era. The collapse of the Soviet block and the end to dreams of the third world movement, gave rise to globalisation. The words are not down to mere chance, “governance is part of the constellation of ideas produced by this phenomenon”. It “plunges its roots into the massive rupture of modernity”. Appearing at the end of the Middle Ages, this liberalization of the sacred world, its secularisation, is part of a permanent and wider quest for “the best management systems of people and resources”. Therefore for governance, decision making is no longer the history of man but the fruit of a “permanent negotiation between social actors, constituted as partners in a vast game”. The author, a lecturer at the Institute of Political Studies in Paris, as well as researcher at “Ifri”, begins by analysing the context for the birth of governance, which allows for a verification of what constitutes a genuine development, and not an enthusiastic but ephemeral illusion. He then explores the three main terrains for the affirmation of governance, business, the State the United Nations. After defining its fundamental constituents, he then traces a provisional balance sheet of the practical experiences of governance and its possible contradictions.
*** SARAH KENT (Editor): Liberal Language. Speeches & essays 1998-2003 by Graham Watson. Bagehot Publishing (Beard's Yard Langport, Somerset TA 10 9PS. E-mail: euro_office@cix.co.uk). 2003, 156 pp., 15 euros, £ 9.50. ISBN 0-9545745-0-8.
Graham Watson was the first British Liberal Democrat to be elected to the European P arliament in June 1994. he therefore had to wait fifteen years after the first European elections in June 1979 when British Liberals delegated by Westminster were already sitting in the non-elected assembly: the flamboyant Russell Johnston comes to mind, a Scot like Watson. Currently there are eleven European Liberal democrats at the European Parliament, including five women, all of whom are very active. For almost ten years, Graham Watson and his colleagues have raised the profile of the Liberals enormously (this is the case, for example, for Andrew Duff, at the European Convention). Watson is involved in this process since January 2002, as president of the Liberal groups when he replaced Pat Cox, who became President of the European Parliament (a group that was formerly presided by Simone Veil and Valéry Giscard d'Estaing etc.). Graham Watson has also been a very dedicated president of the committee for public freedoms, justice and home affairs, working for greater European Parliament control over a policy that is in the middle of its development but which, to the eyes of citizens, is still opaque.
In this publication, Graham Watson, who was leader of the European Liberal Youth Movements and cofounder of the European Community Youth Forum, brings together several speeches of recent years, classifying them into three chapters: "Justice/home affairs" to which he holds very dearly (the most recent was entitled: "Immigrants must be integrated")¸ "construction of the European Union " (where he brings up the euro and the future Constitution) and "international relations"(where he looks at "democracy and liberalism in Taiwan", a subject on which he is also very keen).
"Why did I want to become a MEP rather than an MP at Westminster?", Watson asks himself in the introduction of his section. His response will certainly irritate those who consider that the European Parliament is far from having legitimacy over national parliaments and especially that of the House of Commons: "Due to the feeling that national parliaments had been past by in time. (...) the British parliament appears stagnant, perhaps even in decline (...). the European Parliament, on the contrary, despite its powers limited in 1994 - was a dynamic institution gaining more control over the other institutions whose influence was just as great".
(MG)
*** ALEXANDER H. TRECHSEL, FERNANDO MENDEZ, RAPHAEL KIES: The European Parliament and the Challenge of Internet Voting. The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute (Convento, 19 via delle Fontanelle, I-50016 San Domenico di Fiesole. Tel./fax: (39-055) 4685770 - E-mail: forinfo@iue.it). "Policy Papers" series, No. 03/3. 2003, 24 p..
The European citizen could perhaps be able to vote in the European elections of 2009 by internet. this Policy Paper attempts to respond to this issue by looking at the main points raised in a conference at the European University Institute in Florence which focused on e-voting. After establishing the framework in which this issue is discussed, the authors draw up a balance sheet of the different experiences and ongoing projects, before tackling the feasibility of this way of voting and its potential effects. Their conclusion? Using the Internet network can only improve the democratic process in the Union. Detailed research is still, however necessary, notably for ensuring secure use. They come up with a variety of ways of obtaining this goal. The organisation of a European level forum on e-voting is one of the ways of the researchers to push this project forward.
(NJo)
*** EuroGuide. Directory of the European Union institutions. Editions Delta (416 av. Louise, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (32-2- 2175555 - fax: 2179393 - E-mail: editions.delta@skynet.be). 2003, 648 p., 165 euros. ISBN 2-8029-0161-3.
Launched in 1977, the EuroGuide is now in its twentieth edition. Just like the previous editions, the one for 2003, with 648 pages, provides very detailed information on not just the main actors in the European Union (with an anylitical index of 3,000 entries and an alphabetical index of around 9,000 names, including more than 500 photos of the people and buildings), but also indications (in French and English) on the way the Union institutions work: dates of the European Parliament sessions, main web-sites, institution holidays, national holidays, vademecum used by the diplomatic corps etc. Information that is both necessary and well supported in the expanding Community Europe.
This year, the preface is signed by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who refers to the work accomplished by the European Convention and expresses his wish that "our Constitution can be the foundation and prelude to the Europe of the future".
(MG)
*** EUROPEAN COMMISSION (The Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** The structural polices and territories of Europe: Competition, sustainable development and cohesion in Europe. DG Regional Policy 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, 57 pp.. ISBN 92-894-6008-3.
This publication looks at the means with which the Union deals with certain challenges, such as enlargement and economic structuring brought about by globalisation and which impacts on Europe's regions. It explores the different fields of action covered by European policy and the efforts made to improve regional competitiveness, notably in the field via structural funds, sustainable development, the information society and inter-regional trade. Different on-going projects, as well as those being planned, illustrate the action in each of these sectors.
*** New Neighbours: What does a bigger Europe mean to you?. Local Government International Bureau & The Foreign Policy Centre (Local Government House, Smith Square, London SW1P 3HZ. Tel: (44-20) 76643100 - fax: 76643128 - Internet: http//http://www.lgib.gov.uk - E-mail: enquiries@lgib.gov.uk). 2003, 37 pp.
This publication aims to provide a better understanding of the enlargement situation and the benefits to local British organisations and citizens. It presents, in a succinct manner, the ongoing processes and implications for local British authorities. The pamphlet gives us a brief insight into candidate countries, the links they have with the United Kingdom, as well as the structures of their local authorities.
*** Revue du marché commun et de l'Union européenne. Les éditions techniques et économiques (3 rue Soufflot, F-75005 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 55426130 - fax: 55426139 - Internet: http: //http://www.editecom.com - E-mail: editecom@starnet.fr). October - November 2003, No. 472, 65 p.. Subscription: 202 euros.
At the very moment that France and Germany are being panned, the articles in this publication focuses on the Stability and Growth Pact. Other subjects included in this issue are as follows: police cooperation in the Union, support for the democratisation process begun in Central and Eastern Europe and the fight against maritime pollution.
*** Südosteuropa Mitteilungen. Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft (49 Widenmayerstrasse. D-80538 München. Tel: (49-89) 212154-0 - fax: 2289469 - Internet: http://www.suedosteuropa-gesellschaft.com - E-mail suedosteuropa-gesellschaft@t-online.de ). 2003, No. 4-5, 167 p., 10 euros. Subscription: 50 euros.
Mainly written in German, Südosteuropa looks at social and political affairs and the media in Southern Eastern Europe. This issue focuses on Croatia and Moldavia. Other contributions examine the summit between the Union and the Western Balkans in the context of international justice in Srebrenica, as well as the image of Albanians as seen in the Serbian film “The hornet”».
*** Réalités industrielles. Editions ESKA (12 rue du Quatre-Septembre, F-75002 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 42865573 - fax: 42604535 - Internet: http: //http://www.eska.fr ). « Annales des Mines » series. August 2003, 80 p., 22,11 euros. ISBN 274720578-9.
This issue focuses on energy in France and the world at large. One article looks at the opening up of the French electricity and gas market to competition. It also provides an insight into France's commitment to reduce its carbonic gas emissions by two thirds over the next thirty years. The second part of the publication takes stock of France's energy situation in 2002, following developments since 1973. It also provides a range of analyses of the different energy sectors.
Reviews in Brief
*** Financial Stability Review 2003. National Bank of Belgium. 2003, Brussels. This report underlines the importance the National Bank attaches to maintaining an efficient and solid financial system. It also paints a picture of financial stability. *** News on Cyprus. Press office of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union. August-September 2003, Brussels. It provides a monthly information bulletin from the Cyprus Embassy to the European Union.