*** JEAN-VICTOR LOUIS, ASSIMAKIS P. KOMNINOS (Editor): The Euro. Law, Politics, Economics. The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JP, UK. Tel.: (44-20) 78625151 - fax: 78625152 - E-mail: info@biicl.org - Internet: http://www.biicl.org ). 2003, 527 pp., £80. ISBN 0-903067-58-7.
A comprehensive insight into the introduction of the Euro (including arguments against its introduction in the United Kingdom and Sweden), this collectively written book follows on from “the Euro in the National context”, published in 2002 by the same editor for which the author was also Professor Jean-Victor Louis from the University of Brussels and the European Institute of Brussels and the European University Institute of Florence. This monumental effort, indispensable in all top public and private libraries is the result of “the Euro Spectator Project”, which brought together numerous institutions, including the European University Institute.
In this book, thirty contributions analyse the problems raised at a national level, with the introduction (current or residual) of the Euro, as well as trans-national aspects of this event, such as the fact that Union enlargement of the Union or possible risks of the possible difficulties linked to the provisions of the Stability and Growth Pact. Together with the economic and legal analyses, the reader is provided with analyses of the attitudes of the public and political parties, as well as of the governments. The example of Sweden is particularly significant.
It is impossible to provide a description in few lines of such a broad and wide ranging book. It will also act as a future reference guide given that it will clarify subsequent research and action of decision maker in the current euro zone, current and enlarged.
Jacques-René Rabier
*** ALBERTO MALATESTA: La Banca Centrale Europea. Gli aspetti istituzionali della Banca centrale della Comunità europea. Giuffrè editore (40 via Busto Arsizio, I-20151 Milan. Tel.: (39-2) 38089290 - fax: 38009582 - Internet: http://www.giuffre.it ). "Studi e pubblicazioni di diritto della LIUC" series. 2003, 265 p., 20 euros. ISBN 88-14-10445-X.
This comprehensive book examines the European Central Bank in all its different angles: its creation, the role of Member States, Community architecture and its normative power. Professor Maletesta also looks at external Union relations in monetary affairs, use of economic policy and what the Community does, as well as the consequences of this policy internationally. Ten years after the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty and the introduction of the new single currency in January 2002 was, for this university lecturer from the University of Castellanza, the cumulative point of a long and laborious process of integration but also, at the same time, an excellent starting point for deepening other relations between Member States of the community. He is not alone in believing that the voluntary abandonment, by twelve countries of their national currencies for the Euro, constitutes one of the best examples of limiting sovereignty in the history of international relations.
(MRo)
*** GUIDO FERRARINI, KLAUS J. HOPT, EDDY WYMEERSCH (Editor): Capital Markets in the Age of the Euro. Cross-Border Transactions, Listed Companies and Regulation. Kluwer Law International (P.O. Box 85889, 2508 CN The Hague, The Netherlands. E-mail: sales@kli.wkap.nl - Internet: http: //www.kluwerlaw.com). 2002, 607 pp., 150 euros. ISBN 90-411-1737-7
What effects have the single European currency and new information and communication technologies had on the law and regulation on the capital markets? Twenty eight legal experts and economists, including practitioners and well known figures from the European and US academic world have examined this issue. In this book, the subjects covered go beyond the Action Plan of the community's financial services, particularly in the area of corporate law. The authors look into issues linked to e-commerce, cross-border markets, cross-border takeovers and legal conflicts. Meeting up in Geneva in November 2000, the authors integrated their analyses of the implications of the Lamfalussy Report and the different proposals adopted by the Commission. This book presents the probable developments of investment practices, regulation measures, financial and corporate law..
(IDo)
*** GABRIELE TONDL, GORAN VUKSIC: What makes regions in Eastern Europe catching up ? The role of foreign investment, human resources and geography. Forschunginstitut Europafragen, Wirtschaftsuniversität Vienna / Research Institute for European Affairs, University of Economics and Business Administration Vienna (39-45 Althanstrasse, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Tel.: (43-1) 313364135 - fax: 31336758 - E-mail: europafragen@wu-wien.ac.at). "IEF Working Papers" series, No.51. 2003, 39 pp., 7.20 euros.
As well as having integrated the Community Acquis into their national legislation, future Member States of Eastern Europe have also carried out a process of "economic catching up". This study identifies the factors involved in regional growth which have prevailed in this part of Europe over the second part of the 1990s and aims to explain why the gap has widened between the regions with dynamic growth and others that have hardly kept up. Up to now, research into this field was essentially focused on the causes for the successful transition, such as institutional reforms and market liberalisation. This time it is growth in the post transition period which is examined by the authors. After exploring the literature on the subject and putting forward some hypotheses, they elaborate a theoretical model and compare it to the empirical data in order to corroborate or contradict the initial premises. The study's conclusion illustrates a certain number of surprising aspects of economic growth. The fundamental importance of direct investment from abroad is borne out but the results are more mixed when it comes to education. The Union's border regions, already high growth areas, are the highest achievers, accentuating therefore the phenomenon of spatial dependency. The authors highlight the major challenges that decision makers and Union regional policy will have to deal with, notably, infrastructure development of transport and a more effective relationship between qualifications and the labour market.
(STu)
*** PAUL-F SMETS: Gestion responsable, développement durable: éthiques ou étiquettes pour notre avenir? 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, 104 p., 15 euros. ISBN 2-8027-1790-1.
"Mad cow disease", unsafe ships like the Erika and the Prestige, global warming, the danger and fear of genetically modified organisms, human cloning etc are some of the "Swords of Damocles" hanging above our heads. On the other side, revolts and protests at international summits, a burgeoning in non governmental organisations and the new role of "civil society" are also part of our daily lives. In this situation, new concepts have appeared, which attempt to reconcile economic factors and society, the safeguard of the planet and human welfare: sustainable development - in three dimensions: ecological, economic and social - ethics and responsible care are those most mentioned. Nowadays, political, economic and scientific communities interpret ethics as they see fit but as priorities. The Commission's “Green Paper” on corporate responsibility, codes of good conduct and fair trade, the world summit on sustainable development in Johannesburg under the leadership of the United Nations, responsible care in the chemical industry are some of the most striking examples of this increase in power. Ethics, in the wider sense of the word are therefore becoming a reality. Nevertheless, the author of this compact book (number of pages) explains that ethics now often appear as a kind of label of having a clear conscience or a fashionable marketing tool. It will therefore have to evolve. The final stage, according to Paul-F Smets, Emeritus Professor at the Free University of Brussels, is to integrate sustainable development into the accounting systems of companies and hoist ethics up to the rank of management technology. Smets assures us that “companies will become citizens or they won't survive…sustainable development will be democratic or is won't exist”.
(SEt)
*** CLAUS-DIETER EHLERMANN, LOTHAR EHRING: WTO Dispute Settlement and Competition Law. Views from the Perspective of the Appellate Body's Experience. The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute (Convento, 9 via dei Roccettini, I-50016 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy. Tel./fax: (39-055) 4685775 - E-mail: forinfo@iue.it). "Policy Paper" series, No. 02/12. 2002, 49 p..
The future framework of competition policy at the WTO has produced certain reservations concerning its field of application. This document explores how the WTO system for resolving disputes is applied to certain cases in the context of competition and aims to clarify the objections raised and the way in which the problems can be settled.
(SCh)
*** JEAN-YVES PRAX: Le Manuel du Knowledge Management. Une approche de 2ème génération. Editions Dunod (Paris. Internet: http: //http://www.dunod.com ). "Stratégies et Management" series, 2003, 467 pp., 52.22 euros. ISBN 2-10-004717-5.
This book focuses on Knowledge Management - and aims to “connect knowledge and intelligence in order to strengthen innovation and productivity”. Structured in two parts, one section looks at theoretical notions and practices in this concept, the other section looks at the keys for the application of this managerial approach. The manual aims to get rid of the all too present psychological barriers between traditional leaders and the way to more success in their businesses. It also looks at the distrust of certain instruments, ways of thinking, mentalities, by putting them in the same boat, whereas different players have something to contribute and their individual and collective strengths could be harnesses accordingly. Cooperative strategies, knowledge and collective intelligence, in the direction of a common effort, changes in the paradigm towards the knowledge based economy (sometimes referred to as noetic), confidence in sharing as some of the areas explore. These ideas, if not always totally new, have been left on the sidelines but due to a certain boost are now being accepted in the context of a new century, governed under the sin of Knowledge Sharing and appropriation of different materials.
(FOc)
*** RODOLPHE DURANT: Guide du management stratégique. 99 key concepts. Editions Dunod (see address attached). "Stratégies et Management" series. 2003, 367 p.. ISBN 2-10-005804-5.
This "Guide" is an indispensable tool for those involved in a wide range of levels of enterprise management and provides some useful insights (sometimes intuitive, scientific or understood differently according to the sectors of application) into the terms employed in this field. How many communications, instructions or simple informal exchanges are missed out or ignored, which sometimes lead to disaster, simply due to a lack of consensus on the content, the connotation or even the translation of the misunderstood terms? New buzz words, technical terms are a source of mutual incomprehension, and the flourishing of terms such as “opportunity”, “innovation”, “growth”, “profit”, “justice” or “legitimacy” have their limits, benchmarks, common basis on which everyone should analyses during or after every exchange of strategic ideas, in order to avoid misunderstandings. This book could serve as a kind of “strategic management guide for dummies” and which also informs us that we only master a tiny percentage of the notions dealt with in this domain and whose most basic meanings has been lost over time.
(PBu)
*** CEDRIC DUCROCQ: La nouvelle distribution. Marketing, management, développement: des modèles à réinventer. Editions Dunod (see address attached ). "Stratégies et Management" series. 2002, 191 pp, 26.18 euros. ISBN 2-10-006728-1.
The strength of this book, written by an entrepreneur, is that it attacks the tunnel vision existing in the distribution business. Taking as his premise the fact that distribution in France has been radically transformed, the author invents a new model. How can things remain reactive and not proactive, given the scale and complexity of companies? How can we remain close to the customer base and at the same time build a genuine marketing focus? How can the “process” be optimised without demotivating shop personnel? What are the limitations to exporting concepts? A lot of question and a lot of answers are provided by the author, who also identifies new performance factors in this sector. He characterises his ideas with the vibrant appeal of, “Long live trade” and also provides a very useful glossary.
(LD)
*** EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** It's your Europe: Living, learning and working anywhere in the EU. DG for Press and Communication (B-1049 Brussels). “Europe on the Move” series. August 2003, 22 p. ISBN 92-894-5950-6.
This publication presents European citizens with opportunities for greater mobility. It provides useful information for workers, students, and pensioners. It also includes the addresses of webs sites for those who may be seeking additional information.
***Le Courrier ACP-UE. DG development (B-1049 Brussels. Internet: http: //europa.eu.int/ comm/development/body/publicationd/publications_courier_fr.htm). September - October 2003, No. 200, 48 p..
This magazine for the promotion of development cooperation focuses on dialogue policy, which came into being just after the conclusion of the Cotonou agreement. This issue does not only concentrate on the healthy economic relationship between the two groups of countries but also on the political and social progress that has been achieved. The magazine also analyses the fallout from the Ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation held in Cancun last September. The magazine also includes a reportage on the Cook Islands.
*** Liaisons sociales Europe. Groupe Liaisons (1 Avenue Edouard-Belin, F-92500 Rueil-Malmaison. Tel: (33-825) 825371 - fax: (33-1) 44722027 - Internet: http//http://www.ls-europe.com ). November 2003, No. 92, 8 p., 31 euros. subscription: 757.58 euros.
Liaisons sociales Europe examines labour market reforms (not particularly innovative) proposed by the employment task force. The publication also looks at the question of "soft laws", non-binding standards from the European legislative arsenal. The main article in this issue focuses on the second section of the dossier in the fight against racial discrimination.
*** Rivista di studi politici internazionali. (40 Lungarno del Tempio, I-50121 Firenze. Tel: (39-55) 666384). July - September 2003, No. 279, 536 p., subscription: 62 euros.
Contributions to this Florentine publications focuses on the influence of the Catholic church in international relations, particularly ethics. It also deals with the phenomenon of the erosion of the dialectic tradition, tensions in the Muslim world and the origins for the " Al-Aksa intifada". A profile of Dino Del Bo, as well as contributions on the European and world economies. As usual, a certain number of other useful documents complete this publication, such as the conclusions of the Greek Presidency and the “Road Map”
*** Dokumente. Gesellschaft für übernationale Zusammenarbeit e.V. (86 Dottendorfer Straße, D-53129 Bonn. Tel. (Editorial): (49-2) 289239805 - fax (Editorial.): 28690385 - Internet: http://www.guez-dokumente.org - E-mail: guez.dokumente@gmx.net). October 2003, No. 5, 120 p., 3,90 euros. Subscription: 16.90 euros.
This Franco-German review includes contributions from the two countries: Alain Lamassoure and Pierre Lequiller, for example. They asses the Convention and scrutinise the method used, as well as providing a analysis of its influence on Franco-German dialogue.
*** Dossier thématique de l'Assemblée des Régions d'Europe. ARE - Bureau Europe (20 Place des Halles, F-67000 Strasbourg. Tel: (33-3) 88220707 - fax: 88756719 - Internet: http://www.a-e-r.org -E-mail: infopresse@a-e-r.org). Autumn 2003, No. 3, 4 p., subscription: 95 euros.
Through its president Liese Prokop, the Assembly of the Regions of Europe have welcomed the draft Constitution, which recognises the role of the regions. The reader will also find an analysis of what the draft means for these regions.
Reviews in brief
*** Slovenia News. Government PR and Media Office. November 2003, Ljubljana. This review presents the conclusions of the report on the level of preparations of this country for joining the EU. *** France - Armenia. France -Armenia. November 2003, Lyon. This November issue of this magazine is aimed at the Armenian community in France, with the main article looking at mixed relationships.