*** MARIE-THERESE BITSCH (Ed.): Le fait régional et la construction européenne. Etablissements Emile Bruylant (67 rue de la Régence, B-1000 Bruxelles. Tel: (32-2) 5129845 - Fax: 5117202 - e-mail: info@bruylant.be - Internet: http://www.bruylant.be ). "Organisation internationale et relations internationales" series. 2003, 457 pp, 65 euros. ISBN 2-8027-1786-3.
How does the Regions-Europe couple operate? If not a secret couple, it is often still illegitimate in many areas today. This is the central question posed in this book edited by historian Marie-Thérèse Bitsch, Professor at Robert Schuman University in Strasbourg, with essays by twenty-one specialists, historians, lawyers, political scientists, economists and town and country planners. This central question runs through the book, branching out into a multitude of related, equally important questions. Are the regions a dyanimc element in the European project and have they been such an element in the past? Have they encouraged the emergence of a European identity? Have they played off Europe against the national state? Have they tried to make use of the European institutions and policies for their own ends? And, conversely, has the European Community or even the Council of Europe deliberately encouraged the strengthening of the regions? Do European organisations and the regions have convergent interests? These questions - and many more - are taken by the authors as their starting points. Without claiming to exhaust all avenues, the authors provide pertinent explanations about the reality of regions in the European project. As Prof. Bitsch points out, the regional aspect is far from settled in the current European integration set-up at the current time.
The first part of the book looks at the links between regional ideas and the European idea. The regions are not tête-à-tête with Europe, but have a national state in common as required contact. Prof. Pierre du Bois first analyses the specific nature of the three entities (regions, states and Europe), recalling the sheer diversity of states and regions in Europe. Jean-Michel Guieu and François Saint-Ouen then describe the privileged relations between the regions and Europe as imagined by visionary theoreticians, namely French national Jean Charles-Brun and Swiss national Denis de Rougemont. The latter wrote in 1968 that if we want to unite Europe, we have to start from something other than elements of division, in other words the nation states. Thirty-five years later, the painful nature of work on the European Constitution and the horse-trading over the Presidency of the Commission show he was not necessarily wrong … He in fact called for regions not to be considered in terms of nation state, failing which (resumes Saint-Ouen) the idea of the region would simply add a little more disorder to the disorder of states. Has this danger of 'nationalist' slippage been properly evacuated everywhere? Asking the question is replying to it! Daniela Preda then explains, in the same spirit, the influence of Alcide de Gasperi's regional roots on his European vocation. Sylvain Schirmann then explains how French trade unions wanted to influence the European project to ensure better account was taken of regional interests. Other authors describe other organisations serving the cause of the regions in Europe.
The second part of the book takes a series of different approaches to show how the European Community takes regional interests into account. Prof. Vlad Constantinesco asserts, for example, that the Committee of the Regions, 'a modest organ which started off as not being very representative and a purely consultative body' could become a relay point for the regions, an area of influence and proposals. The third part of the book, entitled "The regions in the European integration process", gives case studies illustrating regional development in its huge diversity and also cross-border cooperation, an illustration of regional dynamism. An enlightening book which reminds one of other such books, in that this issue is central if one wishes to bring Europe closer to its citizens (and the recent European elections provided a reminder of how important it is to take up this challenge).
Michel Theys
*** MASAHISA FUJITA, JACQUES-FRANCOIS THISSE: Economie des villes et de la localisation. Edition De Boeck (39 rue des Minimes, B-1000 Brussels - Internet: http://www.deboeck.com - Distributed by: Accès+, 4 Fond Jean-Pâques, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve - Tel: (32-10) 482511 - Fax: 482519 - e-mail: acces+cde@deboeck.be). Collection du Service des études et de la statistique du Ministère de la Région wallonne. 2003, 559 pp, 42 euros. ISBN 2-8041-4338-4.
This book looks at the power of attraction of urban conglomerations and is the fruit of research carried out at the Universities of Tokyo and Louvain. Business activities bringing together households and companies and the logic behind the organisation of towns and cities is described as being dependent on the nature of human establishments. The authors focus on the huge variety of cities that do not fit into the traditional descriptions of urban life. There is one rule, however, which the authors claim applies to all conglomerations - city-dwellers prefer concentration to anarchy for high income nations are based around a handful of industrial centres in the Northern hemisphere and production per head of population diminishes the further one travels from these centres. At the heart of most industrialised countries, in fact, one finds big cities specialising in certain industries, metropolises with extremely diversified business activity, with industrial zones where companies and big businesses are located, and shopping centres near the city centre. With its microeconomic analysis, the book is an excellent tool for helping to understand the phenomenon of concentration in big conglomerations, which attract economies of scale as much as human population.
(NDy)
*** PANAYOTIS SOLDATOS: Le rôle international des villes à l'aube du troisième millénaire. 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, 134 pp, 35 euros. ISBN 2-8027-1745-6.
The role of cities in the international and national structure has seen some significant changes, first tentative and barely perceptible but then picking up more speed and persistence in recent decades, leading new stakeholders in the urban set-up to take an in-depth look at the structure, governance and international prospects of cities. Although these changes are clear to see in Europe, it is US cities (particularly the big metropolises) which can best serve as laboratories for getting the best understanding of the deep changes underway. For this reason, Prof. Panayotis Soldatos (of Montreal University, visiting professor at Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University in France) chose cities on the other side of the Atlantic for his research, which began in the 1990s. Through an academic approach bearing in mind the concrete concerns of the stakeholders and decision-makers involved, he advances like a doctor with a stethoscope, detecting changes in city structures, forced by the economic necessities of globalisation to seek 'competitive deployment' to head off the risk of a deterioration in society. He analyses the impact of social changes and changes in the role and state power of cities, which have been led to establish their own systems of governance involving a new mixture of the public and private sectors, para-diplomacy, the mobilisation of civil society, rationalisation and strategic planning and the reaffirmation of local identities. With this approach, the author helps the stakeholders in the new urban reality to contribute in the establishment of new and effective governance instruments in a highly fluctuating context where there are rarely any landmarks.
(FRo)
*** DOMINIQUE HOORENS (Ed.): Local finance in the twenty five countries of the European Union - Les finances locales dans les vingt-cinq pays de l'Union européenne. Dexia Edition (7-11 quai André Citroën, BP 1002, F-75015 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 43927913 - Fax: 43927672 - e-mail: dexiaeditions@clf-dexia.com - Internet: http://www.dexia-clf.fr ). 2004, 189 pp, 17 euros. ISBN 2-911065-50-6.
This book makes a comparative analysis of the situation facing local communities in each of the twenty-five EU Member States. Whether arising from recent changes or deeply anchored in history, the institutional landscape and financial situation facing local communities is describes in detail - the geographical and institutional organisations, the powers of the various levels of local authority, local public spending, local income, etc. Designed as a database of knowledge and useful reference material for all institutional stakeholders and local politicians in Europe, this book was commissioned by Dexia, which describes itself as 'the first global banking company specialising in funding local budgets and infrastructure'. Published in a bilingual (English and French) edition, the book is accompanied by a CD-Rom with a translation of the book in the twenty languages of today's Europe (German, English, Danish, Spanish, Estonian, Finnish, French, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Dutch, Polish, Slovak, Slovene, Swedish and Czech).
(MT)
*** FRANK ECKARDT, DIETER HASSENPFLUG: Consumption and the Post-Industrial City. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, CH-2542 Pieterlen, Switzerland. Tel: (41-32) 3761727 - Internet: http: //http://www.peterlang ). "The European City in Transition" series. 2003, 283 pp. ISBN 3-631-39469-1.
Launching a new series of books focussing on cities as a mirror of society and an engine of change, this collection of essays studies industrial transition in the light of its social, political and architechtural implications. Edited by a sociologist from the European Studies Centre at Bauhaus University in Weimar, anda lecturer in sociology and social history, the book's starting point is the strong view that it is consumers these days who shape cities. Using examples culled from different countires of Europe, the authors demonstrate that the mixture of different lifestyles is the necessary womb for revitalising the urban landscape, with consumption serving to lend value to the cultural capital of each of the cities studied.
(LD)
*** BERNARD DEFLESSELLES: La Charte de l'environnement: une valeur commune européenne. Délégation de l'Assemblée nationale pour l'Union européenne (Kiosque de l'Assemblée nationale, 4 rue Aristide Briand, F-75007 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 40636121 - Internet: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr ). "Rapports d'informations" series, No. 1372. 2004, 192 pp, 5 euros. ISBN 2-11-117370-3.
In this day and age, where one ecological disaster follows on from the next (Chernobyl, Seveso, Prestige, etc, and debate surrounding climate change demonstrates that threats are no longer local but have become global, human beings are becoming aware of the deterioration of planet earth. Against this background, the establishment of an Environment Charter was a priority for the French President Jacques Chirac. Prepared by a Committee made up of specialists in various fields (lawyers, politicians, heads of industry, scientists, etc.), the Charter is outlined by French parliamentarian Bernard Deflesselles, who then discusses its various measures and characteristics in the light of European law. This comparative study aims to assess the Charter's scope, particularly in two areas of concern - the precautionary principle and risks of court cases. The Charter also raises the issue of the hierarchy of law, since it alternates national and EU rules. The author comments that it is important not to pit the French constitutional order against its international commitments. He therefore attempts to examine the articles of the draft constitutional law with regard to the primacy of EU law.
(GRu)
*** MARTIN TRYSTRAM: Le dernier arbre. Un message aux jeunes du XXIème siècle. Agence pour un Développement Durable (84/5 av. Paul Hymans, B-1200 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 6600543 / 7719223 - Fax: 6600543 / 7624396 - e-mail: addworld@email.com - Internet: http: //http://www.addint.org ). 2003, 50 pp. ISBN 2-930110-85-6.
This short book for young people - or is it for the young person slumbering inside every adult? - is introduced by Didier Deroy, President of the Agency for Sustainable Development. The excellent sketches are by Martin Trystram, a young French artist. At the start of the booklet, Prince Laurent of Belgium writes to the participants of the 2nd World Congress of Young People, noting that it is they who will in the future be the stakeholders of sustainable development, based on tolerance and solidarity. Messages in the same vein are added by Belgian environment, consumer protection and sustainable development minister Freya Van Den Bossche, George Papandreou, erstwhile Greek foreign minister, and Tassos Papadopoulos, President of the Republic of Cyprus.
(OPa)
*** GUY LENGAGNE, DIDIER QUENTIN: La fixation des quotas de pêche par l'Union européenne pour 2004: un compromis équilibré. Délégation de l'Assemblée nationale pour l'Union européenne (see above). "Documents d'information" series, No. 1337. 2004, 25 pp, 3.50 euros. ISBN 2-11-117495-5.
Fish stocks do not respect borders in their movements and for this reason, a common policy for fisheries is required. The Commission's proposals concerning cutting fishing quota and Total Admissible Catches for 2004 were found to be unacceptable to France and fishing organisations. Fisheries ministers finally reached a compromise solution which is acceptable, explains this report, because it takes account of both social and biological aspects. It means that fishing may continue within certain limits and in the long term, it ensures the rebuilding of the most at-risk fish stocks. The two French parliamentarians who wrote this information report comment that it was the option of sustainable management of resources with gradual rather than point blank measures that won the day.
(GRu)
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** Davantage d'unité et de diversité. DG Press and Communications, Publications Unit (B-1049 Brussels). "L'Europe en mouvement" series, 2003, 22 pp. ISBN 92-894-4599-8
Enlargement of the European Union has given rise to a series of concerns among citizens, both in the original fifteen Member States and in the ten new states. This is why the Commission published this leaflet to provide citizens with information on a series of issues to help dissolve unfounded fears and get a full picture of enlargement. It points out that the accession of countries from the former Soviet bloc, from which we had been separated for nearly half a century, was carefully prepared and subject to a series of very strict criteria. Challenges remain to be tackled of course - the leaflet does not try to hide this - but enlargement is a source of dynamism, both in economic and political and social terms. A brief introductory dossier gives information about each of the acceding countries.
*** Liaisons sociales Europe. Groupe Liaisons (1 av. Edouard-Belin, F-92500 Rueil-Malmaison. Tel: (33-8) 25800929 - Fax: (33-1) 44722027 - Internet: http//http://www.liaisons-sociales.com ). April-May 2004, No. 103, 12 pp, 32 euros. Annual subscription: 867.85 euros.
This issue gives pride of place to what is often seen as one of the scourges of our time - stress. The first page looks at stress at work. The illnesses caused by stress at work are not included in lists of professional illnesses and are only recognised (on a case by case basis) in six EU countries. Another article looks at British regulations on workplace stress and employers' and workers' duties with regard to combatting stress. Other articles look at the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work and risks in the construction sector, and the ban on stipulating pension ages in Spanish collective bargaining agreements.
***Carrefour de l'Economie. SPF Economie, PME, Classes moyennes et Energie (6 rue de l'Industrie, B-1000 Brussels. Fax: (32-2) 5134657 - e-mail: Carrefour@mineco.fgov.be). 2004, Nos. 3A&B, 24 pp.
Negotiations between South America and the European Union over framework agreements and economic cooperation are only just kicking off, but they are sometimes greeted with scepticism. The Association Agreement between the EU and Chile seems to be an example of a well designed, balanced agreement. This Carrefour de l'Économie newsletter publishes research briefly describing the different stages in the penning of the agreement, and goes on to highlight and comment on important areas. It then paints a picture of Chile's trading relations with the European Union and with Belgium more specifically. The publications also provides macroeconomic data, information about the economy, investments and consumer prices.
*** 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. May 2004, 86 pp, 22.11 euros. Annual subscription (Réal. Ind. + one other publication from the same series.): 158 euros. ISBN 274720667-X.
The main subject of this issue is Charbonnages de France and its impact on society. Between the first surface coal mines in the thirteenth century to the present day disappearance of coal mining, an entire history unfolded, a world with profound social implications lived and worked. Réalités Industrielles describes changes in the industry, along with the final somersaults and heritage. More than a dozen other articles look at industrial changes, the social challenge they raise and the role of the state in this process. Other articles consider issues like the illusion of training in how to open one's own business or call centres.
*** Hémisphères. Consortium "6 novembre" (25 rue Gratès, B-1170 Brussels. E-mail: info@hemispheres.be - Internet: http://www.colophon.be ). March-April-May 2004, No. 24, 12 pp. Annual subscription: 9 euros.
Hémisphères asks whether African associations are autonomous or used by money lenders. One the one hand, money lenders' demands sometimes turn local NGOs into little more than executive agents, but they also allow a reference framework to be established for non profit-making initiatives and other promoting the common good. Another article looks at the corridors of war in Kosovo and the current battle of strength the western powers are engaged in. Other articles look at the tricky issue of how to share water resources.