*** SIXTEN KORKMAN: Economic Policy in the European Union. Palgrave Macmillan (Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS United Kingdom - Internet: http://www.palgrave.com ). 2005, 214 pp. ISBN 1-4039-4344-3.
Is the European Union a national bureaucracy leading to importune, undemocratic action? Or is it rather an innovative system which uses subtle ways to overcome antagonistic barriers connected with national borders, and hence ensure peace and prosperity in Europe? These are the questions that this book is based around as it attempts to comprehend and assess the EU in the light of its economic system. In fact, its author has the perfect profile for undertaking such an enterprise. Firstly, he is a trained economist, as makes itself felt in some parts of the book where there are some fearsome equations which might even put some readers off, but most of the book is perfectly intelligible for any European with a smattering of knowledge about the EU's political and institutional life. Secondly, he is Finnish and has been working since 1995 as Director General for Economic and Social Affairs at the Secretariat General of the Council, which means he spends a lot of his time on the ECOFIN Council and the Eurogroup. This makes him ideally placed as an expert outlining his views, and also a 'new' European in a sense, who has had to find his bearings in order to be able to understand the 'complexity and opacity of the European Union's system of economic governance'. The book bears witness to the fact that its author is perfectly at home in it.
When should collective action be chosen, rather than leaving the task to markets and private initiative? And when should supranational (or EU) action be preferred to action by national governments and intergovernmental cooperation? These two questions form the backdrop to the entire book and the author first provides general answers (the basis of economic policy, shortcomings on the markets or, on the contrary, shortcomings in state action, the essence of the EU, rational operations of action by the EU in the economic area, etc) before setting them against the backdrop of macroeconomic policies and how they mesh with structural policies, fiscal affairs and the EU budget. Sixten Korkman also examines differences between intergovernmental and supranational activity, with a whole chapter given over to describing the EU's institutional architecture.
The concluding chapter comments on key aspects of the EU's economic performance and its system of governance. The author's makes a resolutely optimistic case, explaining that his arguments are intended to convince readers that the European Union's system of governance is the opposite of what public rumours suggest, and is everything but 'lack of efficiency, heavy bureaucracy and with little responsibility'. The multi-method system of governance of the European Union, with its clear framework for working on microeconomic policies with the Common Market and on macroeconomic policies with EMU, combines reasonable robustness with considerable flexibility, he explains. Hence there is no need, on the 'big night', for fundamental reforms, a much bigger EU budget or European economic governance. Above, all, concludes Sixten Korkman, responsible and effective action by the Member States will continue to be the key to success, both in the Member States and in the EU as a whole. Food for thought for participants at the Spring European Council…
Michel Theys
*** HOLGER B. FRIEDRICH: Reformen durch Europa - Zur Transformation der politischen Handlungsfähigkeit in der Europäischen Währungsunion. Eine Analyse aus deutscher Sicht. Europa Union Verlag (Bonn) et Centrum für angewandte Politikforschung (21 Maria-Theresia-Str., 81675 Munich. Tel.: (49-89) 2180-1305 - Fax: 2180-1329 - Internet: http: //http://www.cap.uni-muenchen.de ). "Münchner Beiträge zur Europäischen Einigung" series, No. 9. 2004, 352 pp. ISBN 3-7713-0618-3.
This academic monograph is the doctoral thesis of a young German economist and political scientist from Munich University, looking at the economic and political impact of the single currency from the German point of view. In Friedrich's opinion, the Economic and Monetary Union is both community and stability, solidarity and destiny. The author comments that the EMU framework exerts considerable pressure on national governments and requires Europeanisation of political and economic policies, which he describes as "Regieren im Verbund" (combined governing). After outlining the key factors, institutions and procedures of EMU, the book highlights the impulses, conflicts and modernisation effects that monetary Europe has brought in its wake for budgetary, economic, and employment policies in the Member States. Hence European Economic and Monetary Union, writes Holger Friedrich in a very optimistic vein, provides an opportunity to pursue vital structural reforms at the national level. Well-structured, traditional research expressing complete faith in the monetary logic of the European Community and the systemic change wrought by the current legal and political foundations of the single currency. (PB)
*** JUAN CARLOS GONZALEZ, DANIEL GUEGUEN: L'€: outil de la construction européenne ou instrument pour sa destruction. Europe Information Service Publishing (66 av. Adolphe Lacomblé, B-1030 Brussels. Tel.: (32-2) 7377709 - Fax: 7326757 - E-mail: eis@eis.be - Internet: http://www.eis.be ). 2005, 96 pp, €17.
Is it possible today to be certain about the survival nature of the euro, or should we be asking objective questions about its short-, medium- and long-term future? For the authors of this book, questions of this nature are not out of place since it is not too late for changes at the level of the euro area. Firstly, because the economies of the countries in the area of the single currency are very different from one another and the euro, an economic lever for good, virtuous, countries becomes a ball and chain for less efficient economies in the eurozone. Next, because the currency is essentially a federal tool yet from one round of enlargement to the next, the European Union is turning into a simple free trade zone, having deliberately given up on any federal ambitions. Finally, because the euro has not contributed in any way to the emergence of European citizenship, meaning that euroscepticism will be destined to grow during future enlargements. After developing this analysis, journalist Juan Carlo Gonzalez and consultant Daniel Guéguen distinguish four possible scenarios, namely 'sustainable success' (which they scant faith in), 'getting out of the crisis from above', 'getting out of the crisis from below' (Guéguen is more pessimistic than Gonzalez), or "the bleak scenario (the Argentina scenario)". To provide hard-headed remedies, the authors finally advance and weigh up seven suggestions: making states respect the Stability Pact, completing harmonisation of the single market as rapidly as possible, using strengthened cooperation, putting an end to the process of enlarging the EU, generalising labour flexibility, promoting scaled-back states and building a citizens' Europe. (MT)
*** MICHEL DUMOULIN (Ed.): Réseaux économiques et construction européenne - Economic Networks and European Integration. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes - Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.net ). "Euroclio" series, No. 29. 2004, 499 pp. ISBN 90-5201-234-2.
It is not often that the idea of economic networks has been looked at by historians in terms of governance. The proceedings of a conference held in Brussels by the Institut d'études européennes at the Université catholique de Louvain (Belgium) and the Fundación Academia Europea de Yuste in October2002 in this book edited by Prof. Michel Dumoulin attempts to do this through two series of questions. Firstly, what economic players (aside from public authorities) are combating or carrying forward the European project and what are their aims? Secondly, through complex combinations of relations, how do these players influence decisions, attitudes or directions when it comes to the management of the European Unit? Twenty-eight detailed articles answer these questions while taking into account problems of method, reports by players and the questions put before contemporary decision-makers. The industry networks studied include steel and chemicals, the car industry and defence. There are also chapters on institutional economic milieus and monetary milieus, with particularly attention being paid to Robert Triffin. Employers and trade unions post-1945 are also put under the microscope. (MT)
*** MICHEL DELEBARRE, DANIEL GARRIGUE: La stratégie de Lisbonne: stratégie d'une Europe plus volontaire. Délégation pour l'Union européenne de l'Assemblée nationale (Boutique de l'Assemblée nationale, 4 rue Aristide Briand, F-75007 Paris. Tel.: (33-1) 40636121 - Internet: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr ). "Les rapports d'information de l'Assemblée nationale" series, No. 2102. 2005, 88 pp, €3.50. ISBN 2-11-118987-1.
The 22 and 23 March European Council will revamp the Lisbon Strategy. The French national assembly's 'délégation pour l'Union européenne' has prepared for the summit by publishing this newsletter, whose authors begin by recalling the content of a strategy that was over-ambitious at the outset and has led to a disappointing mid-term review. They then recall the diagnosis made by the Wim Kok Report, making a strong positive review of the proposals put forward by the Commission for re-activating the Lisbon Strategy. They conclude that it needs to be stepped up and clarified on various levels. Firstly, in its aims, where the need for an industrial strategy should be set out, for example. Michel Delebarre and Daniel Garrigue also believe that issues like the Community patent, the European Technology Institute, company tax and reforming state aid should be clarified. The strategy's instruments and scope also have to be adjusted, and the authors stress areas like the need to rehash the general services directive, or the 'vital link' between review of the Lisbon Process and reform of the Stability Pact, since they see the Structural Funds as a necessary complement to the Lisbon Strategy. Finally, they explain how and why Lisbon's implementation also has to be revised. (MT)
*** MICHAELA SEIFERT: Rechtliche Grundlagen des Bologna-Prozesses und der Lissabon-Strategie. Europainstitut der Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (39-45 Althanstraße, A-1090 Vienna. Tel.: (43-1) 31336-4135, -4134, -4133 - Fax: 31336-758, -756 - E-mail: europafragen@wu-wien.ac.at). "EI Working Papers", No. 56. 2004, 51 pp, €7.20.
In this concise yet wide-ranging study, Michaela Seifert, researcher at the European Institute of Vienna's Wirtschaftsuniversitaet, looks at the foundations and legal and political consequences of harmonising academic higher education in Europe. She retraces the main developments on two levels, namely the Bologna Process involving 29 countries in Europe, and the Lisbon Strategy, restricted to the EU25. She supplements her research with a critical analysis of the application and transposition of these two initiatives in Austrian legislation. This useful and brief legal study contains a wisely selected practical bibliography including internet links to official texts and other sources of information.
(PB)
*** ANNE-MARIE COMPARINI: L'Europe des services: les conditions pour une réussite économique et sociale. Délégation pour l'Union européenne de l'Assemblée nationale (see above)."Les rapports d'information de l'Assemblée nationale" series, No. 2053. 2005, 75 pp, €3.50. ISBN 2-11-118631-7.
In this Rapport d'information, Anne-Marie Comparini unpicks the draft directive unveiled by the previous Commission to remove obstacles to the free circulation of services. She shares this objective, aware of its strategic importance for the European economy. The French parliamentarian is not prepared, however, to endorse the proposal currently on the table because, as she hammers home, completion of the internal market should be 'an opportunity, rather than a source of concern for workers, consumers and service providers'. The author notes that this is not guaranteed in the slightest by the current draft legislation. Her criticisms focus mainly on the principle of the country of origin, intended to facilitate the free provision of services. In Anne-Marie Comparini's view, it amounts to abandoning the harmonisation method and marks a radical break with the European idea of economic and social cohesion, not to mention the fact it that presents a risk of social and legal dumping that would stimulate unfair competition and a fall in quality of the services on offer. For this reason, she argues, the European Commission should have a radical re-think.
(MT)
*** DANIEL GARRIGUE: Les nouveaux enjeux de la recherche publique: pilotage et émergence des équipes de chercheurs. Délégation pour l'Union européenne de l'Assemblée nationale (see above). "Les rapports d'information de l'Assemblée nationale" series, No. 1885. 2005, 110 pp, €5. ISBN 2-11-118819-0.
This well documented Rapport d'information looks at reform of public research in France in the light of practice in Germany and the United Kingdom, and also in the European Union and the United States.
(LD)
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** RDT info. DG Research -Information & Communications Unit (Tel.: (32-2) 2959971 - Fax: 2958220 - E-mail: redearch@cec.eu.int - Internet: europa.eu.int/research/index_fr.cfm). February 2005, No. 44, 40 pp.
This issue of RDT info has been published in the framework of the European Commission's 'Earth and Space Week' and therefore naturally includes a dossier on the science and technology of observing planet earth, generally from space. The useful nature of these observations has been underlined by the tsunami in December, since such surveillance helps us get a better understanding of natural phenomena on earth and also the impact of human activity on planet earth. The review also casts a look at Polish research. Copernicus, a famous Pole, would be proud of the country since it is one of the most active European poles, particularly for mathematics, physics and astronomy. Private sector research though is lagging behind. RDT info also introduces the winners of the Descartes Prize, rather like the EU's Nobel Prize, awarded to teams whose research could not have been carried out without international collaboration.
*** Metamorphosis. European Environmental Bureau (34 bld de Waterloo, B-1000 Brussels. Tel.: (32-2) 2891090 - Fax: 2891099 - E-mail: eeb@eeb.org - Internet: http://www.eeb.org ). January 2005, No. 36, 8 pp..
This review looks forward to the 23 and 24 March European Summit, where decisions on the Lisbon Strategy will reveal whether preserving the environment is still seen as a key area for the EU. Meanwhile, the review publishes an interview with Karl-Heinz Florenz, President of the European Parliament's Environment Committee. It also looks back at the Dutch Presidency's environmental record. After starting off very promisingly, it was unable to deliver all that was expected of it. The review then looks at what the Luxembourg Presidency might achieve in this domain. Other articles consider REACH (chemicals legislation) and the EU's policy with regard to nano particles.
*** Europe Infos. Catholic European Study and Information Centre, Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Community. (42 rue de Stévin, B-1000 Brussels. Tel.: (32-2) 2350510 - Fax: 230334 - E-mail: europeinfos@comece.org). January 2005, No. 67, 12 pp. Annual subscription: 27 euros.
This issue opens with an article on the European Union's new social priorities, which place greater emphasis on the family and young people, particularly through the idea of a 'Pact for Youth' as set out by Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schröder, José Zapatero and Göran Persson. Other articles look at external relations, studying China (where a number of issues remain to be settled, like Taiwan, human rights and the arms embargo) and Russia (a heavyweight neighbour whose relation with the EU are subject to particular scrutiny). This issue also includes an article by Joe Borg, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Commissioner, who highlights the need to step up dialogue and consolidate the new European Union. Other articles call for closer connections between science and society and describe Christianity's influence on Christian values.
*** La lettre du CEPII. Centre d'études prospectives et d'informations internationales (9 rue Georges-Pitard, F-75015 Paris. Tel.: (33-1) 53685514 - Fax: 53685503 - Internet: http://www.cepii.fr ). December 2004, No. 240, 4 pp. Annual subscription: 49.50 euros.
La lettre du CEPII looks at Turkey's journey from Customs Union to potentially joining the EU from the viewpoint of the impact of this process on opening markets and trade with Turkey. Still a very closed economy at the end of the 1970s, the Turkish economy now displays a similar level of openness to big European countries. The newsletter outlines Turkey's broad industrial and export policy and gives a breakdown of its exports to Europe and the world in general. It also takes a closer look at the influence of the process of opening the markets on two important industries in Turkey, namely textiles and vehicles.
Reviews in brief
***College of Europe News. Alumni Association of the College of Europe. Winter 2004 - Spring 2005, Brussels. A six monthly newsletter about the activities of the College of Europe, like the recent visit by President Barroso.