*** KRZYSZTOF POMIAN, HENRI DUPUIS (Eds.): De l'Europe-Monde à l'Europe dans le monde. De Boeck & Larcier (39 rue des Minimes, B-1000 Brussels. Internet: http://www.deboeck.com ). 2004, 217 pp. ISBN 2-8041-4530-1.
The time has passed when Europe thought it was the centre of the world. After almost collapsing body and soul on two occasions, it has learned to be modest and leave it to others to believe they set the 'standards of civilisation', as Antoinette Spaak and Karel Van Miert put it in the preface. Does Europe even still believe it is an incarnation of values supposed to have universal validity? Not certain. However, as Guy Verhofstadt points out in the opening speech of the second international conference organised by the Musée de l'Europe (the proceedings of which are published in this book), Europe has since given birth to the European Union, the 'miracle of the twentieth century'. In this sense, writes the Belgian prime minister, it can play a radically different role in today's world. It is still necessary, in this connection, for Europeans first to manage to define the role they assign to Europe in the process of globalisation and then to clarify the values that differentiate them from the rest of the world. This is what the authors of this both illuminating and passionate book, academics and politicians, do by embroidering on the theme in complete freedom.
Looking at 'Europe in the world', the first chapter opens with a contribution by Pascal Lamy, describing 'Europe faced with globalisation'. At the time he was still European Trade Commissioner, and points out (who remembers this today?) that the European project was in Jean Monnet's eyes merely a step in the direction of organising tomorrow's world. The current candidate to head the World Trade Organisation says he is convinced the European Union is the laboratory of a kind of globalisation, of managed rationalisation, which, in the eyes of the rest of the world is, and remains, a reference of what a social market economy would be like at planet level. Prof. Michel Dumoulin (Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium) then sheds light on "Europe in the world around 1900" (defending Great Britain as inheriting a 'culture of multiple horizons'), after which Krzysztof Pomian, Scientific Director at the Musée de l'Europe, compares European civilisation to other civilisations. To those who think European civilisation has abandoned all claims to any kind of superiority, he remarks that all immigrants come to find in the West goods they cannot find at home, thereby bearing silent witness that they believe Western civilisation to be superior to the civilisation they are leaving behind, which leads him to argue: "If the gestation of a global civilisation were effectively taking place, we would be authorised to suppose it would most likely be built on the model of Western civilisation today because, under the influence of the demands of the economy, migration and communication techniques, the needs, aspirations and expectations of an ever increasing number of people are gradually becoming analogous with those of Westerners".
For this scenario to come about, the challenges of globalisation (the theme of the second chapter) would have to be taken up. In the opinion of Louis Michel, at the time still Belgian foreign minister, it is time to build a public area in this connection to take account of globalisation since it is true that simply parading the power of the market and money has enough political power to humanise globalisation and protect citizens' interests. Going on to dismantle a series of false ideas about globalisation, Etienne Davignon, erstwhile Vice-President of the Commission, does not disagree, diagnosing 'insufficient organisation and structure at the universal level and insufficient taking into account at regional level of the reality of sociological change in our society'. Coordinator of German-US cooperation at the German foreign ministry, Karsten D. Voigt looks at the challenges of Europe in terms of foreign and security policy in the process of globalisation, while researcher Eddy Fougier (Institut français des relations internationales) provides a very interesting history and cartography of rejections of globalisation.
"Integration and diversification: Europe, the regions and communities" is the title of the third chapter, where Belgian minister Hugo Schiltz makes an enthusiastic case for assertion of the regions. In his view, it would be a mistake to hand over to the monopoly of former nation states to decide on Europe's structure and fate. But he does not view a policy of particular treatment as any more favourable, warning that replacing the Europe of nation states of the nineteenth century with a Europe of regional states in the former traditional sense of the word would be a stupid and dangerous operation. Xavier Gizard, Secretary General of the Conference of the Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe, describes the rising power of the regional in Europe, while Philippe Destatte, Director of the Institut Jules Destrée, looks more specifically at regions with legislative powers.
The final chapter is entitled "European values, Universal values", with essays by a historian (Prof. Hartmut Kaelbe of Humboldt University in Berlin) an economist (Philippe Van Parijs, holder of the Hoover Chair in economic and social ethics at the Université catholique de Louvain), and the outcome of a round table discussion. The conclusions are drawn by Alain Minc, who encourages us to gobble up every last morsel of the book!
Michel Theys
*** PIERRE VERCAUTEREN, MARIO TELO, CLAUDE ROOSENS, ERIC REMACLE (Eds.): Globalization: who governs? Institut Royal des Relations Internationales (69 rue de Namur, B-1000 Brussels. Tel.: (32 2)2234114 - Fax: 2234116 - E-mail: studia.diplomatica@irri-kiib.be - Internet: http://www.irri-kiib.be ). "Studia Diplomatica" series, Vol. LVII, 2004, No. 1, 168 pp. ISBN 2-930432-00-4.
This publication follows in the wake of the preceding publication, deepening angles of research by focussing on the highly topical issue of governance in the framework of globalisation. The outcome of a conference held in February 2002 by three Belgian universities and the international relations group of the 'Association belge des sciences politiques', the book is a selection of essays in English, French or Dutch on globalisation and its players, looking at who governs. Emeritus Professor at Princeton University, Robert Gilpin starts by analysing the dynamics of the new international economy, while Pierre Vercauteren (Université catholique de Mons, Belgium) considers the State and governance in the framework of various globalisations. Jacobus Delwaide and Gustaaf Geeraerts proceed to make a survey of literature feeding the debate over globalisation, while Yves Palau (Université Paris XII Val-de-Larne) compares it with so-called 'French ideas' of citizenship, leading him to argue that 'Republican universalism, which provides a different vision of the world from that evoked in discussions of globalisation, and particularism' far from being 'condemned to clash', are 'interdependent with each other'. The second angle of study is the 'European dimension'. Reimund Seidelmann (Justus Liebig Universität de Giessen) takes a detailed look at the complementary and contradictory tendencies linking the European dimension with globalisation, while Mario Teló (Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium) looks at "Europe and world governance post 11 September". In his view, neo-regionalism could be a pillar for reforming global governance as long as the EU manages to propose its own vision of global governance and multilateralism in line with its values. Finally, the issue is studied from the security issue viewpoint, with Jean-Jacques Roche (Université Panthéon-Assas) looking at the practical consequences of the new security theories in the management of post-Cold War crises, Eric Remacle (Université libre de Bruxelles) considering governance of transatlantic security in the light of the Iraqi crisis, A. J. R. Groom (University of Kent) looking at UN peace-keeping from Hammarskjold to Brahimi and beyond, Thierry Braspenning (Université catholique de Louvain and Cambridge University) concluding by defending the idea that a re-formation of the international system cannot come from contemporary hegemonic forces, basically economically prosperous states and international financial institutions, but rather from 'civil society with emancipatory virtues or an anti-system movement, in the sense of security that is freeing for the individual'.
(MT)
*** MARJOLEINE HENNIS: Globalization and European Integration. The Changing Role of Farmers in the Common Agricultural Policy. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706, USA - P.O. Box 317, Oxford OX2 9RU, UK. - Tel.: (1-800) 4626420 - Internet: http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com ). 2005, 221 pp. ISBN 0-7425-1889-2.
In this fine book, Marjoleine Hennis, Professor at the Political Science Department of Amsterdam University, provides a penetrating analysis of the impact of globalisation on the Common Agricultural Policy and the way its amendments are regarded and managed by farmers and their representatives. In the first section the author analyses the restructuring process of European farming imposed by globalisation, and its impacts on farmers and their relations with other areas of the agri-food industry. Marjoleine Hennis then studies changes to the EU's farm rules under the pressure of the globalisation of capital, the new rôle of the State in the global economy and tensions caused by surpluses, damage to the environment and food crises. In the second section, the author looks at the way players on the agricultural policy scene at national level have reacted to these changes, in the light of the situation in Germany, France and the Netherlands. On this basis, she considers what might be the role of the Common Agricultural Policy in the future against the backdrop of the European integration process.
(MT)
*** CLAUS DIETER EHLERMANN, ISABELA ATANASIU (Eds.): European Competition Law Annual 2002. Constructing the EU Network of Competition Authorities. Hart Publishing (Salters Boatyard, Folly Bridge, Abingdon Rd, Oxford, OX1 4LB, UK. Tel.: (44-1865) 245533 - Fax: 794882 - E-mail: mail@hartpub.co.uk - Internet: http: //http://www.hartpub.co.uk ). 2004, 496 pp, £100. ISBN 1-84113-366-3.
This weighty tome is a faithful rendering of the workshop on EU competition policy and law organised each year by the European University Institute in Fiesole, Florence on the initiative of Giuliano Amato and Claus Dieter Ehlermann, held in Florence in June 2002 under the chairmanship of Mario Monti, who was at the time still European Commissioner responsible for competition policy. The June 2002 workshop focussed on the launch and functioning of a European network of competent authorities for competition around the Commission. The first panel - one of the participants of which was former Competition Commissioner Karel Van Miert - examined the concept of 'network' and the way it could be transposed in the light of the changes over time to the European Community's anti-trust measures. The second panel focussed its views more narrowly on whether the effectiveness of such a network would depend on a degree of homogeneity of its members, and what the position and role of the Commission should be on the network. Also what type of horizontal relations should exist between national authorities and their links with their respective governments. Finally, the third panel looked at more technical issues, like the division of cases among the members of the network and restrictions on exchange of confidential information on the network.
(MT)
*** ANTONIO MARCELLO CALAMIA: La nuova disciplina della concorrenza nel diritto comunitario. Dott. A. Giuffrè Editore (40 via Busto Arsizio 40, I-20151 Milan. Tel.: (39-02) 38089290 - Fax: 38009582 - Internet: http: //http://www.giuffre.it ). 2004, 133 pp., €8. ISBN 88-14-10833-1.
This brief academic monograph outlines the principles and recent developments in EU anti-trust law under Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty, along with the powers of the European Commission. The author takes a particular look at the impact of the new regulation and the effect of decentralising the European Union's competition policy. Enlightening reading for specialists and practitioners of European competition law.
(PB)
*** VALENTINE KORAH: An Introductory Guide to EC Competition Law and Practice. Hart Publishing (Salter's Boatyard, Folly Bridge, Abingdon Road, Oxford, OX1 4LB, UK. Tel.: (44-1865) 245533 - Fax: 794882 - Internet: http://www.hartpub.co.uk ). 2004, 460 pp, £22.50. ISBN 1-84113-397-3.
This introductory guide to European competition law is a reference guide that has now entered its eighth edition, taking account of important changes in this domain over recent months. Despite the complex nature of the subject matter, the author manages to provide an understandable overview that is reader-friendly even for non-specialists. Emeritus Professor of competition law at University College London, Valentine Korah does not simply describe EC competition law and practice, but peppers his pages with constructive criticism, never failing to urge the Commissioner, for example, to take a more economic approach in this area. Recent reforms implemented by DG Competition do just that.
(LD)
*** Documents. Revue des questions allemandes (Paris. Tel.: (33-1) 43879042 - Internet: http://www.revuedocuments.com ). December 2004, No. 4, 64 pp, €9-15. This review is always interesting, and this issue includes an essay by Jean-Marc Trouille making a comparative study of Germany with France, considering how Germany has adapted its public services to change. Particular attention is paid to energy, postal services and the railways.
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** Adult learning - on the road to Europe. "Education and culture" series, 2005, 11 pp. ISBN 92-894-4946-2.
The importance of education, whether in terms of life at work or, more generally, for social inclusion, no longer needs to be demonstration. Active civic education is one of the eight pillars that should support common European educational objectives from now until 2010. The aim of creating a knowledge-based Europe underlines the importance of adult education and lifelong learning. It is against this backdrop that the European Union has established the Socrates and Grundtvig programmes. The Grundtvig programme is named after a Dane living in the nineteenth century and seen as the founder of the Scandinavian tradition of adult education. It aims to make adult education more accessible and higher quality to stimulate personal development, democratic citizenship and social inclusion. The Grundtvig programme includes, for example, a network of schools giving a second chance, to promote 'key skills' in adults. Some Grundtvig projects are designed for more targeted action, like educating immigrants, older people or people released from prison.
*** Europe infos. Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community - Catholic European Study and Information Centre (42 rue Stévin , B-1000 Brussels. Tel.: (32-2) 2350510 - Fax: 2303334 - E-mail: debbichi-ocipe@tiscalinet.be). February 2005, No. 68, 12 pp, Annual subscription: 27 euros.
Europe Infos points out that although the Indian Ocean tsunami in December, which killed 150,000 people, was a terrible tragedy that gave rise to a wholly praiseworthy international mobilisation, a child dies in Africa every three seconds, in other words, 150,000 children die in Africa every week. The review therefore calls for a strengthening of political will to put into practice the pledge by the 191 members of the UN to cut poverty and improve the health of poor people by 2015. It also looks at the challenges facing the Luxembourg Presidency. There is an article looking at ten years of the WTO, and other articles on combating discrimination, the start of Turkey's accession negotiations, the lessons to be learned from the Ukrainian crisis, the potential ethical risks of brain implants and the question of the secular state in France.
*** Newsletter du BTS. European Trade Union Technical Bureau for Health and Safety (Bd du Roi Albert II, B-1210 Brussels. Tel.: (32-2) 2240560 - Fax: 2240561 - tutb@etuc.org - Internet: http: //tutb.etuc.org). December 2004, No. 26, 40 pp.
Two years ahead of the deadline for applying the EU strategy for health and safety at work, this BTS newsletter sounds the alarm over the disillusion sparked by applications to date. The newsletter highlights the dangers for worker health and safety of liberalising services. It also expresses concern at the danger of social regression implied in the new review of the working time directive. The review takes a favourable view, however, of the rapid implementation of REACH (the EU's future policy on authorisation and registration of chemical substances). A special dossier looks at the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy.
*** Eurasia Bulletin. European Institute for Asian Studies (35 Rue des Deux Eglises, B-1000 Brussels. Tel.: (32-2) 2308122 - Fax: 2305402 - E-mail: eias@eias.org). November - December 2004, Nos. 11 & 12, 36 pp, 30 euros.
This publication aims to outline the views and action taken by European institutions with regard to Asia, along with major international events affecting relations between the EU and Asia. It also announces events or publications connected with this theme. This issue covers areas like the dispute between Taiwan and China, the EU's relations with Indonesia, security problems and opium poppy growing in Indonesia, and the consequences of the fifth EU-India Summit …
Review in brief
***Art. 88-4 de la Constitution -Textes soumis du 21 décembre 2004 au 14 février 2005. Délégation de l'Assemblée nationale pour l'Union Européenne. 2005, No. 2103, Paris. This report looks inter alia at the draft Council decision on agreements with third countries and the draft European Parliament directives on the common value added tax system, and packaging waste.