*** SVEN BISCOP (Ed.): Audit of European Strategy. Royal Institute for International Relations - Academia Press (2 Eekhout, B-9000 Ghent. Tel: (32-9) 2338088 - Fax: 2331409 - e-mail: info@academiapress.be - Internet: http://www.academiapress.be ). "Egmont Papers", No. 3. 2004, 37 pp, €6-85. ISBN 90-382-0695-X.
This publication, for which a more accurate title would be an "Audit of European Defence Strategy", arose from a seminar at the Belgian Royal Institute for International Relations, an independent thinktank working closely with the Belgian foreign ministry on priority areas for the Belgian state - in cooperation with other thinktanks like The Foreign Policy Centre, British Council Brussels and the New Defence Agenda. It looks at the European defence strategy launched by Javier Solana in December 2003 to provide a reference framework for current political issues and long-term strategies alike, and provide a foundation for consultation with the EU's main partners on strategic issues. The strategy identifies five priority areas: the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, counter-terrorism, effective multilateralism based on the United Nations, the Middle East and Bosnia Herzegovina.
The book opens with an article by Christoph Heusgen, Director of the Policy Unit at the Secretariat General of the Council of the European Union, giving an overview of the application of the European Defence Strategy. The following four chapters are by researchers. The first describes the EU's position vis-à-vis other regional organisations, like the African Union, in terms of security. The next looks at the balance in a European Union still seeking its identity (and not always speaking with the same voice) between the use of force and 'soft power' and the challenges facing the European Security and Defence Policy. The fourth looks at effectively transposing European-style multilateralism to the management of external crises, describing EU multilateralism as being regional both in terms of the EU's direct neighbours and within the framework of the United Nations. The fifth chapter ends with a description of a potential establishment of the EU's military capacities.
The book is made up of articles by contributors at the seminar looking at either tangible recommendations for putting the European Defence Policy's innovative approach into practice, or how it impacts on the CFSP, the CFSP and other EU policies. It is quite brief, three dozen pages, without any introduction or conclusion to link the articles - each chapter is relatively autonomous, selected to ensure good coverage of the issue. The high quality of the analysis and the brevity makes this issue of the "Egmont Papers" particularly valuable for people interested in how the European Union decides on its security policy, the EU's relations with its direct neighbours and its military and humanitarian role in the global alignment of regional and national forces.
Frederik Ronse
*** FRANZ KERNIC, PAUL KLEIN, KARL HALTINER (Eds.): The European Armed Forces in Transition. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, CH-2542 Pieterlen, Switzerland. Fax: (41-32) 3761727 - Internet: http://www.peterlang.de ). 2005, 180 pp. ISBN 3-631-53366-7.
Most of this book's authors are sociology professors in universities and military academies. They describe the profound changes in European armed forces since the end of the Cold War, both in terms of how they are organised and their role in the world. The book shows how, after the disappearance of the red menace, European nations have gradually reformed their armed forces in order to reap the peace dividend and reduce military spending. This has led most of them to break with the two-century old model of conscription and create professional armies with career soldiers in modular, interoperable units with greater long-distance missiles and capacities. Looking at several European case studies (Belgium, France, Germany, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands and others), the book demonstrates how a new definition of the army's role has led to structural changes, with defending the national state becoming less important than other roles like peace-keeping and humanitarian aid. A European integration dynamic can be seen in the EU's efforts to give itself its own armed forces, or at least to integrate more of its Member States' armed forces. But these changes cover more than structure, leading to social changes within the armed forces and between the armed forces and the rest of society. A typical solider and what is expected of him or her has changed over the years, leading to a kind of schizophrenia at times between fighting roles and social work. The army itself is increasingly being seen as a branch of government like any other and moving from its central role in society to the periphery. (FRo)
*** BURKARD SCHMITT (Ed.): Defence Procurement in the European Union. The current debate. Institut d'études de sécurité de l'Union européenne. 43 av. du Président Wilson, F-75775 Paris cedex 16. Tel: (33-1) 56891930 - Fax: 56891931 - E-mail: institute@iss-eu.org - Internet: http://www.iss-eu.org. 2005, 55 pp, €10. ISBN 92-9198-073-0.
There is no European market for defence equipment. Under Article 296 of the Treaty, Member States can continue to ignore Common Market rules when buying arms, ammunition and war equipment. Consequently Member States tend to be ivory towers, jealously defending their discretionary autonomy and forgetting any idea of making economies of scale. But the world is changing, both for defence industries anxious to expand in broader markets, and for Member States, whose budgets leave less room for manoeuvre than in the past. Hence in September 2004, the European Commission published a Green Paper on boosting transparency and openness in defence markets in the EU. To increase transparency, the Commission identified two options - a Communication to interpret the scope of action (or inaction) of Article 296; and a new directive adapted to match the specific nature of the defence industry for products that in the future will not be 'protected' by Article 296. The Member States later asked the European Defence Agency to explore the option of establishing an intergovernmental code of conduct to boost competition in areas still covered by Article 296. The European Union Institute of Security Studies set up a taskforce to look at the various options. This book describes the findings of the taskforce headed by Burkard Schmitt, revealing that the three options are complementary and all three should be developped in tandem if the European Union is to establish the foundations of a European defence market. (PBo)
*** KATHRIN BLANCK: Die Europäische Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik im Rahmen der europäischen Sicherheitsarchitektur. Springer-Verlag KG (4-6 Sachsenplatz, A-1201 Vienna. Tel: (43-1) 3302415-0 - Fax: 3302426 - E-mail: books@springer.at - Internet: http: //http://www.springer.at ). "Europainstitut Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien Schriftenreihe" series, No.26. 2005, 390 pp, €74. ISBN 3-211-23593-0.
The legal and political issues raised by the European Security and Defence Policy are analysed in detail, gone over with a fine toothcomb even, in this scientific monograph. A lawyer at the prestigious European Institute of Vienna's Business University (Europainstitut Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien), the author traces security and defence developments in the European project, and sets security and defence activities against the backdrop of international law and actions and definitions provided by the United Nations, the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) and the Western European Union (WEU). Kathrin Blanck pays particular attention to transatlantic relations and the European Union's relations with Russia. At the end of her perfectly structured book with its clear, precise definitions, the author argues that the European Union could become a major new player on the world collective security stage, as long as certain legal and democratic issues are clarified in advance. (PB)
*** AYDAN BASHLINSKAYA: Der rechtliche Gehalt der Gemeinsamen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik der Europäischen Union (GESVP) und ihre Vereinbarkeit mit dem deutschen Grundgesetz. Zentrum für Europäische Rechtspolitik an der Universität Bremen (ZERP, Universitätsallee, GW 1, D-28359 Bremen). "ZERP-Diskussionspapier", No. 2/2005. 2005, 51 pp, €8.
This brief, dense study describes and analyses the constitutional and legal bases for Germany's involvement in the European Security and Defence Policy. The author is a young lawyer lecturing at Oldenburg University in Germany, who provides useful information about articles of the German Grundgesetz and rulings by the Karlsruhe constitutional court that Germany may join the European project in the areas of security and defence. An excellent general introduction! (PB)
*** HAKAN AKBULUT: NATO's Feuding Members: The Cases of Greece and Turkey. Peter Lang (see above). "Internationale Sicherheit" series, No. 5. 2005, 167 pp. ISBN 3-631-53539-2.
In recent decades, Greece and Turkey have nearly come to blows on several occasions, despite both being members of NATO. This book starts by explaining what is behind the tension between the two countries, and still poisons relations even today. In the light of institutional and neoliberal theories, the author looks at how and to what extent international bodies like NATO can promote peace and security among their members, along with democracy. The author assesses the institutional factors NATO could use to this effect, like the role played by NATO's Secretary General. A Turkish academic living in Austria, Hakan Akbulut also looks at how packet technology, transparency, consultation and military aid have influenced relations between the two rival partners. The author concludes that belonging to NATO has had little influence on how the two countries behave. (MT)
*** BURKARD SCHMITT (Ed.): Information Security. A new challenge for the EU. Institut d'études de sécurité de l'Union européenne (see above). "Chaillot Paper", No. 76. 2005, 78 pp, €10. ISBN 92-9198-069-2.
One of the most urgent tasks facing European politicians is unravelling the complex way, in the world of the internet, global communications mesh with security. Growing terrorism around the world is the most obvious, and bloody, example of this. While IT has enabled a global village to emerge, which can sometimes have as much influence as whole countries, this 'Cahier de Chaillot' looks at the risks inherent in IT systems in terms of security, and how the European Union and its Member States should eliminate, or at least contain them when it is impossible to remove them.
(LD)
*** Nouvelles technologies et piratage: les industries audiovisuelles en question. Observatoire européen de l'audiovisuel (76 allée de la Roberstau, F-67000 Strasbourg. Tel: (33-3) 88144400 - Fax: 88144419 - e-mail: obs@obs.coe.int - Internet: http://www.obs.coe.int ). 2005, 124 pp.
This book publishes the proceedings of a conference on new pirating technology organised by the 'Observatoire européen de l'audiovisuel' with the foreign broadcasting section of the French foreign ministry. Why decide to look at pirating? Organised pirating networks, the mushrooming of CD and DVD burners, peer-2-peer and the rising numbers of people accessing the web have come as a heavy blow to the culture industry. The music industry reckons it has lost half of its potential sales, for example. Technology advances mean that the film industry is highly likely to follow suit. This document first attempts to describe what pirating is exactly. National legislation is not always equipped to tackle current problems and the court cases against peer-2-peer t services like Napster and KaZaA have ended in contradictory rulings depending on the court in question. Studies reveal that many people, especially young people, do not feel they are committing any crime by burning CDs and films. The second part of the book, largely made up of the interventions by representatives of anti-pirating institutes and authors' associations, draws up a balance sheet of the way pirating impacts on industry. The book ends by outlining options for countering pirating, which given the nature of the beast, must necessarily be taken at the EU and international level. (FRo)
*** 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 and Communication Unit (Tel: (32-2) 2959971 - Fax: 2958220 - E-mail: research@cec.eu.int). August 2005, No. 46, 40 pp.
The dossier in this month's RDT Info newsletter concerns virtually everyone because it looks at the potential health risks of mobile phones and other electromagnetic waves we're surrounded by. It gives an outline of research into electromagnetic waves and the potential health dangers of exposure to them and research currently being carried out into how mobile phones affect human beings, including a huge 'Interphone' epidemiological investigation. There are also a number of articles on R&D in the Baltic States (affected by transition from the Tsarist period to the Communist Soviet epoch and more recently independence and joining the EU), and the European Commission's 7th Framework Programme for R&D, described and supplemented with statistics on R&D in the EU.
*** 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 ). September 2005, No. 135, 16 pp, €32. Annual subscription: €867-85.
The magazine opens with an article on Chinese interest in the European social model. Social security is only available in China's towns and cities, covering around a quarter of the population. Beijing is looking at the example of the EU (which is delighted at the idea of exporting its social model) to see what lessons can be learned for China and avert the danger of mushrooming discontent. The 'Zoom' section of the magazine looks at the transposition of Directive 96/71 on the seconding of workers under French law and consequent new rules to combat 'social dumping'. Other articles look at periods of work in another Member State when calculating pension rights, more flexible regulations on working time, the use of the opt-out in France, and transposing the worker information and consultation directive in the UK.
*** Provincia informa. Provincia di Torino (12 via Maria Vittoria, I-10123 Turin, Italy. Tel: (39-11) 8612465 - Fax: 8612790 - E-mail: progetti_europei@provincia.torino.it - Internet: http://www.provincia.torino.it/europa/provincia_informa/index.htm ). Summer 2005, No. 4, 24 pp.
This issue of the Turin region's European newsletter looks at the crisis in the EU over recent months. There is an article on the Structural Funds and the EU's international cooperation, part of the role it wishes to play on the global stage. Other articles look at the European Youth Policy, the EU's women's rights policy and information about European websites, and critical reviews.
*** The Federalist Debate. The Federalist Debate (26 via Schina, I-10144 Turin. Tel. & Fax: (39-11) 4732843 - E-mail: federalist.debate@libero.it - Internet: http://www.federalist-debate.org ). July 2005,
No. 2, 64 pp, Annual subscription: €15.
This magazine is divided into three sections. The first 'Comments' includes two and three page articles on issues like the link between culture and politics in the view of the Italian federalist movement, Nepal's moves towards an authoritarian regime, aircraft fuel taxation and the role of the European Parliament in strengthening the UN and making it more democratic. The second section, 'Borderless Debate', has articles on broader issues like the importance of using laws to build peace, and what a unified EU army would mean in terms of the idea of Europe and its survival. The third section, 'Federalist Action', describes the federalist movement's activities and events (publications, conferences etc.).
Reviews in brief
*** Art. 88-4 de la Constitution -Textes soumis du 7 au 30 juin 2005. Assemblée nationale française. July 2005, Paris. This publication publishes the French parliament's views on EU legislation and draft legislation. *** Sinfo. The Slovenian Government PR and Media Office. August 2005, Ljubljana. Sinfo provides information on Slovenia's culture, celebrities and daily life.