*** CLAUDE DIDRY, ARNAUD MIAS: Le Moment Delors. Les syndicats au cœur de l'Europe sociale. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes - Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.net ). "Travail & Société" series, No. 48. 2005, 349 pp. ISBN 90-5201-274-1.
Has 'Social Europe' fallen out of favour with national politicians and the chattering classes? Not a week goes by, at any rate, without calls for the European project to be amended because it has given way to the market and sacrificed social affairs on the altar of profit. Writing against the stream of dominant thinking on the Left, Claude Didry and Arnaud Mias let us know immediately where they are coming from: "There is a kind of recurring amnesia, tending to hide the social dimension of the European project with the praiseworthy intention of relaunching initiatives in this field". The authors, sociologists working closely with the CNRS in France and the Ecole normale supérieure de Cachan (also in France) argue that the reality is very different, and while "things are happening as if time proceeded without leaving any traces behind it, with political initiatives piling up, forgetting what they have contributed and how they have changed the life of social and economic stakeholders", their book aims to highlight the EU acquis (legislation) that really applies in the social domain, telling the tale of the rules making up this body of legislation and explaining the framework under which the rules were drawn up and passed.
After examining various explanations for the repeated amnesia about the achievements of Social Europe, Didry and Mias start by showing how the social dimension has been a constant since the Treaty of Rome. To this end, they use the archives of the French CFDT trade union, two dozen interviews with central figures in the history of European social dialogue, and recordings of meetings between European social partners (trade unions and employers). They demonstrate that the social dialogue set up by the European movement started with national organisations which, in liaison with their government, then tried to impact on changes in the European Community, the Common Market being seen as a political programme. The authors' chronological approach enables them to highlight the peculiarity of the key 'Delors moment' in the emergence of the European industrial relations system inextricably linking public authorities and social partners. The authors describe the methodological changes introduced by Jacques Delors as a "New Deal" moving away from the approach taken in previous meetings of social partners to take the existence of the Single Market as the starting point for considering the development of EU institutions. Against this backdrop, the Val Duchesse talks are described as an 'organised' debate between social partners, giving the Commission an innovative institutional role, chairing the social dialogue. Didry and Mias explain that the Delors moment designates the meshing of the actions of Jacques Delors with the institutional framework around him to better consolidate and manage it, as also occurred with the 'Guizot moment' in the stabilising of political structures at national level in France: "The latter in national politics based on liberalism, the former in the building of the European project and the European continent, also based on liberalism. Both with the contradictory aim of incorporating liberalism in the institutions establishing a state order capable of guiding the development of a social body they thereby help to bring into existence. As a historical irony, Guizot was constructing France the way Delors was constructing Europe, discovering below the market, the subtle dialectics of the state and civil society that together bring new societies into existence".
In the second part of the book, the dynamics of the Val Duchesse talks is discussed, with the authors noting first that the summit meetings illustrated the manifold meanings of the word 'market', and the convergence of typical common opinions then enables them to explain the work of the European stakeholders. Didry and Mias also shed light on the vital role of certain figureheads in the trade union and employers world, putting into perspective the common picture of social dialogue as a clash of two collective bodies. The third part of the book analyses the impact of social dialogue on fashioning the rules making up EU labour law and its impact on the stakeholders themselves. Right up to the last line, this book swims against the tide of received ideas!
Michel Theys
*** LARS MAGNUSSON, BO STRATH (Eds.): A European Social Citizenship? Precondition for future policies from a historical perspective. Presses Interuniversitaires Européennes - Peter Lang (1 av. Maurice, B-1050 Brussels. E-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.net ). "Work & Society" series, No. 47. 2004, 350 pp. ISBN 90-5201-269-5.
Citizenship comprises more than civic rights. It is also intimately linked with the social rights of individuals and social protection, but national 'social models' did not arise from arbitrary voluntarist decision-making, but rather are the result of a history of change and struggle in the various countries of Europe. Useful information for people wanting to set up a European Social Model from scratch... At the same time, this research by European researchers points out that social models were all formed as a response to rising capitalism and to protect against the abuses and excesses of the market. It is probably a mistake to build an economic Europe, a free market along with a single currency and a Stability Pact, without the option of adding social regulations. Making states responsible for social affairs encourages competition and therefore social dumping. One can therefore fear (or hope for, depending on your view) rising discontent among Europeans seeing Europe as threatening their social rights without providing any new protection. Written before the French and Dutch no votes, this research is premonitory. Rejection by European is perhaps only at the early stages…
(RVe)
*** Le Financement des syndicats. Groupe Liaisons (187-189 quai de Valmy, F-75494 Paris Cedex 10. Tel: (33-825) 825371 - Fax: (33-1) 44722027 - Internet: http://www.liaisons-sociales.com ). "Les Synthèses" series. 2005, 80 pp, €40.
The "Synthèses" are supplements (provided free of charge to subscribers) to the publication Liaisons Sociales Europe, often mentioned on the fourth page of the European Library pages. This issue outlines a report by the French 'Inspection générale des affaires sociales' comparing the funding of German, Belgian, British, Italian and Swedish trade unions. The study aims to provide French deputy labour minister Gérard Larcher with useful comparative information for debate between the government and trade unions on how the latter are funded. While there are variations in the funding mechanisms of trade unions in the five countries studied, they have several areas in common with the French system which stands out as being quite an exception in Europe. The report opens with a brief introduction (also serving as conclusions) outlining the basics of trade union funding. It then reviews the funding mechanisms for trade unions in each of the five countries studied. The study focusses on funding (membership fees as a proportion of total funding, financial solidity and independence, the role of the state, etc), but also gives an insight into different types of trade union culture in Europe.
(FRo)
*** GERARD ANDRECK (Ed.): La démocratie, principe de gouvernement des mutuelles du GEMA. Groupement des Entreprises Mutuelles d'Assurances (9 rue de Saint-Pétersbourg, F-75008 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 53041600 - Fax: 45225917 - Internet: http://www.gema.fr ). 2004, 64 pp.
This report publishes reflection from the French 'Groupement des Entreprises Mutuelles d'Assurances' on its members' governance, facing changes in the regulatory and surveillance framework. It gives an insight into in-house organisation and power lines in mutual insurance companies. People tend to know very little about how they operate, seeing them as rather opaque and often misusing their powers. They do not operate in the same way as most commercial insurance companies since they are based on membership rather than share-holders and therefore do not aim to accumulate capital, and their board of directors and other ruling bodies are elected by the members on a one member, one vote democratic basis. In order to assess the functioning of the mutual insurance groups, the report compares them with conventional insurance companies, going on to describe measures to improve the functioning of their boards of directors, and the idea of introducing independent directors. The report then looks at ways of boosting and structuring management and increasing democracy within mutual insurance companies by giving greater powers to general assemblies.
(FRo)
*** TANIA ZGAJEWSKI: La jurisprudence de la Cour de justice européenne sur l'accès aux soins de santé et son impact. Centre de Recherche et d'Information Socio-Politiques (1A place Quetelet, B-1210 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 2110180 - Internet: http://www.crisp.be ). "Courrier hebdomadaire" series, No. 1883. 2005, 48 pp, €6-90.
Originally, health services were not covered by European treaties to any great extent but as paying services (in most countries), they are considered as services by the Treaty of Rome and increasing numbers of EU citizens make use of healthcare services in other Member States. As shown in this slim volume looking at European Court of Justice rulings in favour of patients wanting a refund of healthcare costs in other Member States, the rulings have put social security systems (usually seen as belonging to the Member States) under strong pressure. The study shows how the Court of Justice case law fills a legal vacuum and is in advance of the Commission, having a positive impact on patients and considerable repercussions on the way the economic freedoms of the common market mesh with the foundations of social security.
(FRo)
*** ANNA LAWSON, CAROLINE GOODING (Eds.): Disability Rights in Europe. From Theory to Practice. Hart Publishing Ltd. (Salter's Boatyard, Folly Bridge, Abingdon Road, Oxford, OX1 4LB, United Kingdom Tel: (44-1865) 245533 - Fax: 794882 - E-mail: mail@hartpub.co.uk - Internet: http://www.hartpub.co.uk ). May 2005, 323 pp, £35. ISBN 1-84113-486-4.
These fourteen essays by researchers, experts and practitioners from a number of European countries give an overview of disability rights at EU and national level. Based on the proceedings of an international conference, the book is a contribution to the European Year of the Disabled. Articles by specialists, comparisons and annexes of international, EU and national legislation in European and non-European countries and analysis of how laws and policies are adopted make this a very useful book for people interested in disability rights in the European Union.
(PB)
*** LUIGI BERTINATO, FRANCESCO RONFINI, FRANCO TONIOLO (Eds.): Le Relazioni socio-sanitarie internazionali e la partecipazione della Regione Veneto al processo decisionale dell'UE. Rapporto di attività 2000-2005. Segretaria Regionale Sanità e Sociale - Servizio per i rapporti Socio Sanitari Internazionali, Regione del Veneto (Palazzo Cavalli Fianchetti S. Marco 2847, I-30124 Veniee. Tel: (39-41) 2791425-6-7 - Fax: 2791366 - E-mail: serv.rapp.oms@regione.veneto.it - Internet: http://www.regione.veneto.it ). 2005, 129 pp.
This information report on the Italian region of Veneto (around Venice) looks at European social and health programmes, describing in detail the Veneto region's involvement in EU programmes, international contacts and activity at EU level through its representative office in Brussels. A book for specialists.
(PB)
*** JEAN-PHILIPPE CHENAUX (Ed.): Apprendre à lire et à écrire. Bilan critique et propositions. Centre Patronal (case postale 1215, CH-1001 Lausanne. Tel: (41-21) 7963300 - Fax: 7963382). "Etudes & Enquêtes" series, No. 35. 2005, 171 pp, CHF15-22. ISBN 2-940089-17-5.
Teaching of the French language in the French-speaking part of Switzerland has been revolutionised over the past twenty-six years. The authors argue that the 'socio-constructivist' reforms to the detriment of structured teaching have led to a worrying drop in standards in French at school. In the preface, Jean-Philippe Chenaux says this has got so bad that Neuchâtel University has to provide basic French lessons. Eager to ensure high professional training standards, the employers centre suggests ways of avoid going any further in the direction of "Charybdis from Syllables".
(PBo)
*** Etudier ou enseigner à l'étranger. Commissariat général aux Relations internationales de la Communauté française de Belgique (2 place Sainctelette, B-1080 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 4218211 - Fax: 4218787 - E-mail: cgri@cgri.cfwb.be - Internet: http: //http://www.wbri.be ). 2005, 152 pp.
Also available online (http://www.wbri.be/bourses ), this guide outlines opportunities for students and teachers in Brussels and French-speaking Belgium (much information will be of interest outside Belgian French-speaking circles) wishing to apply for short and long-term grants. It also provides practical information about study trips, training, research, specialisations and teaching in the partner countries of French-speaking Belgium (the 'Communauté française de Belgique').
(MT)
*** The EUROPEAN COMMISSION (Official Publications Office of the European Communities, L-2985 Luxembourg. Internet: http: //publications.eu.int) has published the following document:
*** Inforegio News. DG Regional Policy, Unit 01 (Fax: (32-2) 2966003 - E-mail: regio-info@cec.eu.int). September 2005, No. 138, 2 pp.
This issue of Inforegio News outlines the EU Lisbon Programme, which aims to supplement the work of the Member States under the revised Lisbon Strategy. The newsletter outlines the eight main points and looks at the impact of the Lisbon Strategy programme on the EU's cohesion policy, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund, which should now focus on knowledge, R&D capacity and innovation. The newsletter quotes a recent European Commission report showing that research in the EU is still lagging behind R&D in the United States and Japan and that there has been little change in the budget resources allocated to R&D in the EU. The newsletter also looks at the successful "Open Days 2005 - European Regions and Cities Week". There are four short articles on regional policy.
*** 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-October 2005, No. 136, 16 pp, €32. Annual subscription: €867-85.
This issue of Liaisons Sociales Europe looks first at Hewlett-Packard's industrial relations plan in France. The French government has washed its hands of the affair in a way by asking the European Commission to undertake a coordinated examination of draft social plans despite the fact the Commission has virtually no power in this domain. At most, it can organise the intervention of the Structural Funds. The Commission is taking advantage of this to ask the Member States to grant it greater powers. The review also looks at Belgium's attitude to foreign job seekers. Other articles look at the not very binding nature of international framework agreements on social liability, the growth of ethical investment by Swiss pension funds and Spanish case law banning companies from forcing workers to accept teleworking.
*** Dokumente. Gesellschaft für übernationale Zusammenarbeit e.V. (86 Dottendorfer Straße, D-53129 Bonn. Tel: (49-2) 289239805 - Fax: 28690385 - E-mail: kontakt@guez-dokumente.org - Internet: http://www.guez-dokumente.org ). August 2005, No. 4, 120 pp, €4-50. Annual subscription: €18-90.
This fourth annual issue Dokumente, a review of articles on Franco-German relations, includes a dossier by a dozen contributors on the current and future role of the Franco-German relationship as the 'motor of Europe', a motor that has been rather uneven since the French no vote on the European Constitution. Angelica Schwall-Düren calls for the Franco-German model to be followed by other groups of countries, and Sylvie Goulard argues that the role of leading the 'tandem' is non-negotiable. There are also articles on politics, culture and society, like Google's planned virtual library and the "Tridem 2005" culture event.
*** Paneuropa Deutschland. Paneuropa Union Deutschland e.V. (17 Dachauer Str., D-80335 Munich. Tel: (49-89) 554683). 3rd quarter of 2005, No. 3, 35 pp, €3. Annual subscription: €12.
Can the last World Youth Days be described as a Catholic Woodstock?, asks the leading article. The author basically answers 'no', calling for a break to be made with the 'anti-humanity and destructive philosophy' of the 1968 generation, describing the 1968 events as a neo-Marxist cultural revolution and a sexual revolution with a political agenda. There follows an article on the social market economy by the President of the Hungarian arm of Paneuropa-Union, and various other articles, one of which looks at Poland's fight against Communist dictatorship.
*** AMCHAM Business Journal. AmCham Belgium (50 av. des Arts, Box 5, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5136770 - Fax: 5133590 - E-mail: gmuyshondt@amcham.be - Internet: http://www.amcham.be ). 3rd quarter of 2005. No. 555, 40 pp, €6-20.
The business journal of the US Chamber of Commerce in Brussels includes an assessment of the real estate market in Brussels, an interview with Belgian Finance Minister in Wallonia (French-speaking Belgium), Jean-Claude Marcourt, an article on the positive impact East European countries might have on the euro, and an article on training ethical leaders.