*** HÉLÈNE MICHEL (Ed.): Lobbyistes et lobbying de l'Union européenne. Trajectoires, formations et pratiques des représentants d'intérêts. Presses Universitaires de Strasbourg (Palais Universitaire, 9 place de l'Université, BP 90020, F-67084 Strasbourg Cedex. Tel: (33-3) 88259721 -
Fax: 88356523 - e-mail: pus@umb.u-strasbg.fr). 2005, 351 pp, €24. ISBN 2-86820-289-6.
Lobbying - representing interest groups or public affairs - is a subject which has often caught the public's imagination. According to H'e9l'e8ne Michel, it is a practice which generates distrust or even suspicion in equal measure with sheer fascination about its regular power of influence. Much ink has already flowed in this connection and a fair number of books have been published. The editor of the current collection, however, a senior lecturer in politics at Lille 2 University in France, argues that most books are characterised by study of the form of relations maintained between interest groups and the EU institutions. Over time, the books have become less abstract and sweeping in their generalisations, but most research these days still focusses on the question of stable relations between EU institutions and interest groups and their specific characterisation, as if they were not able to shake off the shackles of theoretical and often critical debate on the nature of the European Union system.
To avoid these stumbling blocks, this collection of articles tries to make a better distinction between lobby groups on the basis of their sociological make-up. The different articles note who lobby groups are composed of and what action they take, because the very definition of the words 'lobbying' and 'lobbyist' are by nature sweeping given the sheer variety of different facets to this profession and these professionals. For this reason, the book provides a group of presentations from a conference on organised civil society and EU governance, looking at training, recruitment and work of lobbyists in the European Union, organised by the 'Groupe de sociologie politique europeenne' at the 'Institut d''etudes politiques' in Strasbourg.
The first articles, under the heading 'Professions and careers', all look at concrete case studies of lobby groups in Brussels, focussing on issues like the people working for the European Women's Lobby, representing the farm industry, the European Trade Union Confederation and assistants to MEPs. The articles provide different layers of a picture (or more accurately, pictures) of lobbyists' careers, experience and job status (activists or paid staff, for example). Each article explains various aspects of the nature of lobbying at the European institutions. The article on the European Women's Lobby, for example, explains how its members have changed over the years, with the gradual replacement of the pioneer generation and the subtle balance of activists and paid staff. The chapter on MEPs' assistants is a kind of open window, giving a view of the relationship between the various professions and 'milieus' gravitating around the European scene. The book demonstrates that there is no Chinese Wall between lobbying and people working for the EU institutions, and people move from one to the other, even if only because of their sheer sociological proximity. The study of lobbyists and their work sheds light on the interactions between lobby groups and the EU institutions.
The second part of the book, 'defence practices', compares and contrasts the action and adaptation of people defending special interests, ranging from human rights to Bordeaux wine. It reveals the various techniques used by lobbyists, showing how lobbying at the European institutions is not fundamentally any different from lobbying at national level, although it has its own specific characteristics to be understood. A concluding document summarises these reflections on the definition of lobbying and lobby groups, comparing the idea of lobbying and lobbyists with the idea of activism and activists - as far as the general public is concerned, the main difference is the nature of the causes they defend.
Most of the essays are easy to read, reflecting a level of experience and understanding of the nature of the terrain. Overall, they give a realistic, nuanced insider view of how lobby groups operate and are structured, and the true nature of lobby groups and lobbying, from the starting point of their relationship with the world of the European institutions.
Frederik Ronse
*** CELINE BELOT, BRUNO CAUTRES (Eds.): La vie démocratique de l'Union européenne. La Documentation Française (29-31 quai Voltaire, F-75344 Paris cedex 07. Tel: (33-1) 40157000 - Fax: 40157230 - Internet: http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr ). "Les études de la Documentation française" series, No. 5236. 2006, 187 pp, €19.
Prepared with the aid of the 'Notre Europe' association founded by Jacques Delors, this publication provides readers with interpretations to help begin to answer the questions raised following the French and Dutch 'no' votes on the European Constitution, questions concerning democracy in the European Union and, more importantly, the reality and extent of what is known as the democratic deficit. To this end, academic researchers study various areas of the constitutional treaty and its ratification process, with others looking at the role of the European Ombudsman, broad changes in the direction taken by 'public opinion' about the European project, lessons to be learnt from the results of the most recent European elections, Turkey's request to join the EU and various EU regulations and directives which have been in the media eye or will have a visible impact on the life of EU citizens. In addition, the aim of the editors of this book was to provide analytical tools to enable readers understand more about the democratic life of the European Union while avoiding naïve Euro-enthusiasm or its opposite, Euro-scepticism, a frightened putting down of Europe as being responsibly for all the woes found in European society. Perhaps it is a bit of a tall order to achieve such an aim in so few pages, but it has the merit of getting the French, Belgian and Swiss researchers to take up the challenge of describing in an understandable synthesis current thinking in their own particular area of study as each article addresses the question of democracy in the European Union from a different angle. Olivier Costa, for example, writes about the problems encountered by the European Parliament in taking up the place habitually reserved for parliamentary institutions in contemporary democracy, and the strategies used by the EP to overcome its own weaknesses, while Olivier Rozenberg considers the role of French parliamentarians when it comes to the Structural Fund policy. Sabine Saurugger investigates the role of 'organised civil society' in the EU decision-making process, and the capacity of the institutional players concerned to relay on it in their legitimization strategies. Olivier Baisnée examines the role of the media, shedding light on problems encountered in building a European public area in terms of the European institutions' 'special relations' with the media. Two articles look at how democracy works in the EU through how it is viewed by citizens and the way citizens formulate their views. The concluding article, by Paul Magnette, provides a more theoretical analytical framework for the preceding ideas.
(MT)
*** PIERRE LEQUILLER (Ed.): Où va l'Europe ? Le point de vue de neuf pays de l'Union. 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 ). "Rapport d'information", (newsletter) No. 3131. 2006, 82 pp, €3-50. ISBN 2-1111-9834-10.
Repeating a process it implemented in 2004 for the constitutional treaty and in 2005 for the Financial Perspectives, the 'Délégation pour l'Union européenne' of the French national assembly, chaired by former European Convention Member Pierre Lequiller, decided to send a type of "missi dominici" mission to nine Member States (Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the UK) to feel the pulse regarding the EU's constitutional process and enlargement. This newsletter reports back on the lessons learnt by French parliamentarians from their missions. They generally agree on two issues, namely that the vast majority want the future institutional regulation to be based on the draft constitutional text while taking account in one way or another of concerns expressed by public opinion in the economic and social domains. Secondly, a definite call for prudence with regard to future enlargements because public opinion has to back such measures.
(MT)
*** CHRISTIAN WAGENFELD: Die Kultureuropäer. Europäisches Bewusstsein und Intellektuelle in Irland. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, Postfach 350, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - e-mail: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Europäische Hochschulschriften - Publications Universitaires Européennes - European University Studies" series, No.1014. 2005, 303 pp. ISBN 3-631-3389-6.
This book looks at the driving forces that led Ireland to join the European Union, through a study of Irish history and mentality and other areas. The author's aim is to help fill the gap in cultural explanations to explain the European unification process. His study is based on sociological methodology and the theories of nationalism expounded by E. J. Hobsbawm and Benedict Anderson, which he compares and contrasts with the Irish situation. He argues that economic interests were not the main motivation behind Ireland joining the EU, because the idea in Ireland of Europe being an exemplary model of modernity, pluralism and citizen rights were just as important. This sketch of the image of Europe is drawn from a circle of Irish writers, including the former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.
(CDi)
*** TIM SCHONBORN: Die Causa Austria. Zur Zulässigkeit bilateraler Sanktionen zwischen den Mitgliedstaaten der Europäischen Union. Peter Lang (see above)."Res Publica - Öffentliches und internationales recht" series, No. 1. 2005, 461pp. ISBN 3-631-53812-X.
Following the involvement of populist politician Haider's Austrian Freedom Party in the Austrian government, EU Member States took measures against Austria that sparked an unprecedented debate across the whole of Europe. From the legal point of view, these measures demonstrated that Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union, incorporated into the Amsterdam Treaty, could have a genuine practical impact. Basically, certain rights can be withdrawn from a Member State which seriously and persistently damages principles anchored in Article 6 of the Treaty, namely freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the constitutional separation of justice from power… Following a very detailed chronology of events, this case study investigates whether the proceedings launched against Austria were compatible with the requirements of the sanction mechanism and with various rulings in EU and international law. In addition, the author looks at the version of Article 7 found in the Nice Treaty in terms of how it was adapted following the measures taken against Austria. The research provides important lessons for people examining relations between EU Member States in the future in the event of any extremist parties forming part of the government in a Member State.
(CDi)
*** CATRIN HANNKEN: Das Kommunalwahlrecht für ausländische Unionsbürger im Lande Bremen. Peter Lang (see above)."Europäische Hochschulschriften - Publications Universitaires Européennes - European University Studies", No. 4266. 2005, 257 pp. ISBN 3-631-54295-X.
Directive 98/80/CE established the legal foundations for giving citizens the right to participate in municipal elections. The special nature of the Hanseatic city of Bremen raised special problems for implementing the directive because although Bremen has a representative municipal assembly, known as the Stadtbürgerschaft, it is not actually elected in autonomous municipal elections. Or rather it is only elected by partial elections because it is the members of the local parliament, the Landestag, who become members of the "Stadtbürgerschaft". This book is based on the debate in Bremen about how its local system meshed with the European Union. Potential solutions are examined to the problem of how to bring the situation into line with the constitution and compatible with EU law.
(CDi)
*** Documents. Revue des questions allemandes. Bureau international de liaison et de documentation (50 rue de Laborde, F-75008 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 43879040 - Fax: 42935094 - e-mail: revue@bild-documents.org - Internet: http://www.revuedocuments.com ). 2006, No. 3, 80 pp, €7-80. Annual subscription: €39.
This issue's central dossier looks at various facets of tourism in France (visited by more tourists than any other country in the world) and Germany (the country which sees the highest numbers of citizens traveling to other countries on holiday), along with the promotion of cultural tourism in Europe. Cultural tourism is question for society in general because it generates billions of euros. As always, this review includes a number of other articles on culture, society and politics, like Germany's dispute with Poland about Germany's plan for an anti-expulsion centre.
(FRo)