*** PAUL MAGNETTE: Le régime politique de l'Union européenne. Les Presses de Sciences Po (117 bd Saint-Germain, F-75006 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45483602 - e-mail: presses@sciences-po.fr - Internet: http: //http://www.sciences-po.fr/edition/ ). "Gouvernances" series. 2006, 310 pp, €15. ISBN 2-7246-0997-2.
If one were to bump into Paul Magnette in the corridors of the European Studies Institute at the 'Université libre de Bruxelles' in Belgium or at the Paris-based Political Studies Institute, if one didn't know better, one might take him for a graduate student. From one pearl of an academic publication to the next, however, Paul Magnette has taken his place as one of the most dazzling contemporary thinkers in the European project. The second edition of this book, revised and expanded to cover issues like the no vote in the referendums on the Constitution, provides a brilliant illustration of this, to the extent that it merits being kept within reach of anyone trying to find a way of getting the European Union out of the current rut. Not that the author comes up with any ready-made solutions, mind. At this point, his aim is more modest and probably far more useful - to provide keys to help interpret and understand the complexity surrounding the European project.
The book aims to reveal the extent to which the European Union is an unprecedented innovation in the history of political relations among sovereign states. Paul Magnette starts off by explaining that the historical and political meaning of Europe is not to get round nation states but rather to get round a world order that was only an order by name, not in reality. He argues strongly that Member States have always wanted to keep intergovernmental control, now more than ever, over Europe which, based on the Community Method, could only have a single aim - 'mutualising leadership, averting imperialist tendencies, and rendering fair negotiations among sovereign states possible, if not certain.' Against this backdrop, the author sets out to discern the true nature of the EU's political system, reviewing the different stages of Europeanising national policies, dividing up powers and decision-making mechanisms and considering how public opinion and collectivities are affected by the formation of a new area of power. In this connection, Paul Magnette summarises de Tocqueville's ideas about the then emerging United States, ideas which directly resonate with the current crisis in Europe: The European Union is a vast body which gives patriotism something vague to embrace. The state has a definite shape and boundaries, representing a number of known aspects well-loved by people living within it. It can be confused with the image of the land itself and be identified with ownership, the family, souvenirs of the past, the work of the present and the dreams of the future. Patriotism is usually only an extension of individual egotism and has remained with at the level of the nation state, not moving to the level of the European Union. For this reason, interests, habits and feelings merge to focus real political life in the nation state rather than in the European Union, he explains. As the author points out, this is perhaps no longer true for the United States of America, but it certainly applies to Europe. For the moment, at least…
Michel Theys
*** PAUL HEYWOOD, ERIC JONES, MARTIN RHODES, ULRICH SEDELMEIER (Eds.): Developments in European Politics. Palgrave MacMillan (Houndsmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS, UK. Tel: (44-1256) 329242 - Fax: 842084 - E-mail: orders@palgrave.com - Internet: http://www.palgrave.com ). "Developments" series. 2006, 385 pp, £19-99. ISBN 0-230-00041-X.
The title of this book might make readers think that it looks at changes in the current implementation of the EU or its Member States' general policies, like the common market, employment policy or international trade, for example. Rather than dealing with such matters, however, the book takes the long view of structural changes in politics at different levels. While the book focusses on the European Union, it does not stop there.
The first part of the book is more general and 'traditional' in that it addresses the topics frequently covered in literature about Europe and the European Union, like globalisation, whose economic aspect 'has both enriched European countries and challenged them to survive and compete'; international policy; and the impact of European integration. These topics provide the general framework and influence the rest of the book but are also dealt with in their own right in the introductory part of the book. The second part, entitled 'Government and the Political Process', looks in more detail at how areas of democratic organisation in European countries (public bodies, political parties and interest groups) have been impacted by changes in the political environment, and how they in turn have reacted to the changes. One chapter looks at the connection between executive and legislative powers which, although differing from one country to the next, are often characterised by tensions which fragmented reforms cannot alleviate. Another chapter addresses the question of political parties, which differ quite widely from Western Europe to Eastern Europe, and whose level of representation tends to be in decline. Michael Keating reveals how the increasingly complex nature of the European political order, 'contrary to predictions that territory would diminish as a significant factor in modern societies', is favouring the emergence of a new type of regional territorialism. The third part looks in more detail at the root causes of changes in European policy, focussing on dangers like corruption (and the abuse of anti-corruption ideology by populist movements) and the rise of anti-system movements like the Far Right, along with other aspects like the judiciary's intervention in policy through the constitutional courts and the relationship between the state and different religions, including the tricky issue of freedom of religious expression through the controversy over wearing the veil in public. The last part looks at challenges facing European countries concerning social security, immigration, organised crime and international security. Along with an index and a bibliography, the book includes a guide to further reading which briefly summarises the contributions of the recommended books and authors.
Overall, this is a book by writers with genuine enthusiasm for the European project who are aware, nevertheless, of the internal and external challenges Europe is facing, and who refuse to underestimate the importance of national elements. As the editors explain: "If there is a fundamental challenge underlying developments in European politics, it can be described in terms of finding a balance between diversity and solidarity, democracy and moderation'.
(FRo)
*** NILS WAHL, PER CRAMÉR (Eds.): Swedish Studies in European Law. Volume 1. Hart Publishing (16c Worcester Place, Oxford, OX1 2JW, UK. Tel: (44-1865) 517530 - Fax: 510710 - E-mail: mail@hartpub.co.uk - Internet: http://www.hartpub.co.uk ). 2006, 309 pp, £30. ISBN 1-84113-655-7.
In this book, Nils Wahl and Per Cramér provide research by Swedish European law specialists, snippets of the Swedish view of EU law. The researchers were given free rein to write about the subject of their choice, which means the book covers a wide range of different areas. It also considers current trends in studies of European law. Some of the experts decided to look at EU law from the viewpoint of how it interacts with Swedish law - the impact on labour law of Sweden joining the European Union, the conflict between free circulation of services and the Swedish industrial relations model, how Sweden corrects violations of the European Convention of Human Rights and the Commission's proceedings against Sweden because of Sweden's failure to facilitate taking cases to the European Court of Justice. Actual cases from Swedish law are used to show readers how EU law is generally implemented in Sweden. The remaining dozen essays look at specific aspects of European law, without any specific reference to Sweden or other countries. Lars Henriksson considers calls for tender by the EU institutions, which tend to be decided on price and other economic criteria. The author considers the utility of using other criteria, protection for the environment or benefit to society, for example. Other essays study the impact of EU law on the institutional framework of business law in new EU Member States, citizenship laws and Court of Justice arguments about fiscal equality. This is the first book in a new, annual, series.
(FRo)
*** JAVIER ARREGUI: Cooperative vs. Non-cooperative mechanisms in the EU decision making process. Institut Universitari d'Estudis Europeus (Edifici E-1, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Cerdanyola de Vallès. Tel: (34-93) 5812016 - Fax: 5813063 - E-mail: iuee@uab.es - Internet: http://www.uab.es/iuee ). "Pol Europeu Jean Monnet" series, No. 45. 2006, 39 pp. ISBN 84-95201-17-8.
The author of this book holds a doctorate in political science from Groningen University in the Netherlands and a Masters in political behaviour from Essex University in the UK, and has been involved in a number of projects looking at the decision-making process at EU level. In this particular book, he looks at the ways various European political stakeholders at the Council, and also at the European Parliament and European Commission (where not covered by his previous books), try to get the others to back their views in informal talks preceding votes. The author compares and contrasts the different models of cooperation (compromise and exchange), and the carrot and the stick, measuring their predictive qualities. The volume introduces the theory of the models and the research methodology, illustrating the theory through the concrete case study of negotiations over the planned reforms of structural aid to the fishing industry.
FRo)
*** Eyes on Europe. Des regards croisés sur l'actualité européenne. ASBL Eyes Europe (c/o Institut d'études européennes, 39 av. Franklin Roosevelt, B-1050 Brussels. E-mail: eyesoneurope@gmail.com - Internet: http://www.eyesoneurope.eu ). 2006, No. 4, 54 pp, €4-50.
This new publication is to be welcomed on two counts. Firstly, because it is fruit of a project by young people, students from the very dynamic European Studies Institute at the 'Université libre de Bruxelles' in Belgium. Secondly, as the President of the European Commission, J-M Barroso enthusiastically comments in a message of support, the Editor in Chief, Danaé Anastopoulos, and her team, led on the scientific level by a prestigious academic board, have entered into partnerships with students from other institutions and various civil society organisations, to 'create a cross-border dialogue'. The magazine of articles in either English or French stands out through its excellent editorial choices. This issue covers subjects like constitutional matters, monetary and budget issues, security, defence and the area of freedom, security and justice (with articles on issues like immigration, asylum and security of energy supplies) and the European Union's place on the world stage. The icing on the cake is the fact that many articles are written by high-flyers in the political world (like Angelika Beer, Martine Roure and Franco Frattini…), along with leading academics and high ranking European officials. A brilliant initiative, which now needs to be continued in the future.
(MT)
*** My Europe @ home. Young People to Young People: Building a European Identity in an Enlarged Union. Mouvement Européen (25 square de Meeûs, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5083088 - Fax: 5083089 - E-mail: secretariat@europeanmovement.org - Internet: http://www.europeanmovement.org ). 2006, 30 pp.
From the starting point that, with the most recent round of EU enlargement, along with Bulgaria and Romania joining the club on 1 January 2007, 'we now have more Europe but still have need of more Europeans', as Pat Cox writes in the introduction, the European Movement organised a vast information campaign and led a consultation exercise to feel the pulse of young people with regard to Europe. This lively, colourful brochure reports back on the highly instructive experience.
(MT)
*** NATHALIE FILSER, ASTRID LELARGE: Le Comité économique et social européen dans le Quartier Léopold et le Quartier européen. Comité économique et social (99 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5469604 - Fax: 5469764 - email: publications@eesc.europa.eu - Internet: http: //http://www.eesc.europa.eu ). 2006, 62 pp.
In June 2004, the European Economic and Social Committee moved its headquarters to the heart of the European quarter in Brussels, in the centre of the old 'Leopold' quarter. This richly illustrated publication has two objectives. Firstly, to describe the European Economic and Social Committee and its role as a representative of civil society to its new neighbours. Secondly and more importantly, the architectural historian authors describe to the members of the EESC the history and architectural development of the European quarter in Brussels. People living in Brussels will no doubt also be interested in this part of the book..
(MT)
*** Bertha von Suttner. European Economic and Social Committee (see above). 2006, 72 pp.
In March 2006, the European Economic and Social Committee's new headquarters were given a new name - the "Bertha von Suttner" Building. Bertha who? This elegant booklet provides details of the life of this Austrian pro-Europe anti-war activist, who died in 1914.
(MT)