*** JEAN-VICTOR LOUIS: L'Europe. Sortir du doute. Bruylant (67 rue de la Régence, B-1000 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 5129842 - Fax: 5119477 - Internet: http://www.bruylant.be ). 2006, 150 pp. ISBN 2-8027-2314-6.
This book is an anguished cry, a call to reason, from an icon of European law who at the end of a brilliant academic career at the ''Université libre de Bruxelles' has allowed his lecturer side to do a deal with the wise man and committed European who used to be scientifically reduced to silence. Starting from the premise that European integration is more necessary now than ever, Jean-Victor Louis is experiencing current events very badly, namely the waiting for things to happen, things being kept silent, the sideways moves, tactical or, rather, strategic avoidances since the French and Dutch no votes on the Constitution. To those who say we have to wait for better times before making constitutional reform, he says in the conclusion that he believes Europe does not have eternity before it. All the previous moves were impregnated with the impatience that should inspire Europe, he adds. No better summary of the book could be found when his pen is used to defend as much as to build, dipped in the ink of passion and scientific rigour.
In the first chapter, the author provides answers to the question of whether the European Union really needs a Constitution, going on to discern the merits of the text currently doing the rounds. In his view, the constitution symbolises the now shared destiny among the communities who make up the EU, and people arguing that there is no European people ('demos') and for that reason, they oppose the idea of a constitution, he answers that a fundamental treaty, whether it is called a constitution or a fundamental treaty, will have an integrating effect and could be the source of the constitutional patriotism close to Jurgen Habermas' heart, as long as it is backed by the creation of a European public arena based on organised dialogue with civil society through the creation of genuine European parties and the existence of European media. We are far from this situation today and, as Jean-Victor Louis recognises, searching for it can even seem a pipe dream when we live amidst virtually generalised mistrust of politicians at national, regional and local levesl because of the countless examples of bad governance, which makes it hard to prepare the ground, to say the least, for the development of a European awareness and confidence in European Union leaders. After dissecting the benefits of the constitutional treaty, where the lawyer comes back with a vengeance, the author asks in the second chapter whether or not a rethink is needed on EU enlargement. Regretting that the Copenhagen criteria were not included in the Constitution, he slams the fact the focus has been put when it comes to the accession criteria on a 'Europe of values' neglecting the fact that the EU's objective is integration rather than cooperation to promote values. He does not beat about the bush, writing that after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, it was a question for some countries, like the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, of the EU giving up once and for all any aspirations to be a federal Europe and substituting by the number impact cooperation for integration. Against this backdrop and looking to the future, the author says he feels 'discomfort' about Turkey joining, with the United States' constant pressure for Turkey to join the EU being reason enough in his view to think twice because it is surely not the boosting of a political EU that the United States is aiming at here, since as far as the US is concerned, political Europe is like the Atlantic Alliance. He believes the European Neighbourhood Policy is the path to follow in this connection.
The third part of the book sees Jean-Victor Louis opening some doors and closing others to resolve the constitutional impasse and avoid the threatened step backwards in integration. He basically explains, using a daring and unusual meaning of the federalist concept, that it is not by means of subsidiarity that it will be possible to 'win the citizen back' because subsidiarity is used to reduce the EU's action and give importance to countries and basically governments, which means (the demand for unanimous voting helps in this connection) that the EU does not answer or does not answer adequately the challenges that it is facing. In the same spirit, the author explains the weaknesses of better communication and transparency (he notes that countries are wary of communication that they do not manage), slamming the 'Better Regulation' desire as often reflecting a reductive concept of the powers of the EU, before going on to make a critical analysis of measures like early introduction of parts of the constitutional treaty, the use of 'bridges', strengthened cooperation and cooperation by international agreements outside the framework of the treaties. In his view, all these paths will lead to a dead end, and he therefore calls in the end for the constitutional perspective to be maintained along with a protocol on economic governance and social policy.
Michel Theys
*** CHARLES-ETIENNE LAGASSE: Introduction aux institutions européennes. Erasme (2 place Baudouin 1er, B-5004 Namur. Tel: (32-81) 213700 - Fax: 212372 - e-mail: commandes@groupeerasme.be - Internet: http://www.groupeerasme.com ). 2007, 160 pp. ISBN 978-28-712-7962-4.
Charles-Etienne Lagasse lectures on Belgian and European institutions at several higher education establishments. Both subjects have the reputation of being opaque to say the least, and teaching them is certainly a good exercise in summarising and clarification for the author. The book is designed as a toolbox containing a set of keys to understand the challenges of the years to come. Highly structured (any structuring necessarily involves something of an arbitrary nature for such a huge subject matter depending on the way one approaches it) and segmented into digestible chunks, the book looks like a typical university teaching tome but it would be wrong to think that only academics would find it useful. The book remains clear and interesting and the author mixes 'basic' information on the powers of the European Parliament, for example, with more 'advanced' information that would be more difficult for readers to find from sources like the institutions' websites, like the negative impact of the EU's 'four freedoms'. This introduction to the European institutions does not only look at European Union institutions but also covers other bodies like the OECD. Likewise, it also moves beyond the institutions since knowledge of the institutions can be used as a springboard for better understanding the European dynamic.
(FRo)
*** SYLVIE GOULARD: L'Europe pour les nuls. A mettre entre toutes les mains ! First Editions (27 rue Cassette, F-75006 Paris. Tel: (33-1) 45496000 - Fax: 45496001 - E-mail: firstinfo@efirst.com - Internet: http://www.efirst.com ). "Pour les Nuls" series. 2007, 484 pp, €2290. ISBN 978-2-7540-0321-6.
Don't pay attention to the title ('Europe for Dummies'), this book is perfect for any reader, including 'European specialists'! From the starting point that the real 'dummies' are the people who failed in explaining the incredible European adventure to citizens, Sylvie Goulard is at pains to rectify the error. She does so with aplomb in a book describing seriously but clearly and even humorously everything you need to know about Europe such as it is being constructed. Once again, Sylvie Goulard proves herself to be a highly talented educator. No young person should be allowed to leave school until they have read this book and more importantly, the people 'making' Europe would be advised to read it too in order to get a clear view of themselves!
(MT)
*** ANDREAS WIMMEL: Beyond the Bosphorus? Comparing German, French and British Discourses on Turkey's Application to Join the European Union. Institut für Höhere Studien (56 Stumpergasse, A-1060 Vienna. Tel: (43-1) 59991-0 - Fax: 59991-555 - Internet: http://www.ihs.ac.at ). "Political Science Series", n° 11. 2006, 30 pp, €6.
This book compares German, French and British discourse on Turkey's request to join the EU. It selected these three countries because some of the divisions on the future form of the EU are very similar (and some very different) when it comes to Turkey, which is used as the case study in this book with the aim (rather theoretical in the entire series) of determining whether national borders have any impact on the formation of public opinion and European discourse in the country in question or whether views diverge instead because of a division among different 'camps' (conservatives, trade unions, etc). Andreas Wimmel reaches the conclusion that the impact of national borders on public discourse on European issues depends on the different visions of the purpose of Europe that dominate in society in the country in question and which are implicitly or explicitly brought up by participants in the debate. That said, the book provides a good summary of the perception and interpretation of pros and cons (particularly in terms of identity and balance between enlarging the EU and deepening it) of Turkey's accession in the three countries, examining for each country two highly reputed newspapers of a different political leaning.
(FRo)
*** GEORGES C. LIENARD (Ed.): Clés pour l'humanisme européen - A Key to Humanism in Europe. Le rêve européen, 50e anniversaire du traité de Rome - The European Dream, 50th Anniversary of the Rome Treaty. Fédération Humaniste Européenne - European Humanist Federation (Campus de la Plaine ULB, CP-237, av. Arnaud Fraiteur, B-1050 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 6276890 - Fax: 6276801 - e-mail: fhe@ulb.ac.be - Internet: http://www.humanism.be ). 2007, 86 pp.
Published to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, this bilingual volume describes the values and principles around which the European Union should be organised in the view of humanist and secular organisations. This contribution takes the form of a letter sent to Mr. Barroso in which the President of the European Humanist Federation, British national David Pollock, calls for democracy to be as participatory as it is representative in a Europe which respects everyone's freedom, where there is no place for unfair discrimination on issues like sex, sexuality, age, race, infirmity, religion or belief. One of the important consequences of this approach, explains David Pollock, is that in this Europe, organisations representing religions or beliefs, particularly but not exclusively Churches, will have no legislative or institutional privileges because such privileges ipso facto discriminate against citizens who do not share the privileged beliefs, including the large number of men and women who do not have any religion. The book goes on to describe the 'Brussels Declaration' for a secular vision of Europe developed by humanist, Muslim and Christian figureheads who agree on the values to be given pride of place in the EU over and above their own personal views.
(MT)
*** GIANNI COPETTI: L'Europe: une œuvre inachevée. "Les Etats-Unis d'Europe", 1947-2007. Gianni Copetti (e-mail: gianni@sopetti.be - Internet: http://www.iniziativaeuropea.org ). "Les cahiers de politique et d'histoire européennes" series, No. 1. 2007, 146 pp.
A wonderful initiative with a man of strong convictions who is prepared to fight for his ideas, Gianni Copetti, honorary President of the Movement for the United States of Europe - European Left, gathering documents illustrating Europe's move towards unity. They include activist documents by Raymond Rifflet, Georges Goriely and Jacques Santer, an interview with Paul-Henri Spaak in 1955, the Messina Conference resolution, summaries of conferences and memories of the negotiation of the Treaty of Rome written by a former Belgian high ranking official, Joseph Van Tichelen.
(PBo)
*** ODILE WATTEL DE CROIZANT, GERARD A. MONTIFROY (Eds.): Europe entre Orient et Occident. Du mythe à la géopolitique. Editions L'Age d'Homme (Paris and Lausanne. E-mail: contact@lagedhomme.com). 2007, 268 pp, €22. ISBN 2-8251-3754-3.
The international organisation "D'Europe à l'Europe, Mythes et symboles" founded in 1957 by a group of lecturers and researchers, reflects on the origins and diffusion of the myth of Europe and the problems with cultural identity in this part of the world. This book gives the proceedings of a conference the organisation held at the 'Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris' in June of last year. There were two aims - to research the enigmatic origins of the myth of the 'Rape of Europe', and to study examples of relations between East and West over the ages. A huge aim, too big probably for a single conference, but others will follow. In the first part of the book there are detailed articles on various theories about the origins of the myth of Europe. Does it come from Ancient Greece or before and was it used to legitimise the conquest of the Middle East by the Greeks? Or did it originate in Asia Minor, evoking the eastward expansion of a type of culture, modes of production and form of writing? In which case, did Princess Europe and her bull, who started their journey in Phoenicia, stop off in Cyprus before reaching Crete? Hypotheses seem to remain open for future research… The second part of the book included interesting, heterogeneous essays on the divergence of Western viewpoints on the Ottoman Empire at the end of the sixteenth century, Europa and the destiny of Christians in the East, Europe between economic challenges and cultural myths, etc. The rather disparate nature of these contributions does not in any way diminish the interest of each and every one of them for researchers, lecturers and even politicians. Two essays should be noted because they will be of interest to a wider readership. Firstly a very useful bibliography of fifty years of research into the Rape of Europe in art and literature, and secondly a wise, humorous description of Richelieu's Europe, a comedy inspired by the famous Cardinal Richelieu, written in Paris on 14 November 1642, a masterpiece on the history of national mentalities and stereotypes which one may well think has not totally died out in the enlarged Europe …
(J-RR)