*** KATRIN WINTER: Führung in der europäischen Integration: Zum Spannungsverhältnis von Macht und Gemeinschaft. Peter Lang (1 Moosstrasse, CH-2542 Pieterlen. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.peterlang.com ). "Publications Universitaires Européennes" series, No. 541. 2007, 234 pp, €39-70. ISBN 978-3-631-56220-8.
This 2006 thesis for Bonn University on leadership in the European integration process has a highly revealing subtitle: 'The tension in relations between Power and Community'. The book follows on from the thesis and starts with a theoretical analysis of the concept of leadership in international relations, comparing and contrasting it with the notion of hegemony and making what will prove to be an important distinction in the European project, namely the 'temporary' nature of leadership which makes it acceptable, as opposed to the 'long-lasting' nature of hegemony, which makes it less acceptable against the backdrop of a community of nations. It is precisely this difference in acceptance of the role of various countries that gives rise to the tensions that may arise between power and community because it is accepted that in certain situations, like crises, institutional changes, new policy initiatives and the like, the countries with the largest populations will be able to assume the leadership and move things forward. Hence the author's comments: "But if this becomes a permanent role, then it would jeopardise the fair involvement of all in common policies, because it would give some members more power than others when it comes to common sovereignty. This is why the smaller members cannot allow the often necessary special role of the most powerful members to become long-lasting".
The book then makes a comparative analysis of four past initiatives where the leadership of big countries was displayed, two of which led to the introduction of intergovernmental structures (one a failure and one a success) and two leading to the creation of supranational bodies (one success and one failure). For each of the analyses, the author describes the type of imitative, the scale of the negotiations and the outcome, the global and European backdrop to the event, the interests at stake, the key stakeholders and an assessment of the outcome. The four case studies are the "Fouchet Plan " (1961/62), setting up the European Council (1974), setting up Economic and Monetary Union (1991) and creating Political Union (1991). The examples show that when leadership is exercised by a single country, failure is virtually guaranteed. Only when two or three countries join forces to take the lead can success be achieved (shared leadership).
This work is useful in that it demonstrates that the construction of Europe still depends very strongly on the commitment of national state powers. Katrin Winter recognises the considerable influence wielded by Jacques Delors when he was President of the European Commission when it came to getting Economic and Monetary Union up and running, but the study unfortunately fails to provide enough information about European leadership, which is by nature more personal and political, and which could well be principally motivated by strong ideals rather than mere self-interest. It would therefore be in the interest of Europeans that this useful work is expanded to move beyond the solely 'international' aspects covered thus far and demonstrate the key role that individuals can play as leaders in their own right.
Gabriel Fragnière
*** ANDREW DUFF: Saving the European Union. The Logic of the Lisbon Treaty. Shoehorn Media Ltd (4 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7HH, UK. Tel: (44-20) 31323887 - email: direct.sales@shoehorn.biz - Internet: http://www.shoehornbooks.com ). 2009, 187 pp, £12-99, €14-99. ISBN
978-1-907149-02-3.
If this book was given as a gift to all the Irish, and they agreed to read it (an easy task because it is so user-friendly), there would probably not be any need to worry about the way they will be voting on the Lisbon Treaty in a few weeks time when the second referendum on the said treaty is held in Ireland. This book by Andrew Duff are the stuff of a man of good faith who in his time as an MEP has developed expertise that is recognised across by the board by his peers when it comes to the European constitutional process. He himself was a Convention member and was sent by the European Parliament to attend the Intergovernmental Conference that put together the treaty that is currently on hold. He uses this knowledge and understanding to explain honestly to the general public what the treaty actually says, what the EU can and cannot do under the treaty and what the role of the EU institutions will be. Andrew Duff is a liberal democrat with strong ideas, diametrically opposed to the politically correct ideas that tend to do the rounds in UK politics when it comes to Europe. These ideas lead him to decry the various exemptions granted to the UK and other countries, warning that making full use of them would only result in a core group forming that would push European integration in a federalist direction and leaving behind a nationalist rump. The F-word (F for federalist) that has been banished from England since the time of Margaret Thatcher is not taboo for Duff, who in fact now chairs the European Union of Federalists and therefore dares to suggest that the aim in the next few years is to extend this potential federalist network as widely as possible. In order to save the European Union from the forces of nationalism, Andrew Duff makes twelve common-sense recommendations about how to strengthen its federalist character. He warns at the end of the book that the last chance is fast approaching and if Lisbon is again scuppered by the Irish, then this will mark the end of attempts to act by consensus and the time will be ripe for people like Duff, who want to imitate the birth of the United States, which decreed that its federal constitution would come into force as soon as nine of its then thirteen states ratified it.
(MT)
*** DOMINIQUE REYNIE (Ed.): L'opinion européenne en 2009. Editions Lignes de Repères (3 rue de Téhéran, F-75008 Paris. Tel: (33-9) 61025516 - email: contact@lignes-de-reperes.com - Internet: http://www.lignes-de-reperes.com ). 2009, 237 pp, €18. ISBN 978-2-915752-44-1.
One day, somebody said: "This Europe will be formed if its communities decide in their hearts to join. It is not enough for parliaments to vote on ratification. People's referendums must be held (…). The first step must be a huge referendum held at the same time in all countries involved." This statement was made on 25 February back in 1953 and the 'somebody' in question was none other than Charles de Gaulle of France. This nugget was discovered under the dust of history by Corinne Deloy, an editor working at the Robert Schuman Foundation's 'Observatoire Européen des Elections,' who has written an interesting essay on the question of referendums in Europe. After listing the travails and weaknesses of 'national' referendums on European issues and in the same spirit as the previous author, she quotes Daniel Cohn-Bendit who said that the results of a genuine European referendum should be "valid if two-thirds of Europeans voted yes," concluding that it is "urgent to be able to think of democracy outside the country framework". François-Xavier Priollaud demonstrates that the best way of "responding to Irish concerns" is "by making use of the Lisbon Treaty" itself. He points out that if the Irish reject the treaty a second time, this "would be a strong incentive for entering into a multi-speed Europe". University professor and Director General of the Foundation for Political Innovation, Dominique Reynié explores the 69 trend in Eurobarometer, pointing out that against the backdrop of globalisation that Europeans are afraid of, they express their scepticism first and foremost in terms of their national governments. This scepticism will extend as far as the EU itself in the current economic crisis if the EU fails to come up with a "visible and effective European strategy" and such failure would have the serious consequence that "the combination of scepticism about one's own country and scepticism about Europe would encourage the emergence of political elites that specialise in extreme separatist politics". The book addresses many other issues, like EU-Russian energy relations, Europeans' purchasing power, whether the European Central Bank is right after all, and the low turnout at the European elections. Boxes provide a wealth of information about customs in Europe from purchasing power measured in terms of the cost of a Big Mac to university league tables.
(MT)
*** THURIAN JOUNO (Ed.): Questions européennes. Le droit et les politiques de l'Union. Presses Universitaires de France (1 av. Reille, F-75014 Paris. Tel: (41-32) 3761717 - Fax: 3761727 - email: info@peterlang.com - Internet: http://www.puf.com ). "Major" series. 2009, 854 pp, €39. ISBN 978-2-13-055931-3.
Opening with an enthusiastic preface by Pascal Lamy, this summary of European issues is a model in its genre, being clear yet comprehensive. It is also one of the first publications in French, if not the very first, to examine the law, history and policies of the European Union in a single volume. The authors are all young French researchers and high-ranking civil servants, who start by explaining where the idea of a European Community came from, along with the challenges facing the European Union today. They then dissect the EU's political system by looking at its institutions - the European Parliament (a "Parliament of Europeans?"), the European Commission ("Executive or executive assistant?"), the Council of Ministers (described by the book's editor as "part-diplomatic forum and part-upper chamber") and so on. The EU's legislative system is described and the authors then examine the legal system, with fascinating articles on the role of law in the European integration process and the direct effect and primacy of EU law. The fourth part of the book, which is so well designed that readers will avidly devour each chapter, examines the EU's policies in six sections. The first paints a portrait of economic and demographic Europe; the second looks at the EU budget and the tensions it generates among EU institutions and EU Member States alike; the next section looks at growth policies (the Single Market, competition policy ('a major EU success story') the common trade policy, the Lisbon Strategy, transport, energy (the latter two are described as 'policies built by liberalisation'); cohesion policies (agriculture, fisheries and regional policy); macro-economic policies (like monetary Europe which sets up a federal Europe as the EU is in search of 'economic governance') and finally 'sovereignty policies' like foreign policy, defence, security and justice. This fine book comes with very useful annexes. It is a joy to read and will be a useful practical handbook for students.
(MT)
*** KAJA TAEL (Ed.): Estonia's way into the European Union. Ministère estonien des Affaires étrangères (1 Islandi väljak, 15049 Tallinn. Tel: (372) 63737000 - Fax: 6377098 - email: vminfo@vim.ee). 2009,192 pp. ISBN 978-9985-9923-3-3.
This publication from the Estonian Foreign Ministry describes the path pursued by Estonia from the shaking off of the shackles of the old Soviet Union until membership of the European Union. Most of the authors are Estonian civil servants. They start by reviewing Estonia's relations with the EU during the difficult time when the USSR collapsed. Galloping inflation, the collapse of industry and a widening social divide encouraged Estonia to seek a third way, which resulted in the start of negotiations in 1998 to join the EU. The book then describes the work undertaken by Estonia to meet the European Commission's requirements, along with EU aid for the economy, farming and energy. The authors explain how the EU was described to Estonians, along with the various levels of harmonisation of the legal system with the EU set-up and the adjustments required to handle EU Structural Funds. The book ends with a description of the country as a full EU Member State and what the population thinks of the EU. Estonians are described as being generally pro-European and aware that the freedoms and benefits of EU membership are not fully guaranteed and therefore constant vigilance is required - which should not be too problematic in that Estonians are only too aware of how easy it is to lose one's freedoms…
(NDu)
*** PASCAL GOERGEN: Networking in Brussels. A practical guide to navigating EU networks. Self-published by the author (75 rue du Lambais, B-1390 Grez-Doiceau, Belgium. Internet: http://www.goergen.be ). 2009, 240 pp, €32. ISBN 2-9600456-8-8.
Representing the Brussels-Capital Region at the European Union and author of "Lobbying in Brussels", published in 2006, Pascal Goergen has written a practical guide to networking in Brussels, describing the networks that exist in Brussels around the European institutions along with their structure, how they work and their rationale. He describes the networks' aims and objectives in the various domains (foreign relations, fisheries, transport, energy, the environment, etc.) and provides contact information. He then gives tips and hints on how to create networks in Brussels, examining the institutional background and finance required to ensure a network works properly. He gives practical advice on how to operate networks effectively to get the most out of them and make the best use of modern technology and even provides maps to help readers find their way around the various Permanent Representations and other important committees.
(NDu)
*** Europe's World. Europe's World (Bibliothèque Solvay, Parc Léopold, 137 rue Belliard, B-1040 Brussels. Tel: (32-2) 7387592 - Fax: 7391592 - email: subscriptions@europesworld.org - Internet: http://www.europesworld.org ). 2009, No. 12, 202 pp, €12. Annual subscription: €30.
The latest issue of the pan-European review so dear to Giles Merritt includes a fine special report with no fewer than twenty-six essays (some by prestige figures) on how to get out of the crisis. The review also includes an article by Declan Ganley and an article by Wilfried Martens, who calls for lessons to be learnt from the European elections.
(MT)