Priorities for the Finnish Presidency, July-December 2006. CEPS Working Document, No. 248, 12 July 2006

[From the Introduction]. "Thinking ahead for Europe’ is our motto. In this reader we have collected our thoughts and recent writings on what should be done in the near future to get Europe moving again. We offer these ideas to the Finnish Presidency of the EU as food for thought at the start of its six-month term. These views are based on the research experience of our multinational staff, who have the privilege of working in complete independence

What Prospects for the European Constitutional Treaty?

The ratification process of the Constitutional Treaty has taken some unexpected turns, since the publication of the EPIN's initial report. The situation has changed especially dramatically in France. The report concluded that

De amenaza a oportunidad. Cómo conseguir que funcione la integración flexible

Este documento aboga por una reevaluación a fondo de las cooperaciones reforzadas como instrumento de integración y explica las condiciones en las que ésta contribuiría al avance de la UE ampliada. Con demasiada frecuencia en el pasado, las cooperaciones reforzadas (también descritas como “flexibilidad” o “integración flexible”) se han empleado como amenaza (eficaz) para inducir a los Estados miembros reticentes o rezagados a seguir el ritmo del proceso de integración. Por lo tanto, no debería sorprender que muchos Estados miembros tengan una imagen tan mala de ella

A Citizens Compact: Reaching out to the Citizens of Europe. CEPS EPIN Working Papers No. 14, 1 September 2005

[Executive Summary]. How can the deadlock after the ‘no’ to the European Constitutional Treaty in France and the Netherlands be overcome? What should be the aim of the ‘period of reflection’ that has been agreed by the European Council? The authors of this paper propose the adoption of a ‘Citizens Compact’, which should directly address the larger malaise among citizens that underlies the Constitutional crisis. It should contribute to the reduction of the EU’s democratic deficit without treaty reform. The following measures should be envisaged: • National parliaments should participate more strongly in the controversies on core European issues through earlier and intensive debates about EU initiatives. • Every six months governments should explain their positions on the priorities of the EU-presidency in their national parliaments. • EU-actors (MEPs, Commissioners and top officials) should participate more intensively in national debates about European issues and contribute to a better understanding of the European political processes among citizens. • National governments should regularly publish information bulletins about the latest EU initiatives and –decisions. • Public fora about European issues should be established in every member state with speakers coming from national politics, from the EU level and other member states as well as representatives from civil society. • Uncontroversial elements of the Constitutional Treaty that strengthen EU democracy could already be adopted through inter-institutional agreements. • A White Paper on the establishment of a ‘European Democratic and Civic Space’ in the EU should be elaborated. • In the future important legislative acts should contain an impact assessment of the consequences on citizens’ lives

Éloge de la reproduction

Dans le numéro de juillet 1922 de la revue hollandaise De Stijl, l’artiste hongrois László Moholy-Nagy fait paraître un manifeste intitulé “Production – Reproduction”, où il expose dès les premiers paragraphes la conception globale du sens selon l’avant-garde : « Si nous voulons vraiment comprendre et développer le mode d’expression et de création humaines en art et dans les domaines voisins de la création, nous devons en étudier les acteurs, c’est-à-dire l’homme lui-même et les moyens qu’il ..

Rezension: Gerhard Paul, Die Bundesrepublik. Eine visuelle Geschichte

In der Einleitung bezeichnet Gerhard Paul etwas kokett die Bundesrepublik Deutschland als „alte Dame“, aus deren „Bilderschatz“ er ein „Album“ zusammengestellt habe – ist er doch selbst kaum jünger und somit ihre Geschichte mit der seinen nahezu deckungsgleich (Disclaimer: die des Rezensenten auch). Ganz in der Tradition mikrohistorischer Bildforschung stellt Paul fast jedem Kapitel seines historischen Narrativs einen Bildfund – als Fotografie, TV-Serie-Still oder Performance-Dokumentation – voran, an dem er wesentliche Elemente einer zeitspezifischen Visualisierung festzumachen sucht. Umgekehrt wird seine breit angelegte Geschichtserzählung von jeweils zahlreichen Bildbeispielen illustriert, auf die im Lauftext mehr oder weniger eingegangen wird. Entstanden ist so ein Buch mit vielen Bildern und noch mehr Text

Observations in the countryside: Marie Goslich as image reporter at the borders of the metropolis Berlin

Around 1900, Marie Goslich (1859–1938) was one of the earliest female photo reporters of her age. After 1905, she began to publish larger essays illustrated with her own photographs. Her publications were either descriptions of the social situation in the countryside near Berlin, helpful essays for Berlin housewives on new kitchen aids or female clothing in reform fashion. Thus, she can be considered as a part of the conservative feminism typical for the majority of the Berlin bourgeoisie under Emperor Wilhelm II. This includes her engagement in and the support by the Protestant church which becomes most evident in her work throughout World War I. Her subjects ranged from typical views of the urban spectator on rural practices like hay making, social reports on the situation of vagrant people to the introduction of modern communication media. With a strong emphasis on sports, nutrition, and health in general, her work represents the urban view on rural affairs. Marie Goslich’s photographs have to be recognised not only as very early representations of a female journalism but as photographs of their own quality in staging rural life at the borders of a big town. Marie Goslich could not cope with this quality in the 1920s, her life got lost in obscurity and ended in a Nazi mental hospital. Until 2005, her work has remained completely unknown.Around 1900, Marie Goslich (1859–1938) was one of the earliest female photo reporters of her age. After 1905, she began to publish larger essays illustrated with her own photographs. Her publications were either descriptions of the social situation in the countryside near Berlin, helpful essays for Berlin housewives on new kitchen aids or female clothing in reform fashion. Thus, she can be considered as a part of the conservative feminism typical for the majority of the Berlin bourgeoisie under Emperor Wilhelm II. This includes her engagement in and the support by the Protestant church which becomes most evident in her work throughout World War I. Her subjects ranged from typical views of the urban spectator on rural practices like hay making, social reports on the situation of vagrant people to the introduction of modern communication media. With a strong emphasis on sports, nutrition, and health in general, her work represents the urban view on rural affairs. Marie Goslich’s photographs have to be recognised not only as very early representations of a female journalism but as photographs of their own quality in staging rural life at the borders of a big town. Marie Goslich could not cope with this quality in the 1920s, her life got lost in obscurity and ended in a Nazi mental hospital. Until 2005, her work has remained completely unknown

Rolf H. KRAUSS, Walter Benjamin und der neue Blick auf die Photographie, Ostfildern, Cantz Verlag, 1998, 128 p., chronol., bibl.

Rolf H. Krauss a consacré sa maîtrise d'histoire de l'art à un sujet qui l'accompagne depuis plus de vingt ans, en tant que porte-parole de la section Histoire de la Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie et éditeur de la revue DGPh-Intern: l'influence des écrits de Walter Benjamin sur l'approche théorique de la photographie en Allemagne depuis les années 1970. À cette époque, une vive controverse à propos de la compréhension de l'oeuvre du philosophe battait son plein, débouchant habi..

Von „wertvoller Blockadebrecherarbeit“ zum Wunsch, „mit Gewehr und Kamera dienen zu dürfen“. Notizen zur Verschränkung von professioneller und amateurhafter Fotografie im Zweiten Weltkrieg

In einer Notiz von Joseph Goebbels findet sich der Hinweis auf eine Sentenz des Reichspresseleiters Max Amann, dass die Zeitschrift „Signal“ „wertvolle Blockadebrecherarbeit gegen den frühen beherrschenden antideutschen Zeitschrifteneinfluß in Europa geleistet“ habe – und das bereits im April 1940. Der Einfluss dieser Zeitschrift auf die offizielle Kriegspropaganda vieler Staaten kann kaum überschätzt werden. Denn im Vergleich selbst zu großen Magazinen wie „Life“, „Picture Post“ oder auch „USSR im Bau“ war „Signal“ einfach ein grafisch wie vom Bildmaterial her gut gemachtes Blatt, gerade in jenem vorsprachlichen Jargon der Designer, die zu jener Zeit für das Machen von Zeitschriften verantwortlich waren. Noch in den 1980er Jahren bekannte der Bildjournalist Robert Lebeck, in „Signal“ mehr gute Bilder gesehen zu haben als in „Life“ oder „Paris Match“ zur selben Zeit

Éloge de la reproduction

Dans le numéro de juillet 1922 de la revue hollandaise De Stijl, l’artiste hongrois László Moholy-Nagy fait paraître un manifeste intitulé “Production – Reproduction”, où il expose dès les premiers paragraphes la conception globale du sens selon l’avant-garde : « Si nous voulons vraiment comprendre et développer le mode d’expression et de création humaines en art et dans les domaines voisins de la création, nous devons en étudier les acteurs, c’est-à-dire l’homme lui-même et les moyens qu’il ..