euro|topics - Eric Le Boucher

20/11/2008

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Boucher, Eric Le

5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

Le Monde - France | 29/06/2008

The decline of humanism?

Le Monde newspaper reflects on the relationship between economic and political progress: "Is this the start of an inevitable decline for Europe and its humanist values? The end of Hellenistic ideals and the world they inspire? This is the question posed by the current crisis of Western capitalism, the financial crisis and the crisis of the social state. It is also posed by the rise of Asia, which is developing more along the Chinese model. ... But we also see it in the French criticism of the European identity. ... It seems that economic development and democracy are no longer inseparable. ... People used to think that an empty stomach leads to barbarism and a full plate to dialogue. But this is wrong. The world has seen a decade of strong growth, but the World Bank reports that there is no sign of improvement among the world's heads of government. ... Nevertheless in the long term democracy, respect for the law, freedom of the press and transparency, in a word 'humanism', lead in general to better governance, a more stable economy and a more equitable distribution of wealth."

Le Monde - France | 13/10/2007

The reformist German example not necessarily followed in France

"Just as France is engaging in reforms, Germany appears to be giving up on them", notes the columnist Eric Le Boucher. "The 2010 agenda, the reform corpus installed in 2003 by Gerhard Schröder, has been taken to pieces, as much by the Social-Democrat Party (SPD) as by the Christian-Democrat Union (CDU), in a common movement backwards to the archaeological left. In Germany it is time for 'reforming reforms', that is to say for taking them back. As the next elections are only in two years time, the two partners in the coalition have already launched into a race for social gifts. Reforms are always painful and therefore politically costly: the hesitant Nicolas Sarkozy certainly didn't need to be reminded of this, he who seems to flee the least lack of popularity."

Le Monde - France | 17/07/2006

Petro-politics at the G8 summit

"Do these summits still serve any purpose ?" asks columnist Eric Le Boucher. "The growth of global 'evils' that cannot be tackled by nation-states acting alone continually underscores the stupidity of nationalistic nostalgia and the necessity of a multilateral response. But reform of existing institutions - whether informal ones (the G8) or formal (the UN, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation) - is becoming urgent. In this respect, the idea of the G8 is a good one. Multilateralism of the UN variety (one country, one voice, with veto rights) works badly. The WTO, built on this foundation, has been suffering the consequences for four years. So we need to return to the principle of 'an enlightened club' of big powers, that functions best. ... Enlightened means open. The IMF, jointly run by the Europeans and Americans, should grant the Asian countries a place in accordance with their weight in the global economy."

Le Monde - France | 15/05/2006

Eric Le Boucher on Europe's dangerous wait-and-see policy

"Europe is dramatically lacking in political leadership," observes columnist Eric Le Boucher. "At the present time, neither Brussels, nor any other capital has a project on the table. Hence the widely shared impression that nothing will be possible until the big-three continental countries - Germany, France and Italy - do some of their own housecleaning. The Union's historic engines are out of order, and they are dragging Europe into their crisis. We will therefore have to wait 10 or 15 years while they carry out reforms, bring their economies up to speed and reduce unemployment. Only then, once anxieties are eased and a new political class that is pro-European and courageous has emerged, will these countries reclaim their prior role." Nonetheless, "this idea of an inevitable plateau, of a necessary waiting-period, strikes many economists as dangerous. Because if it does not move forward, the European bicycle topples over."

Le Monde - France | 06/03/2006

Europe under pressure of economic patriotism

"The notion of a Europe reduced to 'a giant market', once regarded as having won the day, is now giving way to a nationalistic and protectionistic slugging match among the twenty-five," notes journalist Eric le Boucher. "The Europe of services is dead, along with the Europe of energy. People will point their fingers at politicians, the French in particular, though not only them, for having narrowed their horizons to their petty national electoral interests. This is justified. ... But the European breakdown is also a consequence of the liberal British model. In energy matters, a policy aimed at encouraging competition has led neither to a lowering of prices nor to the emergence of pan-European rivals. ... The energy map of Europe currently taking shape is one in which six or seven national champions (including EDF and Suez-GDF in France, E.ON and RWE in Germany) have - and will continue to have - an interest in the status quo."

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