Library blog

Interview with Professor Hans-Jörg Trenz, who explains the process of European integration and presents his new book Narrating European Society: Toward a Sociology of European Integration.

This month we are publishing issue 41 of the Think Tank Review compiled by the EU Council Library. This issue references papers published in November 2016. As usual, we provide the link to the full text and a short abstract.

On Saturday 10 December 2016, the new Europa building opened its doors to visitors for one day. The Europa building is the new EU Council headquarters where the EU representatives will meet as from January 2017.

Interview with Dr. Nicole Koenig about her new book EU security policy and crisis management: a quest for coherence and her previous and ongoing research activities.

'Where there is music, there is no place for racism', according to Catalan musician Jordi Savall. That outlook and many other ideas of tolerance and mutual understanding between cultures were discussed during an inspiring event at the European Parliament.

L'équipe de la Bibliothèque et Recherche a assisté à la présentation du nouveau livre du Commissaire européen Pierre Moscovici, qui s'intitule "S'il est minuit en Europe". Durant cette rencontre, Pierre Moscovici a évoqué plusieurs thèmes d'actualité, dont la prochaine élection présidentielle en France, la sécurité et la crise des réfugiés, le populisme et la politique économique européenne.

On 12 December 2016, former Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres was sworn in as Secretary-General of the United Nations, becoming the ninth UN Secretary-General in the organisation's 71-year history. Guterres will replace Ban Ki-moon on 1 January 2017, who is stepping down after two five-year terms.

Professor James K. Galbraith presents his new book Welcome to the poisoned chalice: the destruction of Greece and the future of Europe and provides interesting insights into his work as a researcher.

Taking into account the important role of research and innovation in creating a competitive and economically strong Europe, the Slovak Presidency has worked with a view to achieving better conditions for young researchers and has encouraged investment in human capital in relation to scientific work and development. As a result, on 29 November 2016, the Council adopted conclusions on measures to support young researchers.

The Republic of Iceland, a Nordic European island country with a population of about 330 000 and an area of 103 000 km², has a modern National Library that coexists with its University Library on the campus of Reykjavík University. The Library and Research team recently had an opportunity to visit it.

The Library and Research team attended a public roundtable on the evolution of NATO's policy from assurance to deterrence; the challenges encountered when countering hybrid or non-linear warfare; and the implications of the rise of Asia for the transatlantic relationship.

With Christmas and New Year celebrations just around the corner, the Council Library team would like to recommend some enjoyable reading material for the upcoming holiday break.