Les Compromis

by Maxime Calligaro, Eric Cardère

Un jeune assistant parlementaire auprès d'une eurodéputée Verte, chargée d'une directive censée répondre au scandale Volkswagen, découvre son élue assassinée devant l'hémicycle du Parlement. Il devra s'allier à un vieux briscard du journalisme bruxellois pour mener une enquête dans les couloirs tortueux des institutions européennes, un monde à part peuplé d'élus venant des quatre coins de l'Union européenne, d'assistants, de fonctionnaires, de diplomates et de lobbyistes.

200 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2019

Reviews

[Lu · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone pretty familiar with this environment, I quite enjoyed the beginning of the book and could relate to many of Émile’s experiences. However, the book began to go downhill around the middle. First of all, there is a weird anti-German sentiment along the whole book (which I understand is an important part of the argument) but it made me cringe in many parts. Funnily enough, there is definitely not enough criticism towards French (or rather Sciences Po) notorious obnoxiousness within the institutions. Second of all, although the book depicts and explains pretty well the functioning of the European Parliament, the plot twist was quite…ridiculous? And somehow anticlimactic? I guess a whole point could be made, from the part of someone that has spent a good part of their career at the EP, that Commission folks are all crazy about the power of EU law, ok, I see that. But was that it!? Anyway, the book has a very simplistic plot which couldn’t help but disappoint me in the end.

[Cris Félix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compromissos é dizer pouco!
Uma leitura bem interessante para quem quiser conhecer um pouco dos meandros das instituições europeias.

[Legris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and realistic! I worked thirty seven years within the EU institutions and, setting aside the crime and the love affairs, I have experienced almost all the situations as described in this book ! This is a very accurate description of the major decision making processes and legislative work going on in the EU institutions . Well done !!!

[Ewan.UE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un livre passionnant et haletant, on reste dans l'enquête tout du long, tout en déambulant entre les institutions européennes... Le fond est bon mais au final très mal exploité : des personnages sont inutiles ou pas assez approfondie, on se perd entre les protagonistes, et la fin est bâclée je trouve, alors qu'elle avait su garder le suspense jusqu'au bout pourtant.

Le livre n'est donc pas franchement mauvais, mais reste bien en dessous de ce que l'on aurai pu s'attendre de la part de ces 2 scénaristes, qui ont excellé avec la série Parlement.

[Gregorito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather 3,5. But nice to read during sunny lazy Brussels days.

[Val Heed · Rating 4 out of 5]

l’enquête n'est pas très intéressant MAIS on apprend beaucoup sur les coulisses de Union Européen, ses députés, son Commission, et son parlement

[Simon Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impératif pour tous ceux qui aspirent à une carrière dans les institutions européennes !