LEGISLATIVE DISTINCTIONS BASED ON THE CLASSIFICATION AND SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE, THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ACT (TYPE OF PROPERTY, EXTENT OF DAMAGES, RESULTING INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE), THE OWNERSHIP OF THE AFFECTED PROPERTY, AND THE DEGREE OF INTENT ARE HIGHLIGHTED AND ANALYZED, THE DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF ATTEMPTED ARSON AND ARSON THREATS IS ALSO CONSIDERED. A MODEL INTER-EUROPEAN ARSON CODE, BASED ON PROVISIONS FROM SEVERAL EXISTING STATUTES IS THEN PROPOSED. --IN FRENCH...ELW