EUROPEAN COUNCIL OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

ANNUAL REPORT 2003

° Statutory Business

The European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) met twice in 2003.  The first meeting of the year was held in Madrid, Spain on 4th and 5th April.  The second meeting of the year was held on 19th and 20th September in Munich, Germany.

The first meeting of the year approved the accounts for 2002.  At the Munich meeting the draft budget for 2004 was approved.  The current Executive Committee comprises:-

° Task Forces

ECCE activity is predominantly carried out through the various Task Forces.  Some of these, such as the Ethics Task Force set up to draft professional guidelines for a code of conduct, may be of an ‘ad hoc’ nature.  Activities of current Task Forces in 2003 are set out below.

EDUCATION and CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: This Task Force acts as ECCE’s link to the large pan-European thematic network created by the EUCEET project.  At its September 2003 meeting in Spain, the EUCEET Management Committee meeting adopted a statement considering the minimum duration for civil engineering studies should be four years in order to undertake professional civil engineering activity.  The effect of the ‘Bologna Agreement’ is a common source of concern and ECCE’s involvement is requested in 2004.

Themes in the new EUCEET project will be curricula issues: - enhancing attractiveness of the civil engineering profession; recognition of academic and professional civil engineering qualifications; development of the teaching environment; life-long learning and promoting the European dimension in civil engineering education. 

ENVIRONMENT: : In 2003, Task Force Chairman, Santiago Hernandez of Spain hosted a meeting in Càceres at which an exchange was held on the impact of the ‘Ethical Commitment to Sustainable Civil Engineering’, published earlier in the year. This document now exists in English, Spanish and Portuguese.   Task Force Members are also providing details of ‘emblematic’ civil engineering projects around Europe to be made available via the ECCE web-site to disseminate the importance of sustainable engineering to society.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: The EU-funded ROADCON project in which Task Force Vice-Chairman Rasso Steinmann was involved, drew to its conclusion in the summer of 2003.  The latest phase of the European Commission Working Group on ICT as a factor in Construction Competitiveness (the e-commerce group) was also concluding, with publication of the final report by the European Commission scheduled for late 2003.  In light of the conclusion of these projects, there is a proposal to change the Task Force into an on-going body as a Working Group which would observe the development of ICT and propose actions.  Such proposals would be put forward at the Spring 2004 meeting.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION: 2003 has been a key year for consideration of Professional Recognition.  The subject has been under discussion in the European Parliament.  Task Force Chairman, Professor Carsten Ahrens, has been active in preparing ECCE’s position and a number of member organisations have provided support to this position by writing to the appropriate members of the European Parliament in their countries.  It is regretted that the engineering profession as a whole is divided on the proposed solutions.  The outcome of debate in the European Parliament is expected in January 2004.                    

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Task Force Chairman Olavi Tupamaeki has kept members fully informed of progress on the Sixth Framework Programme and the Development of a European Research Area.  He wishes to relinquish this role after two active years as Chairman.  Representation at external RTD meetings is assured by Executive Committee Member Georges Pilot, whose background is also in construction research and who has also provided regular reports for the membership.

° Public Affairs

ECCE maintains contact with senior officials in the European Commission and with elected representatives in the European Parliament to ensure that the concerns of the profession are given due consideration at European level.  This includes making representation on position papers, such as that on Professional Recognition.

° Associated Organisations

ECCE is a subscribing member of the European Council of Construction Research, Development and Innovation (ECCREDI).  Professor Lamas of Portugal has been nominated to represent ECCE on the Steering Group of E-Core.  ECCE is also a subscribing member of SEFI, the European Association for engineering training.

ECCE also participates in the European Construction Forum.  This provides a platform for exchange of information and for joint activities to raise the profile and concerns of the sector.  A Presidential-level meeting was held in Autumn 2003 in Brussels with speakers from the European Commission.  ECCE also has bilateral agreements with the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Japan Society of Civil Engineers based on exchange of information and publications and common concerns for the profession.

° Strategic Plan

At the Munich Meeting discussion was held on the proposed Business Plan for 2004.  Areas of activity were discussed and members debated the benefits and focus of membership.  The creation of a professional network and the reservoir of knowledge were acknowledged, together with the strength to be a respected partner on the international and European scene. The need to be disciplined in answering questionnaires and commenting on position papers was emphasised.

° Publications  

Web-site content continues to be developed following partial restructuring of the site in 2002 to make a wider range of information on Task Force activities and technical briefings available to all.  Regular up-dates include the illustrated twice-yearly newsletter and the monthly Brussels Brief launched in December 2001.  A further newsletter on the Environment was issued in 2003 to mark the meeting of the Environment Task Force in Càceres, Spain.

Work is well underway on the member publication “The Civil Engineering Profession in Europe”, last published in 1998.  It is hoped that all members will contribute responses early in 2004 to allow publication on-line during the year.

Diana E Maxwell, Secretary General                                                                 January 2004

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