° Statutory Business

The European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) met twice in 2004. The first meeting of the year was held in Moscow, Russia on 19^th and 20^th May. The second meeting of the year was held on 1^st and 2^nd October in Zagreb, Croatia.

The first meeting of the year approved the accounts for 2003. At the Zagreb meeting the 2005 draft budget was approved. This incorporated amendments to subscriptions following the accession of a number of member countries to the EU.

The Executive Committee for 2002-2005 comprises:-

President – Yrjoe Matikainen (Finland)

Senior Vice-President – Carsten Ahrens (Germany)

Honorary Treasurer – Vasillis Economopoulos (Greece)

Past President – Antonio Adao da Fonseca (Portugal)

Georges Pilot (France)

Iacint Manoliu (Romania)

Secretary General - Diana Maxwell

° Task Forces

ECCE’s on-going activity is mainly directed by our Task Forces. Other forms of working group are formed for projects of an ‘ad hoc’ nature – currently Civil Engineering Heritage. Activities of Task Forces in 2004 are set out below.

EDUCATION: The Task Force acts as ECCE’s link to the large pan-European thematic network created by the EUCEET project. Professor Manoliu made a presentation in Zagreb on the effects of the ‘Bologna Agreement’. It has been placed on the ECCE web-site to enable dissemination to a wider audience.

Within the second phase of the EUCEET project, ECCE was asked to contribute to project SP9. The subject-matter of this project is enhancing the attractiveness of the profession. There are also environmental and sustainable developmental matters in civil engineering education.

ENVIRONMENT: In 2004, Task Force Members considered potential ‘emblematic’ civil engineering projects around Europe to be made available via the ECCE web-site to publicise the importance of sustainable engineering to society. Task Force Chairman Santiago Hernandez also proposed a review of the image of the civil engineering through the eyes of the media – with particular reference to its portrayal in publicity material.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: A ‘mini-seminar’ comprising papers by corresponding members of the Task Force was given in Zagreb, Croatia. The Task Force announced plans to focus on contributing to publication of ICT-related articles in professional journals and on support to the Research Task Force in lobbying on the 7^th Framework Programme. It also intended to pursue the possibility of involvement in the Commission’s construction competitiveness agenda.

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION: In 2004 the proposed Directive on professional mobility was under discussion in the European Parliament. The decision-making timetable was delayed by the 2004 European elections. Task Force Chairman, Professor Carsten Ahrens is preparing proposals for a Common Platform for civil engineers to enable free movement of the profession at European level. Under this proposal, Members would have to certify the achievement of 300 ECTS-credits and professional experience of not less than three years. What is being considered is 12 years of secondary education, 300 ECTS credits which can be achieved by a five-year masters qualification or a Bachelor’s degree plus CPD. .

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Executive Committee member Georges Pilot has taken responsibility for the Task Force. For some years he has represented ECCE at external RTD meetings. Georges Pilot’s long career in construction research provides an informed source for members for whom he provides regular reports. The Task Force also monitors developments in preparation of the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme on Research and Development.

CIVIL ENGINEERING HERITAGE: Progress was made in 2004 on desired outcomes for a civil engineering publication project. All member organisations were requested to supply a final table with 10 representative projects from their country. Photographs as well as descriptive text could be included in order to provide material for review. Acceptance of projects for consideration was to be based on projects which were: (i) important for their period, (ii) innovative for that period and (iii) reflected the level of civilisation in their geographical region at that period in history.

° 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. In 2004 Meetings were held with Commission officials responsible for Single Market (professional mobility) and Construction activities.

° Associated organisations

ECCE is a subscribing member of the European Council of Construction Research, Development and Innovation (ECCREDI).

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.

ECCE 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.

Contact and information exchange is also carried out with WFEO, the World Federation of Engineering Organisations and contact is maintained with FEANI, the European Federation of National Engineering Associations.

° Strategic Plan and ‘Special projects’:

ECCE’s discussions in relation to proposals from a group of members to create a World Council of Civil Engineers continued throughout 2004. An ad hoc group formed in 2003 met and reported back to the Executive Committee and membership. At the October 2004 Zagreb meeting, the majority of Executive Committee members expressed their support for the philosophy of creating a World Council of Civil Engineers. It was agreed that no vote would be put to the membership until the Spring 2005 meeting to allow preparation of concrete plans and consultation.

ECCE was a co-sponsor with ACE (European Council of Architects and EFCA (European Federation of Consulting Associations) of a one-day seminar on the new Public Procurement Directives. This included key European Commission speakers and presented the concerns of the construction sector as implementation commences in all EU Member States.

At the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work’s ’ Construction Summit’ ECCE Secretary General Diana Maxwell was one of seven signatories of the ’Bilbao declaration’. This calls upon all signatory parties to act on agreed commitments and report back on progress and future initiatives at a follow-up Construction Safety Summit, to be organised by the Agency in June 2006 and involving all key stakeholders that have joined this declaration. ECCE member Murt Coleman of Ireland also attended the event. It is intended to initiate follow-up actions in 2005.

The President proposed a draft position paper on the Life-cycle of buildings which members requested to review prior to submission to European institutions.

° Publications

Work continued on the member publication “The Civil Engineering Profession in Europe”, last published in 1998. The Secretary General collated a draft document which was passed to Professor Ahrens in December 2004 in order to create a ‘second’ version, sorted by country rather than topic information. Publication is expected to take place in Spring 2005. An updated ECCE brochure has also been drafted for publication in 2005.

Diana E. Maxwell, Secretary General February 2005