° On 29^th October 2004 Europe's leaders assembled in Rome to sign the EU constitution.  The event was filmed by Italian film director Franco Zeffirelli. The event took place in the same room where the original 1957 Treaty of Rome was signed. The signature of the Constitution begins a two-year ratification process by EU governments: the Constitution must be ratified by all 25 member states before it can legally come into force.  Of the 25 member states, some ten intend to hold referenda at national level.  For some, such as the U.K., France and Poland the outcome does not look entirely positive.

° Climate and sustainable road traffic were central themes of the Environment Council held on 14^th October.  The general contribution of the EU to the UN Climate Conference (COP 10) is laid down in Council Conclusions. The international Climate Conference will take place from 6^th – 17^th December in Buenos Aires. The Dutch Presidency will represent the EU at the Conference.   At the initiative of the Presidency, a political debate was held on specific proposals for sustainable road traffic with a view to giving new impetus to discussions and inviting the European Commission to take timely initiatives for additional measures. http://www.eu2004.nl/default.asp?CMS_ITEM=99BF1314405641BA80DA7F621A4DA3B8X1X556 02X88

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

° European Construction Technology Platform to outline vision for 2030: Construction is the largest industrial cluster in the EU, representing some ten per cent of GDP, according to the ECTP. Construction spending is also expected to grow by 4.6 per cent annually over the next four years, and at an even higher rate in India and China. The pressure of international competition is encouraging construction companies to investigate the use of advanced technologies - for construction itself, rationalising supply chains and increasing worker safety. The work of the TP is divided into a number of focus areas: cities and buildings; underground construction; quality of life; networks (rail, road, water and infrastructure); materials and cultural heritage.

° Network for European researchers in the US to be launched in 2005 A network for European researchers living and working in the US, currently in the design stage, is to be established by the European Commission and embassies of the EU Member States in the US. European researchers in the US are invited to complete the short online questionnaire, which can be found at the reference below. To access the online survey: http://www.evaluationpartnership.com/sur veys/eralink.htm

° European Commission launches new newsletter on EU research in the social sciences and humanities: http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/socia l-sciences/htm/newsletter/issue1/content _en.htm

° Survey reveals that U.K.’s Cambridge region is ahead of the rest of Europe in terms of technology investment, A survey by Grant Thornton has challenged the view that technology companies stand a greater chance of success in the US than in the UK.   According to the report, the Cambridge cluster of technology firms based around the UK university received more than 25 per cent of the UK's venture capital investment and more than eight per cent of the European total in the first half of 2004.  Average investment levels are between 57-100 per cent higher in Cambridge than in the rest of the UK and Europe.

° EU Science and Technology Foresight in FP7 - Online consultation: deadline 15 November 2004 For more information on Science and Technology Foresight: www.cordis.lu/foresight 

° Interim Working Document on the implementation of a funding mechanism for Basic Research: A set of principles has been derived from Commission consultations from the recommendations of the Commission and the EUROHORCs (EU Research Organisations Heads of Research Councils) joint Working Group.  Principles incorporate: "Investigator-driven research; Adequate means; Efficiency; Autonomy; Transparency and Accountability. In the coming months the Commission will address: the choice of an appropriate structure to meet new funding mechanism requirements (e.g. Executive Agency, traditional EU Agency, a Foundation under Article 171); establishment of the "Governing Council" to act as guarantor and oversee scientific aspects of the mechanism and further development of the operational framework of the mechanism (grant, evaluation and peer review, interdisciplinary research, etc.). http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/futur e/pdf/basicrtd_note_290904_en.pdf

° Survey published on access to scientific information: An international survey carried out among 4,000 scientific and medical research authors from 97 countries has found that the majority of researchers around the world are satisfied with their level of access to the scientific and medical journals. Authors have expressed concern about an arrangement whereby they would be required to pay for publication of their research. Most researchers interviewed believed quality would decline rather than improve under an author-pay model. http://ciber.soi.city.ac.uk/virschprojco mdigenv.php

° Virtual network launched for young practitioners working on science and society issues:  The network's website is divided into four sections:  knowledge, uncertainty, legitimacy and values; communicating among plural perspectives and Community based research; transparency, openness and participation in science policy processes; emerging new styles of governance and ICT [information and communication technologies].  http://alba.jrc.it/science-society 

° EIB and World Bank stress need for more academia-industry links in Poland: A report on tertiary education in Poland by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Bank claims that links between academic research and industry are weak, and that academics are not fully aware of their potential as a source of innovation and commercially viable technological advances.  The EIB is thus arranging a Euro 250 million loan in the area of science and technology.  (www.eib.org )

° Italy's contribution to FP7 debate raises doubt over the need for a European Research Council (ERC) The Italian report argues that the ERC proposal would effectively reduce the proportion of EU funds spent on truly European projects.  It also proposes that Community funding should focus on actions to maximise national public and private investment in research, whilst promoting further convergence and a reduction of duplication. It suggests doubling the current research budget. On the subject of basic research Italy seems at odds with recent policy statements by the Commission and other Member States, stating ‘Basic research must have clear connections with applied research and thus with innovation, albeit on a long term’ ftp://ftp.cordis.lu/pub/era/docs/italy_positionfp7_en.pdf

° EU looks to Swiss model to 'unleash' private sector R&D funding: According to a ‘Cordis’ news item, 69 per cent of research funds in Switzerland come from private sources.  Currently the EU invests roughly 1.9 per cent of its GDP in research, and only around 56 per cent of that comes from business.  A recent debate sought to identify means to emulate Swiss success.  For a speaker from Switzerland the closeness of the country’s political and economic elite to technology is a hallmark of an innovative society.  The Commission’s Director-General considered that European research should be taxed less.

INFORMATION and COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

° German research institutions create web-based platform for scientific collaboration: Germany's Max Planck Society and FIZ Karlsruhe are to work together to develop a platform for web based scientific work, allowing the scientists at the Max Planck Society's 80 research institutes to increase their collaboration. The strategic partnership will receive 6.1 million euro over five years from the German government for the eSciDoc project. http://www.fiz-karlsruhe.de  and http://www.zim.mpg.de

° Cost-benefit assessment of the use of B2B e-markets for European enterprises:  The Commission's Enterprise DG has published a call for tenders relating to a cost-benefit assessment of the use of business-to-business (B2B) e-markets for European enterprises, with a special view to online procurement auctions. E-mail: ENTR-EOI-E-business@cec.eu.int

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION:

° Quality assurance: The Council and European Parliament Recommendation on further European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education aims to encourage higher education institutions and competent authorities to cooperate and exchange experience.  It also sets out five steps to achieve mutual recognition comprising internal quality assurance mechanisms, a common set of standards, procedures and guidelines. Full Text

° 82 European universities launch Erasmus Mundus programme: The European Commission has selected the first 19 Erasmus Mundus masters courses, involving 82 European universities, which will start at the beginning of this academic year (2004-2005). A total of €230 million will be spent on the Erasmus Mundus programme in the period 2004-2008, 90% of it on the mobility of students and researchers. The budget for the launch year is €8 million. Full text 

ENVIRONMENT:  

° Mining waste:  The European Commission has welcomed political agreement in the Council on new rules to prevent pollution and accidents.  It is envisaged that together with the revised Seveso II Directive on the control of major industrial accidents, and a reference document on Best Available Techniques, the future Directive will ensure sound management of extractive waste throughout the EU. http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/mining/index.htm

° Council of Ministers adopts Conclusions on Flood Risk Management: It agreed that Member States and Commission should take concerted action to improve the level of flood protection. It suggested further development of European research and the exchange of knowledge and experience on all aspects of flood risk management.  This would include flood forecasting and warning systems, using existing networks.  It proposed a European Action Programme to achieve an integrated and concerted approach.  Through co-operation Member States should develop and implement flood risk management plans and flood risk maps for river basins and coastal areas, in trans-boundary basins co-operating also with external countries.  Exceptions would be made for river basins and coastal areas that Member States considered did not suffer from negative impacts from floods or where such action was not deemed necessary.  http://ue.eu.int/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pr essdata/en/envir/82253.pdf

° Emissions trading: Commission clears 8 more plans paving the way for trade to start as planned: 6 plans - from Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Slovak Republic and Portugal - have been accepted unconditionally. Another 2 - from Finland and France - have been approved on condition that technical changes are made. This will make them automatically acceptable (without a second Commission assessment). National allocation plans outline the number of CO₂ emission allowances that Member States intend to allocate to energy-intensive industrial plants, so they can participate in emissions trading from January 2005. Information on climate change policy: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/emission.htm National Allocation Plans: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/emission_plans.htm

° The cabinet of the Russian Federation recommends ratification of the Kyoto Protocol: Once in force, it will legally oblige countries with binding targets to reduce greenhouse gases to reach these targets by 2012.  Russia’s greenhouse gas emissions are currently around 30% below 1990 levels. The Kyoto Protocol requires that Russia does not exceed 1990 levels during 2008-2012. Once international emissions trading starts, Russia will therefore have a significant surplus of emission quotas that it can sell to other countries that have ratified the Protocol.  In addition, Russia will gain from the project-based mechanism known as Joint Implementation which allows Parties with targets to carry out emission reduction projects in other countries with targets and count the achieved reductions against their own targets.  Several EU Member States have already expressed strong interest in investing in such projects in Russia.  http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/home_en.htm

° Progress on internet-based Register of Industrial pollution: The first internet-based register of industrial emissions to air and water was launched by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency in February 2004. Following its success the Commission proposes to make it  even more comprehensive register, by upgrading it to a European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register to go online in 2009 and cover 65 industrial activities (currently 56) and more than 90 substances (currently 50) released to air, water and land. http://www.eper.cec.eu.int.

OECD Review of Spain's Environmental Performance  http://www.oecd.org/document/6/0,2340,en

Environmental cases:

Case against Spain for failure to legislate for environmental impact assessment - Case Filing C-332/04: Commission v Spain Official Journal publication of the filing Spain was ordered to pay costs for failure to transpose Article 9(1) of Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended and - by infringing the transitional rules laid down by Article 3 of Directive 97/11/EC  The Netherlands has failed to transpose law on shipments of waste correctly in relation to its recyclability (Judgment C-113/02). It was ordered to pay costs for failing to meet its obligations under Article 7(4) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 259/93 on supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community and under Art.1(e) and (f) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991 and Commission Decision 96/350/EC of 24 May 1996 Full text of this Judgement. Italy broke EU law by requiring manganese batteries containing 0.0005% of mercury to be labelled as containing heavy metals (Breach of Art 28 of the Treaty): Judgment (C-143/03) Full text of this Judgement. The United Kingdom was brought before the European Court for failure to fully transpose EU law on disposal of hazardous waste Council Directive 91/689/EEC: Judgment (C-431/02) Full text of this Judgement  - the case resulted in 4/5 of costs being borne by the U.K. and 1/5 by the Commission. France  has been ordered to pay costs for failure to observe Mediterranean anti-pollution requirements of Barcelona Convention in the Etang de Berre: judgment (C-239/03) Full text of this judgement.  This relates to Council decision 77/585/CEE and Council decision 83/101/CEE; Italy's law on waste disposal was found wanting under EU law: judgement (C-103/02)  The Italian Republic failed to fulfil its obligations under Articles 10 and 11(1) of Council Directive 75/442/EEC of 15 July 1975 on waste, as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC of 18 March 1991; it also failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 11(1) of Directive 75/442, as amended, and Article 3 of Council Directive 91/689/EEC of 12 December 1991 on hazardous waste.  The remainder of the action brought by the Commission was dismissed and each party was order to pay its own costs. Ireland failed in its EU duties by failing to report and take measures on ozone-depleting substances: judgement (C-406/03) and has been ordered to pay costs. Full text. Ireland has failed to transpose EU law on disposal of end-of-life vehicles (Directive 2000/53/EC): Judgement (C-460/03) Full text of this Judgement. France failed to meet EU drinking water standards (Directive 80/778/CEE)  in Brittany: judgement (C-505/03) Full text of this Judgement

See also: http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/droit_com/index_en.htm#infractions

ENERGY:  

° The Commission clears Swedish tax-relief programme for energy-intensive industries that cut their power consumption EU rules allow governments to grant subsidies to stimulate the use of renewable energy sources and to promote energy savings. The relief from energy taxes can be approved where companies still have an incentive to further reduce energy consumption, for example by entering into binding environmental agreements or equivalent commitments.   The Energy Taxation Directive, which allows for exemptions down to a zero rate when energy-intensive companies conclude agreements with the authorities.

° Commission's opinion clears disposal of radioactive waste from Cattenom nuclear power station: The French installation is located 11 km from the nearest town on the territory of another state (Burmerange in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg): Perl in Germany is 14 km away; the Commission concluded that implementation of the plan for radioactive waste disposal in whatever form resulting from the modification of authorisations of discharges of liquid radioactive effluents from the nuclear power station, both in normal operation and in the event of an accident of the type and magnitude considered in the general data, is not liable to result in the radioactive contamination, significant from the point of view of health, water, soil or airspace of another Member State. Official Journal of the EC, No. C256/4 16.10.2004

° Peaceful uses of nuclear energy: Commission proposes conclusion of cooperation agreement with Japan: This agreement completes the series of agreements existing between the three main users of nuclear energy, namely Europe, the USA and Japan.  The conclusion reaffirms the commitment of Japan, the EU and its Member States to the strengthening and strict application of safeguards and export control. It is also an opportunity to recall the mutual commitment of the EU and Japan to a high level of nuclear safety which is a matter of major concern for public opinion.

° Commission clears Swedish tax-relief programme for energy-intensive industries that cut their power consumption: The European Commission has approved a Swedish programme which relieves energy-intensive companies from the payment of an energy tax, provided they put in place energy-management systems to reduce their energy consumption.  Under the proposed energy efficiency programme, energy-intensive companies will receive a full related tax relief tax if they meet certain conditions during a 5-year period.  The Swedish authorities estimate that the measure will lead to energy savings of approx. 2% of the country’s total consumption

TRANSPORT:

° European Environment Agency publishes 10 key transport and environment issues for policy-makers: 1.Growing transport volumes are challenging decoupling policy (Transport volumes  continue to grow at roughly the same rate as GDP).  2. Emissions of air pollutants from road transport are falling, despite a growth in traffic. 3. The vehicle fleet is gradually becoming cleaner due to improvements in the technology required to meet European emission standards. 4. Greenhouse gas emissions from road and air transport are increasing. 5. Alternative fuels policy is starting to take effect with bio-fuels.  6. Market shares of road and air travel are continuing to grow. Access to many basic services depends on car use.  7. Present price structures favour individual transport.  8. There are signs of promising developments for transport pricing for roads but no coverage of air and water transport. 9.  Infrastructure investment needs to balance economic and environmental needs. 10. Transport infrastructure is fragmenting natural habitats - transport infrastructure networks are generally seen as a benefit but their expansion, traffic growth and urban sprawl threaten habitats. It is also noted that poor European test standards understate air pollution from cars. For the report:  http://reports.eea.eu.int/TERM2004  The related briefing paper may be found on: http://reports.eea.eu.int/briefing_2004_3/en

° Road safety and pollution: Commission calls on four Member States to apply European rules

The Commission has adopted ‘reasoned opinions’ to be delivered to France, Germany, Luxembourg and Denmark. Directive 2003/26/EC concerns technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles. These unexpected roadside inspections of vehicles involve a number of checks relating to safety and environmental protection. Directive 2003/27/EC adapts to technical progress Directive 96/96/EC on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers.  The Commission will refer the cases to the European Court of Justice if no satisfactory response is received within two months.

INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING

° Lending from EIB 

° The European Investment Bank is providing a EUR 760 million euro for projects in Poland. In addition to the loan of 250 million euro in the area of science and technology mentioned above, other loans will go to municipal infrastructure projects, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as global loans to banks. The EIB is also set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Polish railway on a new loan of 300 million euro. 

° The EIB, in partnership with the Banques du Syndicat Mixte des Transports de Toulouse (Tisséo-SMTC), is granting Euro 600 million financing for the extension of the Toulouse métro.

° The EIB is providing Euro 200 million funding to the French national rail company, SNCF, for the purchase of high-speed rail equipment for the Paris-Mediterranean line.

° The EIB in partnership with the Banques du Syndicat Mixte des Transports de Clermont-Ferrand, is providing Euro 155.7 million financing for construction of the Clermont-Ferrand tramway.

° The EIB is providing a SEK 1 000 m (EUR 108 m) loan to the County of Stockholm. The loan is will part-finance the County's ongoing investment programme in the healthcare sector. The programme includes the construction of new, additional infrastructure and the adaptation, conversion, or refurbishment of existing buildings, also the procurement of diagnostic, therapeutic or research equipment, and of IT. 

° Further Information on European Investment Bank loans is to be found on http://www.eib.org

° Lending from EBRD, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development  

 

° Information on EBRD activity is to be found on: http://www.ebrd.org

° The latest (ninth) 'Pink Book' list of EU legislation managed by the Enterprise Directorate-General, including 482 directives, has been posted on its web pages. The list includes both "hard" law (legally binding) and "soft" law (implementing arrangements). Where a hard law has been amended, adapted to technical progress, or has had implementing measures added, all changes are shown. Pink Book

The most newsworthy event of Parliament’s activities in October has been its refusal to accept the team of European Commissioners proposed by Jose Manuel Barroso who was due to take up office on 1^st November 2004.

The hearings website is at http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/commission/2004_comm/default_en.htm

And results of the hearings are set out in a number of languages on:

http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/commission/2004_comm/result_en.htm

Agenda Highlights from European Parliament session 25-28 October 2004

·         Decision on the 24 new European Commissioners; Mr Barroso - Commission President - presented his proposed team of Commissioners and work programme

·         2005 EU budget: areas of discussion/controversy - amounts to set aside for Structural Fund measures; funding for the reconstruction of Iraq; funding for humanitarian aid and the worldwide fight against poverty; rural development and support for young farmers.

·         Preparation for the EU summit to be held in November 2004.

·         Discussion on Turkey’s candidature

 Reports under discussion in October.

·         Life long learning: integrated action programme comprising Comenius, Erasmus, Leonardo da Vinci and Grundtvig programmes and the Jean Monnet programme: Report by Doris Pack MEP 

·         II Education and training: transparency of qualifications and competences, single framework Europass: Report by Ljudmila Novak MEP

·         Report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community (Codified version) (COM(2003)0847 - C5-0003/2004 - 2003/0333(COD)) A6-0012/2004

Report by Giuseppe Gargani MEP

Link to European Parliament's session calendar 2004: http://www.europarl.eu.int/plenary/cal2004_en.pdf

European energy policy seminar, Brussels, Belgium, 9^th-10^th November

The seminar on new and upcoming EU policies for sustainable energy and climate protection will include:  renewable targets for 2020 (EREC) and 2050 (INFORSE);  EU Directives;  WTO rules;  current EU electricity market regulation; harmful subsidies in the energy sector; funding schemes. For further information: http://www.inforse.org/europe/seminar04n ov9_10.htm

Emergent risks and risks management in Europe. Paris, France, 15^th to 17th November.

International conference for all sectors concerned by risk assessment and risk management, and will welcome several EC funded projects under the Fifth and Sixth Framework Programmes (FP5 and FP6) such as ATLANTIS: Atlantic sea level rise - adaptation to imaginable worst case climate change; SHAPE-RISK: symposium sharing experience in integrated risk management to design future industrial systems; and MIRIAD 21: risk management in municipalities. E-mail: olivier.salvi@ineris.fr  Tel: +33.3.44.55.61.01

International workshop 'Design and redesign guidelines for safer roadside infrastructure' Lisbon, Portugal, 24th November 2004

The workshop is organised as part of the EU funded project RISER (Roadside Infrastructure for Safer Roads) and aimed at Researchers, engineers, road authorities and roadside equipment manufacturers http://www.erf.be/content/article/detail /2693

EU- funded Smart Reservoir Network (hydrocarbon research) event. Moscow, Russia, 29th and 30th November

Before the end of 2005, the Smart Reservoir Network will make available its analysis of the scientific and technological aspects involved in sub-surface exploitation, identify the main technology gaps and produce a 'Vision Master Plan' outlining a coordinated strategy for future research activities and for the deployment of existing technologies for increasing the rate of recoverability of hydrocarbon reserves. http://www.smart-reservoir.net

Briefing on FP6 financial management, reporting & auditing, Brussels, Belgium, 2^nd December

Special reference will be made to Integrated Projects, Networks of Excellence and STREPS, main themes will be:  the principle sources of reference for the financial rules; the financial rules and the FP6 instruments; eligible costs and subcontracting; building a budget and the allocation of resources; collective responsibility and the management of liability; reporting and annual reviews under FP6; audit and practical issues. For further information, Berkley Associates e-mail berkleyassociates@skynet.be

Advantages for Real Estate and Construction Sector, Helsinki, 13^th - 16^th June 2005

The 11^th Joint CIB International symposium aims to put modern construction management and economics into a perspective of modern real estate and construction businesses and projects.  Topics of interest include the evolving sector, firms and their businesses, projects and processes, IT and construction processes, Foundations of our thinking and practice. The call for Papers will be available in October 2003.Symposium web-site: www.ril.fi/cib2005  Tentative registration: kaisa.venalainen@ril.fi