Europe’s headlines include the environmental disaster caused by the sinking of the ‘Prestige’ oil tanker;

Presidency web-site: www.eu2002.dk

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

° CORDIS: The European Commission’s R&D Information Service is providing a ‘step-by-step’ service to understanding the Sixth Framework Programme for research.  The service includes information on programme structure, budget and content and will display all calls for proposals (as from 17^th December 2002).  Further features will include useful contacts, local support, partnering facilities, searchable reference documents and fast and secure tools.  Further information: http://www.cordis.lu/fp6

It may not be hoped that the 6FP will be implemented without any major delays following Council adoption of the Regulation that establishes rules for participation in the programme and dissemination of results. The equivalent Regulation was also adopted for the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).

At the Competitiveness Council on 26^th November 2002 EU member states agreed to improve co-ordination of their research and innovation efforts; bearing in mind that the EU’s Framework Programmes comprise only about 5% of overall public R&D spending in Europe.

° A EUREKA meeting hosted in Denmark used new means of group working to find ways to ensure quality in projects that EUREKA promotes to public and private investors.  Eureka, established in 1985, focuses in particular on ICT, environment and energy technology and bio-technology.

 Brussels hosted the largest ever conference on EU research ever held in Europe:  The Conference, marking the launch of the 6^th Framework Research Programme attracted over 8,000 participants from 61 countries and 200 speakers. (See http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/conferences/2002/index_en.html for further information).  Belgian Minister of Research Charles Picque believer that despite commitment to spend 3% of GDP on research by 2010 “scientific research is going to remain vulnerable when priorities are set”.  R&D Commissioner Busquin view is that “the Framework Programme was just a tool to create the European Research Area. “FP6 must contribute to keeping the dynamic going”.

The ENVIRONMENT:

The ‘Prestige’ Oil tanker disaster has led to calls to restore and safeguard the affect coastlines.  The Prestige was carrying 77,000 tonnes of fuel oil when it broke up and sank off the coast of Galicia, an Objective 1 area highly dependent on fishing activities.  Background information on the accident and maritime safety measures is available on DG TREN website: http://europa.eu.int/comm./transport/themes/maritime/English/safety/index_safety.html    and http://europa.eu.int/comm./transport/home/whatsnew/index_fr.htm

A package of measures known as the ‘Erika package’ after the December 1999 single hull oil tanker disaster reflects ongoing concern – measures adopted as part of the first package should be implemented in around 12 months time – only the port of Rotterdam has obtained a 6-month extension to implement greater control in ports.  A European maritime safety agency should be operational in 2003.

° European Commission organises Civil Protection Forum: On 28^th November the Commission hosted a Civil Proection Forum tackling both disasters linked to terrorist threats and natural disasters.  Work done in the Community Action Programme has included considerable co-ordination work on civil protection intervention in earthquakes.

° The Commission has welcomed the adoption of the Directive on public access to environmental information following long negotiations a Conciliation procedure was successfully concluded between the European Parliament and the Council.  The Directive, which will replace Directive 90/313/EC on freedom of access to information on the environment, will not only improve public information access but is also the first step towards EU ratification of the Aarhus Convention, an international convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.

° The Working Party on International Environmental Issues has published the outcome of the first meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention which was held in Lucca on 21^st -23^rd  October.  The meeting led to the adoption of the Declaration of Lucca (ref. UNECE doc MP.PP.2002/CRP1) and of decisions concerning pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs), GMOs, guidelines on access to information and to justice, review of compliance, reporting requirements etc. (The Aarhus Convention relates to access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental issues).

° Remarkably high levels of pollution over the Mediterranean Sea may suppress evaporation and reduce rainfall in the Middle East and North Africa.  the greatest amount of pollution resulted from industrial activity, traffic, forest fires, agriculture and domestic burning in east and west Europe.  This has lead to high levels of aerosols (sulphate and soot particles).  http://www.mpg.de/news02/news0228.htm

° Waste statistics: A regulation was adopted on 14^th November to set up a framework for producing Community statistics on generation, recovery and disposal of waste from businesses and private households.  Specific waste categories and standardised procedures are set for data collecting and reporting (excluding radioactive waste which is covered under other legislation).

° Incineration of waste is a waste recovery operation if it replaces fuel from other sources:  In the context of Council Ref EEC 259/93 of 01.02.1993 on supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the EC, the court was asked by Netherlands Council of State for a preliminary ruling on correct criteria for distinguishing between operations for disposal of waste and for its recovery. Advocate General Jacobs concluded that where waste is to be subjected to a combined process involving several identifiable separate operations, it is the first such operation which determines whether the waste is intended for disposal or recovery for the purpose of the Regulation; an operation in which waste is incinerated in a process whereby it replaces fuel from other sources constitutes a recovery operation provided that the greater part of the waste is used as a fuel and the greater part of the energy generated thereby is used.

° Environmental breaches: Germany was ordered to pay costs after the Advocate General declared on 14^th November that Germany violated the Treaty by imposing a levy on movements of waste; Ireland was also ordered to pay costs for failing to bring drinking water within EU microbiological parameters. 

ENERGY:

° In a speech given in London on 7^th November, EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein stressed that nuclear energy is needed more than ever.  Meanwhile, a Nuclear Safety Communication has been adopted to pave the way for a Community approach to nuclear safety and to improve the security of supply.  The communication includes two proposals for directives, one on safety, the other on waste management, plus a proposal for a decision on an agreement between Euratom and the Russian Federation. 

° On behalf of Euratom the European Commission agreed on 6^th November to ask the Council to increase the borrowing ceiling to cover Euratom lending to eligible projects, mainly related to nuclear safety and decommissioning of installations in candidate and other non-member countries.  The proposal is to increase the ceiling from Euro 4,000 million to Euro 6,000 million.

° In 1999, in preparation for enlargement the Cologne European Council asked the Commission to ensure the application of high safety standards in Central and Eastern Europe.  Eight reactors have been identified for closure: Kozloduy 1-4; Ignalina 1 & 2; Bohunice 1 & 2.

° Progress on electricity and gas liberalisation was achieved at the Transport, Telecoms, Energy Council on 25^th November – the Commission Directive provides for complete opening of the electricity and gas markets for all users by 1^st January 2005.  Other issues on the Agenda were: energy labelling – the Presidency texts required that information be provided on the fuel mix, also on Co2 and radioactive waste from different energy sources; promoting high-efficiency electrical co-generation plants; energy relations with Russia and also with third countries, and the Commission proposal on nuclear safety.

TRANSPORT:

° The Official Journal of the EC (L324 of 29^th November 2002) has published Regulation (EC) No 2099/2002 establishing a Committee on Safe Seas and the prevention of pollution from ships (COSS); also Directive 2002/84/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 5^th November 2002 amending the Directives on maritime safety and the prevention of pollution from ships.

° The Transport/Telecoms Council of 5^th 6^th December will be asked to review its strategy on integration of environment and sustainable development into transport policy.  Three areas are earmarked for further action: greenhouse gas emissions -; in particular CO2 from road transport, shipping and aviation; emissions of harmful substances from all forms of transport (especially fine particulate matter and unregulated pollutants emissions); noise from road, rail and air transport.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:

° IST Conference, Copenhagen, November 2002: A diversity of views on future IT marked IST 2002.   Issues raised included the embedding of technology into everyday processes and objects, the need to develop user’s skills so they create a demand for products that don’t yet exist; dangers of failing to address the digital divide; true broadband internet connections as a key driver for innovation http://2002.istevent.cec.eu.int

° Commissioner Erkki Liikanen pointed to the need to improve productivity[MSOffice1]  and the conditions for entrepreneurship when he spoke on “Stimulating Investment in IT” at the European Investment Forum.  He considered it worrying that Venture Capitalists have seen a drop of 30-40% in the number of business plans submitted in the first eight months of 2002 compared to the same period in 2001.  The Commission’s Innovation Programme seeks to strengthen the flow of knowledge between sectors and between innovation actors and industry.  A new web service “Gate2Growth” is now in place to support entrepreneurs through access to networks of financiers, corporate development experts, incubator professionals, patent officers and academia, plus a database of investment opportunities and matching services.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT:  

On 15^th November the  Draft Minutes of the Competitiveness Council meeting of 30 Sep 2002 were published.   It was noted that the Council reached unanimous political agreement on the text of the Directive coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy and transport sectors, on the basis of the text contained in document.   The Council also agreed on the statement to be made to the Council Minutes on Article 5 and took note of the statement made by the Austrian delegation and of the statements made by the German delegation and the Commission. Germany’s concern is that the change of definition special and exclusive rights" will limit the scope of the Directive and result in an imbalance in the way that State and non-State undertakings are treated."

GENERAL INTEREST:

°  The 10^th EU-Russia Summit was held in Brussels on 11^th November 2002.  On the agenda were internal developments in the EU and Russia, transit between Kaliningrad and the rest of the Russian Federation (http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/north_dim/index.htm), Justice and Home Affairs (http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/index_fr.htm), the environment and nuclear safety (http://eurunion.org/legislat/climatechange.htm), economic trade issues (http://europa.eu/int/comm/trade/index_en.htm), fight against terrorism and international issues.

Information on EU-Russia relations: http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/russia/intro/index.htm

EU-Russia trade and investment: http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/pdf/bilstat/econo_russia.xls

°  EU-Mercosur Negotiations focus on liberalisation of trade in goods and services: the 8^th Round of the the Negotiations was held in Brasilia on 11^th-14^th November to focus on a work programme for the next six months.  Further information  http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/bilateral/mercosur/mercosur.htm

°  Commission humanitarian aid to Ecuador makes use of fast-track budgetary procedure.  Euro 448,000 has been provided to Ecuador following the eruption of the ‘El Reventador’ volcano in early November.  Under procedures set in place in June 2001 up to Euro 3 million can be provided for emergency relief on a ‘fast-track’ basis.  Aid packages will include protective masks and glasses, basic medicines, food and distribution of drinking water and water purification equipment.

°  Internal market approaches its 10^th anniversary: In statistical terms, more than 19 million businesses and around 377 million members of the public have benefited from the implementation of the single market which will expand to around 500 million with enlargement.  On the agenda for the 14-15^th November Competitiveness Council was adoption of conclusions on follow-up to a Commision report on the internal market in services.  This concluded that a decade after formal completion of the Community’s internal market, the complexity and severity of legal barriers is far worse than supposed when the services strategy was launched.  In 2003 the Commission will launch a second stage strategy for services, seeking to remove legislative and non-legislation barriers in the internal market.

°  The Danish Presidency expects to reach a decision on the modernisation of EU competition rules plus the liberalisation of the European energy markets before end 2002.

°  In reviewing supplementary estimates on revenue and expenditure 2/2002 of the European Parliament for the financial year 2002, it was proposed that they reduce budget appropriations by Euro 42.7 million – one reason given was that approximately 46% of the overall surplus stems from the effect of a Euro 165 million early payment made in February in order to speed up the process of funding the Louise Weiss Building in Strasbourg.

°  GDP for the Euro zone and that of the EU 15 increased 0.4% in the second quarter 2002 – marking an increase of 0.7% and 0.8% respectively in relation to the same period 2001.

°  Project financing: Projects receiving financing in November included a Euro 50 million loan to Eiffage for part-financing construction of the Millau Viaduct, an exceptional 2.5 km long cable-stayed bridge over the Tarn valley on the A75 Clermont Ferrand-Beziers motorway.

The EIB has also granted a Euro 138 million loan to Metropolitano de Tenerife S.A. for financing Tenerife’s new light metro system.

EIB:         http://www.eib.org

NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:

The European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg from 18-21 November  2002  held an extraordinary debate on EU enlargement joined by MPs from all applicant countries.  Issues to be discussed include: dates for accession; agricultural quotas and reforms; judicial reforms and corruption; trafficking in women and children; overall budget implications.  The European Commission’s Annual Work Programme from 2003 was debated.  Main priorities are: preparing for EU enlargement, stability and security, including transport safety and safeguarding the enlarged EU’s external borders; economic development, pursuing the aim of making the EU the leading knowledge-based economy in the world.  Full 2003 Work Programme is to be found on: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/com/cnc/2002/com2002_0590en01.pdf

Recent reports of potential interest to the engineering/construction sector  include :

• Supplementary budget for 2002 – Rapporteur Guido Podesta MEP, Italy
• EU Solidarity Fund for Natural Disasters –  Rapporteur J. Colom I Naval MEP, Spain
• Intelligent energy for Europe – report by Erryl McNally, UK.  The “Intelligent Energy for Europe” (Ref: A5-0357/2002) Programme would run from 2003-2006, replacing the SAVE, ALTENER and SYNERGY programmes; discussion centres on relative funding for different parts of the new programme, in particular the proposed COOPENER strand on renewable energy.
• Economic and social cohesion: consequences of enlargement, future policy after 2006 – Rapporteur Elisabeth Schroedter (Ref: A5-0354/2002)
• Research in the candidate countries and measures to ensure their full involvement in the framework programme – Rapporteur Juergen Zimmerling (Ref: A5-0349/2002)  The report notes that low public research funding and inadequate mechanisms to attract private-sector funding have led to impoverished human research potential, with ageing research infrastructures and low researchers’ salaries.  The committee calls for fair treatment of researchers but also for candidate countries to develop a research strategy of their own.
• EIB Annual report 2001, published in June 2002 – Rapporteur Ieke van den Burg (Ref: A5-0354/2002)

Further details of the session may be found on http://www.europarl.eu.int

° CEN/ISS Workshop on eConstruction , Brussels – 15^th January 2003

The workship aims to define specifications for a framework and an architecture, a meta schema and an ontology for the building and construction industry and providing the related softward toolset. The Workshop brings together those involved in e-business and information technology integration in the construction supply chain in Europe.

http://www.cenorm.be/default.htm   and http://www.cenorm.be/isss/Workshop/eConstruct/default.htm

° International Congress in Civil Engineering Education, Ciudad Real (Spain) 18^th-20^th September 2003

The Conference is being held in conjunction with EUCEET.  Some of the subjects to be looked at are: at university programmes and professional requirements, existing and new training contents in civil engineering scientific areas and adaptation to the Bologna Agreement.

http://www.uclm.es/cr/caminos/Congress/index.htm  e-mail: congreso.caminos@uclm.es