° The "Environment" Council met in Brussels on Thursday, 10 March 2005. The Council adopted two conclusions which constituted its contribution to the European spring Council. These two conclusions related to the fight against global warming and the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy.

The European Council met in Brussels on 22 and 23 March for the traditional spring summit on economic issues.  This had particular consequences for the draft Services Directive, as reported in the Annexe to this Brief.

http://www.eu2005.lu/en/presidence/index.html

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

° Lobbying support to research funding for European industry: Tekes, Finland's technology agency, has called for the introduction of an entirely new thematic priority in the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) for EU research: 'R&D as a tool to renew strong existing industries'. Provisions exist for industry within initial proposals for the next framework programme, and in proposals on Technology Initiatives and Technology Platforms. Whilst these are an 'important new concept that address the needs of some industries', Mr Peltonen of Tekes expressed personal concern that they leave gaps in those industrial sectors where no platform has been formed. http://www.tekes.fi

° OECD publishes Research and Development Statistics 2004 Edition: The edition 2004 of Research and Development Statistics (RDS) provides a wide range of recent data on the resources devoted to R&D in all OECD countries The database Research and Development Statistics is also available online to subscribers at SourceOECD (www.SourceOECD.org).

° Commissioner Potocnik tells OECD forum in Brussels that opportunities outweigh risks in internationalisation of R&D: Up till now now, cross-border flows of R&D have mainly been confined to the 'triad' of the US, Japan and Europe. 80 per cent of overseas corporate research is currently carried out in these three regions. Countries such as China, India and Brazil will introduce a new element to the internationalisation of R&D,' the Commissioner stated. 'According to a 2004 survey, these countries are now respectively the first, third and sixth choice destinations for new overseas R&D investments.'   Associated risks need to be mitigated. It is generally considered that Europe’s history of R&D collaboration makes it well placed to take advantage of the increasingly cross-border nature of scientific endeavour http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/i nco/index_en.html

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:  

° EU market expected to overtake US in ICT growth according to a report  - the 2005 edition of the European Information Technology Observatory (EITO).  The EU ICT had a growth rate of four per cent in 2005, compared to 3.3 per cent in 2004 and 0.9 percent in 2003. http://www.eito.com/start.html

EDUCATION:

° European Ministers’ Summit agrees to European Youth Pact: The Summit of 22^nd-23^rd March agreed to a Pact that would include ‘child friendly’ policies and would take youth policy into account in areas such as jobs, housing, education and social inclusion. References to developing more transparency and comparability of job qualifications and recognition of non-formal and informal education are included in the text of the Pact.

° European Court case sets precedent: Entitlement of students to grants and loans throughout the EU.  A judgement of the European Court of Justice indicates that assistance for students falls within EC Treaty for purposes of prohibition of discrimination on grounds of nationality: In case C-209/03, The Queen (on the application of Dany Bidar) v London Borough of Ealing, Secretary of State for Education and Skills Full text  In England and Wales assistance with maintenance costs for students is provided by means of student loans from the State. They are offered at a rate linked to inflation which is lower than commercial rates: students begin to pay back the loans only once they start earning more than GBP 10,000 (about EUR 14,500) per year. Nationals of another Member State are entitled to receive this loan if they are 'settled' in the United Kingdom and have been resident there for the three years prior to commencing their course.  The Court case stipulates that a national of a Member State who goes to another Member State and pursues secondary education there exercises the freedom to move guaranteed by Article 18 EC.

THE ENVIRONMENT:  

° Proposed Directive on the Protection of Groundwater Against Pollution 

Council of Ministers Position: Full text of Document 6224/05  Article 6 has been redrafted in accordance with Presidency conclusions at the last meeting that this article should be simplified and avoid unnecessary overlap with corresponding provisions in the Water Framework Directive. No. prev. doc.: 5705/05 ENV 32 CODEC 44 Commission’s 2003 proposal appears as ­ COM(2003) 550 final

Parliament Position: The Environment Committee has insisted that the precautionary principle should guide all moves to protect Europe's groundwater. MEPs want  Member States to focus on what is important to a particular groundwater body, the risks posed by pollutants and how quality thresholds are measured. The committee's first-reading report by Christa Klass MEP on a new directive on the protection of groundwater against pollution, was adopted by 47 votes to 6 with 3 abstentions.

° Huge stratospheric ozone loss experienced in 2004 A new study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder indicates that two natural atmospheric processes in 2004 caused the largest decline in upper stratospheric ozone ever recorded over the far Northern Hemisphere. Nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide gases in the upper stratosphere climbed to the highest levels in at least two decades in spring 2004. The increases led to ozone reductions of up to 60%, roughly 25 miles in altitude above Earth's high northern latitudes http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/displa y.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=March &x=20050302123536lcnirellep0.7683331&t=li vefeeds/wf-latest.html

° European Commission internet consultation on reducing the climate change impact of aviation. 

The consultation is published : http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/climat/aviation_en.htm

A related press release may be found here:  ( Both items are also available in German and French language versions)

° The Commission is proposing to prepare an EU Action Plan for Sustainable Forest Management in 2006: The Plan will be drawn up in cooperation with the Member States and stakeholders. The Communication and a Commission Staff Working Document are available on the internet at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/forestry/index_en.htm More information on policy is available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/fore/index_en.htm

° Application of ESA-funded Service for Landslide Monitoring (SLAM) to the Arno Basin: Over 20,000 individual landslides have been recorded in more than 300 areas in the basin.  An average of 54 lives have been lost each year over the last 50 years. Over 350 satellite images of the region, taken by ESA's ERS satellites, have been combined with ground-gathered data to generate detailed products to identify and assess slope instability and risk across 8,830 square km of land and produce the latest update of the Hydro-geological Structure Plan (Piano di Assetto Idrogeologico or PAI), as required by Italian law.  Access http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/index.ht ml for full details.

° Emissions trading: UK accepts lower emissions limits, but sues Commission: The British government has announced that it will go ahead with plans approved by the EU last year to curb CO2 emissions from energy-intensive industries (Europe approved a "provisional" allocation of 736 million tonnes of carbon to be emitted by UK industry during the first trading period (2005-2007). In October 2004, the U.K. then presented a revised plan, bringing its allocations up to 756 million tonnes. This revision was termed as illegal by the Commission in February 2005.

The UK is now taking legal action to force the Commission into agreeing to higher emission limits and hopes to have its case heard in the Court of First Instance in 2006.

° Environmental cases: Case against Germany: it was obliged to pay costs for violating directive on environmental impact assessment in road building projects in two Länder (Rhineland Palatinate and North Rhine Westphalia) (Ref: Directive 97/11/CE): judgement (C-531/03)

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

ENERGY:

° Western Jutland (Denmark) hope to become the home of Europe's first hydrogen powered train. Three towns, Vemb, Lemvig and Thyborøn, plan to fund a hydrogen train to run along the 59 km railway line that connects them. This train is seen as a key project for the new Hydrogen Innovation and Research Centre (HIRC) in western Jutland, created to place Denmark at the forefront of efforts to develop hydrogen applications. The HIRC now hopes to attract the attention of train manufacturers interested in participating in the project.

TRANSPORT:

° Commission Communications: European Initiative for Growth - Concept for the design of an EU loan guarantee instrument for TEN-Transport projects Full Text  and Feasibility report on EU loan guarantee instrument for TEN-Transport projects Full Text The goal is to increase leverage capacity of limited public resources to stimulate private sector investment in priority TEN-transport (TEN-T) projects. The guarantee would have a budget of €1 billion, enough to cover €20 billion of debt. If the guarantee were called, the Commission would obtain a financial claim which would rank subordinated to the senior debt but senior to equity. This mezzanine debt would have to be paid back by the borrower to the Commission as and when project revenues permit.  Funding would fall under the new Financial Perspective 2007-2013.

° Environmental groups expressed concern over the loans (mentioned above). N.G.O. ‘Transport & Environment’ said "The Commission is only interested in talking about the billions that 'should' go into TEN-T projects. In a 2004 report they complained that since 1996 only EUR 172 billion had been spent … it is appalling that the reports examining whether or not these projects are good value for money are still kept secret. We need to see more double-checks" European Federation for Transport and Environment 

° Note to Council (Environment) meeting from Netherlands Delegation - "Cars 21": The Cars 21 initiative aims to make the European car industry more competitive in line with the Lisbon strategy whilst ensuring its development is sustainable.   Full text of Document 7056/05   Suite of documents 7056/05 

° UK Parliament EU Committee Report on Liberalising Rail Freight Movement in the EU: The Report reviews the background to the Railway Packages, considers why they were introduced and offers a provisional analysis of their effect thus far.  Full text       House of Commons Science and Technology Committee

° Rail infrastructure: four Member States fail to comply with Court ruling  The Commission is launching legal proceedings against Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, and the U.K. for failure to comply with the judgment of the Court and to communicate national measures for implementing the three directives of the 2001 rail infrastructure package. The four Member States were already condemned by the Court of Justice in October 2004 for not having communicated the national measures they should have adopted under the directives of the railway infrastructure package (the ‘first railway package’) by 15 March 2003.  http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/rail/legislation/court_case_en.htm

° Road transport: Portugal taken to Court the Commission decided to take Portugal to the Court of Justice for failing to notify measures transposing into national law EU legislation on the maximum weights and maximum dimensions authorised for certain types of road vehicle, including buses.

Reference point: Energy and Transport DG

INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING:

Parliament expresses strong support for the European Investment Bank for improving its transparency to the public and for being more selective in its lending policy.  MEPs also called forbank objectives to prioritise funding for Trans-European Networks,  Parliament’s report (see reference below) calls for an urgent lifting of the heavy administrative burdens imposed on SMEs and banks to be reduced, so they can benefit more from European Investment Fund capital.

° European Investment Bank  

° The European Investment Bank (EIB) is The EIB is extending a loan of EUR 30 million for the supply of potable water and wastewater infrastructure of the city of Samsun, Turkey.  The adoption of higher environmental standards will contribute to making the economic development of the region sustainable in the long-run.

The EIB's cumulative financing in Turkey stands at EUR 3.6 billion and relates to investments in a wide range of economic sectors. Municipal financing for investments in environment and urban transport represent some 28 %. Financing of SMEs account for about 20 % and industry 16 %. Some 18% was directed to earthquake damage reconstruction.

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

° The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development  

° 2004 Review: The EBRD committed more money (€4.1 billion) in more investments (129) than ever in 2004 as its increasing focus on the poorest countries in which it operates led to financing many smaller projects. Disbursements rose by more than 60 per cent to €3.4 billion, also a record.

Most investment (47 per cent) was in south-eastern Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia.  This reflected the Bank’s continuing efforts to extend its operations further east and south.  However, business was also strong in Russia and central Europe.

The EBRD attracted more commercial and official co-financing than ever before. Commercial lenders, export credit agencies and other international financial institutions invested €5.4 billion alongside the EBRD, double the 2003 level. Net cumulative business volume (all committed loans, equity and other investments over the past 14 years) rose from €22.7 billion to €25.3 billion. Combined with funds from outside investors, the Bank has mobilised financing commitments to a total project value of €78.5 billion.

March 2005:The EBRD is lending €21 million to Tirana Airport Partners Sh.p.k., a consortium led by Germany’s Hochtief AirPort GmbH, concessionaire of the “Mother Teresa” International Airport, to modernise the airport.  

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

° The European Commission has decided to launch a consultation process on a future maritime policy for the Union in the first half of 2006.  20 EU Member States have coasts stretching to almost 70,000 km. The EU maritime regions of the 15 Member States already accounted for over 40% of the GNP Fact sheets and Memo/05/72) .Further info: “Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union” http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleases

° Double volcanic eruption in Eastern Russia Captured in Envisat Photos Located in the Russian Far East, the Kamchatka Peninsula is a landscape covered with volcanoes, part of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'. Two stratovolcanoes, Kliuchevskoi and Shiveluch erupted simultaneously. Photos   European Space Agency http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/index.ht ml

The European Parliament held a plenary session on 7^th-10^th March 2005 in Strasbourg. MEPs returned to their constituencies in the week 21st-25th March returning after the Easter break for committee work on 29th-31st March. 

With regard to the latest round of enlargement it has been reported that the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee supports Bulgaria and Romania who should sign their accession treaties in April. However, doubts remain over Romania’s ability to join.

PUBLIC HEARINGS during the month of March included Committee on Transport and Tourism re the Marco Polo II Programme: http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/20050315/tran/programme_en.pdf and Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development “The Future of Rural Development in the EU” http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/20050315/agri/programme_en.pdf

The report on Recognition of professional qualifications by Rapporteur: Stefano Zappalà MEP (Ref: C6-0008/2005) was discussed by the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee at its 15^th March meeting.

Some reports of interest include:

Report on science and technology- guidelines for future european union policy to support research
full text : Rapporteur: Pia Elda Locatelli  MEP (Ref: A6-0046/2005)

Report on the activity report for 2003 of the European Investment Bank (2004/2187(INI)) A6-0032/2005 Rapporteur: Alain Liepitz MEP

Report on Financing Natura 2000 A6-0049/2005 Rapporteur: Margrete Auken MEP

Report on Security of electricity supply and infrastructure investment Rapporteur: Giles Chichester MEP

Protection of groundwater against pollution Rapporteur: Christa Klaß  MEP

Report on pollution and public health: quality of bathing water (repeal of Directive 76/160/EEC) Rapporteur: Jules Maaten MEP

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (amendment of Regulation 2062/94/EC) COM(2004)0050 Rapporteur: Stephen Hughes MEP

The implementation, consequences and impact of the internal market legislation in force Rapporteur: Arlene McCarthy MEP

The internal market in the new Member States  Ref: A6-0068/2005, Rapporteur: Malgorzata Handzlik MEP

° Coastal dynamics conference , Barcelona, Spain – 4^th – 8^th April

Bringing together field and laboratory experimentalists, theoreticians and modellers conducting research on the dynamics of coastal systems, the conference will interest coastal engineers, coastal geologists, oceanographers, and related sciences. It should also be relevant to coastal specialists and managers and all interested in preserving coastal zones: http://www.coastaldynamics.org/cd05/inde x.php

° 3rd Annual Brussels Climate Change Conference , Brussels, 19^th-20^th April

The Conference is titled: "EU climate change policy beyond Kyoto: Building a global climate change agreement" and the conference will cover i). EU climate change policy after the Spring Council, ii). transport and air transport in particular, iii). developing the EU ETS further and finally, iv). mitigation and technology solutions. For more information, visit the events section of Life News.

° ICC/FIDIC Conference on International Construction Contracts and Dispute Resolution - Cairo, 9th-10th April    This conference is designed to review the procedure for claims and disputes under the FIDIC contracts and to explain the legal entitlements of the contractor and the employer. Discussions will focus on: What are the FIDIC Contracts? Who uses them and why?; The use of FIDIC conditions under Arab laws and claims thereunder; Latest developments for amicable settlement in construction disputes; What are the benefits of Dispute Boards?; What is the role of the courts and the arbitral tribunal?; What are the current practical issues regarding Judicial Review and Enforcement of an Award? http://www.iccwbo.org/home/conferences/C onf_Online.asp?

° The 2nd International Building & Construction Expo Libya, May 9th -12th 2005

° 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

° International Conference on Environmental Education,  Helsinki, 13^th – 15^th June 2005

The conference will present a wide range of practices and research related to environmental education and education for sustainable development. It has been planned to help meet the challenges of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, and to examine what the future holds for this important field. For more information, visit the events section of Life News.

° Inaugural Building Exchange (BEX) to be held in Athens on June 13 to 15, 2005

The keynote address at this 2 ½ day event will be given by Reinhard Klein, Head of the European Commission Construction Unit in D.G. Enterprise. BEX offers senior directors and heads of projects from leading builders, engineering consultants, architectural practices and suppliers the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas and to do business. Information/Registration: http://www.b-e-x.com

° AECEF symposium " Civil Engineering in the next Decade", Helsinki on 15^th -17^th June 2005

The Association of European Civil Engineering Faculties is holding its Fifth International Symposium on the theme of civil engineering in the next decade  - focusing on strategies for education, research, innovation and practice.  Further information is available on the symposium web-site: http://www.hut.fi/Units/Bridge/AECEF/

° IABSE Symposium “Structures and Extreme Events”, Lisbon, 14^th-16th September 2005 

The International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering.  There is a March 15^th 2005 deadline for receipt of papers for the Symposium. Symposium themes will be: Natural disasters, man-made events (fire, explosions, impacts, etc.) and human errors (mismanagement, design mistakes, defective material, equipment malfunction, etc.) Contact: IABSE Lisbon 2005, Organising Committee, c/o LNEC, Ave. Brasil 101, 1700-066 Lisbon, Portugal | Tel: +351 21 844 3260| Fax: +351 21 844 3025 | Email: iabse.lisbon2005@lnec.pt | www.iabse.org/conferences/lisbon2005

° European Nature Conference, Apeldoorn (the Netherlands), 21-25 September 2005 This conference is a joint production of European umbrella organisations in environment and nature conservation. The focus will be on land-use and land-use planning, providing examples of good practice in management planning, compensation, sustainable hunting and legislative aspects of the implementation of these and other Directives, relevant for biodiversity. Details on Life’s events section.

° Communicating European Research 2005, International Conference, Brussels, 14-15 November 2005 the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research will host the second "Communicating European Research" conference. The event will focus on the manifold aspects of science communication and will provide a forum and meeting place for scientists, communication professionals and journalists. The conference will also take stock of the way towards the Seventh Framework Programme. The first announcement of the conference is now available.

Information on the Calls for Proposals for the Exhibition and Forum is now available.

° BETON 2006 Ready Mixed Concrete Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, April 2006

The congress is accompanied by an international concrete-aggregate technologies and equipment exhibition.  Paper topics are Concrete in Human Life, Special Types of Concrete, Concrete Technology, Production and Application Technology, Architectural use of Concrete, Regulations and Quality Management Systems and Marketing and Industrial Problems.  Deadline for abstract papers is 2 May 2005.  e-mail: beton2006@thbb.org Information: www.beton2006.org 

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