ECCE BRUSSELS BRIEF:  EU policies and actions on Research and development; Education; Environment, Energy; Information Technology; General Interest; Project Financing; News from the European Parliament

° The Presidency has issued a text on the role of the universities in the Europe of knowledge.  These will be debated in Council on 5th-6th May.  Universities must adapt and adjust to change.  Five major categories are identified: increased demand for higher education; internationalisation of education and research; to develop effective and close co-operation between universities and industry; proliferation of places where knowledge is produced and the reorganisation of knowledge.  Further info: Doc. Ref COM(2003)58 final.

° The Greek Presidency is host to an informal workshop “science meets policy: new experiences-future perspectives” is to be held in Heraklion, Crete, Greece on 29th and 30th April to discuss science-policy-interface I the field of environment with regard to the European Research Area.  Discussion will include new FP6 in ERA and the new initiative on “Environmental Technologies Action Plan”.

 ° News and background information on the Greek EU Presidency is to be found on www.eu2003.gr 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

° 6th Framework Programme (6FP):  A new outline contract and cost models for 6FP produced by the Model Contract Working Group have been set: integrated projects and networks of excellence. http://europa.eu.in/comm/dgs/research/index_en.html and http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/working-groups/model-contract/index_htm

° New electronic proposal and Submission system (EPSS): Proposals can be sent online via CORDIS using a new electronic preparation tool.   The system is only available on 5 calls at present but will be extended in the near future. A help-desk is available to assist those using EPSS which can be accessed by visiting: http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/subprop.cfm

° New mailbox for queries on FP6 new instruments can be submitted to the following e-mail address:     RTD-B2-new-instrument@cec.eu.int

° Sixth Framework Programme in brief: A commission document providing an overview of FP6, including a two-page “FP6 at a glance” summarising the mean features and the differences between FP6 and other public research funding programmes is to be found on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/research/index.html and on http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/fp6_glance.htm  Information on citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society is found on: http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/citizens.htm whilst the Commission's foresight activities are outlined on: http://www.cordis.lu/rtd2002/foresight/home.html

° Launch of Euro 13 million ‘specific support actions’ to stimulate Candidate Countries’ participation in EU research: The call for project proposals within the 6th Research Programme is open until 26th June 2003. Euro 9 million will allow establishment of a virtual network in Candidate countries and help SMEs find partners and develop projects. Euro 4 million will finance specific actions including: nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices: sustainable energy systems and sustainable surface transport.  Further information may be found on www.cordis.lu/fp6/calls/ and www.cordis.lu/candidate_countries

° Environmental Technology Action Plan The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research, in cooperation with its Environment DG, is busy preparing an Action Plan on Environmental Technologies to be ready by the end of 2003. The initiative follows a request of the Gothenburg (Göteborg) European Council of June 2001. A web site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/et ap/) has been established to facilitate the follow-up of the whole process as well as the consultation with external stakeholders.

° Calling women engineers: The European Commission actively seeks more women evaluators to reach the 40% target stipulated for the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), For further information on becoming an evaluator, please visit: http://www.cordis.lu/experts/fp6_candida ture.htm 

° Tension between intellectual property rights and scientific progress indicated in report:  In its report “Keeping science open: the effects of intellectual property policy on the conduct of science”, a UK Royal Society expert group on intellectual property rights (IPRs) has warned of the need to change rules governing the protection of copyrights, database rights and patents ‘in the interest of society’.  The report encourages scientists to ensure that their work remains accessible to others, for ‘although IPRs are needed to stimulate innovation and investment, commercial forces are leading in some areas to legislation and case law that unreasonable and unnecessarily restrict freedom to access and use information and to carry out research’.

For full report please consult: http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/files/statfiles/document-221.pdf

° Commission Communication "Investing in research: an action plan for Europe":  The Action Plan set out in the Commission Communication of 30th April responds to the March 2002 Barcelona European Council's call for Europe to raise its research spending from the current level of 1.9% to 3% of its average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2010.  Doc Ref: COM(2003)226 http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/era/3pct

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION:

° Erasmus programme goes worldwide: The 2004-2008 programme for Erasmus World - or Erasmus Mundus - as the Parliament wishes to call it, has passed first reading at the European parliament.  The new programme is aimed at candidates from all over the work  The Commission is also proposing creation of EU Masters degrees to become a recognised qualification for such study programmes in Europe.  The programme will also support mobility between the Community and non-EU countries, acquisition of language skills and inter-union dialogue.  Parliament wishes to increase the proposed budget from Euro 200 million to Euro 300 million.

° Portal on education and training in Europe:  The “is divided into a number of sections: Learning Opportunities; Education systems; Exchange contact; Moving to a Country.  Further information is to be found on http://www.ploteus.net

The ENVIRONMENT:

° European Commission proposes establishing an EU 1 billion Water Fund to help provide access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for the 77 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) signatory countries to the Cotonou Agreement.  The 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Millennium Development Goal undertook to halve the number of people without access to safet drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015.  The Camdessus Report (Financing Water for All) has put a price tag of around Euro 10 billion a year for achieving the WSSD water target and around Euro 27 billion a year if sanitation is added.

° Coastal clean-up: Several European projects have come up with innovative ways to clean up oil spills. More information on this subject is to be found on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/research/i ndex_en.html

See 'Oil spills could spell long-term damage' (http://europa.eu.int/comm./research/headlines11-2002.html) Franco-German 'biobille' oil separation project Greek 'cleanmag' oil separation project ; http://www.eic-trier.de/index-ie.htm http://www.hirc.gr/en/index.htm

° G8 Environment Ministers meet in Paris: The 25th-27th April meeting discussed support for the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development; sustainable production and governance in the environment field.  G8 countries are: U.S., Japan, U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Russia.  Deliberations from meetings of Environment Ministers feed in to the annual G8 summits.

° Waste policy: The study “Resource Use in European Countries” (Zero study), now published, goes beyond a previous Eurostat report on “Material use in the EU 1980-2000) by providing data on Accession Countries.  A Communication with the title “Towards a Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources” is scheduled for 2003 and will propose first thoughts for solutions to resource problems.  Contributions and comments will be welcomed and consultation responses should be submitted to Frans.Vollenbroek@cec.eu.int   Background reference information: A first Stakeholder Meeting was held on April 10th, 2002 for which documentation is on http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/natres/020410stakeholdersdiscussionpaper.p df  slides are on http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/natres/020410presentationstakeholders.pdf  whilst summary discussion is on http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/natres/020410summarymeetingstakeholders.pdf .

General information is on Environment DG http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/environmen t/index_en.htm  and
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/na tres/index.htm#zero

° Member State compliance with EU Environment Legislation:  Italy has been given a final request to comply with a European Court of Justice (ECJ) May 2002 ruling on batteries containing hazardous substances.  France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, UK, Ireland, Greece and Finland will also be referred to the European Court of Justice for failure to adopt national legislation concerning end-of-life vehicles. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:

° E-learning: In early April the Culture Youth Education, Media and Sport Committee presented a legislative draft resolution on e-learning (see Parliament news below). Amendments were proposed to the balance of expenditure: 10% rather than 25% allocation to “fighting the digital divide” priority; 40% rather than 25% to ‘e-twinning’.  Particular attention should be paid to experience gained in Australia, New Zealand and Canada with regard to e-learning networks.

° Prior information for information society call for proposals: A prior information notice concerning a call for proposals for projects in the information society section of 6FP has been published by the European Commission.  DG Infosoc intends to launch calls for tenders and has set out a wide list of possible issues which include e-government services, e-TEN; standardisation and inter-operability in electronic communications networks and services; exploratory study on the potential socio-economic impact of the introduction of intelligent integrates safety systems in road vehicles etc.  The total budget envisaged is Euro 13.59 million. Full details are on: http://ted.publications.eu.int/static/doccur/en/en/61275-2003.htm

° E-business legal portal for SMEs: D G Enterprise has launched a 12-language on-line information service on legal aspects of e-business. The project, entitled ELEAS (E-commerce Legislation Easily Accessible to SMEs), supported by European Info Centres, aims to assist cross-border electronic transactions.  The service includes frequently asked questions, an e-legislation database, e-business glossary and reference to e-business self-regulatory initiatives. http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/ict/policy/legal-portal/

TRANSPORT:

° ICT to develop railway communications: An EU project “TrainCom” aims to integrate the existing railway onboard communication network (TCN) with a newly developed ground system making use of a railway version of the GSM radio link.  Using internet solutions such as extensible MarkUp language (XML) and the standard Internet protocol (TCP-IP) messages can be quickly relayed to and from ground control databases and applications.  Demonstrations of the system are planned for the second half of 2003.  http://www.traincom.org

° The first plenary meeting of the eSafety Forum in Brussels on 22nd April 2003 adopted recommendations on how to implement eCall (in-vehicle emergency calls), Accident Causation Data, a better Human-Machine Interaction and a stimulating Business rationale.

° Two Communications on Road Safety are expected to be presented to the Council of Ministers in June:   1. A general framework and strategy for road safety will be set out in a Communication on the third Road Safety Action Plan, prepared by Directorate General Transport and Energy 2.  Detailed information on actions to promote eSafety and the development and use of new information will appear in a Communication on “Information and Communication Technologies”

INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING:

° European Investment Bank lending:

-   The EIB is supporting a road project in Norway to improve land transport links between Norway and Sweden via the E6 Oestfeld Road Project used by some 60% of international road traffic.  The loan to upgrade road capacity from 15,000 to 50,000 vehicles per day amounts to Euro 82 million.

-    EIB is supporting the modernisation of London Underground with GBP 900 million (Euro 1.3 billion) term loan facilities.  The London underground’s modernisation is a UK flagship PPP project.

-   Some Euro 202 million is being lent for a new passenger terminal with a capacity of 3.5 million passengers at Prague International Airport.  The loan brings to more than Euro 4 billion lent by EIB to Czech projects since 1993.

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

° The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

-   EBRD’s Nuclear Safety Department has advised that a tender for construction of the new Chernobyl shelter, perhaps the largest, moveable structure ever to be built, may be issued later in 2003.  The Chernobyl Shelter Fund (CSF) manages the Shelter Implementation Plan whose cost is estimated at Euro 768 million.  CSF Chair is Hans Blix.  The 30 km exclusion zone around the Chernobyl plant will remain uninhabitable for decades. In the next 4-5 years reactor 4 will be encased in a 20,000-ton steel shelter to contain the short-term sarcophagus put in place by the Soviet regime after the 1986 disaster.

-   The EBRD has published an Invitation for Tenders for a Macedonian Regional Roads Project.  The proposed period of construction for the 11.23 km Smokvica-Gevgelija section of Trans-European Road Corridor X is 24 months.  Pre-qualification must be completed by June 2003. 

-    The EBRD is involved in a Euro 260 million loan for the refinancing of the existing M5 Toll Motorway project in Hungary, a project originally signed in 1995. Refinancing comprises a Euro 85 million EBRD A-Loan plus Euro 175 million under a commercial B-Loan.  The project aims to strengthen Hungary’s attractiveness to foreign investors in the infrastructure sector.

-   A Euro 24 million state-guaranteed loan is being made to CFR-SA, the state-owned Romanian railway infrastructure company, to refurbish and modernise five major railway stations across Romania.  The project preparation has been supported by Euro 450,000 in technical co-operation funds from the Central European Initiative programme and Euro 46,500 from the Finnish Government to help evaluate energy efficiency across the stations.  To date EBRD has approved 22 rail sector projects in various countries, worth more than Euro 1 billion.

-          Further Information: http://www.ebrd.org

° Health and Safety:  Directive 2003/18/EC of 27th March 2003 has now been published.  It amends Council Directive 83/477/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work.  The Directive must be implemented by 15th April 2006 in Member States (Doc. Ref: OJ L97/48 of 15.04.03)

° The European Parliament held a session in Strasbourg from 7th to 10th April 2003.

Reports of potential interest to professional civil engineers and to the construction sector:

• Report on  the proposal for a European Parliament and Council decision establishing a programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through co-operation with third countries (Erasmus World) 2004-2008   Rapporteur:Marielle de Sarnez MEP (France),  Doc Ref: A5-0087/2003
• Report on an information and communication strategy for the European Union Rapporteur Juan Jose Bayona de Perogordo MEP (Spain) Doc Ref A5-0053/2003)
• Report concerning the discharge in respect of  the implementation of the general duget of the EU for the 2001 financial year Rapporteur: Paolo Casaca MEP, Portugal Doc Ref: A5-0109/2003
• Reports on the Budget Discharge of EU decentralised Agencies (European Centre for Development of Vocational Training, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, European Agency for Reconstruction) for the Year 2001   Rapporteur: Freddy Blak MEP (Denmark),  Ref: A5-0079/2003

The European Parliament gave its assent to the accession of all 10 countries with which accession negotiations have been concluded.  Parliament voted 10 separate resolutions, one for each country. Parliament welcomed the aim of admitting Bulgaria and Romania by 2007 provided these countries continue with their modernisation and comply with the Copenhagen criteria.  On Turkey, the European Parliament welcomed the Copenhagen decision to offer further assistance and to decide in autumn 2004 whether accession negotiations can be opened.  An agreement was finally reached between the Council and the European Parliament in their conflict over the budget for the accession of ten new Member States by May 2004: conflict had arisen after Council decided to include budgetary figures in the draft Accession Treaty, in violation of Parliament’s budgetary powers as the joint budgetary authority with the Council.

During the April Plenary session, Parliament granted discharge in respect of the 2001 budgets of the various EU institutions except the Committee of the Regions.  Discharge was also postponed for European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the European Environment Agency, The Translation Centre for the bodies of the EU, The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia pending further information.  Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee stressed that the Commission has an obligation to establish a modern, reliable and accurate accounting system for the financial year 2005.

Parliament voted to increase the budget of the Commission’s proposed e-learning programme for 2004-2006 from 18 million to 27 million Euro per year; MEPs also called for greater emphasis on the provision of technical training to teachers. 

° Governance of the European Research Area, Brussels, 12th and 13th June 2003

The conference, organised by the European Commission, aims to stimulate a debate among different stakeholders (institutional, companies, citizens’ associations, scientists); gather feedback in order to prepare proposals for further action; develop perspectives to disseminate examples of best practice in participatory processes; collect ideas for further research.  Information from D.G. Research: philippe.galiay@cec.eu.int

° Global forum for organisational learning, Espoo, Finland, 11th- 14th June 2003

The forum will focus on innovation and sessions will explore different levels of innovation, from product design and manufacturing to reinventing an entire business and transforming the work culture.

° Steel Structures and Bridges 2003, Prague, 17th - 20th September 2003  

The 20th Czech and Slovak National Conference will look at newly built structures and bridges; production, erection, quality, needs, standards; design, theoretical and experimental research; diagnostics, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, corrosion protection and fire design.  Call for papers to 15th June 2003. Information from: http://www.fsv.cvut.cz/OK2003  e-mail: studnicka@fsv.cvut.cz

° Integrated Lifetime Engineering of Buildings and Civil Infrastructures, Kuopio, Finland, 1st to 3rd   December 2003

Symposium themes will be: 1. Ownership planning and management of investments, 2. Integrated life-cycle design, 3. Lifetime management systems  4.  Integration and design of management processes, 5.   Data for life-time design and management, 6. Norms, standards and guidelines, 7. Best practices in applying life-cycle design and management.  Registration and further information may be obtained from http://www.ril.fi/ILCDES2003 or by e-mail to kaisa.venalainen@ril.fi