° Ireland reviews its Presidency and prepares to pass on the baton to the Netherlands: 

On June 18th the European Council agreed the new Constitutional Treaty for Europe.  It must now be ratified in accordance with the democratic process in each Member State of the enlarged Union.  To achieve agreement was welcomed as an outstanding negotiating achievement following the failure of the December 2003 European Council.  The European Council saw two days of intensive negotiations, both in plenary format and a complex series of bilateral and multi-lateral meetings.  Finally consensus was achieved on outstanding issues which included the future size and composition of the Commission, the voting system in the Council and the scope of qualified majority voting.

For Ireland, one of the defining moments of its Presidency was the celebration in Dublin on May 1st with the participation of leaders from the 25 Member States, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey as well as the Presidents of the European Parliament and Commission.  It has reported that Bulgaria and Romania now remain on course to join the Union in 2007.  Agreement on the overall financial package for both countries in March paved the way for the provisional conclusion of the enlargement negotiations with Bulgaria in June and for progress with negotiations with Romania.  Drafting of the Accession Treaty will begin in July 2004 with a view to signature early in 2005.  Turkey continues to make significant progress towards meeting membership criteria.  A decision on opening accession negotiations will be taken by the European Council in December 2004.

The June European Council decided to grant Croatia candidate status for EU membership. Accession negotiations will begin in early 2005.  In March, Ireland’s Taoiseach accepted the formal application for membership of the Union from the Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

In relation to infrastructure, developments were progressed through decisions on Trans-European Networks for Transport and Energy.  The Presidency considers that the Agreement on the Second Railway Package is significant for the development of the EU railways (see Annexe to the March ECCE Brussels Brief), as it brings measures of greater interoperability between systems, more standardisation of safety measures and the opening of the freight market to competition.

Irish Presidency: http://www.eu2004.ie

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

° Commission publishes strategy document: “Science and technology, the key to Europe’s future - In which it has proposed increasing the EU’s research funding to an average €10 billion a year for the duration of the next framework programme, (twice current levels).  It proposes devoting this funding  to six major objectives, including: creation of European centres of excellence, launching of technology initiatives in industrial fields of growth and the creation of a European “agency” to support European basic research teams. Further info: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/research/index_en.html

Science and Technology, the key to Europe's future - guidelines for future European Union policy to support research 

° 6th Framework Programme for RTD (2002-2006) – Work-programme for the call for proposal FP6-2004-TREN-3 for the thematic Priority 6.2 Sustainable Surface Transport covering e.g. new technologies and concepts for all surface transport modes;  re-balancing and integrating different transport modes;  increasing road, rail and waterborne safety and avoiding traffic congestion.

° Commission launches study on economic and technical evolution of the scientific publication markets in Europe:  Study results will be available in 2005. The study should determine the conditions needed for the sector to operate at optimum level and assess to what extent the Commission can help  meet those conditions. It will cover main topics of current public debate, e.g. the future of printed scientific reviews, risks associated with increased publication prices in terms of access to information for researchers, open access to research findings for all and the need to reconcile authors’ rights and the economic interests of publishers. In the last 10 years publication costs have increased around 10%, well above GDP increases.  Thus universities are unable to keep abreast with new research publications. The October 2003 Berlin Declaration called for open access to knowledge: http://www.zim.mpg.de/openaccess-berlin/signatories.html 

INFORMATION and COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

° Commission publishes call for proposals (IST)in FP6 The European Commission has published a call for proposals under the information society technologies (IST) thematic priority.  The total indicative budget for this call is 28 million euro. Deadline for proposals is 22^nd September 204. Full details of the call are on: http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/call_details.cf m?CALL_ID=138

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION:

° The World Trade Organisation has published a Communication from Australia on Professional Recognition.  This document has been published at the request of the Delegation of Australia. [Document S/WPDR/W/28 21 June 2004 (04-2694)]. Full text  

1. A profession may be defined as an occupation that requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of specialised knowledge gained through a specialised academic tertiary qualification generally at degree level or higher and, in some cases, relevant experience. The term profession also refers to the body of people in such an occupation.

2. Professional regulation helps ensure that professional services are provided by an individual with the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience, and that professional services are provided to an appropriate standard. Regulation in key professional areas serves the public interest, particularly in terms of health and safety, and contributes to the maintenance of public confidence in the standard of professional services provided and in the ethical standards of the individuals providing them.

ENVIRONMENT:

° European Commission annual report reflects improvement in quality of EU 15's bathing waters.  In 2003, 98.6% of the EU coastal bathing waters and 92.3% of all fresh waters complied with the “imperative” standards of Directive (76/160/EEC). During the 2003 bathing season, 89% of coastal waters and 68% of freshwater sites met ‘guide values’ compared to 87% and 64%, the previous year. Behind these statistics, however, lies a problem. There was a sharp rise in the number of ‘declassified’ bathing sites (i.e. put outside the Directive’s scope) or sites where bathing was prohibited. Some of these "forbidden" bathing waters remain banned for many years.  The Commission has expressed disapproval of Member States who get away with bad water quality and make little effort to restore quality and tackle pollution sources.  For the 2003 Bathing Water Report and report files please access: http://www.europa.eu.int/water/water-bathing/report.html and refer to Brussels Brief Annexe. 

° European Environment Agency's publishes latest annual survey of environmental trends in its 31 member countries: “EEA Signals 2004”: Main findings are: (1) Evidence of climate change is growing, both on land and in the oceans: glaciers are receding and marine species are being disturbed. (2) Nitrate pollution from farming continues: evidence suggests consumers are paying most of the clean-up costs for drinking water. (3) Much of Europe's urban population is still exposed to air pollution above health protection levels: particulates and ozone are the main concerns. (4) Packaging waste is increasing and is projected to continue doing so; overall trends in waste generation are unsustainable and current policy tools inadequate.

EEA Signals  highlights that the area of built-up land is growing much faster than the population.  Social pressures are driving a trend towards more and smaller households, which use resources less efficiently than large ones. The report also underlines that energy consumption is still rising, giving major cause for concern over resulting impacts on the climate. Measures available to reduce demand include increasing energy efficiency, improving uptake of renewable energies and rethinking options for transport.  For the full report please refer to: http://reports.eea.eu.int/signals-2004/en   (Full text )

° Urban environment in the context of EU enlargement: A July European Commission conference to review urban and land use issues is to include information on major sustainable urban and regional environment including: PROPOLIS project: to develop and test integrated land use and transport policies, www.Itcon.fi/propolis/index.htm; SUIT project to establish a flexible and consistent Environmental Assessment methodology to assist with  conservation of urban fragments heritage. Results will be used to assess the sustainability of new urban developments. www.lema.ulg.ac.be:research/suit/; NORISC project to revitalise contaminated sites in urban areas, providing guidelines for efficient risk assessment. www.norisc.com

° Integrating environmental considerations into other policy areas- The European Commission has made a stocktaking of the Cardiff process and produced a working document.  The principle of environmental integration recognises that environmental policy alone cannot achieve the improvements required as part of sustainable development. These changes can only be achieved through a process of environmental integration in the sectors of high concern, namely: fisheries, agriculture, transport, energy etc. and achieve sustainable development.  Document text: Full text

° The EBRD has started work on the revision of its Municipal and environmental infrastructure policy. Comments are invited to help the Bank in revising its policy. Any comments should be submitted to meioperationspolicy@ebrd.com no later than 12 August 2004 so that they can be taken into account. A draft policy  (1.4Mb)  has been published as a basis on which to comment.

° Pan-European survey finds that half of major EU companies are not yet ready to comply with  EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) regulations: The deadline for this is 1 January 2005. Industries surveyed included power generation, refineries, cement and steel, paper and pulp, heavy industry and automotive sectors. The ETS will impose prescribed targets for reducing CO2 emissions on companies in those sectors. Companies can choose whether to reduce emissions or purchase extra allowances. Those not prepared could face heavy fines.  Penalties are 40 euro per tonne of unauthorised CO2 emissions.  For large emitters this, could run into hundred of millions of euro.  Survey available on:  http://www.logicacmg.com/reg/dsp_downloa d_form.asp?lid=&fid=8&sec=2

° Grants Awarded by DG Environment in 2003:  Information available by accessing the following links: Direct Grants (pdf~K) : General Call for proposals in the field on environmental protection 2003 (pdf~60K) :Support to non-governmental organisations (pdf~60K) : Sustainable Urban Development (pdf~40K): Civil Protection (pdf~55K) : Marine Pollution (pdf~50K) : LIFE

° UK study shows SMEs have little incentive to ‘go green’:  Small businesses are unlikely to adopt environmentally friendly practices based on voluntary action, as market forces alone do not provide sufficient motivation. The head of a firm of architects interviewed explained that his clients are simply not interested in sustainable design or construction: 'They're not aware of carbon emissions [...]. Clients are interested in speed and economy and the way the market is at the moment.' He argued that there is little evidence for an increase in environmental design in the UK. Several other interviewees in the construction sector said they were reluctant to push the sustainability agenda for fear of alienating customers. The research team concluded that regulation represents the only way to effect change among SMEs.  Contact for interested parties is: Professor Robert Blackburn, Small business research centre, Kingston University Tel: +44 208 547 2000 E-mail: R.Blackburn@kingston.ac.uk

° Balancing Waste Management with Economic Growth: The Joint Research Centre is assisting the new Member States tackle environmental challenges.  Full details: http://viso.ei.jrc.it/iwmlca/index.html

Environmental cases:

° Germany  has been ordered to pay costs for failure to transpose the 1996 EU directive (Directive 96/59/EC) on disposal of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls) (Case Filing C-454/01): Commission v Germany ). Full text of judgement.   

° Greece has been ordered to pay costs for failure to meet EU requirements for waste water treatment (ref: Council Directive 91/271/EEC) in the Gulf of Elefsina: Case filing C-119/02 Full text .   

° The United Kingdom has been order to pay costs for incomplete transposition of EU directives on environmental impact assessment: Case Filing C-421/02 Full text  The failure relates to Scotland and Northern Ireland (ref. Directive 85/337/EEC, amended by Directive 97/11/EC).   

° Italy has been ordered to pay costs for failure to carry out environmental impact assessment (breach of Directive 85/337/EEC) before building the Teramo ring road in the Abruzzo region   (Case Filing Case C-87/02)

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

ENERGY:

° EEA head: “EU needs to set renewable energy targets for 2020 to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and give energy markets long-term investment security” according to Prof. Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the EEA.  A new study on energy subsidies commissioned by the EEA estimates that the EU and governments of its 15 older Member States together provide 5.3 billion Euros a year in subsidies to renewables. This amounts to just over one-sixth of the total volume of subsidies given annually to the energy sector, which is estimated at 29.2 billion Euros or 0.4% of gross domestic product. Prof. McGlade pointed out that the EU was committed to moving away from environmentally harmful subsidies. For this to happen, agreement was needed on what constitutes an energy subsidy. A harmonised framework for reporting on such subsidies was also required since consistent subsidy data are not available.   Prof. McGlade's speech is available at http://org.eea.eu.int/documents/speeches /03-06-2004   The report on energy subsidies is available at http://reports.eea.eu.int/technical_report_2004_1/en

TRANSPORT:

° French Agency for Health and Environmental Safety (AFSSE) report claims that the unrestrained consumption of fossil fuels is killing tens of thousands of people in Europe. In France alone, automobile emissions kill up to 10,000 people per year.  The report estimates that each death linked to atmospheric pollution costs Euro 900,000 of tax payer's money and underlines that 'the negative consequences resulting from automobile traffic are superior to the sums paid via tolls and taxes on fuels.' A study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) reached similar conclusions. A WHO  report covering Austria, Switzerland and France found that some 40,000 people die every year as a result of automobile emissions or particulate matter (PM). A July 2003 German Council for Environmental Questions report said that PM2.5 is 'the most important health problem linked with air pollution. To improve the situation, the AFSSE report proposes traffic restrictions, e.g. through introduction of tolls such as exist in London and Tokyo. The report also suggests a new tax on automobiles proportionate to their fuel consumption and toxic emissions.  However, both France and Germany believe that the automobile industry is going through a difficulty period and at this time and that it would be inopportune to propose restrictions on traffic.    AFSSE Report: http://www.afsse.fr/

° Four legislative instruments on European railways published in Official Journal: (1) Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 of 29 April 2004 establishing a European Railway Agency (Agency Regulation) (OJ L164/1 30.4.2004) Full text: (2) Directive 2004/49/EC  of 29 April 2004 on safety on the Community's railways and amending Council Directive 95/18/EC on the licensing of railway undertakings and Directive 2001/14/EC on the allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure and safety certification (Railway Safety Directive) (OJ L164/44 30.4.2004). Full text :  (3) Directive 2004/50/EC of 29 April 2004 amending Council Directive 96/48/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system and Directive 2001/16/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system (OJ L164/114 30.4.2004) Full text : (4)  Directive 2004/51/EC of 29 April 2004 amending Council Directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the Community's railways (OJ L164/164 30.4.2004). Full text

Hyper link: Directive 2004/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on minimum safety requirements for tunnels in the Trans-European Road Network (OJ L167/39 of 30^th April 2004). full text

INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING

° Commission Communication: Financial Information on the European Development Funds : Please click here for Full Text of document reference Comm (2004)382 final of 25^th May 2005.

° Lending from EIB

-          The EIB is extending a loan of 800 million SEK to Göteborg Energy AB, Sweden for the construction of a combined heat and power plant.

-          The EIB is lending EUR 200 million to the Havenbedrijf Rotterdam N.V. (Port of Rotterdam), Netherlands, for the construction of a new container terminal. The terminal, EUROMAX, will reinforce Rotterdam’s role as Europe’s largest cargo and container port.

-          The European Investment Bank is providing a further USD 15 million to the Algerian Cement Company Spa (ACC), the country’s only private sector cement producer, to expand its existing cement works near M’Sila, 240 km south-west of the Algerian capital, constructed with EUR 66 million EIB loan and other financing over the period 2002-2004.

-          The EIB has approved a loan of EUR 250 million to Société Wallonne du Logement (SWL) for the upgrading and renovation of social housing in Wallonia, Belgium.

-          A EUR 30 million global loan to K&H Bank has been granted by the EIB to finance small and medium-scale projects in Hungary. It will serve to finance small- and medium-scale projects usually promoted by private and public promoters in the field of environmental protection, energy savings, infrastructure – covering also health and education facilities, industry, services or tourism in Hungary. EIB long term funding will provide for up to 50% of the total project cost.

-          The European Investment Bank is lending EUR 65 million for the general rehabilitation of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (“Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien”) and the construction of six higher education and research facilities in Austria.

-          The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a EUR 35 million loan (approx. GBP 23.5) for the upgrading of the education infrastructure of Cornwall (South West England), an assisted region (Objective 1 area).

-     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

-          The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is lending two Russian affiliates of France’s Societe Generale up to $125 million to help private Russian companies gain access to medium-term credit and stimulate the growth of retail lending, leasing and mortgages. 15 international banks are participating in the loan to Russian offshoots of Societe Generale.

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

° Directive 2004/ 26/EC of 21 April 2004 has been published. This amends Directive 97/68/EC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to measures against the emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants from internal combustion engines to be installed in non-road mobile machinery (OJ L146/1 30.4.2004). Full text 

° The European Investment Bank (EIB) is to support research and development (R&D) in Finnish industrial technology with a loan of 135 million euro. The loan will be received by Metso Corporation, a supplier of process industry machinery systems to the pulp and paper industry. and will be used to part-finance the group's ongoing R&D programme up until 2005: specifically, to fund research to maintain and develop technological leadership in papermaking machines/automation.

° The European Commission has given its favourable opinion on the establishment of a new nuclear power plant in Finland, the first to be ordered in the EU for over a decade. Construction will start in 2005. It will start operating in 2009. Under the Euratom Treaty all plans for major new investments in the nuclear sector must be communicated to the European Commission which then assesses the proposed investment and notifies the Member State of its viewpoint. 

° Commission staff working paper on the implementation of Directive 91/383/EEC supplementing the measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of workers with a fixed-duration employment relationship or a temporary employment relationship Full text of Document 10214/04

° The European Parliament held its elections in June. Turnout figure stands at about  45.5% across the EU.    EU-wide results are available from http://www.elections2004.eu.int

° Monitoring the geological environment Segovia, Spain, from 5 to 7 July 2004

An international conference on monitoring, simulation and remediation of the geological environment aims to attract a multi-disciplinary audience from the fields of civil engineering, forest and agricultural engineering, geography, biology, ecology and hydrology.  For further information, please consult the following web address: http://www.wessex.ac.uk/conferences/2004 /geoenvironment04/index.html 

° Conference: e-learning from research to reality Strasbourg, France, on 21st and 22^nd  September 2004 The conference aims to analyse conditions required to ensure that learners benefit from quality e-learning http://www.qual-elearning.net/cgi/index. php?wpage=resume_conference

° B4E "Building for a European Future - Strategies and Alliances for Construction Innovation" , Maastricht , Netherlands, 14^th – 15^th October 2004. 

The B4E conference aims to reflect the views of all stakeholders in construction on the future development of European research in the sector.  E-CORE and ECCREDI plan to then incorporate the views of the entire construction sector in E-CORE research strategy and to present these to the European Commission, with the aim of influencing the development of the 7^th Framework Programme. The event offers an important opportunity to express a vision of the future of construction research in Europe and the challenges and opportunities of  the next decade. Papers that illustrate the way in which industry uses advanced technology, and the value of research and innovation, by reference to recent major projects, are especially welcome.  Focus should be on the following themes: 1. Smart Construction; 2. Building the Future; 3. Strategies for Innovation; 4. Strategic Alliances. www.b4e.org 

° 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