° The Dutch Presidency priorities were outlined in the July Brussels Brief.  In brief, they comprise enlargement of the European Union, the sustainable growth of the European economy, security, a sound European multiannual budget and a more effective role for the EU in the world. The Netherlands also plans to start a debate with the Union’s citizens and governments on how to advance European integration and cooperation and on common European values.

The EU presidency has expressed its delight that incoming Commission President Mr Barroso has determined the make-up and portfolios of his team so quickly.  They consider he has found capable people for every post and has also struck an admirable balance in the assignment of posts to candidates from large, medium-sized and small member states. Dutch nominee Commissioner Neelie Kroes has been names Commissioner for Competition. 

A full list of Commissioners and portfolios proposed by Mr. Barroso appears in an Annexe to this Brief.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

° Annual RTD Report 2003: The Commission report has now published:  “Research and technological development activities of the Union 2003 Annual Report” – Details available on internet:  Full Text

° Claim that public procurement rules in the European Union currently hamper innovation:  INNO-UTILITIES, a project co-ordinated by Eurescom, a company involved in telecoms research, states that 'EU procurement directives don't leave enough room for effective tendering of innovations’.  The reason given is that the public sector is not encouraged to act as a 'launching customer' for innovative products and services.  The project is developing a new procurement model.  Further information may be found on:  http://www.inno-utilities.org/index.html

° Research information available for Croatia on  CORDIS: The European Commission's Research and Development Information Service, has launched a new web service for Croatia, following the awarding of EU candidate status to the country on 18 June 2004 by the European Council. http://www.cordis.lu/croatia/ Candidate countries gateway: http://www.cordis.lu/candidate_countries /

° The conference of peripheral maritime regions (CPMR) considers regional research dimension ‘unambitious’ The CPMR,  an association founded by 30 geographically remote areas of Europe in 1973,  considers that the Commission communication places a greater emphasis on research than on innovation. It warns of the need to avoid concentrating reserach infrastructures solely around capital cities or in regions that are already very competitive.  http://www.cpmr.org/index.html

For the Commission's communication on future EU research policy:
ftp://ftp.cordis.lu/pub/era/docs/com2004_353_en.pdf 

INFORMATION and COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

° IST project to apply 'augmented reality' to industrial maintenance tasks :  For someone carrying out complex industrial repairs or maintenance, the availability of computer generated information in their field of vision  (‘augmented reality’ as they work offers significant advantages.  The Commission is launching a specific targeted research project called ULTRA (ultra portable augmented reality for industrial maintenance applications), under the information society technologies (IST) section of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The project is set to receive some 1.7 million euro in EU funding, and will run until early 2006. http://www.ist-ultra.org

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION:

° Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an integrated action programme in the field of lifelong learning    Full Text In March 2004 the Commission adopted a Communication "The new generation of Community Education and Training Programmes after 2006". This indicated the Commission's intention to propose an integrated lifelong learning programme, incorporating existing internal education and training programmes. The draft Decision (link above) establishes that programme.  The programme builds on the current Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci programmes, the eLearning programme, the Europass initiative, and the various actions funded through the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level and to support specific in education and training activities. In addition, the recently launched Erasmus Mundus programme, which runs to 2008, should be incorporated as an additional programme within the Integrated Programme from 2009. Ref: COM(2004) 474 final 2004/0153 (COD)

° Student Mobility and Language learning:  New research has been commissioned to identify causes of a decline in outward mobility of Erasmus students from the UK compared with other EU countries, and an imbalance between incoming and outgoing students to and from the UK as a whole.  It has discovered a direct link between the decline in international mobility and a fall in the number students studying languages. 90 per cent of students who studied abroad as part of their course expressed the belief that the experience had enhanced their personal and professional development. Relatively few of these students encountered any major problems. Finance, the most often cited difficulty, was mentioned by only 22 per cent of students. Full report: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2004/0 4_30/

ENVIRONMENT:

° European Commission Report on Implementation of EU Environmental Law:  The report highlights serious shortcomings in implementation. The "Fifth Annual Survey on the implementation and enforcement of EU environmental law" illustrates that Member States are late in transposing environmental Directives: up until end 2003, there were 88 cases in which environmental Directives were not transposed on time. In 118 cases, the Directives were not correctly transposed, and in 95 cases Member States did not meet "secondary" obligations under the Directives, for example deadlines for presenting certain plans, submitting data or designating protected areas. Compliance varies from Member State to Member State, with France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Spain having the worst records. Most shortcomings have been found in the sectors of water, waste, nature protection and environmental impact assessments.http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/law/5th_en.pdf

° Member States due to implement Electronic waste Directives:  the  two EU Directives seek to ensure that old electric and electronic products are not simply thrown away, but are recycled and reused.  Most devices end up in municipal waste and are then land-filled or incinerated.  Due to their hazardous contents, such landfill and incineration sets free pollutants that contaminate air, water and soil and can have adverse health effects. Transposition is a first step in reducing the environmental impacts of products such as TVs and washing machines, mobile phones and air conditioning units.  So far only Greece has passed national legislation giving effect to the two Directives. The Commission can open infringement procedures against Member States that do not meet transposition deadlines. http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/waste/index.htm

° The Commission has published  a Communication on : Flood risk management Flood prevention protection and mitigation  Between 1998- 2002, Europe suffered over 100 major damaging floods, including the catastrophic floods along the Danube and Elbe rivers in 2002. Since 1998, floods have caused some 700 fatalities, displaced approximately 500,000 people and have resulted in some Euro 25 billion in insured economic losses.  The European Commission has produced a Communication on Flood Risk Management covering the issues of prevention, protection and mitigation. The Commission is calling for concerted EU action, including an action programme whereby the Commission would aid co-ordination and exchange of information and Member States would work through relevant river basin, national, regional and local authorities.     Full Text

° The Council of Ministers publishes (Draft) Conclusions on Strengthening EU’s Overall Civil Protection Capacity: the Council publication is a consequence of the increasing frequency of natural disasters such as floods and forest fires and the growing terrorist threat. The conclusions aim to improve operation of the Civil Protection Mechanism and enhance cooperation between Member States in civil protection. Member States have expressed willingness to quickly inform the Monitoring and Information Centre of the Civil Protection Mechanism (MIC) about major emergencies  Full text of Document 10876/04

° Commission publishes Communication on Financing Natura 2000: The Communication points to key actions identified in the Sixth EAP.  These include implementation of the Community Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, including full implementation of the nature directives and, in particular  establishing the Natura 2000 network of protect sites. Further Community financial support would be required to promote the sustainable use of the sites and their management.   Full Text

° Schoolchildren in many countries face unacceptable risks of injury and loss of life due to the faulty design and construction of school buildings which collapse in the event of earthquakes or other disasters, according to 30 world-renowned experts brought together by the OECD and U.S.-based non-profit organisation GeoHazards International. A new OECD publication “Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes” sets out the problem and makes recommendations for improving earthquake safety in schools. Recommendations were presented to 2,400 specialists in seismic structural engineering at the August World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (WCEE)  in Vancouver, Canada, http://www.oecd.org/edu/schoolsafety

° Environmental case information:

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

ENERGY:  

° Warning that knowledge of nuclear science is disappearing: In its recently published 2003 annual report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed concern at the ageing of the nuclear workforce and the lack of university courses offering nuclear sciences.  The agency calls for action. 1) More should be done to ensure knowledge preservation and management 2)  Member states should be encouraged to invest more in research to develop innovative technologies in this field and non-power applications of nuclear technology.  There are 439 existing nuclear power plants world-wide.  http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Reports /Anrep2003/index.html 

TRANSPORT:

° First Plenary of European Commission Group of experts on accidents in the transport sector.  During the July session, the group gave itself a mandate defining the aspects falling into its remit. It has set up five working groups to cover the four sectors of transport (road, rail, maritime and aviation) as well as pipelines. At a later stage a sixth working group on methodology will commence. Additional experts with specific skills may be asked to participate in the tasks of these working groups on an ad hoc basis. The list of members appointed to the three committees and the reserve list have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union and are available on the Commission’s website: http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/archive/2004/c_18020040713en.html Further information on the Commission’s transport safety activities: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/index_en.html

° Nuna 2, the world's Fastest Solar-Powered Car Hits the Road in Sweden and Norway at up to 170 km/hour: The journey began on 14th August in Oslo and was completed on 22nd August in Andenäs.  The car was made with the help of space technology.  It was built and driven by students from Delft University in The Netherlands. In Sweden, students from the Civil Engineering Programme in Space Technology in Kiruna, one of many space programmes in Sweden, also participated. http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/index.ht ml

INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING

° Lending from EIB 

• The European Investment Bank has granted a EUR 45 million loan for the upgrading and extension of the sewerage infrastructure in the coastal towns of Saida and Sour in southern Lebanon. The project is due to be operating at the end of 2007.  Funds will be deployed by the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), acting for and on behalf of the Republic of Lebanon.

• The Bank's website has a section on the Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs)  with information on EIB activities in the MPCs, origins of the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP), the economic background of the MPCs and the meetings of the FEMIP Ministerial Committee and Committee of Experts on: http://www.eib.org/lending/med/fr/index. htm

• 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

°  Euro-zone annual inflation fell from 2.4% in June to 2.3% in July 2004, according to reports from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.  A year earlier the rate was 1.9%. EU25 annual inflation was 2.3% in July 2004, down from 2.4% in June. A year earlier the rate was 1.8%.  Industrial production, however, in June 2004 was down 0.4% over May in the Eurozone and down 0.2% across the EU25.

° Information from the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg in July 2004

During their session MEPs elected Spanish Socialist Josep Borrell as President of the European Parliament for the next two and a half years. He was elected after the first round of voting, having received 388 votes, to 208 for the Polish Liberal Democrat Bronislaw Geremek and 51 for French Communist Francis Wurtz.

° Conference on the preservation of cultural heritage, Palermo, Italy – 20^th Septmeber 2004

 Entitled 'Support for the protection and rescue of cultural heritage - European, national and local financing', the conference organised by APRE, the Italian Agency for the Promotion of European Research will also present new commercial technology available for carrying out diagnostical analysis on monuments without damaging them.   http://liaisonoffice.unipa.it/

° Finance in Framework Six, Thursday 23 September 2004 - Cambridge, UK

This workshop will introduce participants to the financial principles in FP6 and explore how they will work in practice, both at the project level and within each of the participating organisations. www.singleimage.co.uk. Or e-mail: sue.kerr@singleimage.co.uk

° Developing a Secure and Sustainable Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E) 22^nd - 23^rd September, 2004,  Brussels

 The conference is endorsed by European Energy Foundation & EUREC).  Speakers will include Shaun Kent, Economist, European Affairs Team, OFGEM; Giles Chichester MEP, Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy, European Parliament; Dr. Klaus-Robert Kabelitz, Head of the Economic Research, Energy Industry and Environment Department, Ruhrgas AG; Rolf Linkohr, President, European Energy Foundation.  Further information and online registration: http://www.euconferences.com/fraenergy04.htm or contact Dan Craft: dan.craft@euconferences.com

° World Health Organization second International Housing and Health Symposium, Vilnius, Lithuania, 29^th September  – 1st October 2004.

The Symposium is being organised by WHO’s European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn Office. It will explore how to provide healthy, affordable and sustainable housing for all – provision of green spaces in cities, energy efficiency, structural safety, social cohesion, waste management and problems, heating & insulation etc. Information about the symposium, submission of abstracts and registration can be found at  www.vilnius.lt/housing2004   See also : www.euro.who.int/housing

° 2nd Annual EU Sustainable Chemicals Management Conference, 12^th –14^th October,  Brussels

The conference focuses mainly on the REACH policy and will look to give attendees a definitive answer as to how businesses are going to be affected by the legislative changes that it brings. Also includes the option of a full day workshop, and sections on Global Chemical Management Systems and Green Chemistry. Confirmed Speakers include:  Jos Delbeke, Director, Directorate C (Air & Chemicals), DG Environment, European Commission, Dr Jack de Bruin, Action leader for REACH, European Chemicals Bureau; Dr David Owen, Head of Health & Environmental Sciences, Shell Chemicals Ltd; Uta Jensen-Korte Director of Chemical Policy & Regulatory Affairs, CEFIC;

Lena Perenius, Director, Implimentor of REACH, CEFIC.  www.euconferences.com/frachemical04.htm 

° ASTP Seminar ‘Creating business out of science’, Lisbon, Portugal, 14^th-15^th October 2004

The Association of European science and technology transfer professionals' (ASTP) annual seminar will address issues such as spin outs, and partnerships with industry.  Plenary sessions will cover:
the importance of technology transfer; why  companies don’t take more advantage of university expertise and technology and the role played in negotiations between a technology transfer officer, inventor and investor. http://www.astp.net

° 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 

° ACE-ECCE-EFCA Joint Seminar on Public Procurement Directives Thursday 21^st October

The one-day seminar being organised by the European Council of Architects, the European Council of Civil Engineers and the European Federation of Consultancy Associations aims to offer an insight into the Commission’s thinking on the topic. The seminar will clearly indicate to national administrations how architectural and engineering consultancy services should be treated in public procurement procedures. For ECCE members details are available from eccesecretariat@hotmail.com

Registration forms and the programme can be requested from any one of the three organisations through their websites : ACE www.ace-cae.org; ECCE: www.eccenet.org; EFCA  www.efcanet.org, or by e-mail to info@ace-cae.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