Our current task forces are: Education, Professional Recognition, Environment, Research and Development and Information Technology.   Working Group have been proposed on the issues of historic civil engineering works and transport issues.  Once business plans have been received and submitted for approval, emmbers will review the potential for developing these spheres of activity.  A nascent group to promote a Presidents’/Chief Executives’ Forum has commenced discussing potential activities under the Chairmanship of Yrjki Kainaenen of Finland.

° Education: Professor Iacint  Manoliu of Romania has undertaken to chair this group in addition to his role as a member of the ECCE Executive Committee.  The principal activity of the Task Force at present is marked by its involvement in the EUCEET thematic network project in which Professor Manoliu plays an active part.   Key themes in this EU-funded project are curricula issues; enhancing attractiveness of the civil engineering profession; recognition of academic and professional civil engineering qualifications; development of the teaching environment; life-long learning and promoting the European dimension in civil engineering education.  More information on this project may be found on: http://www.euceet.utcb.ro/

° Professional Recognition: Since the Athens meeting in September 2002, there have been developments in the issue of Professional Recognition which has been progressing in the European Parliament.  The Parliament’s rapporteur for this task is Stefano Zappala MEP of Italy, a civil engineer by background who is also rapporteur for the Proposed Directive on Public Procurement.

Following developments within the Parliament in Strasbourg, the Task Force decided to submit a follow-up paper provide a clear and detailed perspective of ECCE’s position on the subject of professional recognition and its support for the positions taken by Mr Zappala and by the European Council of Architects.  Task Force Chairman,  Carsten Ahrens, once again undertook to prepare a briefing on behalf of Members.  In May the paper was delivered to the European Parliament rapporteur and was subsequently posted on the ECCE web-site.

° Environment: A number of members of ECCE’s Environment Task-Force made presentations to the meeting on topics of particular interest.

Upon the proposal of Task Force Chairman Santiago Hernandez, the Task has produced an ethical commitment to sustainable engineering.  The Task Force wishes to disseminate environmental information and encourage interest amongst young engineers.  To this end a meeting of the Task Force was arranged for June, to be held in Spain.  This event is covered in a special supplement to this Newsletter.

° Research and Development: Task Force Chairman Olavi Tupamaeki regularly informs members of progress on the Sixth Framework Programme for research and development and the European Research Area (ERA).  The Task Force also contributes to position papers on R&D funding and the ERA.  An additional R&D Task Force meeting was held during the European Engineering Forum in Croatia in October 2002 and provided a lively exchange of views.

The Research and Development Task Force had been asked to participate in a European research dissemination project.  However, it was felt that there were not enough members available to participate actively in support of the project.

Research and Development activity also covers support to ECCREDI whose activities are outlined on http://www.tra-efct.com and www.e-core.org

° Information Technology: Discussions at Task Force meeting centred on ECCE’s role as a disseminator of information to practising engineers and applying e-learning for the benefit of civil engineers.  Consideration was given to proposing a dissemination project.  Much of the focus of the IT Working Group over the last few years has been on the European Commission Working Group on Construction Competitiveness.  The Task Force also monitors the ROADCON project in which ICT Task Force Vice-Chairman Rasso Steinmann is an active member.  A watching brief is kept on the EU-funded ICCI project which disseminates ICT ‘state-of-the-art’.  ECCE would also like to assess progress with application of e-learning in Europe and identify future potential e-learning activities.  It is further interested in how professional institutes for civil engineers use ICT for professional activities.

° Presidents’/Chief Executives Forum: Jyrki Kainänen of Finland had proposed the inauguration of a Forum to enable Presidents and Chief Executives of ECCE member organisations to share their concerns regarding the future of the profession.  An initial discussion was held in Madrid to develop plans for future activity.

° Update on proposal for activity relating to liability: In 2002 Aris Chatzirakis (ACEG) set out the case for a working group on liability in light of changing liability regimes in Greece, which proposed a modification of its penal code i.e. no limit to liability on contractors if any damage occurs to buildings.  The subject is also linked to indemnity insurance since concern was voiced that a concept of zero risk is building up.  Having completed a review of European activity in relation to liability and spoken to a number of member organisations, Aris Chatzirakis believes that the issue will not be dealt with at a European level in the foreseeable future.  At present he believes a  watching brief should be maintained on the subject.