From	Janice Darch	Date	Fri, 29 Jan 1999 16:09:54 GMT
To	env.faculty@uea.ac.uk, env.researchstaff@uea.ac.uk
Subject	EN99:04 UKRO - European News (29 January 1999) (fwd)
Dear All, The most pertinent document is item one on copyright. Some ENv policy documents are also included as item5. #Janice Forwarded Message: From: Helen Self Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 14:32:36 GMT Subject: EN99:04 UKRO - European News (29 January 1999) (fwd) To: d.chadd@uea.ac.uk, dean.wam@uea.ac.uk, Dora.K@uea, e.banakas@uea, e.doy@uea, f.littlewood@uea, g.turner@uea.ac.uk, h.brownlee@uea, j.casey@uea.ac.uk, j.darch@uea, j.johnson@uea.ac.uk, j.schostak@uea, j.steward@uea, j.watson@uea.ac.uk, m.silbert@uea, m.stallworthy@uea, mrs@sys.uea.ac.uk, odg.gen@uea, r.mcbride@uea, r.mclarty@uea.ac.uk, r.sales@uea.ac.uk, r.sassatelli@uea.ac.uk, t.prime@uea.ac.uk, v.koutrakou@uea Forwarded Message: From: ukro.ukro Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 12:45:25 +0000 Subject: EN99:04 UKRO - European News (29 January 1999) To: g.l.a.jones@reading.ac.uk, geoff.g.wood@vla.maff.gov.uk, costas.kaldis@britcoun.gr, david.elliott@britcoun.org.il, shabtay.dover@skynet.be, elosuniv@BBSRC.ac.uk, eoscmemb@BBSRC.ac.uk, elosresc@BBSRC.ac.uk =============================================== EN99:04 UKRO - European News (29 January 1999) =============================================== News on non-Framework Programme 5, programmes & policy =============================================== GENERAL: 1. ESF on Copyright Law 2. GENERAL - Policy documents LIFE SCIENCES: 3. DG V - Newsletter on Alzheimer's Disease 4. Microbiology - Industrial Platform ENVIRONMENT: 5. ENVIRONMENT - Policy documents ENERGY: 6. Synergy - International Cooperation in Energy INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES: 7. Public-Sector Information INDUSTRY & TECHNOLOGIES: 8. Results - Pilot Projects on Benchmarking 9. Communication on Industrial Policy EDUCATION: 10. Leonardo Database on Cordis REGIONAL FUNDS: 11. Mid-term Review for Structural Funds =============================================== 1. ESF on Copyright Law The European Science Foundation is warning that current plans for new EU copyright laws, if left unchanged, could harm the international competitiveness of European research. The Commission's draft Directive harmonising aspects of copyright will shortly be debated by the Council of Ministers. The ESF is calling for changes to be made to the wording of one of the Directive's key articles which deals with 'exceptions' to the proposed laws to ensure that it doesn't cause legal and financial headaches for Europe's researchers. The Foundation supports the Commission's objectives of improving the protection of intellectual property as technological developments make it ever easier for pirates to duplicate and distribute copyright material. But it warns that this should not be at the expense of Europe's ability to carry out research. Reflecting widespread concern in its Member Organisations, the Foundation argues that the draft Article 5, which deals with 'exceptions' to the proposed laws, "could result in research being treated differently in different countries across Europe". As presently written, the Article sets out an exhaustive list of permissible exceptions to the directive, but it leaves to Member States the interpretation and implementation of these 'exceptions'. The effect of this could be that some researchers might find themselves in a worse position than at present regarding their access to and use of published material. Given the differences in national legislation between Member States, the ESF recognises it may be difficult to draft and agree prescriptive legislation for 'exceptions'. The Foundation is recommending, therefore, that a clause be added to the Directive allowing for the inclusion of all current 'exceptions' set out in national legislation. Other suggested revisions include the need to ensure that 'scientific research' is interpreted in a broad sense, with research in the humanities and arts being explicitly included. In addition, the ESF suggests that the current reference to 'non-commercial' research could cause confusion, as it would be very difficult to differentiate between commercial and non-commercial research in most academic settings. To avoid this, it recommends the introduction of a 'public good' definition of research, which could form an 'exception' to the Directive. The Foundation's statement also points out that the Directive's current reference to the possibility of Member States exempting the use of work "provided that such use exclusively serves the purpose of illustration for teaching or scientific research" is ambiguous. It could be interpreted that there is such a thing as 'illustration for research' and that any 'exception' did not apply to research in general. A simple rewording of the sentence to read "sole purpose of scientific research or for illustration for teaching" would clarify the 'exception'. The European Commission's draft "Directive on the Harmonisation of Certain Aspects of Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society" is available on-line at http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg15/en/index.htm FURTHER INFORMATION: Johanne Martinez, Information Officer, European Science Foundation, tel 0033 3 8876 7114, fax 0033 3 8837 0532, email: jmartinez@esf.org, URL: http://www.esf.org 2. GENERAL - Policy documents Recent policy documents issued by the European institutions. Full titles and details appear on the UKRO web site under the subject listings: * Community action programme in the field of Civil Protection * Action programme for customs in the Community * Further actions in the fight against trafficking in women * Further actions in the fight against trafficking in women * Better lawmaking 1998: a shared responsibility Commission report to the European Council * Determination of the person liable for payment of value added tax * Legal aspects of electronic commerce in the internal market * General framework for Community activities in favour of consumers * Action programme for customs in the Community 3. DG V - Newsletter on Alzheimer's Disease The first edition of the Alzheimer Europe quarterly newsletter has been published by DG V (Public Health). The newsletter is intended to draw attention to the aims and activities of Alzheimer Europe, a grouping of national organisations dealing with Alzheimer's disease. The newsletter includes news of research, events and conferences relevant to the field. It will focus on important developments in the European institutions which affect people with dementia and is also intended to be a platform for the exchange of ideas between organisations and institutes active in the field of Alzheimer's disease. Each issue will include reports on EC-funded transnational projects, beginning in the first edition with London's Institute of Psychiatry EUROCARE project. The next edition of the newsletter will be published towards the end of March 1999. FURTHER INFORMATION: Alzheimer Europe, tel 00352 297 970, fax 00352 297 972,email: info@alzheimer-europe.org, URL: http://www.alzheimer-europe.org 4. Microbiology - Industrial Platform The Industrial Platform for Microbiology, a ginger group of EU-funded companies and researchers, has decided to change the focus of its activities. It will now aim to provide a forum for EU industrial microbiologists to discuss research and development strategies, scientific aspects of regulatory developments in applied life sciences, and professional issues such as education and training in the field. The Industrial Platform for Microbiology was originally established to organise information exchange between EU-funded companies interested in using the results of EU funded projects and academics working on microbiology research and development projects. Its members will meet again in Brussels in February 1999 to discuss a draft "code of conduct" for companies involved in bioprospecting activities. FURTHER INFORMATION: Anne-Marie Prieels, Tech-Know Consultants, tel 0032 58 513 953, email: anne.marie.prieels@skynet.be, URL: http://www.tech-know.be 5. ENVIRONMENT - Policy documents Recent policy documents issued by the European institutions. Full titles and details appear on the UKRO web site under the subject listings: * Present situation and prospects for radioactive waste management * Minimum criteria for environmental inspections in the Member States * Cooperation in the field of accidental marine pollution * Limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents * Review clause Environmental and health standards four years after the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden to the E. U. * Application of aerial-survey and remote-sensing techniques to the agricultural statistics for 1999-2003 * Financial instrument for the environment * Forestry strategy for the E. U. * Control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal * Voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme * Remote sensing applied to agricultural statistics during the period 1994-1998 6. Synergy - International Cooperation in Energy The Council has announced a Decision (1999/23/EC) adopting a multiannual programme to promote international cooperation in the energy sector (1998-2002). According to the Decision, within the European Union's Energy Framework Programme (see EN39:98, item 11), a specific programme for reinforcement of international cooperation in the energy field will be implemented from 1998 to 2002 ('Synergy programme'). The objectives of this programme are to provide assistance to third countries with the definition, formulation and implementation of energy policy, and to promote industrial cooperation between the Community and third countries in the energy sector. The main tasks of the Synergy programme are to help achieve the Community's energy objectives: competitiveness, security of supply, and protection of the environment. The financial reference for the Synergy programme will be ECU 15 million. Of this, ECU 6m will be for the period 1998 to 1999. The finances for the period between 2000 and 2002 will be reviewed if the amount ECU 9m is not consistent with the financial perspective for that period. Supported activities are: * Energy policy advice and training; * Energy analyses and forecasting; * Energy dialogue and exchanges of information on energy policy, notably by means of organisation of conferences and seminars; * Support to regional transboundary coooperation; * Improvement of the Framework for industrial cooperation on energy. According to this Decision, NO FUNDING MAY BE GRANTED TO RESEARCH, development, or demonstration projects. FURTHER INFORMATION: OJ L 7 of 13 January 1999, p.23. 7. Public-Sector Information The European Commission has decided to publish a Green Paper on how the information gathered by government departments and other public bodies can be used to provide the greatest benefit for citizens and businesses in Europe. A lot of information gathered by public bodies for carrying out their duties could be used by the multimedia industry for developing new products and services. Citizens could make better use of their rights if, for example, information was readily available on the conditions for working, studying or living as a pensioner in other Member States. Many people would like to have full information on the tax regulations for cross-border purchases. The competitiveness of businesses could be increased if they had a quick and easy means of finding out what the regulations and procedures are for exporting to other countries. All this information exists, but the technical and legal procedures and terms under which the Member States make it available are uncoordinated and therefore not very transparent for citizens and business. The Green Paper calls for these matters to be discussed and asks questions about how the situation can be improved. FURTHER INFORMATION: http://ww.echo.lu/legal/en/access/access.html 8. Results - Pilot Projects on Benchmarking Results from four pilot projects on benchmarking framework conditions - in the fields of professional qualification, logistics, the impact of new information technologies (NITs) on company organisation, and the financing of innovation - are reported in the January issue of the newsletter of the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA). The lessons drawn included: * Companies located in peripheral regions suffer from the poor quality of infrastructures, expensive logistical services and weaknesses in the field of transnational cooperation; * The authorities should support the effective use of NIT and the enhancement of NIT-related structures; * SMEs lack NIT qualifications and skills; * Business Angels play a lesser role in innovation in Europe than in the US, probably due to tax- and revenue-related problems; * Even though it remains below the number of such companies operating in the US, the number of venture capital companies operating in Member States of the EU is rising (750 versus 1800); * Generally speaking and in comparison with the US and Israel, Europe suffers from a deficit in terms of the ability to evaluate technological risks and from a lack of initiatives to support faster interaction between universities and companies; * Education policies should be more practical and in-company training should be fully integrated in the programmes of higher education institutions; * Closer links should be promoted between industry and the educational system; * The skills which new workers lack most upon entry to the labour market are (a) knowledge of English, (b) computer literacy, (c) knowledge about the industrial world, and (d) adaptability. FURTHER INFORMATION: EURADA, Avenue des Arts 12/7, B-1210 Brussels, tel 0032 2 218 4313; fax 0032 2 218 4583, email: info@eurada.org, URL: http://www.benchmarking-in-europe.com 9. Communication on Industrial Policy The Commission has adopted a communication launching an open debate with the EU's different political, economic and social players on the orientation of a new industrial policy with a view to addressing the challenges of globalisation and accelerated technological changes. The communication diagnoses European industry's weaknesses and proposes a series of measures to promote industrial competitiveness. The communication diagnoses the weaknesses of European industry: * Europe does not have a strong presence in the services sector; * European enterprises resort to insufficient externalisation; * Specialisation remains underdeveloped in sectors with high growth, highly differentiated products and requiring a strong marketing strategy; * The European audiovisual sector is in an unfavourable competitive position; * European enterprises form relatively few alliances in advanced technology areas; * The amounts invested by risk capital funds are insufficiently oriented towards new and high- technology industries; * European enterprises can access financial markets only with difficulty; * The level of R&D spending in terms of EU GDP is still below that of its principal global economic partners; * The exploitation of research results is not efficient enough; * The EU suffers from high costs and the complexity of procedures for achieving intellectual property protection in Europe; * European enterprises put very few joint research projects in place. To counteract this situation and stimulate European competitiveness, the communication emphasises the following proposals, among others: * Reinforce intangible investment, by adapting the systems of accrediting competencies and by improving the level of and return from research resources, especially through a better system of intellectual property protection; * Develop human resources by acting on the educational system, by encouraging the spirit of enterprise and various forms of social innovation and social cohesion; * Promote the access of European enterprises to the world market, by accelerating the exploitation of the competitive advantages of the Single Market; * Promote fair rules of the game at a world level in view of the new round of WTO negotiations (that is by developing an observation system for public support to research in industrialised countries); * Develop the dialogue between industry and public authorities and forms of self-regulation (protection of consumers and users); * Improve financing by eliminating institutional and regulatory barriers to the development of venture capital and improving the tax regime applied to venture capital; * Adaptation of the rules to the context of the information society and electronic commerce (agreements such as the "International Charter"). FURTHER INFORMATION: Press release IP/99/33. 10. Leonardo Database on Cordis DG XXII and Cordis have approved plans to include the products database of the Leonardo da Vinci Programme on the Cordis service. The publication of the Leonardo Da Vinci products database on Cordis should allow its continual update. This is hoped to improve interaction between the owners of products and their users. The schedule for the launch of this database on Cordis has yet to be confirmed. FURTHER INFORMATION: DG XXII, fax 0032 2 295 5699, URL: http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg22/leonardo.html 11. Mid-term Review for Structural Funds The European Commission approved a report on the mid-term review for the poorest (Objective 1) and sparsely populated regions (Objective 6) in the European Union (EU) for the present programming period (1994 1999). It gives an overview of the mid-term evaluations carried out for the Structural Funds programmes during the current programming period. The report shows important achievements, e.g. when it comes to reducing disparities in basic infrastructure, energy diversification or environmental improvements. URL: http://www.inforegio.org/wbdoc/docoffic/official/repor_en.htm =============================================== Commission press releases (reference 'IP/year 2 digits/number') can be obtained from 'RAPID' at http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/spp/rapid.html Log in as 'guest' with password 'guest'. European documents (ISBNs) and Official Commission documents (reference 'Com (year 2 digits) number') are available from your local European Documentation Centre at: http://www.cec.org.uk/relays/relhome.htm or from the Stationery Office, Tel 0171 873 8372, fax 0171 873 8463. Please note that European News is sent directly to European Liaison Officers only. ELOs can decide how to disseminate it within their institution. European News is accessible via the web at http://www.ukro.ac.uk (subscribers only). INFORMATION FROM THIS PUBLICATION MUST NOT BE FORWARDED OR COPIED OUTSIDE OF YOUR INSTITUTION. No liability shall be incurred by UKRO for use of the information provided in this publication. UKRO Rue de la Loi 83 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: 0032 2 230 5275 / 1535 Fax: 0032 2 230 4803 Email: ukro@bbsrc.ac.uk URL: http://www.ukro.ac.uk =============================================== ?? ________________________________ Dr J P Darch j.darch@uea.ac.uk Research Administrator, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1603 592994 Fax: +44 (0) 1603 507784/507719