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1 European Highlights, BNU September 2017, Brussels News Updates

MEPs Discuss Fipronil in Eggs

In a debate on the contamination of eggs with the insecticide Fipronil, many Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) criticised national authorities for delays in notifying the EU’s Rapid alert system for food and feed (RASFF) and called for the information-sharing system to be improved. Some even suggested fines for member states which fail to share crucial food safety information, while others called for truly dissuasive sanctions for fraudulent producers or suppliers of pest-control products. Fipronil, an insecticide used inter alia to kill fleas and mites, is classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as moderately hazardous. Its use in the EU is prohibited for all food-producing animals. Quality control of our food is one of the many areas where chemistry plays a major role.
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/

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1 European Highlights, BNU September 2017, Brussels News Updates

New and Improved Car Emissions Tests

Since September 2017, new car models will have to pass new and more reliable emissions tests in real driving conditions (“Real Driving Emissions” – RDE) as well as an improved laboratory test (“World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure” – WLTP) before they can be driven on European roads. These changes were prompted by the Volkswagen emissions scandal, and aim to control, among other, emissions of CO2 as well as NOx and other air pollutants. According to the European Commission, three air pollutants alone, PM 2.5, NO2 and O3, are responsible for 400 000 premature deaths per year in the EU including some 70.000 directly linked to NO2.
Sources: http://europa.eu/; http://europa.eu/

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1 European Highlights, BNU September 2017, Brussels News Updates

2018 Erasmus+ Annual Work Programme Published

The 2018 annual work programme for Erasmus+ was published in August and outlines the structure and funding of the programme for the following year, with an overall budget of more than €2.5 Billion. Erasmus+ aims to provide to over 4 million Europeans the opportunity to gain competences and have a personal, socio – educational and professional development through studies, training, work experiences or volunteering abroad. It also fosters quality improvements, innovation, excellence and internationalisation of organisations active in education and training, youth and sport, and promotes initiatives that support policy reforms at all levels.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/

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1 European Highlights, BNU September 2017, Brussels News Updates

Commissioner Moedas Against Proposed Cuts to Horizon 2020

EU Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas has recently criticised, during a conference, a proposal from member states to cut almost half a billion euros out of Horizon 2020. In May, the European Commission proposed a budget of €160.6 billion for 2018. The Council answered in July, proposing a €1.7 billion reduction which would impact Horizon 2020. Moedas said that, to walk back the proposals, scientists needed to call their governments. The Commissioner also guaranteed he would make his case to ministers of science and finance.
Source: https://sciencebusiness.net/

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1 European Highlights, BNU September 2017, Brussels News Updates

EuCheMS 2017 General Assembly

EuCheMS 2017 General Assembly will take place on 26 – 27 September 2017 in Rome, Italy, together with EuCheMS´ Professional Networks and Executive Board meetings. The General Assembly, the governing body of EuCheMS composed of representatives from each of EuCheMS’ Member Societies and Supporting Members, meets annually and defines the general policy of EuCheMS. One of the topics will be the EuCheMS position paper Research and Education Without Borders After Brexit.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/

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1 European Highlights, BNU September 2017, Brussels News Updates

Solar Driven-Chemistry Meeting

In the follow-up of the publication of the white paper Solar-Driven Chemistry, EuCheMS is currently organising a meeting taking place on 15 October in Brussels. During this meeting, EuCheMS and several European funding agencies will look into the possibilities opened by this white paper with the intent to discuss and coordinate efforts in order to promote Solar-Driven Chemistry at the European Level. This paper aims to show that it is possible, and even necessary, to drive chemical reactions by the energy from the sun in order to guarantee the welfare of future generations.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/

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1 European Highlights, BNU September 2017, Brussels News Updates

Preparing for Employment in a Global Workforce

The workshop Preparing for Employment in a Global Workforce, co-organized by EuCheMS and American Chemical Society (ACS), took place on 20 August during the 254th ACS National Meeting & Exposition in Washington, DC. In this discussion aimed at undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and their professors, the workshop explored ways in which students can be better prepared for employment in the global market. Careers opportunities and trends were discussed from the point of view of experts from government, industry and academia with a particular emphasis on trends in the United States and Europe. ACS and EuCheMS shared results of employment surveys for chemists to help better understand the training needs of chemists worldwide.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/

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