euchems_admin

1 European Highlights, BNU July 2016

A First Look at the Slovak Presidency Programme

Earlier this month, Slovakia started its Presidency of the Council of the EU, a role which will have until the end of the present year. According to its programme, one of the main topics of the Slovak Presidency in the field of research is support for young researchers. The Presidency aims to adopt Council conclusions on measures to support young researchers with a focus on increasing the attractiveness of scientific careers, encouraging mobility and investing in human potential in the field of research and development. The Presidency also envisages to work upon the Commission´s European Defence Action Plan which should, among other, stimulate research in this field. The Slovak also Presidency also intends to start the trilogues with the European Parliament following the European Commission’s submission of the second package of legislative proposals on copyright reform, a package aiming to ensure the cross-border portability of online content services in the internal market.
Source: http://www.eu2016.sk/en

2664
1 European Highlights, BNU July 2016

EuCheMS and RSC on the Outcome of the British Referendum

Following the vote by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, both EuCheMS and the UK´s Royal Society of Chemistry have reinforced their commitment to diversity, inclusivity and to the collaboration among learned societies in Europe. As mentioned on a EuCheMS letter to RSC, “We believe that EuCheMS will continue to be of very great importance to the RSC since it will provide one of very few mechanisms by which the RSC will be able to influence European policy concerning chemistry”.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/

2569
1 European Highlights, BNU July 2016, Brussels News Updates

Chemists Urge Israel to Ban Chemical Weapons

The President of the Israeli Chemical Society, Prof. Ehud Keinan, has published an open letter urging the ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by Israel. Israel, Egypt, Southern Sudan (who plan to sign) and North Korea are the only countries of the 196 recognised countries that have not signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention which provides for the supervised elimination and monitoring of all chemical weapons under the auspices of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). EuCheMS President David Cole-Hamilton says: “I applaud Prof. Ehud Keinan’s brave action. Chemical weapons have no place in a civilised society. They do not act as a deterrent and their effects are appalling. We have a unique opportunity to rid the world of this scourge and we are so close to doing it. EuCheMS calls upon Prime-Minister Netanyahu to ratify the CWC as soon as possible and for Egypt, Southern Sudan and North Korea to follow this inspiring lead”.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/

2985