Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved a non-binding resolution stating that the EU authorisation for Bentazone herbicide, which expires on 30 June 2017, should not be renewed as its safety has yet to be confirmed. MEPs point out that Bentazone’s consumer risk assessment has not been finalised and that data are missing, particularly on its potential for groundwater exposure. Moreover, a European Food Safety Authority peer review proposes classifying Bentazone, a selective post-emergent herbicide against broadleaved weeds in a wide range of crops, and is commonly used in agriculture, as having suspected reproductive toxicity potential for humans (category 2). The EU Commission has nonetheless proposed to renew Bentazone’s EU authorisation until 31 January 2032, the maximum period possible, while simultaneously requesting data confirming its safety.
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/
First Scientific Opinion of the SAM High Level Group Delivered
Last month, Henrik C. Wegener, the Chair of the European Commission High Level Group of Scientific Advisors, the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM), submitted the SAM´s first Scientific Opinion to Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation. In its Opinion, SAM analyses how to close the growing gap between the measurement of CO2 emissions from cars and vans in the laboratory (“type approval”) and what they really emit on the road. The Scientific Opinion is intended to provide evidence-based guidance to a Commission policy proposal for post-2020 emission performance standards for light-duty vehicles (cars and vans), expected in 2017.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/
Names for New Elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 Now Approved
On the 28 November, after a five-month period of public review, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) approved the name and symbols for four elements: nihonium (Nh), moscovium (Mc), tennessine (Ts), and oganesson (Og), respectively for element 113, 115, 117, and 118. In concordance with and following the earlier reports that the claims for discovery of these elements have been fulfilled, the discoverers have been invited to propose names. Keeping with tradition, the newly discovered elements have been named after a place or geographical region, or a scientist. The ending of the names also reflects and maintains historical and chemical consistency: “-ium” for elements 113 and 115 and as for all new elements of groups 1 to 16, “-ine” for element 117 and belonging to group 17 and “-on” for element 118, belonging to group 18.
Source: https://iupac.org/
Study on International Sectoral Qualifications Frameworks and Systems
The European Commission has recently published a study on the International Sectoral Qualifications Frameworks and Systems. This study, for which EuCheMS provided input namely regarding its European Professional card for chemists, reflects on the potential role of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) in supporting recognition of International Sectoral Qualifications and related initiatives. The EQF is a common European reference framework. It acts as a translation device to make qualifications acquired within the different education and training systems in Europe more readable and understandable. The study can be downloaded in the link below.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/
Circular Economy – EuCheMS at European Commission Mission to China
Following an invitation from the European Commission (EC) delegation, EuCheMS took part in the EC delegation to China on the topic of circular economy, led by Mr Daniel Calleja, the European Commission’s Director-General for Environment. This visit occurred during the 2016 Circular Economy Exhibition organised by the China Association of Circular Economy (CACE).
Dr. Nicola Armaroli, Chair of EuCheMS Working Party on Chemistry and Energy, was EuCheMS´ representative at this mission that included over 60 representatives from European companies, agencies, research centers and associations. EuCheMS previous activities on Circular Economy include among other, a workshop on raw materials, and participating at the European Commission Mission to Chile.
EuCheMS at the MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme
Earlier this month at the European Parliament, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and scientists met in a series of bilateral meetings, and at the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA). EuCheMS was represented by Prof. David Cole-Hamilton, paired with MEP Catherine Stihler, and by Prof. Pavel Drašar, paired with MEP Pavel Poc.
These meetings took place under the initiatives “Science Meets Parliaments” and the “MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme” which aim to show the links between policy-making and research and to promote mutual understanding and long-term cooperation between MEPs and researchers.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
Canadian Researchers to Join ERC Teams in Europe
Last month, a new agreement between Canada and the European Union was concluded to encourage talented Canadian researchers to join European Research Council (ERC) teams in Europe. Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas and President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Dr Ted Hewitt (though the agreement also applies also to natural sciences) signed the agreement in Brussels. The agreement signed encourages Canadian researchers to undertake research visits in Europe, temporarily becoming part of an ERC-funded team in Europe without any costs involved for the ERC/European Union.
Source: https://erc.europa.eu/
EFSA Models and other Resources at the Knowledge Junction
Scientific models used by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) over the last 15 years have been brought together in a new EFSA community: the Knowledge Junction. The models can be shared and cited and you can submit your own. A selection of these tools is also available as a web applications on the new EFSA Statistical Models Platform. Simply select a model, upload your data, run the analysis and view the results. Knowledge Junction runs on the EU-funded Zenodo research-sharing platform where uploaded items get a unique Digital Object Identifier to make them citable. Submissions can include reports, datasets, images, videos, laboratory outputs, software, tools, models, code, protocols, study quality appraisal schemes, FAQs.
Source: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
New Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
The EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Vytenis Andriukaitis confirmed the renewed commitment in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that is one of the biggest health threats facing humanity today.
The new Action Plan will take the form of a Commission communication to the European Parliament and the Council and builds on the previous plan that is coming to an end in 2016. The evaluation of the 2011-2016 Action Plan shows that there is clear added value that the EU can bring to tackle the AMR challenge. The new Action Plan will focus on supporting Member States, particularly in establishing, implementing and monitoring their National Action Plans and strengthening its leading global role. The plan will also bring together EU funds and instruments in order to promote innovation and research on AMR, as proposed by EuCheMS earlier this year during a workshop on AMR.
Source: http://europa.eu/
New International Standard for the Quality of Reference Materials
In Europe EU Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 sets out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance and demands that accreditation has to be based on harmonised International Standards. In this context, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published ISO 17034 which outlines the general requirements which producers of all types of reference materials must fulfil. The structure of ISO 17034 has been aligned with that of ISO/IEC 17025, the International Standard for the competences of testing and calibration laboratories.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/
Education and Training Monitor 2016 Released
This year’s Education and Training Monitor explores societal challenges in more depth and addresses migration, demography and the key competences that education should help develop. One of the highlights of the report is the increase of tertiary level completion rates across the EU in 2015. Finally, via the cross-national comparison of education systems and in the country analysis, the report presents and examines plenty of policy initiatives that can help make education more responsive to societal and labour market needs, a topic which will be further explored later on next year in the field of chemistry by EuCheMS´ 2nd Employability Survey for European Chemists which will run in 2017.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/
Council Conclusions on Eastern Partnership
The Council of the European Union discussed and adopted conclusions on the Eastern Partnership which encompasses Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. In its conclusions, the Council mentions that “Cooperation in education, science, research, culture, training, youth and innovation is crucial for deepening mutual understanding, strengthening institutions, and promoting modernisation and sustainable development. The Council recognises that people to people contacts, including capacity building measures in these areas, contribute to job creation, increased entrepreneurship, mobility and a stronger engagement with society.”
Source: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/
New Research Partnership in the Mediterranean on Food and Water Sustainability (PRIMA)
The European Commission has presented a proposal for a Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area – PRIMA. The first partnership of its kind in the Mediterranean basin aims to develop much-needed novel solutions for sustainable water management and food production. The Commission’s proposal already includes Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia. As PRIMA evolves over time, more EU and non-EU Countries are expected to follow. Funding for the €400 million partnership will come from the participating countries (currently around €200 million), matched by a €200 million contribution from the EU through its current research framework programme Horizon 2020. The partnership is scheduled to run for 10 years, starting in 2018.
Source: http://europa.eu/
MEPs Call for EU Limit on Industrial Trans Fats in Food
The EU should place mandatory limits on industrially-produced trans-fatty acids (TFA) which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, infertility, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and obesity for consumers, says a resolution voted on Wednesday. TFA intake is mostly linked to consumption of industrially produced, partially hydrogenated oils. MEPs mention the fact that, according to the European Commission, only one in three consumers in the EU knows about TFAs which shows that labelling measures are not enough. The Commission should therefore propose an EU legal limit on the industrial TFA content of all foods as soon as possible, and preferably within two years, say MEPs.
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/
Science Meets Regions
The first edition of Science Meets Regions took place at the Committee of Regions (CoR) earlier this month and discussed how findings from research can serve as a basis for better decision-making on the regional level. During the event, over 200 politicians and scientists from EU regions presented their experiences of some pilot policy-research exchanges that where held during 2016. This initiative followed the recent launch of the Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies, which is a new instrument to support regional policy-making.
Source: http://cor.europa.eu/
Paris Agreement Enters into Force
The Paris Agreement legally entered into force on 4 November. This historic event occurs less than a year after the landmark agreement was adopted in Paris and just days ahead of the UN climate conference in Marrakech, Morocco. The Marrakech conference aims to demonstrate that commitments made in Paris towards a low-carbon economy are being implemented, and to act as a catalyst for further action.
Source: http://europa.eu/
Seville International Chemistry Declaration 2016: An Invitation to Sign
In a world that is becoming increasingly populated and urbanized, and which will require 30% more water and 40% more energy by 2030, we are faced with innumerable social challenges that require a firm commitment to research and innovation for their resolution. It will be chemistry as a discipline, with the fundamental and necessary support of other sciences and areas of knowledge, which will continue to assume the responsibility of addressing most of these challenges and to offer sustainable solutions in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the UN. This will only be possible if we establish the necessary collaboration channels between key stakeholders, and including society and its competent authorities and bodies.
The Seville International Chemistry Declaration 2016, was launched in Seville at the 6th EuCheMS Chemistry Congress on September 13th, 2016.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
EuCheMS at the MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme
Earlier this month at the European Parliament, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and scientists met in a series of bilateral meetings, and at the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA). EuCheMS was represented by Prof. David Cole-Hamilton, paired with MEP Catherine Stihler, and by Prof. Pavel Drašar, paired with MEP Pavel Poc.
These meetings took place under the initiatives “Science Meets Parliaments” and the “MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme” which aim to show the links between policy-making and research and to promote mutual understanding and long-term cooperation between MEPs and researchers.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
45 ERC Grantees Receive Top-up Innovation Funding
Forty-five European Research Council (ERC) grantees will bring the results of their frontier research closer to market thanks to Proof of Concept grants. This top-up funding will help them explore the innovation potential of their ERC-funded discoveries. These Proof of Concept grants, worth €150,000 each, can be used for example to establish intellectual property rights, investigate business opportunities or conduct technical validation. The scheme is open to ERC grant holders only.
Source: https://erc.europa.eu/
Erasmus+ Programme Guide and Calls 2016
The Erasmus+ Programme Guide and Call for Proposals for 2016 is out with more than €1,85 billion funding available. This year´s programme presents new opportunities in Vocational Education and Training Mobility, more targeted Strategic Partnerships, and a revised format of Sector Skills Alliances. Erasmus+ promotes, among other, the mobility of young students, researchers, or teachers, and has actions aiming individuals as well as organisations.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus
Congratulations to Christian Schärf, Paul Rathke, and Friedrich Wanierke – EUCYS EuCheMS Award 2016
Christian Schärf, Paul Rathke, and Friedrich Wanierke, from Germany, are the winners of the 2016 EUCYS EuChEMS Award with their project entitled “Alpha-aluminium oxide-based gemstones: Development of a chemical synthesis process prompted by current mining conditions”.
EuCheMS special prize for best chemistry contribution at the European Union Contest for Young Scientist, is attributed every year at EUCYS to a young scientist for hers/his research work in the field of chemistry. EUCYS, an initiative of the European Commission that was set up in 1989 with the goal of promoting cooperation and interchange between young scientists and guiding them towards a future career in science and technology.
Source: http://www.euchems.eu/
European Commission at the China-EU Education Ministers Conference
As referred at the conference, there are nearly 3,000 students and professors selected to move between Europe and China under the Erasmus+ calls in 2015 and 2016, and dozens of Chinese universities participating in joint academic projects China-EU Cooperation. Mr Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, mentioned in his speech the “proven initiatives that have enabled us to boost academic cooperation, to foster student, teacher and researcher mobility”, namely the Erasmus+ programme and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The Commissioner also mentioned the China-EU cooperation in entrepreneurship actions, namely through collaborations under the European Institute of Innovation Technology.
Source: http://europa.eu/
Western Balkans Joins the European Open Science Agenda
Seven Western Balkans’ economies joined the European Union (EU) in pursuing the EU Open Science Agenda at the Open Data and Access in Science meeting organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) during the International Open Data Conference (IODC) on 6-7 October 2016. These countries agreed to appoint national points of reference on Open Science by the end of the year. Participants also formally established the Working Group on Open Science and outlined directions in which they will operate in the coming period by producing the draft three-year work plan. In the region of Western Balkans where the investments to public research systems are low and where, as the data from the Balkan Barometer showed, the cooperation between universities and industry is limited to a very small number of large businesses, the Open Science and Open Access Agenda has the potential to open access to the research results to be used for innovation in the smaller and medium sized companies, as well as for wider public. Earlier this year EuCheMS has organised an event on open science, its outcomes can be found here.
Source: https://wbc-rti.info/
Global Leaders Commit to Act on Antimicrobial Resistance at the United Nations
For the first time, on the 21 of September at the United Nations, heads of state committed to taking a broad, coordinated approach to address the root causes of antimicrobial resistance AMR across multiple sectors, especially human health, animal health and agriculture. This is only the fourth time a health issue has been taken up by the UN General Assembly (the others were HIV, noncommunicable diseases, and Ebola). The heads of state pledged to strengthen regulation of antimicrobials, improve knowledge and awareness, and promote best practices — as well as to foster innovative approaches using alternatives to antimicrobials and new technologies for diagnosis and vaccines. AMR was discussed earlier this year at a European Parliament STOA-EuCheMS workshop whose conclusions can be found here.
Source: http://www.who.int/
EFSA to Share Raw Data on Glyphosate
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is to release the raw data used in the recent EU safety evaluation of glyphosate, as part of its commitment to open risk assessment. The information will be shared with a group of Members of European Parliament (MEPs) following a public access to document request. When combined with the detailed background documents already published on EFSA’s website, the information will be sufficient to enable a third-party scientist to scrutinise the evaluation of glyphosate that was carried out by EFSA and EU Member States. Glyphosate is an active substance used for the production of pesticides, has recently been under the spotlight due to health concerns regarding its use.
Source: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/