Brussels News Update, December 2016

1612187 BNU

European Highlights

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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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MEPs Object to Commission Plans to Renew Bentazone Herbicide
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…
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Observatory for Nanomaterials
The signing of an agreement between the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the European Commission earlier this month, marks the formal kick-off on the creation of the European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EU-ON). The information sources for the observatory will include data generated by various pieces of EU legislation regulating the safe use of nanomaterials…
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Environmental Indicator Report 2016
The European Environmental Agency (EEA) Environmental indicator report 2016 gives a snapshot of progress made so far by the 28 EU Member States in meeting a selected number of EU policy objectives. These are relevant to achieving the three key priority objectives of the EU’s 7th Environment Action Programme: natural capital; resource-efficient, low-carbon economy,…
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PISA 2015: EU Performance and Initial Conclusions
The PISA Survey (Programme for International Student Assessment), published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), is a key international educational assessment tool providing valuable input for possible educational reforms. The 2015 edition of the PISA survey, which is based on tests given to 15/16 years old students, offers key insights into the…
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Report on Water Quality in Europe
Report on Water Quality in EuropeThe quality of drinking water and bathing water, and the effectiveness of waste water treatment across the European Union continues to improve, according to a new European Environment Agency (EEA) report recently published. Nonetheless, pollution from sources like waste water treatment plants, agricultural runoff and storm water overflows,…
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Raw Materials for Green Technologies
A new Joint Research Centre (JRC) study presented at the 9th Conference of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan), concludes that the EU is vulnerable to supply bottlenecks of some materials needed in wind, photovoltaic and electric vehicles technologies. Such materials are for instance rare earths – neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr) and dysprosium…
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Glyphosate Raw Data Shared by EFSA
The European Food Safety Agency has shared the raw data that was used in the EU safety evaluation of the pesticide glyphosate. The information has been sent to a group of MEPs who submitted an official request to see the information. The information released includes the raw data from all the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity studies…
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ERC to Re-launch Synergy Grants in 2018
The ERC Scientific Council decided to take the preliminary steps to reinstate the Synergy Grant funding scheme in 2018. This comes after a thorough assessment of the ongoing projects funded through the pilot calls in 2012 and 2013. Synergy Grants can bring together top researchers with complementary skills and knowledge and enable them to jointly…
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Council Conclusions on Early Stage Researchers
In its recent Council Conclusions, the Council of the European Union, calls countries for, among others, further promotion of science and research careers. It also calls for the promotion mentorship activities of senior researchers from all sectors to work with early stage researchers. The Council also calls for more international cooperation and for the promotion…
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Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard 2016
Earlier this month, the Joint Research Centre published the 2016 edition of the EU Industrial Research and Development (R&D) Investment Scoreboard analyses the 2500 companies investing the largest sums in R&D in the world in the fiscal year 2015/16. It comprises companies based in the EU (590), the US, Japan, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Switzerland…
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RIO Country Report: China
China 2015 Research and Innovation Observatory Report (RIO) explains recent policy reforms and laws aiming to accelerate innovation-driven growth and address major challenges in China’s innovation system. It examines the recent 'Made in China 2025' plan and an ongoing major reform, begun in 2015, towards greater independence, transparency and coordination of China´s many R&D…
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Consultations and Roadmaps

Public Stakeholder Consultation on Interim Evaluation of Joint Undertakings Operating Under Horizon 2020
This consultation aims to collect the views of the public about the implementation of the Joint Undertakings (JUs) under Horizon 2020 for the period 2014 to 2016. The Joint Undertakings (JUs) are formalised public-private partnerships involving companies at the European level. The JUs bring together industry, the research community, in some cases Member States, regulators…
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Public Consultation on the Active Substance Benalaxyl
EFSA will assess all comments from interested parties regarding the active substance Benalaxyl. Input is requested on the following: physical/chemical properties; details of uses and further information; methods of analysis; mammalian toxicology; residues; and environmental fate and behavior.Deadline: 25 January 2017Website: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/
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Roadmap - Commission's Communication on a One-Health Action Plan to support Member States on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research Challenge
The Council conclusions of 17 June 2016 on AMR call for a reinforced EU strategy against AMR and a new and comprehensive EU Action Plan (AP) on AMR based on the One - Health approach. The current Action Plan has been subject to an evaluation, which showed that the EU can bring added value in…
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REFIT Evaluation of the EU Legislation on Plant Protection Products and Pesticides Residues
The general objective of this Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) evaluation is to perform an evidence-based assessment of the implementation of the legislation on plant protection products and pesticides residues. The results of the evaluation will be the basis on which the Commission will draft the report to the European Parliament and the Council on…
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Initiative to limit industrial trans fats intakes in the EU
The main policy objectives of a possible regulation are: 1) to ensure a high level of health protection for EU consumers; 2) to contribute to reducing health inequalities, one the objectives of Europe 2020; 3) To contribute to the effective functioning of the Internal Market for foods that could contain industrial trans fats. Possible proposal…
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Calls for Funding and Awards

EuCHeMS Events

Other Events

Latest issue of EuCheMS Newsletter

Read it here! Some of the highlights are:

  • ECC6 in Seville
  • EuCheMS General Assembly
  • EuCheMS-American Chemical Society MoU
  • Seville Declaration on Chemical Weapons

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Season's Greetings

Thank you chemists and friends of chemistry for all your support! We wish you an amazing 2017, full of chemistry!
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ECC7

ECC7 - Liverpool, UK
(and congratulations to Lisbon, the city chosen to receive the 2020 EuCheMS Chemistry Congress)
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EuCheMS aisbl - Rue du Trône 62, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; www.euchems.eu. Produced for EuCheMS by Nineta Hrastelj Majcen, Bruno Vilela and Marta Kucza. This newsletter has been carefully prepared and only contains correct information to the best of EuCheMS´ knowledge, however this does not exclude the possibility of existence of incorrect information. EuCheMS cannot be liable for the use or misuse of any information, whether correct or incorrect, present at this newsletter. Intellectual property belongs to its rightful owners, always explicitly traceable on each article. Compilation Copyright © 2016 EuCheMS