DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)168187
Eric Sutter (Bureau Van Dijk, Paris, France)
Parliamentary work involves, briefly, tasks of research and consultation of documents, exchange of information and production of texts and decision-making. The implementation of new information and communication technologies can facilitate the achievement of some of these tasks and make the work of members of parliament more efficient. The European Parliament already offers members and officials a whole range of computerised tools, but further progress could be made to satisfy to a greater extent the expectations and to benefit from the possibilities offered by the most up-to-date technologies. On the basis of examples from other parliaments, suggestions are made to facilitate work within the European Parliament. Following a survey conducted among MEPs, to find out their expectations, and among the most modern national or regional parliaments, a certain number of examples, some of which are described in the form of case studies, are put forward together with suggestions for improving the internal provisions of the European Parliament. In particular a recommendation is made for development of the concept of the electronic office, greater integration of current applications and improved ‘ergonomics’ for consultation purposes and the use of electronic signature technologies.
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167956
Eric Sutter (Bureau Van Dijk, Paris, France)
Parliamentary work involves, briefly, tasks of research and consultation of documents, exchange of information and production of texts and decision-making. The implementation of new information and communication technologies can facilitate the achievement of some of these tasks and make the work of members of parliament more efficient. The European Parliament already offers members and officials a whole range of computerised tools, but further progress could be made to satisfy to a greater extent the expectations and to benefit from the possibilities offered by the most up-to-date technologies. On the basis of examples from other parliaments, suggestions are made to facilitate work within the European Parliament. Following a survey conducted among MEPs, to find out their expectations, and among the most modern national or regional parliaments, a certain number of examples, some of which are described in the form of case studies, are put forward together with suggestions for improving the internal provisions of the European Parliament. In particular a recommendation is made for development of the concept of the electronic office, greater integration of current applications and improved ‘ergonomics’ for consultation purposes and the use of electronic signature technologies.
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167955
Ruth Chadwidk, Adam Hedgecoe, Lars Isaksen and Louise Sarch (Centre for Professional Ethics, University of Central Lancashire, UK)
The aim of this study has been to conduct research to establish the ethical issues and concerns that are currently considered significant by researchers within the European Union and to map the European research effort to see what expertise is being applied, in which countries and by whom. In accordance with the call for tenders, the CPE has sought to conduct this research using a ‘bottom up’ approach surveying the opinion of experts and individuals interested in this field through a series of questionnaires.
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167954
Jean-Pierre Husson and Philippe de Montgolfier (Essor Europe, Paris, France)
The nuclear Energy Amplifier (EA) proposed in 1993 by Professor Carlo Rubbia, Nobel prize, is an original hybrid nuclear reactor made of a fast subcritical nuclear reactor driven by a high energetic and intense proton accelerator which could be at the same time basically a safe electricity producer and could also bum almost completely its own nuclear waste as well as other reactors ones. It found a number of echoes in Europe, in particular in Spain, Italy and France, as well as in the European Commission, in the European Parliament and in the World. The whole technology of the EA includes several components which are separately well mastered by the nuclear energy industry and the nuclear research community but with a number of innovative improvements which may present implementation and reliability difficulties. Many technological options are still open, and there is a need for more R&D.; Experts largely agree that the EA could not produce electricity at a competitive price, and that the EA technology should not be aimed mainly to electricity production. EA could be an option for buming Actinides and other nuclear fission products, electricity being an interesting by-product of the reactor. In Europe, Italy, France and Spain have taken a first tripartite- initiative and are open to larger cooperation. Should Europe invest in this domain, and how? Should a research demonstrator be launched in short or medium term? This report addresses these points and propose orientation options to the European Parliament.
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167884
MegaPesca Lda (Alfeirizerao, Portugal)
This study, undertaken by Megapesca Lda. of Portugal, on behalf of Science and Technology Options Assessment of the European Parliament, defines the extent and nature of the problem caused by discarding in EU fisheries, and analyses the key issues involved. Discarding is shown to be mainly a problem in the North Sea and Atlantic fisheries, most commonly involving demersal trawl fishing, especially for flatfish and crustacea. Most discards are caused by economic and legal constraints on fish landings. The main impact of discarding is direct and future losses of fish of commercial value, although indirect impacts are on the ecology of non-commercial species, the marine food-web and loss of fisheries mortality data. Because of their impacts, the issue of discards has received considerable research and policy support. Although no specific EU policy operates on discards, a range of conservation measures aimed at discard reduction are implemented. The discard policy framework in Norway was investigated. This is based on progressive introduction of discard reduction measures, followed by a general discard ban. Due to significant structural differences such a policy is not considered to be an option at present for the EU, although selective discard bans may have a role in some fisheries in the longer term. Other EU policy options are also considered, including mitigation of minimum landing sizes, flexible closed areas, use of multi-annual and multi-species quotas, technical gear controls and gear bans. For each policy option, the advantages and disadvantages are explored, and the pre-conditions outlined. Suggestions are made as to how specific EU fisheries with discard problems might benefit from the options presented.
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167965
Mariagrazia Forcella (Bergamo, Italy)
Cultural identity has always been a continuous process where the cultures have been changed due to the influence of several factors, including technological changes. Within the information society, the European cultural diversity is going to face severe upheavals. The final impact is controversial. On one side the new technologies themselves can be a mean for the difision, valorization and safeguard of minority cultures, on the other there is a serious risk of a possible standardization of the cultures due to commercial reasons. The information society can be considered both as a community or a market place. If the latter aspect will prevail and the majority of the services will be offered by large multinationals, interested in reaching scale economies, the risk of cultural standardization is evident. If, due to interactivity, the participating cultural model where the users have an active role, will prevail, the offer will be more personalized and the impact on cultural diversity will be positive. The fact the new media will be not mass-media offers better opportunities to minority cultures to express themselves in an information arena tailored by the users, outside centralized control. The de-localization promoted by the new media can constitute a push both to globalism (i.e. the reformulation of cultures outside their original context with the risk of loss of traditions and ways of living) and to "tribalism" (i.e. the identification only with a local community, without recognition of larger levels). Nevertheless, cohesion and safeguard of local cultures, traditionally regarded as diverging objectives, can be conciliated within the information society. The dematerilaIïzation of the cultures makes the offer of information and communication explode anti will have a large positive impact on the difision and on the memorization of the information, anti therefore, of the cultural heritage. The new communities emerging within the information society may have
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167885
Nik Brown, Annemiek Nelis, Brian Rappert and Andrew Webster (Science and Technology Studies Unit - SATSU, Anglia, Polytechnic University, Cambridge, United Kingdom) ; J. B. van Ommen (Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands)
In recent years, new gene science has become probably the most information and automation intensive activity in modern research and clinical innovation. In particular, gene sequence and functional analysis is now fundamentally dependent upon the global production, circulation and consumption of huge amounts of data. The exchanges between computational and biological sciences are both far reaching and reciprocal. On the one hand, masses of genetic information are being translated from their ‘wet platform’ onto the ‘dry platforms’ of silicon based databases. On the other hand, silicon is now becoming the basis for conducting ‘wet’ biological and chemical research using genechips and labchips. However, the interfaces between life science research, clinical innovation and computational science are fraught with problems for policy makers. For example, with what consequences does genetic data become property; how is data-access controlled and distributed; who will benefit and who will be excluded from potential dividends; how will Europe’s life sciences adapt to the rising access costs to modern biological innovation; how might it be possible to create seamless integration across Europe’s bioinformatic resources; what are the difficulties in bringing biological and computational skills together in innovative combinations; how will the Parliament prepare for new therapeutic and diagnostic innovations; how will quality and safety be maintained? All of these questions are addressed in this report beginning with a brief introduction to new developments in bioinformatics and the key actors involved. Section Two discusses some of the main technical, organisational and market barriers which inhibit actors from fully exploiting opportunities in the area. Section Three offers an assessment of the likely impact of bioinformatic-related technologies on healthcare. These impacts are then discussed in the context of nonclinical sectors like financial and forensic s
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167795
Luciano d'Andrea (Cerfe, Rome, Italy)
The research on "Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Technology and Development. An assessment of the potential contribution of SMEs to the diffusion of technology in less developed countries and of options for action by the European Union to promote this context of development and cooperation policies", carried out by the CERFE, was aimed at providing the means for evaluating EU programs in support of SMEs in developing countries and to provide an analysis of options for future EU policies i n the field of technological development. The Final Report, divided into 7 chaptcrs, providcs a description of the main EU instruments and programmes i n support to SMEs in Third countries (CDI, ACP-EU Industrial and Business Fora, ECIP, AL-Invest, ASIA-Invest, MEDA); then, it analyses somc trends affecting SMEs, mainly with regards to technology transfer. Some useful elements for evaluating EU programs, as they came from the interviews carried out, are then considered. Four main strategic key points requiring further analysis (lack of a unified strategy for programs in support of SMEs; risk of political and bureaucratic self-referencing; lack of control oller the "micro" dimension; problems in the relations with European partners) as well as some problems concerning programmes' quality (timeframes, administrative procedures, quality of local intermediaires; sevices provided; etc.) are analysed and discussed. Moreover, four main strong points (programmes' capacity in developing networks and partnerships; integration at the regional level; dynamis; progrmmes' catalyst effects) are presented. The last part of the document sets out recommendations and provides some options for improving EU interventions in support of SMEs in Third countries. Four main issues are considered: support to a unified EU policy on SMEs and technology transfer; improvement of the quality of programmes; integration of the intervention at various level; improvement of the loyalty of European business.
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167794
Gerard Valenduc (Fondation Travail, University of Namur, Belgium) in association with Andrew Gillespie (Curds, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK)
This report is concerned with the relationship between emerging patterns of “atypical” work and the increasingly pervasive information and communication technologies (ICTs). By atypical work we means forms of work which appear to be increasing in response to the new ways in which societies are organising economic production, but which as yet still affect only a minority of Europe’s workers. The report considers several forms of atypical work, using the organising concepts of work time, employment contracts, work location, and, job detachment. It provides a number of concrete examples some of these practices are linked to the growth of ICTs. The report suggests that technology is only one of the drivers leading towards new work patterns. Others include globalisation, increased competition, feminisation of the workforce, change in consumer attitudes and lifestyles. Within this context ICTs facilitate change, but they do not predetermine outcomes. The report draws a number of sources to suggest that new forms of work are, indeed, becoming more important. For example, most new employment in the European Union in the 1990s was part-time and/or temporary and this trend accelerated in the second half of the decade. The report presents five key findings. First, work forms are likely to become increasingly diverse over the next few years and a “core-periphery” workforce may be emerging. Second, existing labour regulations will become increasingly ineffective for combining worker protection and economic efficiency if current trends towards diversity continue. Third, in these circumstances, new mechanisms will be required to ensure that slulls are portable, and that they can be upgraded on a continuous basis. This cannot be left to the individual worker alone, and a range of ‘stakeholders’ will need to accept responsibility for this process. Fourth, the “welfare state” (here we also include private sector providers of loans, insurance health etc.) will
DG-4-JOIN_ET(1999)167699
Loucas Gourtzoyannis and Nikos Maroulis (Logotech, Athens, Greece)
The objective of the present study is the improvement of the planning system, the selection of projects and the assesment of the impacts of regional programmes, and particularly concerns the re-definitions of the sets of indicators in use, in order to ensure: - that intervnations funded by Stractural Funds are in line with the main EU policies end espesialy those on; and - better exploitation of the opportunities and to confront more effectivily with the threats of technology. Technological content of regional interventions and their links with EU policies on suatainable development and environmnet, employment and equal opportunities were analysed based on a number of regional programmes. The analysis resulted in a taxonomy of actions with technological content which formulate the basis for the clasification of indicators. Further the impact of technology on sustainable development, employment and equal opportunities was analysed and sets of baseline and technology impact indicators were developed. Finally a methodology framework was developed which allows EU policies on sustainable development and quality of the environment, employment and promotion of equal opportunities to be taken into consideration during planning and evaluation of interventions and selection of projects. The framework also allows the assessment of the use of technology to be introduced as an integrate part of impact evaluation and project selection.
