Eurydice has just released its latest publication “Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe: Academic Staff – 2017”. This report explores the current realities for academic staff within the changing higher education landscape in Europe. It focuses on the qualification requirements for academic staff, the recruitment process, employment and working conditions in academia, the impact of external quality assurance, and top-level strategies for internationalisation. It also includes national diagrams showing key characteristics of academic staff categories. The report is based mainly on qualitative data gathered by the Eurydice Network, covering higher education systems in 35 countries.

Source: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/

The annual European Union emission inventory report 1990-2015 under the The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) shows that NH₃ emissions fell by 23 % between 1990 and 2015, but increased in the EU-28 between 2014 and 2015 by 1.8 %. The other main pollutants covered by the LRTAP Convention have dropped considerably since 1990, including the three air pollutants primarily responsible for the formation of ground-level ozone (O₃). Carbon monoxide (CO), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x) were reduced by 68%, 61 % and 56 % respectively. Around 94 % of ammonia emissions in Europe stem from agriculture, mainly from activities such as manure storage, slurry spreading and the use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers. Ammonia contributes to eutrophication — an oversupply of nitrogen — and acidification of ecosystems. It also forms particulate matter in the atmosphere which has adverse effects on human health.

Source: https://www.eea.europa.eu/

The European Parliament has recently published the outcomes of the workshop EU Action to Combat Marine Litter. This report summarises four presentations by experts and discussions which took place at this workshop held on 3 May 2017 in the European Parliament. The aim was to provide background information to the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee ’s Members and contribute to their understanding of the need to tackle marine litter and the challenges involved, with the Circular Economy Action Plan and Plastics Strategy being recognised as policy windows in addressing this form of pollution.

Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/

As early as December 2017, researchers will be able to use the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) research facilities located in Ispra (Italy), and thereafter in Geel (Belgium), Karlsruhe (Germany) and Petten (Netherlands), thus helping to maximise the benefits of these world-class infrastructures and laboratories. Past successful cooperation with universities, research institutes and SMEs has shown that there is big interest in using JRC facilities. With this initiative, the JRC aims to spread scientific knowledge, boost competitiveness and help to bridge the gap between research and industry. The results will also feed into JRC’s mission to support EU policymaking. The calls for access to the first three laboratories are available on the dedicated portal.

Source: https://ec.europa.eu/

Member States´ representatives voted in favour of European Commission’s proposal to reduce the presence of acrylamide in food. Once implemented, the new regulation will require that food business operators (FBOs) apply mandatory measures to reduce the presence of acrylamide, proportionate to the size and nature of their establishment.
The agreed text will now be sent to the Council and the European Parliament. The entry into force could be foreseen spring 2018. The Commission is also planning to initiate discussions on additional measures, such as setting maximum levels of acrylamide in certain foods without delay once this Regulation is adopted. Acrylamide is a carcinogenic substance that forms from naturally present free asparagine (amino-acid) and sugars during high temperature processing, such as frying, roasting and baking, particularly in potato-based products, cereal-based products, coffee and coffee substitutes. EuCheMS has submitted input to the European Commission on this topic.

Source: http://europa.eu/

The conclusions of the workshop Glyphosate: Harmless Tool or Sneaky Poison? are now available online. Among other, the conclusions call for more research regarding maximum daily intake of glyphosate, to develop standard methods for reliable measurements, or to increase transparency through the funding of dossiers submitted to ECHA/EFSA. The conclusions and other materials from this event can be found online at http://www.euchems.eu/?p=8910. This workshop was co-organised by MEP Pavel Poc, EuCheMS and the ECTN earlier this year at the European Parliament.

Source: http://www.euchems.eu/glyphosate-workshop-conclusions/