News from Efca (Efca Bulletin 2009/3 of July 2009)

On its Internet site Efca (European Federation of Engineering Consultancy Associations) has published the 2009/3 number of its Bulletin containing information about Federation's activities and relavant European Union news interesting for consulting engineering companies.

Efca documentation on the following topics is available at http://www.efcanet.org/menuBoven/Publications/EFCA_Bulletin.aspx

Summary:

- CEN/TC 395 makes start with standard terminology
- Full agenda for 2009 General Assembly meeting
- Commissioners welcome EFCA members useful and valuable feedback
- EFCA pro-actively addresses generic issues related to the procurement of design services
- EFCA 2009 conference looks at two horizontal challenges
- EFCA agenda

GLOBAL CRISIS: EUROPE'S RESPONSE
- European Energy Programme for Recovery
- Easier and faster access to grants co-financed by Structural Funds
- European Investment Bank steps up its antcrisis measures
- Commission strategy to tackle the social impacts of the crisis
- Economic recovery at the heart of preliminary draft 2010 budget

EU FUNDS & PROGRAMMES
- 80 flagship projects for Baltic Sea Region identified
- Implementation of Baltic Energy Market
- Interconnection Plan launched
- 10 million euro aid package for Belarus
- EU launches partnership with its eastern neighbours
- European Commission unfroze 115 million euro under the ISPA Programme for Bulgaria
- LIFE+ 2009 call for proposals

INTERNAL MARKET
- Public procurement infringement proceedings against three member states
- European Court of Justice judgment on ‘inhouse' and ‘inter-municipal cooperative

MISCELLANEOUS
- Ombudsman criticises unilateral and unfair decision of Evaluation Committee
- BUILD UP: tool for sharing information on reducing energy use of buildings
- Common map of European and African transport infrastructures on drawing board
- Long-term work on common frame of reference for European contract law

(cp)