Joint Research Centre (JRC) Annual Report 2012

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EUR 25267 EN

JointResearchCentre

JointResearch

CentreThe European Commissions

in-house science service

AnnualReport

2012


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On Friday 16 March 2012, the JRC and the EuropeanCommissioner or Research, Innovation and Science,

Mire Geoghegan-Quinn welcomed Jos Manuel

Barroso, President o the European Commission, to

JRCs Ispra site.

The visit was an opportunity to showcase the breadth

o JRCs scientic support to EU policy. President

Barroso visited the spectacular European Laboratory

or Structural Assessment (ELSA), the largest o

its kind in Europe, which is used to test the

earthquake resistance o buildings and can test

structures as high as a ve-storey building.

Another highlight was the visit to the Vehicle Emis-

sions Laboratory (VELA), capable o measuring

emissions rom all types and sizes o vehicles, which

is now also working on electric vehicles. JRC scien-

tists also presented their work in the areas o ood

security and natural resources, photovoltaics, nano-

technology and nuclear security.

The President inaugurated the new European Crisis

Management Laboratory (ECML), which supports

the EUs interventions in areas struck by disaster

around the globe. The new acility, equipped withstate-o-the-art inormation technologies, provides

a dynamic situational awareness or crisis and

disaster preparedness and response on any location

or event in the world.

Speaking to JRC staf, the President stressed the

important role o the JRC as a bridge between policy

making, science, society and economy, thanks to its

close relations between so many bodies and organi-

sations inside and outside Europe, and its relevant,

high quality research.

When policy meets science

Hands-on testing at the JRCs Vehicle Emissions

Laboratory (VELA).

Addressing JRC staff at Ispra.

Elke Anklam, Director of the JRCs Institute for Health and Consumer

Protection, explains some of the research carried out in the area of

nanotechnology.

From the le: David Wilkinson, Stephan Lechner, Laurence de Richemont,

Thomas Fanghnel, Dominique Ristori, John Bensted-Smith, Jos Manuel

Barroso, Leen Hordijk, Mire Geoghegan-Quinn, Dan Chirondojan, John

Bell, Jean-Pierre Michel, Giovanni De Santi, Pieter Van Nes, Elke Anklam,

Guido Schmuck, Krzysztof Maruszewski, Axel Nevens, Anne-Charlotte

Bournoville.

President Barrososvisit to Ispra


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Visiting the JRCs European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA).

Giovanni De Santi, Director of the JRCs Institute for Energy

and Transport, explains the link between renewable energies

and e-mobility.

Speaking to the press. Congratulations for the tremen-

dous and exciting work being

done in the laboratories in Ispra!I am impressed by all that I

saw during my visit and I can

only encourage you to continue

on the same path. I want to

express my full support to the

JRC work and to the contribution

you are all making on growth

strategy for the European Union.

Thank you, J. M. Barroso.

Inaugurating the European Crisis Management Laboratory.


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Foreword by Mire Geoghegan-Quinn

Foreword by Dominique Ristori

Observations rom the Board o Governors

Growth, jobs and Innovation Union Eco-industries for a sustainable future

Uniform standards for the construction sector Measuring investment and innovation Innovation: Connecting European science and business

Energy and transport or a low-carbon society Shale gas opportunities and risks for Europe Towards a strategic transport system Making the transition to a low-carbon economy Improving the rening industry

Environment and climate change Water resources management Measuring sulphur dioxide emissions from ships in harbours Tackling near-term climate change in the Arctic Best available techniques for iron, steel and glass Scientic support to the Danube Strategy

Financial stability Towards a stronger and more stable nancial system Scientic support for nancial stability GAP and QUEST: Modelling essential macro-economic variables SYMBOL: Providing insight into the dynamics of the banking sector


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p. 14-15 Agriculture and ood security Researching food markets, prices and food security A global reference for the socio-economic assessment of GM crops Biofuels and the indirect eects of changing land use Extreme weather aects EU 2012 cereal yields

p. 2

p. 3

p. 4-5

p. 8-9

p. 10-11

p. 12-13

p. 16-17 Public health and consumer protection Nanomaterials characterisation and safety New role in cancer policy support First certied reference material to monitor leukaemia Inorganic arsenic in animal feed: a new reference method

p. 18-19 Saety and security Timely information on drought, res and floods

The ght against piracy o African coasts Nuclear decommissioning initiative 20 years of nuclear forensics MELISSA used to monitor movements of Costa Concordia

p. 20-21 A science partner with a strategic global reach

p. 22-23 Facts and fgures

p. 24-25 An eventul year

p. 26-27 JRC Board o Governors

Table o contents

p. 6-7


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J R C A n n u a l R e p o r t 2 0 1 2

Looking back on 2012, and at the sheer magnitudeo the challenges that Europe has aced, I amproud o the determination and resourceulnessshown by the Commission to enhance stability andcreate a climate or growth and creation o new

jobs. Together with stakeholders and partners, wehave taken great strides towards realising the EUs

innovation potential and developing workable yetvisionary structures to und science and research inthe EU over the next seven years.

Horizon 2020, the proposed EU programme orresearch unding or the period 2014-2020 andInnovation Union are key to ensuring that our cities,regions and Europe as a whole become powerhouseso research and innovation.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC), as the Commissionsin-house science service, has a key role to play in

this endeavour and I am pleased with the increasedocus the JRC has put on supporting innovation-related issues, rom its dedicated unit on InnovationUnion, through to cross-cutting topics such as eco-industries.

At the time o writing, the ongoing negotiationson the size o the EU research budget are closelyollowed by the science community, as it is clearthat this has profound implications for the extentto which Horizon 2020 will be able to meet its aims;to promote excellent, curiosity-driven research,

create industrial leadership and address todayschallenges across disciplines and research elds.Now, more than ever, it is crucial to emphasisethe central place o science in European society, atthe heart o Europes economy. Scientic researchneeds to demonstrate its relevance and quality,

its contribution to innovation and growth and itspotential to address societal challenges such asclimate change, ood and energy security and anageing population.

I am proud o the JRCs achievements over the lastyear. Needless to say, it was a particular pleasure or

me to welcome President Barroso to JRCs Ispra site,where so much of this exciting work is being done.The inauguration o the European Crisis ManagementLaboratory was a highlight o this visit. I can alsoconrm that the JRCs vital contribution to globalcrisis management is appreciated by our internationalpartners, as witnessed in the high level meeting withsenior scientic advisers o the Carnegie Group countries,the World Bank, the UN and other major partnerswhich I had the pleasure o hosting in Brussels on6 December 2012.

As the Commissions in-house science service, theJRC has truly demonstrated its relevance as thetrusted provider o unbiased scientic and technicalsupport to policy, with an impressive capacity torapidly mobilise the necessary resources to dealwith emerging topics. It has amply demonstratedits quality, not least as a scientic and technicalreerence centre maintaining the highest analyticaland technical standards and overseeing thevalidity o methods that ensure EU legislation isconsistently applied. An example of this is the JRCscutting edge capacity in nuclear orensics, whichew research institutes can rival, as I was able to

see rst hand during my visit to the JRCs Instituteor Transuranium Elements in Karlsruhe.

Through its strong scientic and technical exper-tise and impressive networking capacity, the JRCcontinuously contributes to innovation as a leadingpartner in standardisation eforts. It helps to buildthe predictable ramework in which innovation canthrive and new technologies gain acceptance, whichin 2012 was very evident in JRCs work on nanoma-terials, and its eforts to urther interoperability oelectric vehicles and smart grids.

Written to give a short glimpse of the JRCswidespread and rich scientic activities, the AnnualReport is in itsel a strong argument or the centralrole o science in dealing with todays societalchallenges.

Foreword by Mire Geoghegan-QuinnEuropean Commissioner or Research, Innovation and Science

Commissioner

Mire Geoghegan-Quinn

during her visit to the JRCs

Institute for Transuranium

Elements.


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F o r e w o r d

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Foreword by Dominique RistoriJRC Director-GeneralIn March, the Commissioner and I had the honouro welcoming President Barroso to the JRC site inIspra. The occasion marked the inauguration o thenew European Crisis Management Laboratory bythe President in addition to presenting examples ofJRCs scientic excellence in providing vital supportto the EU policy process.

As the only Commission service carrying out directresearch, the JRC plays a crucial role in providingevidence-based scientic and technical advice orEuropean policy makers. This includes support tothe Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), internalmarket or growth, jobs and innovation, agricultureand global ood security, the low-carbon economyand resource effi ciency (environment, climatechange, energy, transport), public health, saetyand security and nuclear saety and security. Inaddition, three new scientic units were created in

2012, supporting the Innovation Union, nancialanalysis and a team addressing water resources.

Bringing together stakeholders rom across thepolicy arena, the JRC launched several initiatives todiscuss the role o science in tackling key politicalchallenges. This included Scientic support orgrowth, jobs and sustainability: the example ofeco-industries in May, Mapping scientic needsin the Arctic and Northern Areas in October, andScientic support to nancial stability which waslaunched via a high-level roundtable in November.

I have always emphasised the importance o strongnetworks and cooperation. I am glad to say thatthis last year has seen increased collaboration withall relevant stakeholders, including Commissionservices, EU Member States and their organisationsas well as industry. For example, the JRC andthe European Council o Academies o AppliedSciences, Technologies and Engineering (Euro-CASE) signed an agreement to develop closer linksbetween the EU national academies and the EUspolicy-making process. The JRC also launched itsScientic Support to the Danube Strategy, involving

the National Academies o Science o relatedcountries.

Stronger ties were developed in the internationalarena. For example, at the request of CommissionerGeoghegan-Quinn, the JRC organised a high-level

meeting to discuss the benets o internationalcooperation to address disaster anticipation andresilience, with the participation o the CarnegieGroup countries (G8+5), the World Bank andthe United Nations. A joint exhibition was alsoorganised with the Brazilian National Centre orMonitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters

(CEMADEN) at the Rio +20 conference. In addition Iam happy to highlight the cooperation arrangementsigned with Israels Ministry for Energy and Water.Such international collaboration is crucial to ostersynergy in the wake o grand societal challengesaced not only by Europe but by the entire world.

This report highlights some o the importantachievements o the JRC in 2012; this is, however,only a glimpse o the breadth o work carried out.All o these eforts would not be possible without

the dedicated work o the highly skilled andmotivated JRC staf. I thereore wish to take thisopportunity to thank them for their excellent work.I am condent that in 2013 the JRC will continueto play a pivotal role in providing technical andscientic support and advice to EU policy.

The JRCs Director-General Dominique Ristori with the

President of the European Commission Jos Manuel Barroso.


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In 2012, the Board o Governors, whose membersare nominated by the Member States and AssociatedCountries, continued to provide advice to the JRCon questions related to strategic management andto endorse, when appropriate, the JRCs scienticactivities. The Board met in March, June andNovember to discuss issues such as the role o

JRC in Horizon 2020, the development o the 2013Work Programme and the JRCs contributions tothe European stress tests o nuclear power plants,the eco-industries and the Danube Strategy.

The Board strongly supported the proactiveapproach of the Director-General, Mr DominiqueRistori, to place the JRC and science-based evidenceat the heart o the decision-making process withinthe Commission.

In reflecting on the key role of research infrastruc-

tures or state-o-the-art science and science-based policy support, the Board welcomed the JRCinitiative o hosting one o the meetings o theEuropean Strategy Forum on Research Inrastruc-tures (ESFRI) in Ispra and supports uture activitiesof the JRC in that context.

2012 was a critical year in terms o the budgetarynegotiations in relation to Horizon 2020 and theMulti-annual Financial Framework. In this context,the Board worked actively on the issues arising orthe JRC in the emerging proposal or Horizon 2020.The Board recognises the specicity o the JRCsrole as the only Commission service carrying out

direct research. The Board maintained its opinionthat continued investment in JRC inrastructureis o great importance to maintain the qualityo its work.

In strategic terms, the Board advised the JRC onthe current EU priority needs or scientic support,taking into account the Europe 2020 strategy andthe mid-term review o FP7 o the JRC, acting asa two-way conduit between the JRC and MemberStates and Associated Countries, and helping tobetter reflect Member State priorities in the JRC

work programme 2013.

The Board welcomed the progress made by the JRCModelling Task Force, in support o the Commissionspolicy priorities. The Board encourages the JRC togo urther in the development o its modellingcapacity and its involvement in impact assessment,as both activities raise the prole and importanceo the organisation.

Observations romthe Board o Governors

The Board of Governors at a demonstration of global environmental issues using

the JRCs interactive globe in Ispra, November 2012.

Marc Steen, Head of Unit for Cleaner Energy, showing the Techno Hall in

Petten to members of the Board of Governors.


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O b s e r v a t i o n s b y t h e B o a r d o G o v e r n o r s

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The Board acknowledged the analysis o the JRCsNational Contact Points (NCPs) Network, whichrecommended to maintain the NCP network and toidentiy urther improvements in view o Horizon2020. The Board expressed the need to motivatethe NCP network in promoting the JRC.

The Board endorses the priority areas identiedby the JRC or the rst years o implementationo Horizon 2020 and noted with pleasure thatcooperation with Member States and other keyactors will be reinorced. The Board wishes tocongratulate the JRC Director-General, DominiqueRistori, or improving the JRCs visibility through themany high-level initiatives undertaken throughoutthe year, from work on the Danube Strategy tocooperation with European Science Academies.The Director-General also launched the EuropeanForum or Science and Industry which has the role

to increase the interaction between the JRC and thereal economy, as demonstrated by the importantinitiatives carried out during 2012.

The Board welcomes the appointments o Vladimirucha, Deputy Director-General, Maria Betti,Director of IES, Elke Anklam as the IRMM Directorand Krzysztof Maruszewski as the IHCP Directoras rom 1 January 2013 and wishes them successin their new positions, and on the occasion o hisretirement thanks Leen Hordjk, Principal Adviser to

the JRC Director-General, for his work.

The Board endorses the present annual report andexpresses its acknowledgement of the eorts ofJRC management and staf in contributing to therepositioning o the JRC.

From lest to right:

1st row: Annette Borchsenius, Jos Po Beltrn,Maria Betti, Ioan Dumitrache, Killian Halpin,Dominique Ristori, Hseyin Gler, Pierre Decker,Ulla Engelmann, Walter Mnig, David Wilkinson.

2nd row: Marta Cimbkov, Bogdan Van Doninck,Bruno Moor, Frank Heeb, Karel Aim, Shlomo Wald,Viktor Nedovi, Arjan Xhelaj, Daniel Weselka,Tadeusz Luty, Vladimir ucha.

3rd row: Toivo Rim, Andrejs Sili,Gheorge Duca, Atanas Kocov,Hallgrimur Jonasson, Giedrius Vilinas,Vassilios Tsakalos, Jan Nieuwenhuis,Paolo Pereira, Paolo Venditti.


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Financial stabilityThe global financial crisis, which started in 2008,and the subsequent sovereign debt crisis in Europe,exposed the weaknesses of the global financialsystems. They had a strong adverse impact onEU financial markets, notably in the Eurozone.Consequently, studying the relationship betweenfinancial stability and financial integration has

become a high priority on the research agendas ofcentral banks and academia in the EU. The financialcrisis has shown clearly that financial distress intodays globally integrated financial markets canspread very quickly from one institution to anotheror from one financial system to another.

With its modelling and scientific expertise theJRC provides input in the Commissions efforts toachieve a strong and stable financial system forthe EU.

Scientifc supportor fnancial stability

The JRC launched an initiative to stimulate dialogueand oster cooperation between the scienticand policy making community working on nancialstability issues with a roundtable in November, withthe support o the College o Europe.

The initiative brought together high-rankingnancial experts, researchers, EU policy makersand representatives rom the European Central

Bank, European Investment Bank, the EuropeanBanking Authority, the Bank or InternationalSettlements and the International Organisation oSecurities Commissions. European Commissioneror Internal Market and Services Michel Barnieremphasised the crucial role o scientic inputs orpolicymaking

The discussions identied three main areaswhere science needs to play a key role: preventiveand monitoring measures, implementation o theproposed Banking Union and ex-ante assessmento initiatives ollowing the Liikanen group recom-

mendations to reorm the structure o the EUbanking sector.

Experts participating in the roundtable emphasisedthe challenges o providing scientic support tonancial stability: they pointed out that modellinghuman emotions and behaviour is a key challengesince variables such as credibility, perceptions orexpectations are di cult to measure and assess.An interdisciplinary approach taking on boardsociology, psychology and political science shouldbe used to acilitate the overall evaluation. They

argued or the need or better planning o reormprocesses to give suffi cient t ime or scienticanalyses, and suggested that the proposed singlesupervisory mechanism could enhance the availa-bility o reliable data and harmonised denitionsand indicators across the EU.

From le to right: Professor Paul Demaret, Rector of the College of Europe; Dominique Ristori,

JRC Director-General; Michel Barnier, European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services;

Malcolm Harbour, Chairman of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection,

European Parliament.

C

olinBrough


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S c i e n t i i c H i g h l i g h t s

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GAP and QUEST:Modelling essentialmacro-economic variables

The EU Stability and Growth Pact is a rule-basedramework or the coordination o national scalpolicies in the Economic and Monetary Union(EMU). Following a request rom the CommissionsEconomic and Financial Aairs DG (DG ECFIN), theJRC has developed and maintains the estimationplatorm GAP which calculates output gap andpotential growth. These estimates are two keyelements or assessing the cyclically adjustedbudget balances o EU Member States andthereore or monitoring their adherence to theStability and Growth Pact.

In 2012, the JRC updated the GAP methodology by

including EC business surveys in the estimation othe Total Factor Productivity gap. This allows ormore precise estimates o the productivity cycle.The global macroeconomic model QUEST III,which is managed and developed jointly by DGECFIN and the JRC, is the main tool used ormacroeconomic policy analysis and research in theEuropean Commission. It is also used to study thecomposition of a countrys external nancial assetsand liabilities.

In 2012, QUEST III was used to illustrate possible

rebalancing scenarios in Spain. The simulationresults suggest that structural reorms o thelabour market can help sosten the negative short-term impact on growth and employment o therebalancing process.

SYMBOL: Providing insightinto the dynamicso the banking sector

The European Commission in 2012 proposedthe establishment o a Bank Recovery andResolution ramework to give policy makersa set o prevention, early intervention andresolution powers. It aims to ensure that, in thecase o bank ailure, essential unctions o a bankare preserved and that shareholders and creditors not tax-payers will bear the losses. This willallow authorities to address uture bank ailures ina rapid and efective manner.

The JRC evaluated the potential economic efects othe proposed measures by assessing the extent towhich they would reduce the probability o another

systemic crisis happening in the future, and inthe event of a crisis reduce the costs to be borneby the public. The evaluation o the impact o theresolution ramework was largely based on theSYMBOL (Systemic Model of Banking OriginatedLosses) model, developed in-house in cooperationwith the Commissions Internal Market andServices DG and academia. The JRC also assessedthe potential additional cost o implementing themeasures, leading to a nal estimate o the annualnet benets o the package o at least 0.76%of European GDP.

Simulation results of the SYMBOL model. Distribution of losses

(as a % of GDP) that exceed bank capital and might hit public

finances under various regulatory scenarios.

legend: CCB = Capital Conservation Buffer.Simulation results with QUEST (1) (2) (3)

(1) Baseline scenario: estimated model.

(2) With higher risk premium: stabilising NFL to 35% of GDP.

(3) With wage moderation: as scenario (2) plus reduction

in real wage growth by 6 pp annualised.

legend: NLF = Net Foreign Liabilities.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Read more:

The information contentof capacity utilization fordetrending total factor pro-ductivity. Planas C., Roeger W.,and Rossi A. (2013). Journalof Economic Dynamics andControl, Volume 37, Issue 3,pp. 577-590. DOI: 10.1016/j.jedc.2012.09.005

Quarterly report on the euroarea. Volume 11 N3 (2012)

EU framework for bank recov-ery and resolution proposal,COM(2012)0280
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/qr_euro_area/2012/pdf/qrea3_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/qr_euro_area/2012/pdf/qrea3_en.pdfhttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52012PC0280:EN:NOThttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52012PC0280:EN:NOThttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52012PC0280:EN:NOThttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52012PC0280:EN:NOThttp://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/qr_euro_area/2012/pdf/qrea3_en.pdfhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165188912001893


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Growth, jobs and Innovation UnionIn its efforts to generate smart, inclusive andsustainable growth and create new jobs, theEuropean Commission has put forward a seriesof proposals to unleash innovation, strengthen EUcompetitiveness and help bring ideas to market. In2012, the JRC used its strong networking capacityto connect science parks gathering science and

business actors with their counterparts acrossEurope and set up the European Science and IndustryForum. It set up the European Science and IndustryForum to strengthen dialogue and cooperation onthe science needs of industry in key sectors forEuropean competitiveness. This dovetailed with

JRCs initiatives to reinforce scientific support to eco-industry, nuclear decommissioning and oil refineries.

The JRC worked with its many partners to developEU-wide construction standards to enhance safetyand make it easier for construction companies

to work across borders. To monitor progress andhelp policy makers stay on target, the JRC trackedinnovation capabilities of businesses, countries andregions. It also highlighted the rapidly expandingrole of eco-industries for jobs and growth.

Eco-industriesor a sustainable uture

Eco-industries produce goods and services tomeasure, prevent, limit, minimise or correctenvironmental damage to water, air and soil, as well

as problems related to waste and eco-systems.

The Europe 2020 strategy or growth and jobsidenties environmental protection, the promotionand difusion o eco-innovations and environmentaltechnologies as important pillars o current anduture European policy and stresses their potentialor economic growth and employment.

The JRC launched an initiative on Scientic supportfor growth, jobs and sustainability: the exampleo eco-industries which emphasised the unique

role eco-industries can play in Europes economicrecovery and environmentally sustainable uture.The initiative was launched through a conerenceheld in Brussels in May, which sought to identiythe areas where new scientic support and newstandards will be needed.

Opened by Commissioner Mire Geoghegan-Quinn,and Hannes Swoboda, President o the Group othe Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Demo-crats at the European Parliament, the conerencewelcomed high-level speakers rom business,research organisations, governments and EU policymakers. They shared experiences from their elds

and discussed how scientic support can boostthe growth o eco-industries.

Uniorm standardsor the construction sector

Construction is a crucial sector or the Europeaneconomy, generating almost 10% of EU GDPand providing 20 million jobs. However, as aconsequence o the nancial and economic crisisand the housing bubble, building and inrastructurework ell by 16% between January 2008 and April2012 across the European Union.

On 31 July 2012 the European Commission pre-sented a strategy to boost the construction sector,

which among other things promotes the Eurocodes,a set o European standards or the design obuildings and other civil engineering works.

M

ontyRakusen/SciencePhotoLibrary

A 4-storey full scale model tested in the JRCs European Labora-

tory for Structural Assessment (ELSA) to study the effectiveness of

seismic retrofitting of reinforced concrete frames.

Read more:

Conference report Scientificsupport for growth, jobs andsustainability: the example ofeco-industries:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_2012_eco_industry_report_en.pdf


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13

In 2010, the Eurocodes replaced national standardsin the EU, ensuring more uniorm saety levels orbuildings and critical inrastructures. Over theyears, the JRC has contributed signicantly tothe development o the Eurocodes and in 2012supported their implementation, harmonisationand urther development. The JRC also monitorsthe use o Eurocodes in Member States bydeveloping and managing the database o theNational Determined Parameters, values related toregulatory saety matters determined at a nationallevel. It also organises training and supports thepromotion o Eurocodes outside the EU.

Measuring investmentand innovationThe JRCs 9th edition o the European Union Indus-

trial R&D Investment Scoreboard conrmed thatmajor EU-based rms continue their R&D eortsto maintain their competitive edge. Companiesincreased R&D investment by 8.9% in 2011, uprom 6.1% in 2010, an increase which is higherthan the global average.

The European Union has set a target combiningpublic and private research spending that shouldreach 3% of GDP by 2020. The increase inR&D investment by EU companies is a decisivecontribution towards growth and jobs.

The JRC contributed to the Regional InnovationScoreboard 2012, issued by the European Commis-sion in November, which provides a comparativeassessment o innovation perormance across 190regions o the European Union. The scoreboarddraws attention to diferences in innovation peror-mance between and within countries. Three coun-tries (Czech Republic, France and Portugal) haveat least one region in each o the 4 broadperormance groups (innovation leaders, innova-tion ollowers, moderate innovators and modestinnovators) while eleven countries, including Italy,

Germany, Spain and UK, span over three peror-mance groups. This diversity calls or regionalinnovation support programmes tailored to meetthe needs o individual regions.

The JRC also contributed to the conceptual andstatistical renement o the Global InnovationIndex 2012 (GII) issued jointly by INSEAD, aleading graduate international business school,and the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO). The GII provides global innovation scoresfor 141 countries and ranks six EU countries and

Switzerland among the top 10.

Connecting European scienceand business

Science parks are important links in the innovationchain which help to deliver science-driven innovationto the economy. In 2012, to oster connectivity atEuropean level between research and business,the JRC initiated cooperation with partners suchas Cambridge University, the Karlsruhe Instituteo Technology, the Technical University o Munich,the French science park Sophia Antipolis and theInternational Association o Science Parks andAreas o Innovation (IASP). In addition, thematicevents were organised by the JRC to bring togetherresearchers and businesses. These eforts willcontinue in 2013.

Following the request o Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn last year, the JRC launched the setting up o

the European Research and Innovation Observato-ry. This new service will produce data, policy inor-mation and analyses on research and innovationwith the aim o providing an evidence base to theEuropean Semester, including recommendationsto the Member States in the eld o research andinnovation, as well as to the Innovation Union flag-ship and the European Research Area (ERA).

Regional innovation performance.

Read more:Communication of 31 July2012 on the Strategy forthe sustainable competitive-ness of the constructionsector and its enterprises,COM(2012)0433

Eurocodes website: http://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/

The 2012 EU Industrial R&DInvestment Scoreboard: http://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/score-board12.html

Regional Innovation Score-

board 2012 Methodologyreport

Figure 3

INNOVATION LEADER MODERATE INNOVATOR

INNOVATION FOLLOWER MODEST INNOVATOR
http://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/document/COM20120433.dohttp://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/document/COM20120433.dohttp://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/document/COM20120433.dohttp://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/document/COM20120433.dohttp://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/document/COM20120433.dohttp://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/document/COM20120433.dohttp://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/scoreboard12.htmlhttp://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/scoreboard12.htmlhttp://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/scoreboard12.htmlhttp://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/scoreboard12.htmlhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/files/ris-2012-methodology-report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/files/ris-2012-methodology-report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/files/ris-2012-methodology-report_en.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/files/ris-2012-methodology-report_en.pdfhttp://iri.jrc.ec.europa.eu/scoreboard12.htmlhttp://eurocodes.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/document/COM20120433.do


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J

ohnNyhberg

Energy and transportor a low-carbon societyThe EU is a global leader in efforts to combatclimate change and develop new energy andtransport technologies that lower greenhouse gasemissions, cut energy consumption and optimisethe energy fuel mix. Having built up a solid capacityin energy research over many years, the JRC workswith the whole range of energy and transport

related challenges, from monitoring energy trendsand assessing upcoming technologies, to hands-on measurements of vehicles, buildings andequipment . In 2012, it provided valuable input to thedebate on shale gas extraction, and collaboratedwith industry partners to enhance the ability of oilrefineries to meet the specific needs of the market.It was deeply involved in the development of the EUStrategic Transport Technologies Plan.

Shale gas opportunities

and risks or EuropeIn the last decade, production o natural gas romshale took an important step orward, thanks totechnological developments allowing racturing othe rock and release o the gas trapped in smallpores and ssures. Commercial production on alarge scale has started in North America, wherethe US now gets some 25% o their gas rom shale.So far, there is no commercial shale gas extractionin Europe.

However, debate over the environmental and climateimpacts from shale gas extraction and productionis erce. Opinions are divided; some MemberStates have adopted policies clearly in support oshale gas production, whilst others have stoppedsuch activities. The European Parliament recentlypublished two drast reports on shale gas, calling or

its proper regulation. The European Commission in2012 launched an Impact Assessment to nd theadequate EU policy options. The JRC contributedto this debate by providing two studies, ocusingon the potential market impact o unconventionalgas in the EU, and the environmental and socialconsiderations related to shale gas development inthe EU.

In October 2012, the JRC organised an internationalworkshop on Environmental and socio-economicissues o unconventional energy in Europe at

its Ispra site. The workshop aimed to provide aplatform to exchange views and experiences onenvironmental and socio-economic aspects ounconventional energy sources in Europe.

Towards a strategictransport system

In September 2012, the European Commissionlaunched an initiative to coordinate and ocusEuropean research and innovation in transport. Theaim is to speed up the deployment o new transport

solutions to achieve a competitive, sustainable anduser-oriented European transport system.

This strategy contained the rst proposals orthe Strategic Transport Technologies Plan (STTP)ramework, and the JRC provided scientic supportby producing two reports together with expertsin the eld o transport; a scientic assessmento transport technologies, and a mapping o theinnovation capacities o the European transportsector.

Industry, public sector and other stakeholdersinvolved in bringing innovative transport technolo-gies and services to the market will be invited toparticipate in urther development and implemen-tation o this strategy.

Read more:

Unconventional gas: potentialmarket impacts in theEuropean Union. Pearson, I. etal. (2012). JRC Scientific andPolicy Reports, EUR 25305 EN

Shale gas for Europe mainenvironmental and socialconsiderations. Kavalov, B.,Pelletier, N. (2012). JRC Sci-entific and Technical Reports,EUR 25498 EN

European Parliament Reporton the environmental impactsof shale gas and shale oilextraction activities, 2012,A7-0283/2012

European Parliament Reporton industrial, energy andother aspects of shale gasand oil, 2012, A7-0284/2012

JRCs research on the market potential and the environmental

impacts of shale gas supports the Commissions efforts to develop

suitable regulation for the exploration of unconventional energy

sources.
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_report_2012_09_unconventional_gas.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_report_2012_09_unconventional_gas.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_report_2012_09_unconventional_gas.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_report_2012_09_unconventional_gas.pdfhttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_report_2012_09_unconventional_gas.pdfhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/shale-gas-for-europe-main-environmental-and-social-considerations-pbLBNA25498/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/shale-gas-for-europe-main-environmental-and-social-considerations-pbLBNA25498/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/shale-gas-for-europe-main-environmental-and-social-considerations-pbLBNA25498/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/shale-gas-for-europe-main-environmental-and-social-considerations-pbLBNA25498/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/shale-gas-for-europe-main-environmental-and-social-considerations-pbLBNA25498/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/shale-gas-for-europe-main-environmental-and-social-considerations-pbLBNA25498/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0283&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0283&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0283&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0283&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0283&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0284&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0284&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0284&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0284&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0284&language=ENhttp://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A7-2012-0283&language=ENhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/shale-gas-for-europe-main-environmental-and-social-considerations-pbLBNA25498/http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/downloads/jrc_report_2012_09_unconventional_gas.pdf


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The JRC will be involved in the development oroadmaps or the most critical transport areasidentied in the strategy, and will develop andcoordinate a new Transport Research and InnovationMonitoring and Inormation System (TRIMIS)or the implementation o the initiative, with thehelp of the experience gathered in the past throughthe Strategic Energy Technology InormationSystem (SETIS).

Making the transition

to a low-carbon economyOn 6 March 2012, the JRC and the CommissionsClimate Action DG jointly organised an event inCopenhagen under the auspices of the DanishPresidency o the Council o the European Union.

This initiative, Scientic support or the transitionto a low-carbon economy, provided a orum ordiscussions on how scientic advice can bestcontribute to robust policy rameworks in the ghtagainst climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy. The conerence was addressed

by Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner orClimate Action and Martin Lidegaard, Danish Minis-ter or Climate, Energy and Building, as well as thethe Directors-General of the JRC and Climate Actionand representatives from the Danish and Swedishgovernments and research organisations.

For politicians in the 21st Century it is absolutelycrucial to build public policies on a robust scienticoundation, acts and knowledge. And in order to beefective, climate policies need to have economy-wide implications, Connie Hedegaard explained.

Improving the refning industryOil accounts or about 40% o global energyconsumption and uels almost all transports. It willremain a key part of the global energy mix untilat least 2040. This highlights the importance odeveloping and improving the renery sector as itwill continue to play an important role in providingadequate supply corresponding to the energyneeds o the market.

Through its expertise in the assessment of Best

Available Techniques (BAT), the JRC provides animportant resource by developing BAT reerencedocuments (BREFs), such as a drast report publishedin March 2012 or the oil rening industry. TheJRC has created links between the renery sector,the policy making process and the scienticcommunity. In addition, it contributes to assessingand monitoring the impacts o actual and projecteddemand, supply and trade in petroleum products inthe EU as well as the EUs security o energy supply.

In October, in the ramework o the EuropeanForum or Science and Industry, a JRC initiativeon Scientic support to EU rening capacity, waslaunched via a high-level roundtable. The initiativebrought together high-ranking representativeso oil and gas companies, heads o industry

associations as well as representatives rom thescience community and the European Commissionin order to consider key challenges in an interactivediscussion and to identify where scientic expertiseand research should be targeted or the benet othe EU rening industry.

Scientific information underpins the strategy to develop a more com-

petitive, sustainable and user-oriented European transport system.

European Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard.

JRCs references of Best Available Techniques (BAT) for the oil

and energy sector provide underpinning information to European

policies on energy security.

M

arcoAnsaloni//SciencePhotoLibrary

15

Read more:

Scientific assessment ofstrategic transport technolo-gies. Dilara, P. et al. (2012).JRC Scientific and TechnicalReport, EUR 25211 EN

Mapping innovation in theEuropean transport sector.Wiesenthal, T. et al. (2011),JRC Scientific and TechnicalReport, EUR 24771 EN

SETIS website: http://setis.ec.europa.eu/
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26330/1/jrc68397%20online%20version.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26330/1/jrc68397%20online%20version.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26330/1/jrc68397%20online%20version.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26330/1/jrc68397%20online%20version.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26330/1/jrc68397%20online%20version.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26129/1/lfna24771enn.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26129/1/lfna24771enn.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26129/1/lfna24771enn.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26129/1/lfna24771enn.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26129/1/lfna24771enn.pdfhttp://setis.ec.europa.eu/http://setis.ec.europa.eu/http://setis.ec.europa.eu/http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26129/1/lfna24771enn.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26330/1/jrc68397%20online%20version.pdf


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Environment and climate changeClimate change, depletion of resources and pollu-tion are all pressing challenges that risk leading toextensive damage to the environment and impact-ing on our lifestyle. The JRC provides scientific andtechnical support for the efforts to protect humanhealth and the environment, in the EU and beyond,and to prevent and manage natural and man-made

disasters.

The JRCs achievements in 2012 includes its workto help safeguard Europes waters, measuring andlimiting air pollution and emission of greenhousegases, and developing best available techniques forindustrial production. It also supported the broaderEU efforts to achieve sustainable management ofresources in the Arctic.

Water resources management

In November 2012 the European Commissionlaunched a Blueprint to Saeguard EuropesWaters, aiming to ensure the sustainability of allactivities that impact on water. In support o thisBlueprint, the JRC carried out two assessmentsto establish optimum combinations o water-retention, water-savings and nutrient-reductionmeasures or continental Europe until 2030.The assessments were made using state-o-the-artland use projection and hydro-chemical modellingspecically developed by the JRC.

The assessments give a unique analysis o theefects o several measures on uture wateravailability and quality in Europe. The ComissionsBlueprint specically includes the JRCs hydro-economic model as a tool that will help watermanagers assess the cost-efectiveness o themeasures included in river basin management

plans.

A new scientic unit was created in 2012 tospecically address water resources. The workcarried out includes establishing water savingstrategies through model-based scenario analysisor assessing the allocation o available water. Inthe context of water treatment the unit carriesout research on emerging chemical pollutants,works on standards or the reuse o wastewatersand evaluates innovative water treatmenttechnologies. It also provides scientic support to

water governance, by strengthening regional andinternational eforts or restoring water quality andmanaging water-related risks.

Measuring sulphur dioxideemissions rom ships in harbours

Greenhouse gases (GHG) and air pollutants havecommon sources such as the burning o ossiland biouels, while land use change and GHGemissions continue to rise globally. Data from the

JRCs Emission Database for Global AtmosphericResearch (EDGAR) shows that man-made globalemissions o CO

2in 2011 reached an all-time high

o nearly 34 billion tonnes. Three quarters o theseCO

2emissions came rom ossil uel combustion

and can thereore be reduced by measures tosave energy and a shist to low-carbon energytechnologies.

In Europe, ships are a substantial and increasingcontributor to air pollution. To veriy the efective-ness o air quality legislation, JRC scientists mea-

sured key air quality parameters in Mediterraneanharbours beore and aster the entry into orce othe European low-sulphur requirements in January2010, using an automated monitoring station onCosta Crociere cruise ships.

D

iomedia

The brown area of this graph estimates significant flood damage

reduction in terms of financial loss.

Read more:

A multi-criteria optimisationof scenarios for the protectionof water resources in Europe:

support to the EU Blueprintto safeguard Europes waters.De Roo, A. et al. (2012).JRC Scientific and TechnicalReport, EUR 25552 EN

Evaluation of the effective-ness of natural water reten-tion measures - support tothe EU Blueprint to safeguardEuropes waters, Burek Peter,A. et al. (2012). JRC Scientificand Technical Report,EUR 25551 EN

Trends in global COemissions. Oliver, J.G.J. etal. (2012). JRC and PBLNetherlands EnvironmentalAssessment Agency,DOI: 10.2788/33777

< 1 M Euro

1 - 10 M Euro

10 - 100 M Euro

100 - 1000 M Euro

> 1000 M Euro

Figure 4

Flood damage reduction scenario 34-crop
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdfhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdfhttp://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdfhttp://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdfhttp://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdfhttp://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdfhttp://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdfhttp://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/CO2REPORT2012.pdfhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/evaluation-of-the-effectiveness-of-natural-water-retention-measures-pbLBNA25551/downloads/LB-NA-25551-EN-N/LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf?FileName=LBNA25551ENN_002.pdf&SKU=LBNA25551ENN_PDF&CatalogueNumber=LB-NA-25551-EN-Nhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26672/1/eur25552en_jrc_blueprint_optimisation_study.pdf


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A JRC study published in 2012 showed a strong de-crease in sulphur dioxide levels which was found tobe a direct consequence o the application o theEU requirements. Sulphur dioxide is one of themain air pollutants responsible or the ormation oacid rain and particulate air pollution, posing risksto human health and the environment.

Tackling near-term climatechange in the Arctic

Shrinking ice cover and blackened snowy suracesare currently reducing even urther the Arcticsurface reflectance which further accelerates thewarming. To counter this trend, it is necessary toreduce black carbon emissions at their source,osten ar away rom the Arctic.

The JRC contributed to a recent modelling study(Shindell et al., 2012) which identied a portolioo measures to control emissions o short-livedpollutants and pollutant precursors (black carbon,ozone and methane) that can simultaneouslymitigate climate change in the next decades andbe benecial or human health and ood security.Among these measures are EURO standardson road vehicles, replacement o traditional replaces with effi cient pellet stoves and reduction oagricultural waste. The measures would decreasethe projected warming in the Arctic over the nextdecades by 65% compared to a situation where no

measures were taken.

Climate change and adaptation in the Arctic werediscussed at the event Mapping scientic needs in theArctic and Northern Areas, jointly organised by theJRC and the Mission o Norway in October, which alsoaddressed the sustainable management o oil andgas resources and renewable energy technologies.

Best available techniques or iron,steel and glass

The European Commission in 2012 adopted twonew implementing decisions on best availabletechniques (BAT) or the industries o iron andsteel production and the manuacture o glass.The conclusions o the BAT are the reerences

used under the Industrial Emission Directive (IED)(2010/75/EU) to set emission permit conditions orindustrial installations. The IED currently regulatesemissions to air, water and soil o about 50 000industrial installations across the EU; the permitsare issued by the Member States.

Behind the BAT conclusions is a collaborativeeort by Technical Working Groups, set up andcoordinated by the JRCs European IntegratedPollution Prevention and Control Bureau (EIPPCB).This is done through a thorough, detailed andtransparent exchange of techno-economicinormation between the European Commission,the Member States, the industries concerned, andenvironmental non-governmental organisations.

Scientifc support

to the Danube StrategyThe JRC launched an initiative or providingscientic support to the implementation o theEU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR),which was endorsed by the European Council inJune 2011. The initiative ocuses on our verticalpriorities environmental protection, irrigation andagricultural development, navigability, and energyproduction and one horizontal aspect, Europeangovernance.

As a transversal priority, the JRC is supportingthe design and implementation o research andinnovation strategies or Smart Specialisationin the Danube Region, taking into account theregional assets, opportunities and the broadermacro-regional dimension. Through this integratedapproach, the JRC and the Danube Strategypartners will gather scientic expertise and datato help decision-makers and other stakeholders othe Danube Region to identify the policy measuresneeded or the implementation o the strategy.

Verified reduction of the levels of sulphur dioxide attests the

effectiveness of the air quality legislation.

The JRCs work on Best Available Techniques (BAT) help reduce the

air, water and soil emissions of industrial installations.

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Read more:

Impact of a European direc-tive on ship emissions onair quality in Mediterraneanharbours. In ATMOSPHERICENVIRONMENT vol. 61p. 661669. Hjorth, J. et al.(2012)

Simultaneously mitigatingnear-term climate changeand improving human healthand food security. Shindell etal. (2012) Science vol. 335no.6065, DOI: 10.1126/science.1210026

Support to the review of thethematic strategy on airpollution: JRCs contribution tothe 2nd stakeholder meeting,

January 2012. Borowiak,A. et al. (2012). JRC Scientificand Technical Report, EUR25283 EN

Best Available Techniques(BAT) reference documentfor: iron and steel production:Industrial Emissions Directive2010/75/EU:(IntegratedPollution Prevention andControl)

Best Available Techniques(BAT) reference documentfor: manufacture of glass:Industrial Emissions Directive

2010/75/EU:(IntegratedPollution Prevention andControl)

Prospective scenarios onenergy effi ciency and CO

2

emissions in the EU ironand steel industry
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012006103http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012006103http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012006103http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012006103http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012006103http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012006103http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012006103http://www.igsd.org/documents/shindell1201138.pdfhttp://www.igsd.org/documents/shindell1201138.pdfhttp://www.igsd.org/documents/shindell1201138.pdfhttp://www.igsd.org/documents/shindell1201138.pdfhttp://www.igsd.org/documents/shindell1201138.pdfhttp://www.igsd.org/documents/shindell1201138.pdfhttp://www.igsd.org/documents/shindell1201138.pdfhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-iron-and-steel-production-pbLFNA25521/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-iron-and-steel-production-pbLFNA25521/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-iron-and-steel-production-pbLFNA25521/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-iron-and-steel-production-pbLFNA25521/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-iron-and-steel-production-pbLFNA25521/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-iron-and-steel-production-pbLFNA25521/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-iron-and-steel-production-pbLFNA25521/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-the-manufacture-of-glass-pbLFNA25786/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-the-manufacture-of-glass-pbLFNA25786/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-the-manufacture-of-glass-pbLFNA25786/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-the-manufacture-of-glass-pbLFNA25786/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-the-manufacture-of-glass-pbLFNA25786/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-the-manufacture-of-glass-pbLFNA25786/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-the-manufacture-of-glass-pbLFNA25786/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/prospective-scenarios-on-energy-efficiency-and-co2-emissions-in-the-eu-iron-steel-industry-pbLDNA25543/?CatalogCategoryID=EhEKABstLQkAAAEjyZAY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/prospective-scenarios-on-energy-efficiency-and-co2-emissions-in-the-eu-iron-steel-industry-pbLDNA25543/?CatalogCategoryID=EhEKABstLQkAAAEjyZAY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/prospective-scenarios-on-energy-efficiency-and-co2-emissions-in-the-eu-iron-steel-industry-pbLDNA25543/?CatalogCategoryID=EhEKABstLQkAAAEjyZAY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/prospective-scenarios-on-energy-efficiency-and-co2-emissions-in-the-eu-iron-steel-industry-pbLDNA25543/?CatalogCategoryID=EhEKABstLQkAAAEjyZAY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/prospective-scenarios-on-energy-efficiency-and-co2-emissions-in-the-eu-iron-steel-industry-pbLDNA25543/?CatalogCategoryID=EhEKABstLQkAAAEjyZAY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/prospective-scenarios-on-energy-efficiency-and-co2-emissions-in-the-eu-iron-steel-industry-pbLDNA25543/?CatalogCategoryID=EhEKABstLQkAAAEjyZAY4e5Lhttp://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-the-manufacture-of-glass-pbLFNA25786/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/best-available-techniques-bat-reference-document-for-iron-and-steel-production-pbLFNA25521/http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/support-to-the-review-of-the-thematic-strategy-on-air-pollution-pbLBNA25283/?CatalogCategoryID=7QwKABstDHwAAAEjK5EY4e5Lhttp://www.igsd.org/documents/shindell1201138.pdfhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231012006103


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Agriculture and ood securityModern agriculture and technological progress areessential to feed a growing world population. The

JRC in 2012 assessed the impact of extreme weatherevents, which affected yields, shook agriculture com-modity markets, and raised concerns about accessto food for vulnerable communities across the globe.

In addition, the JRC looked at the socio-economicimpact of GM crops and potential consequences ofbiofuel crop farming, notably in relation to climatechange.

Researching ood markets, pricesand ood security

The JRCs integrated Modelling Platorm orAgroeconomic Commodity and Policy Analysis(iMAP) addresses a broad range o topics linked to

the economic assessment o agricultural policiesand ood security, as well as to trade, renewableenergies, environment and climate change.

In collaboration with the Commissions Agricultureand Rural Development DG, the JRC producesannual medium-term outlooks or the mainagricultural commodities (i.e. cereals, oil seeds,meat, eggs, dairy and biouels), which ofersEU-wide projections o supply balance sheets(production, consumption, exports, imports, andchange in stocks) for the next 10 years. This outlookconstitutes the main reference scenario for ex-ante

evaluations o policy impacts and contributes tothe on-going impact assessment o the CommonAgriculture Policy post-2013.

To take into account uncertainties in relation tokey external factors such as developments of theGDP, oil prices, and crop yields, a sensitivity analysisis conducted. The JRC and the Agriculture and RuralDevelopment DG annually gather high-level policymakers, modelling and market experts to presentand discuss current projections. In 2012 experts

and high offi cials rom the United Nations Foodand Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Organisationfor Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD),the World Bank and the United States attended theworkshop and collaborated to outline the reasonsbehind observed and prospected developments.

The JRC also contributes essential research to theunderstanding o price volatility in agriculturalmarkets. A report published in 2012 analysedthe security o supply o nitrogen, potassium andphosphorous. All three are essential plant nutrients

ound in ertilizers. Currently the JRC is conductinga oresight study on global ood security.

A global reerence or thesocio-economic assessmento GM crops

One o the JRCs long standing objectives is to builda more objective and transparent reflection onthe cultivation o genetically modied (GM) crops.

In 2012, the JRC together with the United Nations

Food and Agriculture Organization publisheda report that analysed the main ndings romscientists worldwide active in the socio-economicassessment o GM crops. Among the conclusionswas the need or more robust and independentsocio-economics studies and strict science-basedassessments.

To urther develop science-based criteria or socio-economic analyses, the European Commissiondecided to set up a new technical working group the European Socio-Economic Bureau (ESEB).

Managed by the JRC, the Bureau acilitates theexchange of information between the Commissionand Member States and develops consensusdocuments or the socio-economic analysis ospecic GM crops relevant to the EU.

Read more:

NPK: Will there be enoughplant nutrients to feed aworld of 9 billion in 2050?Malingreau, J. et al. (2012).JRC Science and PolicyReport, DOI: 10.2788/26586

http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/111111111/25770

International workshop onsocio-economic impacts ofgenetically modified cropsco-organised by JRC-IPTS and

FAO Workshop proceed-ings. Lusser, M.et al (2012).JRC Scientific and TechnicalReport, EUR-25265-EN

eljkoRadojko-Fotolia

Annual medium-term forecasts for commodities

provide reference to the on-going impact assess-

ment of the Common Agriculture Policy post-2013.

More robust and independent socio-

economics studies are required to

assess GM crops.

J

rgenFlchle-Fotolia
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/25770/1/npk%20final%20report%20_%20publication%20be%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/25770/1/npk%20final%20report%20_%20publication%20be%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/25770/1/npk%20final%20report%20_%20publication%20be%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/25770/1/npk%20final%20report%20_%20publication%20be%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/25770/1/npk%20final%20report%20_%20publication%20be%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/25770/1/npk%20final%20report%20_%20publication%20be%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/111111111/25770http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/111111111/25770http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/111111111/25770http://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/111111111/25770http://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC69363.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/25770/1/npk%20final%20report%20_%20publication%20be%20pdf.pdf


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Biouels and the indirect effectso changing land use

Increased EU demand or biouels may havean impact on land use in both EU and non-EUcountries, which could lead to signicant changesin carbon stocks in soils and biomass, and relatedgreenhouse gas emissions.

I biouel crops are grown on uncultivated land, suchas pasture or orest, this direct land use changewill generally result in increased greenhouse gasemissions, due to loss o standing biomass, loss byoxidation of organic matter in the soil in the yearsaster conversion, and loss o nitrogen in the organicmatter released as NO

2.

More requently though, biouel crops are plantedon land previously used or ood production. Ithe ood production is displaced to previously

uncultivated land, an indirect land use change(ILUC) takes place. The Commission has carried outa number o studies to assess these efects, andin 2012 put orward a policy proposal on how toaccount for ILUC in the relevant Directives.

To help assess the impact o this initiative, theJRC compared assumptions and results romseveral models used to estimate ILUC worldwide.It also developed a new methodology to estimategreenhouse gas emissions resulting rom ILUC.

The JRCs research, in line with other studies, showsthat, in general, ethanol crops have lower ILUCimpacts than oilseed/biodiesel crops. Furthermore,even i deorestation would be halted (i.e. noconversion o orests to cropland) ILUC emissionswhile being reduced would still be signicant.

Extreme weather affects EU 2012cereal yields

In November 2012, the JRCs crop monitoringactivity MARS reported on the efect o seasonalweather extremes over the 2011-2012 cropgrowing season. The season was marked by bothabove and below average temperatures, dry spellscombined with persistent high temperatures insouth-eastern Europe and a surplus o precipitationin the British Isles. As a result o the seasonalweather extremes, the MARS Crop Monitoring inEurope bulletin orecast that total cereal yieldsor the EU in 2012 would be 5.7% lower than theprevious year, and 2.7% lower than the 5-yearaverage. These discrepancies are mainly due toalls in grain maize yield.The bulletin showed that the 2011-2012 cropgrowing season was marked by an exceptionallydry and mild autumn and winter, ollowed by an

extremely cold period marked by severe frosts,a dry and mild March, cold April, and hot May.While western and northern Europe experiencedextreme precipitation in spring (with the UK andIreland recording one o the most humid seasonso the past 40 years), a persistent rain decit wasrecorded in much of the rest of Europe. During thesummer months, central and northern Europe hada lot o rain and below-average temperatures, whilesouthern and south-eastern Europe experiencedpersistent high temperatures and scarce rainall.

Some o the negative impacts caused by theextremes in weather patterns experienced acrossthe EU were sometimes ofset by positive impacts inother areas. The result was that orecasted rye andrapeseed yields were above average, while barley,rice and sugar beet yields remained average, andgrain maize, wheat, sunflower and triticale yieldswere orecast to be below average.

Read more:

Biofuels & Bioenergy

http://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/biofuels-bioenergy

Monitoring AgriculturalResources (MARS): http://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars

MARS Bulletins Europe:http://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/AGRI4CAST/MARS-Bulletins-for-Europe

Number of hot days 1 June 2012 - 31 August 2012. Cumulated rainfall values 1 June 2012 - 31 August 2012.

19

Figure 5 Figure 6
http://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/marshttp://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/marshttp://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/marshttp://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/AGRI4CAST/MARS-Bulletins-for-Europehttp://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/AGRI4CAST/MARS-Bulletins-for-Europehttp://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/AGRI4CAST/MARS-Bulletins-for-Europehttp://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/AGRI4CAST/MARS-Bulletins-for-Europehttp://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/mars/About-us/AGRI4CAST/MARS-Bulletins-for-Europehttp://mars.jrc.ec.europa.eu/marshttp://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/


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Public health and consumer protectionEU legislation and initiatives complement nationalactions on public health and aim to ensure a highlevel of protection for European consumers. The

JRC provides valuable support in defining andassessing the potential risks of nanomaterials,which are increasingly used in for example,cosmetic products, medical applications and in

manufacturing processes.

In 2012, the JRC assumed a new role in relationto cancer research, building on its expertise inharmonisation of methodologies and approachesand collaborative work. In the area of food and feedsafety, the JRC developed with other partners thenew European standard method to detect highlytoxic inorganic arsenic in animal feed.

Nanomaterials characterisation

and saetyNanomaterials ofer signicant potential orinnovation in many areas, such as medicine,environment protection and energy effi ciency.In support o measures to enorce the labellingrequirements or nanomaterial ingredients, the JRCdevelops and validates analytical methods or theidentication, detection and characterisation onanomaterials in ood and consumer products. Inaddition, certied reerence materials developedby the JRC are an important cornerstone inthe measurement inrastructure or the reliable

characterisation o nanomaterials.

To make sure that nanomaterials are sae or theirintended uses, reliable saety assessment onanomaterials still requires huge eforts to betterunderstand the underlying toxicity mechanismsand their impact on human health and theenvironment.

In 2012, the JRC published a report on thechallenge o measuring nanomaterials. Thereport Requirements on measurements or theimplementation o the European Commissiondenition o the term nanomaterial describesthe requirements or particle size measurementso nanomaterials, discusses related genericmeasurement issues, reviews capabilities o themeasurement methods currently available, andillustrates, with practical examples, problems thatremain to be solved.

The knowledge gained rom the JRCs researchsupports the implementation o EU legislation suchas the chemical regulation (REACH) and legislationon ood and cosmetic products.

New role in cancer policy support

In 2012 the JRC embarked on two initiatives tocoordinate and improve cancer control and careacross the EU in cooperation with the CommissionsHealth and Consumers DG and stakeholders in theMember States.

Firstly, the JRC initiated the development o anEU voluntary accreditation scheme or breastcancer services which will lead to updating theEU guidelines or breast cancer care. In order toassess the state o breast cancer services, a JRC-designed survey was perormed in 30 countries.The results showed that 47% o the countries donot have a certication scheme in place and thosethat do would welcome EU harmonisation andstandardisation, which indicates that JRC couldplay an important role to help improve breast

cancer care.

Secondly, the JRC will assume the secretariat othe European Network o Cancer Registries (ENCR),which is the gateway to over 200 cancer registries.It will establish a dynamic and harmonised cancer

S

imonPotter/SciencePhotoLibrary

Read more:

Requirements on measure-ments for the implementationof the European Commissiondefinition of the termnanomaterial.Linsinger, T. et al. (2012).JRC Reference Report,DOI: 10.2787/63995

Nanoparticles-cell interaction: fluorescent microscope analysis of

nanoparticles inside cells.
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/26399/2/irmm_nanomaterials%20%28online%29.pdf


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inormation system which will help to anticipate,guide and monitor European cancer policyinterventions.

In 2012, the JRC concluded a study on theefectiveness o three in-vitro assays which closelymodel key stages o the cancer developmentprocess, and which can be used or assessing thecarcinogenic potential o chemicals. These weresubmitted for inclusion in the OECD Test Guidelineswhich can subsequently lead to internationalregulatory acceptance.

The JRC also carried out research on Targeted AlphaTherapy o cancer aiming at selectively destroyingdiseased cells while sparing surrounding healthytissue. The JRC hosts the only acility within the EUcapable o producing alpha emitters Actinium-225and Bismuth-213 at clinically relevant levels.

First certifed reerence materialto monitor leukaemia

The JRC has developed a new reerence materialto support the monitoring o chronic myelogenousleukaemia (CML), a cancer o the white bloodcells. In the EU about 9 600 new patients per yearare diagnosed, and CML accounts or 70% o allchildhood leukaemia cases. Currently, CML cannotbe cured but it can be kept under control with specic

enzyme inhibitors. Regular monitoring o the CMLpatient is needed to ensure optimal treatment.This is done by measuring the number o specicgenetic ragments. Until now, it has been diffi cultto compare results rom diferent laboratories, asno reerence material or the calibration o themonitoring equipment was available.

To enhance consistency o measurements, the JRChas developed a certied reerence material whichhelps laboratories harmonise their measurements,and will improve the treatment o the patients.

Inorganic arsenic in animal eed:a new reerence method

Arsenic is a ubiquitous element, introduced tothe environment rom natural sources such asvolcanic activity and weathering o minerals, androm anthropogenic sources such as ore smelting,burning o coal, pesticide use and the use o growthpromoters. A large variety o diferent naturallyoccurring arsenic compounds exist. The toxicityo these compounds varies widely, with inorganicarsenic being the most toxic.

A collaborative study (International MeasurementEvaluation Programme IMEP-32), jointly organisedby the JRC and the Technical University of Denmark,has paved the way or a new European standardmethod or the determination o inorganic arsenicin animal eed. Nineteen laboratories took part in

the exercise, and proved that the analytical methodwas t or purpose.

The method, developed by the JRC, will now be usedor the offi cial control o eeding stufs throughoutthe EU.

Read more:

IMEP-32: determination of

inorganic arsenic in animalfeed of marine origin:a collaborative trial report.Sloth J.J. et al. (2011).JRC, National Food Instituteof the Technical Universityof Denmark (DTU Food) andBioanalytik Weihenstephan,Technical Universityof Munich, Germany.Scientific and TechnicalReport, EUR 24938 EN

First ever certified reference material for monitoring of leukaemia - ERM-AD623.

Sample cell of dried distillers grains for spectroscopic analysis.
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdfhttp://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/22568/1/reqno_jrc66416_eur%2024938%20-%20report%20pdf.pdf


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Saety and securityIn an ever more interconnected and globalisedworld, the need to enhance safety and securitybecomes increasingly important. The JRC drew onits extensive experience of early warning of naturalhazards to provide alerts on droughts, floodsand forest fires. Using its experience in vesselmonitoring and interpretation of remotely sensed

data, the JRC developed sostware to help combatpiracy by tracking ship positions in real time, henceboosting international efforts in global security.

In the nuclear field, 2012 marked two decades ofnuclear forensics at the JRC, and saw the furtherdevelopment of equipment to speed up theidentification of intercepted materials. The JRCalso brought together scientists and industry toshare best practices in nuclear decommissioning the delicate process through which nuclear power

plants are shut down, the fissile material removed,

the facility dismantled and the site environmentallyrestored.

Timely inormation on drought,fres and floods

Europe experienced regional extremes of droughts,res and floods in 2012. Through its EuropeanDrought Observatory (EDO), European Forest FireInormation System (EFFIS) and European FloodAwareness System (EFAS), the JRC delivered timelyinormation and alerts to the Monitoring and

Inormation Centre (MIC), managed by the Com-missions Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection DG,and to the relevant authorities in the MemberStates to help orecast and monitor risks related tonatural hazards. In spring, the JRC provided data onrainfall decits over Western Europe and helpedmanage the critical res that broke out in southern

Europe in the early re season and the summerthrough the re risk indices calculated by EFFIS.

2012 was also the year in which the operations oEFAS were outsourced under the coordination oJRC to Member State institutions as part o theGlobal Monitoring o Environment and SecurityEmergency Management Service (GMES EMS).

The fght against piracyoff Arican coasts

The JRC has developed prototype sostware thattracks merchant ship tra c in the whole WesternIndian Ocean basin or use in regional operationcentres. This project, named Piracy, MaritimeAwareness and Risks (PMAR), was requested bythe European Parliament and overseen by theCommissions Development and CooperationDG, EuropeAid. The system integrates data froma wide array o available data sources to give asingle maritime picture. It shows estimated shippositions in real-time, with an update every 15minutes. Historical piracy risk occurrence and

ship traffi c density maps are also produced.

S

imonFraser/SPL

Read more:

European Drought Observa-

tory (EDO): http://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/edov2/

European Forest Fire Infor-mation System (EFFIS): http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/effi s/

Floods portal EuropeanFlood Awareness System(EFAS): http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.eu

Blue hub integrating mari-time surveillance data https://bluehub.jrc.ec.europa.eu

The figure shows the positions of all

known vessels in the Gulf of Aden at a

certain point in time, providing the so-

called maritime situational picture of

the area. Different colours representdifferent types of vessels, while more

detailed information on each selected

vessel is displayed in a white box. The

dotted line behind the selected vessel

shows its trajectory, linking past vessel

observations (small red triangles).

Figure 7
http://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/edov2/http://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/edov2/http://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/edov2/http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/effis/http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/effis/http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/effis/http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.eu/https://bluehub.jrc.ec.europa.eu/https://bluehub.jrc.ec.europa.eu/https://bluehub.jrc.ec.europa.eu/https://bluehub.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://floods.jrc.ec.europa.eu/http://forest.jrc.ec.europa.eu/effis/http://edo.jrc.ec.europa.eu/edov2/


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Thanks to its regional approach, PMAR complementsthe observations o individual countries. As well as

Documents

Joint Research Centre (JRC) Annual Report 2012