ECRN - News
Under the patronage of the European Commission and the Czech EU-Presidency the ECRN organises together with its member region Ústí the Final Event of the High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Chemical Industry in Europe. This conference will take place on the 16th and 17th April 2009 in Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic. Further information will follow on this website.
At the latest Conference of the Ministers of Economy of the German Länder on 9th/10th June 2008 in Regensburg the Ministers have welcomed the participation of the ECRN in the High Level Group (HLG) of the European Commission as representative of the regional perspective. The conference members asked, however, to generally involve the European regions more in future sector-specific dialogues on European level.
Before, the Minister of Economy of Saxony-Anhalt and President of the ECRN, Dr. Reiner Haseloff, had reported to his colleagues on the interim results of the discussions within the HLG. With regard to the general role of the chemical regions in the HLG, Mr. Haseloff pointed out that the fact that the ECRN has been appointed to a strategy dialogue as the HLG shows a growing awareness in the European Commission concerning the role of the European regions with regard to innovation and competitiveness and concerning the fact that many decisions taken in Brussels have to be implemented and initiated on a regional, not on a national, level.
Mr. Haseloff concluded that the discussions of the HLG have been characterized so far by an open and constructive climate of debate and by the fact that the problem- und result-oriented HLG conclusions are not exclusively directed at the European level, which raises the question of how to ensure a taking into account of these conclusions on all levels of policymaking in Europe in the future.
A more detailed summary of the Conference can be found here.
on the 17th June 08 in Ústí
Logistics and logistical concepts were the focus of the workshop on the 17th of June 08. The meeting was a get-together of major stakeholders of the Chemical branch from the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. Presentations on the topic of Pan-European Transport corridors, transport modes and the application for the ChemLog project were discussed by the participants. Mr Fiala, Deputy-Governor of the Ústí Region, spoke about the role of the Ústí Region as a traditional setting for chemical and petrochemical industry. Chemistry was a background to the revival of the Ústí industry, and is a major employer as well. Mr Hack, Director of the ECRN Secretariat, appreciated the activities of the Ústí Region for the network and thanked the Ústí Region for the organisation of this workshop. For further information please contact the ECRN Network Secretariat ecrn@ecrn.net
April 18th was the date when the High Level Group (HLG) met for the third time. The meeting was chaired by the Vice President of the European Commission, Günter Verheugen.
Based on the draft final conclusions of the HLG Sub Group on Energy, Feedstock and Logistics and the discussion paper presented at the Sherpa Meeting on second of April the discussion in the High Level Group on this matter was conducted in four parts around the following questions:
- Further strengthening of chemical clusters and related infrastructure
- Diversification of raw materials
- How best to ensure effective and efficient global approach to climate change and
- Addressing climate change as a major business opportunity.
Regarding the issue of “Regional Aspects” the ECRN was asked by the chair to provide an input for the Sherpa Meeting on 18th of September. The ECRN wishes to use this opportunity.
The ECRN played a very active and constructive role in the discussion by developing the strategy on chemical logistics on Central- and Eastern Europe and raising the point of planning security for the chemical industry regarding the special treatment of energy intensive industries.
- for members only -
The discussion of actual developments and the planning of our 6th annual ECRN congress on the 27th of October will be the main topics of this meeting. Moreover, the cluster of Brunsbuettel will present its projects and companies to our European-wide partners. More information can be provided by the ECRN Secretariat. ecrn@ecrn.net
On the 26th of March 2008 the ECRN Association met for their annual Presidium and General Assembly meeting in Brussels. Host of this meeting was the Representation of North Rhine-Westphalia to the EU.
Dr. Reiner Haseloff, President of the ECRN, opened the meeting and appreciated the large interest of the member regions. The President reported on his activities and moderated the conference.
In the morning at the Executive meeting, the presidium discussed and prepared the decision taking process for the afternoon, which included the working and budget plan for 2008 as well as the state and perspective of the High Level Group. The ECRN was delighted to welcome their new regions Scotland and Rhône-Alpes in their network, as those regions gave a short presentation of themselves by their representatives.
The Director of the ECRN Secretariat in Brussels, Michael Hack, reported on the main activities of the network, gave an update of the ongoing office set up in Brussels and presented the outcome of the successful seminar "e;Future of Bulk Chemicals- Challenges for the Regions"e;.
As the major political outcome, the General Assembly adopted the joint statement on the energy and climate protection package by the EU-Commission that all member regions had placed together.
This seminar will discuss one of our main concerns: the future of bulk chemicals in Europe. We will deal with all relevant questions involved: What future role will the bulk chemicals industry play in Europe? What needs to be done to keep the bulk chemicals in Europe? Where will the bulk chemicals in Europe most probably be located? What effect would an out-migration of the bulk chemicals form Europe have on speciality chemicals? And in particular: What effect does this process have on the chemical regions?
A workshop with a special focus on the REACH-Regulation will be held on the 22nd and 23rd of November in Aachen. In this workshop, experts from all-over Europe will share their experience with the audience.
A detailed program you find here
. Be part of this unique event!
The headline of the congress represents our main focus: "Competitive Chemical Regions in Europe".
Be part of our congress and give your input to the future of our chemical regions in Europe! During two days we will discuss and share our experience in the chemical sector in order to define our strategies for our future challenges. The Congress will take place on the 29 and 30 November 2007 at BASF in Ludwigshafen/Germany and bring together high-level representatives from politics, industry and academia to discuss major challenges for the chemical industry such as Innovation, Skills Development and Energy.For further informations please contact Michael Hack, Director of the ECRN e.V. Network Secretariat or download the Invitation to 5th Congress
The ECRN is planning its next European Congress of Chemical Regions in Ludwigshafen, Rhineland Palatinate. The Congress will take place on the 29 and 30 November 2007 and bring together high-level representatives from politics, industry and academia to discuss major challenges for the chemical industry such as Innovation, Skills Development and Energy. The Congress will be organised in the facilities of BASF. Further information about the Congress will be published on this website.
The European Chemical Regions Network has received the approval for the extension of the Interreg project until the end of the year 2007. The partners have agreed to implement a range of activities that are focused on the dissemination of results and the development of project ideas for the further intensification of cooperation. It is planned to organise the next ECRN Working Group Meeting in September 2007 in Ida Viru.
The ECRN Working Group has met in Brussels to discuss ongoing activities and priority topics for the second half of 2007. The network has received the offer to extend the Interreg Project until the end of 2007 and the partners have agreed on a work plan and budget allocation. The partners have intensively discussed the participation of the ECRN in the upcoming High Level Group on the chemical industry that should start its work in September. The ECRN wants to play an active role in representing the interest of chemical regions. The partnership has discussed the future perspective of a follow up project in the framework of Interreg IVC. It is the plan to implement the approach of European Technology Platforms "Sustainable Chemistry" at regional level. Dr. Marian Mours from Cefic has articulated its support in view of a joint cooperation. Mrs. Mirjam de Jong from VAPRO presented the results of two Leonardo projects in the chemical industry. There has been a strong interest for the joint discussion and application of results between the ECRN and the project. Simon Marsh from the European Chemical Employers Group presented the ongoing activities of the Social Dialog of the European Chemical Industry. The ECRN and ECEG have agreed to identify potential areas for joint cooperation. Finally the network partners have discussed several proposals for future cooperation project in the area Land Improvement, Skills Development, REACH Implementation, Econtent and Regions of Knowledge. The partners are committed to intensify cooperation and exchange of experience with the help of new projects.
The ECRN Presidium has meet for the first time in Antwerp to decide about the focus of network activities in the year 2007. During the event the accession of Flanders to the ECRN association has been officially celebrated. The meeting has been organised in close cooperation with Bayer and the Flemish chemical industry association. The major topics of the Presidium meeting has been the future participation of the ECRN in the High Level Group for the competitiveness of chemical industry and the contribution of the network towards the new EU Programme Regions for Economic Change. The ECRN also wants to strengthen its efforts for the development of follow up projects in the new funding period, such as FP7, Interreg IVC, Regions of Knowledge etc. The Presidium has approved two joint declarations on Energy and Regions for Economic change.
Download :
ECRN Declaration on Energy (PDF 30 KB)
ECRN Declaration on Regions for Economic Change (PDF 38 KB)
The ECRN Working Group has met in Brussels for the first time after the end of the Interreg project in order to discuss the future development of the network and the thematic priorities. The ECRN will open a network office in Brussels to strengthen its stakeholder position in the EU environment. Important topics have been the new EU energy agenda, the preparation of the HLG competitiveness of chemical industry and the perspectives of the Regions for Economic Change / Interreg IVC. Several proposals for follow up projects have been presented for new EU programmes such as Interreg IVC, Regions of Knowledge, FP7 or Leonardo that should help to deepen the exchange of knowledge between the partners and enlarge the partnership.
The ECRN Presidium has meet for the final Interreg meeting in Bitterfeld to discuss about the results of three years of cooperation and to discuss the future work of the ECRN association. In general there has been a very positive feedback on the activities of the network and the partners are looking forward towards the year 2007. Five new regions have been integrated into the ECRN and the new office in Brussels will be used to further strengthen the joint positioning in the EU decision making process.
The new ECRN Newsletter has been published with the following content
4th European Congress of Chemical Regions - Summary of Workshops ECRN Association is heading for 2007 ChemSME project team proposes future joint activities with ECRN Association Technical Study on Investment Factors in Chemical Companies Permeability in vocational education and training - an example from chemistry Regional Profiles : Huelva and Rhineland-Palatinate
The third European Congress of Chemical Regions took place on the 9 and 10 November Tarragona, Catalonia. About 150 representatives from politics, administration, science and industry used the opportunity to discuss joint challenges and possibilities for cooperation between the chemical regions. The ECRN has jointly agreed on the Tarragona Declaration that states the position on EU chemical policy, energy supply, environmental policy and regional policy. During the Congress four additional regions Flanders (Belgium), Catalonia (Spain), Limburg (Netherlands) and Ida Viru (Estonia) were accepted as new members in the ECRN Association, which will take over the work of the network from the Interreg project in the year 2007. Documentation of the Congress will soon be published on the website.
Download Tarragona Declaration (ENG) (GER).
Download Congress Summary (ENG)
For more than three years the network has developed an extensive partnership between chemical regions in Europe and is more and more recognised as a European stakeholder in actions of the European Commission, which is regularly consulted on key issues of EU environmental and industrial policy. One important objective of the network is to establish an intensive relationship to Representatives of European Institutions, Members of the European Parliament Representatives of European Regions and Representatives of European business institutions and enterprises. The European Chemical Regions Network would like to invite you to the conference to present the results of the past and ongoing work and to discuss joint challenges and activities for the future.
Download Agenda and Invitation.
One day before the Open Network Meeting in the newly opened Center of the Regions, the ECRN Working Group will meet to discuss the progress of ongoing activities. Several representatives from European Institutions have been invited to give an updated on
The European Chemical Regions Network (ECRN) has organised two Training Seminars on 29 and 30 of June 2006 in Limburg to present and discuss best practice solutions from study topics undertaken by ECRN : Cooperation Science and Industry, Chemical Park Management and Land Improvement. Based on the results of the completed studies, expert in the different fields have used the opportunity to exchange their experience and jointly discuss potential solutions in several workshops. Problem and solution "owners", representatives from regional administration, enterprises and research institutes have contributed to the fruitful discussion. The results of the Seminars will soon be published in a brochure.
The new ECRN Newsletter has been published with the following content:
ECRN Presidium meets in Düsseldorf ECRN Association - Continuing the sucess ECRN Meeting in Asturias and Training Seminars in Limburg High Level Group Energy - Latest Developments Regional Partnership Meetings : NRW hosts Europe Regional Profiles from Lower Saxony and Catalonia
The ECRN Presidium has met for the 5th time in Düsseldorf, North Rhine Westphalia. Main topics of the discussion have been innovation and competitiveness in the chemical industry, better regulation, energy and emission trading and the future of interregional cooperation. The joint position of the ECRN has been summarised in the Presidium Declaration (see download below). A presentation from Dr. Gersemann from ChemSite and Mr. Pruys from ChemCologne gave a good overview about the intensive cooperation of the chemical parks and the development of the chemical cluster in North-Rhine Westphalia.
Download ECRN Presidium Declaration: ENG (pdf 44KB) DEU (pdf 44KB).
The next working group meeting of the European Chemical Regions Network will take place on the 26 and 27 April in Asturias, Spain. During the meeting the partners will discuss the activities for capacity building and strategy development and prepare the upcoming Training Seminars. On 27 April the Training Seminar focused on the presentation and discussion of the results of the Skills study will be organised.
For more information contact the ECRN Secretariat.
The next working group meeting of the European Chemical Regions Network will take place on the 9 and 10 February in Novara, Italy. Novara is the centre of the chemical industry in Piedmont region. During the meeting the partners will discuss the results of the five studies in view of capacity building and strategy development.
For more information contact the ECRN Secretariat.
The 4th ECRN Newsletter contains articles on:
3rd European Congress of Chemical Regions Regional Partnership Meetings in NRW and UK (DICIDA Conference) Summary of ECRN Studies: Science and Industry, Skills, Environment and Legislation, Land Improvement Regional Profiles: Cheshire, Piedmont
The ECRN Presidium has met for the fourth time on the invitation of the Province of Limburg in Maastricht on the 22nd December 2005. After 2 years of operation, the Presidium used the opportunity to highlight the successful development of the ECRN. Mr. Litjens, Board Member of SABIC, gave a presentation about the growing activities of SABIC in Limburg. He stated the need for close cooperation at regional and European level for a positive development of the chemical cluster. The Presidium welcomed the achieved compromise for the REACH proposal, which is in most issues in line with the joint position that has been articulated in the Milan Declaration. Furthermore the Presidium has intensively discussed the challenges of Emission Trading for Chemical Regions. In the joint declaration "Better regulation for Europe" the network ask for improved policies in the area to achieve a level playing ground and solve existing problems of windfall profits and new entrants barriers.
Download Declaration: ENG (pdf 82KB) DEU (pdf 80KB).
The next working group meeting of the European Chemical Regions Network will take place on the 23/24 November in Tees Valley, in the North East of England. During the meeting the results of the five studies that are currently implemented will be presented. On the 24 and 25 November the ECRN partners will have the opportunity to participate in the yearly meeting of the DICIDA Initiative a UK Network of chemical dependent areas.
For more information contact the ECRN Secretariat.
The third European Congress of Chemical Regions took place on the 6 October 2005 in the Fiera Milano. About 250 representatives from politics, administration, science and industry used the opportunity to discuss joint challenges and possibilities for cooperation between the chemical regions. The ECRN has jointly agreed on the Milan Declaration that states the position on EU chemical policy, research and innovation, regional policy and sustainability. Documentation of the Congress will soon be published on the website.
Download Congress Volume: ENG (pdf 2,14 MB)
Download Milan Declaration: ENG (pdf 42KB); DEU (pdf 42 KB); ITA (pdf 46 KB).
Download Press Release: ENG (pdf 38 KB); DEU (pdf 39 KB); ITA (pdf 46 KB).
Presidium Meeting 12 May in Warsaw, Regional Partnership Meeting in Limburg and Lower Saxony, Mentoring European Knowledge of Chemical Regions - Summary of Results SPORT Results, Exchange of Experience - Presentation of ECRN Studies, Opening of Fraunhofer Pilot Plant Centre for Polymer Synthesis and Processing in Schkopau, Saxony-Anhalt; Regional Profiles from Saxony-Anhalt and Lombardia.
The next working group meeting of the European Chemical Regions Network will take place on the 15/16 September in Walsrode, Lower Saxony. The Industrial Park Walsrode will host the meeting (www.industriepark-walsrode.de) . Main topic of the meeting will be the discussion about the five studies that are currently implemented and the preparation of the 3rd European Congress of Chemical Regions that will take place on the 6th of October in Milan. Furthermore the participants will use the chance to have a discussion with the local park operators and to visit the industrial park.
The results of the project "SPORT", initiated by the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), several Member States as well as the European employers associations UNICE and UEAPME and the European Commission, have been presented. Under the name “Strategic Partnership for REACH Testing (SPORT)” registration procedures for 8 chemicals have been tested in order to develop concrete proposals for an improvement of the REACH system. During the last 12 moths working groups have been established under participation of downstream users and chemical producers to practically implement the proposed registration procedures of REACH. The European Commission had already announced before to integrate SPORT results in a modified proposal. The European Chemical Regions Network has been directly participating in the SPORT project as an observer.
The report and annexes can be downloaded in the following web page:www.sport-project.info
The project "Mentoring European Knowledge of Chemical Regions" is organising the final conference on the 15th June 2005 in the Representation of Asturias in Brussels. The project that is supported in the framework of the pilot action "Regions of Knowledge" will present results and conclusions from the interregional exchange of experience in topics such as chemical park management, regional research competences, European Technology Platform "Sustainable Chemistry" and regional strategies on REACH. Online registration can be completed under www.mentorchem.net.
NRW will organise the Regional Partnership Meeting of the ECRN on the 14 June 2005. The event will take place in the chemical park Knapsack.
Lower Saxony will organise the Regional Partnership Meeting of the ECRN on the 19th May 2005 in Hannover.
Based on a broad discussion and interregional consensus of the member regions, the ECRN has developed its own position for the REACH proposal of the European Commission. Taking into account the regional experience of the partners, the ECRN would like to influence the debate in the first reading of the Sacconi Report in the European Parliament. The proposal has been sent to the MEPs from chemical regions and we are looking forward to a lively debate in the upcoming months.
Based on the discussion in the MentorChem Project (www.mentorchem.net), Asturias organises a major event to discuss about the impact of REACH in the European regions. High-level representatives from Asturias will present the special challenge for the chemical sector. Speakers from Italy and Germany will present their experience to initiate the interregional exchange of knowledge.
The ECRN Working Group has met in Tallinn and Ida-Viru on the 21st and 22nd April to discuss the progress of the work. The representatives from the chemical regions were agreeing on the future thematic focus of the network activities and the implementation of five studies. On Friday the Working Group used the possibility to visit the major chemical site in Ida-Viru. The challenges of transformation and the future EU chemcial policy were in the centre of the debate with representatives from the Estonian chemical industry. The national Estonian television produced a report about the ECRN for the evening news.
The 2nd ECRN Newsletter has been published now with the following content:
Presidium Meeting 1st of December in Brussels, Regional Partnership Meeting in Saxony-Anhalt, North East of England Process Industry Cluster (nePIC!), Latest Developments in the European Chemical Policy, European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry and Regional Profiles from Asturias, North Rhine-Westphalia and Masowia.
GO-REACH is a new project aiming at development and delivery of a user support system related to the introduction of the REACH regulation on the market. For more information follow the link to projects.
ECRN publishes Who is Who of Chemical Regions with comprehensive information about regional key players in the chemical sector
European Voice organises major conference on REACH in cooperation with ECRN 26th April 2005, Brussels (Belgium)
Topics
ECRN - Presidium commences work REACH - Regions demand coherent and efficient system North East England - Innovation Centre boasts 300 years of petrochemical history Region Limburg Chemical Cluster in Province Limburg