1999 - a good year for the JRC's Environment Institute
The Joint Research Centre's (JRC) Environment Institute (EI)1999 annual report, which is now available, describes how the EI's progress in 1999 was characterised by the introduction of a new management culture in the JRC, a more coordinated approach and a better defined role. 'This very challenging continuous process is already having a very positive effect on the efficiency of the Institute in responding to an ever increasing demand for sound factual information on the environment policy-making process,' said Mr Jean-Marie Martin, the Director of the Environment Institute. The introduction of the Fifth Framework programme (FP5) has helped to develop the EI's role. In particular, it benefited from FP5's 'cluster' concept, which aimed to coordinate better the various JRC institutes in an effort to generate synergies among individual projects. 'The EI is playing a key role coordinating the activities of four of the eight existing clusters, namely: global change, water, emissions and health related effects. hormones and endocrine disrupters,' according to Mr Martin In addition, an audit team gave the Institute a positive appraisal in July 1999, when it assessed the scientific content of the Institute's work and its capabilities in relation to the activities foreseen in its work programme for the period 1999 to 2002. The same audit team expressed a strong belief in the EI as a major strategic resource for the European institutions in relation to the JRC's mission to support EU policies. 'I am convinced that the Institute is now in a unique position to contribute to the unique strategy on sustainable development,' added Mr Martin.