I. Welcome, Introduction and Structure of the Meeting

DG XIII was represented by a number of officials. Mr. F. Karamitsos (Head of the Telematics Programme Unit), welcomed the participants, Mr. W. Boch (Head of the Environment Sector), chaired the meeting with Mr. J. J. Lauture (ENWAP Project Officer) and Mr. J. Beale also present.

After a brief participant introduction, Mr. W. Boch presented an overview of Environment Telematics projects, stressing the role of users. The second presentation of Mr. W. Boch concerned the role of the user forum and of the Expert Group. The terms of reference were introduced and briefly discussed. It was agreed that the general issues for consideration by the user forum were important and need to be tackled properly.

The presentation on the INCO Programme was postponed to the following meeting due to the non-availability of the speaker.

Two presentations on objectives, user requirements and the expected results of EU Environment Telematics projects were given by Mrs. S. Azzali, (addressing the projects of ECOSIM, TEMSIS, WATERNET and E-MAIL) and by Mr. N. Hodges (for EMMA and EFFECT).

In the afternoon, Mr. M. Korvits showed some results from an information system for air pollution monitoring applied to the cities of Goteborg and Tallin (the TallinNet project). Mr. Korvits also presented the objectives of a new project called BALTNet, where the information system for environmental protection (TallinNet) will be more broadly developed and applied to other Baltic regions/cities.

Mr. B. Kobus presented some results of the international monitoring systems for data transfer actions supported within the Black Triangle Project (Phare Programme), which involves Germany, Czech Republic and Poland.

Following these presentations and a discussion of them, the main remarks relating to air pollution included:

• the importance of the public participation/information about air quality issues;
• legislation which has been the driving force for environmental control;
• the meeting of accession criteria for entry to the EU is serving as the driving force for environmental control;
• education (new modus) is progressively changing public attitudes for environmental issues;
• the importance of telecommunication tools to enhance the information process;
• telematics (and high technologies) may help greatly to increase environmental awareness and improvement;
• the importance of sharing information and knowledge on environmental issues to develop a common base across cities and municipalities, which will help to develop common strategies to abate environmental pollution;
• the importance of integrating associations of municipalities in order to create a much larger user consensus on air pollution problems.

Mrs. P. Stancikova presented the DANIS system (Danube Information System) as a cluster of databases developed for the needs of the Danube region and to provide information to the public, NGO and public administration on environmental and other related issues.

II. Discussion of the Terms of Reference (TOR)

• All the members of the Expert Group agreed on the general objectives of the user forum as they were outlined in the TOR and confirmed their participation in future activities. However some difficulties have been identified regarding the task/result 1 of the TOR, where the identification of the potential new user groups (EU & CEEC) which may show interest in the TAP 'end-products' - and their requirements should be defined.
  User group categories may need to be established, e.g.
  • citizens/broad public/NGO's;
  • Administrations (operational level);
  • Enterprises (Industries; SME's);
  • Legislative/Political bodies;
  The methodology for this task should be specified in more detail.
• The approach to building know-how regard to TAP demonstration projects concerning air and water pollution management and on their potential end-products requires clarification.
• A structure is therefore to be proposed (the rapporteurs will propose some examples) to the EG members, helping them to describe the 'end-products', the new user profile and the new user requirements in relation to the TAP 'end-products' and other related projects.
• Feedback's from the EG members to the proposed structure will be requested.
• A preliminary analysis of the typology of user groups and their requirements could be then carried out and presented at the 2nd ENWAP-EG meeting.

III. Election of Chairman and Rapporteus and Working Methods

IV. Schedule for ENWAP-EG meetings in 1997

V. Proposed items in the agenda for the 2nd ENWAP-EG meeting

• Discussion and agreement on a proposed structure to define 'end-products', new users, and their requirements.
• Discussion of the preliminary analysis of new user groups typology, of their requirements and Best Practice in relation with the TAP projects and/or with other related projects.
• Proposed Presentations:
  • INCO-COPERNICUS Programme, DG XII: Objectives and priorities and on-going activities.
  • G. Ritter. User Requirements on environment telematics related projects in the city of Munich.
  • G. Pinter. Danube Accident Warning System.
  • I. Roussev. REC activities related to user requirements on environmental projects.
  • H. Saarenmaa. EEA-EIONET.

VI. Action requested

The principal working method for the group is that all Expert Group members will send their written contributions (via e-mail) to the Chairman, Rapporteurs and the Commission. The Rapporteurs will take the lead in putting an initial draft document together that will be discussed during the ENWAP-EG meeting.

Expert Group Members

Invited Participants