STATEMENT 1 by Willy Winkelmans

1. No, a scientist’s or engineer’s designing is not by definition contraditory to sustainable development! Sustainability (e.g. of mobility) implies internalisation of all external costs. Sustainable economic development will only be achieved IF a cost-effective level playing field is assured, whence the focus of profit maximisation also includes the socio-economic advantages of the project. No, the consequence of that perception is not the reason why the decision-taking and permitting process last too long! Today’s administrative and legal procedures regarding port extensions e.g. are indeed jeopardizing port development. Waiting more than 10 up to 20 years before completing a unique port project (cf. Maaslvlakte II) threatens the success of the project. Concrete SRM could avoid this kind of contra-productive situation. STATEMENT 1 byWilly Winkelmans Prof. Willy WinkelmansWILLY WINKELMANS

2. The obligation to perform EER does not only cost money but takes plenty of time too, whence it costs more than just out-of-pocket money! The bottom-line however is not so much the cost of research but the value-added generated by the project initiated by research. To guarantee that development projects generate real gross added-values, the proven economical and ecological considerations regarding the project must be brought into balance, hence not only EER BUT ALSO IER is required. Thus: data collected by environmental monitoring becomes good value for money only if the project considered is completed in due time in accordance to acceptable ecological and economical (market!) conditions. STATEMENT 2by Willy Winkelmans Prof. Willy WinkelmansWILLY WINKELMANS