NEWSLETTER Consiglio Architetti
Europa - n° 4-04
The monthly electronic note from the Architects
Council of Europe
Friday 24th April 2004
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INTRODUCTION
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Welcome to the fourth issue in 2004 of
ACE Info, the monthly update from the Architects' Council
of Europe that will give you, at a glance, information on
current issues, highlighting emerging areas of activity
and informing you of matters of interest in the field of
architectural policy. This issue is also available in French.
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CORE ISSUES
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PROPOSAL FOR A DIRECTIVE ON SERVICES
IN THE INTERNAL MARKET (SIM)
The European Parliament has appointed Mrs. Evelyne Gebhardt
as the rapporteur on this important proposal. Mrs. Gebhardt
is well known to the ACE, being a shadow rapporteur on the
proposed Qualifications Directive, and a good relationship
has been established with her during the work on the qualifications
directive.
Mrs. Gebhardt has produced a first working paper on the
proposed SIM directive, but the parliament will not commence
work in earnest on this proposal until after the European
elections. The Council has, however, made a start on its
work and serious concerns have been expressed by many governments
on several aspects of the proposal. In particular the “Country
of Origin” principle promises to be a most contentious
issue.
The Special Working Group, set up by the ACE to examine
the impact of this proposal on the profession held its second
meeting in London on the 20th April. It took into account
the legal analysis carried out by the Legal Analysis Reference
Group and will report on its activities at the upcoming
General Assembly in Milan. The Executive Board also met,
on an informal basis, with Mrs. Margot Froehlinger, Head
of Unit responsible for the Commission proposal. This was
a particularly informative session and its outcome will
assist the ACE in forming coherent policy actions in relation
to this central issue.
COMPETITION IN LIBERAL PROFESSIONS
As a follow-up to the Report issued by Commission in February
(See ACE Info 2-04) a delegation of the ACE led by the President
is to meet the Commission, DG Competition – Liberal
Professions Team, on the 26th April. Furthermore, Mrs Ruth
Paserman from the same Unit will also be participating in
the International Seminar on “Architectural Practice
& The Market” in Milan on the day before the ACE
Assembly, on 6th May. She will be a speaker during the afternoon
session (programme available on the ACE web site).
EUROPEAN COMPETITION NETWORK
In the context of the Commission Communication on Competition
in the Liberal Professions and in light of the recent actions
of the Commission regarding the Belgian architects and fee
scales, it is interesting to note that this network of National
Competition Authorities (NCA’s) and the Commission
has been set up. It was established a little over a year
ago to initiate dialogue between the parties and to enable
the Commission to ensure that national decisions are applied
in compliance with European rules. The Commission has now
adopted a series of communications and guidelines that complete
the new regulation 1/2003 on anti-trust rules that enters
into force on the 1st May 2004. This regulation will delegate
new tasks, currently undertaken by the Commission, to the
various NCA’s.
EUROPEAN FORUM FOR ARCHITECTURAL
POLICIES
The Forum has recently adopted a distinctive logo and has
consolidated its structure through the establishment of
regular Steering Committee meetings and the employment of
a secretary on a part-time basis. The actions of the Forum
are being strongly supported by the Presidencies of the
EU as demonstrated by the recent, highly successful, event
organised by the Irish Government in Dublin under the title
of “Architectural Policy and the Achievement of Quality
in the Built Environment”. The event was attended
by representatives of 22 countries and by many Government
officials. It was opened by the Irish Minister for the Environment,
Mr. Martin Cullen, who gave strong support to the objectives
of the Forum in making the adoption of architectural policies
a cornerstone of sound government across the EU.
In conjunction with that event, the Irish Presidency also
hosted a meeting of the Forum Steering Committee, during
which the preparations for Forum activities by several upcoming
EU Presidencies were presented and discussed. In particular,
it is planned to have a review made of the follow-up given
to the Council Resolution on Architectural Quality in the
Urban and Rural Environments since its adoption, in 2001,
at a meeting of the Ministers of Culture during the Luxembourg
Presidency. This meeting will have a formal Forum event
organised in conjunction with it as part of the official
activities of the Luxembourg Presidency, which will take
place from the 26th to the 28th June 2005. It is intended
that this will also allow the adequate involvement of the
new Member States of the EU. The project will be further
developed as part of the “Troika” approach,
involving Ireland, The Netherlands and Luxembourg.
For more information, see the re-designed website of the
Forum at:
http://www.architecture-forum.net/
ARCHITECTURE AND QUALITY OF LIFE
The title of a new book by the ACE, this book is the result
of lengthy deliberations within the ACE on the policy issues
that lie at the heart of its work. The book is at the presses
as this bulletin is being written and it will be presented
to the General Assembly of the ACE in Milan on the 7th May
2004. The ACE intends to disseminate the book widely, particularly
to politicians and decision-makers in the EU Institutions.
The core elements of the book have been encapsulated in
“21 Key Messages for the 21st Century” which
appear in the text of the book and as a double-sided A3
poster.
The book will be in French and English.
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OTHER MATTERS
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E-CORE SURVEY
The main task of the E-CORE work is to develop a strategy
for European construction research that will be presented
at a major Conference in October 2004 at Maastricht –
the B4E Conference (see www.b4e.org for details). In line
with this main objective, E-CORE has developed a questionnaire
that aims to identify attitudes to innovation in the construction
sector. The questionnaire is available in several languages
and takes about 20 minutes to complete on-line.
It is important that the attitudes of architects are communicated
to E-CORE as we are the principle specifiers of materials
and processes in the construction sector. You are urged
to take part and you will find the questionnaire, with instructions,
at:
http://www.e-core.org/survey
DESIGN FOR ALL
The important issue of ensuring that all elements of the
built environment are conceived and designed for all has
been given a high priority during the European Year of People
with Disabilities 2003. Now a EU-funded projects has gone
live online with a toolkit aimed at informing architects
and other designers of the matters that must be considered
in designing for all. Those interested in learning more
should consult the following site:
www.anlh.be/aaoutils
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Following the adoption of the SCMT (Sustainable Construction
Methods & Techniques) report by the DG Environment,
in the context of the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment,
Alain Sagne attended, on the 7th April, the first meeting
of the main Advisory Group put in place by the Commission
for the development of the Strategy (see ACE Info 3-04).
He will also attend a round table discussion on the subject
organised by the Committee of the Regions, in Brussels on
the 3rd May next.
Moreover, the ACE has been informed about the specific work
of Enfield Council in London on the topic. Information on
their groundbreaking approach can be found on:
http://www.enfield.gov.uk/green/sustgde.htm
The ACE has also been informed about the publication, on
the 19th April, of “The Egan Review – Skills
for Sustainable Communities”. The review was set up
by the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK and it seeks to set
down a definition of what “sustainable community”
means, identify those responsible for leading the delivery
of sustainable communities and to recognise the skills necessary
to achieve sustainable communities. The booklet can be purchased
online at:
www.ribabookshops.com
WISIONS
This is a new initiative of the German-based Wuppertal Institute
for Climate, Environment and Energy. The objective of the
initiative is to combine the spreading of knowledge about
existing successful projects with progressing the realisation
of new project ideas. It will address two main fields of
action – the Sustainable energy Project Support (SEPS)
and the promotion of Resource Efficient Projects (PREP).
Further details and information can be found at:
http://www.wisions.net
RESIDENCES FOR OLD PEOPLE AND THE
HEAT-WAVE OF 2003
In France, the third report of the “Inspection General
des Affaires Sociales” (Inspectorate General of Social
Affairs (IGAS)) on the heat-wave of 2003 that cost the lives
of many thousands of old people, has found that:
“In the majority of establishments that it has visited,
the group noted the importance of architectural factors
in the size of the mortality rates in August 2003”
The report recommends that approval of such establishments
be subject to their “architectural capacity”.
For further information (in French only) see:
http://www.interbat.com/MAG-i?article=157
EU FUNDS FOR RESEARCH
Jean-Marie Fauconnier attended, on behalf of the ACE and
the SAF (Societe des Architectes francophones de Belgique),
a two-day event on the funding opportunities for research
in the EU. A nine page report (in French only) on the outcome
of the event is available on request from the ACE Secretariat.
The main message of the event is that real opportunities
exist for architects to source EU funding for research work.
To assist there are Helpdesks in all the regions of the
EU who advise (at no cost) on how to find the appropriate
funding for your project.
STAFF CHANGES AT THE COMMISSION
There are staff changes all the time at the Commission,
but three recent changes will affect the work of the ACE:
Vicente Leoz Arguelles left DG Enterprise G5 Construction
Unit on the 15th April and he was replaced by Reinhard Klein.
Mr. Leoz is now Head for unit E3 Chemicals.
On the 16th March, Antonio Paparella replaced Juan Antonio
Campos in the Construction Unit at DG Enterprise. He will
take over competitiveness and sustainability issues as well
as the Construction Contact Point.
Jonathon Stoodley has left DG Internal Market for the Secretariat
General of the Commission and has been replaced by Ms. Pamela
Brumter-Coret as Head of Unit, Qualifications. We recall
that Mrs Brumter-Coret, who is well known to ACE, was previously
Head of Unit in the Public Procurement Directorate in the
same DG. She was actually the main official responsible
for the PP Legislative Package.
PROFESSIONAL INDEMNITY INSURANCE
(PII)
In the context of the proposal for the SIM Directive, it
will be necessary for the ACE to examine the issue of PII.
It is therefore interesting to note that the CCBE (lawyers)
are already well advanced in this area at EU level. It has
continuing dealings with the insurance industry, it held
a conference in Paris last January and it has a steering
committee which meets regularly to discuss problems and
their solutions, composed of the bars, insurance companies
and brokers. The CCBE is about to consider, at its General
Assembly next month the topics of minimum standards for
insurance around the EU; a common questionnaire to help
the Bars recognise insurance brought into their jurisdiction
cross-border; and a 'difference in conditions' policy which
would cover cross-border lawyers for whatever risks they
were not covered for in the host country.
This provides food for thought for the architectural profession.
EUROPA WEBSITE OPENS TO NEW LANGUAGES
On the 16th march last, President Prodi and the 10 new Commissioners
launched the publication of information in the nine new
languages of the EU on the internet site EUROPA. This means
that the citizens of the acceding countries can access basic
information on the EU and its decision-making processes
in their own language. More elements of the site will progressively
come on line over the coming months at:
www.europa.eu.int
PAINTS TO BECOME SAFER
The EU Parliament voted, on the 30th March, to oust most
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) from paints used
for decoration. VOC’s are widely believed to prompt
respiratory illnesses and to cause damage to crops as they
travel in the air. The heat-wave that hit Europe last year
was partly attributed to ozone smog exacerbated by the solvents
contained in paints. Under the new VOC Directive, the emission
of VOC’s will be phased out in two steps (2007 and
2010) so that industry is given time to adapt.
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EVENTS
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B4E – BUILDING FOR A EUROPEAN
FUTURE
To be held in Maastricht on the 14th and 15th October 2004,
this conference aims to reflect the views of all stakeholders
in construction on the future development of European research
in the sector. The compiled views of the participants will
be presented to the Commission with the aim of influencing
the development of the 7th Framework Programme (FP&)
for research. Focus will be on the following themes: 1.
Smart Construction; 2. Building the Future; 3. Strategies
for Innovation; 4. Strategic Alliances. A Press Conference
to announce the Conference is scheduled for the 29th April
in Brussels. For further details and information see:
www.b4e.org
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON URBAN
REGENERATION OF POLISH CITIES
Scheduled for the 21st May 2004 in Poznan (Poland), this
conference will look at strategies that are being employed
across Europe to devise, guide and manage the regeneration
of cities in a sustainable manner. Meetings of the ACE Taskforces
on Urban issues and on Public Private Partnerships will
take place on the day following the conference. Further
information can be requested from the ACE Secretariat.
THE NEW REGIME AHEAD
In response to the serious change in the way in which public
procurement will operate in Europe, the UNICE (the Voice
of Business in Europe), is organising a major conference
on the subject in Oslo, Norway. It will take place from
the 29th September to the 1st October 2004 and full information
can be accessed at:
http://unice.nho.no/
CEN ENVIRONMENTAL SEMINAR
A successful seminar was held in Brussels last month at
which Livia Tirone of the ACE Taskforce on the Environment
and Sustainable Architecture made a well-received presentation.
The papers of the conference are now available for downloading
at:
http://www.cenorm.be/cenorm/index.htm
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PUBLICATIONS
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EUROSCAPES
This is a recent publication that examines the spatial effects
of enlargement of the EU on the landscape of the 21st Century.
Among the questions it addresses is what of kind of space
does the movement of people bring about at specific points
in Europe? Is it characteristic of the movements of people
around Europe that the underlying processes are largely
invisible and any spatial effects occur only gradually?
The book is in English and Dutch. More information available
by e-mail to:
Mail@imust.nl
CLOSING THE LOOP: BENCHMARKS FOR
SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
Published by the Oxford Centre for Sustainable Development
in March 2004, this book has 42 chapters covering the main
issues of sustainable building with a section dedicated
to a range of widely used methodologies for evaluating related
impacts of the issues presented. It also addresses the emerging
issue of post-occupancy evaluation of buildings. More information
is available at:
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be/oisd/index.html
POIESIS
A thematic collection of bilingual publications dedicated
to a fundamental, collective and cross-disciplinary analysis
on architecture and the city. The series has now reached
its 15th issue and it can be subscribed to online at:
http://poiesis.free.fr
GUIDE TO THE SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME
CALLS
An online guide to the various calls for research proposals
under the Sixth Framework Programme of the EU can be consulted
and purchased at:
http://onlinebookshop.villareal.fi/
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COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS
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NOTE
The ACE does not accept liability for the accuracy of information
on any competitions announced in this section – they
have been notified to the Secretariat and the basic information
is simply reproduced here. The publication of a note about
a competition should not be construed as indicating that
the competition has been approved, in any way, by the ACE.
HOUSE OF MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS
This is the theme of the Shinkenchiku Residential Design
Competition 2004 which will be judged by a single architect
– Steven Holl. Deadline for entries is Friday 3rd
September 2004 and all information is available at:
http://www.japan-architect.co.jp
ASIAFRONT VILLAGE
This competition is intended to explore cultural diversification
in the 21st Century through the development of proposal
for a new approach to settlement. The closing date for entries
is Monday July 26th 2004 and full information can be found
at:
http://www.japan-architect.co.jp
CELEBRATION OF CITIES
The UIA has published the results of its “Celebration
of Cities” competition. The Grand Prize has been won
by a group of Italian architects – Maurizio Marzi,
Giorgio Morini, Marcello Ganassini, Francesca Scianna and
Yemande A Omotoso. There is a long list of all winners that
can be consulted at the website of the UIA at:
www.uia-architectes.org
LEAF AWARDS 2004
A limited award is open to delegates that have attended
past and present conferences of the “Leading European
Architects Forum”. It is intended to showcase excellence
in design and construction within Europe. Further information
can be received by contacting simonakastly@spgmedia.com
FRATE SOLE FOUNDATION AWARD
This Foundation has set up an award of ¤ 150,000.00,
to be granted at four-yearly intervals to the architect
or artist of any Christian confession who, in the course
of the preceding ten years, has been responsible for an
ecclesiastical building of outstanding excellence. Previous
laureates are Tandao Ando and Alvaro Siza. The deadline
for the current call is the 31st May 2004 and full information
can be found at:
www.fondazionefratesole.org
USEFUL LINKS
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EUROPEAN COMMISSION HOMEPAGE
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm
SEARCH PAGE FOR COMMISSION DOCUMENTS
http://www.europa.eu.int/prelex/rech_simple.cfm?CL=en
WEBSITE OF THE IRISH PRESIDENCY
http://www.eu2004.ie/
COMMISSION CONSULTATION ON PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
http://europa.eu.int/yourvoice/pubproc/index_en.htm
SUSTAINABLE BUILDING WEBSITE
www.sustainablebuilding.info
B4E CONFERENCE INFORMATION
http://www.b4e.org
COAC INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DATABASE:
http://www.coac.net/internacional/default_w.html
CNAPPC DATABASE – ARCHIEUROPE:
http://www.archieuro.archiworld.it
ACE WEBSITE
http://www.ace-cae.org
USEFUL TIP:
In the website addresses given in ACE Info for the documents
of the EU, you will frequently see the following near the
end of the address: “_en”. These two letters
define the language of the document (English in the case
of “en”) and you can usually change these two
letters in order to bring you to a different language version
as follows:
French _fr German _de Danish _da
Italian _it Spanish _es Greek _el
Dutch _nl Portuguese _pt Finnish _fi Swedish _sv
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EDITOR’S NOTE
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The editorial board for the compilation of
ACE Info is:
The ACE President: Leopoldo Freyrie
The Secretary General of the ACE: Alain Sagne
Senior Advisor to the ACE: Adrian Joyce
ACE Info is normally issued on the second
Wednesday of each month. You are free to circulate the document
as widely as you wish, to translate its contents for use
in your publications and to refer to the information it
contains once you credit the ACE as the origin.
If you do not wish to receive this monthly
document, then please e-mail info@ace-cae.org
requesting to be removed from the list.
If you have information that you wish to
have included in the next issue then e-mail it (in English
or French please) to adrian.joyce@ace-cae.org
Deadline for submissions is the first Friday of each month.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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The editorial board wishes to acknowledge
the sources of information for this issue of ACE Info which
include the Euractiv website (www.euractiv.com),
Bulletin Quotidien Europe, CCBE-Info No. 8, PCN Update March
2004, UNICE @ News March 2004 and Jean-Marie Fauconnier.
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adrian.joyce@ace-cae.org
– Comments and contributions welcome
