16-04-08    

Demographic change is a reality in Europe. The aim of the conference was to disseminate the state of the art on the ageing and housing needs through the European expertise and the presentation of innovative practices.

27-03-08 

The Structural Funds finance interregional cooperation in the EU. Two programmes, CENTRAL EUROPE (for Central European Countries) and MED (for Mediterannean Countries) have launched their first call for proposals. With opportunities in the field of housing...

21/22-04-2008 Ancona, Italy

The energy efficiency scenario in the European Union sees on one hand, the energy needs, climate change, EU policies promoting energy saving and the use of renewables, and, on the other hand, the impact of the market liberalization process on both production and distribution to end-users. The social housing sector can indeed make a significant contribution to the debate.

12-03-08

Key actors in Climate Change Action, CECODHAS members address two clear messages to 2008 Spring Council: Firstly, barriers to achieving maximum energy efficiency in residential sector must be addressed. Secondly, the prevention of a growing number of European falling into energy poverty must be paramount in discussions on liberalisation of energy markets.

08-02-08

On 30 January, as part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week 2008, 140 people attended the CECODHAS conference “Housing and the European energy Transition”, hosted by the Committee of the Regions, Brussels.

08-02-08 

The European Commission is still working on a way to relax the strict interpretation of the ERDF Regulation (1080/2006) which states, in Article 7, that housing expenses are  eligible only in new Member States.

08-02-08

In its contribution to the public consultation on the future of Cohesion Policy, CECODHAS insists that the orientation of the Cohesion Policy does not take enough into account the challenge of sustainable and integrated urban development. 

08-02-08

On 8 January 2008, Fiona Hall presented her report for the European Parliament on the EU Action Plan for Energy Efficiency endorsed by Heads of State last March, on the occasion of the EU Spring Council.

08-02-08

On January 23rd, Jose Manuel Barroso presented to the European Parliament the new climate change package, after it was adopted by the Commission. The package includes a detailed description on how the European Union will meet sustainable development goals and objectives while tackling climate change and delivering secure, sustainable and competitive energy to EU citizens.

08-02-08

Latvian construction firm Laval un Partneri won a victory at the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which ruled on December 18th, 2007 that Swedish trade unions had breached EU regulations by blocking the renovation of a school in the city of  Vaxholm by a subsidiary of the Latvian company.

08-02-08

‘The Housing & Regeneration Bill represents the greatest ever threat to the independence of housing associations, their ability to deliver new homes at expected levels and run locally-driven community services’ – says Federation chief executive David Orr. This is because the Bill, currently being considered by the UK Parliament, attempts to impose central control on housing associations which will limit their flexibility and ability to adapt to local needs.
The Federation welcomes parts of the Bill -such as the creation of a powerful new Homes and Communities Agency, to fund urgently needed homes.  But NHF we fears that, by granting the Secretary of State unprecedented power to direct the sector’s affairs, the Housing Bill is in danger of redefining housing associations as public bodies.

08-02-08

CECODHAS French member Union Sociale pour l'Habitat (USH) continues its campaign on Livret A: the federation presented its view and proposals to the Finance Commission of the French National Assembly on February 6. 
Together with a number of stakeholders, which include local community associations, members of parliament, HLM organisations and of their regional federations, and associations of tenants and users- USH expressed their concern about the risks linked to modifying the Livret A system, and signed a common declaration, which calls on the French President and Government not to take decisions on the reform of Livret A carelessly, without a proper debate and consultation.

08-02-08

Applications are now being accepted for the 2008 edition of the World Habitat Awards, until 1st June 2008.
The Building and Social Housing Foundation is also organising a five-day International Study Visit to the ZukunftsWerkStadt Leinefelde project, in Germany, winner last year World Habitat Award. The municipality of Leinefelde-Worbis in former East Germany has succeeded in addressing the problems faced by shrinking cities through an innovative and integrated, participatory approach to urban regeneration. The purpose of the visit is to provide an in-depth understanding of the practical techniques, training methods and project management approaches used in the project. Bursaries are provided by BSHF to help meet the travel and accommodation costs of those selected to take part in the international study visit: all applications should reach BSHF by Friday, 29th February.

08-02-08

The Directors’ Contact – the network of directors of housing associations affiliated with Aedes – has presented its annual award for Best Housing Association Director to Ms Truus Sweringa of Oost Flevoland Woondiensten (OFW).

08-02-08

URBAN-NET issues a first call for research proposals on sustainable urban development from 15 January to 15 April 2008. URBAN-NET is a network of fifteen research funding and coordinating European organisations and UN Habitat. The goal of the consortium is to structure and coordinate research on urban sustainability in Europe by identifying and addressing trans-national requirements for research and the sharing of good practice.