The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in cooperation with the City of Vienna and CECODHAS is organizing a Second Workshop on Energy Efficiency in Housing , to take place in Vienna, on 23 -25 November 2009. UNECE is currently collecting proposals from potential speakers at the workshop.

 23-06-2009
The regulation 397/2009 amending the ERDF regulation provides new opportunities to support energy efficiency investmens and greater use of renewable energies in existing housing in all EU-27 Member States. CECODHAS, with the support of Ms Danuta Hübner, EC Commissioner for Regional Policy, and sponsored by Husbanken, produced an information leaflet for all relevant stakeholders.

The publication 'Management of Privatised Social Housing: International Perspectives' edited by Vincent Gruis, Sasha Tsenkova, and Nico Nieboer can be purchased by CECODHAS members at a discounted price.

>Click HERE for further information

Citizens throughout the EU will elect the next European Parliament in June 2009. For the not-for-profit providers of affordable homes and sustainable neighbourhoods within CECODHAS, EU elections are an opportunity to improve people’s life chances and quality of life through better living conditions.

The National Housing Federation London hosted an MEP Question Time at the UK Office of the European Parliament on Friday 15th May 2009. This event was an opportunity to find out more about the place social housing holds in Europe and to influence future decision makers. David Orr, CECODHAS President and NHF Chief Executive, spoke about the challenge of getting British voters interested in European elections while praising the work of Europe’s housing federations at an MEP Question Time in London on May 15. “European elections seem to disappear into the background,” Mr Orr said, adding that “a major problem in this country is getting people to engage in Europe.”

Union Sociale pour l'Habitat (USH), the French professional organisation representing over 800 social housing organisations through 5 federations, has adopted its Manifesto for the European elections. The document was presented by USH President Thierry Repentin on the 5th of May, on the occasion of a conference where the head candidates of all lists for the elections were present. The Manifesto outlines a positive account of the ending legislative period, and presents the main challenges for the next period (2009-2014) making concrete proposals to future MEPs. 

At the Conference of the Isles 2009, organised by the University of Ulster in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Housing, on the 7th and 8th of May, UK memebrs of CECODHAS  launched their joint manifesto for the European elections.The Four Federations, which include Community Housing Cymru, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations and the National Housing Federation represent housing associations in their respective UK territory.