ICSC's European Public Affairs Committee (EPAC) will hold its next meeting on 12 April in Brussels. The EPAC meets regularly to discuss developments in EU policy that potentially affect the retail property sector and to ensure that the industry has a voice in Brussels. The committee is active in building relationships with European politicians and decision-makers, as well as seeking to shape the outcome of key EU debates and to protect the interests of the sector.
Issues covered by the committee include environmental legislation such as on soil and waste, energy efficiency requirements for buildings and components, and competitiveness issues such as financing and economic recovery.
This session, issues on the agenda include an update on the policy priorities of the new commission and the implications for retail property and a discussion with Eurocommerce's secretary general, Xavier Durieu, about the retailer's priorities for 2010. The new International Sustainability Alliance, which will look at the measurement and assessment of the environmental performance of buildings, will also be discussed.
Bertrand Courtois Suffit, ICSC's former president, chairs the committee, which brings together representatives of several national shopping center councils and individual companies. Representatives of the shopping center councils from the UK, France, Spain, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries are joined by representatives from companies such as Redevco, Multi Development, Unibail Rodamco, Spar European Shopping Centres GmbH, ING Real Estate and Wilhelm & Co.
Through their membership in the committee, organizations keep up to date on EU legislation and policy before it affects their businesses. Their membership also allows organizations to act together at an early stage to seek workable outcomes for the industry.
ICSC members who want to learn more about how European legislation can affect their businesses and what they can do about it are welcome to join the EPAC's regular meetings. Members can apply to join the group by contacting ICSC's representative in Brussels at sarah.lee@interel.eu.
Source: ICSC
