CEPI - European Council of Real Estate Professions

the International Union of Property Owners (UIPI) took the initiative to compare the private rented sectors in a number of European countries, each with their own legislative frameworks and socio-economic backgrounds. What is the duration of residential tenancy agreements? How can a rent be terminated? Under what conditions can a rent be increased? What are eviction procedures? What are transaction taxes, capital gains taxes and recurrent property taxes in the different EU countries? These are among the many questions that are briefly answered in comparative and comprehensive tables and graphs.

The issue of professional regulation is on the EU agenda. This is evident from the Communication published by the European Commission on 2 October on evaluating national regulations on access to professions. As the European representative body for the sector CEPI is participating in the discussions. Therefore CEPI has researched regulation in the real estate professions and is now publishing the results in a report which covers both regulation and the national characteristics of different housing markets in the EU.

On 24 September a public hearing on the role and future of the liberal professions in European civil society 2020 was held by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels. The hearing is part of the process relating to the preparation of an own-initiative opinion by rapporteur Mr Metzler for the EESC which is an advisory body of the EU. This discussion is of importance to CEPI and the real estate professionals.

The final vote on the proposal for the modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive took place on 9 October in a plenary session of the European Parliament. In the preceding debate Commissioner for the Internal Market Michel Barnier referred to a regulatory regime which is fit for purpose in the general interest. He thinks that can be reconciled with easier access to professions. He also announced that the Commission is working on an implementation phase for the European professional card which should be ready at the end of the transposition period for the Directive.

On 2 October the European Commission published a Communication on evaluating national regulations on access to professions. This anticipates the coming into force of the revised Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications which foresees a mutual evaluation exercise in which EU Member States are to review their qualification requirements. The real estate sector is amongst the first cluster of professions to be screened and evaluated. This is a priority for CEPI which has been closely involved in the revision of the Directive and ongoing discussions concerning professional regulations and looks forward to taking an active part in the evaluation on behalf of the real estate sector.