WRITTEN QUESTION No. 372/99 by Yvonne SANDBERG-FRIES European housing fair
Date: 1999-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, SANDBERG-FRIES
Subjects: Sweden, building, housing, job creation, single-family housing, trade event

C 348/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.12.1999

(1999/C 348/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0372/99

by Yvonne Sandberg-Fries (PSE) to the Commission

(17 February 1999)

Subject: European housing fair

There are plans to hold a European housing fair in Malmö, Sweden, in 2001. It will be jointly organised by
Sweden and Denmark and receive support from the two governments. At their meeting in Graz in October
1998 the European Ministers of Housing called on the Commission to support the Fair, thus emphasising the
Fair’s importance to the establishment of a common market in the house building sector which would support
employment in Europe. The most important part of the Fair will in that respect be the ‘European City’ in which
each European country will erect a house reflecting its own ideal and which complies with EU directives.
Denmark and Sweden have put in a great effort, as have experts in the Member States and in the Commission,
so that this important project may reach fruition. Despite repeated enquiries the Commission has still given no
clear indication of how it intends to support the European Housing Fair. This delay is likely to become a
serious problem as invitations have to be sent out to the countries of Europe at the latest by the end
of February/beginning of March this year.

Will the Commission immediately give a clear indication of the support it intends to give to the European
housing fair to be held in Malmö in 2001?

(1999/C 348/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0500/99

by Niels Sindal (PSE) to the Commission

(5 March 1999)

Subject: Housing fair

Sweden, Denmark and their two governments are planning to hold a housing fair in Malmö, Sweden, in 2001.
The project has the backing of Europe’s housing ministers, who have called on the Commission to support the
fair so as to help create a European construction market and boost employment in Europe. The fair also has a
cultural dimension, as one of its centrepieces is the ‘European City’ stand, where every country in Europe is to
erect a house reflecting its own ideal. Many people throughout the EU have put a great deal of effort into
ensuring that the project goes ahead. However, despite repeated inquiries, the Commission has still not stated
clearly whether it will support the project.

Will the Commission therefore say whether it is prepared to support the European housing fair which is to be
held in Malmö in 2001?

Joint answer
to Written Questions P-0372/99 and E-0500/99
given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(13 April 1999)

The Commission shares the view that the European housing exhibition could be useful in the process of
establishing a common market for the construction sector that will also contribute to employment in Europe.
The holding of the exhibition is therefore welcomed and could be regarded as an important project with a
European dimension. The Commission supports the exhibition, as already stated in a letter to the Swedish
minister of the Interior in September 1997 and in several meetings with the organisers, and has offered its
patronage. The use of the European emblem in association with the project has previously been clarified with
the Commission.

The preparations for the exhibition, and especially the European village, are well under way and the
Commission is working in close collaboration with the organisers, particularly in relation to Council Directive
89/106/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of
the Member States relating to construction products (1).

(1) OJ L 40, 11.2.1989.