France returns to the Bureau of the Architects' Council of Europe (ACE)

Elizabeth Gossart, head of the CNOA delegation to the CAE, and Christophe Millet, president of the CNOA, participated this morning in the second annual general assembly of the Architects' Council of Europe in Prague. In an election year, the organization's Executive Board was renewed, injecting new energy into the institution representing the profession at the European level.

Elizabeth Gossart, a candidate for the new Board, received 68% of the votes and the support of 60% of the countries eligible to vote. Her election reflects a dual dynamic: France's return to international architectural bodies and the strengthening of the French Order of Architects' international presence. France had been absent from European institutions for several years; however, the work carried out over the past two years by the CNOA (National Council of the Order of Architects) and its representative, Elizabeth Gossart, has rekindled interest in France among its partners, which was demonstrated by the resounding vote in favor of the French candidacy.

This vote is the just reward for a strategy, since 2021, whose objective is to strengthen the place of architecture of general interest on the international stage, through debates on culture, heritage, sustainable development and cultural cooperation.

The Architects' Council of Europe (ACE) is the representative organization for architecture at the European level. It currently has 52 member organizations, including the regulatory and professional representative bodies of all EU Member States, 6 observer members (Serbia, Kosovo, Ukraine, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Moldova) from candidate countries and members with special status (United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway), thus representing the interests of more than half a million architects from 36 European countries.

In her new role as a member of the CAE executive board, Elizabeth GOSSART is committed to strengthening the voice of architects in the making of European standards, supporting the adaptation of the profession to a constantly evolving environment (climate change, ecological transition, innovation, digitalization) and focusing on the issues of gender equality, diversity and continuing education, subjects which she championed during her term at the CNOA and with which she is familiar.

The CNOA welcomes this election and warmly congratulates its candidate. This election marks a significant renewal for the representation of French architects within European institutions. This mandate will allow them to champion the values ​​of architecture for the public good and actively contribute to strategic debates on the future of architecture in Europe.

The election of Elizabeth Gossart is part of a broader effort to strengthen the participation of representatives from the French Order of Architects in international organizations representing the profession to public authorities, in which France holds seats: the Architects' Council of Europe (ACE), the International Union of Architects (UIA), the Mediterranean Union of Architects (UMAR), and the Pan American Federation of Architects' Associations (FPAA). At the French National Council of the Order of Architects (CNOA), Vice-President Fabien Gantois oversees international affairs.

The new CAE Executive Board for the period 2026-2027 is composed of the members elected by the General Assembly: Daniel FÜGENSCHUH (Austria), President, Elizabeth GOSSART (France), Diego ZOPPI (Italy), Román SAN EMETERIO PEDRAJA (Spain), Carl BÄCKSTRAND (Sweden), Reto GMÜR (Switzerland); as well as members appointed on a rotating basis: Arja LUKIN (Finland), Istelianna ATANASSOVA (Bulgaria), Andro MÄND (Estonia), Eugen PANESCU (Romania) and Judit KIMPIAN (United Kingdom).