European Council of Shopping Places (ECSP)

What a journey! 😮💨 the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EBPD) has finally been adopted by the European Parliament. Between the publication of the draft proposal of the European Commission in December 2021 until its adoption by the Parliament last week, almost 2 and half years of hard-fought negotiations have passed. 😯 Before we look at the text, a quick word about the vote: not exactly a landslide as close to 200 MEPs (199 to be precise) said "no" to the text. Only 370 MEPs voted in favour while 46 abstained. This was enough to adopt the text. However, this is also enough to cast a shadow of controversy on the new text as several MEPs rejected the text on the grounds that it was too ambitious and would put a lot of strain on the building sector. The brand new EPBD (second revision in 5 years) aims to progressively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sector, and make it climate neutral by 2050. According to the new text, all new buildings should be zero-emission as of 2030. Member states will also have to renovate the 16% worst-performing non-residential buildings by 2030 and, by 2033, the worst-performing 26% through minimum energy performance requirements. Regarding sustainable mobility, the text provides that non-residential buildings (so including malls) that do not undergo major renovation will need to install 10% of recharging points (1 recharging point for every 10 parking spaces) OR duct at least 50% of the parking spaces to prepare for future recharging points points. This last point was challenged by ECSP in the weeks leading to the vote and we obtained directly from MEP Cuffe (rapporteur for the file) an opt out for the ducting obligation in the guidance note to be drafted by the Commission. ECSP is following up now with the Commission to secure this great SUCCESS for our sector! ECSP will also continue to work on the transposition of this Directive into EU law. As you know, EU Directives are setting objectives but leave it for the Member States to choose the means to attain these objectives. This gives us room for manoeuver to continue to influence the text. ECSP has already identified a number of "soft spots" that we will use to our advantage. Even if the text is adopted, the fight is still on. And ECSP will continue to fight for you. 👊

When we talk about governance in ESG, the focus is often on traditional legal governance (i.e. board composition, shareholder rights, and audits). But what about operational governance? ✅ Maintenance standards ✅ Safety protocols ✅ Resilience planning ✅ Supplier accountability ✅ Management roles responsibility ✅ Anti corruption practises. For the retail real estate sector, operational governance is just as critical as financial oversight. That's why our Risk and Resilience working group developed a practical guide to help our industry define and implement the "G" in ESG beyond boardrooms – ensuring that governance also improves day-to-day operations, tenant relationships, and long-term asset value. A big shout out to Erik Engstrand and the working group members for their valuable contribution! If you wish to access it, please contact me directly at bouyeron@ecsp.eu or DM me on Linkedin. #ESG #governance #realestate #retailrealestate #shoppingplaces #malls #shoppingcenters #ECSP

As we step into this New year, ECSP is thrilled to announce two outstanding additions to our association! A warm welcome to our newest member 🇭🇺 : Magyar Bevásárlóközpontok Szövetsége aka the Hungarian Council of Shopping Places. Your expertise and commitment to the retail real estate sector will undoubtedly enrich our community and drive impactful collaborations. Equally delighted to announce our new partner: Osborne Clarke - Belgium. With your innovative legal insights and global perspective, we're looking forward to working together to navigate and shape the future of retail real estate. A big thank you to Gyula Gyalay-Korpos and David Haex for your trust🙏🏻. Together, we will continue to strengthen our European association and the representation of the sector in Brussels and across Europe. Welcome aboard! We’re excited for the journey ahead. 🚀 👊 #ECSP #retailrealestate #shoppingplaces

Very proud to announce that ECSP has now a dedicated column in the Across magazine! 💥 This column will highlight the actions taken by ECSP to represent and defend the retail real estate sector in Brussels and in Europe. A huge thank you to Anne-Kathrin Velten and Reinhard Winiwarter from ACROSS Magazine for their trust. 😊 The first installment of the ECSP column is already out and it is about our primary purpose: lobbying. Have a nice read! 😉

MAPIC is already over. Everybody has returned home 🏠 but with more than just business cards – we’re taking home new connections, fresh perspectives, and memories that will fuel us for the year ahead. 💪🏻 🚀 It was a particularly exciting moment for ECSP as we held our Legal workshop on AI, our Retail and Leasing WG and our first physical National Council Committee meeting. The energy during those meetings was palpable, and the exchange of ideas was nothing short of inspiring⚡️. A big shout out to our attendees and speakers for their presence and contribution!😉 And of course, a big thank you to the MAPIC organisers for simply making it possible.🙏🏻 See you next year for another edition!🙌🏻 Joanna Fisher Francesco Pupillo Klaus Striebich Valeria Di Nisio Cristina Mihaila Christophe NOEL Ulrich Schmitz #retailrealestate #ECSP #MAPIC

All set and waiting for you.😉

🚀 Workshop alert! 🚀 As AI reshapes industries, retail real estate is no exception. From personalized shopping experiences to lease contracts and tenant-landlord relationship, AI is redefining our business. This is why ECSP is organising a workshop during MAPIC where we'll dive deep into the opportunities and challenges AI brings to the legal and contractual dimension of the sector. So join us! 🗓️ November 27th, 14h00 - 15h30  📍 Palais des Festivals (Verrière Grand Audi), Cannes See full programme here👇😉 See you there. #retailrealestate #AI #MAPIC #ECSP

Combining work and pleasure was the motto of the ECSP Sustainability group in Milano these past 2 days: a friendly Italian dinner 🥂, a productive working group meeting and the visit of the flamboyant and brand new Merlata Bloom shopping center ✨ . What more do you need? 🤷♂️ Thanks to CNCC - Consiglio Nazionale Centri Commerciali, Teresa Sommonte, Francesco Soldi, Claudio Cremonesi for having us and Maria Hill and Melissa Wulff for the smooth organisation. 💫

🌟 Ingka and NCSC Joined ECSP's Ranks! 🌟 We are thrilled to welcome Ingka Centres and NCSC - Nordic Commercial Spaces & Communities to the growing community of ECSP ! 🎉 These esteemed organizations will bring a wealth of expertise and experience to our membership and we are excited to start a fruitful collaboration.   Looking forward to working with you as we embark on this exciting journey together! 🤝 A big shout out to Jan Krelina, Ulrika Hammargren, Jack Berringer, Jussi Vyyryläinen and Kajsa Hernell for their trust!   #retailrealestate #ECSP #Ingka #NCSC

Last week ECSP was invited to the ECE Investors’ day in Hamburg to debate with Joachim Lohse from ZIA German Property Federation on European legislation. Thanks again for having us for a great day full of insights! 🙏