RESOLUTION

The Members of the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) at their plenary Assembly meeting held in Brussels (Belgium) on 23^rd April 2005 have unanimously adopted the following resolution:

The Assembly resolves

Having regard to the announced intention of UNESCO, as part of its current restructuring, to remove architecture as a priority topic from UNESCO’s Human and Social Sciences sector, as of 31^st December 2005;

Having regard to the fact that no information is available for the time being on the existence of any alternative plans to attach architecture to another Department of UNESCO as a priority activity area instead;

Whereas architecture, notably through its social and cultural role, is a fundamental element of the quality of the living environment of citizens and of cultural heritage, as recognised in the Resolution of the Council of the European Union of 12 February 2001 on Architectural Quality in the Urban and Rural Environments;

Considering that loosing the subject of architecture from the political agenda of UNESCO would also not be compensated by the UNESCO World Heritage Programme as this only reflects a small part of architecture and, in particular, does not take account of the pressing challenges in the housing problems of today ;

Considering furthermore that the long-standing, successful co-operation between the International Union of Architects (UIA) and UNESCO, on various subjects, would also be negatively affected and that valuable results obtained would be jeopardised, such as, for instance, the further development of the UIA/UNESCO Charter on Architectural Education ;

Calls on the Director General of UNESCO, its Executive Council and its General Conference to keep architecture as a priority issue in UNESCO’s working structure and work programme.

Suggests furthermore that it is essential that the co-operation between UNESCO and other UN-Programmes, in particular UN-Habitat, on the topics, exposed above, should be increased.