Dear Members,

As we near the end of another RICS business year (31 July) I hope that, like me, you're looking forward to a well-deserved summer break – it has once again been a very full year!

We've accomplished so much in the past 12 months, and here is a brief overview of just some of the great things we've achieved:

	As at 31 May, RICS Europe's qualified membership stood at 4,963 members (that's 573 more compared to 31 July last year). This is a great result - largely thanks to the many final assessment sessions taking place all over Europe on an ongoing basis.
	In the first six months of this business year, we achieved 98% of our media target mainly in Germany, France, Russia, Cyprus and in a range of pan-European publications. Again, a fantastic result.
	We successfully launched the RICS Europe Technical Due Diligence guidance note and the Global Real Estate Agency and Brokerage standards in the different markets.
	In November 2010 we launched 'Regulated by RICS' in continental Europe, and we are now preparing the launch of the Valuer Registration Scheme (VRS).

Below you'll find an overview of all the activities organised by the National Groups. For now, I wish you all a relaxing summer break. We'll be back with more news in September.

Kind regards,

Luciano Capaldo FRICS Chairman RICS Europe

NEW – RICS valuation web classes

As part of our online learning services, RICS is organising some web classes exploring valuer issues. After the class with Robert Peto FRICS, RICS President and Andrew Renshaw FRICS, on the mutual effects and consequences of Finance and Valuation on 21 June 17.30 CET, we are also offering on 12 July at 17.00 CET ‘Red Book and International Valuation Standards’ with David Rusholme FRICS. Both web classes are at 15 GBP excl. VAT.

For further information and to register click here

Firms regulation firms up

Since its launch in November 2010, over 150 firms from more than 20 countries have signed up for the 'Regulated by RICS' label in continental Europe. To register as an RICS Regulated Firm and benefit from effective monitoring and regulatory advice, at least 50% of the directors or principals in the firm must be RICS members. Registration is voluntary and free of charge.

To find out more, visit www.ricseurope.eu/regulatedfirms

Have your say

The RICS 2011 membership survey was launched on 13 June. We want to hear your views on how RICS is performing in supporting and promoting the profession, as well as what you believe RICS should be focusing on in the future. To reduce the impact on the environment the survey is once again running online. All members should have received their online invitation from independent market research agent GfK NOP. If you’ve missed it, you can also log in here

Attend the 2011 AGM… online

The RICS 2011 Annual General Meeting is being held on 4 July at RICS, Parliament Square, London, at 18.00 CET. If you can’t make it in person, for the first time members can join the AGM remotely via Webex, and you’ll be able to vote on the relevant items through our online voting software. All qualified RICS members are invited to attend the AGM and are eligible to vote. Honorary members may attend, but are not entitled to vote.

Details on how to register to join remotely plus AGM documents can be found at www.rics.org/agm2011.

Get connected

Looking for a valuer in Russia, a facility manager in Germany or an agent in Spain? Simply go to MemberSearch@RICSEurope to find many of the most qualified professionals in continental Europe. Launched in partnership with PropertyEU – the leading pan-European real estate publication – our new online directory for RICS Europe members offers you free exposure to the global business community and is available at www.ricseurope.eu.

If not yet done so, register now!

VRS coming to Europe

RICS is launching the RICS Valuer Registration Scheme (VRS) across continental Europe on 12 September. The Scheme has been put in place to monitor that all registered members practice the standards in the Red Book when undertaking valuations. The Scheme is voluntary and applies at individual member level.

An update will follow early September. Meanwhile, you can contact the Regulation Europe team at regulationeurope@rics.org

Europe
RICS European education forum is here

Following demand from many RICS accredited courses, the Continental Europe Educational Standards Board (CESB) is organising an education forum where course leaders will be able to share experiences and ideas. The first meeting will be held in Munich, immediately after Expo Real, on Friday 7 October. To inaugurate the forum and start the debate, we have introduced the key topics of internationalisation and teaching professional ethics in real estate schools.

Are you a course leader interested in more information or holding a presentation? Please contact Anna Galiano at agaliano@rics.org

Cyprus
7^th RICS Cyprus Real Estate conference

RICS Cyprus is holding its annual conference on 28 September – providing a holistic overview of the real estate sector and covering many important topics related to the sector. Among others, RICS Europe Chairman Luciano Capaldo FRICS will present the ‘Latest trends in global property markets’ and ‘Technical Due Diligence’ guidance for continental Europe.

For a detailed programme, please contact Liana Toumazou at ricscyprus@rics.org

Finland
Sustainability conference in Helsinki

RICS is hosting a special sustainability forum on 19 October in Helsinki. Devoted to ‘sustainability and value’, the event hosts RICS speakers including Sarah Sayce FRICS, Stephen Hill MRICS (UK), David Lorenz FRICS (Germany) and Frank Hovorka MRICS (France). The presentations will address how to successfully demonstrate the relationship between a building’s environmental and social performance and its market value, how existing property valuation methods and practices need to change to reflect sustainability issues, and many fascinating discussions around sustainability.

For more information, contact Ursula Hartenberger at uhartenberger@rics.org

France
Rendez-vous in London

On 28 June RICS France is organising a seminar in London for members and trainees.
Up to 40 attendees will have the chance to visit the RICS global headquarters and discuss topics such as ethics and deontology, valuation standards and sustainability challenges. The aim of the seminar, which takes place every quarter, is to inspire participants about the values and global aspects of the RICS brand.

To know more about the other activities in France, check at www.ricseurope.eu/fr

Germany
Expo Real greets RICS Deutschland

RICS Deutschland will host a stand (hall A1.010) at Expo Real, at the New Munich Trade Fair Centre on 4-6 October. RICS will present its global network with a focus on professional and ethical standards. Highlights include a European forum on valuation and sustainability, the traditional get-together and whisky tasting, and a special event for young professionals.

For further information contact Christine Ciampa at cciampa@rics.org

Hungary
Housing market tea & talk

Hungary’s valuation professional group has launched a series of small-scale, informal and interactive ‘tea & talk’ events to encourage professionals to gather, network and discuss important issues. Following the summer break, the next tea & talk evening takes place on 6 September. It will address the latest findings of the quarterly housing index developed by FHB Mortgage Bank and key speakers include László Harmati, CEO of FHB Bank, and Gábor Soóki-Tóth MRICS of CBS Property.

For more information, visit www.ricseurope.eu/hu

The Netherlands
RICS enjoys popular Provada

RICS Nederland enjoyed a very successful presence at Provada on 7-9 June with the launch of the Real Estate Agency and Brokerage standards and the Technical Due Diligence guidance note. Leading Dutch trade magazines Vastgoedmarkt and Property NL opened the fair with a special edition that included three full-page articles about the progress of RICS in The Netherlands.

Want to know more about RICS Nederland activities? Contact Ed Nypels at enypels@rics.org

Poland
Learn about the benefits of RICS Firms Regulation

On 13 September, RICS Polska will host some representatives of the European Regulation Department. They will give a presentation on the benefits of Firms Regulation followed by a Q&A session. Speakers include some regulated companies from Poland who will be sharing their valuable experiences with other companies operating within the market.

To take part in this event as a company or as an individual, please contact Anna D. Konieczna at akonieczna@rics.org

Russia
RICS partners Big Consulting Forum

With over 300 participants, Big Consulting Forum 2011 in St Petersburg on 6-9 July is one of the most prestigious events in valuation consulting, and RICS Rossia & CIS is a key conference partner. RICS will run a dedicated panel, followed by a Q&A on valuation standards and the current challenges facing financial markets. Key speakers include RICS President Robert Peto FRICS, RICS Europe Chairman Luciano Capaldo FRICS, Niall Walsh, Chief Valuer and Director of Operations of the UK Valuation Office Agency, and David Rusholme FRICS.
For more information, please go on www.ricseurope.eu/ru

Spain
First education webinar goes live 29 May

This first webinar about the benefits of studying on the RICS accredited course of Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV) went live on 29 May. The event was hosted by Eulalia Pensado, Country Manager of RICS España, and Anna Galiano, Education Development Manager at RICS Europe. Students were invited to interact with the presenters and to chat online about their APC registration. The webinar was such a success that future sessions are planned – these will be announced in the next e-news.

For more information, please contact Anna Galiano at agaliano@rics.org

Sweden
Discover the Stockholm arena

A new multipurpose arena is being developed by Stockholm City and scheduled to open in Spring 2013. When completed, the arena will seat up to 30,000 spectators. On 14 September RICS Nordic is organising a trip to the construction site, where representatives of the project management, development teams and the architecture company will explain the project background, layout, city planning and environmental solutions – as well as the financial aspects.

To reserve your seat, contact Mikael Wadsten at mwadsten@rics.org

Switzerland
Welcome to the breakfast club

RICS Switzerland is holding their first breakfast club on 6 July for members in Zurich and Bern. The idea is to provide an informal networking opportunity at the start of the day that focuses on an interesting, specific technical topic.

Anyone interested in attending should contact the RICS Switzerland office on +41 71 888 6963 or email mareynolds@rics.org.

European Housing Forum - 2011 Lecture Series

After the success of its lecture series in 2010, the European Housing Forum (EHF) is once again organising a series of four afternoon lectures. As policy measures come under increased scrutiny in the aftermath of the financial crisis and state interventions, EHF responds with a series of lectures focusing on the impact of changing policy requirements in housing markets. Join the debate at our next lecture – ‘Shaping or shadowing? Understanding and responding to housing market changes’ on 21 June.

Book your place now for upcoming events: ‘Freedom of choice? The role of policy in choosing living arrangements’ on 6 September and ‘Privatisation of housing stock in Europe – implications for policy’ on 11 October.

For more information, click here.

RICS Americas
Financial reporting workshop

On 14 July, RICS will hold a workshop on ‘Financial reporting affecting valuation in US and global markets’. The seminar is organised within the framework of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) summer education week. It is designed to build on existing appraisal knowledge and experience of each participant and enable the sharing of best practice.

Find out more at www.ricsamericas.org/event

RICS Asia Pacific
Innovation towards sustainability

Jointly organised by RICS, the Institution of Surveyors in Malaysia and the ASEAN Federation of Land Surveying and Geomatics, the 11th South East Asian Survey Congress and 13th International Surveyors' Congress is being held on 22–24 June. It promises to be an exciting event, with ‘Innovation towards sustainability’ as a central theme. Along this theme, it will look in particular at the multidisciplinary nature of surveyors and their role in galvanising the use of innovative technologies to meet sustainable development objectives. Incoming RICS President Ong See Lian FRICS, and RICS Asia Chairman Chris Brooke FRICS will speak at the conference.

Read more at www.ricsasia.org/event

RICS India
Planning and delivering urban infrastructure in Indian cities

On 10-11 August, RICS India is organising an international conference under the RICS Vision for Cities Programme. The conference theme is ‘Planning and delivering urban infrastructure in Indian cities’. In the context of cities competing for global investment, policy makers need to ensure that their cities are as efficient and competitive as possible – infrastructure is an important aspect of this framework. RICS India is organising this conference with the aim of sharing knowledge and learning from the experiences of other global cities, knowledge that will inform planning for sustainable growth.

For further information, check at www.rics.org/india

Over the past 10 months, RICS Europe has been increasing the organisation’s visibility by generating more than 2229 press articles across a wide range of printed and online media. These results have been achieved through numerous campaigns carried out throughout the year: Expo Real, MIPIM, the European Housing Review, Firms Regulation, the RICS Cyprus Property Price Index and the RICS and Macdonald & Company European Property Market Remuneration Survey… to quote but a few.

These campaigns generated numerous articles in key publications such as Le Monde (France), Frankfurter Allgemeine (Germany), El Pais (Spain), Il Sole 24 Ore (Italy), Oje (Portugal) and Le Soir (Belgium). Further coverage also promoted RICS’ top priority areas such as sustainability, valuation and commercial property.

To learn more about the RICS Europe media programme, visit www.ricseurope.eu/media

For more details, please contact the relevant National Groups
(see Contact section on www.ricseurope.eu/contacts)