About Us

Under the priority ‘Cohesion and wellbeing’ the Council’s 2019-2022 work plan for culture established the creation of an Open Method of Coordination (OMC) group of Member States’ experts focusing on high quality in architecture and the built environment for everyone.

39 experts were nominated by 23 Member States, plus Norway and Switzerland. The group was coordinated by Hughes Becquart (DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture) on the side of the European Commission.

The core drafting team was made up of the OMC Chair Veronika Valk-Siska (EE), the subgroup leaders Oliver Martin (CH), Milou Joosten (NL), Freek Ingen Housz (NL), Nicola Matthews (IE), Jan Schultheiß (DE), and Evane Brou (FR).

Martin Steinmetz, an expert from the European Experts Network on Culture (EENC), reviewed the publication and helped to ensure clear and consistent language while also facilitating the online publication and communication strategy.

The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021 built on the OMC process and report to propose Council conclusions on high quality in architecture and the built environment in the context of the New European Bauhaus (adopted on 30 November 2021).