{"id":4144,"date":"2026-09-28T11:16:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T09:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/?post_type=ace-news&p=4144"},"modified":"2026-09-28T11:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T09:23:09","slug":"the-work-groups-are-at-the-heart-of-ace-a-conversation-with-president-daniel-fugenschuh","status":"publish","type":"ace-news","link":"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/cs\/news\/the-work-groups-are-at-the-heart-of-ace-a-conversation-with-president-daniel-fugenschuh\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cThe Work Groups are at the heart of ACE\u201d: A conversation with President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n

At ACE\u2019s General Coordination Meeting in Brussels on 25 September 2026, ACE delegates discussed the challenges shaping Europe\u2019s built environment, from housing and public procurement to skills and artificial intelligence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this first interview in a series on the renewed Work Groups, ACE President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh explains why strengthening them has been a priority for the<\/strong> 26-27 Executive Board<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

ACE: Why was strengthening the Work Groups one of the first priorities of your presidency?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh:<\/strong> When the new Presidency began in January, the new Executive Board identified the Work Groups as a priority. They bring together the expertise and experience of our Member Organisations. Discussions within the groups inform ACE\u2019s positions and much of our work at European level. We wanted to build on what the groups had already achieved while making sure their structure and ways of working reflect today\u2019s challenges. That means a clearer focus for each group, stronger coordination between them and more opportunities for Member Organisations to contribute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACE: How did the Board approach the renewal?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh:<\/strong> We reviewed the scope and priorities of the existing groups and considered where closer cooperation would help. We then invited Member Organisations to nominate candidates for Work Group Chairs and members. The Board assessed the candidates\u2019 experience and appointed the new Chairs at its meeting on 17 April. The aim is for each group to have the expertise and active participation it needs to deliver meaningful results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participation and a shared approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ACE: Who can take part in a Work Group?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh:<\/strong> Members are nominated by ACE Member Organisations. We are looking for people with relevant expertise who can participate regularly and contribute to the group\u2019s work. Ideally, each group will have around six to eight active members. That allows for focused discussions and a good balance of representation. Corresponding members are also welcome: they can follow the work, share expertise and contribute where relevant. The aim is to make participation effective while drawing on the wider knowledge of our membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACE: What areas will the renewed groups cover?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh:<\/strong> Their work spans access to the profession, education and professional practice, as well as public procurement, digital transformation, sustainability, housing, heritage, resilience, the New European Bauhaus, research, innovation and European cooperation. These topics are connected. At the General Coordination Meeting, our discussions on housing, procurement, skills and AI showed why we need expertise from different areas to inform a coherent response. The Work Groups can help us connect that expertise and bring the voice of architects into European policy discussions. We can already see this approach taking shape. Our public procurement advocacy is being linked more closely with area coordinators and Work Groups. We are also connecting work around the Luxembourg Declaration, ARCH-E and the New European Bauhaus Collective, while looking at how EU-funded projects can support Work Group priorities and involve Member Organisations. This is the model we want to develop: closer collaboration across groups and with partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From shared priorities to action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ACE: Which policy issues will be a priority in the coming months?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh:<\/strong> Housing is a pressing challenge across Europe. Architects are contributing by making better use of existing buildings, adapting places to changing needs and designing affordable, resilient homes and communities. ACE will continue to bring that professional perspective into European discussions. Public procurement is equally important. The rules governing projects must support design quality and fair access for smaller practices. We will continue advocating for approaches that recognise expertise and the value of architectural services. We will also engage in discussions on the Circular Economy Act and on future EU funding after 2027, including the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Professional mobility remains on our agenda, including Mutual Recognition Agreements such as the agreement with the UK and any potential future agreements. Alongside these priorities, ACE will follow developments concerning skills portability and the Professional Qualifications Directive, implementation of the New European Bauhaus, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the European Culture Compass and the Artificial Intelligence Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACE: How do partnerships and European projects fit into this work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh:<\/strong> Partnerships give us opportunities to share architectural expertise and work with others on common challenges. We will continue exploring cooperation on circular economy, skills, heritage, renovation, Construction 2050 and City Architects networks. As interest from industry partners grows, we also plan to develop internal guidelines to make those relationships transparent and consistent. European projects support innovation, knowledge exchange and collaboration. We want to strengthen ACE\u2019s role as a project partner and, where appropriate, as a lead partner. This includes work on projects such as NEBourhoodsCare and ARCH-E, alongside our Creative Europe activities and deliverables for 2026 and 2027. We are also improving how we assess future opportunities and connect them with Work Group priorities and our Member Organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACE: What would you like to say to the Member Organisations involved in the Work Groups?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh:<\/strong> ACE\u2019s strength comes from the knowledge, commitment and diversity of its Member Organisations. The Work Groups are where that collective expertise becomes action. This renewal was an opportunity to make the groups more effective and better equipped to represent architects across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the first in a series introducing the renewed ACE Work Groups, their Chairs, their priorities and the people behind their work. A forthcoming interview with the ACE Chair of the Work Groups will explore how the Chairs coordinate their efforts and strengthen collaboration across the membership.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this first interview in a series on the renewed Work Groups, ACE President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh explains why strengthening them has been a priority for the 26-27 Executive Board.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4147,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"news-categories":[],"news-tags":[],"thematic-scope":[],"class_list":["post-4144","ace-news","type-ace-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cThe Work Groups are at the heart of ACE\u201d: A conversation with President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh - Architects' Council of Europe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/cs\/news\/the-work-groups-are-at-the-heart-of-ace-a-conversation-with-president-daniel-fugenschuh\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"cs_CZ\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cThe Work Groups are at the heart of ACE\u201d: A conversation with President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this first interview in a series on the renewed Work Groups, ACE President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh explains why strengthening them has been a priority for the 26-27 Executive Board.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/cs\/news\/the-work-groups-are-at-the-heart-of-ace-a-conversation-with-president-daniel-fugenschuh\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Architects' Council of Europe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ArchitectsEU\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-09-28T09:23:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ace-cae.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790342589192.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Ace_Cae\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Odhadovan\u00e1 doba \u010dten\u00ed\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minut\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/the-work-groups-are-at-the-heart-of-ace-a-conversation-with-president-daniel-fugenschuh\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ace-cae.eu\\\/news\\\/the-work-groups-are-at-the-heart-of-ace-a-conversation-with-president-daniel-fugenschuh\\\/\",\"name\":\"\u201cThe Work Groups are at the heart of ACE\u201d: A conversation with President Daniel F\u00fcgenschuh - 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