Kaunas, Lithuania – May 13, 2025 – In a significant move to enhance the efficiency of building permit processes across the European Union, the Kaunas Declaration was signed today. This landmark agreement aims to establish a consensus on standards related to processes, access to technology, technical interoperability, safety, social inclusion, fairness, and training. The goal is to streamline digital permitting and meet the growing demand for faster approvals, which are vital for addressing the increasing need for sustainable and affordable housing across Europe.
Christopher-Robin Raitviir (moderator, Tallinn), Reda Petravičiūtė (Kaunas), Žygimantas Pagalys (Vilnius), Marta Parro Pérez (Madrid), Rebeca Herrera Rodríguez (Madrid), María Serena Gómez (Madrid), Kai-Uwe Krause (Hamburg), Susheel Nath (Brussels), Hülya Lasch (Hamburg), Montserrat Monteagudo Gómez (AMBarcelona), Anu Kiiskinen (Helsinky), Annastasia Elschner (Bonn), Andre Vonthron (BIM.permit), Zeljko Djuretic (Bentley), Tony de Palma (ACCA), Violeta Sosevska (INS), Francesca Noardo (OGC), Mayte Toscano (OGC), Ricardo Romero (Tekniker), Gazmend Ajrulovski (INS), Marc Kleemann (Conterra), Hyacinthe Ménard (Eifer.org), Seppo Torma (Metropolia), Eric Samakinwa (FOCAL), Katja Breitenfelder (Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik IBP), Thomas Meservey (R2M), Daniel de Matos (BSI, UB), Francisco Javier Díez (Tekniker, Digichecks EU Project, GA 101058541), Rita Lavikka (VTT, ACCORD EU Project, GA 101056973), Siham El Yamani (TUDelf, CHECK EU Project, GA 101058559), Eduard Loscos (BDTA, President, and R&D Global Manager IDP BUREAU VERITAS), Elke Moors (BDTA Gral Manager), Pablo Vicente Legazpi (BDTA, PMO), Paulius Spūdys (KTU), Ignasi Perez Arnal, Sònia Martí (BIM Academy)
Target Audience and Objectives
The declaration targets policymakers, city officials, permit authorities, authorized technical and environmental approval and certification bodies, developers, national digital transformation offices, public procurement agencies, and EU institutions supporting the Digital Europe Programme. By promoting common digital permitting principles, the declaration seeks to ensure alignment of municipal practices throughout the EU.
Technological Opportunities
New technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and advanced visualization technologies are highlighted as key opportunities for improving urban and rural planning, building lifecycles, and participatory processes. The declaration also addresses challenges related to mobility, district heating, and modern electrical networks, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and efficient public space management.
Collaboration and Standards
Collaboration between developers and city administrations is deemed crucial, with standards providing market tools to address city-specific problems. The declaration supports initiatives like Permit GovStack and open-source solutions to promote public interest and enable broader access to permit processes.
Next Steps and Upcoming Events
The next steps include a standardization effort focusing on the BAM1 definition, BIM-GIS integration, and public participation processes. These initiatives will be further discussed at the DBP Vienna Congress in December 2025, in alignment with the EU BIM Task Group.