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Outlines the nature of the valuation work undertaken by valuers in France, the personnel involved and their professional education and training. Describes the three main property professions in France. Places their work into the context of the single european market and the Commission′s Directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications throughout the European Union.

Examines the provisions of the Directive from the European Community to allow professionally qualified individuals to practise anywhere in the Union, from the perspective of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. Speculates particularly on how the Directive will affect a practicioner in the General Practice Division. Concludes that the Directive poses problems but opens up opportunities. Poses the question “what is a chartered surveyor?”.

Considers the problems of rating valuations for street and indoor markets. Discusses the most suitable way to solve them using three different types of market as examples. Queries whether the rates bill should be charged to the landlord or the occupier of the individual stall. Provides guidelines for the rating valuation of markets throughout the country.

Describes the recent economic and land reforms in China, and the consequent changes in the emerging Chinese property market. Analyses the need for property management valuation skills in China in the light of problems of country size, regional differences, the scale of economic reforms and the speed with which they are being implemented, administration and the difficulty of educating a large number of property professionals.

Compulsory purchase is a subject which, over the past decade, has received much attention, particularly with major infrastructure schemes such as the Channel Tunnel and the associated rail link. Examines an area of compulsory acquisition which has received scant attention; that of acquisitions by agreement. Outlines the research focusing mainly on public sector organizations. Outlines the legal and statutory background to acquisitions by agreement; and more importantly the reasons why an authority will choose to pursue the route of acquiring by agreement, as opposed to acquiring by compulsory purchase, particularly when both options are available. Also considers the advantages, and disadvantages, to both the acquiring authority and vendor in acquisitions by agreement.

In the light of Europe’s experience of its Directive on mutual recognition of professional qualifications and the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) intention to achieve a global marketplace for professional services by identifying “disciplines” which can be applied to all professions, this paper considers a potential methodology for achieving a global system for the free movement of professionals. The paper explains the process of mutual recognition as implemented within the European Union and discusses the approach which the WTO is likely to adopt towards the globalisation of services. The problems which face the surveying profession (including the problem of identifying the various surveying professions which exist in different countries), the role of professional organisations, the nature of “professional competence” and the threshold standards applied to professional competence as a vital component of any mutual recognition process are also discussed.