what is a bie?
Expos have a long history that precedes the creation of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). The historic large-scale markets located at major routes intersections supported the prosperity of strategic cities and regions. Through regular venues, these markets fostered an atmosphere of mutual understanding and fellowship between people of different nations and often conflicting cultures. Buyers and sellers would flock to the cities of Lyon, Frankfurt and Leipzig, in particular, from all over medieval Europe.
The first Expo, as we conceive it today, took place in London in 1851, almost a century before the creation of BIE. Paris organized six brilliant Expos in 1855, 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900 and 1937. Other major cities followed in creating major events that attracted craftsmen, innovators and producers from all over the world. Some of the well-known cities that have hosted Expos include: Vienna 1873, Barcelona 1888, Brussels 1897 and Saint-Louis 1904.
However, as the success of these events grew, so did the problems, the uncertainties and the potential for conflicts. In the words of Maurice Isaac, the first Director of the BIE:
"For a long time, international exhibitions followed no other rule than that laid down by the country in which they were organized. [...] The internal law of the country was alone in governing each event. An exhibition was international, not because its rules of organization were deliberated jointly by countries pursuing a common cause, but for the mere fact that different countries took part in it."
Already in 1907, France felt it was necessary to establish an international framework for Expos. In 1912, the German Government launched the initiative to gather interested governments through the Berlin Conference, which laid the foundations of an international agreement governing international exhibitions. Unfortunately, the 1914 diplomatic act could not be ratified because of World War I.
Starting in 1920, a second initiative was launched, and, finally, in 1928, a new conference took place in Paris. On November 22nd, the delegates of thirty-one countries signed the first international treaty governing the organization of international exhibitions: the 1928 Convention of Paris provides, to this day, the regulatory framework for all World and International Expos.
The BIE was established in order to ensure the proper application of this Convention.
The first Expo, as we conceive it today, took place in London in 1851, almost a century before the creation of BIE. Paris organized six brilliant Expos in 1855, 1867, 1878, 1889, 1900 and 1937. Other major cities followed in creating major events that attracted craftsmen, innovators and producers from all over the world. Some of the well-known cities that have hosted Expos include: Vienna 1873, Barcelona 1888, Brussels 1897 and Saint-Louis 1904.
However, as the success of these events grew, so did the problems, the uncertainties and the potential for conflicts. In the words of Maurice Isaac, the first Director of the BIE:
"For a long time, international exhibitions followed no other rule than that laid down by the country in which they were organized. [...] The internal law of the country was alone in governing each event. An exhibition was international, not because its rules of organization were deliberated jointly by countries pursuing a common cause, but for the mere fact that different countries took part in it."
Already in 1907, France felt it was necessary to establish an international framework for Expos. In 1912, the German Government launched the initiative to gather interested governments through the Berlin Conference, which laid the foundations of an international agreement governing international exhibitions. Unfortunately, the 1914 diplomatic act could not be ratified because of World War I.
Starting in 1920, a second initiative was launched, and, finally, in 1928, a new conference took place in Paris. On November 22nd, the delegates of thirty-one countries signed the first international treaty governing the organization of international exhibitions: the 1928 Convention of Paris provides, to this day, the regulatory framework for all World and International Expos.
The BIE was established in order to ensure the proper application of this Convention.
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