FIEC Newsletter – 01 Σεπτεμβρίου 2020

In the framework of the EU-funded project “Tackling Undeclared Work in Construction” (TUWIC), FIEC and the EFBWW, the EU social partners for the construction industry, are organising a videoconference on 24 September 2020 (from 10h00 to 13h30 CST).This event is taking place during the Week of Action of the European Platform tackling undeclared work, which is part of the EU-wide and cross-sectoral campaign #EU4FairWork.

On this occasion FIEC and the EFBWW will launch the EU-wide “construction campaign” against undeclared work.

Interpretation will be provided in several languages.

For the agenda and the registration, please click below.

At the end of August, the European Commission proposed financial support of €87.3 billion to 16 Member States under the SURE instrument (through loans, with average maturity of 15 years). SURE is part of the safety net agreed by the European Council to protect workers from the negative socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. In particular, it is aimed at supporting national short-time work schemes and similar measures.The enveloppe will be distributed as follows: Italy €27.4 billion; Spain €21.3 billion; Poland €11.2 billion; Belgium €7.8 billion; Portugal €5.9 billion; Romania €4 billion; Greece €2.7 billion; Czechia €2 billion; Slovenia €1.1 billion; Croatia €1 billion; Slovakia €631 million; Lithuania €602 million; Bulgaria €511 million; Cyprus €479 million; Malta €244 million, and Latvia €192 million.

However, the aid will be distributed only once it has been formally approved by the European Council (towards the end of September) and, moreover, once all 27 Member States have given a national guarantee to ensure that SURE will be fully operational. Indeed, not all Member States have yet completed their national approval procedures in order to be able to release the national guarantee necessary to activate the European instrument. Originally, the instrument was expected to be operational from 1 June.

At present, from the total of €100 billion foreseen for this instrument, €12.7 billion remains available until 31 December 2022. Germany and France have announced that they do not intend to use the SURE instrument.

Before the summer break, FIEC finalised its reaction to the report by the Technical Expert on Sustainable Finance (TEG) which will feed into the European Commission’s delegated acts that will establish the EU Taxonomy.Our input mainly highlights that the high level of ambition that has been proposed by the TEG might eventually not trigger additional investment in sustainable construction activities. Higher technical requirements will result in higher costs for clients which might in the end refrain from investing.

Also, we provide a different perspective on low carbon transport infrastructure by putting an emphasis on the link between a well-maintained road surface and vehicles’ emissions.

We also underline the need for an increased maintenance of water infrastructure to reduce losses and save energy.

The consultation on the Future Options for the CPR closed yesterday.  FIEC submitted a lengthy response, which had been compiled after weeks of consultation with its members over the summer period. The Commission’s paper on the Future Options can be downloaded from here and the results of the consultation will eventually be published on the relevant website. (FIEC’s members can obtain the federation’s response from the FIEC Intranet.)

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