FIEC Newsletter – 10 Νοεμβρίου 2026

For the term 2026-2028, Lubomir Katchamakov (BG), President of the Bulgarian Construction Chamber (BCC, FIEC’s member federation), was elected new President of CICA (World Construction Association). The election took place during CICA’s Autumn General Assembly, held in Paris on 3 November.

At the head of a new CICA Board

The new CICA Board brings together representatives from across its international network. Three CICA Vice-Presidents were elected: Giuseppe Angelucci (El Salvador), Ali Al Sanafi (Iraq) and Philippe Dessoy (Belgium). Michel Démarre (France) was confirmed as Treasurer. Philippe Dessoy formerly served as CICA President and as member of the EIC Board. In addition to his new role within the CICA Board, he has been appointed CICA Ambassador for External Relations, in recognition of his commitment to expanding and strengthening the organisation’s international network, particularly in Africa and the Arab world.

FIEC warmly congratulates Lubomir Katchamakov, Philippe Dessoy and all the newly elected and appointed members of the CICA leadership team.

Continuing our partnership

Although construction is primarily a local activity, many of the challenges facing the sector are shared worldwide. These include improving the attractiveness of the construction sector, addressing the shortage of affordable housing and ensuring adequate financing for infrastructure investment. In this context, international cooperation, the exchange of experiences and the sharing of best practices are essential.

FIEC finalised its position on the proposed Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), which would introduce low-carbon and, where applicable, EU-origin requirements through public procurement and public support schemes.

FIEC’s recommendations aim to support industrial decarbonisation while keeping implementation practical for construction companies. FIEC calls for construction binders, including cement and equivalent binding technologies, to replace concrete and mortar in the quantitative material requirements. It also stresses the need for a level playing field between construction products and technologies, with carbon performance assessed across the works and technical performance, durability and design freedom preserved.

FIEC advocates long-term price signals that encourage investment in low-carbon technologies, alongside dedicated funding for research, innovation and the market uptake of sustainable materials. Any cost premiums for low-carbon industrial products should be transparently earmarked for decarbonisation investment.

FIEC also calls for the IAA to build on existing rules supporting low-carbon construction. The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) should remain the single technical reference for construction products, with clear definitions, reusable product information and practical evidence requirements. Contractors should be able to rely, with due care, on information provided by manufacturers and suppliers.

Additional compliance costs must be recognised and funded so that housing and infrastructure investment can be maintained. A realistic timetable, requirements reflecting material availability and manageable administrative procedures are essential, particularly for SMEs.

These priorities will guide FIEC’s assessment of parliamentary amendments and its discussions with EU policymakers as negotiations progress.

The Commission plans a legislative or non-legislative initiative to prevent market segmentation by suppliers, aiming to strengthen the functioning of the Single Market.

A legislative or non-legislative initiative is planned to accelerate permitting procedures, particularly for strategic projects. This is highly relevant to construction, as lengthy authorisation processes remain a significant obstacle to infrastructure investment and project delivery.

A further legislative or non-legislative initiative will address barriers within the Single Market, with the objective of preventing fragmentation and improving cross-border economic activity.

A legislative package will address digital transformation, simplification and copyright, with implications for the development of the EU’s digital regulatory framework.

The Commission will present a legislative package establishing the post-2030 energy framework and simplifying existing rules. This will be particularly relevant to the construction sector in relation to energy efficiency, building renovation and the energy transition.

A legislative simplification package will aim to increase housing supply by making it easier to build and renovate homes. The separate Affordable Housing Act, presented in September 2026, is also identified as a priority pending proposal.

This non-legislative initiative will support upskilling and reskilling towards growing and strategic sectors. It represents an opportunity to address persistent labour and skills shortages in construction.

A legislative or non-legislative initiative will address water-related challenges and strengthen the resilience and sustainable management of Europe’s water resources.

This non-legislative initiative will strengthen Europe’s preparedness for extreme heat. For construction, it is particularly relevant to workers’ health and safety, the organisation of work on construction sites and the continuity of activities during periods of extreme temperatures.

The Commission plans a legislative or non-legislative review of the nature protection framework, including the Birds and Habitats Directives and Natura 2000. FIEC will follow this initiative closely, particularly in view of its potential implications for construction projects, environmental assessments and permitting procedures.

Priority pending proposals

In addition to the new initiatives, the Commission identifies several pending legislative proposals as priorities for rapid agreement by the European Parliament and Council. The following files are particularly relevant to FIEC, in the order in which they appear in Annex II.

The proposal to revise the European Standardisation Regulation remains a priority. Developments will be important for the construction sector, given the role of European standards in the internal market and the construction products framework.

Presented in September 2026, the proposed Public Procurement Act would replace the three existing directives on public procurement and concessions with a single regulation. The Commission maintains this proposal as a priority, making it an important file for FIEC to follow closely.

The Commission identifies the ETS review as a priority pending file. The proposals concern changes to the emissions trading framework, including monitoring, reporting and verification requirements and revisions to ETS benchmarks. Their implications for the construction industry’s decarbonisation efforts will need to be monitored.

The Commission calls for progress on this simplification package, which aims to reduce administrative burdens and streamline environmental requirements, including those affecting environmental assessments and permitting. FIEC will continue to advocate for genuine simplification without compromising the effectiveness of environmental protection.

The Commission wants the co-legislators to reach an agreement on the next long-term EU budget by the end of 2026. Of particular relevance to construction is the proposed €81.4 billion Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for 2028–2034, which would support investment in European transport and energy infrastructure.

Planned withdrawals

Finally, Annex III identifies pending legislative proposals that the Commission intends to withdraw within six months. Two are particularly relevant to FIEC.

The Commission intends to withdraw the proposal on the substantiation and communication of explicit environmental claims. The file has been pending with the co-legislators for more than three years. The Council failed to agree on a negotiating mandate in June 2024, and subsequent attempts to advance discussions in 2025 were unsuccessful.

The Commission also intends to withdraw its 2023 proposal for a Regulation on combating late payment in commercial transactions. The file has been pending for more than three years, with a sizeable number of Member States opposing further work on the proposal.

The 2027 Work Programme confirms that simplification and competitiveness will remain central to the Commission’s agenda. The Commission also announces a “Pact against Gold-Plating“, intended to prevent Member States from adding unnecessary complexity when transposing or implementing EU rules.

The programme further reaffirms the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, notably by strengthening its critical infrastructure and revitalising the EU–Ukraine Solidarity Lanes.

2027 will also mark the tenth anniversary of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which the Commission intends to celebrate with a dedicated summit.

FIEC will closely monitor the initiatives and pending proposals outlined in the Work Programme, engaging with the European institutions to ensure that new measures genuinely simplify the regulatory environment, support investment and strengthen the competitiveness of the European construction industry, rather than creating additional administrative and regulatory burdens.

On 5 November, Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, responsible for Jobs and Skills, presented the European Commission’s new Education and Skills Package. The aim of the proposals is to reverse the decline in basic skills, make digital and AI tools work for learning, tackle teacher shortages and make Vocational Education and Training (VET) more agile and better connected to labour market needs.

The package contains three main proposals: a European strategy on VET for 2026-2030, a draft Council Recommendation on making the teaching profession more attractive, and a draft EU Council Recommendation on reversing the decline in basic skills.

For construction, the key part is the new European VET Strategy setting out three new initiatives. From 2027, a pilot European Sectoral Training Accelerator will offer short training modules developed with industry, which training providers can add to national programmes. From 2028, companies and VET schools will be able to set up new training centres together, to help businesses, especially SMEs, find skilled workers. An EU mobility marketplace will also help apprentices and VET learners find training abroad.

The Council is now invited to examine and adopt the two draft Recommendations. Implementation will start at the European Education and Skills Summit on 20 November.