Omnibus Simplification Package (OSP):
FIEC President exchanging views with Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis
- The Taxonomy Regulation for Sustainable Finance
- The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
- The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D)
Europe is facing a competitiveness crisis, with the huge bureaucratic load and access to finance being among the main issues for businesses. Balancing incentives for companies to invest in sustainable and climate-friendly activities with an appropriate level of detail when it comes to reporting is key.FIEC President, Piero Petrucco, seized the opportunity to exchange views with the EU Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification, Valdis Dombrovskis, and other high-level Commission experts at a simplification roundtable last week.
He presented FIEC’s 24 important simplification proposals that were developed by the European construction industry – addressing the Commission to present a pragmatic Omnibus Simplification Package that maintains the European Union at the forefront of corporate sustainability while ensuring the competitiveness of businesses.
Access the FIEC Position Paper and its Annex “Overview of specific simplification proposals” on the FIEC Website.
| POSITION PAPER |
Latest reports on urgent need for progress on water and flood risk management
The European Commission published two reports on water quality and flood risk management on 4 February. Those reports reveal a critical need for faster action to protect water resources and address rising flood risks across Europe. They are an important part of the preparation of a European Water Resilience Strategy (WRS), which is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025.
The assessments highlight the state of EU water bodies under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), Floods Directive (FD) and Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). While there have been positive trends in monitoring water quality and flood risk management, the reports emphasise that substantial progress is still required. Freshwater quality remains poor, with only 39.5 percent of surface water bodies reaching good ecological status, and pollution from agricultural runoff continues to be a significant concern. The reports also reveal that floods are becoming more frequent and severe. There is an urgent call for enhanced flood prevention measures, investment in flood resilience infrastructure, and early warning systems. Nature-based solutions and ecosystem restoration are also crucial to mitigating these risks.
Looking forward, the upcoming European Water Resilience Strategy (WRS) aims to address these challenges. As “We build the change together“, at FIEC we believe that the construction sector’s expertise is critical in developing pragmatic solutions. Through sustainable infrastructure and innovative water management solutions, the industry can help reduce strain on water resources and enhance resilience across Europe. Together, we can improve the state of water bodies and reduce flood risks.
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European Commission unveils its Competitiveness Compass
On 29 January, the European Commission unvealed its Competitiveness Compass, in the form of a “Communication”, which is seen as the first major initiative of its new mandate.
According to President Ursula von der Leyen, the document transforms into a roadmap the Recommendations of the Draghi Report.
The Communication entails 3 core areas of action:
- Closing the innovation gap. In this area, the Commission intends to boost start-ups, artificial intelligence and robotics. A proposal for a 28th legal regime is also foreseen, with the aim of simplifying applicable rules for companies (incl. corporate, labour and tax law).
- Presenting a roadmap for decarbonisation and competitiveness. In this area, the European Commission intends to allow businesses and citizens to access clean and affordable energy. In particular, energy-intensive industries will be in the focus.
- Reducing excessive dependencies and increasing security. In this area, the Commission intends to secure the supply of raw materials, clean energy, sustainable transport fuels, and clean technologies. Within the internal market, the review of the public procurement rules will allow for the introduction of a European preference in public procurement for critical sectors and technologies.
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FIEC co-hosts meeting on the Economic Impact of Infrastructure
On 4 February, FIEC, CICA (Confederation of International Contractors’ Association) and FIIC (Federación Interamericana de la Industria de la Construcción) organised an online meeting on the “Economic Impact of Infrastructure”.
This was the second online event organised jointly by the three organisations, following a webinar on “AI and satellites” for infrastructure maintenance in December 2024.
| WATCH VIDEO |
European Commission’s new Directorate General (DG MENA)
Following President Ursula von der Leyen’s call for a more focused approach to the EU’s wider neighbourhood, especially the Mediterranean, with a Commissioner in the new College dedicated to this portfolio, the European Commission has just created a new Directorate-General for the Mediterranean region, i.e. North Africa, Middle East and the Gulf (DG MENA).
Under the lead of Commissioner Dubravka Šuica, this DG MENA will help drive and shape the goals of the EU Mediterranean policy, facilitating them with technical and financial support.
DG MENA will have more than 500 staff, in the European headquarters and in the EU Delegations, and will focus on taking forward partnerships that look at investment, economic stability, jobs, energy, transport, security, migration and other areas of mutual interest.
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