{"id":42033,"date":"2026-05-21T11:33:58","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T08:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pedmede.gr\/?p=42033"},"modified":"2026-05-21T11:38:39","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T08:38:39","slug":"fiec-newsletter-21-may-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pedmede.gr\/en\/fiec-newsletter-21-may-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"FIEC Newsletter – 19 May 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

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FIEC Vice-President speaks at EU Ministerial meeting on the housing crisis<\/h3>\n
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Invited in Cyprus on 11\u00a0and 12\u00a0May, for the informal meeting of Ministers in charge of housing, FIEC Vice-President Jo\u00ebl Schons highlighted FIEC top priorities to tackle the current housing crisis which affects EU citizens. \u201cWe must build \u2013 more, faster, cheaper and more sustainable\u201d, he insisted during his intervention. How to achieve this? This namely goes via full digital building permit procedures, a Single Market for modular construction and for AI robotics in construction, investment into workers\u2019 skills and labour mobility and attracting more private capital into non-risky residential mortgages.<\/p>\n

It came out of the overall discussions, that the subsidiarity principle remains Member States\u2019 red line. However, most stakeholders agreed that simplification \u2013 not deregulation \u2013 is necessary and with that, digital permitting is indeed the consensus good practice, with several Member States already working in this direction at home.<\/p>\n

As regards financing, some stakeholders also made clear \u2013 in line with FIEC\u2019s positions \u2013 that beyond a simplification package, better capital market access, an ambitious Multi-Annual Financial Framework and easier blending between public and private money are necessary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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EU Commissioner J\u00f8rgensen calls to join first “European Housing Alliance”<\/h3>\n
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In Cyprus on 12\u00a0May, Dan J\u00f8rgensen, EU Commissioner\u00a0in charge of Energy and Housing, took the opportunity of addressing Ministers and many stakeholders being gathered together, to launch a\u00a0Call for Interest\u00a0<\/em>to join the first-ever\u00a0European Housing Alliance<\/em>, previously announced in the framework of the\u00a0European Affordable Housing Plan<\/em>. The initiative aims to mobilise all interested stakeholders around efforts to address the housing crisis.<\/p>\n

This\u00a0Alliance\u00a0<\/em>will bring together national, regional, and local authorities, as well as housing stakeholders and EU institutions to facilitate cooperation, knowledge sharing and exchanges of best practices to boost housing affordability across the EU.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0JOIN ALLIANCE<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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“European Platform tackling Undeclared Work” celebrates 10-year anniversary in Cyprus<\/h3>\n
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On 12\u00a0and 13\u00a0May, the European Labour Authority (ELA) celebrated the\u00a010-year anniversary<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0European Platform tackling Undeclared Work<\/em>, of which\u00a0FIEC \u2013 as EU social partner \u2013 is an observer.<\/p>\n

In his capacity of President of the Building Contractors Association of Cyprus (OSEOK, FIEC’s member), Stephanos Pierides (Chair of FIEC sub-commission\u00a0on energy efficiency and environment), was invited to present the priorities and needs of the social partners in tackling undeclared work in the construction sector.<\/p>\n

In his intervention, Pierides highlighted that reducing undeclared or under-declared practices in construction is a combination of measures, namely: a clear recognition of the various employment categories, agreed working conditions and predictable rules, where access to the construction site is directly linked to compliance. In addition, enforcement responsibilities must clearly remain with the competent authorities, while employers\u2019 role is to support compliance.<\/p>\n

Moreover, Pierides explained that the Cypriot construction social partners were working on the development of a social ID card, as well as a working-time verification mechanism, to enhance transparency and compliance in the sector.<\/p>\n

FIEC has been a long-standing partner of the platform. It has been\u00a0participating in its meetings and activities and – a few years ago – has namely run a successful Social Dialogue project on tackling undeclared work in construction (TUWIC), in parallel to a large communication campaign launched by the platform.<\/p>\n

ELA disseminated a video reporting positive remarks expressed by its\u00a0stekaholders and the social partners (FIEC and EFBWW). Play the video including a message delivered by Christine Le\u00a0Forestier, FIEC Director for Social Affairs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0WATCH VIDEO<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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EXCEL4HOUSING 4.0:
\nLast call to register to the Open Innovation Programme<\/h3>\n
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The EXCEL4HOUSING 4.0\u00a0Open Innovation Programme<\/em>\u00a0is still accepting applications, and the deadline is fast approaching: 29 May (2026) at 17:00 Brussels time.<\/p>\n

If you are a start-up or SME with an innovative solution for construction, housing, or the built environment, this programme offers a concrete pathway to European scale. Selected companies gain visibility across a broad network of industry players, public authorities, research bodies, and training providers active across Europe.<\/p>\n

Applications must fall under one of three strategic thematic areas: digitalisation in construction, circular economy and resource efficiency, or energy efficiency and net-zero housing \u2014 three pillars at the heart of Europe’s construction transformation agenda.<\/p>\n

Up to 30 companies will be selected. Participants will pitch at a European online event in October 2026 and compete before an expert jury for a \u20ac7,500 excellence award. The programme is open to start-ups and SMEs legally established in an EU Member State, an\u00a0Erasmus+<\/em>\u00a0associated country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia, or T\u00fcrkiye), or Ukraine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0REGISTRATION<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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3.5 Years of MOBICCON-PRO: Progress Meeting and General Assembly<\/h3>\n
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On the 12\u00a0May, the MOBICCON-PRO consortium convened online for its bi-annual\u00a0Progress Meeting<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0General Assembly<\/em>, marking a significant milestone at the three-and-a-half-year point of this EU-funded\u00a0project.<\/p>\n

Coordinated by Glavbolgarstroy Holding AD (GBS), the meeting brought together the full consortium partners, including the Danish Technological Institute (DTI), IDEA Consult, the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG), the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), CY Cergy Paris University, the City of Pirot\u00a0and the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), to review progress, share key achievements, and align on next steps.<\/p>\n

The key highlights included:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n