FIEC Newsletter – 07 Οκτωβρίου 2025

The European Commission has launched a Public Consultation on its proposal to revise the European Standardisation Regulation (ESR). The consultation is open for feedback until 17 December 2025.

FIEC is currently conducting internal consultations and coordinating with relevant stakeholders in order to prepare a contribution. Internal deadlines may vary, so members interested in contributing are encouraged to get in touch as soon as possible.

The ESR sets the framework for the development of European standards, aiming to ensure that the process is open, transparent, and market-driven. A recent evaluation by the European Commission found that while the current system has been effective in many respects, it faces persistent challenges in delivering timely results. These include complex procedures, strict legal scrutiny, coordination issues, and limited use of digital tools. The evaluation also noted that although the system is intended to involve a wide range of stakeholders, including SMEs, this objective has not been fully achieved in practice.

The revision of the ESR is particularly relevant for the construction sector, which depends heavily on European standards. Under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), manufacturers are required to use harmonised European standards to declare the performance of their products. In recent years, delays in the standardisation process have had a negative impact on the sector.

Many harmonised product standards have become outdated, new technical methods and requirements are not being incorporated in a timely manner, and both manufacturers and contractors are facing uncertainty and additional costs as a result.

FIEC will continue to monitor developments and contribute actively to the consultation process, representing the interests of the construction industry.

On 29-30 September, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union hosted a High-level Conference on Affordable and Sustainable Housing. It brought together experts, representatives from Member States, EU institutions, municipalities, regions, organisations, and civil society to discuss the challenges of ensuring affordable and sustainable housing across Europe. The conference focused on sharing best practices and initiatives that can serve as tools to deliver concrete solutions to the housing crisis.EU Commissioner for Housing, Dan Jørgensen, delivered a keynote speech during the conference, outlining his vision for affordable, sustainable, and decent-quality housing for all in Europe. He emphasised the need to tackle systemic issues, such as inefficient use of housing stock and short-term rentals, and to unlock public and private investment through initiatives like a pan-European investment platform. The Danish Presidency also aims to propose Council conclusions addressing the European Commission’s Affordable Housing Initiative – which is expected to be presented already before Christmas – exploring how different levels of governance — including cities — can contribute to delivering decent housing for all.

The Danish Presidency has prioritised housing as a key element of its agenda, recognising it as a strategic European concern, and requiring coordinated action across all levels of governance.

On 3 October, the European Commission launched a follow-up public consultation on the revision of the State aid rules to help Member States with affordable housing.This revision of the services of general economic interest (‘SGEI’) rules will address challenges related to housing affordability that go beyond social housing. The goal is to allow EU countries to support affordable housing in a faster and simpler way, by revising SGEI Decision 2012/21/EU.

Concretely, a new category of exemption is proposed to the SGEI Decision for Affordable Housing, which allows State aid to be granted without notification to the Commission. The new definition in the SGEI Decision is as follows: “Housing for households, who are not able, due to market outcomes and notably market failures, to access housing at affordable conditions”. The Decision includes specific conditions for affordable housing services of general economic interest.

This draft SGEI Decision results from the public consultation and a Call for evidence held in June and July 2025. The Commission is expected to adopt the draft decision by the end of the year.

The European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) published a new factsheet on basic skills in apprenticeships. This factsheet gives an overview of what are basic skills, how they are integrated into apprenticeship programmes and how basic skills training can be effectively integrated within apprenticeships.Basic skills are literacy skills, mathematical skills, scientific skills, digital skills and citizenship skills. Today, while the lack of basic skills can limit students from graduating form VET, there is an increasing demand for strong basic skills in the workplace.

The factsheet presents therefore inspiring examples from several Member States to integrate basic skills in apprenticeships.

In a recent Position Paper sent to the European Commission and shared with the media, seven Member States presented their expectations regarding the “genuine and fair posting of Third-Country Nationals (TCNs).”Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands call the European Commission to “present an initiative for a clear legal framework on the posting of TCNs that would clarify under which conditions TCNs can be posted, […] that includes guarantees for safeguarding of their rights together with strengthening their position to invoke their rights, and [that] provides for effective control and enforcement measures.”
They add that legal clarity contributes to ensuring businesses are competing on a level playing field, helps combat social dumping, and protects third-country nationals from abuse and exploitation while protecting the competitiveness of the Single Market.In its Fair Mobility Package (expected in the second quarter of 2026), the European Commission is supposed to tackle the issue of Third-Country Nationals, who are posted within the EU. While the details of a concrete initiative are still to be decided, the Commission has not ruled out the possibility of revisiting the Posting of Workers Directive — which has shortcomings, according to European Commission Executive Vice-President, Roxana Mînzatu.

An interview released by FIEC Policy Officer in charge of Technical and Environment Affairs, Benedikt Fischer, was published last week by the European Commission in its Newsletter (October issue).Touching upon key dossiers such as the EPBD, the reduction of CO2 emissions and circular economy – this is an insight on how the federation is promoting Level(s) among ‘construction’ SMEs to help achieve decarbonisation and facilitate the European twin transition (green and digital).