Μάι162024

EU Green Week 2024: Registration is open!

In the face of recurring water crises, this edition of the annual EU Green Week conference will discuss what is needed to make the EU more water-resilient today and tomorrow.

The conference, to be held in Brussels on 29 and 30 May, will feature guest speakers discussing various aspects of integrated water management. Registrations for the EU Green Week conference are now open!

Water resilience is a priority for FIEC, which continues to follow the issue very closely.

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Posting of workers: European Commission’s Report published

The European Commission published the much-awaited “Report on the application and implementation of Directive 2018/957 concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services”. The report is accompanied by a more detailed Staff Working Document.These documents pay particular attention to the situation of posted workers in subcontracting chains and the posting of third country national workers.

In conclusion of the report, the Commission notes that the transposition of the Directive has improved the working conditions of posted workers and “does not see any need to propose amendments” to the posting directives at this stage.

 

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Letta published Report on future of the Single Market

In April, former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta published his Report on the Future of the Single Market.In June 2023, the European Council called “for an independent High-Level Report on the future of the Single Market to be presented this year”.

The Letta Report touches on many issues of importance to the construction industry. For example, the report recognises that a circular economy model is pivotal for the EU’s sustainability and economic resilience.

The Letta Report also recognises that the EU Public Procurement market plays a critical role in economic activity. It suggests increasing SME participation in public tenders and moving away from price-only decisions.

In the wake of the housing crisis, the report proposes the creation of an EU Task Force on Housing Affordability.

 

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New Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) now published in the EU Official Journal

The new Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 8 May as Directive 2024/1275 and is now available in all EU languages.The publication of the legal text in the Official Journal marks the end of 2 and a half years of negotiations at EU level on this new landmark legislation for buildings.

FIEC is pleased to have contributed to the legislative process and our analysis of the text can be found on our website.

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EU Foreign Affairs Council discusses Ukraine Plan

 

On 7 May, the EU Foreign Affairs Council held a discussion on the situation in Ukraine and on the Ukraine Plan, aimed at unblocking disbursements under the first pillar of the Ukraine Facility for 2024-2027.

Support under the first pillar amounts to €38.27 billion of the total amount of €50 billion under the Ukraine Facility.

The Ukraine Plan is expected to be approved by the European Council on 14 May.

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