FIEC Newsletter – 15 Νοεμβρίου 2022

The new EU sustainability reporting requirements will apply to all large companies, whether listed on stock markets or not, and to listed SMEs (which will have more time to adapt). Non-EU companies with substantial activity in the EU will also have to comply.

The CSRD will replace the EU’s existing reporting directive, the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). It will also introduce more detailed sustainability reporting requirements (“European sustainability reporting requirements”, or “ESRS”) on companies’ impact on the environment, human rights and social standards. The ESRS are currently under development and the European Commission will adopt the first set of standards via “delegated acts” by June 2023.

The Council is expected to adopt the proposal on 28th November, after which it will be signed and published in the EU Official Journal. The directive will enter into force 20 days after publication. The rules will start applying between 2024 and 2028.

According to FIEC’s analysis, mostly large construction companies will be covered by the CSRD. The legal text is now available in all EU languages.

According to information obtained by FIEC, the vote in the lead Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) committee on the European Parliament’s position on the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) has been postponed for the second time in less than two months.Originally planned for 29th November, it is now scheduled to take place in December or January 2023. The exact date is unknown.

The Council already adopted its common position (“general approach) for the decisive negotiations with the Parliament on 25th October.

On 9th November, the EFBWW (European Federation of Building and Wood Workers) and the ETUI (European Trade Union Institute) co-hosted a workshop on the current challenges facing the construction industry.FIEC Director for Social Affairs, Christine Le Forestier, reported on the energy crisis, the disruptions in construction material supply chains, as well as skyrocketing prices, the shortage of skilled labour and the many challenges linked to the implementation of the green and digital transitions. However, she also highlighted that this twin transition was offering significant opportunities for the sector, and people working in the sector.

Representing the Construction Unit of the European Commission (DG GROW), the Deputy Head of Unit, Hein Bollens, insisted on the fact that there is a real momentum for the construction industry, considering the flagship initiatives launched by the European Commission, in particular with the EU Green Deal and the Renovation Wave.

On 9-10th November, the Czech EU Presidency organised in Prague a high-level conference on the “Digitalisation of the Construction sector”.

FIEC participated with two speakers. Joël Schons presented his own experience with “robot dogs” and explaining how robotics in general will shape the future of our industry.

FIEC President, Philip Crampton, intervened on how digitalisation can help improving the working conditions, be it by in the framework of health and safety, by ensuring for example a better coordination on worksites, or by helping to fight fraudulent practices by means of an increased transparency on worksites. Digitalisation is also a unique opportunity to improve the image of construction and to attract more young people and women.

On 14-15 November, FIEC agenda has been saved for the ”Healthy Workplaces Summit 2022” launched by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) in the context of the ”Lighten the Load” campaign. As EU social partner, FIEC is onboard the initiative together with EFBWW. The Summit is held in Bilbao and can be followed in live stream on the Agency’s website and its Social Media platforms.FIEC is pleased to spread the message about EU healthy workplaces and joins EU OSHA in sharing tools, knowledge and future strategies for occupational safety and health policies and projects. The Summit hosted leading European experts and decision-makers to explore the effects and prevention methods for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), an issue which is closely followed by FIEC.