On 16 December, FIEC published a Position Paper with its proposals for the forthcoming EU Affordable Housing Plan. FIEC points out that the current housing crisis – which affects all EU countries – is due, amongst other factors, to high building costs, combined with a credit crunch and a heavy regulatory and administrative environment for construction companies.

Interpreting affordable housing as a broad and flexible concept, which needs to take into account the national specificities, FIEC presents its proposals to boost the offer and support the demand, with “simplification” as a keyword.

In particular, FIEC calls for:

EU Polish Presidency to kick-off: the priorities

1. Military security: developing the EU’s defence industry;
2. Energy security: eliminating dependence on external energy sources and ensuring a fair EU climate policy;
3. Economic security: focus on the EU Single Market’s ability to compete with third countries, on the future of cohesion policy and the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF);
4. Food security in the context of the EU Green Deal and the future of agricultural policy;
5. Health security by securing Europe’s pharmaceutical independence, promoting the mental health of young people and boosting preventive healthcare;
6. Information security by strengthening cybersecurity and the fight against disinformation.
7. Civil security: this is planned to be added.

• The provision of sustained support for Ukraine and its reconstruction and green transition;
• Resources from EU instruments will be channelled to develop transport networks for military mobility;
• Guide the development of the post-2027 Multi-annual Financial Framework own resources system with the aim to reduce regressivity and explore new revenue sources, with discussions set for the MFF conference in February 2025;
• Strengthening the urban dimension of cohesion instruments within the framework of the EU Urban Agenda and the EU 2030 Territorial Agenda review;
• Advancing fair and reciprocal trade agreements, ensuring a level-playing field for EU companies, and enhancing global digital trade rules;
• Cutting red tape;
• Sustainable development and green transformation: This means strengthening cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, investing in renewable energy sources;
• Start working on a New Pact for European Social Dialogue;
• With a view to the Action Plan on Labour and Skills shortages, the Presidency will support measures to stimulate the acquisition of new qualifications and re-training;
• Engage in the 2025 review of the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, with its 3 main objectives (set for 2030) of increasing employment, strengthening skills, qualifications and reducing poverty.

Commission launches evaluation of Public Procurement Directives

• Directive 2014/23/EU on the award of concession contracts;
• Directive 2014/24/EU on Public Procurement;
• Directive 2014/25/EU on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors.

Eurofound “Representativeness Study” is out

We are glad to read that, once again, FIEC has been reconfirmed in its role of social partner, being “the most representative European employer organisation in the construction sector”, with a wide ranging representativeness in 24 out of the 27 Member States and covering large, medium, small and micro-enterprises.

Adopted opinions on climate change and workplace, “display” and “screen equipment” directives

On 27 November, the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) adopted a set of opinions on the following items:

– The update of the Workplace Directive
– The update of the Display Screen Equipment Directive
– Climate Change: Extreme weather conditions

For the first two opinions, the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health concludes that the content of the Directives is “partially outdated in the current context” due to recent developments and the use of new technologies and devices. It therefore finds that the two directives must be updated.

On the opinion on climate change, the ACSH focuses on heat stress. As the ACSH could not finalise its work in time, it will continue the work in 2025 to provide further recommendations to the European Commission, especially regarding the EU legal and strategic framework. In the meantime, the adopted opinion calls on the European Commission to do more in the area of information and awareness raising for employers and workers, to develop guidance and harmonise definitions.

EU Deforestation Regulation will apply 12 months later than planned

The Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on deforestation-free products (EU Deforestation Regulation – EUDR) entered into force on 29 June, 2023. This regulation addresses greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, and defines binding due diligence obligations for all market actors for products that could contribute to deforestation.

After weeks of political power play among the European Peoples Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, the Member States, and the European Commission, the postponement of the application of this law by 12 months will be official before the end of the year. This finally brings legal certainty for affected businesses. New due diligence obligations for companies will apply as of 30 December, 2025.

In October, the European Commission proposed to postpone the date of application by 12 months, as this would allow market actors and public authorities to be fully prepared for their due diligence obligations and prevent disruptions in the supply chain. Subsequently, the EUCouncil’s Permanent Representatives Committee reached an agreement on the Commission proposal without amendments, and asked the European Parliament to do the same. The dossier was then put on the European Parliament’s agenda, with a vote scheduled for mid-November.

In a coordinated approach with its member federations, FIEC formally asked the legislator to approve and accept the proposal of the European Commission without tabling any amendments. Legal certainty is of utmost importance for affected companies also in the construction sector. It is therefore essential to not endanger the timely postponement of the date of application of the EUDR.

This is decided in the spirit of a common coordinated approach by the institutions. However, the European Parliament urged to achieve some modifications to the EUDR in addition to the timeline of application. This resulted in a critical delay. A formal approval of the postponement will eventually take place today (17 December) in the European Parliament and on 18 December in the Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee with the involvement of ministers thereafter.

The agreed text will then be published in the EU Official Journal in order to enter into force.

4th edition of Eurobridge:
11 April 2025, Brussels

A word from Christian Tridon, Chairman of the FIEC “Structural Maintenance Group”