FIEC Newsletter – 21 Δεκεμβρίου 2021

To support the transition to cleaner, greener, and smarter mobility, the Commission has adopted four proposals, among which a smart and sustainable TEN-T (Trans-European transport Network), that will modernise the EU’s transport system. The TEN-T is an EU-wide network of rail, inland waterways, short-sea shipping routes, and roads connecting over 400 major cities with ports, airports and railway terminals.To address the missing links in the network, the proposal envisions the creation of competitive high-speed railway connections throughout the EU by 2040. Nine ‘European Transport Corridors’ integrating rail, road, and waterways will also be created. Moreover, the proposal includes the introduction of intermediary deadlines to advance the completion of major parts of the network and a requirement that major cities develop Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans.

The key legislation for decarbonising the EU’s building stock is out. Last week, the European Commission published its proposal for the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) setting the vision for achieving a zero-emission building stock by 2050. Among the novelties is the definition of zero-emission buildings which are to become the standard for new constructions as of 2030 and the level to be achieved by each building by 2050. Moreover, the proposal contains a regulatory push to renovate the worst performing buildings across the EU by 2033. While the proposal rightly focuses on improving the energy performance of the building stock, it introduces a whole-life carbon approach into EU buildings policy by requiring that, as of 2030, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) has to be calculated for new buildings.

On 14th December, the EU Social Partners for construction, FIEC and EFBWW, organised a workshop on social identity cards and how to promote an EU approach to digital enforcement in the EU construction industry. This workshop was hosted by the Romanian social partners in the framework of the EU-funded DESOCO project (Decentralised Thematic Social Dialogue for the Construction Industry).

Social identity cards are a successful model to prevent fraud and enforce applicable legislation on the European construction labour market. They contain data to identify workers, their empoyer, working periods and contractual relationships, social security coverage, insurance information, or certificates on qualification and health and safety.
There are already existing schemes in several EU countries, such as Finland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Norway, Austria, Sweden, Denmark or Romania.

At this e-workshop, FIEC and EFBWW examined current developments and assessed the connection with new EU initiatives for a European Social Security Pass and the use of digital tools for a better enforcement of EU rules.

In May, the European Commission proposed a new legislative instrument aimed at addressing the distortive effects that foreign subsidies, in their various forms, potentially have on the EU internal market. Despite several cases in recent years where foreign subsidies have been found to have distorting effects on sectors like construction, no specific EU legislation that allows for the scrutiny of state aid granted by non-EU countries is in place. As such, the Commission’s proposal represents a major step, and a welcome one, towards restoring a level playing field in a sector like construction.

Back in November, the partners of the SUSODCO project organised their last capacity event, focusing on how to implement social dialogue at national level. FIEC joined this event which was hosted by its Cypriot federation (OSEOK).Presentations on networking, communication, negotiations, collective bargaining, as well as EU funds available for social dialogue were provided to the participants. These ones also brainstormed on challenges related to social dialogue and possible future projects to tackle them.

On this occasion, an official short video was published by the partners of the project to provide more information on what social dialogue is and its added value.

SUSODCO is a project gathering national social partners from several Central and Eastern European countries, including FIEC member federations from Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus.

Dear members and readers,

2021 is coming to an end, a year of recovery, re-start and renovation at the same time. We thank all our members, partners and readers for their continued support, cooperation and engagement that have contributed to make our achievements a reality. Whilst expressing our appreciation on the shared progress, we warmly wish you Happy Holidays.

We look forward to delivering our next updates and latest highlights via the FIEC newsletter as of Tue 11^th January 2022.

Our best wishes for a season of joy and continued ‘constructive’ success in the New Year. Stay healthy and safe!

The FIEC Brussels Team