Fruitful seminar on successful Health and Safety campaigns
Warsaw, 21 January 2020 – Construction Social Partners of the Central and Eastern European countries exchanged best practice on how to lead successful prevention campaigns on health and safety in our sector.
This seminar was organised in the framework of the EU-funded project “Towards A New Start of Industrial Relations in Construction in Central and East European Countries” (TANSIRC).
Participants agreed that good cooperation between employers, trade unions and labour inspections, with the full commitment of all partners, is key to success!
This seminar was organised in the framework of the EU-funded project “Towards A New Start of Industrial Relations in Construction in Central and East European Countries” (TANSIRC).
Participants agreed that good cooperation between employers, trade unions and labour inspections, with the full commitment of all partners, is key to success!
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Tachograph – FIEC and EBC welcome the deal
On 21 January, the TRAN Committee of the European Parliament approved the provisional political agreement on the revised “driving times” and “tachograph” Regulations.
The agreement passed with 27 votes in favour, 17 against and 5 abstentions. FIEC and EBC (European Builders Confederation) together welcomed this political agreement which recognises the specific circumstances of the construction industry and in particular the fact that construction enterprises are not road transport companies.
In short, construction companies will benefit from extended exemptions when it comes to using tachographs on board of vehicles.
As very last steps, the deal will now need to be approved by EU ministers and then by the Parliament as a whole to enter into force.
The agreement passed with 27 votes in favour, 17 against and 5 abstentions. FIEC and EBC (European Builders Confederation) together welcomed this political agreement which recognises the specific circumstances of the construction industry and in particular the fact that construction enterprises are not road transport companies.
In short, construction companies will benefit from extended exemptions when it comes to using tachographs on board of vehicles.
As very last steps, the deal will now need to be approved by EU ministers and then by the Parliament as a whole to enter into force.
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TRAN Committee exchange with EU Coordinator for Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility
On 20 January, the European Parliament’s Transport Committee invited Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director General of DG Move and EU Coordinator for Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility, for an exchange of views.
Road fatalities still remain a major issue in Europe as targets to significantly reduce their number have been missed. Since 2013, the number of fatalities is stagnating at 50 deaths per one million inhabitants. There is considerable divergence between European countries with Norway being a forerunner. Oslo, for instance, only had 1 traffic death in 2019.
According to a European Commission’s Staff Working Document, infrastructure plays a role in more than 30% of crashes. As FIEC, we continue to point out the necessity of well-maintained infrastructure to achieve the “Vision Zero” for 2050. Also, better infrastructure for the most vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists, is needed. Mr. Baldwin rightly stressed the cost effectiveness of infrastructure investments.
In relation to this topic, we would like to highlight our upcoming event on the Security of Bridges in Europe on the 10 and 11 June in Strasbourg. Please save the date, more information will follow soon.
Road fatalities still remain a major issue in Europe as targets to significantly reduce their number have been missed. Since 2013, the number of fatalities is stagnating at 50 deaths per one million inhabitants. There is considerable divergence between European countries with Norway being a forerunner. Oslo, for instance, only had 1 traffic death in 2019.
According to a European Commission’s Staff Working Document, infrastructure plays a role in more than 30% of crashes. As FIEC, we continue to point out the necessity of well-maintained infrastructure to achieve the “Vision Zero” for 2050. Also, better infrastructure for the most vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists, is needed. Mr. Baldwin rightly stressed the cost effectiveness of infrastructure investments.
In relation to this topic, we would like to highlight our upcoming event on the Security of Bridges in Europe on the 10 and 11 June in Strasbourg. Please save the date, more information will follow soon.
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National visit to our Czech member SPS
FIEC Director General Domenico Campogrande visited our Czech member federation SPS.
Following a visit of a worksite in the centre of Prague, the discussions with local colleagues highlighted that within the EU, despite the differences between Member States, the sector is facing common challenges :
Following a visit of a worksite in the centre of Prague, the discussions with local colleagues highlighted that within the EU, despite the differences between Member States, the sector is facing common challenges :
- lack of skilled workforce
- unfair competition from third countries’ companies
- abnormally low tenders in public procurement
- digitalisation of the industry
These exchanges are extremely important and useful in order to ensure that FIEC priorities effectively match those of our members.
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