FIEC Newsletter – 5 Απριλίου 2022

On 31 March, FIEC adopted its Position Paper on the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), a document which is broadly supporting the proposal put forward by the European Commission. The Directive represents an essential part of the legislative toolbox to achieve a zero-emission building stocks by 2050 and to reduce CO2 emissions in the EU, but cannot itself be a catch-all instrument to decarbonise constructions and buildings.
A zero-emission building stock can only be achieved through a systemic approach based on energy-efficiency at building level in conjunction with the decarbonisation of energy supply. Importantly, decarbonising the use phase of new and existing buildings requires different pragmatic models and methods, on top of clear objectives.

On 30 March, the Platform on Sustainable Finance published a report with technical screening criteria for the four relevant remaining environmental objectives. This is the first step leading to a further Delegated Act which is supposed to complement the Climate Delegated Act. The criteria have been developed by the Platform’s Technical Working Group and its sector teams, including one on Construction composed by different types of stakeholders, among those FIEC plays an active key role.The outcome of this work is far from being optimal. A major overhaul of the proposed criteria is necessary to make sure that EU Taxonomy can eventually work on the ground. FIEC and its members’ expectations to have the industry’s advice heard and considered in this EU policy output – together with a drive towards the specificities, needs and demands of the construction sector – have been instead largely ignored. This is even more surprising as FIEC is the only member of the Platform representing the construction industry.

Taxonomy criteria should be based on facts and figures. They should be simple, measurable and linked to companies’ reality to ensure usability. In addition, they should be limited to what is relevant for substantial contribution. The criteria for construction released last week lack all these core elements.

Today, the 3 partner organizations strongly condemned the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and ask all the construction companies, members of our affiliates, to act according to the  sanctions  decided at EU and at the international level. This war of aggression is in stark contrast to all values and principles our federations believe in.
Many initiatives have been launched to support Ukraine as well as all refugees reaching the EU Member States and moving worldwide. We are extremely relieved to hear from many of FIEC, EIC and CICA’s members about specific individual initiatives that have already been launched, such as financial donations, hosting of refugees, providing housing, etc.This major international crisis leads also to serious economic consequences. Increases in the prices of construction materials and products, as well as of energy prices, are observed since several months and such developments have accelerated over the last weeks.  Check out the joint statement delivered by the Presidents of FIEC, EIC and CICA for details on the impact of this crisis as well as our requests and commitment in this respect.

The social partners of the construction industry, FIEC and EFBWW, are glad to inform that the translation process of deliverables of the EU funded project titled “Reducing Respirable Crystalline Silica Dust Effectively” (RCS) has been officially finalised.

The project Research Paper is accessible in English, while the Mapping document is available in 12 languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Czech, Latvian, Polish, Turkish, Romanian and Croatian).
All documents are ready for immediate download on FIEC website.

On 24 March, the online event – hosted by the Construction 2050 Alliance on the ‘Sustainable Access to Primary and Secondary Raw Materials’ in the construction sector – gathered experts, stakeholders and speakers from the European Commission to discuss views about the current and foreseeable challenges regarding raw materials supply, and to present suggestions on what is needed to contribute towards a digital and green recovery leading to climate neutrality by 2050.

“The current difficulties in the access to raw materials, the disruptions in the supply chain and in the increases in prices of energy, materials and products require a stronger partnership within the construction ecosystem. This is one of the main goals of the Construction 2050 Alliance”, commented FIEC’s Director General, Domenico Campogrande, on the event outcomes.

The Alliance’s members shared some key messages:

• A reliable and sustainable raw materials and products supply in the construction industry is required to achieve the objectives set in the EU Green Deal, including the Renovation Wave, climate change adaptation and a green and resilient infrastructure.
• In the current geopolitical situation, it is particularly important to boost the supply of domestic raw materials without affecting housing affordability. A diversification of external sources of supply is needed. This should reduce the risk of shortages in the case of future trade restrictions or global pandemics.
• Delivering a meaningful and supportive framework for the further uptake of circularity in construction must become a priority.

A recording of panel talks and the speakers’ PPTs are available on Construction 2050 Alliance website.
Click below for further details.