DigiPLACE event recorded

The first DigiPLACE online information session was held last week. The event gathered over ninety participants from the construction sector and the DigiPLACE partners, to raise awareness of the project and discuss its progress.You can find the slides and watch the recording from the full session by clicking on the link below.

 

   READ MORE   

Insufficient maintenance puts TEN-T network at risk

 

In a special report published on 21 April, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) assesses the progress made with regard to the completion of the TEN-T core road network.
While positive results such as shorter travel times have been achieved, there are still major shortcomings. Amongst other things, the ECA recommends that the European Commission strengthens its approach to maintenance as the lack of maintenance works puts the network’s quality at risk in the long run.

 

   SPECIAL REPORT   

Covid Recovery Fund:
€320Bn requested for construction

In a joint declaration, FIEC, Construction Products Europe and EBC has addressed a request to Commissioner Breton asking for at least €320Bn to be earmarked for construction in the forthcoming Covid Recovery Fund.

This amount aims not only at compensating the losses in private and public spending in order to bring them back to  pre-crisis levels, but also at triggering the multiplier effect that construction is having on the whole economy, by :
  • Creating added value jobs and positively contributing to the recovery of local economies
  • Delivering the growth strategy of the European Green Deal and transforming the EU into a carbon neutral continent through, amongst other things, a Sustainable Built Environment.
  • Renovating the EU building stock and ensuring a better quality of living for people as citizens by increasing comfort, better air/indoor environment quality, energy efficiency, affordable and accessible housing, easy mobility and connectivity
  • Improving competitiveness, mobility across Europe and the safety of EU citizens through the maintenance of existing infrastructures and the construction of new infrastructures.

 

   READ MORE   

New Posting Directive – European Commission confirms transposition deadline

In response to a request from BUSINESSEUROPE to postpone the transposition deadline of the new Directive on Posting of workers (2018/957), the European Commission confirmed that the deadline would be maintained as foreseen, namely 30th July 2020.

BUSINESSEUROPE had argued that the current COVID-19 crisis made it impossible for national administrations to properly prepare this transition or for companies to get properly informed and ready.

In reaction, EU trade unions also wrote to the European Commission to support the current deadline.

In its response to BUSINESSEUROPE, the European Commission insisted on the sensitivity of the matter, which required difficult negotiations to get to an agreement. The Commission also acknowledged the difficulties that national administrations may encounter because of the crisis and confirmed its full support in assisting them where necessary.

   READ MORE