EESC hearing: Fostering innovation and digitalisation in construction
On 29 September in Brussels, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted a hearing on how to foster innovation and digitalisation in the construction sector. Experts and industry representatives discussed the main obstacles to innovation, from outdated regulations and lack of funding to skills shortages, and explored how digital tools, new materials and smarter rules could help accelerating the modernisation of the sector.
This event was part of a process within the CCMI (Consultative Commission on Industrial Change), one of the sections of the EESC, aiming at publishing an own initiative report to be adopted early 2027.
FIEC Director General, Domenico Campogrande, is co-rapporteur for this opinion and reminded that the sector is a highly complex ecosystem, from design to products and machinery manufacturing, including the building process itself, workers and end users. This complexity means that different stakeholders require different approaches to innovation.
Ulrik Branner, Vice-President of FIEC, also intervened in the hearing explaining that one of the reasons for which construction companies are not innovating faster is that many projects are still awarded on the basis of the lowest price, while risks are pushed down the supply chain.
Natalia Żebrowska, Head of the Construction unit at the European Commission’s DG GROW (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) explained the work thar her team is carrying out on the one hand to develop a digital system for sharing information throughout the life cycle of a construction project and, on the other hand, to modernise the technical standards in order to adequately taking into account innovative products and technologies.
Giuseppe Perretti (European Federation of Building and Woodworkers – EFBWW) said that robotics and automation can support workers, improve production processes and make the sector more attractive to young people. However, in order to be successful this needs to be implemented with a strong cooperation among employers and workers’ representatives and with adequate training schemes.
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FIEC calls for simpler rules to speed up housing delivery
Our federation is calling for simpler rules to reduce delays and costs in housing construction and renovation. Its response to the Housing Simplification Package consultation sets out practical changes ahead of the European Commission’s planned initiative in 2027. The Commission estimates that the EU will need more than two million homes a year to meet current demand.
Faster permitting must cover the whole approval chain, including preliminary opinions and clearances. FIEC proposes deadlines for all authorities involved, coordinated decisions through a shared digital portal and a single contact point for applicants. It also calls for valid environmental studies to be reused across procedures, with updates where circumstances have changed. This would reduce repeated documentation while preserving the required legal assessments and effective access to justice.
FIEC also wants existing and future rules assessed for their impact on housing costs and approval times, including interest paid while projects wait for permission. This assessment should examine legislation without creating another project approval. Member States should make clear which requirements come from EU law, and which they add nationally, so that simplification addresses the right level of government.
The contribution calls for proportionate environmental requirements that take housing needs into account, particularly where restrictions can hinder development within existing urban areas. Clearer rules should also enable safe reuse of construction materials. On finance, FIEC asks the Commission to assess whether banking requirements unnecessarily restrict lending to viable housing projects, with any adjustments based on actual risk and preserving financial stability.
Regulatory predictability remains essential for construction companies. FIEC supports effective implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). FIEC considers inappropriate the reopening framework at this stage. Practical guidance should help contractors apply the rules, with documentation proportionate to smaller businesses and clear responsibilities for construction work.
Download Call for Evidence and read European Commission’s Briefing on housing supply.
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FIEC’s Director General speaks about digitalisation in social security and labour mobility
On 30 September, FIEC intervened in the conference – hosted by the French Representation to the EU in Brussels – on social security institution (REIF) “Citizens’ mobility in the EU: What’s next? Adapting the EU regulatory framework and tools to new forms of mobility“. The conference focused on the new rules for social security coordination set out by the revised Regulation 883/2004. Speakers highlighted the opportunities and challenges posed by the revised rules, as well as areas for further improvement.
Participating in a panel discussion on the existing and upcoming tools proposed by the Fair Labour Mobility Package, FIEC’s Director General, Domenico Campogrande, presented the views of employers in the construction industry. He stressed the need for more digital tools, such as the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), the e-declaration, and better access to data. The Fair Labour Mobility Package presented by the European Commission is moving in this direction.
FIEC welcomes these digitalisation efforts, which should increase transparency and enforcement of existing rules while reducing administrative burden for employers.
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FIEC involvement in the new EU-OSHA Healthy workplaces campaign 2026-2028
FIEC has renewed its commitment to safer and healthier workplaces by becoming an Official Partner of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) “Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2026–2028: Together for mental health at work”.
Having partnered with EU-OSHA in previous campaign editions, FIEC is pleased to continue contributing to the dissemination of this important initiative. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness about the impact of psychosocial risks, to demonstrate the importance of preventing and managing psychosocial risks and promote the creation of supportive, inclusive, and mentally healthy work environments across all sectors.
FIEC is already active on this file, with a joint EU-funded project with European Federation of Building and Wood Workers (EFBWW) on mental health in the construction sector concluded in 2019, and an ongoing one, Mind@Work, in partnership with the European Employers’ Institute.
FIEC looks forward to contributing to the campaign and promoting healthier workplaces across Europe.
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Simplified Sustainability Reporting Standards published in the EU Official Journal
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FIEC attends Ceemet event on skills gap
On 30 September, FIEC attended the Ceemet breakfast event “Closing Europe’s skills gap: making skills portability work for competitiveness” held in Brussels. The event brought together policymakers, employers and international experts to discuss the Skills Portability Initiative, presented by the European Commission in September, and how it can help tackle skills shortages in Europe.
Speakers from the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and industry representatives welcomed the focus on digitalisation. They also stressed that the initiative must remain practical, especially for SMEs, avoid new administrative burden and build on existing national and sectoral schemes, often developed by the social partners. The Commission underlined that the package is first and foremost about simplification and foresees no costs for companies.
FIEC will continue to closely monitor the initiative as it moves through the legislative arena.
Photo credits: Renew Europe Group