European Accessibility Act: The role of the built environment
On 3 July, Domenico Campogrande, FIEC Director General, spoke at a conference held to mark the coming into force of the European Accessibility Act.
The Act mandates that a range of products and services comply with accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities and althoguh it does not directly regulate the built environment, the latter can play a key role in fostering accessibility.
This can be achieved by:
- Strengthening the integration of all the actors in the supply chain
- Fostering digitalisation
- Ensuring a better coherence in the existing legislations and standards
- Using public procurement as a leverage tool
- Upgrading the national building codes to align them with accessibility standards
Investing in accessibility is not just a legal obligation — it’s a smart business move, as inclusive buildings serve a wider audience and increase long-term value for owners and tenants.
The “European Alliance for Apprenticeships” High-Level Event 2025
On 30 June, FIEC participated in the annual European Alliance for Apprenticeships High-Level event. The meeting focused on the contribution of apprenticeships to both the Union of Skills and the EU Clean Industrial Deal. These two initiatives will support upskilling and reskilling of workers and promote skills development.
During the event, Roxana Mînzatu, the European Commission Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, stressed the key role of social partners. The importance of involving social partners to develop quality apprenticeships and upskilling and reskilling activities was at the core of a panel discussion with EU cross-industry social partners (ETUC, BusinessEurope, SMEunited, SGI Europe).
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Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: European Commission documentation published
The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) recast entered into force in May 2024 after years of intense negotiations. It aims at significantly reducing greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions and final energy consumption of the built environment by 2030 and sets a long-term vision for a climate-neutral EU building stock by 2050.
On 30 June, the European Commission published a package of documents related to the implementation and national transposition of the EPBD. It contains a delegated regulation on the methodological framework for calculating cost-optimal levels of energy performance requirements, an implementing regulation establishing common templates for the EU Building Stock Observatory, and a Communication providing guidance to help Member States in transposing the EPBD into national law.
The transposition deadline is 29 May 2026.
European Commission proposes 90% reduction of emissions by 2040
On 2 July, the European Commission published its proposal for the EU Climate Target 2040. The proposal aims to amend the European Climate Law to include the 2040 target to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 90%, compared to 1990 levels.
In addition to the 2040 target, the European Commission proposed a flexibility mechanism that allows up to 3% of GHG emissions reductions to be achieved in third countries. Starting in 2036, this mechanism would allow counting these international reductions alongside an 87% reduction in domestic emissions, in order to meet the full 90% reduction target by 2040.
The proposal for a regulation has been submitted to the co-legislators for discussion and adoption under the ordinary legislative procedure.
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Housing Advisory Board: European Commission publishes list of members
Last Monday, the European Commission published the list of the selected members of the Housing Advisory Board. This expert group is tasked with providing concrete, independent policy recommendations for the European Commission to consider in preparing the European Affordable Housing Plan which is expected in early 2026.
The Commission has selected 15 persons among 200 applications. According to the Commission, they are selected in their personal capacity, ensuring a balanced representation across different profiles and areas of expertise, along with a geographical and gender balance, of the different members who come from 15 different EU Member States.
“Building Tomorrow” Conference : Public Procurement
During the conference organised on 24 June by the EU sectoral social partners, FIEC and EFBWW, at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Jean Yves Muylle, Head of Unit for Public Procurement Policy at the European Commission (DG GROW), outlined what could be the main priorities for the upcoming revision of the EU Public Procurement Directives.
Following an open consultation, the European Commission has identified four key priorities.
First, modernising and greening procurement: shifting away from a lowest-price approach (still used in 65% of contracts) towards a more balanced evaluation based on quality, innovation, and environmental and social impact.
Second, full digitalisation of the procurement cycle: implementing a “digital by design” principle, with interoperable platforms and open data covering the entire lifecycle from planning to execution and monitoring.
Third, empowering local contracting authorities – such as municipalities and hospitals – by simplifying procedures, supporting professionalisation of buyers, and harmonising controls to facilitate smarter and more strategic purchasing.
Fourth, boosting competition and SME participation: addressing the high share of single-bidder procedures (currently 30%), promoting lot division, reviewing publication thresholds, and clarifying subcontracting rules.
According to the Commission’s timeline, the overall evaluation of the consultation will be finalised in the autumn 2025, followed by an impact assessment and a legislative proposal to be presented in 2026.
As Jean-Yves Muylle emphasised: “It is not only the new legal framework that will matter, but how it will be implemented across Europe.”
FIEC will continue to closely monitor this process and contribute to the preparatory work to ensure that the reform responds effectively to the specific needs of the construction sector.
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About FIEC history:❓DID YOU KNOW THAT….
