Gathered in Brussels on 18 September, the Board of Directors of the European Builders Confederation EBC warmly welcomed the nomination of Dan Jørgensen as the next European Commissioner for Energy and, for the first time, Housing. Mr. Jørgensen’s extensive experience in climate and energy policy makes him well-suited to lead in this critical role, considering the increasing nexus between energy efficiency, investment, sustainable finance, construction and housing, which is a vital quintet for Europe’s future.
EBC looks forward to the upcoming initiatives, including the anticipated communication on promoting housing affordability in the EU and the new European Affordable Housing Plan. In parallel, EBC is looking forward to a new and accelerated implementation phase of the energy renovation ambitions stemming from the European Green Deal, the Renovation Wave and Repower EU strategies. EBC believes these initiatives will provide key directions and actions that will benefit the housing and construction sectors, in close coordination with the other relevant Commissioners and Directorate-Generals (DGs), especially Commissioner nominees Valdis Dombrovskis in charge of Economy and Productivity along Implementation and Simplification; Jessika Roswall in charge of the Environment, Water Resilience and a competitive Circular economy; and Wopke Hoekstra in charge of Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, as well as the Executive Vice-President nominees Teresa Ribera Rodriguez in charge of the Clean, Just and Competitive Transition; Stéphane Séjourné in charge of Prosperity and Industrial Strategy; Roxana Minzatu in charge of People, Skills and Preparedness; and Raffaele Fitto in charge of Cohesion and Reforms.
A fully integrated approach is essential to address the intricate challenges faced by the building sector, starting with the right implementation by the Member States of the Fit for 55 legislations affecting the renovation market and new construction, guaranteeing long-term regulatory stability mirroring the 2050 decarbonisation ambition, and ensuring a sustainable and resilient housing market.
Philip van Nieuwenhuizen, President of EBC, said: “We are confident that Commissioner Jørgensen’s expertise will drive forward the essential balance between energy efficiency and affordability in housing. As micro, small and medium enterprises are essential for the very existence of construction, we are eager to collaborate with the Commission to create policies that not only address climate challenges, reinvigorate our sector, and maintain the competitiveness of the EU, but also promote fair and viable conditions for construction SMEs and craftsmen across Europe.”
Jean-Christophe Repon, Vice-President of EBC, added: “The construction sector will be the unavoidable actor in achieving Europe’s energy transition. We expect Commissioner Jørgensen to champion policies that support the construction sector, its majority of very small companies that constitute 95% of all construction companies , and its ability to meet energy goals without sacrificing the affordability and accessibility of housing for all Europeans. Our collaboration will focus on ensuring that the voices of our builders are well represented in these crucial developments.”
EBC remains committed to engaging constructively with the European Commission and all stakeholders, ensuring that the building sector can thrive in a sustainable, innovative, stable, and balanced regulatory framework.
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