On 4 November, EBC was invited by the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to a High-Level Stakeholder Roundtable on the future of the Construction Industry. The thematic discussion featured a range of stakeholders from EU officials to Ministries of Member States and EU construction sector representatives, including EBC Senior Policy Officer Spyros Mathioudakis.
Following greetings from the EESC President Oliver Röpke and Vice-President Francesco de Lotto, a first panel focused on the state of play of the construction transition pathway, an initiative of the European Commission aiming to chart a global vision for the future of the construction sector through a green and digital transition. Moderated by Tom Deleu, General Secretary of the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), a panel featuring Hein Bollens (European Commission, DG GROW), Trudy Higgins (European Commission DG ENV), Łukasz Rymarz (Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland) and Piero Petrucco (President of FIEC) had a global discussion on the challenges and opportunities for the sector in the years ahead. EBC emphasised the need to secure adequate financing to implement the Renovation Wave and deliver a climate-neutral building stock as per the Fit-For-55 legislation impacting the sector.
During a second round of exchanges, moderated by Domenico Campogrande, Director General of FIEC, Maria Luisa Cabral (European Commission, DG EMPL) and Josef Muchitsch (EFBWW) discussed ways of promoting quality jobs and ensuring a level-playing field by combating fraudulent practices and unfair competition in the sector. During the exchange with participants, Mr Mathioudakis took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of safeguarding the local and human character of the sector, which is primarily made up of SMEs and micro companies. While endorsing the need of continuous action to improve the skills and workforce situation in the sector, he also emphasised the necessity of supporting a clear framework on posting of workers and social security systems for fair labour mobility. Reacting to EFBWW’s call for regulating subcontracting, he mentioned the importance to offer clear rules for all actors involved, especially small contractors often operating as subcontractors.
Lastly, an exchange on the upcoming European Strategy for Housing took place, moderated by Baiba Miltoviča, President of the EESC’s Section Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN). The panel included Nina Kreutzmann (EFBWW President), Anna Mirkó (Hilti) and Sorcha Edwards (Housing Europe Secretary General). Participants pointed out the important challenges that Member States across the EU are facing regarding housing and noted that the EESC had been among the first to discuss the issue at EU level. Stakeholders look forward to contributing to the work of the newly appointed Energy and Housing Commissioner and help shape this new portfolio.
EBC looks forward to engaging in further discussions with the CCMI, the EESC and relevant stakeholders on how the construction sector evolves and responds to economic, social and environmental challenges to support the European Union.
 | For more information about the EESC’s Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI), click here |