Home » Priority 3

Priority 3

To achieve a fair internal market with SMEs at the centre of policies 03 affecting construction, we need to:

Revitalise social dialogue and make EBC a full partner inthe European sectoral social dialogue in construction.
Safeguard the existing European definition of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as enshrinedin Directive 2013/34/EU.
Apply systematically the “think small first” principle andthe SME Test to all regulation.
Reduce administrative and reporting burdens as well as continuously tackle red tape to lever barriers to business in construction.

Enforce zero-tolerance rules for late payment in all commercial transactions and compel public authorities to lead by example regarding payment behaviour.
Incentivise SME participation in public procurement, without unduly restrictive tendering procedures or social and environmental criteria.
Better train public contracting authorities on avoiding unrealistic or discouraging selection and award criteria.
Help construction SMEs combat social legislation abuse, fraud, and social dumping, by better coordinating social security systems, sanctioning bad practices and disruptive players, and reinforcing effective and frequent inspections.
Strengthen the role of the European Labour Authority indealing with mobility, labour, and inspection problems in the sector, in respect of the subsidiarity principle.