On 31 July 2012 the European Commission Vice President Antonio Tajani, Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, presented a new construction strategy that should boost growth in the near future. Construction is very crucial for the European economy as it generates almost 10% of EU GDP and provides 20 million jobs mainly in micro and small enterprises. The economic crisis and the burst of the housing bubble led to a drop in building and infrastructure employment by 17% since 2008 across the EU.

The strategy foresees the following measures:

• stimulating favourable investment conditions for the renovation and maintenance of buildings through €120 billion in loans provided by the European Investment Bank as part of June’s Pact for Growth and Employment
• improving workers’ qualification by promoting mobility
• standardising design codes, which makes it easier for construction companies to work in other member states
• introducing of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) as announced in the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
• recognising sustainable construction systems
• fostering the global position of European construction enterprises to stimulate good performance and sustainable standards in third countries

Cerame-Unie welcomes any enhancement of solvency and looks forward to the proposed High Level Forum, where the concrete implementation of this strategy will be discussed with representatives from the member states and the construction sector.

Background

• Communication on a strategy for the sustainable competitiveness of the construction sector and its enterprises