European Commission publishes Sustainability Reporting Standards
The FIEC Statistical Report 2026, at its 69th edition, provides an in-depth look into the state of the construction sector across Europe. This edition analyses construction activity in the European Union in 2025 and presents the outlook for 2026. Each year, the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) releases its Statistical Report to make data and figures available on the health of the construction sector and its essential role in the European economy. The digital publication allows readers to explore the latest trends in construction activity and follow sectoral developments across Europe.
It features detailed analyses for 24 individual countries, as well as an EU-wide overview, based on key indicators, including:
✓ Macroeconomic overview (economic context and public policy affecting construction);
✓ Gross value added (GVA);
✓ Investment in construction (total, building, housebuilding, new housebuilding, renovation, non-residential and civil engineering);
✓ Employment in construction and its share in total EU employment;
✓ Building permits;
✓ Price trends for key construction materials.
A moderate recovery after two difficult years
After a decline of 2.5% in 2024, total investment in construction in the EU contracted by a further 2.1% in real terms in 2025. FIEC expects a return to growth in 2026 (+2.7%), but the rebound would not fully compensate for the losses recorded during the previous two years. The recovery remains fragile and uneven across countries and market segments.
Civil engineering remains the main growth driver
Civil engineering was again the strongest segment in 2025, growing by 3.8% after a 4.6% increase in 2024. Supported by investment in transport, energy and water infrastructure, as well as by European and national funding programmes, it is forecast to grow by 4.1% in 2026.
Building activity expected to turn positive
At segment level, the expected improvement in 2026 is mainly due to a return to growth in building construction. Building investment is forecast to grow by 2.2% after a decline of 3.5% in 2025. New housebuilding should rebound by 5.1%, but from a very low base, while renovation is expected to return to positive growth only moderately (+1.3%).
Non-residential stabilising, risks persist
Non-residential construction contracted by 1.8% in 2025 and is expected to grow by 1.4% in 2026. Overall, the European construction sector enters 2026 in a better position than in 2025, but financing conditions, public investment capacity, energy and material costs, administrative delays, labour availability and company solvency will remain decisive for the pace and durability of the recovery.
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