FIEC attended the 5th annual meeting of the "High-Level Construction Forum" hosted by the European Commission (Directorate-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs - DG GROW), in Brussels.
The event brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss the strategic challenges facing the construction sector and explore solutions for our sustainable future. In its role as officially recognised sectoral social partner in the European Social Dialogue for construction, our Federation was actively participating and provided its valuable insights, at a time when the housing crisis and construction overall have finally been recognised as a top priority at European level.
FIEC Vice-President, Philip Crampton, intervened as speaker during the plenary session, with focus on the theme "Towards a Competitive, Sustainable, and Productive Construction Ecosystem." Key discussions evolved around the progress of actions initiated by the EU, the Member States and industry representatives in line with the Transition Pathway for Construction. He underlined FIEC's commitment to play an active role in shaping the sector’s future, particularly as the industry navigates new economic and political challenges.
Developed around 3 thematic workshops (“Accelerating Building Permits”, “Improving the Market for Secondary Materials” and “Facilitating Services and Skilled Labour”), the forum discussions made it clear that the upcoming revision of the Public Procurement Directive (particularly the introduction of new non-price criteria to award sustainable practices) will have a significant impact on the dynamics of the construction sector. As we face both challenges and opportunities in an ever-evolving landscape, the "High-Level Construction Forum" served as a timely call for collaboration among industry, policymakers and other stakeholders. We build the change together: we can ensure that the sector continues to innovate, grow and contribute to the EU’s ambitious sustainability goals.
Click here to watch a video with the main messages and takeaways from the Forum.
