FIEC Calls for a Market-Driven Framework for Circular Construction
On 24 June, FIEC Vice-President for Environmental Affairs, Stephanos Pierides, participated in the policy panel “What is the outlook for accelerating circular construction in the EU?” during the conference Circular Construction for Competitiveness, Climate and Conservation of Raw Materials, held at the premises of the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.
The discussion focused on the forthcoming Circular Economy Act (CEA), expected to be presented by the European Commission in the third quarter of 2026, and its role in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, climate ambitions and resource resilience.
Mr Stephanos Pierides, FIEC Vice-President for Environmental Affairs, highlighted the construction sector's potential to advance circularity through greater use of secondary materials. He stressed that the future legislative framework should prioritise the completion of the EU Single Market for Secondary Materials by introducing practical, harmonised End-of-Waste criteria and reducing regulatory fragmentation.
FIEC also reiterated that demand for circular materials should be driven by market-based incentives rather than mandatory recycled-content quotas. Public procurement, using life-cycle considerations and quality-based award criteria, can play an important role in creating markets for circular solutions, while a "Secondary First" approach would encourage the use of locally available secondary materials whenever feasible. At the same time, it is key to strengthen regional circular value chains and to promote digital tools that improve material traceability.
As the European Commission prepares the Circular Economy Act (CEA), FIEC remains committed to supporting a practical and coherent framework that enhances competitiveness, reduces reliance on virgin raw materials and enables the construction sector to contribute effectively to Europe's circular economy objectives.