News 2026

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Save the date for the 6th annual plenary meeting of the High Level Construction Forum (HLCF) and share updates on recent and upcoming developments, including the adoption of the European Strategy for Housing Construction, the launch of a public consultation on the future Construction Services Act, the introduction of the EU Construction Platform, and a forthcoming event on the European Construction Observatory.

30th APRIL, 2026 - BRUSSELS - High Level Construction Forum

Join the construction community to exchange on the strategic challenges facing the EU construction ecosystem and discuss actions being implemented by the EU, Member States and industry, including developments on the Transition Pathway for Construction.

The full-day event will take place at the European Commission - DG GROW (Breydel building) in Brussels and will be structured around 3 parts:

• Part 1: Productivity and competitiveness of the EU's construction ecosystem
• Part 2: The role of construction in addressing the housing crisis
• Part 3: Breakout sessions – Implementing the European Strategy for Housing Construction
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Joël Schons (LU), Vice-President for Social Affairs and Chairman of FIEC Working Group "Housing" will join as speaker, also on behalf of the Construction 2050 Alliance, during the morning session - Part 1: Productivity and competitiveness of the EU's construction ecosystem (livestreamed).

Online participation will be possible for the first two sessions only. 

2) European Strategy for Housing Construction: A new framework for a more competitive and productive industry

The European Strategy for Housing Construction has been adopted as part of a broader European Commission package to improve access to affordable, sustainable and good-quality housing across the EU. As the industrial pillar of the European Affordable Housing Package, it sets out concrete actions to strengthen the competitiveness and productivity of the construction ecosystem, including simplifying and digitalising permitting procedures, supporting innovation and scale-up, securing access to raw and secondary materials, and ensuring access to skills and services. By addressing key bottlenecks, the Strategy seeks to make construction faster, more efficient and more cost-effective, thereby supporting Member States, regions and cities in delivering resilient and affordable housing. The Strategy is available in all official EU languages.

Its adoption coincides with important regulatory developments for the ecosystem, notably the full entry into force of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). Together with the first CPR Working Plan for 2026–2029, the Strategy contributes to aligning regulation, industrial capacity and productivity in support of faster, more sustainable and affordable construction.

The HLCF will provide the main platform to inform the Commission’s follow-up work under the Strategy. Accordingly, at the 6^th annual plenary meeting, members will be invited to share perspectives on what would be needed in practice for the actions outlined in the strategy to work effectively in delivering more affordable, sustainable and timely housing across Europe.

The foundation is in place. Now it’s time to build on it!

3) New tools, new insights: European Construction Observatory updated

The European Construction Observatory launched its new phase on 27th January. A dedicated webinar introduced the enhanced platform, the updated Data Mapper and new policy fact sheets, and shared highlights from the Analytical Report on Skills in Construction. Participants had a chance to discuss sector trends, skills needs and policy priorities with the European Commission.

4) Commission opens an open public consultation on the future of Construction Services 

The European Commission launched a public consultation for the upcoming Construction Services Act, a key initiative under the Single Market Strategy. The new act aims to maximise the potential of the Single Market for construction and installation services and contribute to increasing the productivity of the sector while modernising the regulatory framework. It will foster the cross-border provision of construction and installation services, which could be of particular benefit to SMEs in border regions. Stakeholders are invited to share their views on how to make the postal sector more efficient, resilient and future-ready until 20th April, 2026.

Have Your Say via this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/15072-Construction-Services-Act_en

5) Introducing the EU Construction Platform: supporting dialogue and transition in construction

On 17 December 2025, the online launch event for the EU Construction Platform took place. The Platform is an online hub designed to facilitate dialogue, share information, and support the green and digital transition of the European construction ecosystem. It serves as a 'one-stop shop' for stakeholders, providing tailored access to news, policy updates, funding opportunities, best practices and learning resources.

During the event, the platform was presented via a guided tour, and its structure and key features were explained in detail. The participants learned how to access relevant information and how to share their own pledges, news and events, helping to increase their visibility across the network.

See the event report, the presentation slides and video of the launch event.

If you have not registered on the platform yet, you can do so here. A short promo video is also available.

6) A standard for Digital Building Logbooks

As announced in the European Strategy for Housing Construction, the European Commission has already initiated the process to adopt a standardisation request for the harmonisation of Digital Building Logbooks. The draft proposal is currently open for consultation in the Commission’s European Standards Notification System. This consultation allows experts to review the proposed approach and provide comments before the request is finalised and formally addressed to the European standardisation organisation.

Download AGENDA of the HLCF here: