Economic and Legal Commission (ECO)

Brief description and main aims:

The current legislative framework on public procurement consists of three EU directives adopted in 2014 (2014/23/EU on concessions, 2014/24/EU on “classic” procurement and 2014/25/EU on “utilities” procurement). These rules are aimed at ensuring that public procurement procedures are transparent and fair.

Nevertheless, in its Special Report 28/2023, the European Court of Auditors found that competition in EU public procurement declined between 2011 and 2021, and that the 2014 reform objectives—notably simplifying and shortening procedures—have not been fully achieved. It recommends clearer priorities, better data collection and monitoring, and an action plan to address barriers to competition.

In response, the European Commission launched a public consultation and Call for Evidence in December 2024 to evaluate the 2014 procurement directives, with a view to a possible revision in 2026. In September 2025, the European Parliament adopted its own-initiative report on public procurement (2024/2103(INI)), setting priorities for the upcoming reform — including a shift from “lowest price” towards value-based awarding and simplification and better access for SMEs.

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

FIEC is involved in the topic of public procurement because it represents a major source of activity for the construction sector in Europe. A significant share of construction work—particularly in infrastructure, housing, and public projects—is financed by public funds. It is therefore essential that companies in the sector have fair and competitive access to public procurement opportunities.

The current EU framework poses several challenges: excessive complexity, increasing use of direct awards or in-house procurement, unequal access across Member States, and downward pressure on prices at the expense of quality. These issues directly affect the ability of companies to participate effectively in public tenders.

As the federation representing the interests of construction companies at European level, FIEC’s role is to ensure that the rules are adapted to the specificities of the sector, promote fair competition, support innovation, and allow for the effective integration of environmental and social objectives while remaining realistic and proportionate.

Brief description and main aims:

The European Union faces three major strategic challenges regarding infrastructure. First, it must complete, modernise, and maintain its transport network to ensure smooth and coherent connectivity across regions, with a particular focus on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Second, in a context of heightened geopolitical tensions, infrastructure must be adapted for dual civilian and military use to strengthen military mobility. Finally, the green transition requires making infrastructure sustainable by redirecting investments toward low-carbon transport modes, improving energy efficiency, and aligning with the climate goals of the European Green Deal.

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Regulation is a core instrument at EU level for influencing Member States’ infrastructure policies. Recognising the necessity of modernising the EU’s transport system, the European Commission adopted new transport proposals in December 2021, among which the revision of the guidelines for the trans-European transport network.

The TEN-T revision aims at addressing the missing links in the TEN-T network and upgrading it. The revised rules were adopted in April 2024 and introduce obligations on Member States with respect to maintenance.

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

As essential connecting points in Europe’s transport network, the malfunction of bridges attracts particular attention. For this reason, FIEC has set up the ECO WG “Structural Maintenance”, focusing on the lack of maintenance of bridges and promoting initiatives to address this issue. The WG now extends its scope to the maintenance of infrastructure in general. Thanks to FIEC’s intense lobbying over recent years, the revised TEN-T rules strengthen the approach regarding the quality of infrastructure and its maintenance, including the structural stability of critical assets such as bridges and tunnels.

New challenges have now been added—defence and military mobility. The White Paper on European Defence – Readiness 2030 identifies military mobility as a critical gap requiring urgent investment.

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is the main EU funding instrument for delivering the goals of the TEN-T Regulation. This WG is actively engaging with the ongoing public consultation on the CEF evaluation. We aim to highlight the need for stronger support for structural maintenance, the adaptation of infrastructure for military use — including the creation of corridors to facilitate military transport from the Western to the Eastern front — and the reinforcement of the CEF’s role in funding sustainable, low-carbon projects.

Brief description and main aims:

The MFF 2028–2034 sets the EU’s seven-year spending ceilings and priorities. The Commission proposes ~€2 trillion (≈ 1.26% of EU GNI) with a streamlined architecture, fewer programmes, and stronger alignment between EU and national priorities via Partnership Plans. Key features for construction: a reinforced Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) of €81.4 bn (incl. €51.5 bn for transport, with ~€17 bn for Military Mobility) and a new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) (~€409 bn) boosting innovation, industrial decarbonisation and skills. The proposal also envisages new own resources (ETS/CBAM share, e-waste, tobacco excise, “CORE”, adjustments to existing resources) to stabilise revenues and reduce pressure on national budgets.

Structural changes (4 main headings; consolidation of programmes) aim to increaseflexibility while maintaining support for cohesion, agriculture and external action; however, this raises governance and transparency questions highlighted in parliamentary analyses.

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

The next MFF is expected to put a strong emphasis on competitiveness, R&D andinnovation, alongside continued investment in infrastructure (transport, water, housing) and skills — with a direct impact on construction companies, their supply chains and SMEs. This shift matters greatly for the construction sector: EU support for research, innovation and industrial competitiveness will shape the pace of industrial decarbonisation, the deployment of clean technologies and materials, the digitalisation of construction processes, and the upskilling of the workforce.

FIEC welcomes the renewed focus on competitiveness, innovation and transport connectivity, particularly the doubling of the Connecting Europe Facility and the creation of a European Competitiveness Fund. However, the Federation cautions against the risks of re-nationalisation, reduced cohesion funding, and underinvestment in water, housing and environmental infrastructure. FIEC calls for stronger safeguards to maintain EU-level ambition in these areas, increased support for industrial decarbonisation, energy renovation, and construction innovation, and a clear recognition of water resilience as a strategic investment priority.