Technical and Environmental Commission (TEC)

Brief description and main aims:

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is the EU's main legislative instrument for improving the energy performance of buildings in the EU. It was revised with the aim of significantly reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and final energy consumption in buildings by 2030, and to set a long-term vision for a climate-neutral EU building stock by 2050. Some specific goals of the recast EPBD are to increase the rate and depth of energy-efficient building renovations, improve information about the energy performance and sustainability of buildings, ensure that all new buildings meet ambitious Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), and to ensure that all buildings will be in line with the 2050 climate neutrality target. The EPBD sets minimum requirements for non-residential and residential buildings with a “worst first” approach, intending to address renovations of the worst- performing buildings first. It also obliges Member States to phase out fossil fuel-based boilers by 2040 and to define a pathway to progressively reduce the life cycle Global Warming Potential (GWP).

The EPBD recast builds on the EU Renovation Wave strategy and aims to double the annual renovation rate. It is part of the Fit-for-55 package to reduce 2030 GHG emissions in the EU by 55 percent.

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

Buildings account for about 40 percent of the total energy consumption and 36 percent of GHG emissions in the EU. Currently, about 35 percent of EU buildings are older than 50 years, and almost 75 percent of the building stock is energy inefficient. The annual renovation rate is stagnating at about 0.4 - 1.2 percent. Therefore, the renovation of the existing building stock has the potential to lead to significant energy savings. Investments in energy efficiency can boost the construction industry, and SMEs in particular would benefit from a stimulated renovation market. In addition, the recast EPBD sets out conditions for calculating the Whole-Life Carbon (WLC) emissions / Life-cycle GWP of new buildings. As part of the EU Renovation Wave, the European Commission underlined its commitment to developing a roadmap to 2050 for reducing the WLC emissions of buildings.

The Fit-for-55 package has great potential for the construction industry, but it will also have a far-reaching impact on the construction supply chain, as the proposed legislation affects the entire life-cycle of buildings. A summary and analysis of the Fit-for-55 package and the European Green Deal is available on the FIEC Website and Intranet. FIEC welcomed the Fit-for-55 package and EPBD recast. However, in the context of the intensifying housing crisis, FIEC repeatedly warned about the high up-front costs of renovation, the lack of skilled labour and the impact of the EPBD on construction costs.

FIEC monitors the transposition in Member States and remains involved in the EPBD Comitology.

Brief description and main aims:

More frequent and severe extreme weather events are among the most pressing challenges of our time and a global threat. Climate risks threaten energy and food security, ecosystems, infrastructure, water resources, financial stability and human health across the EU. Many of these risks have already reached critical levels and could become catastrophic if urgent and decisive action is not taken.

In 2019, the European Commission launched its sustainable growth strategy, the European Green Deal, with the aim of putting Europe on a path to climate neutrality by 2050 and transforming it into a circular economy. However, during the previous mandate, it became clear that such a strategy would not materialise without paying attention to the competitiveness of the continent's industrial backbone, including SMEs. Therefore, a Clean Industrial Deal was adopted early in 2025, guiding EU policymaking during the new mandate. The scheduled legislative proposal about an Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) was announced as part of this new growth strategy. It will address industrial decarbonisation and access to energy, with the goal of supporting the creation of lead markets for the development of European clean and resilient industrial technologies and products. A focus will be on the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries to reach climate neutrality by 2050. Today, emission reductions are too often the result of reduced production output rather than increased efficiency and decarbonised manufacturing processes. To overcome this, the IAA aims to address the lack of demand for clean industrial products at current prices, compared to their conventional alternatives.

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

Of particular importance to the European construction industry is the aim of the European Commission to develop “green” product labels for industrial materials, accompanied by incentive schemes. Among the tools of the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), it is planned to develop a framework for voluntary labels on the carbon intensity content of industrial products like steel and cement. Those“green” labels might be linked to private and public procurement as mandatory non-price criteria.

Construction sector emissions are estimated at 5-12% of total national emissions, and the vast majority of those are primarily linked to material extraction and production. Reducing the carbon footprint of construction products is therefore essential. The built environment is considered among the sectors of application because it absorbs high volumes of carbon-intensive materials. However, contractors are already sourcing low-carbon alternatives (e.g. rebar and wire rod produced mainly through the steel secondary route), which also offer clear advantages in terms of circularity.

The overall goal of the construction industry is to buy materials with the lowest carbon footprint at the most competitive price, always on the basis of important technical characteristics. FIEC is therefore concerned about potentially biased or inconsistent labelling initiatives and broadly supports the use of established regulatory tools under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and standard EN15804. Any future labelling scheme shall be legally compatible with existing legislation.

Brief description and main aims:

Despite EU and global efforts, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation continue, posing serious threats to people, the economy, and the climate. This has been widely documented, for example, in reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). There is an urgent need to restore nature and biodiversity across the EU by establishing common targets and coordinated action.

In 2019, the European Commission launched its sustainable growth strategy, the European Green Deal, with the objectives of restoring nature, improving biodiversity, and protecting European soils. Building on this strategy, legislative proposals for a Nature Restoration Law (published in June 2022) and the EU Soil Monitoring Law (published in July 2023) have been adopted, which also draw on the EU Biodiversity and Soil strategies, the Zero Pollution Action Plan , and the Forest Strategy. The Nature Restoration Law requires Member States to implement restoration measures covering at least 20% of land and 20% of sea areas by 2030. Measures must also target at least 30% of all habitat types listed in the regulation that are not in good condition by 2030, rising to 60% by 2040 and 80% by 2050. Member States are required to draw up national restoration plans to achieve these targets.

The Soil Monitoring Law aims to achieve healthy soils across the EU by 2050. It seeks to restore essential soil functions to support climate neutrality and enhance climate resilience, ensuring soils continue to provide their critical ecological and economic services.

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

FIEC calls for a pragmatic, legally sound and efficient approach to environmental sustainability. The urgency of this approach is highlighted by the housing crisis: since 2015, housing prices have risen by more than 20%, while building permits have declined by over 20% in just five years. Total costs have been identified as key challenge, including the costs of construction and lengthy permitting procedures. Streamlining permitting processes and supporting the use of secondary materials are essential to reducing costs and promoting sustainable construction that delivers what is needed most.

Regarding permitting procedures, FIEC highlights redundancies in environmental assessments required by the SEA Directive (Strategic Environmental Assessments  and the EIA Directives (Environmental Impact Assessments). Requiring assessments both during the preparation of local urban development plans and at the project stage increases administrative burden, delays, and costs.

FIEC supports the objectives of healthy soils and reduced land consumption. However, implementation must allow Member States sufficient flexibility to apply measures in practical and economically viable ways. The Nature Restoration Law envisions interventions in land use and urban planning, while the Soil Monitoring Law aims to improve soil resilience, enhance management of contaminated sites, and introduce principles to minimise land consumption, particularly regarding soil sealing and erosion. Stricter regulations on land use and nature restoration risk making building land scarcer and more expensive. For instance, the non-deterioration principle is extremely demanding, and FIEC calls for careful consideration and balancing of local social, ecological, and economic factors.

Brief description and main aims:

Over the years, the EU has adopted several pieces of legislation in the field of water protection andquality. The EU's main objective is to ensure that all Europeans have access to good quality and sufficient water, and to guarantee the good status of all water bodies throughout Europe. EU legislation aims to ensure that water is managed sustainably in the long term, that water pollution is reduced and that aquatic ecosystems are protected.

Since 2000, the EU's Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been the main piece of water legislation in Europe. It has been complemented by other EU legislation such as the Groundwater Directive (GWD), the Drinking Water Directive (DWD), the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), and the Floods Directive. While these policies have primarily focused on water quality and pollutants, water quantity management, scarcity, droughts, and other extreme weather events are now receiving more attention. These challenges lack a comprehensive strategy and vision to address them.

In 2023, the Consultative Committee for Industrial Changes (CCMI), a European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) body, published plans for an EU Blue Deal to make the water crisis a policy priority. After the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President, the development of a Water Resilience Strategy (WRS) was included among the priorities for the new mandate. A dedicated Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy, the Swedish Jessika Roswall, has been appointed.

Why FIEC is dealing with this topic:

Contractors face a growing number of challenges related to water stress, excess water and water quality. Extreme weather events such as droughts and heavy rainfall are becoming more frequent, posing huge challenges to the built environment and resulting in huge damages and high insurance costs. Flood defences and other water management systems are needed to deal with these situations.To the contrary, a major factor contributing to water scarcity and water loss is leakage from water networks: On average, 23% of treated water is lost in public water supplies.

On construction sites, water consumption is relatively low compared to other sectors, as it is mainly used for mixing mortar and for cleaning equipment. To better address this situation, FIEC calls for a sectoral approach, with individual milestones and roadmaps. Moreover, policymakers must recognise the crucial role of contractors in building new water infrastructure, as well as its maintenance and repair. With an appropriate framework, the whole water nexus can also be a huge business opportunity for the sector. However, providing clean water is a public service, and water infrastructure is therefore mainly provided to public bodies. Tackling the identified challenges and using resources efficiently requires greater and more predictable funding to enable investments in the repair and maintenance of water grids, sewer networks, and hydraulic infrastructure. Special attention should be given to how existing laws are implemented and enforced at the national level.