EFCA looks at the main initiatives that will come from the European elections (Photo: AdobeStock)

Starting with a review of existing regulatory and administrative barriers, a Single Market Strategy will tackle the perceived 鈥渙ver-regulation鈥� problem, in particular for SMEs. The aim is to simplify the legislative framework and facilitate compliance.

Circular Economy remains a priority with the adoption of the first Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation Working Plan in the first year of the mandate. This plan will identify key product categories for the application of new eco-design criteria, concentrating on high-impact consumer and industrial products.

The goal is to establish requirements that extend the lifecycle of materials and products, while also reducing costs and administrative efforts for consumers and businesses alike. This will have a huge impact on the construction sector, and the success of this initiative will depend on the extent to which the private sector embraces it and reacts.

With the horrific images of the flooding in Valencia fresh in everyone鈥檚 mind, the climate emergency is a burning issue for the new Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Commissioner. Assuming she is approved (possibly today at the time of writing,) Jessika Roswall, Sweden鈥檚 candidate, will also have to tackle increasing and wider-spread drought, extreme heat and all manner of disasters that occur more often and with more intensity. These catastrophes, together with stakeholder lobbying, have led to a significant change 鈥� there is now as the promise of a European Water Resilience Strategy.

Investments in water infrastructure

The objective is to preserve water quality and quantity in the EU and beyond, enhance the competitive innovative edge of EU water industry and address water challenges, including pollution, scarcity and the impacts of climate change. A key part of the strategy will consist of significant investments in water infrastructure and relevant clean industry technologies, together with a cohesive approach to water management, but tailored to the specific conditions of each Member State.

This promising plan for infrastructure improvement meets the policy positions from different construction sector stakeholders such as EFCA, but also creates opportunities for firms in consulting engineering, calling on their expertise and already developed solutions. Furthermore, the EC is committed to developing cross-border water cooperation and market opportunities for the EU companies, something to be applauded.

At a more technical level, the Standardisation Regulation will be evaluated in 2025, with a focus on overall simplification and a potential new approach to work with stakeholders.

However, the highlight for the engineering and construction sector will be the update of the procurement Directives, in line with the requests of the Council of the EU and the Court of Auditors. The modernisation of the procurement rules is set to focus on three main areas: qualitative requirements, notably in terms of sustainability, social, resilience and cybersecurity; ensure the security of supply for strategic technologies, products and services; simplification of the current mechanisms, particularly for startups, innovators and local authorities.

This is also an opportunity to further digitalise procurement, from simplification and speed-up to the uptake of innovative products and technologies. The latter has long been called for by EFCA and other industry players, in order to upscale pioneering design and processes and bring them to the market.

Strategic technologies

Finally, to prioritise the strategic technologies and sectors in the context of the new procurement rules, the following will be considered: the sectors and technologies identified in existing sectoral legislation (e.g. Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation) and in upcoming initiatives (e.g. Clean Industrial Deal), resilience of supply chains, physical and cyber security of critical infrastructure.

Infrastructure as a whole has always been a major theme for our sector. Therefore, we are pleased to see that this will feature during the next EC mandate. A major focus remains the completion of the TEN-T network, now complemented by a high-speed rail network between the EU capitals and better (rail) cross-border connectivity. A similar approach concerns energy infrastructure, particularly given the increase in renewable energy sources and in hydrogen use. However, transport and energy infrastructure developments must be aligned, a fact that is recognised by the EC.

While the above aspects are only part of the entire European plan that is relevant for the built environment, they indicate an increased importance given by policy-makers to our sector, and outline key changes that will soon be implemented. As EFCA has long been advocating for climate resilience and better procurement and has recently been vocal on the water emergency, the new political term looks set for a promising start. ce