EU chief: Construction ‘key’ to sustainability

The European Commission’s executive vice president has described the importance of construction to the European Union’s Green Deal ambitions.

The European Commission’s executive vice president Frans Timmermans. Photo: Reuters Connect

Speaking at the recent General Assembly of the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), Frans Timmermans said, “We are in a defining moment for Europe, democracy, and freedom.

“The construction industry will play a key role to rebuild Ukraine, hopefully sooner rather than later. And at the same time, the way we build and what we do in the built environment is going through a fundamental transformation.

“We need to make every new building climate neutral. And we need to refurbish, insulate, and install new energy systems in the built environment that is already here.”

Timmermans said today represented “an incredible opportunity for the construction sector. With clear regulation and supporting measures in key areas like permitting, training and digitalisation, we will do our best to construct together the world of tomorrow.”

When questioned about current issues facing the industry, he said, “FIEC should help us creating a legislation which contractors can work with and continue establishing a closer cooperation between the industry and policy makers in order to ensure that EU initiatives are a success”.

FIEC President Philip Crampton responded, “The construction industry of Europe is firmly behind the Green Deal. We are the solution, not the problem, to help you deliver the EU Green Deal.”