European Builders Confederation (EBC)

In December 2021, EBC welcomed the European Commission's proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), a key reform to foster the energy efficiency of buildings on the way to reach the goals of the European Green Deal and the Renovation Wave. The proposal has been the result of a long process of public consultation and debate with stakeholders.

Buildings are a central element of the daily life of Europeans by providing a space to live, learn and work. Indeed, research suggests that Europeans spend over 90% of their time indoors, so our health and well-being strongly depends on how these buildings are built, maintained and renovated.

The European Builders Confederation (EBC), representing construction micro companies, SMEs and craft trades, welcomes the Commissions initiatives to tackle the housing crisis. 94% of all construction companies are micro-enterprises, these small actors are indispensable for Europes housing stock.

The European Builders Confederation (EBC), representing construction SMEs and craft trades, welcomes the Commission's Call for Evidence on the Housing Simplification Package and supports its central premise: housing supply is constrained not by the objectives of EU legislation but by the accumulation, fragmentation and unpredictability of the requirements pursuing them.

EBC welcomes the establishment of the DPP Registry as an important step towards the implementation of the wider DPP framework. At the same time, it is essential to ensure that the future system remains proportionate, operationally feasible and accessible for SMEs, including construction SMEs under the revised CPR.

With the publication of a legislative proposal for a new Late Payment Regulation (LPR), the European Commission recognises the shortcomings of the current Late Payment Directive (LPD), but also, and more importantly, takes a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and crafts, including notably SMEs in the construction sector.

During her State of the Union speech in the European Parliament on September 2022, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made the revision of the Directive 2011/7/EU on combating late payment in commercial transactions, simply known as the Late Payment Directive (LPD) one of her priorities.

EBC welcomes the Commission's ambition to better address the presence of asbestos across the EU by improving screening, registering, and monitoring of the substance. However, EBC does not support the set- up of a general and obligatory EU asbestos register for buildings. In case of probability, mapping should be sufficient.

The European Builders Confederation (EBC) reiterates its firm belief that workers’ health is a top priority for the construction sector, as construction SMEs take the utmost care to ensure that training and equipment of the highest standards is always provided to workers across the EU.

The European Builders Confederation (EBC) represents micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and crafts in the construction sector across Europe. EBC welcomes the European Commissions call for evidence on strengthening the European Labour Authority (ELA) and recognises the important role the Authority plays in supporting fair labour mobility, effective enforcement of EU rules and cooperation between Member…

94% of all construction companies in the EU are micro-companies (<10 workers), 99% are SMEs (<250 workers). These enterprises are deeply rooted in their local territories, operating within short distances, maintaining long standing relationships across their value chains, and preserving traditional construction techniques and heritage, while simultaneously taking action to reach the twin transition targets.