PIMEC

The European Union stands at a pivotal moment in its green and industrial transition. As Letta and Draghi reports state, Circular Economy is not only about protecting the environment, but also about strengthening Europes strategic autonomy and the security of critical materials, ensuring stable and resilient supply chains across the Union.

This position paper is based on input received from Pimec members of agroindustry sector. Pimec is the most representative organisation of small and medium-sized enterprises in Catalonia and a full member of SMEunited. It brings together more than 300 guilds and sectoral associations, as well as individual companies.

In order to ensure an effective enforcement of the "Housing First" Principle, enshrined in the European Affordable Housing Plan as well as the "Think Small First" concept from the SME Relief Package, the Services Directive 2006/123 should immediately be amended as follows; * Licenses for housing construction and renovation should not take more than 3 months, including all permits and formalities.

The EC should come up with a Code of Administrative Best Practices on housing, given that competences on the matter mainly lie with regional and local authorities. For example, local authorities should grant a 3-month deadline and a positive administrative silence to small housing projects of less than 5 million in investment, such as renovating a building or changing the use of a given property.