With a keynote speech on the strengthened relevance of the EU Green Deal in the light of the current geo-political developments and the role of construction, the Executive VicePresident of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, intervened in the General Assembly meeting of the European Construction Industry Federation held on 2nd December that gathered participants coming from 28 different countries.

For the construction community, EVP Frans Timmerman’s personal presence represented a unique opportunity to meet the EU high level ‘face’ responsible for the Union’s flagship of the green transition and sustainability policies: an encouraging momentum to discuss a series of current constructionrelated issues and the valuable contribution to future actions that sector can bring about.

“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. This is 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” -said EVP Timmermans.

Questioned about other important aspects hindering or fostering progress of the sector, EVP Timmermans added “There is a need to have a well-balanced combination of investments and legislation (…). This is why 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”.

In response, FIEC President Philip Crampton underlined that “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”.