Concrete perspectives September 2013
CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
PEF – European Commission releases the selected pilot projects
When publishing the Single Market for Green Products in April 2013, the European Commission published the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Organizational Environmental Footprint (OEF) methodologies as well.
The Communication also foresaw a three year testing period and opened an open call for volunteers. On 2 October, the Commission released the selected pilots, three of them are construction related products: piping, insulation and decorative painting.
Please click here to the full list of selected pilot projects.
Live from the European Union
IPCC Climate report published
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published “Climate Change 2013 – The Physical Science Basis” report on 27 September 2013. The report urges policy makers to respond to an “unequivocal” message from climate scientists and act with policies to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The paper confirms with 95% certainty that climate change is due to human activities, such as burning fuels like coal and gas.
A fuller assessment of the risks would be provided in an IPCC Working Group report is expected to be published during spring 2014.
Please follow this link to read the Summary of the report /or further information.
Creation of a European Silica Fume Committee (ESFC)
The Silica Fume Committee has been set up under the umbrella of Euroalliages, the Association of the European ferro-alloy and silicon producers. The mandate of the European Silica Fume Committee is to represent the interests of the European silica fume producers and in particular to promote the use of Silica Fume by making the technical and environmental benefits of using Silica Fume known to users and public authorities.
The EFSC website can be consulted by clicking the following link: http://www.microsilicafume.eu/
Public Procurement Directive adopted
On 5th September 2013, the Internal Market Committee of the European Parliament adopted the Public procurement proposals: the general and utilities directives, and the concessions directive. According to the new rules, public authorities will be able to choose innovation solutions and no longer have to choose the cheapest offer when they award contracts. This would contribute to the creation of smart, sustainable cities.
The draft proposal also aims to tackle the issue of abnormally low bids and subcontracting in order to ensure a “fair competition”.
Also, the new directives introduce standardized, simplified European Single Procurement Document in order to reduce the paperwork and administrative burden for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The final plenary vote on the three agreements is scheduled for November 2013.
Press Release IMCO vote – European Parliament
Credit Agreements Relating to Residential Property
On 10 September 2013, the European Parliament provisionally approved new rules on mortgage credit lending in order to protect home buyers. With better information, better choices can be made by home buyers who will have access to comparable information about the products available, and therefore will understand better the total cost and long-run financial consequences of taking out the loan.
The legislation will cover mortgages on residential property, residential property including an office space and building land. It will also grant lenders in the long run new business opportunities through the creation of a Single European Mortgage Market.
The main objectives of the new Directives are as follows:
1. Better information, more time to decide, heightened credit worthiness assessment standards
2. Business conduct rules
3. Early repayment
4. Pass-porting regime for credit intermediaries
5.Arrears and foreclosures
For further information please refer to the Press Release of the European Commission and Press Release of the European Parliament.
NEWS IN BRIEF – Principal European Economic Indicators
AGENDA
OCTOBER
4 October 2013
3rd Stakeholder meeting on Resource Efficiency
Brussels, Belgium
8 October 2013
CEN/TC 104/TG 20
Paris, France
9 October 2013
CEN/TC 104/TG 20/Editorial panel
Paris, France
15 October 2013
ECP Task Force on Fire Safety
Brussels, Belgium
16 October 2013
Environmental Commission
Brussels, Belgium
22 October 2013
BIBM Board meeting
Salzburg, Austria
23 October 2013
CEN/TC 229/WG 4 and WG 1
Brussels, Belgium
24 October 2013
Technical Commission
Brussels, Belgium
30-31 October 2013
Joint IPHA – BIBM Holcofire seminar
CERIB (Epernon), France
NOVEMBER
15 November 2013
H&S meeting
Brussels,Belgium
DECEMBER
17 December 2013
BIBM General Assembly
Brussels, Belgium
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