Concrete Perspectives June 2019
CONCRETE NEWS
EUSEW – EU Sustainable Energy Week (VEEP Project), Brussels, May 18th
On the 18th of May we had the pleasure to support our VEEP partners at the EU Sustainable Energy Week, at the Residence Palace in Brussels. The European Sustainable Energy Week is a month-long series of activities to build a secure energy future for Europe. Launched in 2006 by the European Commission, EUSEW is organised by the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in close cooperation with Directorate-General for Energy.
We shared the stand together with other 3 H2020 projects: INNOWEE Project, GREEN INSTRUCT Project and RE4 Project.
The aim of the stand was to present all the innovative solutions for converting construction and demolition waste (CDW) into new prefabricated elements and or components for better energy efficiency of buildings.
Visit the official website of the event to learn more.
The main objective of VEEP is to develop and demonstrate a series of technological solutions for the massive retrofitting of our built environment, aiming at cost – effectively reducing building energy consumption. It leads to higher resource efficiency in 2 novel multilayer Precast Concrete Elements (PCEs) through the combination of concrete and superinsulation material manufactured by using, at least, 75% (by weight) of CDW recycled materials, as raw materials.
European Concrete Platform, Board Meeting, Brussels, May 25th
On the 25th of May, BIBM participated in the Board Meeting of our partners from the European Concrete Platform. The European Concrete Platform ASBL (ECP), is a European association incorporated as a non-profit association under Belgian law. With its membership comprising BIBM (European Federation for Precast Concrete), CEMBUREAU, EFCA (European Federation of Concrete Admixtures Associations), and ERMCO (European Ready Mixed Concrete Organisation), the ECP covers concrete related issues at European level, including the energy performance of buildings, fire safety and Eurocodes. Its objective is to study and promote all the benefits of concrete for construction.
The ECP aims to promote concrete as the material of choice providing building solutions for sustainable development and sustainable construction.
On the communication side, the following topics have been discussed: urban agenda, digitalisation and 2019 Concrete Dialogue.
A new project has been presented, called: “Assessment of EN 15804 indicators”. The current issues of the ECP task forces have been identified as: Health and Environment & Hygiene: Poison Centers; Fire Safety and Eurocodes: Eurocodes 2 revision and CEN/TC 250-related issues; and Sustainable Concrete: CEN/TC 350-related issues.
BIBM NEWS
BIBM Congress – One year ahead
We confide in your help to raise awareness within your clients and stakeholders, through organising “national” visits, providing possible exhibitors and sharing the available promotional material.
UPDATES:
- Finalisation of program: end of summer 2019
- Early bird tickets for exhibitors’ registration CLOSED
- Opening of the registration for participants: end of summer 2019
- 75% of the premium stands and 25% of the basic ones are already sold.
- Advertisement material has been distributed. The program is now almost finalised but new ideas are always welcome (possibly before the end of summer).
BIBM General Assembly, Stuttgart (Germany), May 3rd – 4th
Stuttgart this year warmly hosted us for our annual General Assembly. On this occasion, the Assembly started as an extraordinary one, as the Board had to tackle the issue caused by Brexit and its consequences on the membership of our British members. Therefore, it has been decided that the article 3 of BIBM statute will be modified, enabling the membership to all “European countries”, with the term “European” referring to the continent and not to the European Union.
During the Assembly, the topic of our lack of Eastern- and Southern-European members emerged. We remark our willingness to enlarge our community and we will strive to attract more countries to make BIBM more culturally varied and inclusive.
We also updated our members on the EU policies we are currently following in the areas of: health and safety, sustainability, internal market, circular economy, energy efficiency and climate change.
We closed the assembly on our progresses in terms of communication strategy and with the decision of the next General Assembly’s date, which will be in Copenhagen on the 7th of May 2020.
BIBM JULY AGENDA
| 3: CEN/TC 229/WG 4 KKK Editorial Panel “Common Rules” Brussels |
| 18: REACH Alliance Meeting Brussels |
BIBM PARTNERS NEWS
Fire Safe Europe – Launch of the European Fire Safe Community
WHY A EUROPEAN FIRE SAFETY COMMUNITY?
Our lives are changing, the way we build is changing, and this has an impact on the behaviour of fires in buildings. We all hold a piece of the puzzle to solve the complex, multi-faceted issue that is fire safety in buildings. The knowledge and expertise are out there and we want to learn from one another, bridge the communication gap between all of us, and join forces to take fire safety to the next level. Let’s build change together.
WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN FIRE SAFETY COMMUNITY?
The European Fire Safety Community is a place for you to connect, pool knowledge and work collaboratively on solutions to improve fire safety in buildings. You will meet like-minded people who share your passion to move forward fire safety standards, regulations, research, best practices, and more. Through the Community, your expertise can be transformed into concrete actions. The scope of our mission is not limited to policy-framing but also considers any means that make a positive change for people’s fire safety in buildings.
WHY JOIN THE EUROPEAN FIRE SAFETY COMMUNITY?
By gathering knowledge and people the Community fosters synergies. By tapping into the fire safety community, it empowers all of us to collectively find solutions to improve fire safety in buildings.The great news is that, as a member of the Community, you will have a variety of means available to make change happen together! The Community will provide you with an information hub, a unique & participative network and a policy-framing hive.
For more info visit: https://eufiresafety.community/
Construction Products Europe, General Assembly, Brussels, May 19th
On the 19th of May BIBM had the pleasure to participate to the General Assembly of our partners “Construction Products Europe”.
Construction Products Europe is the European Association that represents the interests of all construction products manufacturers throughout Europe. The members of Construction Products Europe are national and European construction products associations. It strives to facilitate sustainable competitive growth of the European construction products industry by promoting efficient housing and infrastructure solutions through consensus and dialogue with the European Institutions and societal stakeholders.
The highlight of the General Assembly has been the handover of the Presidency. After two consecutive two-year mandates, Dr Heimo Scheuch, CEO of Wienerberger, hands over the presidency to Mr Cedric de Meeus, Vice-President, Group Public Affairs and Government Relations at LafargeHolcim.
Also, the European Floorcovering Association (EUFCA) and the European Panel Federation were added as associate members.
Joint Declaration on Standardisation
Construction Products Europe, European Builders Confederation, Small Business Standards and FIEC are issuing a joint declaration on the standardisation system “Construction products manufacturers and contractors urgently need a standardisation system that works”. This declaration is the result of lengthy and intensive collaboration between our four organisations.
Our aim is to find solutions together with you as quickly as possible as we cannot wait until the end of the review process for the Construction Products Regulation.
You can access the declaration here.
A new construction policy framework – 2050
Construction stakeholders believe that the Construction 2020 initiative should be reinforced in order to fully achieve its ambitions, aimed at supporting the construction sector’s adaptation to key emerging challenges and to promote the sustainable competitiveness of the sector. To this end, major European construction representatives have united, to stress their commitment to the extension of the existing programme in the form of the “Construction 2050: Building tomorrow’s Europe today” initiative. This comprehensive framework should be fully embraced by all actors in the construction ecosystem, Member States and European institutions. Building on the results of the current Construction 2020 initiative, this new framework should be based on the following principles:
In order to implement these principles, construction stakeholders have published a common vision for the future of the construction sector. This vision identifies the main challenges for the construction sector and contains concrete proposals. “Construction 2050, Building tomorrow’s Europe today” is available in the annex.
Dietmar Schäfers, EFBWW President stated: “Achieving a sustainable construction 2050 implies that no workers are left behind and that we develop a fair transition. The globalisation, digitalisation and greening of the construction sector causes anxiety amongst some construction workers. We must all ensure that we invest in building new skills and develop an inclusive construction labour market. We can only achieve this if we have a European targeted approach of the construction industry, that takes into account the workers concerns. After all, the construction industry, is built by workers. ”.
By optimising the way construction works thanks to the development of a new inspiring and relevant policy framework, we will improve the lives of European citizens by providing higher value with fewer natural resources; and higher quality assets for owners and users. Construction is the solution industry. Addressing the challenges that the construction sector is facing means addressing the challenges of European citizens.
The sustainable Europe of tomorrow cannot be achieved without the construction sector. All the actors in the construction process must be involved for the European Union to respond to its main challenges: competitiveness, youth unemployment, digital economy, urban regeneration, energy efficiency and energy poverty, circular economy, affordable housing, climate change, mobility and connected infrastructure etc.
As a matter of fact, the construction sector is at the heart of our life: construction enterprises and their workers build the homes we live in, the roads on which we travel and the buildings we work or learn in. European citizens spend over 90% of their time indoors, meaning that our health and well-being strongly depends on how our buildings are built, maintained and renovated.
It is within this context that construction stakeholders call upon the European Commission to strengthen the current construction policy setting by creating a new vision for the built environment: “Construction 2050: Building tomorrow’s Europe today”.
You can access the whole framework here.
LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
Industrial policy to be discussed at Informal Competitiveness Council (Helsinki, 4/5 July)
As you know, EU Ministers responsible for competitiveness will meet in Helsinki on 4-5 July (cf. Press release here). Interestingly, the second day will be dedicated to Single market, digital economy and industrial policy (see Programme here). You can also download here the interview published today of Janne Känkänen, Under-Secretary of State for EU and International Affairs at the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Chair of the Council High Level Working Group on Competitiveness and Growth. In preparation of Friday’s Informal Meeting, Mr Känkänen clearly states that “a dynamic single market, modern industrial policy, the digital economy and the transition to a carbon-neutral economy are all necessary for responding to the global growth challenge”. This is of course encouraging but please keep in mind that the appointment of a dedicated Vice-President for Industry is far from being secured and we need to remain all mobilized and continue to pass to Member States the message conveyed in our Joint Call to the Heads of State and Government.
EU Council Finnish Presidency
Romania left the spot to Finland in the rotating 6 months Presidency of the EU Council.
The second of the four priorities of the Finnish Presidency is to “make the EU more competitive and socially inclusive”. To this end, the Finnish Presidency will “promote an active industrial policy for the EU and draw up a plan for the sustainable development of the European economy within the global process of change”. The Finnish Presidency will also steer the work of the Council towards a “comprehensive, future-oriented single market” and an “ambitious, open and rules-based trade policy” while also focusing on “wellbeing and skills”. Please note that Finland will be the first Presidency to integrate the newly adopted priorities of the Strategic Agenda 2019–2024 into the Council’s work.
The new EU Parliament and Commission
The new Parliament met for the first time on 2-4 July in Strasbourg. The Italian Social Democrat David Sassoli has been elected as new President.
The plenary session on 15-18 July marks the first opportunity for Parliament to elect the new President of the European Commission.
Once elected by Parliament, the Commission is formally appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority. The full Commission, including the Commission President and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, must be elected by a majority of the votes cast, by roll call, after the President-elect has presented the College of Commissioners and their programme before MEPs. This will happen not before November 2019.