Concrete perspectives February 2013
CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
- In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production1 fell by 1.7% in the euro area2 (EA17) and by 2.7% in the EU272 in December 2012, compared with the previous month. The largest decreases were registered in Bulgaria (-10.3%), Poland (-10.1%) and Germany (-8.9%), and the highest increases in Slovenia (+7.2%), Hungary (+3.4%) and Sweden (+3.3%).
Eurostat – Short term business statistics
- According to the latest figures released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, house prices, as measured by the House Price Index1 (HPI), fell by 2.5% in the euro area2 and by 1.9% in the EU3 in the third quarter of 2012 compared with the same quarter of the previous year. Among the Member States for which data are available, the highest annual increases in house prices in the third quarter of 2012 were recorded in Estonia (+8.4%), and the largest falls in Spain (-15.2%).
Eurostat – Press Release
Eurostat -Housing price statistics
CEPMC represented at European Commission’s High Level Forum on Construction
In the context of the implementation of the Communication on the Sustainable Competitiveness of the Construction Sector, published last July, a High Level Forum has been created with Member States and sectoral representatives. The aim of the Forum is to oversee the implementation of the strategy and make recommendations on any necessary adjustments or new initiatives to be launched.
The first meeting of the High Level Forum took place on 29 January 2012 where CEPMC has been also invited. Three other representatives (Member State UK, Public housing association CECODHAS and Construction industry federation FIEC) were invited by the Commission to express their views about the overall Communication’s strategy. The main messages of the participants were a need for long term strategic approach and access to finance. Furthermore, during the first meeting, the Commission decided to launch 5 thematic groups which will meet twice in 2013. The thematic groups will receive their mandates, scope and priorities with respect to the measures included in the Action Plan from the strategic decisions taken by High Level Forum. The first groups to start working were asked to provide a first interim analysis of the situation, needs and barriers. These are the five thematic groups:
1.Stimulating investment in buildings’ renovation and innovation
2.Skills and qualifications
3.Sustainable use of natural resources
4.Internal market for both products and services
5.International competitiveness
CEPMC is represented through different members at the thematic groups. The first meeting of the Thematic Group 1 will take place on 11 March 2013.
LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
European Commission adopts Product Safety and Market Surveillance Package
On 13 February 2013, the European Commission has issued the so-called safety package, which is composed of a revised general Products Safety Regulation, a new Regulation on Market Surveillance and the corresponding multiannual action plan. With these two legislative initiatives, the European Commission aims at improving product safety and strengthening consumers’ protection.
The new regulation on market surveillance offer uniform rules for harmonised non-consumer and non-harmonised consumer products across the European Union. It aimed at improving EU level cooperation by the creation of a European Market Surveillance Forum and it clarifies the obligations of Member States. However, the proposal fails to define the role of the industry in the previously mentioned forum and it fails to harmonise penalties in case of non-conformity.
European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials launched
On 13 February 2, the European Commission launched the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on raw materials. It brings together EU countries, companies, researchers and NGOs to promote innovative solutions to Europe’s raw materials challenge and it plans to promote mining and recycling.The Partnership comes in the context of the resource efficiency road map and gives effect to the proposal presented by the Commission in its communication of 29 February 2012.
The Commission has proposed concrete targets to be achieved by 2020 for each area of focus:
·ten innovative pilot projects for exploration, mining, processing, collecting and recycling
·substitutes for at least three applications of rare raw materials (to make Europe a leader in substitutes over the longer term)
·a regulatory framework to ensure a stable and competitive supply of primary raw materials from EU sources, supported by standards and/or binding or voluntary certification schemes for EU mining operations
·a network of research, education and training centres on sustainable raw materials management organised as a knowledge and innovation community (KIC)
·a knowledge base with raw materials flows and trends using standardised instruments for the survey of resources, covering primary and secondary raw materials
· improved efficiency in materials use and waste prevention through the development of re-use and recycling, with focus on flows common to many product life-cycles
·a role for the EU on the global market through the development of a proactive international strategy at bilateral and multilateral level with the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada in the areas covered by the EIP.
Further steps:
2013 July 17:adoption of a strategic implementation plan
2013 September: launch a public call for commitments (stakeholders)
2013 October: publication of a communication on further action
European Commission – Press Release
NEWS IN BRIEF
In February 2013, the consumer confidence indicator improved in both the EU (-21.6 after -21.9 in January 2013) and the euro area (-23.6 after -23.9 in January 2013).
According to the figures release by Eurostat, the energy dependence rate was 54% in the EU27 in 2011, nearly stable since 2008. Estonia, Romania and the Czech Republic are the least dependent Member States on energy imports. The highest energy dependence rates were registered in Malta, Luxembourg, Cyprus and Ireland. Denmark was a net exporter of energy and therefore had a negative dependence rate.
Eurostat figures show that the industrial producer price index fell by 0.2% in both the euro area (EA17) and the EU27, in December 2012, compared with November 2012. The largest increases in the total index were observed in Belgium (+6.4%), while the smallest in Austria (+0.1%).
Eurostat published figures for the volume retail trade which show a 0.8% fall in the euro area and a 0.6%fall in the EU27, in December 2012, compared with November 2012. The total retail trade fell in twelve, rose in eight Member States and remained stable in Finland. The largest decreases were observed in Romania (-3.2%) and Spain (-2.2%) while the highest increases in Luxembourg and Poland (both +2.2%).
NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS
Residential building
U31, Vienna, Austria
This residential building is one the winner of the Architectural and Sustainability Award 2012, it is passive-house buildings with
46 flats and several offices on the ground and first floors.
Promoter: Heindl Holding GmbH
Architecture: querkraft
Architekten ZT GmbH
Planning: Schöberl & Pöll GmbH
(building physics), BPS
Engineering (building services)
Energy consumption rating: heating energy demand 6.00 kWh/m²a (energy certificate),
14.2 kWh/m²a (PHPP)
AGENDA
MARCH
5 March 2013
BIBM Product Group “Wastewater engineering”
Brussels, Belgium
5 March 2013
NEPSI employers meeting
Brussels, Belgium
8 March
SG 13 Precast Concrete
Paris, France
14 March 2013
ECTP – Focus Area Materials
Brussels, Belgium
26 March 2013
PCR Working Group
Brussels, Belgium
27 March 2013
European Construction Forum
Brussels, Belgium
27 March 2013
Workshop on “Use of Websites under the CPR”
Brussels, Belgium
APRIL
19 April 2013
NEPSI Council
Brussels, Belgium
24 April 2013
BIBM Board meeting
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
30 April 2013
CEN/TC 104/TG 20 PCR for concrete
Paris, France
MAY
22 May 2013
Environmental Commission
Brussels, Belgium
28 May 2013
CEPMC Sustainability Working Group
Brussels, Belgium
29 May 2013
ECP Board and GA
Brussels, Belgium