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European strategy for housing construction

Single market

The European strategy for housing construction aims at supporting the construction supply sector so that it can effectively contribute to close the housing supply and demand gap.The initiative will present the current situation and main gaps of the construction supply sector and propose a set of measures to facilitate an increase in its productivity and competitiveness.

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Public consultation

ID: 14762

Lobbying Activity

65 responses

ETUC Urges Quality Jobs and Worker Protections in Housing

EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION, 16 Sept 2025

ETUC demands public funding be conditional on compliance with social standards and collective agreements. They call for limiting subcontracting chains and ensuring housing is treated as a fundamental right.
Proposed changes would increase sector attractiveness and ensure better safety standards for construction workers.
Stricter regulations on subcontracting and rents would harm profits for speculative private investors.

Environmental groups demand renovation over new construction in housing strategy

European Environmental Bureau, 18 Sept 2025

The organization calls for prioritizing renovation and better use of existing buildings over new construction. They argue that 47 million dwellings are vacant and the existing stock could house 100 million more people. When new construction is necessary, they demand it meet zero-pollution and circular economy standards.
This would shift construction activity toward renovation projects favored by environmental groups.
New construction developers lose business as projects shift toward renovation and retrofitting.

Climate NGOs demand sustainable, circular housing construction with strict labor protections

Climate Action Network Europe, 17 Sept 2025

The organization calls for prioritizing renovations over new construction, mandating 70-80% secondary material use through circularity, and tying all public funding to strict social standards including fair wages and union rights. They emphasize alignment with zero-emission building standards and whole life-cycle emissions reduction.
This would advance their climate goals by reducing construction's carbon footprint and material consumption.
Construction companies lose flexibility as they face mandatory circularity requirements and higher labor costs.

Irish property industry calls for rental reform and infrastructure funding

Ibec, 18 Sept 2025

The organization requests rent control reforms linking caps to tenancies rather than properties, faster infrastructure planning, and multi-year funding commitments. They argue current policies discourage investment and delay delivery.
This would attract institutional capital back to Ireland's residential property market and reduce development costs.
Existing tenants lose stronger rent protections as caps would reset between tenancies.

Bouygues Group urges EU to back industrial construction methods

BOUYGUES EUROPE, 18 Sept 2025

The company requests economic and administrative incentives to convert brownfield sites into housing, faster building permit procedures, and updated regulations to support off-site construction. They argue permit delays have doubled to 36 months and current building codes are not adapted to industrialized methods.
This would reduce upfront costs and accelerate their modular construction projects by 30-50%.

Plastics Europe urges EU support for plastic building materials in housing strategy

Plastics Europe, 17 Sept 2025

The organization requests a comprehensive policy framework that strengthens innovation support for circular solutions, ensures regulatory predictability through legislation like the EPBD, and provides stable long-term financing for renovations. They call for minimum recycled content requirements with clear traceability mechanisms and EPR schemes for construction materials.
This would create stable market demand for their plastic construction materials while reducing regulatory uncertainty.
Alternative building material producers would face disadvantages from policies favoring plastic materials.

Construction unions demand quality jobs and worker protections in EU housing strategy

EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF BUILDING AND WOODWORKERS, 17 Sept 2025

The federation demands the housing strategy be linked to quality jobs, with measures including stronger social dialogue, conditional public funding requiring collective agreements, limits on subcontracting chains, and mandatory occupational safety training. They call for reform of EU procurement rules to prioritize fair labour practices over lowest price.
This would reduce exploitation of their members and improve working conditions in construction.
Construction employers lose flexibility to minimize costs through subcontracting chains and lowest-price bidding.

Environmental Coalition Urges EU to Prioritize Circularity and Green Procurement in Housing Strategy

Environmental Coalition on Standards, 16 Sept 2025

The organization requests the EU prioritize reusing existing buildings over new construction, mandate environmental considerations in public procurement beyond lowest price, and remove standards barriers to low-carbon cement alternatives. They argue current policies favor short-term costs while ignoring life-cycle impacts and proven sustainable technologies.
This would align construction practices with their environmental mission and increase influence over EU housing policy.
Traditional cement and construction industries lose market advantages from recipe-based standards and price-only procurement.

Construction Industry Urges EU to Prioritize Energy Efficiency in Housing Strategy

Efficient Buildings Europe, 18 Sept 2025

The organization requests regulatory stability for energy efficiency directives, support for renovating vacant buildings, and removal of barriers to industrialized construction techniques. They advocate for mandatory Building Information Modelling in public procurement and stronger workforce skills mapping.
This would provide market predictability for investments and reduce compliance uncertainty for the efficient buildings industry.

Saint-Gobain urges EU to prioritize industrial competitiveness in housing

Compagnie de SAINT-GOBAIN, 18 Sept 2025

The organization advocates for a roadmap that strengthens industrial competitiveness while integrating life-cycle sustainability. They request secure access to raw materials and mandatory green public procurement criteria.
Secured material access and mandatory green criteria would strengthen their market position.
Traditional builders competing solely on low price would lose market access.

FIEC urges faster planning and digital permits for housing

European Construction Industry Federation, 18 Sept 2025

FIEC requests accelerated zoning and fully digitalized building permit systems. They advocate for an overriding public interest status for housing projects to bypass regulatory delays.
Digitalization and streamlined planning would reduce administrative burdens and project costs.
Environmental groups lose as land protection and nature restoration laws are sidelined.

Insulation manufacturers call for harmonized EU housing construction rules

European Insulation Manufacturers Association, 17 Sept 2025

The association requests harmonized sustainability metrics and faster, digital building permit processes. They also prioritize insulating building envelopes to reduce energy demand and costs.
Consistent EU standards would protect their investments and ensure fair competition across markets.
National regulators using unique sustainability models risk seeing their systems replaced by EU rules.

Dutch social housing providers urge EU to simplify building permits

Aedes vereniging van woningcorporaties, 5 Sept 2025

Aedes requests EU support for digital permitting and incentives for municipalities to prioritize social housing. They also seek legal certainty for temporary water relocation during construction.
Reducing administrative delays would improve the financial viability of social housing projects.
Environmental groups fear that relaxing water quality standards could harm local ecosystems.

European Builders Confederation seeks SME-friendly housing strategy

European Builders Confederation, 17 Sept 2025

The group calls for accessible standards and better access to affordable local materials. They also urge simpler building permits and stable financing for small businesses.
Streamlined rules and targeted subsidies would lower costs and boost SME productivity.
Large industrial firms may lose market share if standards favor local small-scale operators.

Knauf Group urges EU to prioritize renovation and deregulation

Knauf Insulation, 17 Sept 2025

Knauf urges implementation of building directives and renovation of existing stock. They recommend streamlining approval for modular construction. They also demand material-neutral policies.
Avoiding plant-level environmental reporting reduces the company's administrative and operational costs.
Biobased material producers lose competitive advantages if specific legislative supports are removed.

Solar Heat Europe Urges Renewable Heating in Housing Strategy

Solar Heat Europe/ESTIF, 18 Sept 2025

The organization calls for integrating solar thermal technology into the EU strategy to reduce citizen energy bills. They recommend incentivizing landlords to adopt cleaner systems and adequately training the installation workforce. They also propose using 'heat-as-a-service' models to make clean heat more accessible.
These measures would increase market demand and stability for European-made solar thermal systems.

German construction industry urges EU shift to modular housing

Hauptverband der Deutschen Bauindustrie, 17 Sept 2025

The group wants public procurement rules changed to favor modular building methods. They call for fully digital approval processes and increased EU industrial funding.
This would lower administrative expenses and allow for cheaper industrial construction.
Environmental protections might be weakened to prioritize faster urban housing development.

Glass for Europe urges EU to bolster construction supply chains

Glass for Europe, 18 Sept 2025

The association requests financial support for energy-intensive production and harmonized recycling rules. They also seek an extension of the recovery fund deadline and strict building efficiency standards.
This would lower operational costs while securing long-term demand for high-performance glass.
Taxpayers may bear costs if affordable housing projects are exempted from competition rules.

Ecocem urges EU to mandate low-carbon cement for housing

Ecocem Materials Ltd, 18 Sept 2025

Ecocem recommends mandating clinker substitution in public procurement and adopting performance-based standards. They also advocate for setting maximum carbon intensity limits for building materials.
These rules would create a policy-driven market demand for their specific technological innovations.
Traditional manufacturers lose market share as mandates force a reduction in clinker usage.

German Property Federation Urges EU Standards for Modular Housing

Zentraler Immobilien Ausschuss, 18 Sept 2025

The ZIA calls for EU-wide recognition of modular construction and digital permitting to accelerate housing supply. They advocate for harmonised recycling standards to turn circularity into a cost reducer.
Standardised rules would lower transaction costs and provide greater planning certainty for developers.

Consultation response

Byggföretagen, 18 Sept 2025

Pleas see attached file.

Construction sector urges EU strategy to boost housing competitiveness

Construction Products Europe, 16 Sept 2025

The group suggests combining new construction with deep, energy efficient building renovation. They propose creating an EU Housing Fund and simplifying national planning procedures. The association also recommends easing financial rules to encourage housing sector investment.
These measures would increase market demand for materials and reduce regulatory costs.
Financial regulators may face risks if banking rules are eased for construction.

Eurogypsum Urges Faster Permits and Raw Material Access

Eurogypsum, 18 Sept 2025

Eurogypsum demands shorter permit timelines for quarries and housing developments. They propose an EU Observatory to track raw material availability and address supply risks. They seek incentives for modular construction and rooftop extensions to densify cities.
Streamlined regulations would reduce project delays and lower manufacturing and construction costs.
Local activists and planning authorities would have less power to block new projects.

EPS manufacturers urge EU to prioritize renovation and insulation

EUMEPS, 17 Sept 2025

EUMEPS requests prioritizing deep building renovations using high-performance insulation. They also advocate for harmonized permitting and simplified access to EU funding mechanisms.
These measures would increase market share for EPS products and lower administrative costs.
Circular economy advocates may lose if specific recycled content mandates are abandoned.

UIPI Demands Simpler Rules to Fix European Housing Supply

Union Internationale de la Propriété Immobilière - International Union of Property Owners, 16 Sept 2025

UIPI requests simplification of administrative processes and faster building permits to reduce project delays. They advocate for regulatory predictability and better coordination between EU and national housing policies.
Simplified regulations would reduce construction costs and improve investment predictability for property owners.
Equipment manufacturers and national service providers may lose their current local market monopolies.

European property sector urges regulatory reforms for housing investment

European Public Real Estate Association, 13 Aug 2025

EPRA requests streamlined permitting timelines and the removal of state aid caps. They advocate for harmonized real estate investment rules across the Single Market. They want tax rules adjusted to better support large-scale housing projects.
These changes would reduce project delays and lower overall financing costs.
Environmental groups may see green standards compromised by more flexible requirements.

Architects' Council of Europe Demands Quality-First Housing Strategy

Architects' Council of Europe, 18 Sept 2025

The group requests voluntary EU quality criteria and a specialized housing research lab. They advocate for tax incentives for renovations and certification for reused construction materials. Public procurement rules should be revised to prioritize high architectural quality over price.
These measures would increase the professional influence and market share of architectural firms.
Companies profiting from low-quality, standardized mass production would face restricted market access.

European wood panel industry urges shift to timber-based housing

European Panel Federation, 17 Sept 2025

The federation calls for recognizing engineered wood as a climate-friendly material in housing policy. They urge officials to streamline permits for prefabricated wood systems and incentivize carbon-storing materials via public procurement.
The industry would see increased demand for its products and a stronger competitive position within Europe.
Manufacturers of carbon-intensive materials like steel and concrete face reduced demand as wood substitutes replace them.

Consultation response

Autodesk, Inc., 12 Sept 2025

Europe faces an urgent need to increase the supply and affordability of housing while ensuring that new, repurposed, and renovated homes contribute to a sustainable, competitive, and resilient construction ecosystem. The European Commissions Housing Construction Strategy represents a historic…

AEIP urges sustainable and inclusive EU housing strategy

European Association of Paritarian Institutions of Social Protection, 17 Sept 2025

AEIP calls for a housing strategy prioritizing deep renovation and skills development. They advocate for streamlined qualification recognition and fair conditions for cross-border workers.
This secures the role of paritarian institutions in managing sectoral training and social protection funds.
Real estate speculators face potential limits if densification policies restrict new tourist housing units.

Consultation response

COMITE EUROPEEN DE COORDINATION DE L'HABITAT SOCIAL, 18 Sept 2025

Public and social housing federations from Flanders, France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Sweden report growing use of prefabricated (pre-fab) solutions for renovation and new construction, including façades, roofs, and insulation. Around 3050% of Europes social housing stockmainly…

European woodworking industries urge timber-based solutions for affordable housing

European Confederation of Woodworking Industries, 17 Sept 2025

CEI-Bois recommends mainstreaming industrialized construction using bio-based materials to address the housing crisis. They call for regulatory simplification, faster permitting, and the modernization of national building codes. Additionally, they advocate for monetizing carbon stored in buildings through carbon storage credits.
This would drive demand for timber products and reduce compliance costs for wood-based businesses.
Producers of carbon-intensive building materials face reduced demand as the strategy prioritizes bio-based alternatives.

Consultation response

Etex, 18 Sept 2025

Etex welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a European Strategy for Housing Construction. The construction sector represents about 9% of EU GDP and provides around 18 million direct jobs across Europe, underlining its importance for local employment and industrial activity. It is…

French building federation urges EU-wide housing investment strategy

Fédération Française du Bâtiment, 18 Sept 2025

The federation requests increased access to European funding and long-term loans for construction. They suggest using artificial intelligence to accelerate building permit approvals and streamlining environmental rules. They also seek construction bonuses for high-performing energy-efficient projects.
These reforms would shorten project timelines and lower the overall costs of construction.
Environmental organizations may face reduced opportunities to challenge individual building projects' ecological impacts.

Consultation response

Fire Safe Europe, 16 Sept 2025

The European Strategy for Housing Construction aims to deliver affordable, sustainable, and high-quality housing. Fire Safe Europe fully supports these goals and stresses that fire safety must be a fundamental pillar of the strategy. Fire safety enables Europes housing ambitions: affordable homes…

Consultation response

Suomen Omakotiliitto ry, 18 Sept 2025

The Finnish Home Owners' Association (Suomen Omakotiliitto ry) welcomes the possibility to give feedback on "European strategy for housing construction". In the attached file we provide the insight of the Finnish single family and small house owners as well as leisure home owners Sindercerely, The…

Consultation response

Public Housing Sweden, 18 Sept 2025

Public Housing Sweden represents 322 municipal and private housing companies, with more than 995,000 apartments. We support the initiative of developing a European strategy for housing construction aiming to increase the competitiveness and productivity of the construction ecosystem. To address…

Graphite industry urges inclusion in EU housing construction strategy

European Advanced Carbon and Graphite Materials Association, 18 Sept 2025

ECGA requests that the Commission explicitly support graphite electrodes as critical inputs for housing. They urge for stronger trade defenses and tariffs against subsidized imports.
These measures would protect EU producers from unfair competition and reduce their structural cost disadvantages.
Foreign exporters would face restricted market access through higher tariffs and stringent import quotas.

Consultation response

Embuild, 17 Sept 2025

The supply of housing in Belgium is hindered by a complex set of economic, regulatory, and structural factors. In recent years, the sharp rise in material costs (+20% between 2021 and 2024) and wages (+9% in a single year), combined with the increase in mortgage rates (from 1% to nearly 4%), has…

Spanish bus federation urges integrating transport into housing strategy

CONFEDERACIÓN ESPAÑOLA DE TRANSPORTE EN AUTOBÚS, 17 Sept 2025

CONFEBUS demands that the EU housing strategy integrates bus transport as a fundamental pillar. They argue that efficient connections are essential for labor mobility and making peripheral housing viable.
This would expand the bus network and increase demand for public transport services.
Private vehicle manufacturers lose as the proposal aims to reduce household car dependence.

Consultation response

Bureau International du Béton Manufacturé, 16 Sept 2025

BIBM, representing the European precast concrete industry, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to develop a European Strategy for Housing Construction. We share the urgency of addressing Europes housing affordability crisis while ensuring resilience, sustainability and competitiveness in…

Consultation response

Sustainable Energy Finance Association, 18 Sept 2025

The EU must act on both the supply and finance sides of housing construction and renovation. On the supply side, this means building capacity for contractors, simplifying permits and streamlining procurement, promoting standard contract templates, and supporting one-stop shops to pool procurement…

Consultation response

European PVC Window Profiles and related Building Products Association, 16 Sept 2025

EPPA, representing Europes PVC window profile industry, highlights the role of PVC windows in delivering affordable, energy-efficient and circular housing solutions. The sector employs 25,000 people, generates 4 billion turnover, and has a mature recycling system. EPPA proposes six measures: a 2…

Consultation response

Finnish Association of Construction Product Industries, 18 Sept 2025

The CPR Acquis work to revise harmonized product standards is ongoing. The work is in fact behind schedule. Because of that if would be essential to grant Construction Unit relevant resources in order to complete the work in time. It is not advisable to keep going for decades. There are…

Consultation response

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE PERITI INDUSTRIALI E PERITI INDUSTRIALI LAUREATI, 18 Sept 2025

Considerazioni del Consiglio Nazionale dei Periti Industriali e dei Periti Industriali Laureati relativamente la strategia europea per la costruzione di alloggi (Ref. Ares(2025)6022502 - 24/07/2025)

Consultation response

Concrete Europe, 18 Sept 2025

Please find attached Concrete Europe's input to the call for evidence.

Consultation response

Federlegnoarredo, 16 Sept 2025

In allegato è possibile consultare la posizione di FederlegnoArredo, la Federazione italiana che rappresenta il mondo del legno, compresa l'edilizia in legno, e l'arredo italiano.

Consultation response

Universidade do Porto, 26 Aug 2025

Affordable housing after WWII was based on this technique in France. Based on my experience of building hundreds of houses in the 80s and 90s I strongly recommend this option.

Consultation response

European Producers of Laminate Flooring Association e.V., 18 Sept 2025

The Association of the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) welcomes the European Commission's call for evidence on the European Strategy for Housing Construction, as part of the European Affordable Housing Plan. The laminate flooring sector stands ready to directly support the EUs…

Consultation response

Bundesverband Baustoffe, Steine und Erden e.V., 18 Sept 2025

The German Buildings Materials Association welcomes the fact that the European Commission is giving much greater priority to the issue of housing with the European Strategy for Housing Construction and the Affordable Housing Plan. This recognizes that affordable housing is not only a national…

Consultation response

Trä- och Möbelföretagen, 18 Sept 2025

The Swedish Federation of Wood and Furniture Industry (Trä- och Möbelföretagen, TMF) is the national trade and employers' association representing Swedens wood processing and furniture industry. TMF gathers approximately 700 member companies, collectively employing around 30,000 people. We hereby…

Consultation response

Deutsche Bauchemie e.V., 17 Sept 2025

Rising housing costs and elevated construction and renovation expenses increasingly pose financial strain on European citizens, particularly affecting vulnerable households, while at the same time hampering the necessary modernization of Europes infrastructure. Consequently, the construction of…

U.Di.Con. urges EU action for affordable and non-speculative housing

U.Di.Con. APS Unione per la Difesa dei Consumatori, 17 Sept 2025

They support common European standards to ensure fair access and transparency. They recommend decentralizing workplaces and redeveloping existing areas to reduce costs. They advocate for digitalization and modern techniques to eliminate bureaucracy.
Lower housing prices would significantly increase the purchasing power of consumers.
Property speculators face losses as the strategy combats speculative building practices.

Consultation response

, 18 Sept 2025

Siehe PDF! in Kürze: A4F fordert die strukturellen Ursachen der Wohnungskrise konsequent anzugehen, statt nur eine Konjunkturstärkung der Baubranche in den Blick zu nehmen. Ein EU-Bau-Turbo löst die Wohnungskrise nicht, sondern schafft neue Probleme!

Consultation response

European Association for External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems, 18 Sept 2025

The EAE, European Association for External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS), welcomes the European Commissions Call for Evidence in support of a European strategy for housing construction. With a holistic approach, coordinating the objectives of various EU policy objectives, the EU…

Consultation response

Hauptverband der Deutschen Holzindustrie und Kunststoffe verarbeitenden Industrie und verwandter Industrie- und Wirtschaftszweige, 18 Sept 2025

Der Hauptverband der Deutschen Holzindustrie und Kunststoffe verarbeitenden Industrie und verwandter Industrie- und Wirtschaftszweige e.V. (HDH) bedankt sich für die Möglichkeit zur Beteiligung an dem Vorgang und unterstützt das Vorhaben der Europäischen Kommission, mit einer Europäischen Strategie…

Consultation response

Asociación Técnica y Empresarial del Yeso, 18 Sept 2025

ATEDY, as the representative body for the Spanish gypsum industry, welcomes the European Commissions initiative to draft a comprehensive strategy for housing construction and appreciates the opportunity to provide input on the most pressing aspects affecting the sector. In its commentary, ATEDY…

Consultation response

SOMFY ACTIVITES, 18 Sept 2025

SOMFY welcomes the European Commissions housing construction strategy and emphasizes that adaptation and renovation of existing buildings must stand alongside new construction as central pillars of resilience. With 85% of Europes buildings expected to still be in use in 2050, ensuring they remain…

Consultation response

, 18 Sept 2025

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, wir bedanken uns für die Möglichkeit die Europäische Strategie für den Wohnungsbau kommentieren zu dürfen. Unsere Stellungsmahe finden Sie anbei. Clemens Köppen Referent Rohstoffsicherung, Umweltschutz, Folgenutzung und Recht BUNDESVERBAND MINERALISCHE ROHSTOFFE e. V.…

Consultation response

Puutuoteteollisuus ry, 18 Sept 2025

The European Commission has correctly identified that solving Europe's housing affordability crisis requires tackling the construction sector's chronic low productivity. As the Finnish Woodworking Industries, we argue that the solution is not incremental change but a decisive strategic shift…

Consultation response

Kiinteistönomistajat ja rakennuttajat Rakli ry - Finnish Property Owners Rakli, 17 Sept 2025

Please find attached the feedback of Finnish Property Owners Rakli. The document includes representation of the Finnish housing market with suggestions how to promote favourable housing market conditions, as well as a listing of challenges and possibilities regarding building permits and land use…

Consultation response

Sika AG, 17 Sept 2025

Sika fully supports the objectives of the European Strategy for Housing Construction and the Affordable Housing Plan. Please find our feedback in the attached document.

Consultation response

, 3 Sept 2025

I strongly support the Commissions initiative and propose the development of a European Standard on Structural Efficiency to tackle both affordability and sustainability challenges in housing. Why Structural Efficiency? Todays building structures systematically overuse material, as demonstrated in…

Consultation response

, 2 Sept 2025

Der Europäische Fertigbauverband (EFV) ist die Stimme der industriellen, holzbasierten Fertigbauweise in Europa. Wir repräsentieren neun nationale Verbände, deren Mitgliedsunternehmen in industrieller Bauweise das gesamte Spektrum des Wohnungs- und Objektbaus abbilden von Einfamilienhäusern über…

Consultation response

DigitalTrade4.EU, 15 Aug 2025

Our feedback to the European Commission highlights the strategic integration of the European Trade Indexes Registry (EUTIR) into the EU Housing Construction Strategy as a cornerstone for a competitive, digital, and sustainable built environment. By leveraging decentralised, interoperable digital…