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European Builders Confederation

EBC

The European Builders Confederation represents the interests of craftsmen and small construction businesses.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Laura Ballarín Cereza (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Jan 2026 · Public procurement

Meeting with Mehdi Hocine (Head of Unit Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

15 Jan 2026 · Discussion on the future Construction Services Act

Response to Construction services Act

12 Dec 2025

94% of all construction companies in the EU are micro-companies (<10 workers), 99% are SMEs (<250 workers). These enterprises are deeply rooted in their local territories, operating within short distances, maintaining long standing relationships across their value chains, and preserving traditional construction techniques and heritage, while simultaneously taking action to reach the twin transition targets. Their local anchorage makes them crucial for social cohesion and local employment, providing quality work and developing trust-based relationships with local clients, suppliers and networks. Most small construction companies rarely engage in cross-border construction activities, and those interested operate in areas close to borders due to cultural, technical and administrative obstacles, reflecting their prioritisation of a performing local ecosystem over cross-border mobility. Representing SMEs and craft trades in the construction sector, EBC calls for a Single Market that valorises their strong local anchorage, reflects their limited resources and their central role in delivering sustainable, high-quality construction and renovation. When SMEs consider working across borders, they need clear, accessible, multilingual information, proportionate administrative procedures, mutual recognition of skills and qualifications based on proven equivalence, and EU initiatives that protect quality and safety. For more information on EBC's input, please consult the attached document.
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Meeting with Francois Wakenhut (Head of Unit Environment)

9 Dec 2025 · Keynote intervention delivery at workshop “Towards more circularity in construction: a collaborative approach from EU-funded projects”

Meeting with Stefan Moser (Head of Unit Energy)

30 Sept 2025 · 35th anniversary dinner EBC

European Builders Confederation seeks SME-friendly housing strategy

17 Sept 2025
Topic — The EU is consulting on a strategy to boost housing construction supply.
Message — 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.1234
Why — Streamlined rules and targeted subsidies would lower costs and boost SME productivity.56
Impact — Large industrial firms may lose market share if standards favor local small-scale operators.7
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Meeting with Katharina Knapton-Vierlich (Head of Unit Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs)

3 Jul 2025 · Part of the consultation with major European Business associations within the construction ecosystem to gather input for the Strategy.

Meeting with Matthew Baldwin (Deputy Director-General Energy) and European Construction Industry Federation and

2 Jun 2025 · Housing, homelessness, social housing, sustainability, short term rental accommodations, construction

Meeting with Irene Tinagli (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair) and European Association of Public Banks and Funding agencies AISBL

29 Apr 2025 · Meeting on housing issues

Meeting with Barbara Bonvissuto (Director Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) and

17 Mar 2025 · Exchange of views on construction policy

Meeting with Anna Cavazzini (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl and

6 Mar 2025 · Public procurement directives reform

Meeting with Marcos Ros Sempere (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur)

5 Feb 2025 · Meeting with European Builders Confederation

Meeting with Jeannette Baljeu (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

30 Jan 2025 · Public procurement

Meeting with Marcos Ros Sempere (Member of the European Parliament)

20 Nov 2024 · Meeting with European Builders Confederation

Meeting with Ditte Juul-Joergensen (Director-General Energy)

8 Oct 2024 · Energy transition, housing

Meeting with Michael Hager (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis), Nicolo Brignoli (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis) and SMEunited aisbl

24 Sept 2024 · Sustainable Finance

Meeting with Maroš Šefčovič (Executive Vice-President) and

15 Mar 2024 · Clean Transition Dialogue for Cities

Meeting with Svenja Hahn (Member of the European Parliament) and BUSINESSEUROPE and

21 Feb 2024 · Stakeholder Roundtable on Late Payment Regulation

Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

1 Feb 2024 · The situation of the construction sector in Europe and the modernisation of the European sectoral social dialogue

European Builders Confederation backs new EU late payment rules

9 Nov 2023
Topic — The European Commission is revising rules to combat late payments for businesses.
Message — EBC supports replacing the directive with a regulation and implementing a mandatory 30-day payment cap. They request stronger enforcement and independent authorities to oversee public procurement contracts.123
Why — Construction small businesses would see improved cash flow and fairer bargaining power.45
Impact — Large contractors and public authorities lose the ability to delay payments through unfair contracts.67
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European Builders Confederation Demands Strict 30-Day Payment Limit

17 Mar 2023
Topic — This consultation concerns the revision of EU rules regarding late commercial payments.
Message — EBC requests a strict 30-day payment limit and the removal of vague exceptions. They also demand mandatory interest charges and stronger enforcement against late payers.123
Why — Construction SMEs would significantly improve their liquidity and reduce bankruptcies.45
Impact — Large firms lose the ability to use delayed payments as interest-free credit.6
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Meeting with Ciarán Cuffe (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF BUILDING AND WOODWORKERS and European Construction Industry Federation

22 Feb 2023 · Speaker at event: Construction Blueprint project / The skills needed to implement the Renovation Wave

European Builders Confederation opposes mandatory EU asbestos building registers

8 Feb 2023
Topic — The consultation addresses legislative plans for screening, registering, and monitoring asbestos in buildings.
Message — EBC rejects a mandatory EU-wide register, preferring that Member States keep their own systems. They insist that screening costs should not be paid by small construction businesses.12
Why — Small construction firms would avoid the high costs associated with harmonized European screening systems.3
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Meeting with Alessandra Basso (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Confartigianato Imprese and Small Business Standards

15 Nov 2022 · Construction Products Regulation

Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and European Aluminium AISBL and

20 Oct 2022 · circular economy and construction sector

Response to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU

31 Mar 2022

In December 2021, EBC welcomed the European Commission's proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), a key reform to foster the energy efficiency of buildings on the way to reach the goals of the European Green Deal and the Renovation Wave. The proposal has been the result of a long process of public consultation and debate with stakeholders. More energy-efficient buildings will help achieve the environmental ambitions of the EU while at the same time guaranteeing better quality indoor spaces for European citizens, supporting the recovery of the economy and boosting activity for SMEs, which constitute the overwhelming majority of the construction companies. In a context heavily impacted by the war in Ukraine, improving the energy efficiency of buildings, accounting for almost 40% of carbon emissions in the EU, making a better use of resources and reducing energy dependences has become more pressing than ever. There are positive elements in the revision proposal that need to be upheld, in view of the adoption process by the co-legislators. We welcome the fact that the Commission decided to safeguard the scope of the directive, keeping the focus on the energy performance of buildings and staying dedicated to the appropriate implementation of the Energy Efficiency First principle. Also, as strongly supported by EBC, the impetus and dynamism given to the concept of One-Stop-Shops for renovation demonstrates a willingness to listen and to be pragmatic. However, several other points in the suggested revision require further attention, in order to facilitate its implementation and good functioning. Notably, the novel frameworks on Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), Zero-Emission Buildings (ZEBs) and revised Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will need a careful implementation to ensure a successful Renovation Wave for Europe. For EBC's detailed feedback on the EPBD legislative proposal, see the document attached.
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European Builders Confederation urges keeping current asbestos exposure limits

22 Mar 2022
Topic — The European Commission is revising rules on protecting workers from asbestos exposure risks.
Message — The organization argues the current exposure limit is sufficient and should not be modified. They suggest focusing on better training schemes and harmonizing inspection tools instead.12
Why — Small construction firms would avoid significant financial risks and expensive equipment upgrades.3
Impact — Homeowners face higher costs, potentially discouraging them from removing asbestos from buildings.4
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Response to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU

15 Mar 2021

Buildings are a central element of the daily life of Europeans by providing a space to live, learn and work. Indeed, research suggests that Europeans spend over 90% of their time indoors, so our health and well-being strongly depends on how these buildings are built, maintained and renovated. With buildings estimated to be responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption and 36% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, they are the single largest energy consumer and thus a core component for action to achieve the 2050 climate neutrality target. Based upon this, EBC understands the idea of a possible re-opening of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to ensure it is up to the tasks ahead and to meet the ambitions phrased under the 2050 climate target as well as within the New European Green Deal. However, EBC is worried that a constantly changing policy framework and too excessive requirements could inhibit rather than stimulate demand. Indeed, a number of countries has only recently implemented the EPBD and many parts are not in place yet. This is supported by a study of the Building Performance Institute Europe (2020), which highlights that less than half of the EU Member States submitted their long-term renovation strategies by the deadline given, although the strategies display a key feature of the EPBD. This indicates that not enough time has passed yet to properly see the results of the last EPBD revision or to analyse possible problems and shortcomings of the directive that need to be addressed. Hence, we believe the European Commission should act with proportion regarding a possible revision of the EPBD and wait for it to be reviewed when clear results, problems and shortcomings can be analysed. As the inception impact assessment rightly points out, numerous barriers remain to increase the renovation rates in the European Union. However, we believe that additional requirements such as minimum mandatory energy performance standards do not only have positive effects with regard to increasing renovation rates, but may e.g. drive property owners without the financial means to renovate their buildings into debt problems. Hence, we believe it is essential to first establish a proper framework before introducing additional requirements, in particular to avoid surcharging the construction sector and property owners with additional regulatory burdens, as they only recently adapted to the last substantial revision. This framework needs to provide the means to support people in their renovation journey, but also construction SMEs in their efforts and challenges to make the European built environment sustainable. For this reason, EBC calls on the European Commission to refrain from modifying the EPBD at this point in time and supports Option 2 – non-regulatory measures. A list of the non-regulatory measures, which EBC considers essential to be put in place, can be found in the document attached.
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Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

27 Nov 2020 · Pact for Skills roundtable with the construction sector.

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

27 Nov 2020 · High Level Roundtable - Skills for the Construction Sector

Response to Commission Communication – "Renovation wave" initiative for the building sector

2 Jun 2020

For detailed feedback, please consult the PDF attached. How to stimulate volume/depth of renovation: - Encourage Member States to use exceptional fiscal measures to support the renovation of existing buildings (e.g. reduced VAT rates on labour intensive services in the construction sector and efficient construction materials, eco bonus, etc.) - Support the introduction of building renovation passports, accompanied by specific financing/funding information and one-stop-shops (regional and local level) that accompany the building owner - Establish an EU wide programme to massify free advice on renovation (e.g. online tools to plan/sketch renovation developed under Horizon 2020) How to facilitate access to mechanisms supporting investment mobilisation: - Push for building renovations to be prioritised in the adjustment proposal for the MFF and the European Recovery Fund, incl. the blending of grants and financial instruments with a specific focus on direct subsidies - Actively work with the EIB to reduce financial thresholds and simplify conditionalities for public authorities (e.g. leverage factor, duration) - Cooperate with the EIB to offer financial guarantees for the aggregation of small-scale renovation projects and credit access for young people - Financially promote the integrated renovation of existing buildings to also address renewables, etc. - Support Energy Performance contracting at the regional and local level, e.g. as in the case of the Hauts-de-France Pass Renovation - Support small-scale renovation through better financing and funding possibilities for private homeowners How to tackle the worst performing buildings/energy poverty: - Develop information on energy consumption, building typologies, age of construction, etc. (e.g. within the frame of a Buildings’ Digital Logbook) and ensure data gaining technics are uniform and enable a comparison between EU countries. - Before assessing a possible introduction of Mandatory Minimum Requirements to tackle the worst performing buildings, make sure to provide an adequate supportive financial framework and facilitate the massification of one-stop-shops, which may be as successful and encourage rather than oblige people to renovate - Prepare recommendations for Member States based on the collection and dissemination of best practices on successful public and private financing/funding schemes focusing on those topics How to ensure the public sector leads by example: - Cover all buildings owned and/or occupied by all levels of public authorities, regardless their size, in the 3% renovation target - Ensure that Green Public Procurement criteria do not artificially foreclose the market for construction SMEs and craftsmen while encouraging the planning of efficient and sustainable buildings How to support skills and employment strategies: - Provide an adequate political and financial framework to implement the “Construction Blueprint Sectorial Skills Strategy” - Support the integration of green skills in vocational and educational training, incl. the definition and promotion of skills with reference to energy efficiency, renewable energy use and circular economy - Facilitate campaigns to make the construction industry more attractive for young professionals, by promoting the sectors image and further improving occupational health and safety - Financially support training schemes, which focus on improving entrepreneurial skills of construction enterprises How to drive smart technologies: - Provide a holistic approach in Horizon Europe throughout the upcoming Built4People partnership to encourage cross-disciplinary, -sectoral and -border collaboration with a focus on a sustainable built environment - Make the digital transformation of the built environment and the construction sector a priority in European funding programs - Ensure gradual change towards more innovation and digitalization to enable all enterprises, independent their size, to be included in the process
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Meeting with Kadri Simson (Commissioner) and

23 Apr 2020 · How building renovation can contribute to post covid-19 recovery, how to get renovation projects off the ground, how to remove regulatory obstacles and improve advice.

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

20 Apr 2020 · Follow-up call on the crisis’ impact on the built environment sector

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and Bayer AG and

7 Apr 2020 · The impact of COVID-19 on the built environment ecosystem

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

29 Jan 2020 · Speech on "the European Green Deal and renovation wave" at the EBC "Construction sector lunch"

Meeting with Dominique Ristori (Director-General Energy)

4 Oct 2016 · Energy Efficiency

Meeting with Inge Bernaerts (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)

2 Jun 2016 · Occupational Health and Safety

Meeting with Monika Ladmanova (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová)

4 Nov 2015 · Women in construction

Meeting with Raquel Lucas (Cabinet of Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)

12 Mar 2015 · European sectoral social dialogue in construction; - The participation of young and female workers to the construction sector; OSH Strategic Framework 2014-2020

Meeting with Rolf Carsten Bermig (Cabinet of Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska)

22 Jan 2015 · - Revision of the SBA