The European Commission is currently preparing a package on sustainable industrial policy, including a sustainable consumption and production action plan which will be presented before the summer break. According to officials from the Construction Unit of DG Enterprise, this package will mean an extension of the eco-design Directive and will have an important impact on public procurement rules.

It is important to remember that the European Commission presented last year the roadmap for the implementation of the so-called Lead Market Initiative concerning a coordinated and concerted action to facilitate the emergence of innovative products and services in six areas. "Sustainable Construction" has been chosen as one of these six. The initiative was endorsed at the European Council on 29 May 2008.

Background

The roadmap for sustainable construction proposes the adoption of three different packages: 

1. The screening of national building regulations towards sustainability requirements (the European Commission will analyse how the different national legal frameworks have made progress in this area, with the idea to possibly make further recommendations).
2. A framework for the construction supply chain to cope with improved energy performance in buildings requirements.
3. An industry panel to asses the innovation potential and cumulative effects of the EU legislation on the industry (e.g. to assess the cost).

Mr Paparella, an official working in the Construction Unit highlighted, among the on-going studies that the European Commission is undertaking as part of the Lead Market Initiative, a study on future qualifications and skills to be launched by the beginning of 2009. According to several reports, one of the main barriers to the emergence of sustainable construction markets is the lack of expertise and qualifications.

Other on-going studies that the Commission is preparing are: a feasibility study on the role of insurance to support sustainable construction and a study to assess the business case for collaborative working in construction projects (including guidance to SMEs). 

For further information on this subject, you may find the Communication "A Lead Market Initiative for Europe" and the construction sector report on the upper right hand side of the screen.

Contact:Laura Lindberg at llindberg@rics.org or Raluca Iagher at riagher@rics.org