Yesterday (21.03.2018), the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO) of the European Parliament rejected the report on the European Commission’s proposal to introduce a services e-card, amongst other things, in the construction industry. All other EP committees involved had already rejected the proposal.
Having opposed this proposed legislation for its sector, the construction industry is relieved that it was not welcomed by the European Parliament. The acceptance, by a majority of MEPs in IMCO, EMPL, JURI, ITRE and ECON, of the construction industry’s arguments and warnings against possible negative consequences of this proposed legislation must not be taken as opposition to the proper functioning of the Internal Market. On the contrary, it is an important signal that the Internal Market freedoms, the creation of a level playing field, appropriate tools to prevent abuse and fraud and the enforcement of the law have to go hand in hand, in order to be efficient and acceptable.
At the same time, this is also a clear indication that all efforts to develop and strengthen these aspects of the EU Internal Market are much more likely to succeed if they have been prepared in close cooperation with all the representative stakeholders of the industry sectors concerned.
For further information please contact
European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW), Werner Buelen, wbuelen@efbh.be
European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC),Christine Le Forestier, info@fiec.eu
European Builders Confederation (EBC), Eugenio Quintieri, Eugenio.Quintieri@ebc-construction.eu
EFBWW is the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers, representing 1.9 million workers from 74 national trade unions in 35 countries. Recognised "Sectoral Social Partner" (workers).
FIEC is the European Construction Industry Federation, representing via its 30 national Member Federations in 26 countries (23 EU & EFTA and Turkey) construction enterprises of all sizes, i.e. small and medium-sized enterprises as well as “global players”, carrying out all forms of building and civil engineering activities. Recognised "Sectoral Social Partner" (employers).
EBC is the European Builders Confederation representing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and craftsmen working in the construction sector. EBC is a member of UEAPME (the European association of micro-enterprises and SMEs), on behalf of which it chairs the UEAPME Construction Forum and sits on the European Social Dialogue Committee of Construction as an Observer.