Growth
Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
Construction sector competitiveness
Construction sector competitiveness
A sustainable and competitive European construction industry brings many benefits to society and the EU economy. The sector is affected by several other policies, such as environmental protection, energy efficiency, work safety, taxation, and public procurement. The objective of the European Commission is to promote a favourable framework to boost competitiveness and support sustainable growth in the sector.
Benefits of a more competitive construction industry
- produces buildings and infrastructure adapted to changing social and economic needs
- meets global challenges such as energy security and climate change
- provides an attractive sector to work in, complete with excellent opportunities for career development, good pay, and improved health and safety.
Read more on industrial competitiveness.
Strategy for sustainable competitiveness
In 2012, the Commission published a Communication Strategy for the sustainable competitiveness of the construction sector and its enterprises. The document is a part of the Europe 2020 initiative. It focuses on the promotion of favourable market conditions for sustainable growth in the construction sector. Five areas are addressed:
- Financing: especially for energy efficient investments in the renovation of buildings and for research and innovation in a smart, sustainable, and inclusive environment
- Skills and qualifications: workforce and management training for job creation through up-skilling and apprenticeships to meet demands for new competencies
- Resource efficiency: focusing on low emission construction, recycling and valorisation of construction, and demolition waste
- Regulatory framework: emphasis on reducing the administrative burden for enterprises, and particularly SMEs
- International competition: encouraging the uptake of Eurocodes and promoting the spread of new financial tools and contractual arrangements in non-EU countries.
More information
- Level(s): building sustainability performance
- The Joint Research Centre website on Eurocodes
- The Small Business Act
- Communication 'Resource efficiency opportunities in the building sector' and ongoing research work
- The Waste Directive
- The Build Up Skills website
- Europe 2020 initiatives
- The Green Employment Initiative Communication
- Recognition of Skills and Qualifications
- Sector Skills Alliances
- The COSME programme supporting Entrepreneurs
- More studies and support tools