Our daily lives have all been shaken up following the attacks in Brussels. For us the best way to counter fear and intolerance is to continue our work and contribute to the future of the European Union.
The Juncker Plan: A promising instrument with an aggregating potential
The European Builders Confederation (EBC) and the International Union of Property Owners (UIPI) co-organised a workshop on 17 March to learn how the Juncker Plan could be used to boost private investment in small scale energy efficiency renovation works.
The Picardie Pass Renovation project shows an approach to using the Investment Plan, which is good for both owners and SMEs. Through the aggregation of companies, it boosts local businesses and promotes the upskilling of professionals.
European Alliance for Apprenticeships: the way forward
Apprenticeship has a very high value for construction SMEs, especially to face the European demographic challenge and the skills mismatch. For this reason, EBC joins the UEAPME position on the fact that the work of the European Alliance for Apprenticeships in 2016 should be more focused on SMEs.
In a recent meeting DG Employment also informed the Alliance members of the latest developments, among which there is the presentation of opportunities in construction & craftwork on the Drop’pin platform.
EBC President Patrick Liébus meeting MEP Jean Arthuis to discuss the mobility of apprentices
Pilot project on the mobility of apprentices
MEP Jean Arthuis has launched the idea of a pilot project on the mobility of apprentices. This initiative aims at allowing apprentices to complete their professional training with a long-term period abroad. This experimental mechanism will identify the obstacles for apprentices’ mobility thanks to the experience of the VET centres taking part in the project.
Following up on this idea, the European Commission published the call for proposals for the pilot project at the end of February. The deadline to submit proposals is 15 April 2015.
Posting of workers: European small construction entrepreneurs welcome revision
After almost twenty years in force, it was high time to recognise that Posting of Workers legislation needs a serious adaptation to today’s work practices in the EU. The issues of unfair competition and social dumping faced by construction SMEs are not tackled by the 1996 and the 2014 directives.
This is why EBC welcomes the legislative proposal for a revision, released by the Commission at the beginning of March. The European Union needs to do more to ensure that posting is not only performed on the basis of downwards salary competition.
MEP Guillaume Balas and EBC President Patrick Liébus
Social Dumping: EBC supports report by MEP Guillaume Balas
In early January French MEP Guillaume Balas submitted a draft own-initiative report on social dumping in the European Union. EBC President Patrick Liébus and EBC Secretary General Riccardo Viaggi met with rapporteur Balas to present him with construction SMEs’ problems and suggestions regarding social dumping, especially related to posting of workers.
They informed MEP Balas of EBC’s support to most of his proposals, even more as his report takes into consideration many points of the EBC open letter to Commissioner Thyssen. The report has the merit to stimulate the debate around an issue that has been avoided for too long.
The Construction Voice is EBC's monthly newsletter that features facts, positions and decisions about EU policy impacting construction micro-enterprises and SMEs.
