| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2012) 433 final (31.7.12) |
| Publication Date | 31/07/2012 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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The construction sector plays an important role in the European economy. It generates almost 10% of GDP and provides 20 million jobs, mainly in micro and small enterprises. Construction is also a major consumer of intermediate products (raw materials, chemicals, electrical and electronic equipment, etc.) and related services. Because of its economic importance, the performance of the construction sector can significantly influence the development of the overall economy. The quality of construction works also has a direct impact on the quality of life of Europeans. Not least, the energy performance of buildings and resource efficiency in manufacturing, transport and the use of products for the construction of buildings and infrastructures have an important impact on energy, climate change and the environment. The competitiveness of construction companies is therefore an important issue not only for growth and employment in general but also to ensure the sustainability of the sector. The present Communication identifies the main challenges that the sector faces today and up to 2020 in terms of investment, human capital, environmental requirements, regulation and access to markets, and proposes initiatives to support the sector for this purpose. In the short term, emphasis is put on the need to support growth and employment in the construction sector in response to the crisis. In the long term, the challenges the industry faces will require a concerted and coordinated approach at European level to improve the functioning of the value chain, particularly through voluntary partnerships between the private and public sectors and an appropriate regulatory framework, where necessary. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0433:FIN:EN:PDF |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
