Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be with you this evening.
And let me begin by congratulating FIEC for 120 years of innovation and leadership.
For a long time, you have been a crucial, valued partner in the EUs efforts to build a thriving, prosperous society.
Today, your role is more important than ever.
Because Europe is facing a challenge that goes to the heart of our social model: access to affordable, sustainable and quality housing.
So many people are struggling to find a home – and that is simply unacceptable in todays EU.
This is why the Commission will present its Affordable Housing Package later this month.
It brings together the European Affordable Housing Plan, the Housing Construction Strategy, and a renewed push under the New European Bauhaus.
Our goal is simple: build more, renovate faster, and do so in a way that respects national prerogatives, protects planetary boundaries and strengthens Europes competitiveness.
We know the challenges.
High costs. Slow administrative procedures. Lack of skilled workers. Limited access to finance.
And we know that none of this can be fixed without your partnership.
The New European Bauhaus is already proving that sustainability and affordability can go hand in hand.
In just five years, it has become a community of nearly 2,000 architects, scientists, cities, artists and businesses — and more than 700 projects are already transforming neighbourhoods across Europe.
And importantly: the Bauhaus is not only about aesthetics.
It is about making renovation easier, making buildings more energy-efficient, and giving new life to existing spaces — urban and rural.
Because one of Europes great paradoxes is that we face a housing shortage while many buildings sit empty or underused.
Nearly 10% of office space is vacant.
A third of Europeans live in under-occupied homes.
There is enormous potential here.
From repurposing offices into housing, to adding storeys on existing buildings, to new forms of shared spaces that strengthen communities.
This is creativity with purpose — and the New European Bauhaus is ready to support it.
But creativity alone is not enough.
We must also remove the barriers that slow down planning and permitting.
The Commission will soon present a package to harmonise, simplify and accelerate environmental assessments.
We will work with Member States so that EU rules can be applied smoothly and consistently.
And to ensure that authorities across Europe have the capacity they need.
Housing must also be sustainable by design.
Today, less than 1% of construction and demolition materials are effectively reused.
This must change – and I know that you have been promoting circularity in the construction sector for a long time.
I saw very clearly what this could look like in practice during a visit to a sustainable development project in Stockholm recently – and the possibilities are endless.
The Circular Economy Act next year will speed up this transition, by creating real markets for secondary materials and supporting a Single Market for waste.
Clear rules — such as end-of-waste criteria, digital pre-demolition audits, and smart public procurement — can unlock investment and make circular construction the norm, not the exception.
And just last week, we launched a new Strategy to maximise the massive circular potential the bioeconomy holds for Europe – including for your sector.
By leveraging the bioeconomy and using homegrown bio-based materials, the construction sector can boost competitiveness, limit exposure to vulnerable supply chains, reduce energy costs and cut emissions at the same time.
Today, 10% of Europeans cannot afford to heat their homes.
This is not acceptable.
National Building Renovation Plans will guide countries to renovate at scale, improve energy efficiency, and support cleaner building materials like clean steel and sustainable wood.
And water — a resource your sector both depends on and impacts — must be part of this transformation.
Our Water Resilience Strategy sets out how we can use water more efficiently, reduce losses, and integrate climate resilience into every stage of construction.
Your leadership on this is essential.
Public procurement accounts for more than 14% of EU GDP.
It is one of the strongest levers we have to deliver high-quality, low-carbon, affordable housing.
The upcoming revision aims to make procurement simpler, fairer and greener.
We want to reward quality, innovation and life-cycle performance — not just cost.
Every euro of public money should create long-term value for people and for the planet.
And let me end with Ukraine.
The destruction is immense.
But the reconstruction will be one of the most important building efforts of this century.
Europes construction sector will have a central role.
This is a chance to help Ukraine rebuild stronger, safer, and more sustainable — with climate-resilient materials, modern design, and innovative construction methods.
It is also a chance to lead globally on what recovery should look like in the 21st century.
The built environment touches everything:
our climate, our competitiveness, our social cohesion, our water and energy security.
This is why 2026 will be a defining year for Europes construction ecosystem.
But there is also something much more intangible or undefinable here.
A home is not just a roof. It is so much more than bricks and mortar.
It is dignity, stability, security, safety, and opportunity.
It is the first, fundamental step towards our wellbeing.
And you play a vital role in developing that.
So let us build a Europe where homes are available and affordable, neighbourhoods are vibrant, resources are used wisely, and innovation is the driving force behind our prosperity.
Together, we can build sustainable homes and bright futures for all of the EU.
Happy Anniversary
Thank you.
