Construction

The construction sector is of vital importance to the European Economy. With an annual turnover of almost € 1000 billion, a total direct workforce of more than 11 million, another 15 million employed indirectly the construction sector contributes about 10% to GDP. The European construction sector is composed of around 97% of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), their performance is essential as it motivates economic activity in all other sectors. UEAPME via its Construction Forum seeks to influence the European Institutions so as to create the best possible environment for SMEs.

UEAPME’s Construction Forum

The UEAPME Construction Forum is a specialised discussion platform bringing together the European sectoral associations representing construction activities and being associate UEAPME member, construction specialists from the national SME associations and NORMAPME. In total, this Forum represents the interests about 1,000,000 construction enterprises from across the European Union and beyond. The biannual meetings are dedicated to issues of interest to the whole construction industry such as public procurement; value added tax, contractual matters and others.

Currently, the following associations form the Forum:

CEETB	Comité européen des équipements techniques du bâtiment (http://www.ceetb.eu)
EBC	European Builders Confederation (http://www.eubuilders.org)
EMU	European Metal Union
ESCHFÖ	European Federation of Chimney Sweeps
EUF	European Union of Tile Fixers’ Associations (http://www.eufgs.com)
EuroWindoor	European window, door and curtain wall manufacturers (http://www.eurowindoor.org)
FECB	European Federation of Timber Construction
FIDEN	International Association of Building Service Contractors (http://www.fiden.org)
GCI-UICP	Génie Climatique International Union Internationale de la Plomberie et de la Couverture (http://www.gci-uicp.eu)
IFD	International Association of Roofing Contractors
UNIEP	Union Internationale des Entrepreneurs de Peinture (http://www.uniep.org)
VEUKO	Union of European Association of Stove-Fitters Trade (http://www.veuko.com)

Position papers

The Forum regularly issues position papers on topical issues for SMEs in the construction sector.

  01/09/2008: Position of the UEAPME Construction Forum on the directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (COM/2008/19/final)

  13/07/2007: Preliminary comments of the UEAPME Construction Forum regarding the Commission working paper “Possible contents of a Communication on the application of public procurement law to iPPPs

  04/07/2007: Position of the UEAPME Construction Forum regarding the Commission Communication “Posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services”

  14/11/2006: Position of the UEAPME Construction Forum regarding the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on Waste (COD 2005/0281)

  15/12/2005: UEAPME Construction Forum position on the Commission consultation ’Towards a European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong learning’

  01/06/2005: UEAPME Position Paper on the follow-up to the Green Paper on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)

  17/12/2004: Letter to Finance Ministers on reduced VAT for labour intensive services

  18/05/2004: Position of the UEAPME Construction Forum regarding the Proposal for a Directive on Services in the Internal Market (COM(2004) 2 final/3)

  13/11/2003: Position of the UEAPME Construction Forum regarding the Report from the Commission on the Experimental application of a reduced rate of VAT to certain labour-intensive services

  13/11/2003: UEAPMEs Construction Forum Position on the article 52 of the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public supply contracts, public service contracts and public works contracts

  04/04/2002: UEAPMEs Construction Forum Position on the Report of the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT on the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public supply contracts, public service contracts and public works contracts