BRUSSELS, 13 January 2022 – Build Europe, the leading trade association representing European developers and housebuilders, publishes today a report designed to help policymakers improve the use of land while protecting European citizens from rising housing costs.

“No net land take by 2050 – Solving the unsolvable” includes 10 solutions from developers and homebuilders representing more than 60% of Europe’s homebuilding capacity. Built on input from experts and actors from the housebuilding sector, the report identifies innovative ways to improve land use in the framework of the No Net Land Take by 2050 initiative and addresses the growing pressure facing EU citizens struggling to access decent housing at affordable prices.

Last year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) sounded the alarm, noting that “households increasingly face challenges to pay for high housing costs […] and are dedicating a larger share of their budget to housing costs than they used to”. Build Europe’s report demonstrates that a reduction in land availability will exacerbate this crisis, in a time when – following the Covid19 crisis – housing has become essential for the private and professional lives of all European families. The authors call on policymakers at the EU and national level to put forward crucial measures, such as increasing the reversibility of buildings, financing the reconversion of wasteland, and promoting tradable land planning permits.

Marc Pigeon, President of Build Europe, said: “Due to the policies undertaken, the rise in housing prices is inevitable, but we must do everything we can to try to control it. Therefore, we are proposing solutions to ensure that environmental policies, and in particular those relating to limit land use, are not implemented at the expense of the EU citizens”.

Filiep Loosveldt, Managing Director of Build Europe, added: “The EU’s objective of land take reduction will cause a rapid increase in housing prices. For this reason, we came up with solutions that will help European citizens overburdened by housing prices. Our home is the place where we live and work, and where our children study. If we want to build a prosperous future for our families, we need to make sure that housing is decent and affordable for everyone”.

BRUXELLES, 13 janvier 2022 – Build Europe, l’association professionnelle représentant les promoteurs, constructeurs et aménageurs européens, publie aujourd’hui un livret conçu pour aider les décideurs politiques à mener une politique de sobriété foncière tout en protégeant les citoyens européens de la hausse des coûts du logement.

“Zéro Artificialisation Nette – Du concept à la réalité” comprend 10 solutions proposées par des promoteurs et constructeurs de logements représentant plus de 60% de la production de logements en Europe. Fondé sur les contributions d’experts et d’acteurs du secteur de la construction de logements, le rapport identifie des moyens novateurs d’améliorer l’utilisation des sols dans le cadre de l’initiative “Zéro artificialisation nette” et répond à la pression croissante à laquelle sont confrontés les citoyens européens qui luttent pour accéder à un logement décent à un prix abordable.

L’année dernière, l’Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE) a tiré la sonnette d’alarme, notant que “les ménages sont de plus en plus confrontés à des difficultés pour payer des coûts de logement élevés […] et consacrent une part plus importante de leur budget aux coûts de logement qu’auparavant”. Le livret de Build Europe montre qu’une réduction de la disponibilité des terrains va exacerber cette crise, alors que le logement est devenu essentiel à la vie privée et professionnelle de toutes les familles européennes suite à la pandémie. Les auteurs appellent les décideurs politiques au niveau européen et national à s’engager dans des voies nouvelles telles que l’augmentation de la réversibilité des bâtiments, le financement de la reconversion des friches, et la promotion de systèmes d’échange de certificats fonciers.

Marc Pigeon, Président de Build Europe, déclare : “Compte tenu des politiques engagées, la hausse des prix du logement est inéluctable mais nous devons tout faire pour tenter de la maîtriser. C’est pourquoi, en responsabilité, nous proposons des solutions pour que les politiques environnementales et notamment de sobriété foncière ne se fassent pas aux dépens du citoyen.”

Filiep Loosveldt, Administrateur-délégué de Build Europe, ajoute : “L’objectif de l’UE de réduire les prélèvements fonciers entraînera une augmentation rapide des prix du logement. C’est pourquoi nous avons proposé des solutions qui aideront les citoyens européens accablés par les prix des logements. Notre maison est l’endroit où nous vivons et travaillons, et où nos enfants étudient. Si nous voulons construire un avenir prospère pour nos familles, nous devons veiller à ce que les logements soient décents et abordables pour tous.”

Today the European Housing Forum (EHF) publishes a letter co-signed by stakeholders from the housing and construction sectors, including Build Europe, that includes a list of policy suggestions for the European Institutions designed to achieve EU’s climate ambitions with a pragmatic and economically sustainable approach that ensures housing affordability.

The signatories of the letter calls on the European Commission to consider affordability as the guiding principle of the EU policies and legislative measures that will be developed in the framework of the Fit for 55 package and the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) Directive. In the letter, the EHF signatories are recommending the Commission to:

• Prioritise measures that demonstrably lead to the greatest CO2 reductions for the lowest costs for building owners and residents
• Refrain from one-size-fits-all solutions and grant flexibility to Member States
• Guarantee that any introduction of new mandatory requirements is sectoral, progressive and focus on the overall objectives, including Minimum Energy Performance Standards
• Activate dedicated European funding
• Enable quality and targeted training and re/up-skilling of professionals across the construction sector
• Ensure the efficient implementation and long-term sustainment of One-Stop-Shops to provide assistance and support for renovation

To learn more about the European Housing Forum, click here.

The European Union of House Builders and Developers (‘UEPC’) takes a close interest in discussions in the European Parliament’s ECON Committee on MEP Szanyi’s draft report on the proposal amending the Directive 2006/112/EC concerning rates of value added tax (‘VAT Directive’). UEPC would like to offer its views on the main topics in the light of the discussions underway in the run up to the vote. UEPC supports the overall approach of the European Commission to give more flexibility to Member States to define their own VAT rates.

The European Union of House Builders and Developers (‘UEPC’) takes a close interest in discussions in the European Parliament’s ECON Committee on MEP Szanyi’s draft report on the proposal amending the Directive 2006/112/EC concerning rates of value added tax (‘VAT Directive’). UEPC would like to offer its views on the main topics in the light of the discussions underway in the run up to the vote. UEPC supports the overall approach of the European Commission to give more flexibility to Member States to define their own VAT rates.

The European Union of House Builders and Developers (‘UEPC’) takes a close interest in discussions in the European Parliament’s ECON Committee on MEP Szanyi’s draft report on the proposal amending the Directive 2006/112/EC concerning rates of value added tax (‘VAT Directive’). UEPC would like to offer its views on the main topics in the light of the discussions underway in the run up to the vote. UEPC supports the overall approach of the European Commission to give more flexibility to Member States to define their own VAT rates.

On 12 April, a UEPC delegation met with Henrik Mørch, Director of Dir. F – Markets and cases V: Post and other services, Monique Negenman, Head of Unit of Dir. F.3 – State Aid Post and other services, and Bob Bulthuis, Case Handler. The UEPC position is available for download.

The European Union of Developers and House Builders (‘UEPC’) would like to share its comments on the European Commission’s proposal amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards rates of value added tax (‘VAT Directive’), published on 18 January 2018. The UEPC welcomes the new approach adopted by the European Commission, which marks a clear break with the past and provides for greater autonomy at the Member State level to determine the application of VAT rates; including for any super reduced rates (lower than 5%). The UEPC would argue that this new approach paves the way for the creation of a mutually supportive common framework for all Member States to adhere to equally when applying VAT rates to goods and services.

The European Union of House Builders and Developers (UEPC) would like to share its comments on the EU Council’s General Approach on the proposal amending the Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings. UEPC welcomes the EU Council’s negotiating stance agreed by Energy Ministers on 26th June which clearly takes into consideration the need for more flexibility in this field. UEPC considers that the Council’s negotiating position represents a good starting point in view of the upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament. We call on MEPs to support similar solutions when voting on MEP Bendtsen’s draft report in the ITRE Committee after the summer recess.

The European Union of House Builders and Developers (UEPC) would like to share its comments on MEP Bendtsen’s draft report on the proposal amending the Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings. UEPC welcomes the new approach adopted by the European Parliament Rapporteur which clearly takes into consideration the need for more flexibility in this field. While acknowledging the positive aspects of MEP Bendtsen’s targeted amendments to the EPBD, we would like to express our concern about a section of amendment n. 30, notably the sentence referring to ‘with the power of at least 7 kW’.

The European Union of Developers and House Builders (UEPC) welcomes the new approach adopted by the European Commission, which marks a clear break with the past, as its primary focus has been now correctly placed on the existing building stock and the need to accelerate its pace towards cost-effective renovations. The UEPC would like to share its comments on the European Commission’s proposal.

In the context of debates on the report on the European energy security strategy, the European Union of Developers and House Builders (UEPC) strongly supports the work of the European Parliament in this area and took the opportunity to share its views in advance of the discussions within the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee.

The Polish Association of Developers, in order to present substantive and comparative contribution, which is the basis for creating in Poland appropriate legislation in the range of differences area, turned to the members of the European Union of Developers and Housing Builders (UEPC) with the question of how in each country is regulated legal issues related to the differences in the designed area compared to the built area. The associated countries responded to 10 questions relating to the permissible measuring differences apartments. The collected data were the basis for the preparation of this report, which provide a basis for cooperation with the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in order to create good legislation regulating the derogations for area actually built into the designed, as well as determine the rational method of measuring these areas.

The Polish Association of Developers, in order to present substantive and comparative contribution, which is the basis for creating in Poland appropriate legislation in the range of differences area, turned to the members of the European Union of Developers and Housing Builders (UEPC) with the question of how in each country is regulated legal issues related to the differences in the designed area compared to the built area. The associated countries responded to 10 questions relating to the permissible measuring differences apartments. The collected data were the basis for the preparation of this report, which provide a basis for cooperation with the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in order to create good legislation regulating the derogations for area actually built into the designed, as well as determine the rational method of measuring these areas.

On 19 June, UEPC’s French Member ‘Fédération des Promotions Immobiliers’ (FPI) featured in its magazine ‘Promotion Immobilière’, BFW’s membership into UEPC. The article mentions the important boost of activities that UEPC is going through over the last two years thanks to the appointment of Newgate and the new membership strategy. Furthermore the Maltese Developers Associations and the Norwegian Home Builders Association have joined UEPC in 2013, followed by the Bundesverband Freier Immobilien- und Wohnungsunternehmen from Germany in the Spring of 2014.

In the context of the European Parliament elections, UEPC has issued its Manifesto. This document contains the main policy objectives UEPC members would like to see achieved at EU level: • Creating a level playing field between public and private developers ; • Making the financing of housing more transparent ; • Cutting red tape ; • Lowering taxes. The manifesto, to which all UEPC members have agreed at the meeting in Madrid on 30 May, will be UEPC’s policy guideline for all future actions at EU level.

Filiep Loosveldt, Managing Director of the UEPC, states that: ‘the concepts of ‘level playing field’ or ‘freedom of competition’ are not an ultra-liberal credo; they are the means by which public and private bodies can be made to compete in achieving the common good: affordable quality housing. This is why European Union’s State Aid authorities must continue and enhance their crucial role, ensuring that state aid energises all market actors to compete in increasing the affordable quality housing stock’.

Following the declaration of the EU’s Housing Ministers, made at the occasion of their informal meeting of 9-10 December, Filiep Loosveldt, managing director of UEPC, underlines in a press release the importance of such a meeting. “Although “housing policy” as such is not a formal competence of the EU, it cannot be denied that European legislation has a huge impact on national, regional and local housing policies”, says Loosveldt. “That is why UEPC recently adopted a roadmap towards affordable housing policies in the EU”. UEPC believes that the provision of affordable houses is a necessary component of sustainable housing policies.

In view of the trilogue negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council, UEPC sent its position paper to the EU Member States. UEPC seeks to introduce more flexibility and in particular more flexible timeframes for the screening procedure. In particular, regarding the screening procedure for small projects, UEPC considers that it is not necessary to have a screening procedure when it would concern projects that are the implementation of plans and programs which determine the use of small areas at local level and minor modifications to plans and programs.

UEPC proposed to the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy Committee’s Rapporteur and Shadow Rapporteurs an amendment which aimed at the establishment of a transitional period – to allow developers to adapt to the new regime in view of the additional costs which would otherwise be incurred – in relation to the Commission proposal for a regulation on measures to reduce the cost of deploying high-speed electronic communications networks.

In view of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee vote on 11 July, UEPC submitted its position paper on the draft EIAD report by Mr Zanoni. UEPC supports the amendments aiming at reducing administrative burden on developers; achieving an appropriate timeframe for the approval of projects; ensuring the use of qualified and independent experts; limiting the amount of information to be provided; simplifying processes for administrative decisions; limiting the presentation of alternatives to the project concerned; and enhancing flexibility with regard to conditions for development consent.

UEPC takes a close interest in the EP’s discussions on the draft Report by Mr Zanoni on the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. UEPC drafted a position paper and suggested amendments that were sent to the Rapporteur and Shadow Rapporteurs. UEPC is pleased to note from the draft report that the Rapporteur has already tabled amendments to take on board some of UEPC’s concerns, however there are still issues that remain problematic.

In view of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee debate on the draft report on Social Housing in the EU, UEPC has submitted its position paper to the Rapporteur, Karima Delli (Greens/France) and Shadow Rapporteurs. While welcoming amendments which seek to introduce references to ‘affordable’ as well as ‘social’ housing, to improve the text in relation to property bubbles and to reflect the rules on Services of General Economic Interest, UEPC has significant concerns regarding a number of other amendments which could lead to a distortion of competition in the field of housing provision by both the public and private sectors and/or go beyond the EU’s competence in housing policy.

UEPC and UIPI suggested amendments to the draft social housing in Europe report of Karima Delli (Greens/France). They recognised the importance of social housing in Europe as well as the necessary coexistence and harmonious balance between the private and public housing stock to shelter the EU population. Therefore, they consider that this draft report on average correctly addresses the needs for decent and affordable housing for all. However, it appears that some affirmations and considerations within this report need to be completed and reframed.

UEPC declares that European state aid authorities must continue and enhance their crucial role, ensuring that state aid energises all market actors to compete in increasing the affordable quality housing stock. Any contribution from public finance should be based on clear, transparent criteria, should not distort competition and should take into account the interests of consumers.

UEPC believes that sustainable housing policies are essential components of every democratic social welfare state in the EU. They have to be based on social, environmental and economic pillars. The UEPC Roadmap illustrates the core values of UEPC’s work and activities at EU level.