Challenges for the construction sector

Antonio PaparellaDG GROW C1 "Clean technologies and products"

Brussels – 24 June 2015EESC & CoR conference "Freeing Europe safely from asbestos"

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The construction sector in the EU: a global partner

- 10% of GDP - Est. 100 billion Euros external trade - 3 million businesses- 20 million jobs, more than 90% in SMEs- 40% of EU's total energy consumption- 36% of EU's carbon emissions- 3.2 billion ton per annum raw materials

consumed

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The construction sector within the EU's policies: At the crossroad of several prominent EU policies:

- Internal market- Industrial competitiveness- Energy- Environment- Climate- Social dialogue

Policy + Regulation + Financial instruments

Construction 2020 strategy 3

SMEs in specialised construction activities: main employer in buildings' renovation and energy retrofits

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Many buildings which needs energy improvements have been constructed during the period when asbestos was not banned

5Source: JRC Ispra map based on Eurostat data

Asbestos waste removal: challenges

- Identifying asbestos containing material

- Plan of work before demolition works or removal of asbestos to reduce exposure risks

- Competence of firms

- Storing, transport and inertizing of asbestos waste

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Plan of action

- Improving knowledge about asbestos presence in the building stock

- Guidance and other supporting material (per specialized construction activity/product )

- Training at different levels (technical managers, foremen, specialized operators, etc.)

- Appropriate infrastructure for asbestos waste disposal and treatment

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Policy intervention

- Specific support to SMEs, especially for those which come into contact with asbestos accidentally:

Guidance documents, awareness raising campaigns, support tools (possibly IT), education and training

- Development of infrastructure for collecting, transporting and disposal of asbestos waste

- Research and innovation in treatment of asbestos waste (plasma torches, pyrolysis, etc.)

Public-private partnership depends on national context

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Thank you for your attention !



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