This Week in Construction & Housing — Brussels (#11, 2026)
Commission details €34.6bn cohesion fund reallocation; New rules on net-zero tech procurement; Energy and construction anti-dumping measures; EP committees review housing and regional funds.
March 22, 2026 to March 28, 2026
Commission details €34.6bn cohesion fund reallocation; New rules on net-zero tech procurement; Energy and construction anti-dumping measures; EP committees review housing and regional funds.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
European Commission
Commission outlines €34.6 billion cohesion fund reallocation to strategic priorities
The European Commission announced that Member States have reprogrammed €34.6 billion of 2021–2027 cohesion policy funds to reinforce EU strategic priorities. The funds will target competitiveness (€15.2 billion), defence and civil preparedness (€11.9 billion), affordable and sustainable housing (€3.3 billion), water resilience (€3.1 billion), and energy connectivity (€1.2 billion). The shift follows the April 2025 Commission proposal and subsequent co-legislator adoption in September 2025, allowing Member States to adjust their investments to address evolving needs. Enhanced financial incentives, such as higher pre-financing and co-financing rates, were provided, with even more favourable terms for eastern border regions. The Commission stated that these reallocations represent nearly 10% of the cohesion policy’s €367 billion budget for 2021–2027.
Commission approves €500 million Luxembourg cleantech manufacturing aid scheme
On 26 March 2026, the European Commission approved a €500 million Luxembourgish scheme to support investments in clean technology manufacturing under the Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF), adopted on 25 June 2025. The scheme, open until 31 December 2030, will provide direct grants for the expansion of manufacturing capacity for technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, heat pumps, batteries, and related critical raw materials. The Commission assessed the scheme as necessary and proportionate to accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy, in line with Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and CISAF conditions.
Commission communication on integrated wildfire risk management
On 24 March 2026, Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and Commissioners Hadja Lahbib and Jessika Roswall presented a new approach to wildfire risk management. The Communication aims to unify prevention and response measures, improve use of EU tools, and strengthen cross-border cooperation. The Commission cited damages of €2.5 billion annually and the increasing frequency of wildfires across Europe. The strategy includes expanding the rescEU firefighting fleet, prepositioning assets, and supporting Member States in prevention, preparedness, and recovery. The Commission also highlighted the application of AI and the European Forest Fire Information System for risk mapping and early warning.
Commission remarks on cohesion policy fund reprogramming
Executive Vice-Presidents Raffaele Fitto and Roxana Mînzatu delivered remarks on the results of the mid-term review of cohesion policy. Fitto reported that 186 programmes in 25 Member States were amended, with €34.6 billion reallocated to five priorities: competitiveness, defence, housing, water management, and energy. The process was finalised in less than a year, following the Commission’s April 2025 proposal and adoption by September 2025. Mînzatu highlighted €3.3 billion in European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) reallocations, with Italy, Romania, Greece, and Poland leading ESF+ reprogramming for skills, competitiveness, and civil preparedness.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
New rules for environmental sustainability in public procurement of net-zero technologies
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/718 of 20 March 2026 sets minimum environmental sustainability requirements for public procurement of certain net-zero technologies under Regulation (EU) 2024/1735. For wind energy, a minimum recyclability rate of 70% for turbine blades, calculated according to EN 45555:2019, will apply to contracts launched from 30 June 2026. The Regulation, published in OJ L 2026/718, is directly applicable in all Member States.
Commission extends anti-dumping duties to unthreaded malleable cast iron pipe fittings from China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/709, adopted 24 March 2026, extends the definitive anti-dumping duty imposed by Regulation (EU) 2025/1890 on threaded tube or pipe cast fittings, of malleable cast iron and spheroidal graphite cast iron from China, to include unthreaded tube or pipe cast fittings. The extension is based on evidence of circumvention and applies a 57.8% duty to the targeted imports, except for specifically exempted companies. The Regulation takes effect from the day following publication in the Official Journal.
Correction to glass fibre product anti-dumping and countervailing measures
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/716 of 26 March 2026 corrects previous Implementing Regulations (EU) 2025/2328 and 2025/2337 concerning definitive countervailing and anti-dumping duties on continuous glass fibre products from China. Corrections address company names, tariff codes, and duty rates, including setting the countervailing duty at 10.3% and the anti-dumping duty at 22.9% for all other imports from China. The corrections apply retroactively from 26 November 2025.
Update to industrial production statistics product classification
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/665 of 4 March 2026 amends Regulation (EU) 2022/2552 regarding technical specifications for industrial production statistics. The Annex is replaced to reflect technological and structural changes in industrial production. The new classification applies to data transmissions for reference periods from 1 January 2025.
EP Committee Work
Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU discusses energy price impact and UN cooperation
On 24 March 2026, the Committee on the Housing Crisis in the EU (HOUS) held an ordinary meeting in Brussels. The agenda included an exchange with Anacláudia Rossbach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, and Dyfed Aubrey of UN-Habitat, as well as a session with Matthew Baldwin, Head of the Commission Task Force on Housing, focusing on the consequences of energy price increases on housing affordability.
Regional Development Committee meets with Executive Vice-President Fitto on eastern border regions and cohesion policy
On 25 March 2026, the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) held an extraordinary meeting featuring a structured dialogue with Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto. The discussion addressed the Commission’s communication on EU eastern regions bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, and the mid-term review of cohesion policy, with a focus on support for border regions through EU funds.
Committee on Culture and Education issues draft opinion on 2028–2034 European Fund for Cohesion and Security
On 26 March 2026, the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) published a draft opinion on the proposed regulation for the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture, rural, fisheries, maritime, prosperity, and security for 2028–2034 (COM(2025)0565). Rapporteur Hélder Sousa Silva's opinion addresses social inclusion, access to education, and complementarity with other EU funding instruments, including a focus on public investment and territorial needs.
Committee on Regional Development issues draft opinion on EU budget expenditure tracking and performance framework
On 27 March 2026, the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) published a draft opinion on the proposal for a regulation establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework for Union programmes (COM(2025)0545). Rapporteur Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle emphasized the need for transparency, local and regional involvement, simplification, and gender budgeting in monitoring EU fund effectiveness.
Draft report on Connecting Europe Facility 2028–2034 published by ITRE and TRAN committees
On 25 March 2026, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) published a draft report on the proposal for a regulation establishing the Connecting Europe Facility for 2028–2034 (COM(2025)0547). The report reviews allocations for trans-European transport and energy networks, cross-border projects, dual-use infrastructure for military mobility, and support for outermost regions.
What We're Reading This Week
- Watch: Spain is spending €5bn to lower its energy costs — will other EU members follow?: Spain invests €5bn to cut energy expenses, potentially setting a precedent for broader EU cost-reduction measures.
- Europe's housing crisis: Who is really paying the price?: Soaring housing costs across Europe are disproportionately impacting low-income families and exacerbating social inequality.
- Can modular construction solve Europe's housing shortages?: Modular construction promises faster, more affordable housing solutions as European cities grapple with escalating shortages and high costs.
