This Week in Construction & Housing — Brussels (#14, 2026)
ENVI adopts stricter workplace chemical limits; EMPL backs new CMRD revision; ENVI committee supports ETS2 MSR changes; REGI issues opinion on new Connecting Europe Facility; BUDG committee calls for 10% MFF increase.
April 12, 2026 to April 18, 2026
ENVI adopts stricter workplace chemical limits; EMPL backs new CMRD revision; ENVI committee supports ETS2 MSR changes; REGI issues opinion on new Connecting Europe Facility; BUDG committee calls for 10% MFF increase.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• 🤝 EU Council
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
European Commission
Commission holds technical meetings with incoming Hungarian Government on unlocking EU funds
A high-level European Commission delegation held technical meetings in Budapest on 17 and 18 April 2026 with representatives of the incoming Hungarian Government. The meetings followed contacts between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Hungary's Prime Minister-Designate Peter Magyar. Discussions focused on practical steps toward unblocking EU funds earmarked for Hungary under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which have been frozen due to concerns over corruption and rule of law. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to continue work on urgent topics, including reforms and cohesion policy issues. Media contacts for the Commission included Paula Pinho, Chief Spokesperson, and Maciej Berestecki.
EU Council
Upcoming informal meeting of energy ministers to address sector priorities
The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council will convene an informal meeting of energy ministers on 12 May 2026. The agenda has not been published.
EP Committee Work
ENVI committee approves report on ETS2 market stability reserve for buildings, road transport and additional sectors
The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted its report on the Commission's proposal to amend the market stability reserve for the new emissions trading system for buildings and road transport (ETS2), with 58 votes in favour, 9 against, and 9 abstentions. Rapporteur Danuše Nerudová (EPP, Czechia) proposed measures to accelerate the release of allowances in case of price spikes, including shortening the response period from two months to one. The report supports a phased invalidation of unused allowances and calls for a comprehensive impact assessment of the scheme's social and environmental effects. MEPs also called for complementary decarbonisation measures and suggested options such as temporary exemption of residential buildings where warranted. The ENVI committee's mandate will be subject to plenary adoption before negotiations with the Council.
www.europarl.europa.eu | www.europarl.europa.eu
EMPL committee adopts sixth revision of carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances directive
The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) approved the sixth revision of Directive 2004/37/EC (Carcinogens, Mutagens and Reprotoxic Substances Directive, CMRD) with 45 votes in favour, none against, and 10 abstentions. The revision introduces new occupational exposure limit values for cobalt and its inorganic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, isoprene, and 1,4-dioxane. It also adds welding fumes to the directive and establishes requirements for employers to provide personal protective equipment when exposure cannot be reduced below the limits. The new text includes provisions for regular breaks in contamination-free areas and calls for additional protection and medical surveillance for firefighters and emergency personnel. Rapporteur Liesbet Sommen (EPP, BE) noted the changes are based on the latest scientific data and aim to improve worker safety.
www.europarl.europa.eu | www.europarl.europa.eu
REGI committee issues opinion on Connecting Europe Facility 2028–2034 regulation proposal
On 16 April 2026, the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) adopted its opinion (rapporteur Antonella Sberna) on the proposal for a regulation establishing the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for 2028–2034 (COM(2025)0547 – 2025/0221(COD)). The opinion stresses the role of CEF in supporting investments in trans-European transport and energy networks, highlights the importance of synergies with cohesion policy and the National and Regional Partnership Plans, and calls for continued support to disadvantaged and peripheral regions. The document proposes increased attention to urban nodes, cross-border connectivity, and the resilience of energy and transport networks, specifically referencing Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 and Regulation (EU) 2022/869.
BUDG committee interim report calls for 10% increase in 2028–2034 EU budget
The Committee on Budgets (BUDG) adopted an interim report proposing a 10% increase in the 2028–2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF), setting the budget at 1.27% of EU GNI, with 0.11% GNI for NextGenerationEU debt servicing outside the ceilings. The report, led by co-rapporteurs Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, RO) and Carla Tavares (S&D, PT), calls for even allocation of the increase across key priorities, dedicated funding for cohesion, agriculture, the European Social Fund, and home affairs, and increased resources for competitiveness, defence, innovation, green transition, and infrastructure. The committee stresses the need for strong regional and local involvement in programming and implementation, and urges the introduction of new own resources to finance the budget.
www.europarl.europa.eu | www.europarl.europa.eu
TRAN committee draft opinion on European Fund for Cohesion, Agriculture and Rural, Fisheries and Maritime, Prosperity and Security
The Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) published a draft opinion (rapporteur Rosa Serrano Sierra) on the proposal for a regulation establishing the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security (COM(2025)0565 – 2025/0240(COD)). The draft proposes earmarking at least 20% of the financial envelope for transport-specific objectives and 5% for tourism, with binding commitments to the completion of TEN-T core and extended core network sections by deadlines set in Regulation (EU) 2024/1679. The opinion highlights the importance of addressing transport poverty, supporting rural and remote regions, and improving resilience, safety, and decarbonisation in transport.
LIBE committee draft opinion on conditionality and subsidiarity in European Fund for Cohesion and Security
The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) issued a draft opinion (rapporteur António Tânger Corrêa) on the proposal for a regulation establishing the European Fund for economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and rural, fisheries and maritime, prosperity and security (COM(2025)0565 – 2025/0240(COD)). The draft addresses the conditionality framework for access to EU funding, raising concerns about legal certainty, subsidiarity, and the risk of excessive Commission discretion. The opinion calls for limiting conditionality to cases with a direct link to the protection of the Union budget and for respecting national constitutional competences.
