This Week in Construction & Housing — Brussels (#18, 2026)
Commission consults on EU ETS benchmarks for 2026-2030; Regulation (EU) 2026/1047 on EU Talent Pool enters into force; REGI committee publishes cohesion fund report.
May 10, 2026 to May 16, 2026
Commission consults on EU ETS benchmarks for 2026-2030; Regulation (EU) 2026/1047 on EU Talent Pool enters into force; REGI committee publishes cohesion fund report.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
European Commission
Commission launches consultation on updated EU ETS benchmark values for 2026–2030
On 10 May 2026, the European Commission presented the proposed updated benchmark values for the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for 2026-2030. These benchmarks determine the free allocation of allowances to industry, with the new proposal maintaining coverage for around 75% of industrial emissions. The update continues to include indirect emissions from electricity use across 14 product benchmarks and is expected to have a financial impact of approximately €4 billion for the period. The benchmarks are derived from National Implementation Measures data submitted in 2024 and assessed by the Commission. The consultation period will last four weeks before Member State scrutiny in the Climate Change Committee, with adoption by the end of June 2026. President Ursula von der Leyen previously announced an ETS investment booster, allocating €30 billion to fund industrial decarbonisation projects, including those in the construction sector.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Regulation (EU) 2026/1047 establishes EU Talent Pool for addressing labour shortages
Regulation (EU) 2026/1047, published in OJ L on 12 May 2026 (CELEX: 32026R1047), establishes the EU Talent Pool as a Union-wide platform to facilitate the recruitment of third-country jobseekers for shortage occupations, including in construction and housing. The Regulation sets out the rules for participation by Member States, employers, and jobseekers, and provides for managed migration processes. The new instrument addresses persistent skills shortages affecting the construction sector and enables Member States to tailor participation to national labour market needs.
EU Council
Competitiveness Council to address internal market and industry issues
The Competitiveness Council (Internal Market and Industry) is scheduled for 28 May 2026.
EP Committee Work
REGI committee publishes draft report on European Fund for cohesion and related policies (2028-2034)
On 11 May 2026, the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) released its draft report 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 for 2028-2034. The rapporteur is Andrey Novakov. The report addresses future funding allocations that underpin regional development, including construction and housing investments, and proposes amendments to Regulation (EU) 2023/955 and Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509.
What We're Reading This Week
- German cabinet agrees to replace green-friendly heating law: Germany moves to scrap its controversial green heating law, signaling a shift in the country's energy transition strategy.
