This Week in Construction & Housing — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Repeal of duties on solar glass imports; new data formats for industrial emissions; UK-EU competition law agreement; Council adopts housing exclusion recommendation; Strategic Projects for critical raw materials recognised.
October 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026
Repeal of duties on solar glass imports; new data formats for industrial emissions; UK-EU competition law agreement; Council adopts housing exclusion recommendation; Strategic Projects for critical raw materials recognised.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Repeal of anti-dumping duty on imports of solar glass from China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2314, published on 21 October 2026, repeals the definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of solar glass from China. The Regulation follows an expiry review under Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036, which determined that Union solar glass producers ceased production in early 2025 and no verifiable prospect of resumption exists. The investigation found that maintaining duties would not serve the Union's interest, as downstream users have no alternative but to import. The Regulation enters into force immediately after publication.
Repeal of countervailing duties on solar glass imports from China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2310, adopted on 19 October 2026, repeals definitive countervailing duties on imports of solar glass from China. The expiry review was conducted under Article 18 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037 and concluded that no Union industry remains active in solar glass production. The Regulation states that any duties collected since the initiation of the review will be repaid if requested from national customs authorities.
Commission Implementing Regulation on formats for beneficial ownership information
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2354 of 16 October 2026 establishes formats for submitting beneficial ownership information, pursuant to Directive (EU) 2024/1640 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1624. The Regulation details required data fields for legal entities, arrangements, and nominees, and applies from 10 July 2027. It aims to ensure consistent quality and interoperability of data across Member States' registers.
Commission Decision recognising Strategic Projects for critical raw materials
Commission Decision (EU) 2026/2349, adopted 9 October 2026, recognises several projects as Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. The Decision lists 46 projects across Member States in extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution, aiming to secure the Union's supply of critical raw materials. The Commission's assessment followed technical evaluation and no Member State objections.
Commission Implementing Regulation amending anti-dumping duty for ceramic tiles from India
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2319 amends Regulation (EU) 2023/265 by updating the name of a company subject to anti-dumping duties on ceramic tiles from India. The change applies retroactively from 14 May 2025 and ensures the duty rate remains unchanged for Varmora Granito Limited (previously Varmora Granito Private Limited, TARIC code A013).
Commission Implementing Decision on environmental data reporting for industrial installations
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2267 of 13 October 2026 sets the format and frequency of data and the list of relevant raw materials for Member States to report environmental data under Regulation (EU) 2024/1244. The Decision repeals Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1741 and applies from 1 January 2028. Reporting obligations start with the 2027 data year, with later deadlines for certain livestock installations.
Council Decision on signing Additional Protocol to Council of Europe Convention on anti-money laundering
Council Decision (EU) 2026/2356, adopted 13 October 2026, authorises the signing of the Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention covering anti-money laundering and terrorism financing. The Protocol addresses virtual assets, centralised account mechanisms, and reinforces cooperation among Member States. The Decision follows European Data Protection Supervisor consultation and aligns with existing Union rules.
EU-UK agreement on competition law cooperation
The Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, published 19 October 2026, establishes cooperation on the application of their respective competition laws. It covers information sharing, coordination of enforcement activities, and confidentiality provisions, supplementing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Agreement enters into force following notification by both Parties.
EU Council
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council adopts housing exclusion recommendation
On 19 October 2026, ministers in the Employment and Social Policy configuration adopted a recommendation addressing housing exclusion and homelessness. The Council also discussed the upcoming Quality Jobs Act and approved conclusions on equality as a driver for economic growth and competitiveness.
Upcoming Energy Council to discuss network charges and energy security
Energy ministers will meet in Luxembourg on 29 October 2026 to review the proposed regulation on network charges. The agenda includes discussions on future-proofing electricity bills, energy security, and post-2030 energy targets.
