EFCA joins EU Pact for Skills

One of EFCA's first actions in 2023 was to apply to join the EU Pact for Skills. The Pact aims to improve competitiveness in European industry and increase the employability and skills of European citizens. The Pact is a partnership between the European Commission, Member States, social partners and other key players. It seeks to bridge the gap between available skills and those required by the labour market.  EFCA is committed to promoting skills development and lifelong learning in the consultancy engineering field. 

Engineering is an extremely skilled and rewarding profession.  Nevertheless, EFCA and its members recognise that the sector needs to remain attractive to future professionals. The federation is looking forward  to working with other members of the pact to help shape the future of skills in Europe.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) of the European Parliament has recently adopted MEP Ciarán Cuffe's report on the Energy Performance of Buildings.  EFCA broadly welcomes the updated EPBD, which will improve the energy efficiency of buildings and contribute towards the decarbonisation of the EU's building stock. The text adopted by the ITRE Committee includes setting minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for buildings and making renovation mandatory for the worst-performing buildings in Europe.  In addition, the use of renewable energy sources is promoted. During the 13-16 March plenary session, members of the European Parliament will vote on the draft legislation.

B-Act is a Polish engineering consulting firm with expertise in managing and supervising construction projects in Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and the Baltic States. Despite the situation in Ukraine, B-Act has continued to work there. The company is working with local engineers, supporting infrastructure projects and reconstruction.  B-Act is using cutting-edge technologies to help the company to deliver projects for the recovery of damaged infrastructure in Ukraine.  Further information is available here.

Members of the Platform on Sustainable Finance announced
These new members will work on taxonomy criteria, following the work that was done by the previous members. The Platform's mandate has its origins in the Taxonomy Regulation (EU) 2019/2088.  Further information is available here.