Skip to main content

Infrastructure needs for Europe

The European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) is calling on the European Governments to recognise the importance of investing in infrastructure. The FIEC says it recognises the challenging economic climate and the need for governments to cut unsustainable levels of public debt. But FIEC president Luisa Todini commented, “Austerity is however not a solution by itself.” Europe’s transport, energy and telecommunication networks are the backbone of the EU internal market, ensuring that goods and services
June 19, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The 6164 European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) is calling on the European Governments to recognise the importance of investing in infrastructure.

The FIEC says it recognises the challenging economic climate and the need for governments to cut unsustainable levels of public debt. But FIEC president Luisa Todini commented, “Austerity is however not a solution by itself.”

Europe’s transport, energy and telecommunication networks are the backbone of the EU internal market, ensuring that goods and services are delivered across the continent. The FIEC points out that cutting investment in infrastructure sabotages future growth for jobs and competitiveness. Only with renewed economic growth can government debt be kept low in the longer term.

In this context, the European Union has a vital role to play in ensuring targeted investment in viable infrastructure projects is maintained to enable long-term sustainable growth. Amongst the existing growth levers and in the framework of the starting discussions within the European Parliament on the financing of infrastructure, FIEC is in favour of the proposal for a Connecting Europe Facility.

This financing framework, together with a coherent policy for infrastructure, is crucial for Europe. FIEC believes that the Connecting Europe Facility is part of the solution to meet the challenges that the EU and Member States face.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Success of toll road operators' conference
    July 12, 2012
    The 37th ASECAP Annual Study and Information Days held in Krakow, Poland, gathered some 300 road transport CEOs, experts and government decision-makers making the event "a huge success." Patrick Smith reports Toll road operators from across Europe have met to discuss the state of their businesses in the current economic climate and how to tackle it. Fabrizio Palenzona, the outgoing President of ASECAP (the European professional Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures) and president of AISCAT (
  • Europe's roads need innovation and research
    February 28, 2012
    FEHRL's fifth SERRP is set to drive road transport into the 21st century
  • Europe's roads need innovation and research
    April 12, 2012
    FEHRL's fifth SERRP is set to drive road transport into the 21st century The Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories (FEHRL) has published its fifth Strategic European Road Research Programme (SERPP V), which tackles the research and innovation challenges facing the European road and transport system now and in the future. Formed in 1989, FEHRL is a registered international association comprising more than 40 national research/technical centres, and its new programme reflects the techni
  • CECE-CEMA hands 10-point action manifesto to Euro leaders
    October 17, 2013
    The presidents of the CECE and CEMA have handed the European Parliament a 10-point manifesto for securing strong industrial production across Europe. Doing this, the European construction equipment and agricultural machinery industries underlined that they are committed to playing an active role in reaching the target of the European Commission to raise the share of industry in Europe from 16% GDP to at least 20% by 2020. Both industries maintain important production facilities and R&D sites in Europe.