Construction associations join to condemn Russia

In a joint statement on the situation in Ukraine, three leading European construction associations have condemned Russia’s “war of aggression” and called on the construction industry to act according to the sanctions imposed on the country.

FIEC’s president, Professor Thomas Bauer, was a co-signatory of the statement

The statement was jointly signed by the presidents of FIEC (the European Construction Industry Federation), EIC (European International Contractors) and CICA (the Confederation of International Contractors’ Associations).

It said: “In these dramatic circumstances many initiatives have been launched at various levels to support Ukraine directly, as well as all the refugees that are arriving in the EU Member States and worldwide.

“Such initiatives are of highest efficiency when they are coordinated by large and officially recognised bodies such as the Red Cross or UNICEF for example and we believe that it is important to continue the coordination of support initiatives through these channels. However, we are also extremely pleased to hear from many of our members about specific individual initiatives that have already been launched such as financial donations, hosting of refugees, providing housing to refugees, etc.

“We would like to raise awareness on the deep economic consequences of this major international crisis. The global economic outlook has worsened as stated on March 17, 2022 by the International Monetary Fund Director General and the President of the World Bank Group and several Multilateral Development Banks.

“In addition to the devastating human catastrophe unfolding in Ukraine, the war is disrupting livelihoods throughout the region and beyond. The impacts will be extensive—from reduced energy and food supplies, to increases in prices and poverty and a massive undertaking of Ukraine’s reconstruction, all of which will hamper the post-pandemic recovery around the world.”

At an EU level, the statement said, the war is leading to significant increases in the price of construction materials and products, as well as exacerbating the already challenging supply chain situation.

It added that the sharp energy rises is having a detrimental effect on manufacturers of products and materials that demand large amounts of energy in their production, such as aluminium, tiles and bricks.

Among other things, the group called for authorities to ensure security of energy supply at reasonable prices and safeguard quotas for reinforcing steel.

The full joint statement can be read here.