Construction industry RT wants to speed up the green transition in the EU and the investments that support it, as well as make the use of financial programs more efficient. The EU region also needs an open and functioning internal market and equal operating conditions for all companies, RT reminds in its EU election goals published today.
The functionality of the built environment has quickly become one of the key factors of Europe's success. Both the investments promoting the green transition and the efficient movement of people and goods and the accessibility of services require construction. It is also essential for the construction sector that companies can compete equally in the internal market.
"Finland's position in the EU as the guardian of the 1 km Russian border emphasizes the importance of construction, especially here. It is important from the point of view of Europe as a whole that our border security remains good and the companies in the region remain competitive", says the CEO of Rakennusteollisuus RT Aleksi Randell.
According to RT, the commission's future funding programs must be structured in such a way that they especially accelerate Loikka to a fossil-free future in Europe and Finland and take into account the role of the built environment as part of the solution.
"We need renovation construction that improves energy efficiency, speeding up the market conditions of the circular economy and more investments in sustainable energy production. Efficient permit procedures and the availability of raw materials, fossil-free energy and skilled labor are also decisive for the construction industry," Randell opens RT's EU election goals.
Connecting Finland to the West requires a change of focus in EU transport funding
According to RT, the central goal in the EU's funding programs should be to strengthen European security and the logistical connections of the internal market, especially in the Union's external border areas. Finland must be connected to the west in terms of traffic, and the accessibility between its different parts must be brought to a new level.
"Our location affects our competitiveness and reliability of service. In the EU financing of transport, Finland's long distances and location on the EU's external border with Russia must be taken into account. That's when our logistic connections to the west and south will take center stage. In the distribution of the EU's transport money, we must move towards criteria that emphasize the reliability of society's operation and supply," says Randell.
"In the future Network Europe funding, emphasis must be placed on the financial contribution of military mobility and the accessibility of sparsely populated areas must also be taken care of. It means that road transport will also be returned to the scope of funding."
The construction industry RT states in its EU election goals that the construction industry is also ready to support the reconstruction of Ukraine after the illegal war started by Russia. RT expects clear rules of the game from the EU on how to proceed with the reconstruction.
More information
Aleksi Randell, CEO, phone, +358 400 500 822
Lauri Pakkanen, public relations manager, +358 50 522 7797