This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Meetings between SG and CEMBUREAU'.



Ref. Ares(2020)2697156 - 25/05/2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8 MAY 2020   
 
 
BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY AFTER COVID 19 
 
JOINT DECLARATION BY CEOs OF THE EUROPEAN CEMENT INDUSTRY 
 
 
 
Europe has been hit by an unprecedented health crisis that has deeply affected the personal lives of citizens. 
European and national governments had to make difficult calls in balancing public health considerations with 
the need to keep the economy running and people employed. Now, the time has come for al  of us to think of 
our recovery plan. Urgent action at European and national level is needed and the recovery should focus on 
strategic ecosystems. 
 
9  Energy-intensive sectors such as steel, chemicals and cement are indispensable to Europe’s 
economy, as they supply several key value chains. This has been acknowledged in the Green Deal 
which is not only imperative for Europe to achieve its climate ambition but is now also important as a 
lever to mobilize the economy in response to the COVID crisis. 
 
9  The European cement industry is a local industry throughout its supply chain thus sustaining the 
livelihoods of thousands of workers and their families. Cement and concrete have a multiplier effect of 
2.8 in terms of added value and jobs on the overall economy. The cement industry delivers its end 
product, concrete, into the construction sector which represents 10% of the EU’s GDP and provides 
jobs to 13 million workers. A major part of these jobs are with smal - and medium size enterprises.  
 
9  The cement sector has a strong track record of developing and implementing protocols that 
safeguard the health and safety of its employees and this has proven to be of great value in a health 
crisis where safety of workers and citizens should be the pre-condition for prioritising sectors that are 
essential. 
 
9 A 
competitive European cement industry firmly anchored in Europe is key to developing low carbon 
and circular cement and concrete as the materials of choice for building the durable and sustainable 
energy and transport infrastructure and building comfort of tomorrow. A regulatory level playing field on 
carbon as well as carbon price visibility and stability will be pivotal for the cement industry to deliver the 
investments needed.  
 
Therefore, a European Recovery Plan should: 
 
9  Put the construction sector at its core with a dedicated budget of EUR 320 bn/year1. Construction 
is a reliable and fast engine for economic recovery and a strategic ecosystem for Europe. It can drive 
the post-pandemic economy and  is vital to fortifying medium and long-term economic growth and 
development.  
 
9  Encourage large-scale infrastructure projects to  improve competitiveness, growth and strengthen 
Europe’s cohesion. New investments in urban infrastructure, roads, railways, ports, renewable energy, 
CO2 and hydrogen pipelines through Trans European Network (TEN) co-financing, will support 
economic growth by increasing private and public sector productivity, diversifying means of production 
and creating jobs.  
 
9  Boost investments in thermal- and energy- efficient housing replacing or improving poorly isolated 
homes to tackle increasing energy poverty in Europe.    
 
9  Turn the “Renovation initiative” referred to in the Green deal for the buildings and construction 
sector, into a key recovery tool involving all relevant stakeholders in the construction value 
chain. 
 
 
 
 
 

 
1  
Figure given in a Joint Declaration on the Recovery Fund by FIEC, EBC and Construction Products Europe, 30 April 2020.  
Doc 18142/KC/CR 
 
8 May 2020 

9  Be consistent with the Green Deal, and support the decarbonisation of energy-intensive 
industries such as cement. The European cement industry has elaborated a Roadmap aiming at 
carbon neutrality along the cement and concrete value chain by 2050. This roadmap identifies the key 
technologies to reduce CO2 emissions in cement manufacturing (e.g. use of alternative fuels and raw 
materials sourced from waste streams, carbon capture and usage/storage, low-carbon cements) and 
down the value chain (e.g. recyclability, mineralisation of building materials).  The recovery plan offers a 
decisive opportunity to boost investments in these breakthrough technologies and foster industrial 
competitiveness at a time where the sectors’ CAPEX is constrained.  
 
  
 
 
CEMBUREAU 
 
CEMBUREAU 
     
 VICAT  
LafargeHolcim Spain  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
LafargeHolcim CEMEX 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
HeidelbergCement  
CRH 
 
 
 
 
 
Buzzi Unicem  
Vicat  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Group Corporate Affairs   
Cementir Holding  
Titan 
 
 
  
 
 
 
SECIL 
CIMPOR   
 
 
  
 
 
 
Vigier Holding 
Dyckerhoff 
 
 
 
 
Schwenk  
Compagnie des Ciments belges 
 Cementir 
Holding 
 
           
 
 
           
 
           Cementos Portland Valderrivas 
Titan Bulgaria  
           Group 
 
 
           
 
           
 Cement 
           Association (CIROM) 
 
 
 
_____________________ 
Doc 18142/KC/CR 
 
8 May 2020