The Spanish José Antonio Nieto has assumed this Wednesday the presidency of the European Construction Equipment Committee (CECE) for the next two years, as reported by the organization. The CECE protects the interests of 1,200 construction equipment manufacturers through trade associations nationals in Europe.
N#ieto assumes the position after serving as vice president since 2022, with the mission of helping CECE and the industry in their long-term objectives of decarbonization and digitalization of the sector.
“My mission as president of CECE is to continue this legacy, in addition to promoting and supporting key current issues for our industry,” said Nieto, who is also executive director of Putzmeister Ibérica, a member company of the CECE. Spanish industrial association ANMOPYC.
What does the presidency of CECE entail?
CECE manufacturers generate around 40 billion euros in annual revenue, explore a large part of their production and employ a total of around 300,000 people, according to the committee’s own data.
“A key topic on the agenda is the implementation of the Cyber Resilience Law and the Data Law, which will have a significant impact on our long-term digitalization goal. Another important topic for 2024 will be the Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), linked to the decarbonization objective,” he said. Nieto’s main objective for 2024 is the implementation of new European legislation.
In a year of European elections, scheduled for June 6-9, Nieto will also try to ensure that “the voice of the industry is heard throughout the electoral process” and will also lead the expansion of CECE in mining at a time when “the reopening of old mines and the start-up of new ones is being promoted.”
“Brussels will develop new regulations and the many global mining manufacturers based in Europe will need help as these regulations are implemented in the region. Mining is a sensitive industry in terms of the environment and sustainability and adjustments will need to be made in acting in the European region,” he noted. Focused on reindustrialization, the next CECE congress will be held in Madrid from October 23 to 25, 2024.
For Nieto, this ongoing double transition of digitalization and decarbonization “needs additional support” for the sector, which is facing a drop in sales of construction equipment in European markets. They expect that by 2023 and 2024 “they will reach double-digit levels,” according to CECE.
