28. Recalls that this sector is of high importance for the Parliament both in terms of meeting its current and future property needs as an institution and in terms of managing in the best way possible the property which it owns; recalls that any project in this context should safeguard the Parliament's financial interests; considers that events in 2008, although some were clearly not predictable, highlight the need for improvements in this area, taking into account the external report on the maintenance of buildings; also looks forward to receiving information concerning the proposals on a potential reorganisation of DG INLO, in view ...[+++]of the increased challenges for the European Parliament as a major property owner;

I would mention two examples: the media have reported that 51 Portuguese construction workers from the area of Marco de Canavezes have today gone to protest at a company in Galicia, Spain, which has not paid them two months’ wages and holiday pay.

Each year European public authorities spend the equivalent of 16% of the EU Gross Domestic Product on the purchase of goods, such as office equipment, building components and transport vehicles; services, such as buildings maintenance, transport services, cleaning and catering services and works[1].

Many other direct investments in energy efficiency, such as energy-efficient process lines in industry, the installation of energy-efficient boilers, improved building maintenance service will generate as much or more employment per invested euro than comparable alternatives such as road, bridge and energy transmission infrastructural investments.

The following points were covered: fire services, with strict compliance with ICAO standards; maintenance services for buildings, runways and surrounding areas; the sale of aviation fuel; the management of hangars; the management and development of the car park service; the management of premises within the administrative buildings, cafeteria and restaurant; the management of advertising spaces; ground handling; catering; business areas; the tax-free shop; and the passenger information service.

A study of existing public procurement programmes will soon commence to provide recommendations for launching a large EU-wide pilot project to develop harmonised public sector guidelines for constructing, purchasing, leasing and maintaining energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable buildings and equipment, including that in the transport sector.