Brussels, 13/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The construction sector is responsible for 40% of the total energy expenditure, thus a significant share of the greenhouse gas emissions. It also produces a large volume of waste in Europe. In order to answer the growing concerns for the relationship between the construction activities and environmental sustainability, the European Commission created, in 1999, a tripartite working group including representatives from the Member States and Industry. This group has just published a report, which proposed strategies and recommendations in view of promoting a more sustainable construction in the context of an enlarged Europe. It reviews the present situation in the Member States and proposes a "European agenda" for sustainable construction, whose aim is to ensure that the countries stop drawing-up individual and disparate plans and uncoordinated programmes. The report also covers the recommendations for future measures on themes such as the costs of construction, sustainable adjudication, performance indicators in terms of sustainability, national and European plans, software, education and research. It may be found on the website of the European federation for the construction industry (FIEC): http://www.fiec.org.