The European Council of Civil Engineers (ECCE) is proud to announce the adoption of the Braga Declaration: Modernising Construction – Engineering Europe's Sustainable, Resilient and Digital Future during the 82^nd ECCE General Meeting, held in Braga, Portugal, on 19 June 2026. The Declaration was jointly signed by ECCE President Platonas Stylianou and Ordem dos Engenheiros (OEP) President Fernando de Almeida Santos, marking an important milestone in ECCE's commitment to shaping the future of the civil engineering profession and the built environment across Europe.

A Common Vision for Europe's Built Environment

Europe is facing profound and interconnected challenges. Climate change, ageing infrastructure, increasing demand for affordable housing, resource constraints, rapid technological change and demographic developments require coordinated, forward-looking and evidence-based responses.

Civil engineers are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. Through their expertise, innovation and commitment to the public interest, they play a fundamental role in designing, constructing and maintaining the infrastructure that supports society while protecting the natural environment.

The Braga Declaration reaffirms this responsibility and sets out a shared vision for a more sustainable, resilient, innovative and digitally enabled built environment. It also reinforces ECCE's commitment to supporting European institutions, national governments, industry, academia and professional organisations in developing policies and initiatives that improve quality of life for citizens across Europe.

Five Strategic Priorities

The Declaration identifies five strategic priorities that will guide ECCE's advocacy and policy work in the coming years:

🌍 Sustainability and Climate Resilience

Promoting low-carbon construction, climate adaptation, circular economy principles, resource efficiency and resilient infrastructure capable of meeting future environmental challenges.

🏗️ Modernisation of Construction

Accelerating the transformation of the construction sector through innovation, digitalisation, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins, Modern Methods of Construction and smart infrastructure technologies.

🏠 Safe, Affordable and Sustainable Housing

Supporting practical engineering solutions that increase the supply of high-quality, affordable housing while maintaining the highest standards of safety, sustainability and resilience.

🤖 Responsible Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence

Promoting the ethical, transparent and accountable adoption of Artificial Intelligence and emerging digital technologies, ensuring that engineering judgement, professional responsibility and public trust remain at the centre of decision-making.

👩‍🎓 People, Skills and Professional Leadership

Investing in engineering education, lifelong learning, digital skills, professional development and the next generation of civil engineers to ensure Europe's long-term competitiveness.

These priorities build upon ECCE's recent initiatives, including the ECCE Manifesto on Climate, Resilience and Infrastructure, the ECCE–ECEC Joint Policy Paper on Safe and Affordable Housing, and the AIDE Position Paper on Artificial Intelligence for a Digital and Ethical Civil Engineering, creating a coherent strategic framework for the profession.

A Call for Collaboration

The Braga Declaration is more than a policy statement—it is an invitation to collaborate.

ECCE invites professional associations, engineering institutions, public authorities, universities, research organisations, industry bodies and other stakeholders across Europe and beyond to endorse the Declaration and become Supporting Organisations of this initiative.

By joining the initiative, organisations demonstrate their commitment to advancing engineering excellence, sustainability, innovation and ethical leadership in the service of society.

Become a Supporting Organisation

Organisations wishing to endorse the Braga Declaration are invited to complete the online endorsement form.

Supporting Organisations will be recognised by ECCE as part of a growing European network committed to delivering a safer, more resilient, more sustainable and more prosperous built environment.

👉 Endorse the Braga Declaration: Google Form Link

Download the Braga Declaration

The full text of the Braga Declaration is available below.

📄 Braga Declaration – Modernising Construction: Engineering Europe's Sustainable, Resilient and Digital Future (PDF)

OEP President Fernando de Almeida Santons (left) and ECCE President Platonas Stylianou (right) signing the Braga Declaration

OEP President Fernando de Almeida Santos (left) and ECCE President Platonas Stylianou (right)