Euro vision

Raimund Desalla, Commercial Head of Directorate for Central and Eastern Europe at STRABAG speaks to EU Infrastructure about the challenges involved in knitting the continent together through large-scale construction projects.

There have been numerous attempts to bring Europe together over the past few decades. As a former warring, disparate and occasionally fiercely independent corner of the globe, the challenges of uniting this kaleidoscope of nations have been great and wide-ranging. There have been a few successes - the European and monetary union (largely, anyway), the ability to get by in the de facto lingua franca of English, and the unfathomable hysteria generated by part time talent show rejects given their fifteen minutes of fame at the annual Eurovision Song Contest - but the continent is still some way off a United States of Europe.

However, in terms of physical, tangible cooperation, there have been a number of successes. Motorists can now drive comfortably from the depths of Deptford in England to the French Riviera with barely any problems, save for a bit of queuing at Dover and the occasional erratically driven Citroen C2V swerving comically into a beret-wearing gentleman on a bicycle adding stereotypical hazards to their journey. Low-cost air carriers serve every corner of the continent with impressive ease and regularity, and the high-speed rail network is spreading across Europe at a remarkably seamless pace.

One of the companies heavily involved in the construction of much of Europe's transport infrastructure is STRABAG, where they are proving instrumental in modernising and integrating the road network of Eastern and Central Europe. Countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria are benefiting hugely from their recent accession to the European Union, and public-private partnerships (PPP) are proving the catalysts for these countries' transport networks, bringing them in line with much of their western neighbours on the continent. "We have a young and growing PPP segment to our business," says Raimund Desalla, Commercial Head of Directorate for Central and Eastern Europe at STRABAG. "There are currently 29 projects under our jurisdiction, which include the large A2 motorway section II in Poland and a number of mini-projects totalling €7 million."

Desalla is convinced that PPP projects are not only a great business initiative for construction companies, but that they are also invaluable in raising the infrastructural standards of countries that have lagged behind the rest of the continent for decades. "PPP will be increasingly important as a public sector procurement method for companies, but also in the assistance and creation of large motorway projects, including those in Poland, Hungary and Ireland, which we are currently involved in."

Collaborative actions

Strong partnerships are essential in the construction industry, so a jointly funded initiative that has the capital backing of the government and the expertise, capital and contacts of the top-bidding companies will ensure that all projects are completed to the highest specifications. "With PPP, the client and the contractor work together as partners," explains Desalla. "The introduction of joint controlling and the early inclusion of the contractor in the planning phase helps to minimise the risk for both parties while also raising security in terms of quality, costs and deadline."

In Poland, modernisation of the country's road and rail network has been a priority for the Polish government and the European Union for some time. As one of the larger countries in Europe, and the gateway between Germany and Russia, Poland's importance as a transport hub has grew dramatically in the past few years. The need for growth and modernisation is, therefore, paramount for a fully connected Europe. "The largest project in our company's history is currently taking place in Poland," says Desalla. "Section II of the A2 motorway is our chief project right now, with an investment volume of €1.6 billion, which dwarfs the level of investment we are putting into projects in Denmark, Germany, Italy and Ireland." Elsewhere in Eastern Europe, STRABAG has recently opened the M6/M60 motorway in Hungary, adding an extra-efficient thoroughfare linking northern Europe with the Balkan states and the Adriatic Sea.

Environmental concerns

As one of the largest construction companies in the world, STRABAG has a distinct responsibility to give due consideration to the environmental impact the company's projects have throughout Europe and beyond. "We are working on a number of projects within and outside of Europe," explains Desalla. "We are building in Abu Dhabi and elsewhere beyond the Central and Eastern European region, including skyscrapers in The Netherlands and large projects in Russia, so of course environmental and sustainability matters are a cause for consideration in all we do.

"One of the things we have been looking at is the fostering of the construction of buildings that operate in an environmentally friendly manner and produce low levels of emissions. The successful implementation of this strategy is evident in the certifications that we have already received for a number of the buildings we have constructed, including the Z-two office building in Stuttgart, which won the silver certification and is one of the first buildings in Germany to be certified according to sustainability criteria.

"Another arm of our business - and something that is important throughout the whole of Europe - is our commitment to investing in environmentally friendly projects such as offshore wind facilities, establishing business units that promote these projects. We also conduct intense research in the fields of sustainable materials."

Europe-wide concerns over the environment are well documented. Sustainability targets are regularly set by the EU Commission, so the notion that all nations are able to work together in order to reduce their carbon emissions is an important one for the continued strength of a united Europe.

Desalla is acutely aware that, no matter where their next project, it is important for construction companies to heed Europe-wide governances on environmental targets. "In terms of resources, we have a comparably dense network of our own raw materials: we are self-sufficient by 80 percent in asphalt production, and approximately 40 percent in concrete." Such self-sufficiency ensures that the company can bid for projects throughout the continent safe in the knowledge that all environmental concerns regarding the sourcing of materials have already been taken into consideration, which not only aids efficiency but is also a far more accurate indicator at the planning and bidding stage.

Whether physical, political or ideological, a strong and united Europe is getting ever closer. Better integration and harmonisation of the roads, rail and aviation is key to ensuring that ideas, proposals and political agendas - which include issues concerning sustainability and the environment - can be delivered to the required standard. Eastern Europe is playing catch up, but there is a discernable diligence across the continent that should ensure a more balanced, even-footed Europe is closer to reality with every passing day.