European Demolition Association president Stefano Panseri gives his thoughts for 2023

Stefano Panseri. (Photo: Despe)

This is a very important year for EDA, after the uncertainty of the previous years with the Covid-19 crisis, we are starting this one with hope and a great desire to be able to reach more people and launch more initiatives involved with the DDR industries.

The current economic situation has a direct impact on the sector and there is widespread concern on the demand side about rising interest rates.

This affects all of us, but it is very difficult to make in-depth analysis because every country has its own terms and is penalised or rewarded for local conditions.

For example, in Italy, which is mostly my field of work, we still expect stability in 2023. In this case, the local market - benefitting from strong European support and the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics that will be hosted in Milan – is already changing.

Beyond this general feeling, in the first few months of the new year I believe we will enjoy the strong boost of the financial results of 2022, which were generally good.

The return of face-to-face events is important and encouraging, and EDA will celebrate its annual convention in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from 15 to 17 June.

This type of event is key to promote collaboration between national associations, contractors and suppliers when facing the challenges of the market.

As for the second part of the year, it is more complicated to make a forecast given the uncertainty generated by different factors that remain unresolved – such as the repercussions of the war in Ukraine, the general increase in raw material prices and the limited availability and shortage of components.

This whole scenario of uncertainty plays an important role in relation to investors and their willingness to continue investing money.

I know it is complicated to anticipate but that’s why I would like to send a hopeful message to my fellow guild members and encourage them to keep supporting and promoting the demolition, decontamination and recycling industries in Europe.

Finally, I would like to wish all my colleagues in the industry a happy new year and the desire to continue working together to add value, share best practice and promote our industry across the European continent.

Stefano Panseri
President of EDA

• Demolition & Recycling International is the international media partner of the EDA. For regular industry comment from the association, please see the EDA’s page in the print and digital issues of D&Ri