Events and Conferences

Build Europe, the European federation that brings together 24 national associations from 20 countries and represents over 30,000 companies active in residential development and housing construction in Europe, held its annual congress in Italy for the first time. Organized in collaboration with Confindustria Assoimmobiliare, the 2026 Congress took place in Naples from October 28 to 30. Participants included Laura Lieto, Deputy Mayor of Naples, and Fabrizio Seminara, Urban Development Specialist at the European Investment Bank.

Davide Albertini Petroni, President of Confindustria Assoimmobiliare; Andreas Ibel, President of Build Europe; and delegates from national associations discussed the challenges facing European housing markets and the policies needed to urgently address the housing crisis. Despite growing demand, many markets are seeing a decline in new construction and residential sales, held back by lengthy permitting procedures, high construction costs, and difficulties in accessing credit. To expand the supply of affordable housing—both for sale and for rent—simpler procedures, a regulatory and fiscal framework that encourages investment, and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors are needed. The Congress provided an opportunity for discussion and for the development of proposals to be brought to the attention of European institutions.

The event opened with the 2026 Build Europe Awards ceremony, held in the Sala della Loggia of the Maschio Angioino under the honorary patronage of the City of Naples. The awards celebrated the best European residential projects. Italy received two awards. COIMA’s Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Village received a special mention from the Jury President, Gianluca Brunetti, former Secretary-General of the European Economic and Social Committee, for its planned conversion into university housing. The CX Naples Centrale Campus & Hotel, on the other hand, won the Special President’s Award. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Near SGR, whose UpTown Milano project ranked among the top five, and Generali Real Estate, with its The Wave project.

The CX Naples Centrale also hosted a tour for Congress participants. The delegations also visited the new residential complex in Scampia—one of the largest urban regeneration projects in Europe, built on the site of the six demolished “Vele,” which includes the construction of 509 housing units, new school complexes, community gardens and parks, and the redevelopment of the Vela Celeste—as well as the remediation and urban regeneration project for the former Italsider industrial area in Bagnoli, whose waterfront will serve as the operational base for the 2027 America’s Cup.