European Union: Real Estate and Construction

Belgium's new Book 7 of the Civil Code preserves the existing hotel operator liability regime unchanged due to international treaty obligations under the 1962 Paris Convention. The restructured provisions maintain liability caps, mandatory safekeeping duties, and unlimited liability exceptions that have governed the hospitality sector since 1970.

Belgium's House of Representatives has definitively approved Book 7 of the Civil Code, introducing significant reforms to construction contract legislation that will enter into force in September 2027. The final legislation includes several important refinements to the February 2025 proposal, including changes to pre-existing circumstances tests, conformity defect notification rules, and limitation periods. Businesses concluding construction contracts must carefully review and revise their existing contract

The Maltese Government has issued a tender for consultancy services to develop a Master Plan for potential land reclamation at Bengħajsa in southern Malta. This procurement may represent the preliminary phase of a major infrastructure project that could expand port capacity, create industrial zones, and accommodate energy infrastructure, with implications for international marine engineering contractors and infrastructure developers.