Press Release: Investment Offensive for Europe: EU Task Force identifies 2,000 potential projects worth €1.3 trillion

A special task force (Member States, European Commission, European Investment BankB) on investment in the EU was set up in September 2014 and jointly led by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) and included representatives of all EU Member States. It was set up of EU Economic and Finance Ministers and was mandated to identify concrete actions to boost investment, including a pipeline of potentially viable projects of European relevance to be realised in the short and medium term. This was welcomed by EU leaders in October 2014, who asked for the report to be presented to them at their next European Council meeting in December 2014.

The report of the Task Force was published on the 9 December 2014.

The report showed that there is significant potential for investment in Europe. It identifies around 2,000 projects across Europe worth some €1.3 trillion of potential investments, out of which over €500 billion worth of projects could potentially be implemented over the next three years. Many of these projects are currently not being realised due to financial, regulatory or other barriers.

EurActiv reported that the French government had applied for funding from the European Commission's 315 billion euro investment plan to help launch its energy transition programme [click here for more information on this subject]. Austria announced it would protest at the European Council on 18 December 2014 against the British inclusion of landmark nuclear energy projects – including Hinkley Point – within its list of infrastructure eligible for funding under the proposed €315bn Juncker investment plan [for more information on this, click here].

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Statement in the European Parliament plenary session on the €315 billion Investment Plan / EU launches Investment Offensive to boost jobs and growth http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-in-the-european-parliament-plenary-session-on-the-e315-billion-investment-plan-eu-launches-investment-offensive-to-boost-jobs-and-growth/

European Commission: 10 Priorities: Jobs, Growth, Investment: Investment Plan http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/jobs-growth-investment/plan/index_en.htm

EUObserver, 09.12.14: EU lays out investment priorities for Juncker plan http://euobserver.com/economic/126841

EUObserver, 08.12.14: Project wishlist for Juncker plan worth €1.3 trillion http://euobserver.com/economic/126827

EurActiv, 09.12.14: Barriers to infrastructure investment blocking Energy Union http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/barriers-infrastructure-investment-blocking-energy-union-310695

EurActiv, 10.12.14: 2,000 projects line up for Juncker plan funding http://www.euractiv.com/sections/innovation-enterprise/2000-projects-line-juncker-plan-funding-310721

EurActiv, 11.12.14: France appeals to Juncker plan for energy efficiency renovation funding http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/france-appeals-juncker-plan-energy-efficiency-renovation-funding-310730

EurActiv, 11.12.14: Monti lends a hand to Juncker’s investment plan http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/monti-lends-hand-junckers-investment-plan-310749

EurActiv, 18.12.14: Austrians resist EU funding for UK's Hinkley Point nuclear project http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/austrians-resist-eu-funding-uks-hinkley-point-nuclear-project-310919

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