Juncker’s proposal for “a new boost for jobs, growth and investment” – between high expectations and real action

Summary:

Juncker’s announcement to present “an ambitious Jobs, Growth and Investment Package” might mark a watershed in European crisis politics. So far, the EU approach in dealing with the economic distortions since 2007/08 has been dominated by – more or less – pragmatic ad hoc solutions in order to prevent the financial markets from collapsing on the one hand and medium-term austerity programmes on the other. These ele-ments now seem to be complemented by mea-sures which aim to generate growth, particularly in those areas of the EU where macroeconomic conditions are worst.