Statement in the European Parliament plenary session on the €315 billion Investment Plan / EU launches Investment Offensive to boost jobs and growth

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker launched on the 26 November 2014 a €315bn 'Investment Plan for Europe' to kick-start Europe's economy.

Since 2007 Europe had made enormous efforts to overcome the financial and economic crisis. It had improved economic governance, introduced efficient financial backstops, and set up a banking union. Member States were consolidating public finances and undertaking structural reforms. Yet, despite the progress, the European economy was still fragile; investment was 15% lower than in 2007, and unemployment up 40% in the last seven years.

The Plan launched was built on three main strands

+ the creation of a new European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), guaranteed with public money, to mobilise at least €315bn of additional investment over the next three years (2015 - 2017)
+ the establishment of a credible project pipeline coupled with an assistance programme to channel investments where they are most needed
+ an ambitious roadmap to make Europe more attractive for investment and remove regulatory bottlenecks.

According to European Commission estimates, taken as a whole, the proposed measures could add €330 - €410bn to EU GDP over the next three years and create up to 1.3 million new jobs

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 26.11.14: Juncker's €315bn investment plan unveiled: fifteenfold leverage and solidarity for the south http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/junckers-eu315bn-investment-plan-unveiled-fifteenfold-leverage-and

EUObserver, 26.11.14: Juncker's plan: Making €60bn worth five times more http://euobserver.com/economic/126661

ESO: Background information: Juncker's €300bn is beginning of 'fiscal union' http://www.europeansources.info/record/junckers-e300bn-is-beginning-of-fiscal-union/

ESO: Background information: Stronger policy response needed to avoid risks to growth, especially in the euro area, says OECD in latest Economic Outlook http://www.europeansources.info/record/stronger-policy-response-needed-to-avoid-risks-to-growth-especially-in-the-euro-area-says-oecd-in-latest-economic-outlook/

EIB: Press Release, 26.11.14: EU launches Investment Plan for growth and jobs http://www.eib.org/infocentre/press/news/all/eu-launches-investment-plan-for-growth-and-jobs.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 26.11.14: Commission President presents €300bn EU investment package to MEPs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20141121IPR79833/

BBC News, 26.11.14: Juncker reveals giant EU investment plan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30205776

Deutsche Welle, 26.11.14: Juncker to unveil 315-billion-euro EU investment plan http://dw.de/p/1Dtls

European Commission: DG Communiation: RAPID: SPEECH/14/2161: Speech by Vice-President Jyrki Katainen on the Investment Plan http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-2161_en.htm

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: Press Release, IP/14/2128: EU launches Investment Offensive to boost jobs and growth http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-2128_en.htm

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

European Commission / European Investment Bank: The Investment Plan. Questions and Answers http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/jobs-growth-investment/plan/docs/investment-plan-qa_en.pdf

France24, 26.11.14: EU unveils €315 billion plan to 'kickstart' economy http://www.france24.com/en/20141126-eu-unveils-315-billion-investment-plan-kickstart-economy/

Cinco Días, 26.11.14: Juncker's plan requires more public funding (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE154282-Juncker-s-plan-requires-more-public-funding

The Local.de, 26.11.14: Warm welcome for EU investment plan http://www.thelocal.de/20141126/warm-welcome-for-juncker-eu-investment-plan-merkel-gabriel-bdi-economy

Blog: Open Europe, 26.11.14: Juncker's investment plan gets cool reception http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/junckers-investment-plan-gets-cool.html

European Voice, 26.11.14: Juncker outlines investment plan http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/juncker-outlines-investment-plan/

The Guardian, 26.11.14: €300bn Jean-Claude Juncker eurozone kickstarter sounds too good to be true http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/26/junckers-300bn-infrastructure-plan-too-good-to-be-true

EurActiv, 27.11.14: Juncker investment plan draws questions over lack of new cash http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/juncker-investment-plan-draws-questions-over-lack-new-cash-310377

EUObserver, 26.11.14: MEPs endorse Juncker investment plan despite criticism http://euobserver.com/political/126678

EurActiv, 26.11.14: Juncker: Christmas has come early, here is my big plan http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/juncker-christmas-has-come-early-here-my-big-plan-310355

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 27.11.14: Juncker presents investment plan http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER154404-Juncker-presents-investment-plan

EUObserver [Opinion], 26.11.14: Common European investment programme needed http://euobserver.com/opinion/126679

European Investment Bank: About: Investment Plan for Europe http://www.eib.europa.eu/about/invest-eu/index.htm

Deutsche Welle, 27.11.14: EIB to ensure funding for EU investment drive http://dw.de/p/1DvW7

Euronews, 26.11.14: Juncker’s colossal investment plan aims to ‘kick-start’ European economy http://www.euronews.com/2014/11/26/juncker-s-colossal-investment-plan-aims-to-kick-start-european-economy/

EurActiv, 02.12.14: Germany says Juncker plan short on cash and details http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-priorities-2020/germany-says-juncker-plan-short-cash-and-details-310497

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what?: Will Juncker's investment plan work? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2014-12-junckerplan/

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

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