European Commission President Juncker’s “Investment plan for growth and jobs”, an EU budget based investment initiative carried out by the European Investment Bank, is controversially among stakeholders throughout Europe as investment priorities, the scope of projects, governance, transparency and accountability issues remain unresolved.
By 2018 the European Fund for Strategic Investment (ESIF) is aiming to mobilise private investment worth EUR 315 billion into energy, transport and environmental infrastructure, as well as information and communication infrastructure, education, health, renewable energy and resource efficiency, and research and development.
A proposed regulation setting up the framework of the ESIF is currently being negotiated in the European Parliament and the Council, an adoption is envisaged for June 2015. This regulation should give clarity on how the fund contributes to the achievement of the EU’s long-term investment objectives, its EU added-value and the benefits for European citizens.
