OREANDA-NEWS. Eighteen months after President Jean-Claude Juncker launched the Investment Plan for Europe, and a year after the start of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the Commission takes stock of achievements to date. Today the Commission shares the lessons learned and makes clear proposals for an ambitious future of the EFSI.  

European Commission President Juncker said: "The Investment Plan is working and defying the pessimists. The European Fund for Strategic Investments is creating jobs and triggering investments in the real economy every day. That is why we propose to extend it beyond 2018. Let's be ambitious in getting Europe investing again."

Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, added: "Together with the EIB we have achieved a lot in the past 12 months. We have supported innovative energy projects, healthcare centres, urban development and high-speed broadband. Close to 150,000 SMEs have access to new financing. We have created a hub which provides advisory services and technical support to project promoters. We have launched a new portal for promoters to showcase their projects worldwide to investors. But there is more to do: we must continue to deepen the single market – the EU's unique selling point – and Member States must work on removing barriers to investment."