OREANDA-NEWS. Investment Plan for Europe: One year of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) – Frequently Asked Questions.
  • Stocktaking of progress made so far under the Investment Plan for Europe, including the latest figures and results of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI)
  • The extension of the lifetime of the EFSI beyond 2018
  • The rapid scaling-up of the SME window, given its great success
  • The announcement of the exploration of an investment model to crowd-in private investors to EU instruments in non-EU countries
  • An explanation of how to combine EFSI support and European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds in a simple way
  • A description of what Investment Platforms are and why they are useful in mobilising investments
  • A suggestion to continue developing the market for sustainable/green investment projects, such as through the green bond market and improved coordination of existing efforts
  • The European Investment Advisory Hub and how it can be reinforced further
  • The launch of the European Investment Project Portal
  • Stocktaking of initiatives delivered at the EU and national level in order to remove barriers to investment

The Communication sets out what has been achieved to date under the Investment Plan for Europe and its European Fund for Strategic Investments. It also clearly states the Commission's intentions for the future. These are:

  • A reinforced EFSI will continue beyond the initial three-year period to address remaining market gaps and failures and continue to mobilise private sector financing in investments crucial for Europe's future job creation, growth and competitiveness with strengthened additionality. The Commission will make legislative proposals in the autumn to extend the duration of the EFSI, bearing in mind the scarcity of budgetary resources.
  • One of the biggest success stories of the EFSI has been the strong interest and participation by intermediary banks across the EU to provide finance to SMEs, the so-called EFSI SME window. This will be scaled up quickly, under the current framework, for the benefit of SMEs and mid-cap companies in all Member States. The Commission will work with the EFSI Steering Board to use all the existing possibilities under the EFSI-Regulation to reinforce the SME window. 
  • The Commission will explore the possibility of using an EFSI-type model for investments in developing third countries.
  • The combination of EFSI support and ESI Funds will be further simplified and legislative and other obstacles to such combinations removed.
  • The Advisory Hub will be enhanced to be able to work more locally and to enhance its cooperation with National Promotional Banks.
  • Establishing Investment Platforms will be further encouraged, with strong engagement from the Commission, the EIB Group, National Promotional Banks and other relevant actors. This is particularly important for small projects to reach scale and attract investors.
  • Energy efficiency is undoubtedly one of the most successful sectors under the EFSI. The EFSI will continue to contribute to the development of the market for sustainable/green projects, by encouraging the development of a green bond market in Europe and improved coordination of existing efforts.
  • The Commission will continue to deliver on its Single Market priorities. Together with Eurostat, the Commission will provide further clarity and review, where appropriate, relevant guidance as regards accounting aspects of public-private partnerships.
  • Member States should also establish clear priorities, prepare concrete investment projects with the help of the Advisory Hub – in particular as regards cross-border projects – and structure their projects in an optimal way to ensure a greater use of financial instruments. In the context of the European Semester process, Member States should implement the country-specific recommendations to address national barriers to investment.