The
Commission, in partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB), explains
how to best combine the funds.
The
Juncker Commission’s top priority is to get Europe growing again and to
increase the number of jobs without creating new debt. The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) – the
heart of the Investment Plan for Europe – and European
Structural and Investment Funds (ESI #Funds)
both play a crucial role in creating jobs and growth.
A brochure published
today is designed to help local authorities and project promoters make full use
of the opportunities of combining the EFSI and ESI Funds. These two instruments
have been designed in a different but complementary way in terms of rationale,
design, and legislative framework. They reinforce each other.
European
Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen,
responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, said: "The EFSI was created to be
as flexible as possible and there are huge opportunities for project promoters
to apply for EFSI financing as well as ESI Funds. The guidelines we are publishing
today give practical advice to businesses looking for project financing on how
to make the best use of both instruments."
Commissioner
for Regional Policy, Corina Creţu, said: "Achieving the
objectives of the Investment Plan for Europe is a joint effort and all sources
and actors need to be mobilised. This is why I will make sure that we fully
exploit the growth potential of the ESI Funds, with strategic,
performance-oriented investments, boosted by an increased use of financial
instruments."
Vice-President
of the European Investment Bank, Ambroise Fayolle, said: "Bringing together
European structural and investment funds with the EFSI will allow the EIB to
support sustainable growth throughout European countries and regions. By
combining EU grants and EIB financing the bank can reach out to new
beneficiaries, in particular smaller projects regrouped in investment
platforms.”
The
brochure provides an overview of the possible combinations of EFSI and ESI
Funds, either at project level or through a financial instrument such as an
investment platform. It will be enriched with the experience drawn from
concrete cases and feedback received from stakeholders.
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