Czech Business Today
Juncker’s Investment Plan: Still a Long Way To Go
In January 2015, the European Commission ́s Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness launched a 28-country roadshow to promote the new Juncker’s Investment Plan, worth more than €300 billion.
While being on the road, he has already visited the Czech Republic to meet with the President, Minister of Finance and to participate in the public debate with students. After the meetings, Mr. Katainen stated: “I welcome the Czech government’s clear expression of support for the Investment Plan. The unlocking of public and private funds under the Plan will contribute to addressing the current investment gap in the Czech Republic and to the sustainability of the country’s ongoing economic recovery.” Despite his efforts, Vice-President Katainen has not convinced everyone.
There are still a lot of questions on how the plan and its Fund for Strategic Investments, will actually work. More importantly, which source the EU support will come from. Relocating funds from the Horizon 2020 programme and/or cutting other European investment projects face strong opposition. Clarification of measures within the Investment Plan for Europe is something that interests Czech businesses organizations who are rather of opinion that it represents no change from the ineffective existing approaches, in relation to SME policy.
