Brussels, 14/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - The €300-billion investment plan the European Commission has promised by Christmas may be presented earlier than anticipated.
European sources have hinted that the investment plan may see the light of day earlier, maybe even before the end of November. In any case, the plan is expected to be presented by no later than 18 December, so that it can be discussed at the final European summit of the year.
A number of project teams within the European Commission are actively working on it, notably focusing on pillars such as energy, digital and transport.
A European source also told us that the 'transport' pillar would not be “marginal” and could well be central to the investment plan. European Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc discussed this issue with her opposite number for Growth and Investment, Jyrki Katainen, on Wednesday 12 November. The same source explained that the purpose of the meeting was to ensure that investments are made in countries where it can have a multiplying effect. Against this backdrop, investments in the ports of southern Europe could be particularly appropriate in creating links to the rest of the continent. The aim at this stage is not to decide on a list of separate projects, but to finetune the ideas on the table, the source explained. (MD)