Luxembourg, 05/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 4 April, the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Werner Hoyer, pointed out that since September 2015, he has been predicting that the migration dossier would sooner or later land on the desk of the Finance Ministers of the EU.
The migration situation in the EU “needs investments” at three levels, the former German Minister stressed, addressing a group of journalists in the headquarters of the European institution in Luxembourg: - initially, for the adequate hosting and registration of the individuals; to tackle the situation in the transit countries and also in the destination countries (integration, education, healthcare). In September 2015, the EIB stressed its availability to support the countries and local authorities of the EU financially in their efforts to host refugees granted asylum rights (EUROPE 11387).
In response to criticism that in so doing, the EU would be treating the symptoms rather than the causes of the migration flow, Hoyer stressed that climate change also causes migration flows. “When I talk to some parties in some EU countries, I wonder if they take climate change seriously”, he said.
'Juncker' plan has taken off
The former German Liberal MP takes a very positive view of the implementation of the 'Juncker' plan, which is designed to draw down €315 billion in additional investments in the EU over three years (EUROPE 11511). After less than a year in place, it is “far beyond expectations”, he said.
The 'Juncker' plan covers 20 member states, according to Roger Havenith, deputy executive director of the European Investment Fund (EIF). According to the latest figures, the EIF has already made €3.4 billion in public guarantees available via the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), which has raised €46.1 billion to benefit nearly 132,000 European small and medium-sized enterprises. The multiplying effect initially promised by the Commission was €15 invested in the real economy for every euro guaranteed by the EFSI. Havenith states that this multiplier varies and in some cases, has been as high as 1: 30. The speed with which the 'Juncker' plan has been set in place sent out a “strong signal”, to investors, Havenith concluded. (Original version in French by Elodie Lamer)