European Trade Union Committee for Education

On 26 November, the European Commission has announced the Investment Plan for Europe, which is foreseen to boost investments in support of jobs and growth. The Plan will be endorsed by the European leaders during their meeting in Brussels next 18-19 December 2014. The Plan is the outcome of an established partnership between the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. It intends to mobilise €315 billion in additional investments over the next three years, maximising the impact of public resources and unlocking private investments. It also identifies targeted initiatives to make sure that investment finance reaches the real economy in the field of infrastructures: broadband and energy networks, transport, education, research and innovation, renewable energy and efficiency.

'Juncker's Investment Plan doesn't put sufficient emphasis on the social dimension of the EU and will fail, once again, to deliver a sustainable recovery and long-term growth', said Martin Rømer, ETUCE European Director. The main idea of the plan is to use public money as a guarantee for attracting private investors and fostering public-private partnerships. An EU guarantee will be set by shifting €16 billion EU funds from existing programmes (Horizon 2020, Connecting Europe Facility), while additional €5 billion will be made available by the European Investment Bank.
Further details on the Plan's implementation will be included in the upcoming European Commission's work programme.
The ETUCE has called the European Council of 18-19 December 2014 to take a holistic view on investment; to regulate and clarify the role of public-private partnership in deploying the new funds in education infrastructures; and to maintain and develop the public responsibility and public investment in education, while endorsing the Investment Plan for Europe.

Read the ETUCE Position on the Investment Plan for Europe