BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – The EC IPE, first introduced by President Jean-Claude Juncker in November 2014, aims to mobilize public and private investments in Europe of at least 315 billion euros ($342.5 billion) by 2017. So far, the plan triggered only some $55 billion of investments.
"It is premature to talk about the failure, but the Juncker Plan is launching very, very slowly," Bayet told the RTBF broadcaster.
According to the Belgian parliamentarian, the European fund for strategic investment has approved only 40 investment projects in more prosperous EU states, such as France and Germany.
The European Commission investment plan targets such areas as infrastructure, education, research and innovation, as well as risk finance for small businesses.
