site.btaJuncker Plan Seeks to Promote Private Entrepreneurs, Stir European Economy - EC Vice President

Juncker Plan Seeks to Promote Private Entrepreneurs, Stir European Economy - EC Vice President

Sofia, April 16 (BTA) - The Investment Plan for Europe has the 
purpose of encouraging private entrepreneurs in the EU and help
 them invest in risky projects that would stir the European 
economy, visiting here EC Vice President and Commissioner for 
Growth and Investment Jyrki Katainen said on Thursday. He was 
addressing a conference: "Investment Impetus for Europe", 
organized in cooperation with the Economy Ministry.

Katainen presented the Investment Plan for Europe before the 
business, investors, MPs and the diplomatic corps. Participating
  in the meeting were also Bulgarian  Deputy Prime Ministers
Meglena Kuneva and Tomislav Donchev, and  Economy Minister
Bozhidar Loukarski.

Europe passed through an economic crisis, time of difficulties 
for the public finances and shortage of investments, the EC Vice
  President said. The 315,000 million euro envisaged in the plan
  are expected to improve the potential for economic development
  in the long term, he added.

The Commission wants to avoid the moment, when the EU member
states will spend the money of tax payers for more investments.
The problem is that there is no liquidity in Europe, while
private funds do not go into the real economy, Katainen
stressed. The Juncker plan covers the European Investment Plan
and a series of infrastructure projects, implemented jointly by
the public and the private sectors. According to the European
Commission Vice President, the most important task is to
strengthen and broaden the EU internal market. The US market is
excellent for small and medium-sized enterprises and may serve
as an example to the EU about the creation of conditions for
entrepreneurs, Katainen observed.

Deputy Prime Minister Meglena Kuneva said that, from political
perspective, the Investment Plan entails inclusion and direct
economic democracy in the EU. The purpose is to use the funding
within the Plan to boost the economy and promote investments,
Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said.

Economy Minister Bozhidar Loukarski told the participants in the
 forum that small and medium-sized companies in Bulgaria account
 for 99.8 per cent of the total number of undertakings in this
country. They account for 75 per cent of the employment (1.3
million people) and generate 60 per cent of the added value in
the economy. Loukarski outlined the priorities of Operational
Programme Investments and Competitiveness in Bulgaria.      

Speaking at a news conference after a meeting with Prime
Minister Boyko Borissov, Commissioner Katainen said that the
European Fund for Strategic Investments will be beneficial for
small and medium-sized enterprises and will support
public-private partnerships.

He explained that certain projects, particularly in the energy
sector, can be implemented by public-private partnerships.
Katainen noted that regarding the energy sector, certain
countries plan to set up a pool of projects for energy
efficiency, for example, retrofitting of buildings, where the
contractors will be private companies. The idea behind the
establishment of this pool is to attract financing from the
European Fund, he explained.

On his part, Prime Minister Borissov thanked the European
Commission for the unfreezing of the EU funds. He described
energy efficiency as an important issue and noted that
retrofitting projects should be implemented during the next year
 as well.