CECE highlight €12.8bn EFSI scheme investment in EU

Quarry operators will be hoping to benefit from increased demand for construction materials after funds worth €12.8 billion have been invested in infrastructure and SME financing as part of the so-called EFSI scheme, the European investment plan launched by the Juncker Commission to stimulate economic growth in the EU.
 
In its latest members bulletin, the 7836 CECE (Committee for European Construction Equipment) says the EFSI money is expected to trigger private investment of €80 billion. As such, EFSI seems to function as planned, the European Commission said in its recent first public assessment of the Fund’s effects, the CECE report.

The CECE members bulletin states that the Commission is due to present a new proposal to prolong EFSI later this year. This will include an analysis of what has worked well and where improvements can be made. The CECE has highlighted how EFSI is followed closely by businesses and trade associations to ensure that financing is focused on those areas in which the market does not function properly. Another concern, say CECE, is that enough new money is deployed, rather than redirecting funds that were already earmarked for European projects.