During EP plenary session in Brussels, MEPs debate on Council and Commission statements on European fund for strategic investments. Statement by Jyrki KATAINEN, EC Member, and extracts from statements by Zanda KALNIKA-LUKASEVICA, Parliamentary Secretary for the European Affairs of Latvia, Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), Maria Joao RODRIGUES (S&amp;D, PT), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK)&nbsp;and Pavel TELICKA (ALDE, CZ).

Brussels

RODRIGUES, Maria João (S&D, PT)

debate

plenary session

WEBER, Manfred (EPP, DE)

KATAINEN, Jyrki (FI, EC)

KAMALL, Syed (ECR, UK)

TELIČKA, Pavel (ALDE, CZ)

European Commission's Investment Plan (T)

KALNIŅA-LUKAŠEVICA, Zanda (LV)

Council and Commission statements on European fund for strategic investments: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Zanda KALNI&#325;A-LUKA&#352;EVICA, Parliamentary State Secretary for the European Affairs of Latvia, "The plan is not designed to solve every single problem in th euro area, in the EU, from macro-economic shocks to deflation, to energy security to debt problems of local authorities. But it is a step in the direction and most importantly, it has been designed in the most flexible way so that it can grow. Structural reforms, fiscal responsibility and investment are the three keys to restoring growth and creating jobs. In other words, investment is only one ingredient of the mix. We should not forget the otheres: structural reforms and fiscal prudence."

SOUNDBITE (English), Jyrki KATAINEN, Viec-President of the European Commission, "An Investment Committee made up of six independent experts will take the division on project selection.Projects will be selected based on merit and the investment guidelines laid down by the Steering Committee. Investors tell us that this independent selection of projects based on merit is critical if we want private sector financing to come in."

SOUNDBITE (English), Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the European Commission, "The proposal presented today must be complemented by a series of measures to remove barriers to investment and to create a true Single Market.This is to me the most important part of the Investment Plan. It is the to change Europe structurally and permanently in the right direction and to open up new investment opportunities."

SOUNDBITE (English), Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the European Commission, "While there is a lot of technical detail in the plans presented today, and we rightly need to discuss those and get them right, it is important never to loose sight of the big picture, and what is it all for. The crisis of confidence is holding back the investment flows that are the lifeblood of the European economy. Taken as a whole, these new measures should restore investor confidence and get investment flowing into the regions and sectors of our economy, where job creation is needed most."

SOUNDBITE (German), Manfred WEBER (EPP, DE), EPP Group chair, "If Greek Prime Minister Tsipras is saying that Greece is not prepared to pay back Greece's debts, then I ask you, how can we expect private investors to be won over and invest in this fund, when politicians are saying we in Europe are not going to pay our debts back. What has that got to do with solidarity?"

SOUNDBITE (English), Maria Jo&#227;o RODRIGUES (S&amp;D, PT), "We are really worried with a very slow building up of the European Fund for Strategic Investment. We are in fact very worried that Member States so far are not making capital pledges for the fund, and we know very well that a stronger capital base for the fund is fundamental to enable the fund to increase the lending capacity."

SOUNDBITE (English), Maria Jo&#227;o RODRIGUES (S&amp;D, PT), "And we are also worried that particularly Minister SCH&Auml;UBLE recently dismissed the intention of Germany to make a national contribution. So this is a bad signal."

SOUNDBITE (English), Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK), ECR Group Chair, "If we are all serious, let's rip away the red tape that's harming businesses today here and now. Until we do that, no amount of investment will close the gap."

SOUNDBITE (English), Pavel TELI&#268;KA (ALDE, CZ), "I would have expected somewhat more from the Latvian Presidency, in terms of what we were presented today. I would expect that not only you would say that there were meetings, there was a meeting on Monday, but what happened in the meeting, what is the commitment of the Member States, what is the message?"