During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate and vote on the new InvestEU programme, which will mobilise public and private investments and guarantees simplified access to financing. With €26 billion set aside in the EU budget as a guarantee, InvestEU is expected to mobilise €400 billion to be invested across the European Union for 2021-27. Statements by José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), Co-rapporteur, Irene TINAGLI (S&D, IT), Co-rapporteur and Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy.

Brussels

statement

plenary session

vote

GENTILONI, Paolo (IT, EC)

FERNANDES, José Manuel (EPP, PT)

TINAGLI, Irene (S&D, IT)

InvestEU programme 2021-2027 (T)

InvestEU Programme: extracts from the debate and the vote and statement by José Manuel FERNANDES (PPE, PT), co-rapporteur

Title: InvestEU Programme: extracts from the debate and the vote and statement by Jos&#233; Manuel FERNANDES (PPE, PT), co-rapporteur 

SOUNDBITE (French), Jos&#233; Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), Co-rapporteur, In the negotiations of the multiannual financial framework, we managed to strengthen the EU investment, the guarantee, with EUR 1 billion in terms of the European budget, that will be about 26 billion euros the guarantee. The objective is to mobilise from 2021 2027 about 400 billion euros.

SOUNDBITE (French), Jos&eacute; Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), Co-rapporteur, We have improved with the possibility, which didn't exist before, of having an instrument for capitalizing small and medium-sized enterprises,for the solvency of SMEs. It's urgent. In the face of the pandemic, in the face of the crisis that we are experiencing, for example, in tourism SMEs, catering SMEs. It's urgent. We have this possibility, now it is in the hands of the Member States to be able to use this instrument to help. SMEs need it.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Jos&eacute; Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), Co-rapporteur, Thanks to the European Parliament on a voluntary basis, the member states can use five percent of cohesion funds and four percent of their national budgetary envelope from the Recovery and Resilience Fund, or Facility. This will enable them to establish their national component of invest EU. This will provide added value if it's well used by the member states.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Jos&eacute; Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT), Co-rapporteur, The crisis has shown that we need a resilient industry, particularly a resilient pharmaceutical industry. At the same time, we need autonomy, particularly in our strategic sectors. I will say that the Parliament has done its bit. Now it's up to the member states to live up to their part of the bargain, as must the Commission. The EU citizens deserve investment and high quality jobs.

SOUNDBITE (English), Irene TINAGLI (S&amp;D, IT), Co-rapporteur, There are more funds, there are more ambitious environmental targets. There is more national European synergy, thanks to the possibility for other implementing partners to promote projects. But our real success has been to place Invest EU at the heart of Next Generation EU. Investor you is a long term investment programme with a particular focus on SMEs. It's for Windows cover the major objectives that the union has set for the coming years. Sustainability, innovation, research, social infrastructure.

SOUNDBITE (English), Irene TINAGLI (S&amp;D, IT), Co-rapporteur, Now, both of the European and the national compartments of invest EU will be able to provide capital support to small and medium sized enterprises that went into trouble due to covid-19 pandemic. It. Is perhaps the most important result that we, as a parliament, have achieved

SOUNDBITE (English), Irene TINAGLI (S&amp;D, IT), Co-rapporteur, I realised that the majority of the people that were present in the room during the negotiations were women investors, who is therefore the result of the work and the effort of many women. So it would be nice if the commission, the EIB, the implementing partners, but also the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Parliamen keep this in mind when they will have to appoint their representatives in these bodies, not because it is a provision in the regulation, but because it's the right thing to do.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, We know that in the previous crisis, net public net investment went practically to zero. So we have to reinforce our capacity of public investment and of crowding private investment with a guarantee of 26 billion invest EU will mobilise an investment of more than three hundred and seventy billion in euro, this is with some caution.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, The Parliament obtained an increase of the budget through the MFF top ups of one billion and supported the possibility to combine them with investment guarantee with legacy instruments like the Juncker plan. And others. So Invest EU might not be in the limelight today, but it remains a deeply innovative budgetary tool..

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, We don't just crowd in money. We align private investment with our policy priorities and channel their funds into public goods. So looking ahead, this approach is an efficient way to meet the growing investment needs of the twin transition, but also for our social model.

Announcement of the results of the vote: adopted with 496 in favour, 57 against and 144 abstentions.