CDP's role in the implementation of the Investment Plan for Europe
Launched by the European Commission in 2014, the Investment Plan for Europe (the so-called Juncker Plan) was the European investment plan for the period 2015-2020 aimed at promoting growth, increasing the competitiveness of EU countries and consolidating European production and infrastructure capacity.
In managing the plan, the European Commission collaborated with the European Investment Bank Group (EIB), the operational arm of the Juncker Plan, and the various National Promotion Institutions, including CDP. Thanks to its unique role as an intermediary for Italy in accessing these resources, CDP provided the necessary tools to support investments in Italy.
The Juncker Plan stems from the need to revive European investments, which dropped after the start of the 2008 financial and economic crisis. European Commission figures show a 14.2% drop in investment in Europe in the five-year period 2008-2015, reaching 25% in Italy, with peaks in some productive sectors, such as the construction sector, which recorded a drop of over 43%. The Juncker Plan was launched with the aim of bridging this investment gap and bringing the level of investment in the EU back on track.
The plan consists of a financial pillar, the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), a guarantee fund of € 26 billion, combined with € 7.5 billion in EIB own funds, to finance economically sustainable, long-term projects, including with a high-risk profile. The projects were selected and financed directly by the EIB Group, or through the intermediation of the National Promotion Institutions (CDP for Italy) and their financial intermediaries, in two thematic areas:
Total investments mobilized under the EFSI in Italy amount to €22 billion to date. Under the program, CDP has promoted the largest number of Investment Platforms in Europe, not only in support of SMEs, but also in support of infrastructure and innovation projects.