Mediaboss Marketing

European Union rules banning state aid to businesses should not apply to guarantees issued to boost investment under the three-year EU investment scheme, some of the key contributors to the plan said yesterday (13 April).

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU's main national promotional banks, including Germany's KfW and France's Caisse des Dpts, expressed their view in a letter to be addressed to the European Commission.

The letter said public guarantees should be available below market prices to make the investment plan of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker work, said Franco Bassanini, head of Italy's promotional bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti.

"Were these guarantees considered as illegal state aid, we can forget about the Juncker plan," Bassanini told journalists, arguing that the riskier projects funded with the plan needed favourable treatment or would be shunned by investors.

Jyrki Katainen, the Commissioner in charge of the plan, said yesterday that talks were ongoing to clarify how state aid rules would apply to the Juncker Plan, an investment scheme intended to use leverage to generate 315 billion of investment in Europe over three years.

National promotional banks of Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Luxembourg, have said they would be ready to contribute billions of euros to projects financed by the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), the vehicle to be set up by the Juncker Plan, but only for projects in their own countries.

The European Commission would have preferred national contributions to go directly into the EFSI's coffers because that would increase the leverage effect of the fund, which has capital of 21 billion.

But contributions from national promotional banks are still important for the success of the plan, because they will decrease the risk for private actors when they invest in EFSI-sponsored projects, such as airports or broadband networks.

The banks fear that with state guarantees priced at market levels and subject to strict state aid rules, risks for private investors will be too high, reducing the appetite for investments.

Read the rest here:
Bankers want Juncker Plan cleared of state aid rules

Russia: Tsipras pledges support for Russia, blasts EU #39;s "dead end" sanctions
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke of his desire to bridge the gap between the European Union #39;s dead end sanctions and Russia at a meeting with State Duma Chairman Sergei...

By: RuptlyTV

Go here to read the rest:
Russia: Tsipras pledges support for Russia, blasts EU's "dead end" sanctions - Video

Tallest building in both United Kingdom and European Union
Sponsored link http://www.worldrichestwoman.com/mjj and http://www.superstarrajni.com Dynamo Magician Impossible - MAGIC BUILDING.

By: MichaelJacksonFanHQ

Follow this link:
Tallest building in both United Kingdom and European Union - Video

A new survey reveals that 100% of business leaders surveyed in Ireland believe that the UK should stay in the European Union, while 100% also believe that there would be a negative effect if the UK left the EU.

Overall, 86% of business leaders in Europe think the UK should stay in the European Union, with 11% saying the UK should leave.

The survey, conducted by the European Business Awards sponsored by RSM, involved business leaders from 32 countries in Europe.

It found that 84% of European business leaders believe their country's membership of the European Union has a positive impact on their business, while 83% of them believe it has a positive impact on their country.

The main reasons given in support of the EU were the economic advantages brought by membership, the competitive position a united Europe has against China, Russia and the US, and the importance of integration, stability and unity in the current climate.

"This survey demonstrates the importance Irish business leaders put on the UK remaining part of the EU with 100% of them agreeing they think the UK should stay in the EU. As the UKs closest neighbour in Europe it reinforces the strong bilateral relationship that exists between the UK and Ireland," commented Aidan Scollard, Partner at RSM Farrell Grant Sparks.

Adrian Tripp, CEO of The European Business Awards, said the survey results show that for the European business community the case for the EU is clear; with the benefits far outweighing the costs.

"From a business perspective, people see the value in the commercial opportunities; from a wider perspective, stability and integration are key," he said.

See the article here:
Business leaders want UK to stay in European Union

Live from LondonWill the EU Survive?
Cornelia Meyer, independent economist, energy expert, and Chairman and CEO of MRL Corporation, assesses the European Union #39;s challenges of governance and prescribes fiscal policy alignment...

By: RealClear Radio Hour

Original post:
Live from LondonWill the EU Survive? - Video