Conclusions on tackling bottlenecks to investment identified under the Third Pillar of the Investment Plan

On 6 December 2016, the Council of the European Union adopted conclusions on tackling bottlenecks to investment identified under the Third Pillar of the Investment Plan.

In these conclusions, the Council pointed out that in the aftermath of the global economic and financial crisis, investments in the European Union have decreased. In this context the Investment Plan for Europe presented in November 2014 aims to address this low investment via three mutually reinforcing pillars: mobilising private finance for investment; targeted initiatives to ensure investment reaches the real economy and improving the investment environment by removing sector specific and other barriers to investment.

In order to unlock the full potential of the opportunities provided by the Investment Plan, and to mobilise its full multiplier effect, relevant and appropriate measures including structural reforms to remove barriers to investment under the so-called "third pillar" of the plan are critical. This requires implementing an ambitious agenda to further strengthen the Single Market, providing greater regulatory predictability and removing remaining bottlenecks to investment through combined actions at EU and at Member State level.

ESO: Background information: Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 6 December 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/economic-and-financial-affairs-council-6-december-2016/

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