Shifting Europe from Austerity to Growth: A Proposed Investment Programme for 2012-2015

Policy Study

The meeting discussed concrete proposals (with appropriate figures and estimates) to significantly increase lending by the European Investment Bank as well as other measures (notably the use of structural funds and project bonds), so as to meaningfully advance the European Union growth agenda. Indeed, modelling work included in the paper shows that highly needed jobs, especially for the youth, could be created in the European Union with the proposed measures.

Discussions started from a presentation of the paper made by Prof. Stephany Griffith-Jones, Columbia University (New York) and FEPS consultant, Dr Matthias Kollatz-Ahnen, former Senior Vice-President of the European Investment Bank and Lars Andersen, Director of the European Council of the Labour Movement (Denmark).

The meeting took place ahead of the next European Summit taking place at the end of June 2012, and given the need to counter austerity measures and to provide the European Union with sound and sustainable policy proposals for growth.

Taking place in the FEPS’office, the event was co-organised the Foundation for European Progressive Studies , together with the Initiative for Policy Dialogue at Columbia University (New York) and the European Council of the Labour Movement (Denmark,).

Read the paper