The Investment Plan for Europe was presented today at the headquarters of the European institutions as “a growth opportunity for Spain” at an event attended by Luis de Guindos, Spain’s Minister of the Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President of the European Commission (EC) responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, Román Escolano, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Pablo Zalba, CEO of the Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO). Aránzazu Beristain, Head of the EC’s Representation,...

Young fishermen and fish farmers in the EU’s outermost regions (ORs) need financial help and incentives, including money for new boats, said Parliament on Thursday. The non-legislative resolution was passed by 428 votes to 64, with 118 abstentions. An amendment to allow EU and national funding to renew the OR fleet was passed by 358 votes to 240, with 16 abstentions. Commenting on the resolution and the amendment, rapporteur Ulrike Rodust (S&D, DE) said "I have tried to work out the...

The European Commission has adopted a new Action Plan to improve the protection of nature and biodiversity in the EU, for the benefit of its citizens and the economy. The Plan consists of 15 actions to be carried out by 2019 to rapidly improve the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives, which are the EU's flagship nature policies. These Directives establish the largest coordinated network of biodiversity-rich protected areas in the world (Natura 2000 network), covering more 18% of land...

Years after the start of the financial crisis, non-performing loans and private debt remain obstacles to the recovery of bank credit and investment. Eight years after the start of Europe’s financial crisis, the legacy of non-performing loans and excessive private debt remains a key obstacle to the recovery of bank credit and investment. The efforts to reduce and remove NPLs from the balance sheets of creditors must simultaneously remove excess debt from the balance sheets of debtors. This is the only...

On 25 April 2017 the Council agreed its negotiating position, also referred to as a general approach, on the multi-annual plan for demersal stocks in the North Sea. The plan will be the first comprehensive long-term strategy for the North Sea aimed at managing a variety of species, fishing vessels and interested parties. As soon as the European Parliament votes on its report, negotiations between the institutions can start. "The North Sea plan is key to the implementation of the reformed...

Global economy The global economic recovery is gaining momentum, commodity prices have firmed up, and deflation risks are receding. While the outlook is improving, growth is still modest and subject to heightened political and policy uncertainties. Crisis legacies, high debt levels, weak productivity growth, and demographic trends remain challenging headwinds in advanced economies; while domestic imbalances, sharper-than-expected financial tightening, and negative spillovers from global uncertainty pose challenges for some emerging market and developing countries. Trade, financial integration, and technological innovation have...

In 2016, the government deficit and debt of both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28 decreased in relative terms compared with 2015. In the euro area the government deficit to GDP ratio fell from 2.1% in 2015 to 1.5% in 2016, and in the EU28 from 2.4% to 1.7%. In the euro area the government debt to GDP ratio declined from 90.3% at the end of 2015 to 89.2% at the end of 2016, and in the EU28 from...