Next stop Germany: The roadshow to promote the Investment Plan for Europe takes European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, to Berlin and Frankfurt. On Thursday, 29 January, the Vice-President will meet German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, German parliamentarians, business leaders and academics in Berlin. He will also visit a medical technology company in nearby Teltow together with Dietmar Woidke, Prime Minister of Brandenburg. On Friday, 30 January, the Vice-President will go on to Frankfurt to meet representatives of the finance- and insurance industries as well as students and media...
The Investment Plan aims to mobilise public and private investments of at least € 315 billion over the next three years (2015-2017). During the roadshow Vice-President Katainen will explain why the EU needs a new Investment Plan, where the money comes from and which investment will be supported. He will also outline how Germany can benefit from the
Plan and how private investors can participate in the new European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).
Vice-President Jyrki Katainen said: "My trip comes just after news that Germany will contribute € 8 billion to the Investment Plan for Europe through its national development bank. I am very encouraged by this contribution. In Berlin and Frankfurt, I aim to build on that support and to illustrate that Germany can benefit hugely from fresh public and private investment. Against the backdrop of an ageing population, this is the way for Germany to ensure job creation, as well as sustainable and fair growth."The medical technology company Getemed in Teltow, which the Vice-President will visit, is a prime example of how EU financial support can help to promote jobs and innovation in telemedicine. Mr Katainen will visit the company together with Dietmar Woidke, Prime Minister of Brandenburg and Tillmann Stenger, Chairman of the Investment Bank of Brandenburg. Getemed received for its joint project with the Hasso Plattner Institute € 2 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) between 2009 and 2011. An innovative device developed by Getemed allows doctors to remotely monitor the heart activity of their patients. Therefore, people in the province of Brandenburg need to travel less for medical purposes.
