Following the signature of the cooperation agreement on the pilot phase of the project bonds initiative, President Hoyer and Vice-President Rehn addressed a large audience in Brussels made up of representatives from business, NGOs, missions to the EU, media, EU institutions and policy think tanks on growth and jobs and more particularly the importance of project bonds for unlocking capital market financing for infrastructure projects.
“The Project Bond Initiative provides an opportunity for re-opening capital markets as a source of financing for crucial infrastructure projects in the fields of transport, energy and communications, which are essential for ensuring growth and competiveness in Europe,” said EIB President Werner Hoyer. “The pipeline of potential projects looks prominent with first signatures expected for early next year", he added.
Strategic investment in infrastructure, such as transport, energy and broadband, is seen as an important element in Europe’s plans to kick-start growth in Europe. But needs are huge and public money is scarce. Hence the project bonds scheme which seeks to attract institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies to the capital market financing of long-term infrastructure projects. The project bond initiative is an innovative means of unlocking private investment in infrastructure, enhancing competitiveness and helping to boost growth and job creation,” European Commission Vice President Olli Rehn commented. “Every euro channelled from the EU budget into the Project Bond Initiative could generate about 20 euros of infrastructure investment, underlining the role of the EU budget as an engine for growth,” he further explained.