Robinson contributes to EU Investment discussions

SIC political leader Gary Robinson is among European regional and local leaders who are to meet in Brussels to discuss priorities for a €315 billion fund today and tomorrow.

The European Fund for Strategic Investment is among the topics to be chewed along with how best to manage the increasing numbers of migrants into Europe; and discussing the European Commission’s new guidelines on employment.

Members of the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR), including Mr Robinson, will debate the EU’s priorities and how to make the most of the €315bn investment package with the European Commission’s President, Jean-Claude Juncker.

Mr Robinson said: “There’s an exciting agenda for this meeting, with EU President Jean-Claude Juncker attending to spell out how €315bn will be invested across all the member states under his Juncker Plan.

He added: “Of particular local interest will be Hermann Kuhn from Bremen’s report entitled Better Protecting the Marine Environment where I intend to highlight the good work that has been done through Shetland’s marine spatial plan.”

“I also hope to support the European Agenda on Migration which aims to address the harrowing scenes witnessed in the Mediterranean in recent times.”

During the meeting, the CoR will adopt its priorities for 2015-2020, focusing on job creation, sustainable growth and tackling unemployment locally. Making the most of cohesion funds and the recently launched EU Investment Plan, as well as making EU legislation work for citizens, are considered vital to drive local and regional economies.

The CoR will also debate its position on how best to manage the increasing numbers of migrants into Europe; and discuss the European Commission’s new guidelines on employment.

COMMENTS(5)

Add Your Comment
  • Robert Smith

    • June 3rd, 2015 10:44

    e315 billion EU fund????
    What nonsense!
    The collective debt of EU member states runs to tens of trillions of pounds.
    The UK contributes £10 billion more than it receives.
    The EU has no money, you’re lining up to suck on a dry teat.
    If Mr Robinson doesn’t know and acknowledge this he should resign immediately.

    REPLY
    • Robert Duncan

      • June 3rd, 2015 12:02

      Whatever the truth of that, the money is going to spent somewhere, and as long as it’s going to be spent, I’d hope our Council will do its best to have some of it spent here.

      Arguing for it not to be spent is rather outwith the remit of our Council Leader.

      REPLY
      • Robert Smith

        • June 3rd, 2015 15:50

        So it’s okay for a council leader to take no responsibility in highlighting this dishonesty? This is clearly EU propaganda to fool people into thinking they derive some benefit from EU membership. What about the poor people in the Southern Eurozone, their lives ruined by EU dogma? The millions of young people living without a hope of employment? The rise of extremism? The catastrophic debt and crashing economies all over the EU?
        Yet these strutting low lifes in the EU commission come up with this?
        It’s appalling.

    • Robin Stevenson

      • June 3rd, 2015 17:23

      The fund is to “Kick start” growth Robert.

      “In the short term, weak investment slows economic recovery. The EU’s recovery appears to
      have stalled, compared both to other major economies and the previous recession in Europe
      (between 1993 and 1997)”

      http://ec.europa.eu/priorities/jobs-growth-investment/plan/why/index_en.htm

      A bit like the UK throwing everything at their £1.5 Trillion debt rather than the SNPs idea of investing for growth? We can look forward to the same “Stall” when Osborne realises he’s not going to make his targets?…. [again]

      REPLY
      • Robert Smith

        • June 3rd, 2015 20:19

        Ah yes Robin, the old “investing for growth” chestnut.
        There are a few problems with this though:
        1. The EU does not have 315 billion euros and has no legal way of raising it.
        2. The measures mentioned in the article will cost money and produce nothing.
        3. Growth can only come from return on investment, there is no net return from any of these EU schemes.
        4. Keynesian theory is great but everyone in the EU from the commission down to the SIC forget the second part of his doctrine: “When the economy recovers, the debt is REPAID.
        5. This theory has a 100% record of failure.

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