Juncker Plan: new projects signed in France, Portugal and Romania worth €100 million

On Monday, the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed several new deals under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the core of the Investment Plan for Europe. In France, it is providing €43 million to Artee to make 2,000 buildings more energy efficient in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. In Romania, a deal with UniCredit will see an additional €50 million made available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Finally, in Portugal the EIB signed a €10 million agreement with Science4You, a company which makes educational toys for children. Speaking at the signature of the agreement with Science4You in Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: “It is very satisfying to see Portuguese companies making such good use of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, with Portugal currently ranked in the top 5 of EU countries in investment triggered relative to GDP. The deal signed today with Science4you shows the positive impact that the Juncker Plan is having on small and medium-sized enterprises across Europe. In the more immediate term, this project will create more than 300 jobs in Portugal. In the long term, by investing in our children’s education in subjects related to science, technology, engineering and maths, we are developing the next generation of scientists and innovators.”