Un EU plan of 150 billion investments to relaunch social Europe in a short time. This is the proposal at the heart of the "New Deal for social infrastructure" presented today in Brussels by former Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Operational: 2019. A concrete project, to be implemented in the shortest possible time in order to give effective answers to the most urgent problems of the citizens of the old continent.
“Every year there is a 100-150 billion euro investment gap across Europe, even in the richest countries”, with regard to social infrastructure, in particular “affordable healthcare, education and social housing“, explained Prodi during the conference held in Brussels during which the results of the work carried out by a special EU 'task force' were also disclosed.
The proposal of the former number one of the EU Commission, to be launched "immediately" provides for the creation of an investment plan "with a possible interaction between public and private" including pension funds and insurance. And, given the current political context, Prodi warned, "we must have this project operational before the end of the current EU legislature” or by May 2019, “to give impetus to the new Europe”. The EU and financial institutions "must" - concluded Prodi - "cooperate hand in hand", while the projects to be financed will have to be decided together by member states and local institutions, in line with respect for the "principle of subsidiarity".
As for Italy, the The Prodi plan will be led by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti which already has a leadership position in supporting the development of social infrastructure in Italy, culminating last November with the launch of its first 500 million Social Bond for SMEs located in regions with a lower rate of development or affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes.
