European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is giving details of a €300bn ($374bn) investment plan to kick-start Europe's economy, BBC News reports.

At the heart of his five-year agenda is a €21bn European Fund for Strategic Investment aimed at stimulating growth and jobs.

Juncker says it would be used as "seed money", to entice private backers to invest up to 15 times the sum. It would take the burden off national governments, already facing big debts.

"Europe needs a kick-start and today the Commission is providing the jump kicks," he told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.