Following marathon talks in Brussels, EU finance ministers have given the green light to inject over 3-hundred-40 billion U.S. dollars into the eurozone economy. <br />With more, we turn to Paul Yi at the News Center. <br />Paul, give us the details of this major investment plan? <br /><br />It's a four-year plan outlined by the European Commission and it calls for the backing of somewhat riskier projects from airports to railways.<br />EU officials say this move is in response to the sharp drop in investment following the 2008 financial crisis, which continues to hinder the European economy as it pushes towards recovery. <br />Our Shin Se-min has more. <br />The European Union has decided to set up a four-year, 340 billion U.S. dollar investment plan... in order to help revive its struggling economy.<br />The agreement on the so-called European Fund for Strategic Investment was made during an EU finance ministers' meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.<br /><br /><br />"The investment plan is the answer we need to confront the main handicap of the European economy: a lack of investment."<br /><br />The decision still needs the approval of the European Parliament.<br />If approved,... EU officials say the stimulus plan could be up and running by the end of June or July. <br />Under the plan,... a guaranteed fund of 22 billion dollars will be set up, with the hope of attracting some 340 billion dollars through private investment by 2017. <br /><br />Italy announced that it would inject 8-and-a-half billion dollars into the fund... after Germany and France said they would contribute the same amount. <br />Spain also vowed to chip in 1-point-6 billion.<br />But none of the other EU countries have committed to investing in the fund.<br /><br />The ministers also agreed on other matters. <br />France was given an extra two years to bring its deficit below the 3-percent threshold,... the third time France has been granted an extension.<br />The country now has more time to implement reforms and cut spending,... amid feeble economic growth and low inflation.<br />France has been exceeding the EU'
