The European Commission has distributed €42.8 billion to five EU Member States—Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta, and Spain—through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), a central part of the NextGenerationEU initiative. The payments are tied to progress made by each country in implementing reforms and investments outlined in their respective recovery plans.
Spain received €23.1 billion, marking its fifth payment under the RRF. This includes €7 billion in grants and €16 billion in loans, covering 82 out of 84 agreed milestones and targets. The funds support measures such as expanding renewable energy use, improving grid connections for clean energy, creating a Council on Sustainable Finance, enhancing justice efficiency, investing in short-distance rail travel, strengthening cybersecurity for citizens and small businesses, and supporting innovative companies.
A previously suspended target concerning digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was fulfilled by Spain, resulting in the release of approximately €139 million. However, about €500 million remains suspended pending fulfillment of two milestones related to tax reform and digitalisation at regional and local levels. Additionally, €627 million is withheld due to a reversed milestone linked to civil service employment reform; this amount had been paid earlier but is now deducted until further measures are taken. Spain has six months to address these outstanding issues. To date, Spain has received €71 billion from the RRF—44% of its total allocation of €163 billion.
Italy’s seventh payment totals €18.3 billion (€4.6 billion in grants and €13.7 billion in loans), covering 31 milestones and 33 targets involving 10 reforms and 46 investments. Italy has enacted a new Annual Competition Law aimed at increasing competition through public tenders and oversight in sectors like highways. Other initiatives include renovating railway stations for improved accessibility for people with disabilities or reduced mobility and expanding renewable energy distribution capacity by 1,848 MW via new substations and upgraded infrastructure. Italy’s cumulative RRF disbursement now stands at €140.4 billion—72% of its total allocation of €194.4 billion.
Portugal received its sixth payment of €1.34 billion after meeting 32 milestones and targets focused on healthcare improvements, housing projects, forest fire management strategies, renewable energy investments, business environment enhancements, streamlined insolvency proceedings for companies’ restructuring needs, expansion of national care networks, and support for persons with disabilities. Portugal has now received €11.4 billion from the RRF (57% of its allocated €22.2 billion).
Cyprus was granted a fourth payment of €76 million after fulfilling 17 milestones and six targets centered on expanding online government services; establishing a transparent beneficial ownership registry; digitalising health care services; simplifying title deed processes; and introducing digital solutions for business transactions ease-of-use. Cyprus has received a total of €568 million so far (46.5% of its allotted €1.22 billion).
Malta’s third payment amounted to €48.7 million based on completion of 11 milestones and 13 targets related to reforms such as increasing access to free public transport through electric vehicle procurement contracts for public sector use; upgrading education infrastructure; enhancing healthcare services with new equipment including neonatal hearing screening programs; modernising the justice system with new digital tools; and strengthening anti-money laundering efforts. Malta’s total RRF receipts now stand at €215 million (66% of its planned allocation of €328 million).
The Commission provides an interactive map online that showcases examples of supported reforms and investments across Member States via the Recovery and Resilience Facility project map: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/recovery-and-resilience-facility-project-map_en
Further details about how countries claim payments under the RRF can be found in the Commission’s Q&A document: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility/rrf-qa_en
Additional information about overall progress is available through resources such as the Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard: https://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/recovery-and-resilience-scoreboard/index.html
And regulatory framework details are provided here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241
Information regarding how the EU operates as a borrower can be accessed here: https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/eu-borrower_en
Maciej Berestecki serves as spokesperson for these developments.
“An interactive map showcasing examples of reforms and investments supported by the Recovery and Resilience Facility is available online.”
“Further details on the RRF payment claim process can be found in the Commission’s Q&A document.”
