NextGenerationEU reaches €300 billion in RRF payments with new disbursements to Czechia, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Romania

  The Commission disbursed payments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) to Czechia, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Romania, totalling €26.8 billion in loans and grants. The total disbursed under the RRF has now reached over €300 billion. This important milestone reflect the scale of the transformative reforms and investments being carried out across EU Member States, accelerating the green and digital transitions while strengthening the Union's overall resilience.    Czechia receives its third payment for €1.7 billion    The Commission disbursed €1.5 billion in grants and €200 million in loans, net of pre-financing, to Czechia.     On 16 September 2024, Czechia submitted its third request for payment, covering 65 milestones and targets. These include reforms, such as the amendments to the Energy Act to simplify the creation of energy communities and the issuance of permits for renewable energy projects, alongside the entry into force of waste management plans and whistle-blower protection. It also covers investments in rail infrastructure - such as electrifying and reconstructing rail lines, and renovating station buildings - energy efficiency renovations of public buildings, support for industrial research, and the digitalisation of courtrooms.    The Commission adopted a positive preliminary assessment of 63 of the 65 milestones on 15 November 2024, which was followed by the favourable opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee of the Council, paving the way for a decision on disbursement. For the two milestones that were not fully fulfilled, the Commission acknowledges the first steps already taken by Czechia to address them, although important work remains to be done. Czechia has been given additional time to meet these milestones.    To date, Czechia has received a total of €4.39 billion, out of the €9.2 billion allocated to the Czech recovery and resilience plan.    Germany receives its second payment for €13.5 billion    The Commission disbursed €13.5 billion in grants, net of pre-financing, to Germany.     On 13 September 2024, Germany submitted its second request for payment, covering 42 milestones and targets. These include reforms in climate and energy policy, such as advancing Germany's National Hydrogen Strategy and promoting clean mobility, and in digitalization, including modernizing public administration and fostering innovative data policy. It also covers investments in sustainability, such as electric vehicles and renewable entries, and in digital infrastructure, including microelectronics, communication, technology and the digitalization of railways, as well as in childcare, housing and healthcare.    The Commission adopted a positive preliminary assessment of the request on 26 November 2024, which was followed by the favourable opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee of the Council, paving the way for the final decision on disbursement.    To date, Germany has received a total of €19.75 billion, out of the €30.3 billion allocated to the German recovery and resilience plan.    Italy receives its sixth payment for €8.7 billion    The Commission disbursed €6.9 billion in loans and €1.8 billion in grants, net of pre-financing, to Italy.    On 28 June 2024, Italy submitted its sixth request for payment, covering 39 milestones and targets. These include reforms in public administration, improving human resources, public procurement, and tax administration, as well as in social policy, including combating undeclared work and supporting non-self-sufficient elderly persons. It also covers investments in digitalization, such as developing digital logistics platforms and modernizing national parks, alongside sustainability efforts, including waste management and agri-solar development.     The Commission adopted a positive preliminary assessment of the request on 26 November 2024, which was followed by the favourable opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee of the Council, paving the way for the final decision on disbursement.    To date, Italy has received a total of €122.2 billion, out of the €194.4 billion allocated to the Italian recovery and resilience plan.    Portugal receives its fifth payment for 2.9 billion    The Commission disbursed €1.65 billion in grants and €1.25 billion in loans, net of pre-financing, to Portugal.     On 3 July 2024, Portugal submitted its fifth request for payment, covering 42 milestones and  targets. These include reforms in energy policy, such as addressing energy poverty, promoting renewable hydrogen and biomethane, and improving energy efficiency, as well as in economic governance, including capital market development and simplification of the tax system. It also covers investments in the decarbonisation of public transport, and fire prevention, alongside modernisation efforts, including upgrading medical equipment, housing, digitalisation of businesses, and tax and customs systems.    The Commission adopted a positive preliminary assessment of the request on 26 November 2024, which was followed by the favourable opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee of the Council, paving the way for the final decision on disbursement.  To date, Portugal has received a total of €11.39 billion, out of the €22.2 billion allocated to the Portuguese recovery and resilience plan.    Romania receives €37.05 million, as part of its second payment request     The Commission disbursed €37.05 million, net of pre-financing, to Romania.     On 15 December 2022, Romania submitted its second request for payment, covering 51 milestones and targets. The Commission adopted a positive preliminary assessment of all but two milestones in September 2023. Milestones 129 and 133, relating to energy investments, were not satisfactorily fulfilled, leading to a suspension of €53.4 million.    After Romania provided additional information and made progress on these milestones, the Commission has now unlocked a gross amount of €42.59 million. This includes €17.78 million related to milestone 133, which has been fully met, and €24.8 million related to milestone 129, where progress has been acknowledged, although the milestone is still not considered satisfactorily fulfilled. The disbursement to Romania is €37.05 million, after deducting pre-financing. In parallel, due to milestone 129 not being fully met, the Commission has reduced the overall loan amount available to Romania by €10.77 million.    To date, Romania has received a total of €9.4 billion, out of the €28.53 billion allocated to the Romanian recovery and resilience plan.     Background    These disbursements demonstrate the EU's ongoing commitment to helping Member States implement their recovery and resilience plans, fostering sustainable growth, strengthening economic resilience, and advancing the green and digital transitions across the Union.    The RRF entered into force in February 2021 to mitigate the economic and social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the cornerstone of NextGenerationEU, an unprecedented EU recovery instrument to help repair the immediate economic and social damage of the coronavirus pandemic, and will disburse up to €650 billion in grants and loans to EU Member States.     The Recovery and Resilience Facility helps mitigate the pandemic's economic and social impact, make sure Member States are more resilient, more sustainable and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions, achieve the EU target of climate neutrality by 2050, set Europe on a path of digital transition, create jobs and spur growth.    Through the Facility, the Commission can raise funds - borrowing on the capital markets - to help Member States implement reforms and investments.