The European Commission has today endorsed a positive preliminary assessment of Czechia’s payment request for €928 million (net of pre-financing) in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU.
On 25 November, Czechia submitted to the Commission a payment request based on the achievement of the 31 milestones and 6 targets set out in the Council Implementing Decision for the first instalment. The milestones and targets fulfilled demonstrate significant progress made in the implementation of Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan. They cover reforms in the areas of school curricula and health, as well as Czechia’s audit and control system for the implementation of the RRF, mainly focused on the system of avoidance and management of conflict of interest. For instance, Czechia has amended the law on the registration of beneficial owners so that it is fully in line with the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering Directive. Several targets also concern major investments in railway infrastructure and digital tools for education.
With their request, Czechia’s authorities provided detailed and comprehensive evidence demonstrating the fulfilment of the 31 milestones and 6 targets. The Commission has thoroughly assessed this information before presenting its positive preliminary assessment of the payment request.
Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures organised in six thematic components. The plan will be supported by €7bn in grants (with €640 million in additional grants still available for request), 13% of which (€915 million) was disbursed to Czechia in pre-financing on 28 September 2021.
Payments under the RRF are performance-based and contingent on Member States implementing the investments and reforms outlined in their respective recovery and resilience plans.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said: “I have good news for Czechia. Given its successful first set of reforms and investments, the country is ready to receive a first payment under NextGenerationEU. Once EU countries give their green light, Czechia will receive over €928 million as a result of its good progress on its national recovery and resilience plan, which is worth around €7 billion. Czechia has been working, for example, on preventing conflicts of interests in the implementation of the EU funds. Czechia has also stepped up investments in digital devices for schools and adopted a strategy to boost the country’s circular economy in the run-up to 2040. Finally, we welcome the important measures to make railway and other public buildings more energy-efficient. Keep up the good work, Czechia! The Commission stands by your side on your way to recovery.”
Next steps
The Commission has now sent its positive preliminary assessment of Czechia’s fulfilment of the milestones and targets required for this payment to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), asking for its opinion. The EFC’s opinion, to be delivered within a maximum of four weeks, should be taken into account in the Commission’s assessment. Following the EFC’s opinion, the Commission will adopt the final decision on the disbursement of the financial contribution, in accordance with the examination procedure, through a comitology committee. Following the adoption of the decision by the Commission, the disbursement to Czechia can take place.
The Commission will assess further payment requests by Czechia based on the fulfilment of the milestones and targets outlined in the Council Implementing Decision, reflecting progress on the implementation of the investments and reforms.
The amounts disbursed to the Member States are published in the Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard, which shows progress of the implementation of the national recovery and resilience plans.
For More Information
Preliminary assessment
Question and Answers on Czechia’s disbursement request under NextGenerationEU
Press release on €915m in pre-financing to Czechia
Questions and Answers: European Commission endorses Czechia’s plan
Factsheet on Czechia’s recovery and resilience plan
Council Implementing Decision on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Czechia
Annex to the Council Implementing Decision
Commission Staff Working Document: Analysis of the recovery and resilience plan of Czechia
Recovery and Resilience Facility
Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard
Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation
Question and Answers on the Recovery and Resilience Facility
EU as a borrower website
Quote(s)
I have good news for Czechia. Given its successful first set of reforms and investments, the country is ready to receive a first payment under NextGenerationEU. Once EU countries give their green light, Czechia will receive over €928 million as a result of its good progress on its national recovery and resilience plan, which is worth around €7 billion. Czechia has been working, for example, on preventing conflicts of interests in the implementation of the EU funds. Czechia has also stepped up investments in digital devices for schools and adopted a strategy to boost the country’s circular economy in the run-up to 2040. Finally, we welcome the important measures to make railway and other public buildings more energy-efficient. Keep up the good work, Czechia! The Commission stands by your side on your way to recovery.
Today’s positive preliminary assessment of Czechia’s first payment request marks an important step in the roll-out of the country’s ambitious recovery and resilience plan. Our assessment found that Czechia had successfully implemented the 37 milestones and targets linked to this request. These include investments and reforms to prevent conflicts of interest in the implementation of the EU funds, modernise railway infrastructure and digitalise the justice system. Once the relevant procedures are finalised, we will be able to make a payment of EUR 928 million. In these uncertain times, delivering on the country’s reform and investment agenda is crucial to support Czechia’s recovery and its economic transformation.
Congratulations to Czechia for meeting the first set of milestones and targets set out in its recovery and resilience plan. Many of these will contribute to Czechia’s green transition, such as electrifying railway lines and reducing waste to boost the circular economy. Czechia is carrying out reforms to speed up the digitalisation of its economy and promote digital education and skills. It is also increasing the resilience of the national cancer prevention and care system, and advancing with reforms to tackle conflicts of interest. Once the Commission’s assessment is reviewed and approved by Member States, Czechia should receive €928 million in grants to help create a more resilient economy with great benefits for its people and businesses.
Source: Europa