672,5 δις ευρωπαϊκοί πόροι για ανάκαμψη ΕΕ με κανόνες δικαίου/Recovery plans: 40% for climate and biodiversity, Rule of Law

672,5 δις ευρωπαϊκοί πόροι για ανάκαμψη ΕΕ με κανόνες δικαίου

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Recovery plans: 40% for climate and biodiversity, Rule of Law

To help repair the economic and social damage brought by the coronavirus pandemic, kick-start European recovery, and protect and create jobs, the European Commission proposed on 27 May a major recovery plan for Europe based on harnessing the full potential of the EU budget. In late July 2020, the European Council created the EU recovery fund, a major new policy instrument under which the European Union will for the first time borrow and pay out large sums as grants.

With a financial envelope of €672.5 billion, the Recovery and Resilience Facility will support public investments and reforms and contribute to economic, social and territorial cohesion within the EU. It will help member states address the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic whilst ensuring that their economies undertake the green and digital transitions, becoming more sustainable and resilient.

In its 2021 Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy, the Commission set out guidance for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The publication of the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy launches this year’s European Semester cycle and confirms the EU’s aim to pursue a new growth strategy based on the European Green Deal and competitive sustainability. The Commission strongly encourages Member States to include investments and reforms in green and digital to create sustainable jobs and growth.

In order to receive support from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, member states must prepare national recovery and resilience plans setting out their reform and investment agendas until 2026, including targets, milestones and estimated costs. The plans should address the challenges and priorities identified in the country-specific recommendations of the European Semester and contribute to strengthening the growth potential, job creation and economic and social resilience of member states. At least 37% of the plan’s allocation should support the green transition and at least 20% digital transformation. The European Plarliament asked for at least 40% for climate and biodiversity protection and at least 20% digital transformation and implementation of the Rule of Law. Member states should also ensure that their measures comply with the ‘do no significant harm’ principle of the EU taxonomy regulation.

According to the Council’s mandate, measures started from 1 February 2020 onwards would be eligible.

European Tools for supporting Member States to recover, repair and emerge stronger from the crisis

1. Recovery and Resilience Facility, embedded in the European Semester

In its 2021 Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy, the Commission set out guidance for the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The publication of the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy launches this year’s European Semester cycle and confirms the EU’s aim to pursue a new growth strategy based on the European Green Deal and competitive sustainability. The Commission strongly encourages Member States to include investments and reforms in green and digital to create sustainable jobs and growth.

Mechanism: Grants and loans by implementing Member States’ national recovery and resilience plans must be defined in line with the objectives of the European Semester, including in relation to the green and digital transitions and the resilience of national economies.

• Budget: €560 billion of which €310 billion for grants and €250 billion in loans
• Steer: The Facility is steered by the Recovery and Resilience Task Force that will work in close cooperation with Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs.

The Commission is also proposing to reinforce other programmes to allow them to play their full role in making the Union more resilient and addressing challenges brought along by the pandemic and its consequences. These are, among others,

• Horizon Europe, 
• the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), 
• Humanitarian Aid Instrument,
• Digital Europe Programme,
• Connecting Europe Facility,
• Common Agricultural Policy, 
• Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)