Commission provides guidance on the implementation of NextGenerationEU – The road to 2026

Today, the Commission adopted a Communication taking stock of the implementation of the  Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and offering guidance to Member States to ensure its successful closure in 2026. In line with the legal deadlines and the temporary nature of the Facility, Member States must meet all milestones and targets by 31 August 2026, and the Commission must make the final payments by 31 December 2026. With these deadlines fast approaching, and more than €335 billion in funding still available to Member States, it is vital to accelerate the implementation of the RRF.

The Communication provides guidance to Member States to streamline their recovery and resilience plans and prepare their final payment requests in 2026. Member States are invited to review their plans to include only measures achievable by 31 August 2026 and explore alternative measures to use their remaining financial allocations. The guidance provides a clear menu of options for this purpose.

Launched in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RRF - a temporary instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU - has already supported numerous investments and reforms, addressing the economic and social consequences of the pandemic, accelerating structural change and the green and digital transitions. So far, over €315 billion has been disbursed to Member States following the achievement of over 2,000 milestones and targets in the delivery of those reforms and investments.

Next steps

Member States are expected to revise their national plans promptly and comprehensively to ensure that all milestones and targets can be implemented by 31 August 2026 and to simplify the handling of the final payment requests. The Commission will support Member States throughout this process and ensure the revised plans continue to meet all the assessment criteria and requirements set out in the RRF Regulation.

To increase the menu of options for Member States, the Commission is calling on the European Parliament and the Council to quickly finalise the legislative negotiations on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) Regulation and to introduce a provision that facilitates RRF-supported voluntary contributions to EDIP.

Background

The Recovery and Resilience Facility is a temporary instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU, set to address the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Facility, the Commission raises funds by borrowing on the capital markets (issuing bonds on behalf of the EU). These are then available to Member States, to implement ambitious reforms and investments that have enabled a fast and effective recovery from the effects of the pandemic, while making their economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and prepared for the green and digital transitions.

For more information

Communication on NextGenerationEU – The road towards 2026

Questions and Answers on the Communication

The Recovery and Resilience Facility

Interactive map of projects financed by the RRF

Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard