BUDG CONT
Οι επιτροπές Προϋπολογισμών και Οικονομικής και Νομισματικής Πολιτικής συζήτησαν την πρόοδο στην εφαρμογή των εθνικών σχεδίων ανάκαμψης με τους επιτρόπους Dombrovskis και Gentiloni.
MEPs discuss updates of national recovery plans
The Budgets and Economic and Monetary Affairs committees discussed progress in implementation of national recovery plans Commissioners Dombrovskis and Gentiloni.
During a discussion on Monday evening, MEPs asked about new Guidance on Recovery and Resilience Plans in the context of REPowerEU, prepared by the Commission, to accelerate the implementation of revised national recovery plans including RePowerEU chapters financing measures to counter economic downturn and address energy market disruptions caused by the Russian war on aggression on Ukraine.
Commissioner Dombrovskis outlined that member states will only have 30 days after the entry into force of the REPowerEU regulation to apply for the recovery and resilience facility (RRF) loans still available, worth €225 billion. Additionally, they will be able to use €20 billion in new grants, €5.4 billion from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve and up to €17.9 billion from the cohesion policy funds.
MEPs wanted to know whether the absorption of funds is on course, as 2023 is the mid-point of the RRF, and how the Commission protects the European Union’s financial interests while disbursing payments. They also asked about cross-border projects that should address existing bottlenecks in energy transmission, distribution and storage, thus providing European added value. Additionally, they wanted to know when the first data concerning the 100 final recipients receiving the highest amount of funding would be reported by the member states. Finally, MEPs asked about the situation in Poland and Hungary, where national plans were finally approved, while the disbursement of funds is pending the proper implementation of milestones and targets.
Commissioners highlighted that 446 milestones and targets have already been fulfilled and stressed that member states should engage immediately, preparing to adjust their national plans by the end of April to include RePowerEU changes and all other changes they planned to make to avoid backlog and continue smooth implementation. Data on final recipients should be published by each country twice a year; the Commission proposed in April and October. Referring to the protection of the EU’s financial interests and the prevention of double-funding, MEPs were assured that the RRF was the most audited Union programme and that no significant issues had been detected during ex post reviews. Although there was currently a mismatch between amounts disbursed and the level of investments, over the lifetime of the facility, the total amount of funding would equal the costs of investments and reforms. Payments are verified to ensure they fulfil the milestones and targets and each member state has to submit a management declaration.
In the wider context of the EU’s climate targets, competitiveness and the European Union’s reply to actions such as the US Inflation Reduction Act, MEPs asked questions about the Green Deal Industrial Plan, recently presented by the Commission. They also enquired about a European Sovereignty Fund for industry, which is expected to be discussed by member states during the upcoming Summit on 8 and 9 February. Commissioner Dombrovskis underlined the intention to move swiftly and submit a legislative proposal in the context of the MFF review, which takes into account the outcome of discussions in the March ECFIN.
