The European Commission paid 24.9 billion to Italy, as an advance of 13% on the 191.5 billion of the total amount of the Recovery fund for the country, up to 2026. The 24.9 billion are made up of 8.957 billion in aid non-repayable funds (equal to 13% of the 68.9 billion of planned grants) and 15.937 billion of loans (13% of 122.6 billion).
Payments of the remaining 87% will flow based on the completion of the targets set.
Bank transfer arrived before the deadline
The transfer arrived before the deadline. Article 13 of the EU regulation 2021/241 of the Parliament and of the Council of 12 February last, which governs the Recovery and Resilience Facility, in fact provides that within two months of the signing of the agreement, the Commission will pay the pre-financing, for an amount up to 13% of the contribution. Now, the signing of the agreement dates back to July 13, when the Pnrr. that is, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan has obtained the green light from Ecofin.
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But what are the rules? What is the procedure? Once the first bank transfer has been transferred to the Government, what will be the next steps of the NRP, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan? Some indications are provided by a note on European Union acts prepared by the Senate Studies Service (n.78 / 2).
Twice a year the State can ask the Commission for a new tranche
Based on the provisions of the EU regulation 2021/241 (article 24), once the projects and investments financed by the RRF have started, the Member States – and therefore also Italy – can submit to the European Commission twice a year a request for payment of the financial contribution. This request must be “duly substantiated”. The presentation of the request, and this is an element to be taken into consideration, presupposes that the goals and objectives agreed and indicated in the Pnrr have been reached. It is likely that the request for the new tranche of the Next Generation Eu funds will be made by the Italian government in the autumn.
Within two months, the Commission assesses whether the objectives of the NRP have been achieved
The Commission has the task of assessing in advance whether these have actually been achieved ‘satisfactorily’. This assessment must take place “without undue delay and at the latest within two months of receipt of the request”.