During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (4-7 October 2021), MEPs debate on the state of play of the Recovery and Resilience Facility plans (RRF) of member states awaiting for approval. Opening statements by Paolo GENTILONI, Commissioner for Economy. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

statement

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Poland (T)

EU - Hungary (T)

GENTILONI, Paolo (IT, EC)

Recovery plan for Europe (T)

The state of play on the submitted RRF recovery plans awaiting approval: opening statement by Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, Thank you, president. Honourable members, the timing of this debate gives me the opportunity to tell you in person that with the positive assessment of the Finnish and Estonian Recovery and Resilience Plan on Monday and Tuesday, the Commission has by now approved 22 out of 25 plans submitted.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, You know that the Netherlands and Bulgaria until now did not submit their plans, but we are in close contact with these authorities. Council adopted 19 of the 22 implementing decisions, and we aim at completing the assessment of the three remaining plans as soon as possible, and we are working constructively with the national authorities to conclude the assessment.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, With more than 51 billion of pre-financing paid to the first 16 member states, we have provided them with the support needed a pathway to the recovery. We expect the first regular payment requests still this year. This requires that member states has fully met the reform and investment commitment that are linked the respective instalment and provides the underlying divide evidence in this regard.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, The Commission will share with the Parliament the findings of the preliminary assessment in relation to the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets. The implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility will continue to be a large enterprise.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, Honourable members, together we have set out a strong governance for the facility that builds on three principles: ownership, accountability and transparency. Transparency first, the Commission is committed to ensure a transparent process. And we give our best to provide you with the information needed to follow the implementation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, The constant dialogue with the Parliament is crucial for the success. Which of plans, which are the result of courageous decisions facing an unprecedented and dramatic situation, together with Valdis Dombrovskis, we have exchanged views with the Parliament that the regular recovery and resilience dialogues.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, In addition, the Commission holds regular exchanges with the Recovery Resilience Facility Working Group on various topics during the whole process. We have taken into account in our work the elements arising from the views expressed by the Parliament, and we are committed to continue to do so.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, The assessment of the Polish, the Hungarian and the Swedish plans is ongoing and the Commission has mentioned consistently in previous occasions. Also, for other member states, is not in a position to provide its views on a specific plan or share a pre-assessment. As for all plans, our assessment is based on the clear and solid criteria provided by the RRF regulation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, We will continue to provide an overview over the factual elements of the plans received, as well as a summary of our assessment once our proposal for Council implementing decisions are adopted. Second, accountability, let me come back to the second principle.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, The success of the facility will be measures against the effective use of taxpayers money. And its ability to deliver a lasting improvement to our economic and social resilience and our sustainable growth potential. The reform and investment commitments that we are still negotiating for the three plans will serve as the yardstick for their implementation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, The Commission also takes the protection of the EU's financial interests very seriously. The RRF, as all other EU funds, must be implemented in accordance with the financial regulation and the regulation on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget. For 16 member states the Council implementing decisions provide for specific milestones in relation to control systems.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, Those milestones are of special nature in that they need to be fulfilled before the first regular payment requests can be made. So of course, with the exception of pre-financing, they concern a wide range of issues such as anti-corruption, anti-fraud, access to data or simply proper administrative capacity for the audit body.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, Third point. Ownership. This goes back to the ethos of the facility, the Recovery Resilience Plan, that a new exercise that rests on a combination of strong national ownership and commitment to embrace our joint challenges. The green and digital transitions together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, Member states designed their own recovery and resilience plan, but they have to make sure that the reforms and investment therein are anchored in the common policy priorities and the Country-Specific Recommendations agreed in the framework of the European Semester.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, It is another key assessment criteria that recovery and transition plan need to address the relevant challenges identified in the CSRs, or at least a significant subset. You already have heard many times this formula, but we insist on it because it is our regulation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, Ownership does not stop at the national level, the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan can only succeed with strong regional and local ownership, as well as support from social partners and civil society at every stage of the implementation. And we have communicated this clearly to member states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, Honourable members, let me underline that the Commission strives to uphold the rule of law, our Union needs to be a place where everyone is held accountable where the financial interests of the EU are protected, where all people and businesses alike are equal under the law and where the independence of the judiciary is ensured.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, And we have concerns about the situation in some member states. I can assure you that the commission will continue to act with determination to defend these principles and values with full respect for our legal frameworks.

SOUNDBITE (English), Paolo GENTILONI, European Commissioner for Economy, The Recovery and Resilience Facility is about promoting the green and digital transition, making our Union more resilient and our next generation fit for future challenges. But these efforts can only gain traction if we ensure that our next generation can thrive. Thank you.