EU: Agreement on recovery package

We have done it: Europe is strong, Europe is robust and, above all, Europe is united

Charles Michel

EU leaders agreed a recovery package and the 2021-2027 budget that will help the EU to rebuild after the pandemic and will support investment in the green and digital transitions.

The socio-economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis requires a joint and innovative effort at EU level in order to support the recovery and resilience of the member states’ economies.

To achieve the desired result and be sustainable, the recovery effort should be linked to the traditional MFF, which has shaped EU budgetary policies since 1988 and offers a long-term perspective.

EU leaders have agreed to a comprehensive package of €1 824.3 billion which combines the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and an extraordinary recovery effort under the Next Generation EU (NGEU) instrument.

Long-term EU budget

The new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will cover seven years between 2021 and 2027. The MFF, reinforced by Next Generation EU, will also be the main instrument for implementing the recovery package to tackle the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The size of the MFF – €1 074.3 billion – will allow the EU to fulfill its long-term objectives and preserve the full capacity of the recovery plan. This proposal is largely based on the proposal made by President Michel in February, which reflected two years of discussions between member states.

The MFF will cover the following spending areas:

• single market, innovation and digital
• cohesion, resilience and values
• natural resources and the environment
• migration and border management
• security and defence
• neighbourhood and the world
• European public administration

Recovery fund

The recovery fund,  through NGEU will provide the Union with the necessary means to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the agreement the Commission will be able to borrow up to €750 billion on the markets. These funds may be used for back-to-back loans and for expenditure channelled through the MFF programmes. Capital raised on the financial markets will be repaid by 2058.

The amounts available under NGEU will be allocated to seven individual programmes:

Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF), ReactEU, Horizon Europe, InvestEU, Rural Development, Just Transition Fund and RescEU.

Loans and grants

€390 billion from the package will be distributed in the form of grants to member states and €360 billion in loans.

Allocation from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF)

The plan ensures the money goes to the countries and sectors most affected by the crisis: 70% under the grants of the Recovery and Resilience Facility will be committed in 2021 and 2022 and 30% will be committed in 2023.

Allocations from the RRF in 2021-2022 will be established according to the Commission’s allocation criteria taking into account  member states’ respective living standards, size and unemployment levels.

For 2023 allocations, the unemployment criterion will be replaced by the drop in GDP in 2020 and 2021.

Governance and conditionality

In line with the principles of good governance, member states will prepare national recovery and resilience plans for 2021-2023. These will need to be consistent with the country-specific recommendations and contribute to green and digital transitions. More specifically, the plans are required to boost growth and jobs and reinforce the “economic and social resilience” of EU countries. The plans will be reviewed in 2022. The assessment of these plans will be approved by the Council by a qualified majority vote on a proposal by the Commission.

The disbursement of grants will take place only if the agreed milestones and targets set out in the recovery and resilience plans are fulfilled.

If, exceptionally, one or more member states consider that there are serious deviations from the satisfactory fulfillment of the relevant milestones and targets, they may request that the President of the European Council refer the matter to the next European Council.

Climate action

30% of the total expenditure from the MFF and Next Generation EU will target climate-related projects. Expenses under the MFF and Next Generation EU will comply with the EU’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050, the EU’s 2030 climate targets and the Paris Agreement.

Rule of law

The Union’s financial interests will be protected in accordance with the general principles embedded in the Union Treaties, in particular the values referred to in Article 2 TEU. The European Council also underlines the importance of the respect of the rule of law. Based on this background, a regime of conditionality to protect the budget and Next Generation EU will be introduced.

More information

Special European Council, 17-21 July 2020

Remarks by President Charles Michel after the Special European Council, 17-21 July 2020